OVERVIEW

During the course of the GWW2, the Awwami Army soldiers were equipped with armored exoskeletons. The claims of the capabilities of the suits vary widely, from completely ineffective at its intended role and hindering the individual's movement, to extremely effective at its intended role and enhancing the individual's movement.

VARIANTS

There are three versions thus identified, based off captured suits. We have classified them as T1, T2, and T3, for convenience's sake. The T1, T2, and T3 all come in variants suited for tropical, dry, moderate, continental, and polar climates. However, the armor protection offered is the same between all climate variants.

We have also identified several different variants of each armor, used for battlefield specialist roles: basic, assault, command, specialist, and commando.

The basic model is the simplest, with the usual strength enhancement and full-body armor. These are designed with a balance of mobility, protection, and visibility. While featuring no integrated weapons, they have provisions for weapons to be stored on them. These are often found with assault rifles and submachine guns.

The assault model features improved armor and integrated weapons within the suits, including a 30mm grenade launcher and a punch dagger. However, they are much bulkier, and are more cumbersome. These are often found with rocket launchers and rotary heavy machine guns.

The command model features improved communications systems and battlefield management programs. They feature the same level of protection, mobility, and visibility as a basic model, and are visually similar, save for rank insignia. These are often found with submachine guns and pistols.

The specialist model features less armor in exchange for mobility, visibility, and modular configuration. Depending on modules fitted, there are medic, sapper, sniper, mortar crew, and machine gun.

The commando model features the same level of armor, mobility, visibility, and modular configuration. It features an integrated knife and infrared camouflage. They have been encountered with the majority of the small arms available.

The T1 model is the earliest model, and was only encountered during Operation Rising Storm. It is assumed that this armor type was replaced by the T2 and T3 types before the war and were issued to reserve units. These suits did not feature any nuclear, biological, and chemical protection.

The T2 model is the most common model, and was encountered extensively. It appears to be the standard issue armored exoskeleton of the Awwami Armed Forces. It features better reliability, power consumption, comfort, strength, and ballistic protection. They also featured nuclear, biological, and chemical protection.

The T3 model is somewhat less common, and was often encountered alongside the T2. It appears to be issued to units who perform better than other units, possibly due to cost. These were a complete upgrade to the T2 armored exoskeleton, and feature nuclear, biological, and chemical protection.

EFFECTIVENESS: FIREARMS

RIFLE/MACHINE GUN

The standard-issue rifles of the Paternian Armed Forces during the conflict is the M18 assault rifle and the M12 semi-automatic battle rifle. The M11 battle rifle and M36 assault rifle were employed in more limited numbers, and are comparable to the M12 and M18 assault rifle, respectively.

The M11 battle rifle, M12 battle rifle, M10 sniper rifle, and M24 machine guns employ the 7.62x51mm NATO round, a full-power rifle cartridge. The M18 and M36 employ the lighter 5.56x45mm NATO round, an intermediate-power rifle cartridge.

The standard heavy-caliber cartridge of the Paternian Army is the 12.7x99mm NATO, a heavy machine gun cartridge. The M28 and M38 anti-material rifles and the M26 heavy machine gun employed this cartridge.

For all three cartridges, the following ammunition types were used:
Ball
Ball, Accurized
Ball, Tracer
Ball, Enhanced Power
Incendiary
Incendiary, Tracer
Armor-Piercing
Armor-Piercing, Incendiary
Armor-Piercing, Incendiary, Tracer
Armor-Piercing, Reactive Core, Incendiary
Armor-Piercing, Reactive Core, Incendiary, Tracer
Armor-Piercing, Reactive Core, Accurized, Incendiary
Armor-Piercing, Light Jacket
Armor-Piercing, Light Jacket, Tracer
Dummy (training only)
Blank (training only)

In addition, the 7.62mm and 12.7mm cartridges had these rounds:
Armor-Piercing, Sabot
Armor-Piercing, Sabot, Tracer

Initially, Ball ammunition was issued. However, after its ineffectiveness against all exoskeletons, armor-piercing ammunition was issued. This was somewhat more effective, but was still insufficient.

Both Reactive Core and Light Jacket ammunition was developed. Reactive Core featured dark matter in a hollow chamber. Employing the Munroe effect, it is able to pierce through the armor easily.

Light Jacket ammunition functioned like APCR on tanks, with a hardened armor-penetrating core surrounded by a lighter metal jacket. The jacket would be sheared off on impact, leaving the armor-penetrating core to continue its path through armor.

Sabot ammunition was available for both 7.62mm and 12.7mm weapons. However, neither were issued, due to the incredible cost, accuracy issues, and marginally improved armor penetration.

7.62mm variants of the Light Jacket and Reactive Core ammunition have been able to reliably penetrate all armor exoskeletons at a minimum range of 400 meters.

5.56mm variants of the Light Jacket and Reactive Core ammunition have been able to reliably penetrate all armor exoskeletons at a minimum range of 200 meters.

PISTOL/SUBMACHINE GUN

The standard-issue sidearms of the Paternian Armed Forces were the M25 pistol, the M1 pistol, and the M82 revolver.

The M25, also known as the PX-1, is a short-recoil semi-automatic pistol in 9x19mm Parabellum and 10x22mm Short. It features a safe-action pioneered on the Glock, high-strength and heat-resistant polymer frame, and has a 15+1 round capacity.

The M1 is a short-recoil semi-automatic pistol in 11.43x23mm Colt, also known as .45 ACP. Some have been converted to 10x22mm Short. While much older, heavier, has a manual safety, is single-action, and contains only 8+1 rounds, it is still issued due to availability, reliability, accuracy, and the power of the 11.43mm against unarmored targets. The 10x22mm Short is a far more powerful cartridge, and has good anti-armor performance.

The M82 is a single-action/double-action revolver in 9x33R, or .357 Magnum. The cartridge is also known as .38 Pilotmario. It is loaded by a swing-out cylinder on a solid frame. While lacking the capacity (6 shots) of its other options, it is incredibly reliable, and is considerably more powerful than the other two options. Due to availability and effectiveness, it is still issued.

The M20 is a closed-bolt blowback operated submachine gun, featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, 900 rpm cyclic rate, and a telescoping bolt. The latter feature allow the magazine to be fitted in the handle, like a pistol. It comes in 9x19mm Parabellum, 10x22mm Short and 11.43x23 Colt.

The M30 is an open-bolt blowback operated submachine gun, featuring a 30-round magazine from the M20, and a 750 rpm cyclic rate. It comes in 9x19mm Parabellum and 10x22mm Short.

All four cartridges had these available ammunition types:
Ball
Hollow point
Armor-Piercing
Armor-Piercing Light Jacket
Armor-Piercing Reactive Core

Ammunition types exclusive to the .38 Pilotmario include:
Birdshot
Flare
Suppressed

The cartridges to perform best against armor, in order of greatest to least effectiveness, was .38 Pilotmario, 10x22mm Short, 9x19mm Parabellum, and 11.43x23mm Colt.

The .38 Pilotmario and 10x22mm Short cartridges feature both high velocity and heavy bullet mass, hence their effectiveness against armored exoskeletons. The 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge has considerable velocity, but fires a relatively light bullet. The 11.43x23mm Colt featured the worst armor-penetration capabilities, due to its high mass and relatively low velocity. However, the 11.43x23mm Colt cartridge was still useful due to its ease of suppression due to its subsonic velocity and the large caliber allowing for the use of a reactive-core cartridge which is just as effective as a 12.7x99mm reactive core cartridge.

Armor-Piercing Light-Jacket .38 Pilotmario and 10x22mm Short could penetrate the suits at ranges of 25 meters when fired from a pistol.

Armor-Piercing Light Jacket 9x19mm Parabellum could penetrate the armored exoskeletons at ranges of 10 meters.

Armor-Piercing Light-Jacket 10x22mm Short and 9x19mm Parabellum could penetrate the suits at ranges of 35 meters when fired from a submachine gun.

Armor-Piercing Reactive Core 10x22mm Short and 11.43x23mm Colt could penetrate armored exoskeletons at ranges of 50 meters, regardless of the firearm.

Armor-piercing and armor-piercing light jacket ammunition was never made for the 11.43x23mm Colt due to the cartridge's subsonic velocity.

Of note, Paternian Rangers have noted that 10mm and 11.43mm Ball ammunition could knock out all armor exoskeletons at point-blank ranges at the back of the head. Tests showed this to be true; the shockwave to the back of the head is liable to damaging the neural interface of the exosekelton, causing a concussion to the operator, or both.

MELEE

The primary melee weapons employed were the M1 Bayonet, M2 Machete, M3 Entrenching Spade, and M4 Fighting Knife.

The M2 Machete and M3 Entrenching Spade were completely ineffective due to their reliance on slashing attacks, which all armor suits are resistant to.

However, the M1 Bayonet and M4 Fighting Knife were far more effective, due to their abilities as stabbing weapons. While unable to penetrate the plate armor of the T2 and T3 suits, they were capable of penetrating the joints in the exoskeleton, and were highly effective. The favored attacks were against the neck, armpits, belly, and the groin between the legs and the groin plate.

Where the T1 suits are only powered enough so that the operator could move with some degree of normalcy with it on, the T2 and T3 gave the operator improved strength. However, the T2 armor exoskeleton was less flexible than a normal person, making for more powerful but clumsier attacks. The T3 armor gave the operator the same level of flexibility as they are physically capable of, in addition to strength amplification. Only contortionists and gymnasts could ever exceed the flexibility capabilities of the T3 exoskeletons.

All exoskeletons limit visibility and awareness of the operator. These factors, alongside Judo training, allowed the Paternian soldier to gain the upper hand against an Awwami soldier in an exoskeleton in melee combat.

EXPLOSIVE

There was a variety of explosive weaponry. It is generally accepted that an explosive projectile, whether it be a rocket or shell, of a caliber of 20mm or greater, will cause significant or catastrophic damage to the suit.

Three antipersonnel grenades were employed: the M61 fragmentation, the M67 explosive grenade, and the M70 incendiary grenade.

The M61 grenade was completely ineffective against all armored exoskeletons, where the M67 was only effective if the grenade was detonated within 5 meters of the target. The M70, while ineffective due to the fire-resistant nature of the armor, was effective at sowing confusion and inciting panic, as the instinctual reaction is to move away from fire. This worked best with less experienced troops, who are unaware of the armor exoskeleton's capabilities.

The effective M27 anti-tank grenade, dating from 1938, proved to be most effective. The M27 was a plastic sphere filled with TNT-based explosive putty, coated with thick adhesive, protected by a weather casing disposed of moments before throwing. On the handle, there is the spoon and pin at the base, which doubles as a fuse, which by default is five seconds.

The concept is that the weapon, when thrown, would strike the target so as the plastic sphere would break, creating a squash-head effect. In 1941, the weapon was no longer issued due to its poor performance against heavier tanks, but remained in use for some time due to its effectiveness against lighter and unarmored vehicles.

The first use was during the Battle of Seoul, where an old stock of said M27 grenades were employed as last-ditch weapons against Awwami armor exoskeletons. They were incredibly effective, causing panic and a temporary halt in Awwami operations.

Realizing the potential of the weapon, the Paternian Armed Forces issued a directive for the Army Arsenal to resume production of the M27 for use against said armor.

The M27 was able to disable said armor exoskeletons due to the physical blast and proximity of the operator, often inflicting concussions, disrupting digestive organs, or immobilizing limbs. It was a potent psychological weapon as well; the sound of impact was highly distinctive, and exoskeleton operators would often feel terror moments before detonation, due to the inevitability of injury.

In addition, the 40mm grenade round was incredibly effective as well, due to the force of a detonation. HEP and EFP grenades were most used due to its blast effect against armored exoskeletons.

EFFECTIVENESS

All variants of the armored exoskeletons are considered immune to shrapnel, non-armor-piercing ammunition, nuclear, biological, and chemical threats.

However, they were vulnerable to explosive shock and armor-piercing ammunition. In addition, the reduced awareness offered by the suits mitigated much of their improvements in protection and some mobility. In addition, soldiers found it difficult to properly aim a weapon, even those designed to be used alongside it.

They were employed primarily in human wave attacks, and as such we believe that they were designed as a force multiplier in order to improve the individual soldier's chances of reaching the Paternian lines and reduce the effectiveness of anti-personnel weaponry. The agility and awareness of an individual soldier is not particularly important in a human wave attack, and improving speed and protection is most important.

This is in contrast to Paternian Standard Body Armor, which consisted of a ballistic vest, groinplate, non-ballistic helmet liner, and ballistic helmet shell. While less effective than the Awwami Armor Exoskeleton at survivability, it afforded the Paternian soldier greater agility and awareness. This was in alignment with Paternian Army tactics which emphasized more flexible defenses and engagements.