L42A1 spotting scope; sniper training manual

[Peter Laidler]

I doubt if any made it into the L42 CES but during the L42 phase-out and L96 phase in (it was a long drawn=out process due to some dire metallurgical failings................) a new spotting telescope was being trialled. It was an internally adjustable variable x15 to 60 power plus focussing plus other bits and pieces etc etc. I seem to remember that it could also be fitted to a camera too. It was adopted but some of the features were 'locked down' as I seem to recall. It seemed to be OK and some went to the first Gulf 'unpleasantness' following Saddam stretching his wings a tad too far! Anyway, they turned out to be a xxxxxxx disaster out there because the internal mechanism's just jammed up solid. So the Scout Reg was put back. The big scope is still in service here where it seems to be OK but not good in the sand and dust.

The answer to the question is that if you had one of these big scopes in your L42, it could well be 'right'. I'll see if I can get some pictures of one as we don't seem to have one handy which means that I'll have to 'acquire' one for our collection