The Morita rifle has a "Bullpup" configuration in which the action and magazine are located behind the trigger, allowing a longer barrel with a shorter overall weapon length. The rifle uses 7.62x51mm ammunition (.308 caliber), which explains the rifles' size, range and power. Theoretically, the rounds may be made from more advanced materials such as carbide or composites. The magazines have a 60 round capacity and the weapon itself can be set to semi- or fully automatic fire. The standard add-on is the 8 gauge 3.5" 16 round pump-action shotgun. (In the first film there is a brief mention that the Italian arms dealer "Beretta" makes these rifles.)
While it is mentioned to utilise 7.62x51 NATO rounds: It's magazine's size and shape indicates using 5.56x45m NATO (Standard magazine doesn't have a size to hold a 7.62x51 round)... In "Starship Troopers" Movie directed by Paul Verhoeven, judging by trooper's firing - they are utilising a low-recoil rounds (5.56x45) instead of 7.62x51.
Variants[]
Original Variants[]
The original version of the Morita comes in three different variants; an assault rifle with an underbarrel shotgun, an assault rifle with a large scope mounted that also has the underbarrel shotgun, and a carbine with a shorter barrel and no shotgun.[1]
Variant
Type
Image
Details
Morita Assault Rifle
Assault Rifle + Shotgun
The standard variant of the rifle. This weapon was issued to most Cap troopers. It contains an assault rifle with an underslung shotgun for close quarters. During the early years of the First Bug War this was the standard firearm. Despite this the weapon was not heavily effective against Arachnid Warrior Bugs. This may however, have been due to poor training of Mobile Infantry
Morita Carbine
Carbine
This carbine variant of the Morita was a shortened version of the standard rifle. Mobile Infantry unit commanders were issued these rifles along with security forces, as well as being equiped on Fleet escape pods.
Morita DMR
Assault Rifle + Shotgun + Scope
The Designated Marksman Rifle version of the Morita is the same as the standard rifle including underslung shotgun, but with a large scope attachment.
Mk2 Variants[]
Five years after the Battle of Klendathu the Moritas received slight tweaks and a new variant was added. These variants were used during the Battle of Hesperus.[2]
Variant
Type
Image
Details
Morita Mk2 Scatter
Assault Rifle + Shotgun
This old-fashioned assault rifle is the standard weapon for the Mobile Infantry. The Morita Mark 2 is an upgraded variant of the Morita in use during the Battle of Hesperus. It retains the features of the standard rifle, but has a better penetration ability of armored Arachnids.
Morita Mk2 Carbine
Carbine
Originally designed as a sidearm for pilots. The primary fire mode is similar to the standard Mk2 but has much shorter range. It also has a secondary firing mode which doubles the rate of fire.
Morita Mk2 Scoped
Assault Rifle + Scope
A modified variant of the standard MK2 rifle designed to pick off more powerful bugs at long range. It removes the underbarrel shotgun but adds a mounted scope. Additionally it has a cut down magazine and reduced rate of fire to minimize recoil.
Morita Mk2 Grenade
Assault Rifle + Grenade Launcher
MK2 variant with grenade launcher instead of scatter gun, gaining improved lethality at medium range at the expense of short range combat power.
MK1 Variants[]
The Deep Space Vanguard is seen using other slightly tweaked variants as well. These variants notably added iron sights to the top rail of the Morita.[3]
Variant
Type
Image
Details
Morita MK1
Assault Rifle
A well rounded rifle with decent firepower. A reliable staple serving the Mobile Infantry for decades. Used by the Deep Space Vanguard.
Morita MK1 Carbine
Carbine
A compact variant of the MK1 rifle with a higher cyclic rate, perfect for close quarter engagements. Used by the Deep Space Vanguard.
TW-203-A Assault Rifle (ST: The Roleplaying Game/ST: The Miniatures Game)[]
Like its predecessor in the Moritia Tactical Firearm series, the TW-203-S Assault Rifle, the Morita TW-203-A is based around a Electromagnetic Accelerant Rail system (which is classified as Gauss rather than Railgun technology in-universe). The accelerant rails of this system can propel a standard 7.62mm caseless ferric round out to a range of well over a mile (though the rather conservative official effective range is 'in excess of 1,000 meters'), with a reported efficiency drop-off of less than 0.75%. This is made possible by the high powered Gauss barrel of the TW-203-A, which contains three Gauss rings (the aforementioned accelerant rails), the rearmost of which 'fires' each round, with the remaining two rings providing secondary propulsion and stabilization, ensuring both accuracy and killing power at range. Apart from the number of rings it uses (three vs two in the -S), as well as its 'bullpup' configuration, another difference between the TW-203-A and the TW-203-S lies in their firing modes. While both are selective fire weapons, including single shot and fully automatic modes, the -A incorporates an additional three round 'burst fire' mode. This was originally developed in response to increased Skinny activity throughout the Galaxy. With their unusual body armor optimized towards protecting against energy rather than projectile weaponry, it was believed that three round bursts would be sufficient to ensure kill shots against standard Skinny infantry, while conserving ammunition. The three round bursts would also generally prove effective against most lighter Bug types, again helping with ammo economy and associated logistics.
The TW-203-A uses a standard 30 round magazine, but also can use extended field magazines holding 60 rounds each. The -A can also use a number of under-barrel attachments including:
FedCom XW-110-G1 Underslung Grenade Launcher
Morita XW-103-S7 Underslung Shotgun
Morita XW-137-A3 Underslung Trench Sweeper
Sub-variants of the TW-203-A such as the TW-202-L extended barrel variant and the TW-244-C carbine can not use under-barrel attachments, nor currently support extend field magazines. The TW-203-A was originally issued to elite units and special operation forces such as the Marauders and Pathfinders, but has gradually become standard issue in most frontline units, displacing the TW-203-S, though the latter is still widely in use, including in training and garrison roles, and variants such as the TW-202-l 'Hawkeye' Sniper Rifle show no sign of being displaced from frontline roles themselves anytime in the near future.
Behind the Scenes[]
The full-auto live firing Morita Assualt Rifle in the first movie contained a Ruger AC556k assault rifle in 5.56 mm NATO calibre and an Ithaca M37 12-gauge Pump-Action Shotgun. Semi-auto firing Moritas contained a Ruger Mini-14 rifle in 5.56 mm NATO calibre and the Ithaca M37. The live firing Morita Carbines (used by Fleet Troopers and Mobile Infantry Officers) only contained a Mini-14 rifle and no shotgun.
According to Rock Galotti, who worked on the weapons props for Starship Troopers, the Morita was originally supposed to have a digital ammo counter as well as iron sights through holes on the carry handle, but was unable to be included due to time and budget constraints.[4]
The Morita Assault Rifle is an excellent example of the film's satire — intentional or not.
