ARWEN 37
Royal Small Arms Factory · Rifle · In Production · 1981
Also known as: Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield, ARWEN Mk III
Overview
The ARWEN 37 (Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield) is a British gas-operated, five-shot less-lethal launcher developed by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield in the late 1970s and introduced in 1981. Firing 37mm munitions from a rifled barrel and a five-round rotary cylinder, it delivers direct-impact baton rounds as well as chemical-irritant and smoke projectiles for crowd control. The multi-shot rotary design gave riot police and military units a rapid, repeatable less-lethal capability that single-shot launchers of the era lacked.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3100 g (109.3 oz) |
| Overall Length | 840 mm (33.07") |
| Barrel Length | 310 mm (12.20") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 74 m/s (243 fps) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 60 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 37mm Less-Lethal · primary — also known as 37mm baton, 37x83mm, 37mm impact munition
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Rotary Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Five Round Rotary Cylinder, Rifled Barrel, Adjustable Stock, Pistol Grip, Carrying Handle Sight
Variants
- ARWEN ACE - Single Shot
- ARWEN Multi-S - Short Range
- ARWEN 37 Multi-V - Vehicle Mounted
Service history
Operators
- British Armed Forces
- United Kingdom police forces
- Canadian law enforcement
- French law enforcement
Conflicts
- The Troubles (1968-1998)
Production
Production years: 1981-present
Produced in several variants including the base ARWEN 37, single-shot ARWEN ACE, short-range Multi-S and vehicle-mounted Multi-V
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield
Notes
Named as an acronym for Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield, echoing the Tolkien character Arwen. The rifled barrel spin-stabilises baton rounds for improved accuracy over smoothbore riot guns.
Background
The ARWEN 37's name is a backronym for Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield, a play on the elf-maiden Arwen from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. It was conceived to give British forces in Northern Ireland a multi-shot alternative to single-fire baton guns.