AS-44

"'The AS-44 is an early Soviet assault rifle designed in 1944. Equipped with a bipod, it is better suited as an LMG. It was produced in limited numbers.'""- Description of the AS-44"The Avtomat Sudayev-44 (shortened to "AS-44") is an early prototype Soviet assault rifle featured in Call to Battle 2, it was designed by Alexei Sudayev and manufactured by TOZ.

Although classified as an assault rifle, it is more akin to a light machine gun similar to the Browning Automatic Rifle.

History
Developed in 1944 by Alexei Sudayev, who also designed the PPS-42 submachine gun. The AS-44 was produced in limited numbers, it saw success in frontline combat. However it never entered service in the Red Army as Sudayev passed away a year later, effectively halting all development of the weapon.

There were seven prototypes of the AS-44 designed by Sudayev, each with their own unique mechanisms and features.


 * The first prototype featured a self-loading, selective fire mechanism capable of firing single-shots or in fully automatic.
 * The second prototype had a revised gas chamber and the cocking handle was moved to the right of the receiver.
 * The third prototype lacked a selective fire mechanism. The barrel also lacked a flash suppressor but had three ports on each side on the barrel to act as a muzzle brake.
 * The fourth, fifth and sixth prototypes lacked the muzzle brake of the third prototype. The safety and fire selector were moved to the left hand side of the receiver above the trigger guard. They also had bipods and a bayonet lunge, but were heavier as a result.
 * The seventh prototype is based on the fourth prototype and used a gas-operated, blowback action mechanism. It was also more lighter as the bipod was removed, however this affected its recoil, accuracy and durability.

All prototypes used the intermediate 7.62x39mm cartridge as it was common practice for Soviet weapons to be chambered in the 7.62 caliber, back then.

In-game
The AS-44 featured in Call to Battle 2 uses either the fourth, fifth or sixth prototype model. It is available in the Soviet faction, obtainable to owners of the NKVD Kit and can be used in the Support class. Because of its weight, it'll negatively affect the player's movement speed by 6%. AS-44 is recommended to be used as a means of suppressing enemies thanks to its bipod.

Just like its real life counterpart, it uses the 7.62x39mm cartridge.

Pros

 * Has a bipod.
 * Negligible damage.
 * Great for suppressing.
 * Non-obstructive iron sights.

Cons

 * High recoil.
 * Ineffective at close ranged combat.
 * Slows down movement speed by 6%.

Tactics

 * The AS-44 is effective at suppressing enemies. Use this to your advantage!
 * Like all other guns that have a bipod, when used the AS-44's recoil drastically lessens for more sustained fire.
 * Hip firing is not recommended as it'll distort your vision, making your shots inaccurate.

Trivia

 * Like the Fedorov Avtomat, the AS-44 is considered the precursor to the Soviet AK family of rifles and modern assault rifles, in general.
 * It also resembles an RPK, due to its shape and design.
 * The AS-44 has yet to receive a new model.
 * Although it never saw frontline combat (due to its status as a prototype), in-game it is depicted as being common place.