A lethal weapon is one of the means of suppressing the enemy force of a potential adversary. This formulation is known to each of the school curriculum OBZh. In principle, in general terms, everything is said correctly. However, this article will focus on the classification of weapons. A little will be touched on the topic of the latest weapons.
Lethal Weapon: Classification
There is no single official classification. At present, there are no normative documents in which this idea could be clearly traced. However, guided by some logical considerations, you can give your own classification, which will be true. By the way, according to certain criteria, several classifications can be made simultaneously. We will consider the form that seems most logical. So, lethal weapons are divided into:
1) Manual.
2) Technical.
3) WMD (weapons of mass destruction).
WMD due to the unique potential can be distinguished into a separate group. However, if we pay attention to the means of its “delivery” to the target (and we are talking about strategic aviation, submarine launch vehicles, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and so on), then WMD can be attributed to technical lethal weapons.
Hand lethal weapon
What should be understood by this view? This is the very weapon with which in most cases human associations are associated. That is: knives, pistols, machine guns and more. Hand lethal weapons have more subtypes:
1) Cold.
2) Traumatic.
3) Pneumatic.
4) Throwing.
5) Incendiary.
6) Fragmented.
7) Gunshot.
Traumatic weapon
If with a firearm everything is clear, then in terms of traumatic weapons, sometimes questions arise. This is due to the features of its application. In general, the use of traumatic weapons involves a temporary defeat of the aggressor, aimed at suppressing unwanted actions on his part. However, there are many cases when a traumatic weapon was the cause of death. That is why it is still classified as a lethal weapon, even when taking into account a small percentage of mortality.
A question may also arise when comparing melee and throwing weapons. Some people may say that throwing knives are melee weapons. To some extent, they are right, but this does not give the right to equate edged weapons with throwing weapons (and vice versa) in full. It is easy to prove this: drafts, sabers, and swords are referred to melee weapons. They are unlikely to throw. At least by appointment. But to throwing weapons include not only the corresponding knives. This may surprise someone, but this group also includes bows with crossbows.
Shrapnel weapons include grenades, as well as other devices built on the principle of operation of an explosive charge. The energy released as a result of the explosion causes the device to burst into fragments - fragments that are a destructive force. In addition, the shocking factor of such devices is the blast wave.
What is a firearm?
The latest firearms have their own classification. Its branch can be represented as follows:
1. Rifle:
a) pistols;
b) submachine guns;
c) machine guns;
d) guns;
e) carbines;
e) automata.
2) Grenade launcher:
a) reactive;
b) muzzle;
c) manual;
d) easel;
e) underbarrel.
Technical lethal weapon
This category will include the destruction of the enemy, which are part of a particular type of military equipment. For example, tank guns, mortars, and so on.
That is why such a kind of WMD, like nuclear warheads, can be considered in some way a technical weapon. For example, “Topol-M” mobile based. By the way, technical lethal weapons are in many cases called alternatively “smooth-bore weapons”. The fact is that tank muzzle, for example, do not have rifling.
The lethal weapon of the USA and Russia
The performance characteristics of absolutely any small arms firearm include not only parameters such as rate of fire, number of rounds in a clip, the initial speed of a bullet, and so on, but also a caliber. This is a fairly important characteristic. The lethal weapon of the USA is now based on several calibers. For example, “Glock 17” has a caliber of 9 mm. And the line of assault rifles of the genus “M4” is 5.56 mm.
Makarov’s Russian pistol also uses a 9 mm caliber. And Kalashnikov assault rifles work on a 5.45 mm caliber. Very often, experts and amateurs make comparisons of different weapons, including comparisons of the “M4” line with the “AK” line. It is worth noting a definite plus of any model of a Kalashnikov assault rifle: the design is so simple that it allows the assault rifle to function successfully even when the “M4” is already useless and needs to be cleaned.
Non-lethal weapon
This group includes weapons that do not mortally wound a potential enemy. It should also not cause serious injury. The main task posed to non-lethal weapons is to temporarily limit the enemy’s capabilities or neutralize them.
The damage caused to the enemy should be minimal. The most striking example of non-lethal weapons are special tools used by law enforcement officers.
Non-lethal weapons include water cannons and traumatic pistols, tear gas, light-noise devices, latest sound weapons, lasers, film polymers, and microwave weapons.