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Hi guys,

Apologies firstly if this is in the wrong forum !

Reason for posting is I was reading through a book earlier today and came across a picture of a soldier carrying what I'm sure was an SA80 with an underslung grenade launcher.

Were my eyes deceiving me? If not, what the hell was it, and what cartridge does it chamber?

Thanks in advance,

Chris

P.S. Whilst I'm asking amateur questions, could some one explain what the hell 'ball' means in reference to people speaking of ammunition.

"ball" is a standard 5.56mm round. As for the grenade launcher...???

20mm if I remember right, it is 2am and I'm on rum, no rationing mind you.
talking 203 right?

The grenade launcher you probably saw in the photo is the Heckler and Koch UGL (Underslung Grenade Launcher), which is now standard issue across the infantry. It was procured by urgent operational requirement for Op Telic, and is now in full-time service.

It's a 40mm weapon, capable of firing HE, smoke and illum grenades, although I've only ever come across HE grenades with the UK varient.

The range of the UGL is about 200m.

To attach the UGL to the rifle requires the removal of the handguard, the UGL and its assembly then fit on the weapon in place on the handguard. This is what gives the futuristic appearance of the weapon and UGL.

oh god, no. Hasn't there been enough recruits killed at ITC catterick already? Don't tell me all new Infantry recruits get this? The amount of ND's that happen...... god help us.

thats what training's for

Catterick's more dangerous than Iraq. You know the saying "the more we sweat in training, the less we bleed in war.." well at catterick it ought to be "the more men we kill in training, the less we send to war"

Sounds like a really nice place. Is this the norm for all Combat Training Establishments or is it just Catterick in particular?

Anyone been through the Depot, Ballymena? That is where I hopefully will be will be one day.

Lance

So is it like the 203?
I was dead tired last night and didn't look to deep. We had the 20 Mike Mike grenade launcher and it was full auto and then the 203 which come to think was 40 mm right?
I only fired it twice and never the full auto job.
200 meters sounds right. We had a range with a red and white striped pole that was the max range and you'd get a case of beer if you could hit it, called it the candycane.

Thanks guys for clearing that up especially Rockape for your info.

Lance wrote:Sounds like a really nice place. Is this the norm for all Combat Training Establishments or is it just Catterick in particular?

Anyone been through the Depot, Ballymena? That is where I hopefully will be will be one day.

Lance

Catterick isn't that bad really. There has just been a few accidents like recruits being shot, and one blown up with a grenade. It's not the norm, Catterick and Deepcut are just notorious.

Yes they are bringing out a SA80 with a grenade launcher on it. Also the comments about iy being dangerous, well you are entering an occupation with a fair ammout of risk and the more training you get on these weapons the better you can handle them. Just for your information, back in Para's in the 1950 they where allowed to kill 1% of the Para's during training per year with out any questions being asked, one of the battalions in Cyprus went well above that and questions where asked in the House, the CO's reply was "he was training men for battle and if he did not train them hard many more men could die" after that nothing else was said about it.

The Canadian C7 has been fitted with the M203 for quite a while now. We had rifles refurbished and fitted with the M203 at a ratio of two per section least year. The 40mm M203 is capable of placing frag/HE reasonably acurately out to about 300m. I was very impressed with our lads handling of the weaopon during last year's live platoon attacks. Smoke, starburst and para illum, paint marker, AP, and I believe some form of shotgun round is also available. See...

Tab wrote: Just for your information, back in Para's in the 1950 they where allowed to kill 1% of the Para's during training per year

And they don't let them do that anymore? Bloody hell, its political correctness gone mad! What did they used to do? Line them up and shoot every 100th man concentration-camp style?
Seriously, though, I know hard training would be more beneficial (to those who survived it..) but I think there are too many corrupt NCO's working as training staff who would take advantage of such a rule these days.

What about that for a new weapon!