Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: mjw5@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael J. Weseman)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Small Arms
Message-ID: <1991Mar12.232535.165@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 12 Mar 91 23:25:35 GMT
References: <1991Mar4.212601.9682@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (william.b.thacker)
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
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From: mjw5@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael J. Weseman)

In a previous article, scott@swindle.Berkeley.EDU (Scott Silvey) says:

>
>
>From: scott@swindle.Berkeley.EDU (Scott Silvey)
>
>I have a couple questions about some of the infantry weapons I've seen troops
>  using in the GULF.
>
>I've noticed a few of the men in every squad are equiped with a grenade laucher
>  mounted under the barrel of their M16.  Would someone mind describing this
>  weapon and it's uses in detail?  For example, what is it's range, and what
>  types of rounds can it fire?  Is it normally loaded all the time?  Does the
>  grenade have a fairly flat trajectory, or is it lobbed like a short range
>  mortar?  How do they determine who gets to use one?  Does it increase the
>  weight of the rifle so that it becomes more unwieldly?

    That is called the M-203 (M-16/40mm. grenade launcher).  It can be fired
  directly and/or indirectly.  You can fire smoke, HE, and even armor-piercing;
  I have even heard of a flechette round that makes it an over-sized shotgun.
    Normally a platoon will have 1 or 2 in it's ranks; don't quote me on that.
  My info. doesn't get into the specific trajectories of the individual rounds,
  Sorry.
  


>Also, I noticed some scenes of British infantry scouting out an Iraqi bunker
>  for hostiles ... they tossed in a grenade.  They were carrying a very modern
>  looking assault rifle that I've never seen before.  It was sand colored 
>  and had the magazine (and I assume the firing mechanism) BEHIND the pistol
>  grip.  This makes the weapon somewhat short I assume.  Can anyone explain 
>  what rifle this is?  Is it standard issue now?  When did they get it?  How
>  does it compare with the M16A2?

      It is known as the SA-80 system or more commonly referred to as the
   "Enfield Weapon System."  There is the L85A1 Individual Weapon (Endeavour),
   and the larger L86A1 Light Support Weapon (Engager).  They both fire the
   standard 5.56 NATO round, and the "bullpup" configuration  was used for
   compactness.  The L86A1 LSW has a bipod, and is comparable (in its role)
   to our M249 Squad Automatic Weapon.  I haven't heard about any comparisons
   between the L85A1 and the M-16A2.  They both began to be issued to the
   regular British troops in 1987.  Oh, by the way, the L85A1 is fitted with
   a standard optical sight, but can mount a variety of day/night scopes.

-- 
 Michael J. Weseman |   Michelson  540   | "He commands qwack legions fwom
 Cadet Fourth Class |(The Officer's Club)|  Wome."--Gov. of Jerusalem talking
    A.F.R.O.T.C.    |Case Western Reserve|  to the masses of his good friend
 Det. 660, Akron U. |     University     | "Bigus Dickus" from Rome. MP,L.O.B