UK Defence Forum

Tinman wrote:

marktigger wrote:

downsizer wrote:Never had a problem with the A2 personally.

never had a problem with the A1 or the A2 but compared to SLR know which I'd rather have

L85a2 would be my choice, I wouldn't like to have cleared compounds with an SLR.

In a similar vein there is no way I'd want an SLR on the Boardwalk in KAF. How could I carry my pizza and skinny latte with that blunderbus?

Is the boardwalk still there?

Is Cambridge lines still there?

Boardwalk was mostly demolished in late 14. Cambridge lines was left standing when we left. No idea what is there now.

Cheers, DS.

andrew98 wrote:A HK G3? :p

53 maybe G3K in confined space

downsizer wrote:Boardwalk was mostly demolished in late 14. Cambridge lines was left standing when we left. No idea what is there now.

Very little. Apart from the usual "afgan" waste.

marktigger wrote:

andrew98 wrote:A HK G3? :p

53 maybe G3K in confined space

Want to hit the ceiling?

Tinman wrote:

marktigger wrote:

andrew98 wrote:A HK G3? :p

53 maybe G3K in confined space

Want to hit the ceiling?

lol yes saw that the day I got to play with one it climbs. And took a couple of rounds to get used to it semi. full was a little different lol

The L85A3.

A new rifle is delayed not only until the US Army makes up its mind about a new standard caliber, but especially to whenever the army will have budget for a new rifle. So, not anytime soon.

I don't see that as an immediate concern. Let's see what the squad sizes arecoming out for "normal" infantry/ RM (navy)/Strike (in MIVs)/ ...and AI (where the turreted Warriors will set the tune).
- getting the support weapons sorted (the latter two have their vehicles, and can also carry "extras" in them) should be done immediately, and then caliber questions and such (as the new rifle) will come... some time later

Glad to see the L85 evolving. now we just need to convert out Minimi Paras to the Mk3 standard in 7.62mm.

Well, that one came out of no-where.

Nice to finally see confirmation.

And now it’s gone

Looks like someone spoke before the MoD wanted!

So what was the news then?

Grenadier Guards posted that they had the L85A3, and were the first to get it. Showed a picture with what was unmistakeable the "A3" we'd seen in development images.

So either they pre-empted the MoD, or it's only trials and the social media team made an error.

This was the image in case anyone still wants to see it:

The usual MoD reaction. Instead of clarifying the situation they put the walls up with a sign saying "Nothing to see here"!

Have they moved the production over to LMT?
- perhaps the likeness is only to my eye

Still Hkey mod
MLok is taking over (in the US at least).

Was just thinking that as long as the "new" rifles are rebuilds of the existing ones, at about £600 a pop plus new/ changed accessories, then changing supplier is not really an option, as per this "intent" released a couple of years back:
"the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place a contract for the Equipped to Fight Improvement (EFI) programme for the modification of 5 000 SA80 weapons with Heckler & Koch GMBH & Co for work to be completed by March 2017. The estimated contract value is 2 700 000 GBP. The contract will require the supplier to modify the existing SA80 A2 weapon by fitting a combination of new and modified components. Specific tolerances of materials are needed along with exact dimensions and surface finishes on the components to allow for interoperability with the existing system, particularly when managing the variable interface caused by differing rates of wear of existing components which are recycled as part of the programme. There are very high risks involved in managing the variable tolerances and manufacturing processes when combining new and existing weapon components."

The Ministry must have looked at old contracts as they have SA, instead of the "L" in the name?

It beats me what is sensitive about the roll-out? If the above contract was let, there would have been a year for QA & testing at the armouries, before fielding.

Deliveries began last year and by December they had delivered around 360. Plenty of tests will have been done, but the mod does not like to communicate anything meaningful.