SA80

[Sisyphus]

Anyone heard any feedback from the Gulf on how the SA80 performed? I've not seen or heard anything in the media. Could it be the probs have been sorted? At least it will have been 'fully tested in field conditions' by now!

[Rotary Booty]

Sisyphus

Apparently it grouped well when fired at the new helmet, but was unable to penetrate the armour used therein!

[Sisyphus]

Nice one Derek!

[Jan Milligan]

And it still fires of its own volition when dropped but jams if on Automatic fire

[Noddy Dunne]

Did you notice how many SA80 stocks had tape round them, no doubt they still fall apart. I wonder if Airfix model glue is still part of the 'kit' for the SA80.

Give me an SLR any day - target WILL fall when hit.

[Jan Milligan]

Yes Noddy, over a period of 36hrs, I counted 72 Soldiers armed with the SA80/A2. 68 of them had their Magazines held on with black masking tape

[El Prez]

Slight misunderstanding there Jan. Black Masking Tape, or Harry Black Maskers retains a degree of mysticism akin to religion within the Corp, consequently what you observed was in fact the attachment of a length of HBM prayer beading. Every Bootneck proffs a roll of HBM from stores especially onboard, and waits excitedly to show it to his mates. It has often been rumoured that Matelots will leave unfinished rolls of HBM 'loafing' deliberately to trap the unwary and even in certain circumstances run a book to see how long it will take to vanish. Having proffed a roll of HBM one must never use it, but instead keep it intact for emergencies. Then when an emergency arises it pays to request use of your oppos HBM, because yours is up homers.

[Jan Milligan]

Prez ROFLAO

The following is extracted from the Scurra column of The Daily Mirror:

Looters in Baghdad have been making off with rare and historic artifacts dating back 7,000 years or more. Or
"British Army assault rifles", as they're officially known.

THAT SOUNDS MORE LIKE IT - I JUST KNEW THE DESIGN WAS DATED

[JR]

Never forget your weapon is made by the lowest bidder?.Aye JR

[may18]

Hmm isnt it true the upgrade cost more than it wold have cost to issue the preffered g36

[El Prez]

ROFLAO

Wassat? I know ROMFT and a few others, but ROFLAO?

[Jan Milligan]

The upgrade to the SA80/A2, cost the British Taxpayer 92 million pounds.

It is interesting to know that to protect British Brigade Headquarters in Afghanistan 149 Minimi assult rifles were bought, and that more were bought for the war in Iraq for to to be used once again to protect Brigade Headquarters in Kuwait.

Reason given, the SA80 was not deemed reliable for the Job!

Prez, Rolling On Floor Laughing Ass Off

[El Prez]

Thank you for that. Incidentally bootneck tells me that Big Mac and his scorched pals used minimimimimis. Menenmenuh, nuh, nuh nuh nuh nuh, Menumunuh, nuh nuh nuh nuh................

[Jan Milligan]

This is a letter that Paul Keetch MP sent to you know who

Rt. Hon. Geoff Hoon MP
Secretary of State for Defence
Ministry of Defence
Whitehall
London SW1A 2HB

25th July 2002

Dear Geoff,

I am writing to press you to replace the SA80-A2 and its variants as the standard individual weapon for the British Army.

Confidence in your weapon is a prerequisite for any soldier. For British soldiers to be deployed with a weapon that has operated below par for over
a
decade is scandalous. The £92m upgrade appears to have done little to improve confidence in the SA80. Furthermore it is reported that the tests undertaken to prove the A2's capabilities were somewhat less than
rigorous.

Much has been made of the financial settlement that the MoD won at the Comprehensive Spending Review and much has been made on the concentration
of
funds on high-tech solutions. Most soldiers would find the choice between 'network centric systems' and a rifle that works fairly easy to make.

Why do we persist in deploying our troops with the SA80?

If the SA80 is 'amongst the best in the world' as MoD advisers claim, then why have no other armed forces in the world chosen to purchase it?

When given the choice British forces do not select the SA80? Why do the
SAS
not use it? Why did the MoD pay an undisclosed sum for 149 Minimi Light Machine Gun in order to defend HQ Brigade Headquarters in Afghanistan?
Why
were the SA80 Light Support Weapons considered inappropriate?

We are now told that the SA80 is to be assessed again. This time the conclusion must be that a new upgrade in no substitute for a new weapon.

I have been advised that off the shelf solutions that are compatible with SA80 components and ammunition are available at low cost. Will the
Ministry
not consider replacing the SA80 for frontline troops as an immediate first step?

Yours sincerely,
PAUL KEETCH

[cglees]

The upgrade to the SA80/A2, cost the British Taxpayer 92 million pounds.

It is interesting to know that to protect British Brigade Headquarters in Afghanistan 149 Minimi assult rifles were bought, and that more were bought for the war in Iraq for to to be used once again to protect Brigade Headquarters in Kuwait.

Reason given, the SA80 was not deemed reliable for the Job!

Prez, Rolling On Floor Laughing Ass Off

The Minimi was brought in to compliment the LSW, it is not a rifle its a light machine gun.

Minimi's are used by the corps, the extra's were brought in for other army units to use as the LSW did not have as high a rate of supression fire.