AK-47

The AK-47 (official Soviet designation was, however 7,62мм автомат Калашникова (АК), roughly translated as the 7,62mm caliber Kalashnikov's automatic rifle (AK) ) is a simple assault rifle, inexpensive to manufacture and easy to clean and maintain. Its ruggedness and reliability are legendary. The large gas piston, generous clearances between moving parts, and tapered cartridge case design allow the gun to endure large amounts of foreign matter and fouling without failing to cycle.

It is chambered for 7.62x39mm rounds and uses 30 round magazines. While the intermediate round could not pierce tank armour, the rifle have an option of mounting 40mm GP-25 underslung grenade launcher (introduced only recently before the onset of the Second World War) whose grenades could damage the tank to some extent.

The rifle was the mainstay of the Red Army's rifle infantry squads (as well as the rifle infantry squads of Soviet allies among other nations) during Second World War, and served to great effect, thanks to its ruggedness and reliability even in the harshest of environments. After the Second World War, the newly reformed Soviet Army adopted the updated version of the rifle, known as the AKM to become its main service rifle. The improvements included the reduced weight of the gun as well as more accuracy when firing single shots or short bursts - due to specially add simple, yet effective slant muzzle compensator.

AK-47 and its derivatives (AKM included) remained in use with the Soviet and later the Russian Army, many other national armies and in the hands of various militia. Prior to First Tiberium War AK-47s were generally replaced in service by more recent GAU-3 Eliminator rifles or later - Cobretti AR-70s