SA80
Weapon
name= L85 IW (SA80) | image= | caption= The L85A2 assault rifle | origin= United Kingdom | Assault rifle
>is_ranged=yes | is_bladed= | is_explosive= | is_artillery= |
>service= 1985â€"present | used_by=UK, Zimbabwe, Jamaica | 1991 Persian Gulf War, Bosnian War, Kosovo War, Afghanistan, Iraq War 2003â€"
>designer= | design_date=1980s | manufacturer= Royal Small Arms Factory | production_date=1985â€"1994 | number= | L86 LSW (Light Support Weapon);
L22A1 Carbine;
L98A1 CGP (Cadet General Purpose)
>weight= 4.98 kg (loaded);
6.58 kg (LSW, loaded) | length= 785 mm;
900 mm (LSW) | part_length= 518 mm,
646 mm (LSW) | crew= | cartridge= 5.56 x 45 mm NATO | caliber= 5.56 mm | action= Gas-operated, rotating bolt | rate= ~650 rounds/min | velocity= 940 m/s;
970 m/s (LSW) | range= 400 m (L85);
800 m (LSW) | max_range= | feed= 30-round detachable box magazine | sights= Tritium-illuminated telescopic sight (standard) | As above |
SA80 (Small Arms for 1980s) is a family of related arms that include the British Armed Forces's standard combat rifle. Originally designed and manufactured by the Enfield Royal Small Arms Factory (now BAE Systems Land Systems Munitions & Ordnance), they were introduced into service in 1985 and are likely to remain the primary infantry weapon in British use until 2015.The SA80 family is made of four weapons, the L85 IW (Individual Weapon or "Rifle"), the L86 LSW (Light Support Weapon), the L22A1 Carbine (often referred to as the SA80A2 Carbine or SA80A2K) and the manually operated L98A1 CGP (Cadet General Purpose).
All four are similar in most respects â€" they all fire the 5.56 x 45 mm NATO round from a 30-round detachable box magazine, and can mount the SUSAT (Sight Unit; Small Arms; Trilux), a 4x optical sight with a tritium-powered glowing pointer for limited night sighting as well as the CWS (Combat Weapon Sight) â€" an image intensifying sight for night use.The weapons are designed in the bullpup configuration with pistol grip forward of the magazine and the mechanism in the buttstock. This allows the use of a long, accurate barrel in a weapon with compact dimensions.
Rifles issued to Combat Arms are equipped with the SUSAT, while rifles issued to Combat Support Arms and Combat Service Support Arms, and cadets, are equipped with a simple iron sight incorporating a carrying handle. LSWs are issued with SUSATs in all cases, though they are usually seen fitted with iron sights for jungle use due to the short ranges likely there.LSWThe LSW is a section-level magazine-fed light machine weapon. For this role it adds a bipod, buttstrap and rear pistol grip, and has a different design of handguard. Its longer barrel also improves muzzle velocity for longer effective range. The weapon is otherwise identical to the basic L85 and the magazines and some internal parts are interchangeable. This weapon is now being supplemented by the FN Minimi, a belt-fed weapon capable of longer bursts of fire. The long barrel results in a particularly high muzzle velocity for an assault rifle. Combined with the free-floating nature of the heavy barrel and the optical performance of the SUSAT, this gives the weapon excellent accuracy. This has lead to it being 'rebranded' as a DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) with the introduction of the FN Minimi as a replacement light support weapon.CarbineFor issue to tank crews in the British Army, the L22A1 (formerly referred to as the L85A2 Carbine or SA80A2K) was set to replace the standard size L85A2, the Carbine had a barrel shortened by about 1 foot (30 cm). The forward handguard (which would be below the barrel) had therefore been replaced by a vertical grip, as used on other short barreled weapons. It was to be issued with a 20-round magazine to give a better balance, but also takes the 30-round magazine.However, the carbine was never produced in vast numbers, and almost all tank crews carry the full size SA80, or rely on their sidearm for defence.
In 2006 a decision was made by the British Ministry of Defence that the carbine version of the SA80 is to be issued to Apache pilots of the Army Air Corps rather than the tank crews. This was based on the fact that the tank crews can use the standard L85A2 when they engage in combat, whereas the helicopter pilots would use the carbine version only in extreme circumstances, in lieu of a sidearm. Also many have consider this move by the British MOD as a cost cutting exercise.Cadet GPThe L98A1 Cadet GP is broadly similar to the IW, but lacks a gas system and fire select lever. They were built in order to allow Cadets to train on a non-repeating version of the IW - the working parts are re-cocked by hand after each shot, using a large cocking handle. This is connected to the bolt by an external rod, and runs on a slide on the side of the body well forward of the working parts, making it far easier to use in the prone position than that of the IW or LSW (which, of course, do not require frequent manual recocking in any case). There is no credible substance to rumours that Cadets will be issued automatic L98 rifles following the introduction of the L85A2. Such rumours ignore the fact that no new weapons were produced for the L85A2 variant, the entire stock being produced by conversion of existing L85A1s, leaving no 'surplus' weapons for distribution elsewhere.
* It has recently been rumoured that SA80 A1's surplus from the introduction of the MINIMI LMG are being issued to cadets with a repetition only (no automatic capability). However distribution has been put on the backburner due to the recent Iraq war, and the planned distribution in 2005 never took place.
The L98A1 does have some of the shortfalls that the IW and LSW versions have. For instance, its higher weight, compared to other rifles, results in weaker cadets having difficulty handling it. Jams are also frequent as cadets misuse the rifle by incorrectly operating the cocking handle, either by not pulling the handle back hard or fast enough, or by pushing the cocking handle back forwards (a "forward assist"), although this sort of action on the standard SA80 is essential to ensure smooth firing of the weapon . However, it is rare for the weapon to seriously malfunction under normal firing conditions, and the L98A1 is known as an accurate and "fun to use" rifle among cadets.
In cadet competitions, the most prestigious of which is held each July at the National Rifle Association, UK Headquarters in Bisley Surrey, the L98A1 is fired with tremendous accuracy at 300m range. Given that cadets use the Iron sights in competition, and that the cocking action of the L98A1 often requires a change in position by the cadet, scores of 35 and 34 out of 35 (2 sighters and 7 to count) are frequently recorded. This is an indication of the value of this weapon in teaching marksmanship. The top prize in the cadet Bisley meeting is the Ashburton trophy, awarded to the highest scoring 'Ashburton' team after a 200m and 300m shoot.When a smaller calibre than the current 7.62 mm round was suggested for NATO standardisation, the Royal Small Arms Factory developed the XL65 bullpup rifle to fire the new .190 in (4.85 mm) round it was submitting to the NATO new cartridge selection trials announced in 1977. Enfield had earlier submitted the EM-2 bullpup design using an intermediate .280 round when NATO standardization had been first addressed in 1951. The 4.85 mm round was a "necked down" but otherwise standard U.S. 5.56 mm cartridge from the M16 assault rifle. It was unsuccessful and the 5.56 mm SS109 round was accepted as NATO standard.
The XL65 was essentially an AR-18 reconfigured in bullpup layout. When the American caliber was selected, the XL65 was rechambered to fire the new NATO standard, a contingency that had been anticipated.CriticismsThe initial version of the L85 gained a bad reputation as being unreliable and somewhat fragile during trials. The main points of contention was the fact that the L85 lacked a magazine release guard, which meant that the release had a bad habit of catching on a soldier's webbing/belt kit and ejecting the magazine. The other major flaw was the fact that the walls of the receiver were so thin that the bolt could be stopped from moving by squeezing too hard or denting the chassis. Though that was not the only problem with the framework, the various plastic parts on the weapon were of an overall poor quality and were known to break or fall apart if not handled with care. The gas mechanism was also notorious for occasionally popping open the top cover and needed to be taped down with gaffer tape.
The shortcomings of the L85 were not limited solely to the weapon, problems also lay with the magazine design and the materials sourced for its construction. The spring used in the magazine of the L85 were of a poor quality and while the magazine had a maximum capacity to hold 30 rounds this was not recommended as it was known to put too much pressure on the spring and inevitably caused the spring to break. The soldier's work-round was to only fill the magazine with 25 or so rounds as the reduction in pressure made the magazines more reliable. This problem was largely corrected when Heckler & Koch redesigned the magazine in 2000.
Though not a fault of the rifle itself, an early batch of L85's had incompatibility problem with the then standard-issue mosquito repellent resulting in the butt of the rifle melting. This problem was later rectified when the standard-issue mosquito repellent was changed to an L85 friendly variant.
Many problems were corrected with the A1 version which became the main production model, but its reputation continued. Reports of high malfunction rates continued, often attributed to a cocking handle that sometimes deflected empty cartridges back into the ejector port and also due to a sensitivity to dirt. Reports by H&K have also suggested that over-zealous cleaning had a detrimental effect on the rifle. This includes both using abrasives on parts not suited to them, as well as simple over-cleaning.
The rifle and LSW are both criticised for their weight; approximately 1 kg heavier than other 5.56 mm weapons. While this reduces recoil and increases accuracy, much of the weight is in the butt of the weapon requiring a small weight in the front handguard to balance the weapon.
Other criticisms have been that during extreme climates, the weapons lock up, or have a slower rate of fire. Although this has not explicitly been confirmed by the British government, many soldiers complained that whilst in terrains such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Russia, the weapons would malfunction due to the heat expanding metal inside the weapon, or the cold narrowing the already thin parts of the weapon.
The ejection port and reciprocating bolt handle on the right-hand side of the weapon means it is impossible to fire from the left shoulder as in a normal firing position this would rest against the side of the firer's left cheek.
There are several other criticisms made of the rifle also stemming from poor design. Unlike the M16, the weapon lacks any effective internal means of storing a cleaning kit. The safety catch on the weapon is the source of one major criticism, as it requires either that the left hand is removed from the foregrip in order to be engaged, or that the right hand is removed from the firing position on the pistol grip. This makes quick engagement of the safety difficult in the prone position whilst maintaining aim with the finger on the trigger - however the safety can be disengaged easily without needing to move the hands. Also the weapon frequently jams. Rounds sometimes do not go into the chamber, but jam the whole mechanism.
The bayonet, whilst less important on today's battlefield, is also the source of some criticism. A comparably minor flaw is that that bayonet's handle is metal and directly on the metal of the barrel, and it can thus heat very rapidly when firing. A further set of problems arises from the metal used to make the blade, many users have complained about it bending and in some cases the blade breaking or shattering. There is, however, limited official documentation on this.
This poor reputation lead to regular critism in the UK media, especially in the Bremner, Bird and Fortune Comedy Documentary "Between Iraq and a Hard Place" when they stated: "The SA80 is a lethal weapon, especially for the person trying to fire it". Because of the poor quality of the L85A1, it failed to gain many countries for exports. To date, the only contries to adopt the SA80 as their standard rifle are Jamaica and Zimbabwe.L85A2In 1997 the SA80 was dropped from NATO's list of approved weapons, following which an upgrade programme was started. In 2000 Heckler & Koch, at that time owned by Royal Ordnance, were contracted to fix the problems. Two hundred thousand SA80s were remanufactured at a cost of £400 each producing the A2 variant of the weapon. By 2002 the upgraded versions were deployed in first line formations; however, the A1 version remains in use for familiarisation purposes during basic training. The upgrade involved replacement of many internal parts and has vastly increased reliability, to the point of making it one of the most reliable of bullpup configuration weapons.
In March 2005, the L85A2 was put through its paces against the M16, M4, AK-101, FAMAS G2 and G36E modern rifles. It outperformed all of them in accuracy (even without the SUSATs), reload speed (physically changing magazine on the move and static) and usability in urban and close-quarters combat (because of its shorter overall length and the ability to affix a bayonet). A2 upgraded versions also have a higher muzzle velocity. The AK-101 won reliability on multiple terrain, weather and climatic scenarios. The ranks in the test were:
# SA80# G36E# M16 family# AK-101# FAMAS G2
Weight remains the SA80's most cited drawback. With most of the weight near the back, a large metal counterbalance in the fore grip had to be added, increasing the weight further.However the weight of the rifle reduces recoil which improves overall accuracy.
Many specialist UK formations, such as the SAS, Royal Marine Special Boat Service, Royal Marine Brigade Recce Group (Formerly Mountain and Arctic Warfare Cadre) and the Pathfinder Platoon use the Diemaco C7 (a Canadian-made Armalite AR-15 variant) rather than the SA80 because of their different combat requirements, indeed Andy McNab stated in his book Bravo Two Zero, that the British Army procured a "Rolls-Royce in the SA80, albeit a prototype Rolls-Royce." This gives the impression that it is not necessarily a bad weapon, but is slightly too tempremental in most circumstances. Fortunately, this has changed with the A2.
In a further Heckler & Koch upgrade, a number of L85A2 rifles are now being fitted with the HK AG36 40 mm grenade launcher in a configuration similar to the M203, called the UGL (Underslung Grenade Launcher).*Modern equipment and uniform of the British Army
*British military rifles
* SA80: Mistake or Maligned?
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