Marksman Badge

[Sisyphus]

Any PWs out there who can tell us if the 'scores' for being awarded the above were changed with the advent of the SA80 with the telescopic sight? [I did have a butchers at the previous SA80 thread but couldn't find anything]

And was the SMG phased out at the time the SA80 was introduced?

[A SQAUDRON 21]

Any PWs out there who can tell us if the 'scores' for being awarded the above were changed with the advent of the SA80 with the telescopic sight? [I did have a butchers at the previous SA80 thread but couldn't find anything]

And was the SMG phased out at the time the SA80 was introduced?

Hello mate...I can awnser that the SMG was phased out when I joined in 1990 but still had training on it.The LSW replaced the SMG as well as the LMG due to the amount of firepower the LSW could put down as a section weapon... it was thought to replace SMG and LMG fire power ...with the LSW.

I was a marksman and recieved my cross rifles at my Kings Sqaud pass out in Jan 91 and the APWT is run the same as when the SLR was used.The use of the SUSAT sight did not alter the way the APWT was carried out or the scoring system..I dont know if that has changed now but that was the case when I served...1990-1994.

Yes the SMG was phased out when the SA80 came to service...But was still in use by SB for about 2 yrs after.

[Sisyphus]

Cheers A!

[Pasha]

Hello Sisyphus,

There is indeed a dual scoring system in place for APWTs, dependant on whether your rifle is fitted with a SUSAT or you are relying on iron sights. I can't recall the variation off hand but do remember it as being, as one would expect, considerable.
Warm regards!

Pasha

[El Prez]

Pasha you may be interested to know that in years past JR and Owdun, and maybe even Wully had to embroider their own marksman badges and then sew them on their uniforms. When you consider what the light was like between decks it must have made for some nasty sewing; there's a rumour that JR once produced something akin to two carp mating.
Real hard men just had tattoos. Must have been a real bastard when they lost a GCB.

[A SQAUDRON 21]

Cheers A!

Correct there is variation from the SUSAT and IRON but Marine section weapons are zeroed in for SUSAT use and the variation between SUSAT and IRON is considerable when on APWT.When I started.... the APWT remained the same... so Pasha awnser is more up to date...I am not a PW1 or PW2 so I wouldnt know a definitive awnser..........Sorry.

[Pasha]

Hello El Prez,

Hmmmmmm...... I always thought that the greatest benefit of serving in those, now sadly no-longer, East Of Suez days was the prolific number of dirt cheap tailors in Singapore and Hong Kong. Was I misled?!
Best rgards!

Pasha

[El Prez]

No you are correct Pasha, but the only reason those old reprobates went near a tailor was to trap the youngest daughter, gen buzz.

[owdun]

GCBs fitted with zips, Prez, marksman badge much prized, we got paid for it, qualification as I remember was Lee Enfield 303, Bren LMG, Sten or Stirling SMG, Browning 9mm, all Iron sights, non of your fancy scopes. Remember shooting out to 800 yards on one range course in HK.


Aye Owdun.

Muskets good to 100 yards, crap from then on.

[JR]

Hell Frank,those were the days,Hard Men! (El Prez dont you dare) and soft women,When your target appears engage it,the Marksmans badge was something to (Aim) for, and the money ok for another run ashore.Aye JR

Down Targets Patch Out!

[Chameleon]

The only thing I can remember about the Marksman's badge was that I got marksman on the Bren and the Stirling, but only 2nd class shot on the rifle. So no Marksman Badge. Later I did get the hang of the rifle, or it could have been that they changed mine for a good one.

[Chameleon]

Now that has reminded me of another thing. We came upon a locked door. It was like a Yale lock. Now I suspect that no one had any idea of what might happen if you fired at a lock that close. So I was chosen as the guinea pig.

I put my rifle against the lock, and pulled the trigger. There was a loud bang, and a small hole appeared in the metal, about 1/4 inch away from the keyhole. Amid shouts of can't you hit the bloody thing at point blank range, I gave the door a gentle push. It swung open. Later when things had settled down a bit, I found the complete back of the lock at the end of the corridoor. I reckon that I should have got a Marksman's Badge for that.