Arisaka Type 45

The Arisaka Type 45 Assault Rifle (45式小銃, Yon-Go-Shiki-Shōjū) is a Yamataian assault rifle used by the Yamataian Armed Forces, the Yamatai Coast Guard's Special Security Team units, the Special Duties Team, and the ISA TokuSa. It has also been exported outside of Yamatai.

It has largely replaced the Arisaka Type 20 battle rifle in frontline units.

History
Yamatai was late to adopt a 5.5×40mm rifle due to political pressure within the higher echelons of the Imperial Army, which were set on continuing the use of the larger 7.7×58mm Arisaka round. However, combat experience in the Hinoan War proved that the larger round's power prevented troops from achieving accurate automatic rifle fire. Following the conclusion of the war, the other HECO nations began looking into the development of a new, smaller standard round to alleviate these problems.

Despite the creation of the 5.5×40mm Arisaka-Chiotanne and its subsequent selection as a standardised HECO round, the Imperial Army leadership still refused to adopt a new 5.5×40mm rifle. Some special forces units resorted to purchasing civilian 5.5×40mm rifles for use. It would only be in 1984, following the stellar trials of the 5.5×40mm Morita Type 38 light machine gun, did the Imperial Army leadership reverse its position on the smaller round. While several civilian products were evaluated, the Ministry of Defence itself undertook the development of the new rifle. The research team was led by Kishimoto Yumeno, and took inspiration from various foreign designs.

Subsequently, rigorous tests in 1987 and 1988 proved that the new rifle was superior to the Type 20, and in 1989 the weapon was adopted by the Imperial Army, with Arisaka winning the bid to manufacture the weapon. The SNLF, however, refused to adopt the new weapon and continued to use the Type 20 until 2000, when they adopted the Morita Type 56.

Design
The Type 45 is a select-fire automatic rifle powered by a short-stroke gas piston above the barrel. It fires the common 5.5×40mm Arisaka-Chiotanne round from standard 20 or 30 round JACT magazines, and can also accept 100 round drum magazines, though the latter are rarely issued. The bolt locks open upon an empty magazine. The Type 45 was designed with a simplified operation and minimal parts compared to the Type 20 rifle as the complexity of the Type 20 was found to be most responsible for defective operation during the development of the Type 45. Because of this, the cost of the Type 45 rifle is roughly half that of the Type 20 rifle.

Constructed out of forged aluminium, stamped steel and thermoset plastic, as opposed to the steel and wood of the predecessor Type 20, the Type 45 is light and eases the load on the individual soldier, also increasing reaction speed. Like the Type 20, the Type 45 is equipped with an integrated bipod to facilitate accuracy. The bipod is easily removable. The bayonet manufactured specifically for the Type 45 rifle can be used as a wire cutter by connecting it to a lug on the scabbard. Furthermore, the end of the bayonet scabbard can be used as a bottle opener.

The selector switch is located on the right side of the lower receiver, with four settings, safe, automatic, three-round burst, and semiautomatic. This is often referred to as the "Atare 3," (アタレサン, Ataresan; アタレ, Atare means "hit it") referencing the different selection positions. The markings and associated feature are as follows in functional order:

ア (アンゼン=Safe) → レ (レンシャ=Auto) → 3 (Three-Round Burst) → タ (タンパツ=Semi)

Its 3-round burst feature is built separately from the rest, so as to prevent the selector switch from being totally useless in case it can't be used due to accident or a malfunction.

The Type 01 rifle grenade is designed for Type 89 and Type 64 rifle. And attachment of the M203 grenade launcher is possible with the proper adapter.

Since 2010, receiver scope rails have been issued to troops progressively, though the weapon is still manufactured without rails.

Variants
The main military variant of the Type 45 is the Type 45 Oru, which is equipped with a folding stock. This variant is issued to airborne soldiers, tankers, recon soldiers, armoured infantry soldiers, and any other troops that require the benefit of a shorter weapon. The folding stock folds to the left side, not to cover the selector lever on the right side.

In 2005, Arisaka began producing a semiautomatic civilian version of the Type 45, sold as the Arisaka 5. The weapon has been deliberately redesigned to make conversion back to fully automatic difficult.

Users

 * Achkland: Former standard issue rifle of the Achkland Republican Armed Forces‎, used in strategic reserves and reserve units for training.
 * Yamatai: Used by the Yamataian Armed Forces, the Special Security Team units, the Special Duties Team, and the ISA TokuSa.