The SC-20K M.A.W.S. (Modular Assault Weapons System) was Third Echelon's prototype modular bullpup assault rifle as well as the Splinter Cell operative's most useful and versatile weapon. It is modeled after the FN F2000 manufactured by FN Herstal.
Technical information[]
Features[]
The SC-20K M.A.W.S. is equipped with a 1.5× magnified telescopic sight and an integral silencer. The sight is computer-assisted with a reticle that enables use in low-light conditions, contained in a plastic housing above the receiver (mounted on the MIL-STD-1913 rail), the secondary sight is a non-adjustable fixed notch and front blade, molded into the optical sight housing cover. The sight cover and sight module can be quickly removed to reveal the Picatinny rail.
The SC-20K is fed from a NATO jacketed magazine (STANAG 4179) with a 30-round cartridge capacity using 5.56×45mm SS109 ammunition. Its bullpup (magazine behind the trigger) configuration gives the weapon increased accuracy in a relatively standard-sized package. The rifle features a binary trigger mechanism that allows the user to fire a single round, by tapping the trigger, or to release a steady stream of bullets while the trigger is held down.
The SC-20K is usually used with a proprietary lightweight 40mm GL1 grenade launcher that uses standard low-velocity 40×46mm grenades. The launcher is a single-shot breech-loaded pump action weapon, with a barrel that slides forward for loading and unloading (much like the M203 grenade launcher). It is worth noting that the weapon is fully ambidextrous, with the ejection port at the front of the weapon, allowing both left-handed and right-handed users to use it efficiently. It also serves a tactical advantage, as ambidextrous operators such as user can use the weapon with either hand.
The rifle was generally the standard rifle Third Echelon issued to all Splinter Cells. The rifle boasts superior stopping power, range, penetration and magazine capacity over the SC Pistol. While aiming through the scope mounted on the weapon, the user can hold their breath, drastically increasing the accuracy of their shots and almost removing all sway. The SC-20K can dispatch most targets in a single shot to the head, or 2-3 shots to the torso, depending on any body armor the enemies are wearing and how many alarms the player has triggered. While it does have a suppressor, it is not advised to fire the weapon with multiple targets close by, as they will hear the shot and either become suspicious, or start attacking with generally superior firepower and numbers.
Modification[]
The SC-20K was modified for use during the Information Warfare Attacks and the Crisis in East Asia in 2007; the fixed buttstock was replaced by a collapsible buttstock. Furthermore, the telescopic sight was removed and replaced with a C-More Systems™ CRW (Click Railway) Sight, a tactical red dot reflex sight with fixed 1.5× zoom magnification. In compensation, the SC-20K gained the ability to mount additional undermount modular configurations. In the field, players can carry a maximum of two undermount attachments at once. The rifle was again modified for use during the JBA Crisis in 2008; the design was retained, but the buttstock was greatly stripped down, along with the fore-end of the weapon. Except for the launcher and a shotgun shell (despite the fact that a shotgun module was never attached underneath), the SC-20K's other attachments were never used by Sam on his missions during the JBA Crisis.
Modular configurations[]
The SC-20K can be modified to fit any mission profile. Although its standard configuration mounts the GL1 multi-purpose launcher designed for the F2000, its design allows it to be modified for close quarters with a shotgun or long range with a modified barrel which is only present in Chaos Theory and Double Agent (Version 2). It should be noted that the shotgun and sniper rifle are not suppressed. There currently are four alternative attachments.
Launcher attachment[]
The gas-powered 40mm GL1 grenade launcher mounted under the SC-20K's barrel has been modified to deploy an array of less-than-lethal (LTL) ammunition and devices such as Ring Airfoil Projectiles, Sticky/Distraction Cameras, Sticky Shockers, Smoke/Gas Grenades, and EMP Ammunition. The launcher attachment fires silently, allowing Sam to dispatch gadgetry without giving away his position.
The following is a list of details about the 40mm LTL devices:
Ring airfoil projectile[]
Main Article: Ring Airfoil Projectile
A high-impact, zero penetration projectile made of high-density rubber that can be fired from the SC-20K's launcher to stun and immobilize targets. Firing a Ring Airfoil round at the target's head may knock them out in a single shot. Striking the target anywhere else only stuns them momentarily, allowing the player to approach and grab them or knock them out. Firing two rounds in quick succession in the first two games knocks them unconscious.
Sticky camera[]
Main Article: Sticky Camera
A launcher-compatible surveillance camera with a titanium anchor prong. This device can be fired at and will stick onto any flat surface, including floors, walls, and boxes. The Sticky Camera may not stick into certain metallic surfaces. After firing and successfully anchoring a Sticky Camera, the device links to the player's OPSAT/PDA with a real-time wireless video signal relay. The Sticky Camera is equipped with night, thermal, and EMF vision modes as well as pan and zoom capabilities. If no signal is relaying from the Sticky Camera, there may be interference in the area. These devices often do not work outdoors, though there are exceptions. Multiple Sticky Cameras may be employed simultaneously. However, the OPSAT/PDA can only link to the device in the user's immediate area. No link can be established if the device is out of range. If more than one active Sticky Camera is in the immediate area, the player can cycle through the Sticky Cameras in range. The player can also disconnect the link to the Sticky Camera, and re-establish signal relay with a device in range.
Diversion camera[]
An adaptation of the Sticky Camera. The Diversion Camera has had its pan and zoom motors as well as its vision-enhancement apparatus replaced with a noisemaker and a CO2 gas canister. While linked to the device, the player can use its noisemaker which emits a clicking sound to draw enemies away from his position or draw them toward the Diversion Camera. When enemies stand in close range of this device, a fairly small cloud of CO2, composed of complex chemical compounds can be released, which can render the enemy unconscious. The enemy, however, must be in extremely close range in order for the gas to work. If an enemy gets too close to a Diversion Camera anchored in a fairly well-lit spot, they may detect it and blast it off the wall. In Essentials, the enemy will never shoot the Diversion Camera, but the effect of CO2 canister will only be temporary, the enemies will just cough for a while and trigger the alarm, so this camera is purely "Diversion". The Diversion Camera is reusable, provided that the operator does not detonate the gas canister. The Diversion Camera was only featured in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Pandora Tomorrow and Essentials because its main features (a noisemaker and a CO2 gas canister) were integrated into the Sticky Camera in Chaos Theory.
Sticky shocker[]
Main Article: Sticky Shocker
A launcher-compatible high-voltage discharge device coated in a powerful adhesive resin. Upon hitting its target, this device releases an electrical surge within the individual's body, knocking the target out instantly. Water can also conduct the charge from a Sticky Shocker, so one Sticky Shocker effectively knocks out multiple targets if they are standing in a puddle. Sticky Shockers can only be retrieved and reused if they missed their target or didn't come into contact with water. An individual rendered unconscious with the Sticky Shocker can be awakened by an ally if left in a lit area with numerous guards.
Gas grenade[]
Main Article: Gas Grenade
A standard gas canister grenade. In the manual for the first Splinter Cell game, it is said to contain CS (0-chlorobenzalmalononitrile) gas while the manual description in Chaos Theory is, "The gas grenade produces harmful hydrochloric fumes". Three seconds after being fired from the launcher attachment, the gas grenade releases a cloud of gas roughly four feet in diameter. Any enemy within range is exposed to the fumes, causing violent respiratory seizure and eventually, unconsciousness. If the player passes through the gas cloud, they take continuous damage until they leaves the area or they passes out, resulting in mission failure. For best results, a gas grenade can be fired at the target's feet. A group of targets can be knocked out by a single grenade if the player aims the grenade at the ground between them. Interestingly, the manual for the first game refers to it as a "Smoke Grenade".
EMP ammunition[]
A miniature device that will render inactive any piece of electronic equipment that can be affected by the OCP. It uses a miniaturized magnetron to generate a burst of electromagnetic radiation that will neutralize nearby electronic devices permanently.
Cottonball[]
When a Cottonball is fired from the SC-20K, a shotgun shell breaks away, leaving only a ball the size of a marble. When this ball strikes a hard object, an inner pod of aerosol tranquilizer is released. The Cottonball creates a cloud with a three feet radius that will render anyone inside unconscious in three or four seconds. The Cottonball is featured only in the novels.
All-Seeing Eye[]
Fired into the air, this tiny camera surveys the area from above by using an aero-gel parachute. The All-Seeing Eye, as with the Cottonball, is featured only in the novels.
Foregrip attachment[]
Vertical foregrip reduces recoil, giving the SC-20K a greater deal of accuracy when using lethal rounds. This makes aiming without using the sniper attachment much easier and more quiet. This attachment is not useful unless the player prefers assault tactics or the player requires the automatic fire as last resort. This attachment was introduced and used during the Cyber Attacks/East Asian Crisis and toward the end of the JBA Crisis.
Shotgun attachment[]
This attachment provides the SC-20K with a semi-automatic tandem under-barrel shotgun that carry 7 rounds of ammunition. According to Fisher, the ammo used are "12-gauge shells loaded with triple-ought buck," perfect for close-quarter offensive situations. The shotgun attachment cannot be fitted with a suppressor. It is one of the specialty attachments to the SC-20K that can penetrate hard cover, allowing the user to take out targets through walls, provided they are light enough. The shotgun is reloaded one shell at a time, but it can be reloaded multiple times if the reload button is held down. This attachment was introduced and used during the Cyber Attacks/East Asian Crisis. The Shotgun attachment similar to this one can be used in JBA Crisis, though it needs to be unlocked.
Sniper attachment[]
This prototype attachment adjusts the entire front end of the SC-20K to make way for a longer barrel and the ability to fire 20×82mm APDS (Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot) rounds which are kinetic energy, propelled high-heat sabot projectiles capable of taking out armored targets. The increased barrel length dramatically increases the range of the rifle to hit long distance targets with high precision. The attachment also includes the 6× magnified electronically-assisted telescopic sight (looks similar to the optic used by standard F2000 used by older Splinter Cell games), but with a 1.5–3.5× zoom magnification. While accurate, the sniper attachment has a very low rate of fire and has substantial recoil, the recoil is generally not an issue because the player's character will correct it every shot. Due to the size and power of the round used, the attachment can easily penetrate most walls, allowing the user to shoot targets hiding behind cover, or shoot them from cover themselves, provided they can see their target using the thermal-imaging mode of his goggles. During the three-block war between the U.S./South Korea and North Korea, Sam Fisher was able to shoot down unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs, in game it called UAV) with this attachment, the rounds are powerful enough to blow up security cameras as well. The attachment cannot be fired without first looking through the scope. As with the shotgun attachment, there is no suppressor, the sound it generates is so loud that an alarm is almost unavoidable. This attachment was introduced and used during the Cyber Attacks/East Asian Crisis only.
SC3000[]
Some time between 2008 and 2011, Third Echelon adopted the SC3000 as the new standard weapon for Splinter Cells as seen in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction. Like SC-20K, the SC3000 is based on the same weapon, the F2000 asault rifle. However, it does not have any of the modular features from the previous games and functions purely as an assault rifle. The SC3000 used by NPCs has flashlight though.
The SC3000 is a highly accurate, fully-automatic assault rifle with average stopping power. The SC3000 is likely an ambidextrous design, enabling both left and right handed users to use this weapon proficiently. The grip style is reminiscent of its precursor, the SC-20K. Rather than being fed by a STANAG magazine, it is fed by a new, unnamed magazine type. It is no longer equipped with the scope as standard, instead opting to use a rear flip-up and front iron sights. It has Picatinny rails on the top and sides for attachments, but these are only for show, for they are unused in the game.
FN F2000[]
SC-20K is based on FN Herstal's F2000. In the first two installments (Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and Pandora Tomorrow), the SC-20K was modeled after the first-generation F2000, while in the third and fourth (Chaos Theory and Double Agent) installments, it was modeled after the F2000 Tactical. The SC-20K in Essentials is basically the model used in Pandora Tomorrow, includes the scope, firing sound and reload animation. Due to licensing issues, however, Ubisoft was unable to use the name "F2000".
Later on in the Splinter Cell: Conviction, the SC-20K's successor, the SC3000, still draws elements from F2000 rifle, with a more compact layout.
During the "CIA HQ" mission in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (and its HD remake), Lambert vocally refers to it as the F2000, although the subtitles still read "SC-20K".
Appearances in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell media[]
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Essentials
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent (Version 1)
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent (Version 2)
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands (as F2000)
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Breakpoint