Steyr IWS 2000

The Steyr IWS 2000 is an Austrian single-shot bolt-action anti-materiel rifle produced by Steyr Mannlicher. IWS stands for Infantry Weapon System. Like many of today's anti-tank rifles, and indeed also tank guns, it is actually a smoothbore weapon and not a true rifle. This can help accelerate projectiles and increase ballistic effectiveness, but, the lack of rifling imparing inertial stability, requires the projectile to have stabilizing fins. It fires a 15.2×169 mm armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding-sabot round (207 mm long), and is the first man-portable rifle to use this type of ammunition.

IWS 2000
The Steyr IWS 2000, left side view
TypeSingle-shot bolt-action anti-materiel rifle
Place of originAustria
Production history
DesignedMid-1980s
ManufacturerSteyr Mannlicher
VariantsIWS 2000
AMR 5075
Specifications
Mass18 kg (39.7 lb)
Length1,800 mm (70.9 in)
Barrel length1,200 mm (47.2 in)
Cartridge15.2×169mm (IWS 2000 and AMR 5075)
Cartridge weight150 g (5.3 oz)
ActionLong-recoil
Single-shot
Bolt-action
Rotating-bolt
Muzzle velocity1,450 metres per second (4,757 feet per second)
Effective firing range1,000 metres (1,093 yards)
Maximum firing range2,500 meters (2,734 yards)
Feed systemSingle shot, no magazine
Sights10x telescopic sight

The first variant of the weapon was the proposed AMR 5075 (AMR standing for anti-materiel rifle). It was to fire the same type of ammunition as the IWS 2000 and to use a 5-round detachable box magazine. However, that version did not pass the proposal stage.

Mechanism

The weapon is based on a 25 cm (9 3⁄4 in) long recoil mechanism. This mechanism, usually found in shotguns, helps manage the heavy recoil forces of the 15.2 mm Steyr APFSDS round due to its damping effect that allows for force distribution over a longer period of time. Another unusual feature of this weapon is the movement of the barrel. After firing, the barrel recoils into a shock-absorbing hydro-pneumatic sleeve much like those found on a LG 1 Mark II 105 mm Howitzer. The IWS 2000 also uses a multi-baffle muzzle brake to distribute muzzle energy and further reduce recoil, similar to that used on the D-30 2A18M 122 mm towed howitzer. The entire rifle body is made up of a combination of high-tension plastics and superlight polymers to increase manageability and cut down on weight. The smoothbore barrel is easily detached and packed away for increased mobility. The APFSDS round is inserted from the side of the weapon, much like with usual single-shot rifles.

Ammunition

The projectile is a 15.2 mm fin-stabilized discarding-sabot type with armor-piercing capability which the IWS 2000 was specifically designed to fire only. It contains a dart-shaped penetrator of either tungsten carbide or depleted uranium, capable of piercing 40 mm[1] of rolled homogeneous armor at a range of 1,000 m, and causing secondary fragmentation. The cartridge consists of a plastic case, a steel head, and a plastic sabot shell around the penetrator.

See also

References
  1. "Steyr AMR information sheet". Retrieved 28 November 2011.
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