Use of the L42 in the Falklands Conflict

[Gil Boyd]

Mossin,
We'll have to chalk it up as memory fade I'm afraid, two of them can't remember seeing him there, but I understand he was Recce Trp so that may account for it. Clearly a Coull was there, and its not like his name was Smith is it, thats quite rare!!

55Recce,
Very interested to know who that was and which unit gave the reference, odd Pegler never clarified that when he wrote it to save a lot of conjecture, when in fact it may not have happened. The statement is a crucial one, and one which I would have thought he would have said who said it and when. One has to assume his scope was waterproofed, and he cleaned it correctly, like hundreds of thousands of British & Commonwealth soldiers have done before him on Lee Enfields!!:

"I had no oil on mine and in the constant wet the bolt got stiffer and stiffer. It lost its zero, then the scope fogged up. I got so exasperated with it that I dumped it in a stream and carried a captured Argie FN for the rest of the battle, which worked out just fine out to four or five hundred yards."
From Out of Nowhere - A History of the Military Sniper by Martin Pegler Osprey Publishing 2004 Page 289.

[Gil Boyd]

Thanks to DanL96a1 for this research on Nige's exploits:


Click on the second image on the right with the two medals in it

Redirect Notice

[55recce]

Skimmed but did not read "Two Sides" of Hell last night.

One of the 5 British Paras interviewed for the book is named as sniper Jerry Phillips. Other snipers mentioned by name are young Dickie Absalon, Bill Hayward and Kev Capon. Anyone studying sniper operations in the Falklands should consider buying this book as Jerry Phillips contributes quite a bit on sniper operations.

The book was published by Bloomsbury Publishing as a hardback First Edition in 1994. I think I have seen a paperback version.

[DanL96a1]

Mossin,
We'll have to chalk it up as memory fade I'm afraid, two of them can't remember seeing him there, but I understand he was Recce Trp so that may account for it. Clearly a Coull was there, and its not like his name was Smith is it, thats quite rare!!

55Recce,
Very interested to know who that was and which unit gave the reference, odd Pegler never clarified that when he wrote it to save a lot of conjecture, when in fact it may not have happened. The statement is a crucial one, and one which I would have thought he would have said who said it and when. One has to assume his scope was waterproofed, and he cleaned it correctly, like hundreds of thousands of British & Commonwealth soldiers have done before him on Lee Enfields!!:

"I had no oil on mine and in the constant wet the bolt got stiffer and stiffer. It lost its zero, then the scope fogged up. I got so exasperated with it that I dumped it in a stream and carried a captured Argie FN for the rest of the battle, which worked out just fine out to four or five hundred yards."
From Out of Nowhere - A History of the Military Sniper by Martin Pegler Osprey Publishing 2004 Page 289.

I have my doubts about the L42 in the river account, I have spoken to people who have used, and maintained the L42A1 All seem to have “liked” it and hold it in high regard.

Speaking to someone who was there, about this said even if the bolt was hard to operate the application of even “organic” oils / grease would have helped. The same person also had “optical” issue whilst in the Falklands, with more technical equipment and overcame operational issues to keep working.

I was interested to see if the normal servicemen, respected the rifles and trusted them. Or weather the rose tinted glasses of time, were to make it the legend it has become! I think generations of armed service men cannot be all wrong

[Strangely Brown]

Other snipers mentioned by name are young Dickie Absalon, Bill Hayward and Kev Capon. Anyone studying sniper operations in the Falklands should consider buying this book as Jerry Phillips contributes quite a bit on sniper operations.

Ironically I knew Kev Capon through work, he once told me he was involved in the trials for the L96A1. Kev ended up as an army photographer and was awarded an MBE for his work.
Thinking about past discussions with him he told me that sniping operations in the British army was to have a major rethink after the Falklands.

[bigduke6]

A request to those that know what goes on in the Royal Navy.
Would Royal Marine stocks have been listed within their orbat during the Falklands..............and would REME have had them back for any repairs or have they their own lads in Plymouth or Pompy???

Dan that photo is of the Scots Guards and the old sweat with the faceveil carrying the chest. Be interested to know who that was?

Gil, I was probably the one who mentioned the Martin Pegler story many moons ago on here.............. regarding the RN and RM, the training for Armourers at one point was at HMS Colingwood, I know a few lads who were with the RFA who had to do a basic Weapon Maintenance course there which covered quite a few weapons, in fact the restricted Manual they get is a very good book ....... wished I brought it with me as there is info in it that could be quite helpful to me at present as I'm enjoying the cold and snow at B***S ...........

[Gil Boyd]

Geoff,
Thanks for that. I assumed there would be our REME equivalent and I suppose Peter L would know them personally in his time at Warminster, however, ALL my dealings with the Royal Marines have always been that they are very insular and would rather deal with their own, and the Royal Navy budget, which in itself is far greater than the Armys.....which is fact.

Not sure where it is now as Ministers try to merge us all under one budget, against massive resistance of the Admirals and those that know how much power they hold with their own budget away from the Army. We have had the sword of Damocles hung over our Parachute Regiment head, as have the Royal Marines, where they are trying to merge us all together. That clearly comes from those at Whitehall, who have never seen an angry man, other than on their iPads!!! Don't want to go off on a rant, but that will never happen in my humble opinion. Totally different jobs for different formations.

I spoke to Nige Eyre last night the Scots Guards sniper wounded on Mt Tumbledown.............he encapsulated the story of the L42 being slung away into a river "that would be the ultimate disgrace for any sniper"

Says it all in my opinion

[mrclark303]

Well said Gil, these ideas of merging the Green and Maroon into one unit is ridiculous...

Let's hope some common sense prevails ... I am of course making the assumption that the shiny arsed people at the top have any common sense!

[Gil Boyd]

John,
They are ALWAYS guided by a good RSM, which I know only too well.
I still have a General phone me for advice, but I don't mind in the least, what have I too lose

[55recce]

Perhaps some additional research could be done. I have found a contact for Mr. Pegler online and have sent a query to him. I will let you know if any response is received. I believe that Mr. Pegler is a well known historian and sniper subject matter expert, so it would be surprising for him to include this quote without some justification.

In the meantime is anyone in the UK able to track down Vince Bramley, Jerry Phillips or records for 3 Para? If 6 L42 went down south and only 5 came back would there be a record of this somewhere? Would an inquiry to the Para museum provide any results? Airborne Assault - The Museum of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces | ParaData.

Could someone contact the Regimental association 3 Para Reunio Club - Homepage

Perhaps a little legwork would produce more results than keyboard speculation!