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SA80
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always go commando
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- Posts: 634
- Joined: Thu 05 Jun, 2003 7:32 pm
- Location: middlesbrough
the SA80a2 Look like its got it sorted I heard of no major problems in the gulf with it. Got to play with a few other nations weapons. C8 carbine of the Danes was nice, G3 the norgies had was really nice give me 7.62 over 556. The nicest was the spanish marines G36's the were the k9's gonads really nice well balanced and very well thought out.
I see the yanks are looing at a new calibre 6.8 mm.
I see the yanks are looing at a new calibre 6.8 mm.
Q What is the SA80 A2 weapon system?
A It is the name given to the SA80 Individual Weapon (IW) and Light Support Weapon (LSW) that were introduced into service in 1986 as the new general purpose small arm for the Armed Forces. The A2 variant is the modified version of both the IW and LSW
Q How does the MOD measure reliability?
A It is measured by how often the weapon fails during a battlefield mission. It is presented in terms of Mean Rounds Between Failure (MRBF).
Q What is MRBF?
A This is a measure of the average number of rounds that are fired between failures of a battlefield mission test. The battlefield mission requires the IW to fire 150 rounds in 8 minutes 40 seconds and for the LSW to fire 960 round in 36 minutes
Q What is the A2’s MRBF?
A The MRBF varied in each of the test environments and between weapon variants:
Trials Type/Location Individual Weapon Light Support Weapon
Cold/Dry - Alaska 31,500 43,200
Temperate - UK >31,500 16,000
Hot/wet - Brunei >31,500 9,600
Hot/Dry - Kuwait 7,875 8,728
Average 25,200 12,897
The minimum expected life of the new components is 10,000 rounds. It is, therefore, possible for an A2 to suffer no stoppages during its life
Q Why does the MRBF vary between environments?
A Each test environment - arctic, jungle, desert and temperate - places different demands on the weapon system. Deserts, for example, are the most challenging environments for all mechanical devices, not just weapons. Sand makes its way into the weapons mechanism and this causes advanced wear and can foul the working parts. All weapon systems, such as the M16 and AK47 display different levels of reliability in each climatic environment.
Q Where were the tests run?
A The arctic tests were run in Alaska (US Army’s Cold Regions Test Centre in Fort Greely), the jungle tests in Brunei (Seria), the desert tests in Kuwait (Kazma) and the temperate tests in the UK (Warminster).
Q What has been modified?
A The list includes:
Breech block,
Breech bolt,
Cartridge extractor,
Cartridge ejector,
Recoil springs,
Extractor spring,
Firing pin,
Cocking handle,
Magazine (the whole magazine has been replaced),
Gas plug and cylinder,
Hammer,
Barrel extension
Barrel (LSW only).
Q Do these minor changes really make that much of a difference?
A Yes. For example, the firing pin, a known problem area, has not suffered a single problem during the trial programme - around 3 million rounds have been fired without one breakage.
Q How much will the modification programme cost?
A The modification programme is expected to be around £92 million. This includes the cost of spares, trials etc. The cost is within the overall cost envelope approved in June 2000 (£92.25 million).
Q How long will it take for all of our Armed Services to receive A2s?
A Based on the current estimate it will take four years and three months - from December 2001 to February 2006.
Q Why is it taking so long?
A This isn’t a particularly long time. The MOD is modifying around 200,000 weapons. These have to be withdrawn from service, modified and reissued. This all takes time. Ideally we would like to issue all of the armed forces with the modified weapons at the same time but this isn’t practical. Nor is it unusual for weapons to be gradually introduced into service. When the SA80 A1, for example, was originally introduced it was phased into service between 1986-93.
Q How many A2’s are there?
A We currently have 10,000 modified SA80's in stock. This will increase to 15,000 in
December 2001.
Q Can the modification programme be put into a higher gear?
A Currently H&K are modifying 3,000 weapons a month. This is already planned to
increase to 4,000 a month in May 2002. It is theoretically possible to
increase these numbers still further . This would, however, increase the cost of the
programme.
Q Are there plans to increase the number of SA80's modified each month?
A Currently no. The details of the UK’s participation in the current conflict are undecided. A decision will be made in light of any possible military involvement.
Q Are there plans to issue A2’s to any troops who may be involved in combating international terrorism?
A The SA80 A1 is a good weapon. The A2, however, is more reliable in extreme environments. It is the MOD’s intention to ensure that our troops have the best weapons available to them. If and when any troops are deployed they will be equipped with equipment appropriate to the task. The A2 is already available in considerable numbers, and if we need to bring forward the issue of the weapons we will do so.
Q Why does the MOD have a stock of A2s?
A It was always the MOD’s intention to shave an operational stockpile for just this sort of contingency. This is designed to give the MOD the option of issuing A2’s, if appropriate, to units ahead of the planned rollout programme.
Q Why were A2’s not issued to troops involved in exercise Saif Sareea?
A The troops involved in exercise Saif Sareea deployed at a time when the MOD was building up the operational stockpile. Issuing A2’s would have eaten into the stockpile. There are, moreover, no current plans to deploy any troops involved in exercise Saif Sareea at the end of the exercise.
Q Will the phased introduction reduce the combat effectiveness of our Armed Forces?
A The unmodified SA80 is a capable weapon system. So units who have not received the modified weapon will still remain effective. It is, however, fair to say that the modified SA80 system will increase the combat effectiveness of the units that are issued with them in extreme environments. Priority will be given to units in the JRRF and in operational theatres. In this way the troops who have the most urgent operational requirements will receive the weapons first.
Q When will X unit receive the modified SA80?
A The issue programme is still being drawn-up. The current plan, however, is for the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) Wales to be the first to receive supplies of the modified weapon (December 2001). The ITC conducts the key battle courses for junior and senior NCOs. The full rollout will commence in the New Year with 3 Commando Brigade (May 2002). We will, of course release further information in due course.
Q Which units are the lowest priority?
A The units with the lowest operational requirement.
Q How will the modified weapons be issued?
A The modified weapon will be issued to whole formations, such as 3 Commando Brigade, in one go. All of the units that make up the formation such as infantry, armour, artillery and signals will receive modified weapons. This will avoid any problems associated with having a mixed fleet of weapons e.g. fitting unmodified spares to the modified weapon.
Q What would happen if modified and unmodified components were mixed?
A Depending on the part the most serious effect would be to reduce the weapons reliability. At worst the weapon would fail to function. There are no known safety risks.
Q How difficult is the A2 to maintain?
A It isn’t difficult to maintain. As with any mechanical system good cleaning and preventative maintenance are essential to ensure the best performance.
Q How lethal is the A2?
A Because of its accuracy the A2 is very lethal. The average user of an A2 has a higher probability of incapacitating their target than they would using a comparable service rifle, particularly at longer ranges.
Q The A2 fires the 5.56mm round. Aren’t larger rounds better at penetrating body armour etc?
A The 5.56mm round travels at a very high velocity. When it comes into contact with a target a great deal of force is directed in a small area and this gives it very good penetration characteristics.
Q Will the A2 be able to be fired from the left shoulder?
A No. They will continue to be fired from the right shoulder. Left-handed troops are, however, able to accurately fire the weapon from their right shoulder.
Q The design goes back to 1945 so it isn’t surprising that the SA80 is unreliable?
A No. The Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield produced the first bullpup prototype in 1945. The current SA80 bears only a superficial resemblance to the 1945 model. The technology, materials, optics, manufacturing processes etc have all moved on since 1945. Indeed, the gas operating system used in the modern automatic and semi-automatic rifles first appeared in 1905. So just because it is an old principle it doesn’t mean that it is flawed!
Q Will the A2 be readmitted to the NATO nominated weapon list?
A The SA80 is fully compatible with all of the 5.56mm rounds produced by other NATO countries. We fully expect the SA80 to be readmitted and the trials are currently ongoing. The results of the trials are expected by February 2002.
Q Isn’t the modification programme an admission that the SA80 is seriously flawed?
A No. Weapons are routinely modified during the course of their service life. The SLR, for example, was modified 54 times.
Q How many weapons will be modified?
A The MOD expects to modify around 200,000 weapons. Any unmodified weapons will, as far as possible, be cannibalised for spares.
Q How many lives have been lost as a result of the SA80’s reliability problems?
A None.
Q How will the Armed Forces be able to tell the difference between a modified and unmodified weapon?
A For five reasons:
The soldiers will be issued with their own modified SA80,
The modified weapons will have H&KA2 stamped on it,
The cocking handle is visibly different,
Some internal components will be differently coloured,
It will be more reliable.
Q Why wasn’t the SA80 reliable when it was introduced?
A When the SA80 was accepted into service the stated battlefield mission, which determined the characteristics of the weapon, was for the rifle to fire 120 rounds over a 24 hour period. The LSW had to fire 800 rounds in 24 hours. Against these criteria the unmodified weapons are very reliable. Today the battlefield mission is for the IW to fire 150 rounds in 8 minutes 40 seconds. The LSW needs to fire 960 round in 36 minutes. It is, therefore, not surprising that the SA80 weapon system needs to be modified. Comparing the battlefield requirements set for the SA80 system in the late 1980s to the current one is similar to comparing the Vauxhall Astra of 1986 to the current model. The latest version is much more reliable. It is the same with the SA80. NB In the original trials any number of stoppages that could be cleared by the firer were not counted as failures. In the trials of the modified weapon more than one stoppage, including those that can be cleared by the firer, counts as a failure.
Q Why didn’t the MOD replace the SA80 weapon system with a new weapon system?
A There are two reasons:
The A2 would achieve the required levels of reliability.
It is more cost effective to modify the SA80 than it is to buy a new weapon system. To procure and support a new system would cost around £500 million . This includes spares, additional infrastructure (rifle racks, blank firing adapters etc), training etc. The modification programme is expected to cost around £92 million - a fifth of the cost of procuring a new weapon system.
Q Why doesn’t the A2 use a plastic magazine?
A The A2’s magazine housing, where the magazine fits into the body of the weapon, cannot be increased in size to accommodate the larger plastic magazine that would be required. The walls of a plastic magazine must be thicker than its metal equivalent to provide the same strength, making a plastic magazine bulkier.
Plastic magazines also require horizontal reinforcing ridges around the walls to provide rigidity. These ridges and the additional bulk cause the magazines to jam in ammo pouches or pockets. A thin plastic magazine also flexes and this can cause further failures - the round is not correctly inserted into the feed mechanism. These problems make them inappropriate for use by the British Army.
It has also been suggested that transparent plastic magazines would help soldiers know how many rounds they had in their weapon. This is true to a degree but where the magazine attaches to the rest of the weapon the magazine is obscured.
Q Why wasn’t the weight of the A2 reduced?
A The weight of the weapon contributes to its low recoil. This is a major factor in its accuracy. Moreover, the A2 isn’t that much heavier than most other rifles when the optical sight is removed from the weapon. The optical sight is only issued to troops involved in dismounted close combat e.g. infantry.
Q Why use optical sights if they are so heavy?
A To enhance the capability of the soldier in the field by making target easier to locate and engage. These are contributory factors to its accuracy. The SUSAT also greatly enhances the soldier’s ability to engage targets in low light (dawn, dusk and moonlight) and provides every user with a magnifying observation device. The SUSAT adds 0.8 Kg to the weapons overall weight.
Q What grenade launching ability does the A2 have?
A It fires a rifle grenade. This is slipped over the barrel of the IW and fired using an ordinary round of ammunition. The round strikes a bullet trap on the grenade and this provides the energy to launch the grenade. The MOD is content with the capability of the current rifle grenade.
Q Is it true that the optical sights zero is destroyed when a rifle grenade is fired from the A2?
A. No. The standard rifle grenade that is currently used will not affect the optical sight's accuracy.
Q Will the Cadet Forces receive A2s?
A No. There is no operational requirement.
Q Why has it taken so long to modify the SA80?
A It hasn’t taken that long. The SA80, in common with all weapon systems, has been subject to constant revisions throughout its life. The current programme is a major refurbishment programme that will extend the weapons in service life until 2020. The trials programme can’t be rushed through. It is important to properly test the weapon. The trials have, indeed, identified a number of minor issues that have been addressed.
Q Will the A2 be upgraded again?
A There are no large-scale modifications planned. A small number are expected to be modified in 2009 to include a rapid area effects weapon that is part of the FIST roll out plan.
Q Will the Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) make the A2?
A Not initially. The A2 is expected to remain in service until 2020 and will form part of the initial operating capability of the FIST programme
Q Will the blank firing adapter (BFA) be modified?
A The BFA is being modified slightly to ensure its reliability of function.
Q Do the UK’s Special Forces use the SA80 weapon system?
A I am sure you will understand that the MOD cannot divulge details of the weapons used by the SF as this would assist potential adversaries in countering or neutralising UKSF capabilities.
Q Why did the Police recently buy the G36 and not the SA80 IW or LSW?
A The SA80 IW and LSW are no longer in production. The last one to roll-off the production line did so over eight years ago. It was not, therefore, possible for the police to acquire either the unmodified or modified SA80.
NB The MOD Police make extensive use of the SA80 IW to guard certain establishments.
Q Is a belt fed machine gun better than the LSW?
A A belt fed machine gun and a LSW have different capabilities. The current belt fed machine gun used by the Armed forces is the GPMG. Although this has a greater rate of fire than the LSW it is much heavier, less accurate and the ammunition is not compatible with the IW. The capabilities are, however, complimentary.
A It is the name given to the SA80 Individual Weapon (IW) and Light Support Weapon (LSW) that were introduced into service in 1986 as the new general purpose small arm for the Armed Forces. The A2 variant is the modified version of both the IW and LSW
Q How does the MOD measure reliability?
A It is measured by how often the weapon fails during a battlefield mission. It is presented in terms of Mean Rounds Between Failure (MRBF).
Q What is MRBF?
A This is a measure of the average number of rounds that are fired between failures of a battlefield mission test. The battlefield mission requires the IW to fire 150 rounds in 8 minutes 40 seconds and for the LSW to fire 960 round in 36 minutes
Q What is the A2’s MRBF?
A The MRBF varied in each of the test environments and between weapon variants:
Trials Type/Location Individual Weapon Light Support Weapon
Cold/Dry - Alaska 31,500 43,200
Temperate - UK >31,500 16,000
Hot/wet - Brunei >31,500 9,600
Hot/Dry - Kuwait 7,875 8,728
Average 25,200 12,897
The minimum expected life of the new components is 10,000 rounds. It is, therefore, possible for an A2 to suffer no stoppages during its life
Q Why does the MRBF vary between environments?
A Each test environment - arctic, jungle, desert and temperate - places different demands on the weapon system. Deserts, for example, are the most challenging environments for all mechanical devices, not just weapons. Sand makes its way into the weapons mechanism and this causes advanced wear and can foul the working parts. All weapon systems, such as the M16 and AK47 display different levels of reliability in each climatic environment.
Q Where were the tests run?
A The arctic tests were run in Alaska (US Army’s Cold Regions Test Centre in Fort Greely), the jungle tests in Brunei (Seria), the desert tests in Kuwait (Kazma) and the temperate tests in the UK (Warminster).
Q What has been modified?
A The list includes:
Breech block,
Breech bolt,
Cartridge extractor,
Cartridge ejector,
Recoil springs,
Extractor spring,
Firing pin,
Cocking handle,
Magazine (the whole magazine has been replaced),
Gas plug and cylinder,
Hammer,
Barrel extension
Barrel (LSW only).
Q Do these minor changes really make that much of a difference?
A Yes. For example, the firing pin, a known problem area, has not suffered a single problem during the trial programme - around 3 million rounds have been fired without one breakage.
Q How much will the modification programme cost?
A The modification programme is expected to be around £92 million. This includes the cost of spares, trials etc. The cost is within the overall cost envelope approved in June 2000 (£92.25 million).
Q How long will it take for all of our Armed Services to receive A2s?
A Based on the current estimate it will take four years and three months - from December 2001 to February 2006.
Q Why is it taking so long?
A This isn’t a particularly long time. The MOD is modifying around 200,000 weapons. These have to be withdrawn from service, modified and reissued. This all takes time. Ideally we would like to issue all of the armed forces with the modified weapons at the same time but this isn’t practical. Nor is it unusual for weapons to be gradually introduced into service. When the SA80 A1, for example, was originally introduced it was phased into service between 1986-93.
Q How many A2’s are there?
A We currently have 10,000 modified SA80's in stock. This will increase to 15,000 in
December 2001.
Q Can the modification programme be put into a higher gear?
A Currently H&K are modifying 3,000 weapons a month. This is already planned to
increase to 4,000 a month in May 2002. It is theoretically possible to
increase these numbers still further . This would, however, increase the cost of the
programme.
Q Are there plans to increase the number of SA80's modified each month?
A Currently no. The details of the UK’s participation in the current conflict are undecided. A decision will be made in light of any possible military involvement.
Q Are there plans to issue A2’s to any troops who may be involved in combating international terrorism?
A The SA80 A1 is a good weapon. The A2, however, is more reliable in extreme environments. It is the MOD’s intention to ensure that our troops have the best weapons available to them. If and when any troops are deployed they will be equipped with equipment appropriate to the task. The A2 is already available in considerable numbers, and if we need to bring forward the issue of the weapons we will do so.
Q Why does the MOD have a stock of A2s?
A It was always the MOD’s intention to shave an operational stockpile for just this sort of contingency. This is designed to give the MOD the option of issuing A2’s, if appropriate, to units ahead of the planned rollout programme.
Q Why were A2’s not issued to troops involved in exercise Saif Sareea?
A The troops involved in exercise Saif Sareea deployed at a time when the MOD was building up the operational stockpile. Issuing A2’s would have eaten into the stockpile. There are, moreover, no current plans to deploy any troops involved in exercise Saif Sareea at the end of the exercise.
Q Will the phased introduction reduce the combat effectiveness of our Armed Forces?
A The unmodified SA80 is a capable weapon system. So units who have not received the modified weapon will still remain effective. It is, however, fair to say that the modified SA80 system will increase the combat effectiveness of the units that are issued with them in extreme environments. Priority will be given to units in the JRRF and in operational theatres. In this way the troops who have the most urgent operational requirements will receive the weapons first.
Q When will X unit receive the modified SA80?
A The issue programme is still being drawn-up. The current plan, however, is for the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) Wales to be the first to receive supplies of the modified weapon (December 2001). The ITC conducts the key battle courses for junior and senior NCOs. The full rollout will commence in the New Year with 3 Commando Brigade (May 2002). We will, of course release further information in due course.
Q Which units are the lowest priority?
A The units with the lowest operational requirement.
Q How will the modified weapons be issued?
A The modified weapon will be issued to whole formations, such as 3 Commando Brigade, in one go. All of the units that make up the formation such as infantry, armour, artillery and signals will receive modified weapons. This will avoid any problems associated with having a mixed fleet of weapons e.g. fitting unmodified spares to the modified weapon.
Q What would happen if modified and unmodified components were mixed?
A Depending on the part the most serious effect would be to reduce the weapons reliability. At worst the weapon would fail to function. There are no known safety risks.
Q How difficult is the A2 to maintain?
A It isn’t difficult to maintain. As with any mechanical system good cleaning and preventative maintenance are essential to ensure the best performance.
Q How lethal is the A2?
A Because of its accuracy the A2 is very lethal. The average user of an A2 has a higher probability of incapacitating their target than they would using a comparable service rifle, particularly at longer ranges.
Q The A2 fires the 5.56mm round. Aren’t larger rounds better at penetrating body armour etc?
A The 5.56mm round travels at a very high velocity. When it comes into contact with a target a great deal of force is directed in a small area and this gives it very good penetration characteristics.
Q Will the A2 be able to be fired from the left shoulder?
A No. They will continue to be fired from the right shoulder. Left-handed troops are, however, able to accurately fire the weapon from their right shoulder.
Q The design goes back to 1945 so it isn’t surprising that the SA80 is unreliable?
A No. The Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield produced the first bullpup prototype in 1945. The current SA80 bears only a superficial resemblance to the 1945 model. The technology, materials, optics, manufacturing processes etc have all moved on since 1945. Indeed, the gas operating system used in the modern automatic and semi-automatic rifles first appeared in 1905. So just because it is an old principle it doesn’t mean that it is flawed!
Q Will the A2 be readmitted to the NATO nominated weapon list?
A The SA80 is fully compatible with all of the 5.56mm rounds produced by other NATO countries. We fully expect the SA80 to be readmitted and the trials are currently ongoing. The results of the trials are expected by February 2002.
Q Isn’t the modification programme an admission that the SA80 is seriously flawed?
A No. Weapons are routinely modified during the course of their service life. The SLR, for example, was modified 54 times.
Q How many weapons will be modified?
A The MOD expects to modify around 200,000 weapons. Any unmodified weapons will, as far as possible, be cannibalised for spares.
Q How many lives have been lost as a result of the SA80’s reliability problems?
A None.
Q How will the Armed Forces be able to tell the difference between a modified and unmodified weapon?
A For five reasons:
The soldiers will be issued with their own modified SA80,
The modified weapons will have H&KA2 stamped on it,
The cocking handle is visibly different,
Some internal components will be differently coloured,
It will be more reliable.
Q Why wasn’t the SA80 reliable when it was introduced?
A When the SA80 was accepted into service the stated battlefield mission, which determined the characteristics of the weapon, was for the rifle to fire 120 rounds over a 24 hour period. The LSW had to fire 800 rounds in 24 hours. Against these criteria the unmodified weapons are very reliable. Today the battlefield mission is for the IW to fire 150 rounds in 8 minutes 40 seconds. The LSW needs to fire 960 round in 36 minutes. It is, therefore, not surprising that the SA80 weapon system needs to be modified. Comparing the battlefield requirements set for the SA80 system in the late 1980s to the current one is similar to comparing the Vauxhall Astra of 1986 to the current model. The latest version is much more reliable. It is the same with the SA80. NB In the original trials any number of stoppages that could be cleared by the firer were not counted as failures. In the trials of the modified weapon more than one stoppage, including those that can be cleared by the firer, counts as a failure.
Q Why didn’t the MOD replace the SA80 weapon system with a new weapon system?
A There are two reasons:
The A2 would achieve the required levels of reliability.
It is more cost effective to modify the SA80 than it is to buy a new weapon system. To procure and support a new system would cost around £500 million . This includes spares, additional infrastructure (rifle racks, blank firing adapters etc), training etc. The modification programme is expected to cost around £92 million - a fifth of the cost of procuring a new weapon system.
Q Why doesn’t the A2 use a plastic magazine?
A The A2’s magazine housing, where the magazine fits into the body of the weapon, cannot be increased in size to accommodate the larger plastic magazine that would be required. The walls of a plastic magazine must be thicker than its metal equivalent to provide the same strength, making a plastic magazine bulkier.
Plastic magazines also require horizontal reinforcing ridges around the walls to provide rigidity. These ridges and the additional bulk cause the magazines to jam in ammo pouches or pockets. A thin plastic magazine also flexes and this can cause further failures - the round is not correctly inserted into the feed mechanism. These problems make them inappropriate for use by the British Army.
It has also been suggested that transparent plastic magazines would help soldiers know how many rounds they had in their weapon. This is true to a degree but where the magazine attaches to the rest of the weapon the magazine is obscured.
Q Why wasn’t the weight of the A2 reduced?
A The weight of the weapon contributes to its low recoil. This is a major factor in its accuracy. Moreover, the A2 isn’t that much heavier than most other rifles when the optical sight is removed from the weapon. The optical sight is only issued to troops involved in dismounted close combat e.g. infantry.
Q Why use optical sights if they are so heavy?
A To enhance the capability of the soldier in the field by making target easier to locate and engage. These are contributory factors to its accuracy. The SUSAT also greatly enhances the soldier’s ability to engage targets in low light (dawn, dusk and moonlight) and provides every user with a magnifying observation device. The SUSAT adds 0.8 Kg to the weapons overall weight.
Q What grenade launching ability does the A2 have?
A It fires a rifle grenade. This is slipped over the barrel of the IW and fired using an ordinary round of ammunition. The round strikes a bullet trap on the grenade and this provides the energy to launch the grenade. The MOD is content with the capability of the current rifle grenade.
Q Is it true that the optical sights zero is destroyed when a rifle grenade is fired from the A2?
A. No. The standard rifle grenade that is currently used will not affect the optical sight's accuracy.
Q Will the Cadet Forces receive A2s?
A No. There is no operational requirement.
Q Why has it taken so long to modify the SA80?
A It hasn’t taken that long. The SA80, in common with all weapon systems, has been subject to constant revisions throughout its life. The current programme is a major refurbishment programme that will extend the weapons in service life until 2020. The trials programme can’t be rushed through. It is important to properly test the weapon. The trials have, indeed, identified a number of minor issues that have been addressed.
Q Will the A2 be upgraded again?
A There are no large-scale modifications planned. A small number are expected to be modified in 2009 to include a rapid area effects weapon that is part of the FIST roll out plan.
Q Will the Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) make the A2?
A Not initially. The A2 is expected to remain in service until 2020 and will form part of the initial operating capability of the FIST programme
Q Will the blank firing adapter (BFA) be modified?
A The BFA is being modified slightly to ensure its reliability of function.
Q Do the UK’s Special Forces use the SA80 weapon system?
A I am sure you will understand that the MOD cannot divulge details of the weapons used by the SF as this would assist potential adversaries in countering or neutralising UKSF capabilities.
Q Why did the Police recently buy the G36 and not the SA80 IW or LSW?
A The SA80 IW and LSW are no longer in production. The last one to roll-off the production line did so over eight years ago. It was not, therefore, possible for the police to acquire either the unmodified or modified SA80.
NB The MOD Police make extensive use of the SA80 IW to guard certain establishments.
Q Is a belt fed machine gun better than the LSW?
A A belt fed machine gun and a LSW have different capabilities. The current belt fed machine gun used by the Armed forces is the GPMG. Although this has a greater rate of fire than the LSW it is much heavier, less accurate and the ammunition is not compatible with the IW. The capabilities are, however, complimentary.
Ex RE 1986 till 1997
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day tripper
- Member
- Posts: 149
- Joined: Mon 19 May, 2003 12:39 am
- Location: Manchester
MAte you must be confusing well drilled and disciplined British troops with our American cousins
If we need to pour huge amounts of lead into a target we use the GPMG or minimi
I cant remember the rounds per minute for rapid fire but it doesnt mean sitting with your finger on the trigger
rpm for rapid and deliberate anyone ?
If we need to pour huge amounts of lead into a target we use the GPMG or minimi
I cant remember the rounds per minute for rapid fire but it doesnt mean sitting with your finger on the trigger
rpm for rapid and deliberate anyone ?
"certa cito"
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civvy_bivvy_bag
- Member
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- Joined: Fri 21 Nov, 2003 2:38 pm
- Location: ABC
Last edited by civvy_bivvy_bag on Thu 22 Apr, 2004 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
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voodoo sprout
- Member
- Posts: 1224
- Joined: Sun 01 Dec, 2002 5:13 pm
- Location: London, UK
- Contact:
Day tripper: 30 rounds in a rifle is generally enough as long as you are careful as mentioned, and it's wrong to say any rifle holds more as the magazine is the limit and it varies. The SA80 is issued with a 30 round magazine (not clip - clips are the strips which hold rounds together for storage and no current British weapons fire from them), but it can equally accept an 8 round AR15 magazine and a 100 round C-mag for instance. And I believe the given standard amount isssued is six loaded magazines.
CBB - I didn't think such things as "scaled down" L85/L86's existed unless they were models? There is only really one LSW version, and the L98 is mainly a single shot SA80 with the same receiver.
CBB - I didn't think such things as "scaled down" L85/L86's existed unless they were models? There is only really one LSW version, and the L98 is mainly a single shot SA80 with the same receiver.
Last edited by voodoo sprout on Mon 01 Dec, 2003 8:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Fluffy bunnies - Grrrrr!
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day tripper
- Member
- Posts: 149
- Joined: Mon 19 May, 2003 12:39 am
- Location: Manchester
I read in the papers that there were some units that were so short on ammo that they were only issued with 1 loaded mag? That cant be right can it.
Also read that out of the 600 mimis ordered 300 only came in time for the invasion of iraq is this true?
Also read that out of the 600 mimis ordered 300 only came in time for the invasion of iraq is this true?
I love the smell of Napalm in the morning, smells like victory...
