Diemaco C7
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- This page is about the C7/C8 rifle. For the musical note C8, see eighth octave C.
The C7 is a variation of the M16 rifle that is manufactured by Diemaco and used by the Canadian Armed Forces, Military of Denmark (all branches) and the Royal Netherlands Army as its main infantry weapon. Following trials, it became the weapon of choice of the British SAS.
It is a variant of the M16A1E1; like earlier M16s, it can be fired in either single shot or automatic mode. Many of the modifications made for the C7 were sold back to the US and incorporated in the M-16A2.
The C7A1 replaces the iron sight/carrying handle used on the C7 and M16 with variable Picatinny rail mount. The mount can use traditional iron sights or the C7/9 3.4x power optical sight, both of which can be adjusted for individual eye relief. The optical sight was designed for the C9 light machine gun and includes horizontal and vertical mil-bars used for range determination and deflection, and a tritium glow-in-the-dark aiming parapet rather than the tradition crosshairs. The 3.4x is powerful enough to properly see targets at the maximum accurate range of 300m while in no way interfering with target speed acquisition or close quarters combat as most optical sights would.
The C8 carbine is the Canadian variant of the XM177 Colt Commando. Unlike the Commando, the C8 has a barrel longer than that of the M4 Carbine but shorter than the M16. This design combines the accuracy of a full-length rifle (such as the M16) with the weight and rapid target acquisition of a compact carbine (such as the M4).
The C8 is usually fielded to the Canadian Special Forces.
C7 & C8 in the Danish Army
Denmark brought the C7A1 in 1995 and C8A2 in 1996 and these are labelled M/95 and M/96 carbine in Denmark. These are to replace the German made H&K G3 (labelled M/75 in Denmark), which has been the main infantry weapon since 1975.
The C7A1 is issued to standard Infantry units, while the C8A2 is issued to units where the physical longer C7A1 can be ‘obstructive’ to that units primary work, that include logistical, tankers and special units (like Jægerkorpset)
The Army use almost exclusive the C7A1 and C8A2 with the C7/9 optical sight, while the Danish Home Guard, which also for some years have this rifle, uses the iron sight/carrying handle.
It was first issued (C7A1) to field units of Logcoy/Danbn/Dancon of the Danish International Brigade, in October-November 1995 shortly before the transition from UNPROFOR to IFOR in Bosnia.
External links
- CASR DND 101 - Origins of the C7 (http://www2.sfu.ca/casr/101-c7orig.htm)
- Modern Firearms - Diemaco C7/C8 (http://world.guns.ru/assault/as44-e.htm)