Fiction:Drodo Empire/Equipment Inventory

The Drodo Empire's military uses a wide range of equipment to fight its wars. The Empire uses primarily native-built equipment but in recent years has borrowed and modified foreign designs. Below is a grouping of lists showing all official, government-issued equipment.

Firearms
The Drodo are renowned for the quality of their firearms. As such they use almost exclusively native-built ones. Tough, powerful and cost-efficient, some of these weapons have proven to be so effective they've survived centuries.

X8-95 Assault Rifle - The X8-95 is a more recent weapon and is currently the primary service weapon of the Drodo infantry. The X8-95 also comes in a carbine pattern for issue with cavalry, artillery/logistical/support crews, and ship security, as well as a modified pattern for use as a Designated Marksman Rifle

Berak M87 - The Berak M87 is a semiautomatic pistol chambered for the .45 caliber. It is the standard-issue sidearm for all branches (though many officers and cavalrymen replace theirs with pistols they buy with their own money).

TU-25 Shotgun - This pump-action shotgun is primarily used for ship security, and for the purpose works excellently.

'''2801 Long-Model Sniper Rifle, Mk. 1''' - A bolt-action sniper rifle often used by snipers and special forces. This extremely-accurate weapon for shoot accurately out to twenty kilometres, and is equipped with an electronic scope to suit this purpose.

ML-87 - A break-action grenade launcher used to lob grenades. Rarely used, it is still kept in military armouries in case.

'''2804 Imperial Machine Pistol, Mk. 1''' - A very recent model of machine pistol, this fully-automatic weapon is beginning to be issued to cavalry units after requests for such a weapon for use in close-range combat. The machine pistol is surprisingly light and maneuverable and can unload its magazine in seconds. It can also be switched to a semi-automatic firing mode.

Hand-to-hand Weapons
While most nations have relegated hand-to-hand weapons to the status of ceremonial item, the Drodo Empire uses them frequently. These weapons, especially swords, are issued standard to all cavalry regiments and officers of every branch, and it is expected of those officers to wear them even into battle as a matter of tradition and pride. Drodo infantry are equipped with bayonets.

2795 Imperial Sword Bayonet, Mk 1 - At 45 centimetres, the Sword Bayonet is seen by many to be rather ungainly for everyday use, but when it comes time to charge, the infantry are expected to fix it onto their rifles and use it with precision and ferocity. The Sword Bayonet is designed to be able to be fixed to all Drodoian service rifles and can also double as a dagger or utility knife.

'''2775 Drodo Imperial Cavalry Sword, Mk. III''' - A "universal" pattern sword that is equipped to every horse saddle and is carried by all officers. This sword features a straight, tapering blade and an ergonomic pistol grip. It is useful both on and off the saddle, and is carried by both officers and cavalrymen even when off-duty as a status symbol.

'''2701 Drodo Imperial Light Sabre, Mk. VI''' - An older pattern, the Light Sabre is a highly-curved, topheavy device carried by the light cavalry regiments alongside the universal pattern sword. This sabre is well-known for its ability to lop the limbs off of its victims and even cut through light armour plating with ease. This sword, along with all other "specialty" swords are worn on the trooper himself (and only when on active duty) as opposed to on the saddle.

2789 Drodo Imperial Heavy Sword, Mk III - This sword, with its thick straight blade and basket hilt, is used by the heavy cavalry of the empire. This sword is renowned for its armour-piercing abilities but is criticized for its hefty weight and unwieldiness in a melee.

2786 Drodo Imperial Power Lance, Mk III - Used by lancers, the lance uses an advanced system of forcefields and energy coatings to give it incredible armour-piercing abilities, to the point where it may penetrate some of the best plating. Like all lances however it is useless in confined quarters even if delivering a devastating charge.

Drodo Imperial Sabre Briquet, Mk IV - A curved shortsword sixty centimetres long. This weapon in particular is for the most part ceremonial, however it is still worn in the battle by a handful of infantry regiments out of tradition. In a combat role it remains an effective hacking weapon.