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Description
Every Rifle Has a Story: The MSF-5

Modern history contends that the small arms manufacturer Heckler and Koch was primarily responsible for the development of the Maschinenpistole Model 5, or MP5 submachine gun, currently in circulation among police and military forces all over the world.

Recently declassified documents have revealed this not to be the case, that H&K was primarily responsible for the initial design stages. The actual manufacture and distribution of the weapon was intended to be done by the Peace Sentinel defense contractor.

During the Peace Walker crisis in Colombia and Nicaragua during 1969, agents from the rogue mercenary army "Militaires sans Frontiers" stole numerous classified documents detailing the MP5 along with many other weapon prototypes and design notes.

At the time, MSF was fielding secondhand M1928A1's (Thompson submachine guns) during not just these actions, but during Outer Ops deployment all over the world.

Recognizing the potential even in the crude prototype designs, MSF R&D immediately diverted a considerable GMP investment away from projects involving balloons and cardboard boxes into the MSF-5 project - code name "Viper." It was not long before the private army was able to phase out the M1928's and begin utilizing the MSF-5 instead.

The MSF-5 is distinguishable from the later prototypes manufactured by H&K, by its distinctive wooden furniture, oversized trigger (for the operator's bulky gloves), grossly simplified fire-group assembly, and the lack of a muzzle brake. Although development pictures show MSF soldiers using the "modern" MP5 with plastic furniture and sophisticated fire groups, the truth is that a workshop on an oil platform can only be so sophisticated. - Because MSF's R&D did not possess the technology to produce the space-age polymers that H&K's design called for, it was a carpenter named Crab who eventually designed the wooden furniture that would see more use.

It also utilizes a simple friction-delayed reciprocating bolt system instead of the roller-delayed bolt that would later make the MP5 famous. Once the documents were reclaimed by H&K, development continued on the MP5A1 and H&K became renown worldwide for the improvements claimed by MSF.

This simplified design did very little to reduce the reliability of the MSF-5, whose performance still managed to exceed that of the Thompson despite its flaws. Eventually, Rank 2 and Rank 3 developments of the MSF-5 would introduce self-depreciating suppressors and top-mounted laser sights to improve target acquisition.

To this date, it is not known if any of the MSF-5's survived as far as the Pirate Wars in the Caribbean, the Outer Heaven revolt, or the destruction of New Zanzibar.

Description
Every Rifle Has a Story: The MSF-5

Modern history contends that the small arms manufacturer Heckler and Koch was primarily responsible for the development of the Maschinenpistole Model 5, or MP5 submachine gun, currently in circulation among police and military forces all over the world.

Recently declassified documents have revealed this not to be the case, that H&K was primarily responsible for the initial design stages. The actual manufacture and distribution of the weapon was intended to be done by the Peace Sentinel defense contractor.

During the Peace Walker crisis in Colombia and Nicaragua during 1969, agents from the rogue mercenary army "Militaires sans Frontiers" stole numerous classified documents detailing the MP5 along with many other weapon prototypes and design notes.

At the time, MSF was fielding secondhand M1928A1's (Thompson submachine guns) during not just these actions, but during Outer Ops deployment all over the world.

Recognizing the potential even in the crude prototype designs, MSF R&D immediately diverted a considerable GMP investment away from projects involving balloons and cardboard boxes into the MSF-5 project - code name "Viper." It was not long before the private army was able to phase out the M1928's and begin utilizing the MSF-5 instead.

The MSF-5 is distinguishable from the later prototypes manufactured by H&K, by its distinctive wooden furniture, oversized trigger (for the operator's bulky gloves), grossly simplified fire-group assembly, and the lack of a muzzle brake. Although development pictures show MSF soldiers using the "modern" MP5 with plastic furniture and sophisticated fire groups, the truth is that a workshop on an oil platform can only be so sophisticated. - Because MSF's R&D did not possess the technology to produce the space-age polymers that H&K's design called for, it was a carpenter named Crab who eventually designed the wooden furniture that would see more use.

It also utilizes a simple friction-delayed reciprocating bolt system instead of the roller-delayed bolt that would later make the MP5 famous. Once the documents were reclaimed by H&K, development continued on the MP5A1 and H&K became renown worldwide for the improvements claimed by MSF.

This simplified design did very little to reduce the reliability of the MSF-5, whose performance still managed to exceed that of the Thompson despite its flaws. Eventually, Rank 2 and Rank 3 developments of the MSF-5 would introduce self-depreciating suppressors and top-mounted laser sights to improve target acquisition.

To this date, it is not known if any of the MSF-5's survived as far as the Pirate Wars in the Caribbean, the Outer Heaven revolt, or the destruction of New Zanzibar.