Sgts Pat Hall, left, and Peter Brinkworth, School of Infantry with the .50cal AW50F rifle and its support system: stalking scope; digital camera; and binocular/laser rangefinder.
The new .50cal NM140 round. Photos by Bill Cunneen
Specifications
Calibre	12.7mm
Barrel length	690mm
Barrel twist	1 in 15
Magazine capacity	Five shot
Weight (no sight fitted, empty magazine)	13.5kg
Length overall	1350mm
Length folded	1105mm
Normal tactical range	1500m

By Cpl Jonathan Garland
DEFENCE is acquiring a .50cal anti-materiel rifle, adding to the marksman’s arsenal.

Infantry Force Development WO, Land Warfare Development Centre, WO2 Darby Matthews has been involved with the project from day one.

“I was on the trials selection board and am now involved in the introduction into service of the weapon system,” he said.

“The weapon selected from the trial is the AW50F – that is, Accuracy Weapon .50cal Folding Stock.”

“It is made by Accuracy International of Great Britain and fires a multitude of ammunition, including the new NM140 multi-purpose ammunition.”

“The rifle’s primary role is anti-materiel – light vehicles, radar installations, ammunition dumps – anything that can be engaged from long distances. It’s a stand-off weapon system.”

While the weapon is made in Great Britain, there is an Australian component – the barrel is manufactured by Madco in Toowoomba, Queensland.

WO2 Matthews said the weight of the weapon was balanced against its offensive capacity during the selection process.

“It’s a 15kg weapon system and the .50cal ammunition is not light, which is the down side. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks and include the strike capability and the long range of the weapon.”

“The rifle has surprisingly little recoil. There is a muzzle brake on the front that absorbs most of the recoil and a hydraulic buffer system in the butt that absorbs the rest.”

The sight on the AW50F is the same as the SR98 and testing of the night firing device is under way.

Training for the weapon operators and armourers is under way and the performance of the weapon will be monitored during its initial service.

“At the next corps conference they’ll sit down and work out what’s happened in the units during the past 12 months and how the weapon performed, then they’ll make their recommendations as to its future use.”

As part of the acquisition of the anti-materiel rifle, the ADF is bringing into service a new .50cal round.

Sniper project manager Maj Steve Brewer said training ammunition would be F1 ball but the operational ammunition was something more.

“The training ammunition has performed extremely well in trials for all basic grouping and zeroing-type practices,” he said.

“Our operational ammunition is made by a company called Nammo and is known as NM140.

“This is a multi-purpose round that allows us to engage the full target array, which includes personnel, light armoured vehicles, field fortifications and boats.”

The match-grade ammunition is a combination of penetrator, HE and an incendiary effect all in one round.

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