L85A1/A2/A3 - SA80 Assault Rifle

Contains threads on Joint Service equipment of the past, present and future.
downsizer
Member
Posts: 910
Joined: 02 May 2015, 08:03

Re: rifle 5.56mm L85/A1/A2/ (The Rifle/ Sa80)

Post by downsizer »

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? ;)

Smokey
Member
Posts: 272
Joined: 18 Feb 2017, 13:33
Cyprus

Re: rifle 5.56mm L85/A1/A2/ (The Rifle/ Sa80)

Post by Smokey »

Is the boardwalk still there?

Is Cambridge lines still there?

downsizer
Member
Posts: 910
Joined: 02 May 2015, 08:03

Re: rifle 5.56mm L85/A1/A2/ (The Rifle/ Sa80)

Post by downsizer »

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

Smokey
Member
Posts: 272
Joined: 18 Feb 2017, 13:33
Cyprus

Re: rifle 5.56mm L85/A1/A2/ (The Rifle/ Sa80)

Post by Smokey »

Cheers, DS.

marktigger
Senior Member
Posts: 4640
Joined: 01 May 2015, 10:22
United Kingdom

Re: rifle 5.56mm L85/A1/A2/ (The Rifle/ Sa80)

Post by marktigger »

andrew98 wrote:A HK G3? :p

53 maybe G3K in confined space

Tinman
Member
Posts: 290
Joined: 03 May 2015, 17:59
United Kingdom

Re: rifle 5.56mm L85/A1/A2/ (The Rifle/ Sa80)

Post by Tinman »

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.

Tinman
Member
Posts: 290
Joined: 03 May 2015, 17:59
United Kingdom

Re: rifle 5.56mm L85/A1/A2/ (The Rifle/ Sa80)

Post by Tinman »

marktigger wrote:
andrew98 wrote:A HK G3? :p

53 maybe G3K in confined space
Want to hit the ceiling?

marktigger
Senior Member
Posts: 4640
Joined: 01 May 2015, 10:22
United Kingdom

Re: rifle 5.56mm L85/A1/A2/ (The Rifle/ Sa80)

Post by marktigger »

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

User avatar
SKB
Senior Member
Posts: 8015
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:35
England

Re: rifle 5.56mm L85/A1/A2/ (The Rifle/ Sa80)

Post by SKB »


User avatar
Gabriele
Senior Member
Posts: 1998
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:53
Contact:
Italy

Re: rifle 5.56mm L85/A1/A2/ (The Rifle/ Sa80)

Post by Gabriele »

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.
You might also know me as Liger30, from that great forum than MP.net was.

Arma Pacis Fulcra.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

User avatar
ArmChairCivvy
Senior Member
Posts: 16312
Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:34
United Kingdom

Re: rifle 5.56mm L85/A1/A2/ (The Rifle/ Sa80)

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

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
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)


Lord Jim
Senior Member
Posts: 7314
Joined: 10 Dec 2015, 02:15
United Kingdom

Re: L85A1/A2/A3(?) / SA80 Assault Rifle

Post by Lord Jim »

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

RetroSicotte
Retired Site Admin
Posts: 2657
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:10
United Kingdom

Re: L85A1/A2/A3(?) / SA80 Assault Rifle

Post by RetroSicotte »

Well, that one came out of no-where.

Nice to finally see confirmation.

mr.fred
Senior Member
Posts: 1506
Joined: 06 May 2015, 22:53
United Kingdom

Re: L85A1/A2/A3 - SA80 Assault Rifle

Post by mr.fred »

And now it’s gone

RetroSicotte
Retired Site Admin
Posts: 2657
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:10
United Kingdom

Re: L85A1/A2/A3 - SA80 Assault Rifle

Post by RetroSicotte »

Looks like someone spoke before the MoD wanted!

Ritchie
Junior Member
Posts: 9
Joined: 10 Dec 2015, 18:04
United Kingdom

Re: L85A1/A2/A3 - SA80 Assault Rifle

Post by Ritchie »

So what was the news then?

RetroSicotte
Retired Site Admin
Posts: 2657
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:10
United Kingdom

Re: L85A1/A2/A3 - SA80 Assault Rifle

Post by RetroSicotte »

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.


Lord Jim
Senior Member
Posts: 7314
Joined: 10 Dec 2015, 02:15
United Kingdom

Re: L85A1/A2/A3 - SA80 Assault Rifle

Post by Lord Jim »

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

User avatar
ArmChairCivvy
Senior Member
Posts: 16312
Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:34
United Kingdom

Re: L85A1/A2/A3 - SA80 Assault Rifle

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

Have they moved the production over to LMT?
- perhaps the likeness is only to my eye
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

Little J
Senior Member
Posts: 1003
Joined: 02 May 2015, 14:35
United Kingdom

Re: L85A1/A2/A3 - SA80 Assault Rifle

Post by Little J »

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

User avatar
ArmChairCivvy
Senior Member
Posts: 16312
Joined: 05 May 2015, 21:34
United Kingdom

Re: L85A1/A2/A3 - SA80 Assault Rifle

Post by ArmChairCivvy »

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.
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)

User avatar
Gabriele
Senior Member
Posts: 1998
Joined: 30 Apr 2015, 18:53
Contact:
Italy

Re: L85A1/A2/A3 - SA80 Assault Rifle

Post by Gabriele »

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.
You might also know me as Liger30, from that great forum than MP.net was.

Arma Pacis Fulcra.
Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum


Post Reply