Essay on British army new sniper rifle ....

[hockeybuff]

This is from Janes:

UK forces are to receive a semi-automatic 7.62 mm x 51 mm 'sharpshooter' weapon to combat Taliban forces engaging beyond the maximum effective range of the 5.56 mm L85A2 assault rifle.

In a USD2.5 million deal the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has contracted Law Enforcement International (LEI) to supply 440 LM7 semi-automatic rifles.

The urgent operational requirement follows calls from troops on the ground for a weapon that can be comfortably patrolled with, can be rapidly initiated and provide an increased range for contacts out to 800 m.

To be redesignated the L129A1, the gas-operated weapon carries a 20-round magazine, is 945 mm long and weighs 5 kg. It will be manufactured by Lewis Machine & Tool Company in the United States, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2010.

Features of the weapon include a single-piece upper receiver and free-floating, quick-change barrels available in 305 mm, 406 mm and 508 mm. It has four Picatinny rails with a 540 mm top rail for night vision, thermal and image intensifying optics. Stock options include fixed or retractable versions.

Industry sources told Jane's that LEI beat competition including Heckler & Koch's HK417 (already supplied to specialist units within the MoD), FN Herstal's SCAR (Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle) and an offering from Sabre Defence Industries.

To date UK soldiers must complete a marksmanship course to become qualified as 'sharpshooters' and are regarded as being a grade below that of a sniper. Following the introduction of Accuracy International's (AI's) .338-cal L115A3 sniper rifle, sharpshooters have been armed with AI's outgoing 7.62 mm L96 rifle. However, the latter's bolt action does not make it a suitable option for a patrolling soldier.

With the majority of contacts occurring at either very close range or at ranges out to between 500 m and 900 m, the "only organic asset" available to responding UK forces in a small-arms capacity is the 7.62 mm General-Purpose Machine Gun, with MoD sources saying that "5.56 mm weapons lack the reach to engage the enemy at those ranges".

"The 5.56 mm is sufficiently lethal at the right range, but troops need 7.62 mm for longer ranges. We should be looking at higher performance rounds with higher lethality at longer range. Research is going to filter into user requirements for the soldier system lethality programme," one MoD source told Jane's.

[hockeybuff]

Hopefully this is the pic of it:



My computer skills aren't the best.....

[trooper554877]

Hopefully this is the pic of it:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...0&d=1262285364

My computer skills aren't the best.....

And thats what the aussies have been using ( something very similar) for about 4-5 years now.
Cheers
NED

[jmoore]

Dang, I wish someone would design an "AR-10" variant with a "Kickstart" (integral or stompable charging handle). Gave up on the platform after getting live or fired rounds stuck in the chamber (on different occaisions) which the "pullstart" handle wouldn't clear. (Can you imagine a pretezeled AR charging handle?) Not a problem w/ M14s or FALs. (Nasty gritty conditions are the usual cause, although a run of bad reloads were also involved- but not at the same time.) Did I ever mention that I'm hard on some weapons? (Not so much the old, rare stuff...)

BTW, never had a clearing problem like this on the "AR-15" platform.

[Peter Laidler]

AT LAST...... we're starting to see a separation between a dedicated SNIPER and a section SHARPSHOOTER Any good shot or marksman can be a sharpshooter but only a sniper can be a sniper. And the real snipers will ALWAYS pull you up if you, even accidentally, refer to any one or thing as 'sniper' when it's not

And I know I'm going to tread on a few toes now - but the sniper badge is harder to obtain than a paratroopers wings. And that is from somene who is a paratrooper

[Brian Dick]

They call them designated marksmen in the U.S. Army. The current ops in Iraq and Afghanistan, (but especially Iraq), are what have brought them about. They're also allowed to use a variety of tested and approved telescopes on their issue weapons.

[jmoore]

Mmmm, sorry my terminology wasn't precise in my quicky task breakdown.

You all are quite right to elevate the title to its proper lofty place. Unfortunately, its taken the latest conflict to bring these fine specialists the Recognition they deserve in the US Army. The 1000 yard range at Benning was so overgrown that it had to be more or less clearcut to get it operational again in about 2002-2003, I think. The USMC have been years ahead in this respect, and they really did not get serious about a permanent sniper (NOT shooting, which has been a core skill for decades) program until the Vietnam conflict.

[trooper554877]

AT LAST...... we're starting to see a separation between a dedicated SNIPER and a section SHARPSHOOTER Any good shot or marksman can be a sharpshooter but only a sniper can be a sniper. And the real snipers will ALWAYS pull you up if you, even accidentally, refer to any one or thing as 'sniper' when it's not

And I know I'm going to tread on a few toes now - but the sniper badge is harder to obtain than a paratroopers wings. And that is from somene who is a paratrooper

No argument from me. i did a couple of stints as enemy/dogsbody on a couple of sniper courses and lived with a few of them and had mates try and fail.But i did pass my para course.

It seems the yanks and poms are going down the line of the "designated marksmen" in the platoon. At this stage the aussies aren't. just get the sniper cell to provide overwatch, easy!
As well as arty,mortar, SFMG, tank, 25mm, naval, air support!!

cheers
NED

[Brian Dick]

The USMC were actually the first to make scout-sniping a real military operational specialty, (MOS), in the U.S. forces. I think that was in 1983 or therabouts. It took until 1987 for the U.S. Army to start a HQ sniper school at Fort Benning. When I was at Fort Bragg in ther early 1980's, we had our own school there as many other Infantry and SF bases did in those days so the craft was being taught to eagle eyed soldiers who were chosen. We also had the M21 as the current issue weapon at the time. A semi-auto National Match M14. I was too blind to go to sniper school but I supported the sniper candidates as a young armorer in a PIR. Actually, I was an old guy at the age of 22! The introduction of the Remington M24 was welcomed with open arms as the rifles on hand were very tired and the Leatherwood ARTIV scope notorious for not holding zero. Another interesting thing too is that when the legitimate sniper schools came into being, where do you think both the USMC and US Army went to learn how to do it properly? I hope you guessed ENGLAND! It's a fact.

[gunner]

England, the only country that early recognized the strategical value of scout/snipers in different ways !!!

Brian, that must have been a very interesting time!

Regards

Gunner