Suez the weapons seized

[Gil Boyd]

Sorry to differ on this, but I know PARA Battalions received the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle in 1958 after the washup and return from Suez.
Some units got an earlier version believed badged FAL.
It was then adopted at RMAS Sandhurst for all entrants in 1959 by our very own famous WO1 (RSM) Lord, Parachute Regiment, who was seconded there and showed off his prowess for the drill instructors manual of that year. The Guards Depot saw the very first FAL adopted as L1A1's in 1957. I have also been told by those that were there, that after Winston Churshill boshed the EM2 rifle the L1A1 was hurriedly brought into play.

Information

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[Flying10uk]

Wasn't some of the small arms captured in the Falklands War by the British, that were any good, retained for possible further use? The Argentines seemed to have quite a few 50 cal M.G.s in the Falklands I seem to recall from the news reports. Were any of these ever put to any further use by the U.K. armed forces or were they worn-out examples which were scrapped?

[Gil Boyd]

I believe all captured weapons (small arms) and anti tank/anti aircraft etc were brought back to the UK and dispersed via SASC/Warminster after deactivation in various forms to museums and units for gate guards etc. Peter may know more, but they certainly came back to ensure they weren't recirculated in the future by Argentina.

Here is a photo of Private Roger H of 2 PARA in 1959 holding his L1A1

[Roy W]

Here is the burn pit of AK47's and RPGs you were asking about Pete
Kuwait 1991

(Not sure why the photos have landscaped?)

Attachment 69103Attachment 69104

[Roy W]

error post, can't get images to work

[Peter Laidler]

We did keep some .50 Brownings but while they were generic .50 Brownings, they weren't the same as our quick change barrel versions and cost a lot to modify. We kept the GPMG's and the good ones filtered back into UK service. Some FN's were converted to DP.

Hard to believe it's soooooo long ago now! Mind you, so is Gulf 1 '91!

[Flying10uk]

One of the "SAS Books" that came out after the Gulf Wars mentions that a number of the folding stock F.N. rifles which Argentina had in the Falklands were retained for possible future U.K. use but I have never heard or seen this confirmed.

[browningautorifle]

Peter referred to these very rifles at one point. Perhaps he could refresh that statement for us...?

[Flying10uk]

Also, I seem to recall from news reports at the time a huge selection of different types of small arms used by Argentina and captured by the U.K. in the Falklands; it must have been a nightmare for the Argentine quarter-masters just providing the ammunition. What was the reason for this huge diversity of rifles/pistols etc. The obvious explanation, to me, would be that they were short of small arms and they were just using whatever they could get hold of???

[browningautorifle]

it must have been a nightmare for the Argentine quarter-masters just providing the ammunition. What was the reason for this huge diversity of rifles/pistols etc. The obvious explanation, to me, would be that they were short of small arms and they were just using whatever they could get hold of???

That was the info we received at the time in the after action reports, info gleaned from POWs. And yes, it would be. Some men were captured with just a few rounds in their possession.