Brilliant video - many thanks for uploading. I was in 1 WFR in Warminster (Demonstration Battalion) from 1984 to 1986. We used SA80 from when we first got to Warminster onwards - during trials and demonstrations. We were not issued them as personal weapons at first though. We collected weapons when required from the armoury at the School of Infantry or at ITDU. We did quite a lot of shooting trials to start with and it seemed the aim was just to put as much ammo through SA80 as possible in order to test the weapons durability (we literally had boxes of ammo given to us to blast off and they used to berate us to get it used). I think the purpose was to complete the live fire tests and to be able to say those trials were complete. The first unit to be issued SA80 was 1 WFR and the first soldier (according to MOD publicity) was Sgt Gavin of 1 WFR in late 1985. However, we didn't get a full battalion issue until 1986. I have to say that we were looking forward to getting SA80 at that time. However, our experience of the weapon soon highlighted some issues. The worst of these was the problem with the magazine release catch and the mag falling off during battle drills. We did note how accurate it was though. The important aspect to learn from this film is how the first issues were still considered as a TRIALS period. This is often over looked. Again many thanks.
Wow...never thought someone that has "been there and done that" will one day stumbles across this film...thank you for sharing your personal experiences with the SA80, much appreciated!
@@Polyshot Yes but yours is better. My version did not have the date at the start - 1985. So thanks. In this video is me! If you start at 1:33 I am on the right of the screen Go back to 1:30 and you see me come into view. I am tall. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-w1CH-J8suZI.html
EM2 AKA Rifle No9 Mk1, .280 intermediate cartridge, fantastic gun with room for development. Like Brian Clough was the best manager England never had, this was the best gun. Before anyone bleats about field stripping, if you have never stripped an SA80 then you have no argument.
The LSW was half the weight.... OK it only had a 30 round mag compared to the belt of the GPMG, and it fires a nice light bullet, OK it won't fore it as far, and seeing as they wouldn't hold zero. You'll be lucky to hit anything you aim at. But Wow, you save weight....... Bring back the SLR and GPMG.
Pity they did not check if the gas plug could be put in upside down, or that the magazine catch could accidentally operate when the weapon was clutched to the body, or if issue mosquito repellant would rot the plastic, nor wheather the LSW could produce suppressive fire.
Agree with what they say only one problem. The SA80 and that even worse LSW was not the weapons to replace the older system with. I am slightly wrong on that as when on operations the real time beut is the GPMG 7.62 everything destroyer.
You could say that the SA80A3 With all its attachments including inline night vision/thermal ARILLS sight, LDS and LLM are heavier. But the rifle isn’t by itself.
