SA80
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| L85 IW (SA80) | |
|---|---|
 The L85A2 assault rifle fitted with SUSAT sight |
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| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1985–present |
| Used by | UK, Zimbabwe, Jamaica |
| Wars | Northern Ireland, 1991 Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan, Iraq War 2003— |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1980s |
| Manufacturer | Royal Small Arms Factory |
| Produced | 1985–1994 |
| Number built | approx 324,000 |
| Variants | L85 IW (Individual Weapon); L86 LSW (Light Support Weapon); L22A1 Carbine; L98A1 CGP (Cadet General Purpose) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4.98 kg (loaded); 6.47 kg (with attached UGL grenade launcher); 6.58 kg (LSW, loaded) |
| Length | 785 mm; 900 mm (LSW) |
| Barrel length | 518 mm, 646 mm (LSW) |
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| Cartridge | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO |
| Caliber | 5.56 mm |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | ~650 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 940 m/s; 970 m/s (LSW) |
| Effective range | 400 m (L85); 800 m (LSW) |
| Feed system | 30-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Tritium-illuminated telescopic sight (standard) |
SA80 (Small Arms for the 1980s) is a family of related arms that include the British Armed Forces's standard combat rifle. It is of the bullpup configuration. 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.
Contents |
[edit] Description
German company Heckler & Koch (H&K) were commissioned by British company BAE after Ministry of Defence ordered them to improve on the previous generation SA80 as it had many problems. The SA80 family is made of four weapons: the L85 IW (Individual Weapon or "Rifle") or SA80A2, 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 — 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 (Common Weapon Sight) — a "third generation" image intensifying sight for night use. The weapons are designed in the bullpup configuration with the pistol grip forward of the magazine and the mechanism in the buttstock. This allows the use of a long, accurate, free floating 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.
[edit] Accuracy
Although the effective range is listed as 400m by the MOD, the rifle is used to engage targets up to 500m away in competitive military shooting, with good results. Competition-level shooters expect to hit at 400m every time, and usually do so, showing the accuracy of the weapon. For operational purposes, the effective range is often stated as 300m as an individual shooter, or 600m as a section (eight soldiers).
[edit] LSW
The 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 The upgraded version has fewer interchangeable parts. 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. From its inception, the LSW has been a target of criticism for its poor reliability and inability to deliver sustained automatic fire.[1] In a tacit acknowledgement of the LSW's shortcomings, it has been redesignated as a DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) with the introduction of the 5.56 mm FN Minimi, a belt-fed light machine gun, as a replacement light support weapon.
[edit] Carbine
For 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 barrelled 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[citation needed] 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. Many have considered this move by the British MOD as a cost-cutting exercise[citation needed].
[edit] Cadet GP
The 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). However, because the cocking handle is connected to the rod by a pin, it occasionally breaks[citation needed]. Another (more minor) idiosyncrasy of the GP rifle is that, adding an extra layer of complexity, when carelessly reassembling the rifle, it is possible to detach the rod from the bolt carrier in such a manner that it is partly functional.
There is no credible substance to rumours that Cadets will be issued automatic or semi-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. No plans have been implemented (or mentioned) involving any upgrades to L98A1 rifles at any point in the L85A1 - L85A2 upgrade.
- 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).[citation needed] 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 300 m range. The L98A1 also demonstrates a rapid firing capability as competetions are held in snapshooting and falling plates. 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 200 m and 300 m shoot.
[edit] History
Bullpup designs were not new to the British arms establishment. Enfield had earlier submitted the EM-2 bullpup design using an intermediate .280 round when NATO standardization had been first addressed in 1951.
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. The XL65's operating mechanism was borrowed almost in its entirety from the Armalite AR-18(the Armalite's patents having expired), quantities of which had been acquired by the British Army for test and evaluation purposes. The 4.85 mm round was a "necked down" but otherwise identical to the 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. When the American calibre was selected, the XL65 was hastily rechambered to fire the new NATO 5.56 mm SS109 standard cartridge. Upon adoption, the rifle became known as the L85.
[edit] Criticisms
The initial versions of the L85 and LSW gained a reputation as being unreliable[1] and somewhat fragile.[2] The problems began during evaluation 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 rifle were not limited solely to the weapon. Problems also lay with the magazine design and the materials sourced for its construction. The springs used in the magazine of the L85/SA80 were of poor quality, and while the magazine had a maximum capacity of 30 rounds, this was not recommended as it was known to put too much pressure on the spring, inevitably causing jams or a broken spring. The soldier’s work-round was to fill the magazine with 25 or so rounds as the reduction in pressure made the magazines more reliable. This problem was not fully corrected until Heckler & Koch redesigned the magazine in 2000.
Though not a fault of the rifle itself, an early batch of L85 rifles had incompatibility problems with the then standard-issue mosquito repellent 'melting' (pitting) the butt of the rifle. This problem was later rectified when the standard-issue mosquito repellent was changed to an L85-friendly variant.
Some of the rifle's problems were corrected with the A1 version which became the main production model, but complaints over reliability in service continued.[1] The weapons was criticised for ejection jams, 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 using abrasives on parts not suited to them, as well as simple over-cleaning. However, during service in Kuwait and Afghanistan, the weapon would frequently malfunction when not cleaned thoroughly and often.
The SA80 family of infantry arms have been severely criticised for their weight;[2] approximately 1 kg heavier than other 5.56 mm weapons, a substantial penalty, and heavier than most 7.62 mm selective-fire infantry rifles of prior years. While additional weight can, in general, reduce recoil and increase accuracy of an infantry arm, it is highly questionable whether the additional marginal gain in accuracy is of any benefit in a 5.56 mm infantry rifle or light support weapon. Moreover, much of the weight is in the butt of the weapon, requiring yet more weight in the front handguard to retain sufficient balance and pointing qualities.
Other criticisms have been that during extreme climates, the weapons lock up, or demonstrate 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 heat or cold alternately expanding or contracting metal parts inside the weapon, causing jams.[3][1]
The L85/L85A1's right-handed ejection port and reciprocating bolt handle make the rifle impossible to fire from the left shoulder, as in a normal firing position these parts would rest against the side of the firer's left cheek.
Several other criticisms have been made of the rifle's 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. The SA80 has been criticised for numerous malfunctions (such as failure to properly feed cartridges), frequently causing stoppages. For many years, the SA80 was not available in a grenadier version with underslung grenade launcher, though the American M16 series of rifles had possessed this type of capability for decades in the form of the M203.
The bayonet, whilst less important on today's battlefield, is also the source of some criticism. A comparably minor flaw is that the bayonet's handle is metal and touches the barrel, and it can get hot very rapidly during shooting. 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 criticism by British soldiers and marines, a fact picked up by the UK media[1], for example the Bremner, Bird and Fortune satirical comedy documentary Between Iraq and a Hard Place included the line: "The SA80 is a lethal weapon, especially for the person trying to fire it". The writer 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." Because of the poor performance of the L85A1, the rifle's export sales were largely a failure. To date, the only other nations to use the SA80 are Jamaica, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, all of whom received quantities of the SA80 as foreign aid.[2][1]
[edit] L85A2
In 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. [citation needed] 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 on reliability on multiple terrain, weather and climatic scenarios. The ranks in the test were:
- SA80
- G36E
- M16 family
- AK-101
- FAMAS G2
However, the A2's service in Afghanistan was again criticised while in active service with the Royal Marines. According to the Marines, the upgraded A2 version of the SA80 was too difficult to clean and prone to jamming in conditions of heat, cold, sand, and dust[3][1]. An official enquiry concluded that the Marines were not cleaning their rifles frequently enough or in an 'approved' manner. The Sunday Telegraph claimed the inquiry's findings infuriated senior officers in the Royal Marines who described the conclusion in the enquiry as a "whitewash".[4]
Weight remains the L85A2's most cited drawback. As with the L85A1, with most of the weight near the back, a large metal counterbalance in the fore grip was required.
The adoption of the L85A2 version of the SA80 is not universal within the British Armed Forces. Many specialist UK units, such as the SAS, SBS, the Brigade Patrol Troop of 3 Commando Brigade and the Pathfinder Platoon use AR-15 rifle variants rather than the SA80 because of their different combat requirements, chronic problems with the SA80's extreme-weather performance and reliability[3], and need for a lighter 5.56 mm combat rifle.
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). Problems were experienced with availability of these rife/grenadier adaptations and their grenade ammunition, and they have not yet been extensively distributed or used by large numbers of soldiers or marines. The addition of the (unloaded) UGL adds another 3.30 lb (1.49 kg) to the already hefty L85A2 rifle. The UGL is intended to replace the Rifle Grenade General Service previously used with the L85A1/A2.
The SA80 family is now an old design which has not been manufactured for a number of years. Replacement is scheduled for 2020 as the existing weapons wear out.[5]
[edit] L85A3?
It seems likely that the British Armed Forces will order the development and manufacture of a A3 variation from Heckler & Koch to take the place of the L85A2 in 2015. No doubt it will be made to improve on the A2’s weaknesses e.g. Reliability and how it handles in extreme weather conditions.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Don't Buy British, Guardian Article
- ^ a b c SA80 Defined
- ^ a b c SA80 Rifle Jams in Heat And Cold BBC Article
- ^ Rifle Failure 'Fault of Marines', BBC article
- ^ Parliamentary answer to Member's Question July 2006, Ministry of Defence, July 2006
