The StG 44
An assault rifle is a fully automatic selective-fire rifle that uses a detachable magazine. The purpose of an assault rifle is to facilitate close-quarters fighting and to kill as many people as possible, with detachable magazines speeding up the reload time and allowing for more shots to be fired. Nazi Germany's StG 44 was the first assault rifle, with the AK-47 and M16 being later examples of the type of weapon.