Noah Corek
Cocked, Locked and a Smoking Barrel
- Intent: To create a general purpose machine gun for the Kathol Republic military
- Image Source: Here
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Hekler'Kok Defense Industries
- Affiliation: Kathol Republic/Outer Planets Alliance and Closed-Market
- Model: Kathol Squad Support Weapon Model-1, KSSW-1
- Modularity: Can mount Optics and Accessories
- Production: Minor
- Material: Alusteel-Titanum Alloy (Shell and Internal Mechanisms), Cold Hammer Forged Dallorian Alloy (Barrel), Chromium (Barrel Lining) and Ceramic Coating (Shell)
- Classification: Medium Slugthrower Machine Gun
- Size: Large
- Weight: Heavy
- Ammunition Type: 8.58x69mm (.338 Lapua Magnum) Polymer Cartridges
- Ammunition Capacity: Large (150 or 200 Round Belts)
- Effective Range: Average
- Rate of Fire: High
- Stopping Power: High
- Recoil: High
- Ambidextrous Safety
- Ambidextrous Feed Tray Cover Release
- Ambidextrous Charging Handle
- Ambidextrous Carrying Handle
- Feed Tray Cover Mounted Optic Rail
- Side Mounted Accessory Rails
- Integral Bipod
- Quick Change Barrel
- Buzzsaw: The high rate of fire, the high stopping power and the sound made when it fires quickly gained it the nickname 'The Buzzsaw' by the design team
- Variable Ammunition: Along with any other Hekler'Kok products the KSSW-1 has access to all of Hekler'Kok's line of speciality ammunition
- Big and Heavy: Like any machine gun the KSSW-1 is a awkward and cumbersome weapon to carry and even more so to fire
- Not for Shoulder Firing: Stemming from its awkwardness and cumbersome manner it is not suggested that the KSSW-1 is fired from the shoulder as it will be highly inaccurate
Upon making Hekler'Kok their primary weapons supplier the Kathol Republic gave the weapons and armory company and long list of weapons and armor that they would need. The thing at the top of that list was a general purpose machine that could be mounted or used by infantry as a crew served weapon. Much like the other weapons contracted their were a series of required features the Kathol Republic insisted had to be included. Like before the controls had to be completely ambidextrous, it had to have some way of managing possible overheating and a mount for a bipod.
Like any Hekler'Kok design before constructing the actual weapon the design team first looked into the materials they would use in the weapon. The outer construction and most of the internal mechanisms were constructed out of Hekler'Kok's patented Alusteel-Titanium alloy. For the barrel they decided on instead of using the normal Quadanium Steel they instead decided on using Dallorian Alloy, known for its heat resistance. Finally the barrel was lined with chromium to reduce wear and tear on the barrel and the outer shell coating in the same ceramic coating to reduce wear and tear on the shell too, giving it the distinct tan coloring.
Next came the decision on which cartridge would be used. At first the team thought of using the 6.8x49mm cartridge used in the KMIWS-1 but found that the power of it was lackluster for a general purpose machine gun. Another cartridge that was debated was the 11.63x43mm cartridge but it was found while the power was great the recoil was even greater. Finally they decided on the 8.58x69mm cartridge, a good middle ground between the 6.8 and 11.63 cartridges.
Lastly came the features they wished to be added. Obviously the ambidextrous feed tray cover release, charging handle, safety and carrying handle came first. An optic rail was mounted on the feed tray cover, side mounted accessory rails and a integral bipod came as well. Finally as a way to reduce the possibility of overheating the KSSW-1 was equipped with a quick change barrel system.
