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((short description| Firearms that can be effectively fired underwater ))
((Multiple issues|
((more citations needed|date=August 2016))
((unreliable sources|date=August 2016))
))

[[File:APS underwater rifle REMOV.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|The [[APS amphibious rifle]], an underwater assault rifle]]

An '''underwater firearm''' is a [[firearm]] designed for use [[underwater]]. Underwater firearms or [[needlegun]]s usually fire [[flechette]]s or spear-like bolts instead of standard bullets. These may be fired by pressurised gas.((citation needed|reason=From descriptions provided in articles about such underwater guns, it appears that they use "normal" cartridges, where bullets are replaced by darts or flechettes.|date=August 2017))<!--normal cartridges provide pressurised gas when fired, so where is the problem?-->

== History ==
((section expand|date=May 2018))
Underwater firearms were first developed in the 1960s during the [[Cold War]] as a way to arm [[frogmen|combat divers]].

== Design ==
Because standard bullet [[ammunition]] does not work well underwater, underwater firearms commonly fire [[flechette]]s instead of standard bullets.

The barrels of underwater pistols are typically not [[rifling|rifled]]. Rather, the fired projectile maintains its [[ballistic trajectory]] underwater by [[hydrodynamic]] effects. The lack of rifling renders these weapons relatively inaccurate when fired out of water. Underwater rifles are more powerful than underwater pistols and more accurate out of water, but underwater pistols can be manipulated more easily underwater.

Among the many engineering challenges in designing underwater firearms is that of developing a weapon which can be effective both underwater and out of water. The [[ASM-DT amphibious rifle]] is an early example of such a weapon. First fielded by the [[Spetsnaz|Russian special forces]] in 2000, the folding-stock ASM-DT amphibious rifle is capable of firing two kinds of ammunition, both of 5.45&nbsp;mm [[caliber]]:

# [[5.45×39mm]] rifle [[cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]] (7N6 enhanced penetration variant) for above water use
# [[5.45×39mm (MGTS variant)|5.45×39mm MGTS variant]] for underwater use. The projectile in this case is a steel dart, ((convert|120|mm|abbr=on)) in length.<ref name="nildram">((cite web|url=http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/underwaterE.jpg |title=Two images of the cartridge and its associated projectile |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308023227/http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/underwaterE.jpg |date=2013-03-08 |archive-date=2013-03-08 ))</ref>

When used against underwater targets, an underwater firearm may have a longer range and more penetrating power than [[speargun]]s. This is useful in such situations as shooting an underwater intruder where the projectile may have to first penetrate a reinforced [[dry suit]], or a protective [[helmet]] (whether air-holding or not), or a thick tough part of their [[scuba set|breathing set]] and its [[Backpack|harness]], or the plastic casing or transparent cover of a [[Diver Propulsion Vehicle|small underwater vehicle]].

== Supercavitating ammunition ==
[[Supercavitation|Supercavitating]] ammunition that functions better underwater has been developed by Defence & Security Group (DSG), a Norwegian company. The Multi-Environment Ammunition (MEA) series supercavitating rifle ammunition, developed and marketed by DSG, is anticipated to be useful for certain [[special operations]], including [[underwater warfare]]. These include defensive applications such as diver protection, and offensive applications such as neutralizing enemy divers, [[visit, board, search, and seizure|VBSS]] (visit, board, search, and seizure) operations, [[maritime interdiction|MIO]] (maritime interception operations), [[Oil platform|GOPLATS]] (Gas and oil platform) [[Boarding (attack)|boarding]] operations, speedboat interdiction and neutralization, [[anti-submarine warfare]], anti-[[torpedo]] operations, and certain counter-[[piracy]] operations.<ref name="defensereview">((cite web |author=Crane D |title=Revolutionary DSG Technology Supercavitating Rifle Ammo for Shooting Underwater (Tactical Underwater Shooting), from Air to Water, and from Water to Air: Amphibious Multi-Environment Ammunition (MEA) for Tactical Waterborne Operations |publisher=DefenseReview.com |date=2011-06-25 |url=http://www.defensereview.com/revolutionary-dsg-supercavitating-rifle-ammo-for-shooting-underwater-into-the-water-or-out-of-the-water-multi-environment-ammunition-mea-makes-its-debut-photos-and-video/ |access-date=2012-04-29 |archive-date=2012-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414064631/http://www.defensereview.com/revolutionary-dsg-supercavitating-rifle-ammo-for-shooting-underwater-into-the-water-or-out-of-the-water-multi-environment-ammunition-mea-makes-its-debut-photos-and-video/ |url-status=live ))</ref>

The ballistic characteristics of MEA series ammunition allows the user to fire at an underwater target from above the water, an above-the-water target from underwater, or an underwater target from underwater. This ammunition allows the user to fire from above the surface into the water at a very low [[angle of incidence (optics)|angle of incidence]]—in some cases as low as two degrees—without [[ricochet]]. After entering the water, the bullet will continue its original trajectory. The user, when aiming the gun, needs to compensate for the [[refractive index]] of the water (roughly 1.333 for fresh water at ((convert|20|C|abbr=on))).<ref name="defensereview" />

MEA series supercavitating ammunition is currently available in the following calibers:<ref name="defensereview" />
* [[5.56×45mm NATO]] (accurate range of ((convert|15|m|abbr=on)) underwater)
* [[7.62×51mm NATO]] (accurate range of ((convert|25|m|abbr=on)) underwater)
** General Purpose
** Dual Core
** Armor Piercing
* [[.50 BMG|12.7×99mm NATO]] ([[.50 BMG]], accurate range of ((convert|60|m|abbr=on)) underwater)
** Super Sniper Tactical
** Dual Core

The underwater capabilities of MEA series [[supercavitating]] ammunition allow it to be used for [[unmanned underwater vehicle]] (UUV) applications. The armed UUVs can be used in both offensive and defensive underwater warfare operations. Using the .50 BMG supercavitating cartridge, an armed UUV can potentially destroy steel-hulled underwater objects from a distance of ((convert|60|m|abbr=on)), or could potentially hit a target ((convert|1000|m|abbr=on)) in the air from a location ((convert|5|m|abbr=on)) below the surface.<ref name="defensereview" />

== Examples ==
; Germany:
* [[Heckler & Koch P11]]
; Soviet Union / Russia:
* [[ADS amphibious rifle]]
* [[APS underwater rifle]]
* [[ASM-DT amphibious rifle]]
* [[SPP-1 underwater pistol]]
; United States:
* [[AAI underwater revolver]]
* [[Mk 1 Underwater Defense Gun]]
* The '''Lancejet''' (an underwater variant of the [[Gyrojet]] manufactured by MB Associates) was once considered for use by the United States military, but it was removed from consideration due to its inaccuracy under field testing conditions.((citation needed|date=April 2014)) (For other meanings see [[Gyrojet#Gyrojet Lancejet|Lancejet]].)
;China
*[[QBS-06]]

== See also ==
* ((annotated link|Powerhead (firearm)|Powerhead))
* ((annotated link|Speargun))

== References ==
((reflist))

== Further reading ==
* ((cite book |title=Weapons of the Navy SEALs |last=Dockery |first=K |author-link=Kevin Dockery (author) |year=2004 |publisher=Berkley |location=New York |isbn=0-425-19834-0))

== External links ==
* [http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3453763.pdf Patent for an Underwater Revolver]
* [http://government.zdnet.com/?p=3198 Weapons Development Goes Underwater - ZDnet]
* [https://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/06/underwater_guns Splash, Splash, You're Dead: The Military's Next-Gen Water  Gun - Wired]
* [http://weaponsas.narod.ru/Spec_Sovror-pl.htm Современное оружие боевого пловца (Contemporary weapon of the combat swimmer)] ((in lang|ru))

((Underwater diving|prodiv))
((Firearms))

[[Category:Underwater firearms]]
[[Category:Weapons of the Cold War]]

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