Type 14 Infantry Carbine

Type 14 Infantry Carbine

Calibre: 6.7x64mm
Feed system: 16-round en-bloc clip
System of operation: Striker-fired, long-stroke gas piston, rotating bolt
Muzzle velocity: 860m/s
Effective firing range: Rear sight fixed for ~440m

The Type 14 is the standard personal armament of most Kohlan infantry troops. Like many recovered examples of Kohlan technology, it is surprisingly similar in construction and operation to its human counterparts - specifically, the weapon incorporates many features that are most often associated with early- to mid-20th century small arms, providing a strange juxtaposition to things such as the highly advanced FTL technology used by the Kohlan invasion fleet.

Using a long-stroke gas piston to actuate an interrupted thread-locking rotating bolt, the weapon feeds from a fixed box magazine loaded through the top of the receiver with 16-round disposable en-bloc clips. The weapon fires only semi-automatically and employs a fairly large grip safety as well as a safety catch. The grip safety can be locked in place by squeezing it in and then turning the safety catch to the "fire" position. Overall quality of construction and finish varies widely in captured examples - though all are functional at least - with the pictured weapon being fairly standard. This variation in quality is apparently due to the fact that many civilian factories were tasked with the production of military materiel as part of the effort to equip the Kohlan invasion force, drawn from the militaries of many nations, with standardised equipment.

The weapon is equipped with a fixed-range U-shaped rear sight mounted on the operating rod handle, adjustable for windage, and an elevation-adjustable post front sight. A sliding dust cover is positioned on the rear of the receiver, and is latched under the operating rod handle on its rearward travel. The dust cover can then be disconnected from the operating rod handle and slid back into the closed position by depressing a latch behind the rear sight. The weapon's furniture is usually constructed of a sturdy brown-red polymer, though some lower-quality examples have been found to use a kind of relatively soft wood.

The weapon's 6.7x64mm ammunition is also relatively similar in principle and construction to human cartridges - a metallic cartridge case containing propellant and a primer, topped by a jacketed spitzer-type projectile. However, the cartridge case fully extends over and encloses the bullet and is capped with a polymer plug, making the cartridges look at first glance like a kind of telescoped ammunition. Additionally, the primer (and correspondingly the weapon's striker) is ring- or O-shaped, and functions somewhat similarly to a rimfire primer.

The clips the weapon uses are of interesting construction, using rim guides to retain cartridges in the clip even if it is not full - essentially, the clip functions similarly to two chargers stacked side-by-side. Due to this facet of their construction, the clips can only be inserted in a single orientation and are treated more like detachable magazines. The basic Kohlan combat load is five clips - one loaded, and four carried in a pouch on the belt - plus a tubular spike bayonet, with a further five clips stowed in the knapsack alongside a basic cleaning kit and combination tool.