From: Rob Gross (moderator)
<GR...@BCVMS.BITNET/GR...@BCVMS.BC.EDU>
Saturday, March 12, 1994, 15:58 EST
Arms Discussion Digest
Volume 12 : Issue 4
All submissions to ARM...@BUACCA.BU.EDU (ARM...@BUACCA.BITNET)
Please do not post articles, as they have a high probability
of being lost.
Today's topics:
Re: M-16 and the British Army's equivalent (G T Clark)
SA-80 (Marcus Ewert-Johns)
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Date: Tue, 8 Mar 1994 16:21:41 GMT
From: G T Clark <gtc...@festival.edinburgh.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: M-16 and the British Army's equivalent
Rob Gross <GR...@BCVMS.BITNET> writes:
>Does anyone have any info on the M-16 A3 with optional grenade
>launcher? Also are there any newer models of the M-16 being
>designed? My last question is does anyone know anything (even
>the name would be helpful) of the Britain's equivalent to the
>m-16?
It's called the SA-80 by its developer (or the SA-80 Endeavour),
was bought by the army and referred to as the L-72 (I think) and
is in service as the IW (Individual Weapon) and an LMG variant,
the LSW (Light Support Weapon). There is a grenade launcher for
it, but the British Army hasn't bought them. It's a relatively
modern bullpup assault rifle that will fire 5.56N ammo, although
the issued round has a longer, more stable bullet. I believe that
there were problems with it in the Gulf, possibly due to
inadequate cleaning kits. I am also reliably informed that it
makes one hell of a racket.
Incidentally, the M-16's grenade launcher is the M-203. You might
be able to look that up somewhere.
>btw did anybody read the news about america's latest installment
>in the stealth family? Very enlightening...
No, I haven't. Any chance of a summary?
G.
[minor objection: I didn't write the quoted article.--rg]
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Date: Wed, 9 Mar 94 19:58:22 CST
From: umjo...@CC.UManitoba.CA (Marcus Ewert-Johns)
Subject: SA-80
The current British assault rifle is the Enfield L85A1 Individual
Weapon of the SA-80 family. This compact assault rifle is known
for its 'bullpup' design which places the magazine behind the
trigger group. It fires the NATO 5.56mm SS109 using the standard
M16A1 30 cartridge magazine. The L85A1 is 78.5cm in length,
weighs 4.98kg and fires 650-800rpm. A larger squad support
version, the Enfield L86A1 Light Support Weapon, is also
available. The L86A1 is 90cm in length, weighs 6.88kg and fires
700-850rpm. Both rifles are capable of fully automatic fire. A
Sight Unit Small Arms Trilux (SUSAT x4) optical sight is
standard. The SA-80 series was first issued to the Royal Army in
late 1985 to replace the aging FN L1A1 7.62mm.
Canada hesitates in agreeing to more cruise missile test flights
because Canada is trying to promote its UN peace-keeping forces.
Canada does not wish to seen as a hypocrite. I am sure that
future flights will be allowed after certain trade disputes are
resolved.
Marcus Ewert-Johns
University of Manitoba
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End of Arms-Discussion Digest
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