S3A Blaster Rifle

Production Information

 * Manufacturer: Imperial State Arsenal, Karavin Concern
 * Affiliation: Eternal Empire, Closed-Market
 * Model: S3A Blaster Rifle
 * Modularity: No
 * Production: Minor
 * Material: Plasteel, Durasteel

Technical Specifications

 * Classification: Blaster Rifle
 * Size: Average: 790mm
 * Weight: Average
 * Ammunition Type: Standard Power Cell consisting of a battery and Tibana gas canister in a single package
 * Ammunition Capacity: 30 Shots
 * Reload Speed: High
 * Effective Range: Personal
 * Rate of Fire: Low
 * Stopping Power: High
 * Recoil: High

Advanced Features

 * Composite Power Cells: The S3A uses a composite power cell design, storing the tibana gas and battery in the same container, enabling faster reloading

Strengths

 * Fast Reload: The S3A's design enables its user to quickly swap out spent power cells for new ones
 * Powerful: The S3A blaster rifle has a high stopping power for its size, inflicting much more damage upon its targets

Weaknesses

 * Monolithic: The S3A's design is monolithic and does not allow for modification without extensive redesign of the weapon
 * Low Rate of Fire: A drawback of its stopping power is the reduction in the weapon's firing rate, as the rifle needs more time to cycle between shots
 * Low Accuract at Longer Ranges: The S3A is designed for close quarters battle and does not perform well at extended ranges due to its high recoil

Description
Designed for use by special forces and secret police units, the S3A blaster rifle is not intended to be a main battlefield weapon, but rather an effective tool in the hands of small units, during close quarters battle. Its impressive stopping power is highly useful especially against unarmored targets such as insurgents, which makes it a favored weapons for units such as the Blackwatch death squads, the Eternal Empire's dreaded secret police.

The S3A's stopping power comes with several important drawbacks which are not very noticeable at short ranges, but which severely limit the weapon's usefulness in situations it was not designed for. The rifle's high recoil makes it somwewhat unwieldy and inaccurate at longer ranges, which, combining with its slow cycle rate, makes it unsuitable for use in large-scale, pitched battles.

The S3A blaster rifle features a composite power cell design which adds to its compactness and enables faster reload times. Both the tibana gas cannister and battery are enclosed within a single cylindrical container held within the weapon's stock, which can be easily swapped out for a fresh one.