I talk about all of the equipment and weapons used by the British Army in this first part. Includes some history and basic overview of each, sometimes going a little more in-depth. Part 2 will be on the vehicles.
This document discusses various life saving appliances and first aid techniques. It begins by defining lifesaving and its main aims of providing relief and preserving life. It then provides requirements for life saving appliances regarding construction, operation in various environments, and markings. The document goes on to describe specific appliances like lifebuoys, lifejackets, immersion suits, thermal protective aids, lifeboats, life rafts, line throwing appliances, smoke signals, hand flares, and first aid techniques for conditions like drowning and sunburn.
LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES by Capt Aung Myin MoeCaptAMM
The monthly inspections are still required but the physical inspection can be replaced by a visual inspection of the packaging. Any packages showing damage or deterioration must be opened and the suit inspected physically.
In any emergency situation at sea, getting external help quickly is not easy. It is important to aid in a safer place on your own. This is where life-saving appliances come to rescue.
So, the next time you’re out in the waters, make sure you have the basic life-saving appliances ready with you.
To know what these appliances are and how they help, here’s a short presentation.
Take a look.
SSTRM - StrategicReviewGroup.ca - Major Dufour PPE Clothing and Load Carriage...Phil Carr
The document discusses operational clothing, footwear, ballistic protection, and load carriage for Canadian soldiers. It notes that currently soldiers carry an average of 44kg of equipment, exceeding NATO standards. The vision is to create a technologically advanced, lightweight, modular soldier system that increases effectiveness. Key deficiencies of current clothing include limited functionality, comfort and protection. The future requirements include weight reduction, enhanced modularity, moisture management, power generation/storage, and improved ballistic, thermal and CBRN protection. The timeline aims to develop this new integrated soldier system to meet soldiers' operational needs.
The document discusses the evolution of uniforms and equipment for American infantry soldiers over different eras of war. It describes how natural fiber uniforms like cotton and wool proved ill-suited for environments like winter weather in WWII and jungle conditions in Vietnam, often causing injuries. The development of nylon fabrics revolutionized military apparel by offering durability, versatility and toughness. More recently, fabrics made from materials like CORDURA and T420 nylon have improved flame resistance and thermal protection. Through continual advances, uniforms have better regulated soldiers' temperatures, provided camouflage and ensured footwear is suited for various terrains and conditions.
The document is the August 31, 2013 edition of the Salvo, the monthly publication of the Watervliet Arsenal. It discusses the Arsenal receiving a $4.3 million contract from the Army to manufacture over 600 experimental lightweight baseplates for 60mm mortars. It will allow greater firing capability and may reduce weight carried by infantrymen. The Arsenal also uses its annual shutdown period for focused maintenance while continuing critical production to support troops.
This document discusses various life saving appliances and first aid techniques. It begins by defining lifesaving and its main aims of providing relief and preserving life. It then provides requirements for life saving appliances regarding construction, operation in various environments, and markings. The document goes on to describe specific appliances like lifebuoys, lifejackets, immersion suits, thermal protective aids, lifeboats, life rafts, line throwing appliances, smoke signals, hand flares, and first aid techniques for conditions like drowning and sunburn.
LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES by Capt Aung Myin MoeCaptAMM
The monthly inspections are still required but the physical inspection can be replaced by a visual inspection of the packaging. Any packages showing damage or deterioration must be opened and the suit inspected physically.
In any emergency situation at sea, getting external help quickly is not easy. It is important to aid in a safer place on your own. This is where life-saving appliances come to rescue.
So, the next time you’re out in the waters, make sure you have the basic life-saving appliances ready with you.
To know what these appliances are and how they help, here’s a short presentation.
Take a look.
SSTRM - StrategicReviewGroup.ca - Major Dufour PPE Clothing and Load Carriage...Phil Carr
The document discusses operational clothing, footwear, ballistic protection, and load carriage for Canadian soldiers. It notes that currently soldiers carry an average of 44kg of equipment, exceeding NATO standards. The vision is to create a technologically advanced, lightweight, modular soldier system that increases effectiveness. Key deficiencies of current clothing include limited functionality, comfort and protection. The future requirements include weight reduction, enhanced modularity, moisture management, power generation/storage, and improved ballistic, thermal and CBRN protection. The timeline aims to develop this new integrated soldier system to meet soldiers' operational needs.
The document discusses the evolution of uniforms and equipment for American infantry soldiers over different eras of war. It describes how natural fiber uniforms like cotton and wool proved ill-suited for environments like winter weather in WWII and jungle conditions in Vietnam, often causing injuries. The development of nylon fabrics revolutionized military apparel by offering durability, versatility and toughness. More recently, fabrics made from materials like CORDURA and T420 nylon have improved flame resistance and thermal protection. Through continual advances, uniforms have better regulated soldiers' temperatures, provided camouflage and ensured footwear is suited for various terrains and conditions.
The document is the August 31, 2013 edition of the Salvo, the monthly publication of the Watervliet Arsenal. It discusses the Arsenal receiving a $4.3 million contract from the Army to manufacture over 600 experimental lightweight baseplates for 60mm mortars. It will allow greater firing capability and may reduce weight carried by infantrymen. The Arsenal also uses its annual shutdown period for focused maintenance while continuing critical production to support troops.
The document provides a history of bulletproof vests from the early 1500s to the late 1800s. Some key points:
- One of the earliest recorded bulletproof vests was commissioned in 1538 in Italy. Maximilian II tested armor against gunfire in 1561.
- During the English Civil War in the 1640s, Oliver Cromwell's cavalry wore musket-proof armor made of multiple metal plates.
- In the 1860s, Korea developed bulletproof cotton vests that were 10 layers thick and used in battle against the US in 1871.
- In the 1880s, Australian bushrangers like Ned Kelly made basic armor from plow blades that stopped bullets but lacked leg protection.
The global defence forces growing need is the main driver of the multirole helicopter market. Furthermore, unmanned military multirole helicopters are becoming more and more popular since they can perform dangerous or repetitive missions without endangering human lives. In an effort to lower fuel usage, pollution, and noise levels, efforts are also being made to create electric and hybrid propulsion systems for these helicopters.https://aviationanddefensemarketreports.com/product/global-multirole-helicopter-market/
The Multirole Helicopter Market is primarily driven by the increasing demand from defense forces worldwide. Additionally, there is growing interest in unmanned military multirole helicopters, which can execute hazardous or repetitive tasks without risking human lives. Efforts to develop hybrid and electric propulsion systems for these helicopters are also gaining traction, as they have the potential to reduce fuel consumption, emissions, and noise level .https://aviationanddefensemarketreports.com/product/global-multirole-helicopter-market/
The aerospace industry's helicopter market is expanding and well-known for its flexibility and agility. Helicopters can be used for emergency services, military purposes, personal use, and commercial transportation, to name a few possibilities. This market is distinguished by continuous innovation in design, safety features, and technology that allows products to adapt to changing industry requirements and consumer preferences. Helicopters are helpful in a range of situations due to their remarkable ability to make vertical takeoffs and landings, which permits them to operate in areas inaccessible to traditional aircraft.https://aviationanddefensemarketreports.com/product/global-multirole-helicopter-market/
Will drone swarms change the future of warfare – Jeremy SudlowJeremy Sudlow
Last month, amidst a – still visible – cloud of suspicion and disbelief, UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced ‘swarm squadrons’ would be deployed as standard by the British Armed Forces in the coming years; with the rst such squadron due to be established by the end of this year
The document discusses how the Australian Army is modernizing key capabilities to support combat soldiers and the combined arms team. It outlines several projects to enhance lethality, situational awareness, mobility and survivability of combat soldiers. It also discusses efforts to modernize armored fighting vehicles to provide protection, firepower and mobility. Finally, it summarizes projects to modernize combat support capabilities like air defense, fire support, and engineering to enhance the effectiveness of the combined arms team.
This document discusses equipment used for technical search and rescue operations. It covers requirements for operational equipment to be provided by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) and ensures equipment is used and maintained properly. Personal protective equipment (PPE) must also be provided to protect rescuers from hazards. The AHJ must ensure atmospheric supplying respirators like self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) are available when required. Additional standards for electrical safety, technical rescuer qualifications, occupational safety, fire apparatus, powered rescue tools, protective ensembles, and life safety rope and equipment are referenced.
This document discusses rescue vehicles and equipment. It describes four categories of specialized rescue vehicles: light, medium, heavy, and special purpose/multipurpose. Light rescue vehicles are equipped for basic tasks and carry hand tools. Medium rescue vehicles can handle most rescue situations with basic to advanced equipment for one or two specialties. Heavy rescue vehicles are the most heavily equipped to handle any rescue incident. Special purpose vehicles focus on a single specialty, while multipurpose vehicles support multiple specialties. The document emphasizes that properly equipped personnel trained in equipment use and maintenance is essential for safe and effective rescue operations.
This document discusses rescue vehicles and equipment. It describes four categories of specialized rescue vehicles: light, medium, heavy, and special purpose/multipurpose. Light rescue vehicles are equipped for basic tasks and carry hand tools. Medium rescue vehicles can handle most rescue situations with basic to advanced equipment for one or two specialties. Heavy rescue vehicles are the most heavily equipped to handle any rescue incident. Special purpose vehicles focus on a single specialty, while multipurpose vehicles support multiple specialties. The document emphasizes that properly equipped personnel trained in equipment use and maintenance is essential for safe and effective rescue operations.
This document discusses ballistic protection textiles used in body armor. It begins by explaining the mechanisms by which ballistic fabrics absorb energy from projectiles, including deformation of fabric layers and dissipation of impact energy across layers. Common ballistic fibers mentioned include Kevlar, Twaron, Spectra, and Dyneema. Woven and non-woven fabrics are discussed, as well as standards for rating bulletproof vests. The document also briefly touches on future materials being researched for ballistic protection applications.
The MV-22 has proven highly effective in supporting operations in Afghanistan. During Operation Enduring Freedom, 10 MV-22s established a new base in a historic 510-mile single-leg transit from amphibious shipping in just over two hours. MV-22s have since flown over 14,000 hours conducting direct action missions, carrying over 148,000 passengers and five million pounds of cargo by exploiting their speed, range, and low noise signature to surprise enemies.
Emergency ejection system in military aircraft reportLahiru Dilshan
Safety is a major concern in the aircraft industry both in commercial and military services. In the fighter jets, there are several unique mechanisms used other than the commercial airliner. Pilots in the fighter jects can abandon the ship in case of an emergency but the other types of aircraft cannot use that kind of mechanism because the passengers are boarded.
Portable power tools present more hazards than hand tools due to their higher speeds. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) like safety glasses, face shields, gloves, safety footwear, earplugs and respirators should be worn depending on the tool. It is important to keep guards in place and hands away from moving parts to prevent injury. Power tools can cut or cause electric shocks, so wearing appropriate PPE and clothing is necessary for safe operation.
Drones have been used militarily since the early 20th century but have become more advanced and widespread in recent decades. The document outlines the history of drones and their various types, including how they differ based on size, range, aerial platform, and abilities. Drones provide advantages for tasks like surveillance and videography but also have disadvantages like potential restrictions on their use and risks of violating privacy laws.
This document discusses the history and types of drones. It begins with a brief history of drones, noting they can operate autonomously or be remotely piloted. The document then discusses advantages like their use in media, and disadvantages such as legal restrictions. Finally, it outlines different categories of drones based on size, range, aerial platform, abilities, and concludes noting the need to regulate drone use to balance benefits with protecting civil liberties.
Body armour technology has come a long way in recent years. Today's armour can protect against a wide range of threats, from small-caliber bullets to high-powered rifle rounds. But how exactly does body armour work? Let's take a closer look at the basics in our latest blog by Mr Manish Khandelwal, Director, MKU. Click here to read our documents.
This chapter discusses personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protection for firefighters. It describes different types of PPE including structural firefighting protective clothing, wildland protective clothing, and medical protective clothing. Structural firefighting PPE must meet NFPA 1971 standards and includes helmets, coats, trousers, boots and gloves. Respiratory protection like self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is also covered, along with donning, doffing, inspection and maintenance procedures. The chapter emphasizes the importance of wearing proper PPE to stay safe in hazardous environments.
This document provides an overview of drones, including their history, types, applications, advantages, and limitations. It discusses the various types of drones categorized by number of rotors (single rotor, tri-copter, quadcopter, etc.), size (very small, mini, medium, large), range (very close, close, short, mid-range, endurance), and equipment (camera, FPV, GPS, stabilizer). The document outlines key applications of drones such as search and rescue, security, inspections, surveillance, science/research, and cargo delivery. It also discusses the advantages of drones being disposable, creating jobs, and boosting productivity, and the limitations including privacy issues, collisions, and
Condor Tactical is an online company that provides high quality tactical gear for military, law enforcement, and firefighting personnel at affordable prices. They have over 20 years of experience designing tactical vests, plate carriers, pouches, and other gear. Their products are used by agencies across the US and Canada. Condor tactical gear includes specialized protective clothing with 7 layers for cold weather and high heat protective gear for firefighting. They also offer weapon accessories, night vision devices, and sights to help sharpshooters aim accurately.
The document is a catalog from OREX, a company that produces single-use protective clothing for nuclear and industrial applications. It introduces their lineup of fabrics and products including coveralls, lab coats, booties and more. Their flagship product is the OREX Ultra coverall which uses a patented breathable fabric that provides unprecedented protection from radioactive contamination. The catalog describes the various product lines and their intended uses for low, moderate and high contamination environments. It aims to provide customers with the right protective clothing solution for any nuclear or industrial application.
The Problem with School Uniforms and the Possible FixesCharlie
I talk about how school uniforms can be disruptive for autistic people and people with learning disabilities and look into what can be done to improve the situation.
The Possible Implications of Sky AdvertisingCharlie
1. A Candy Crush advertisement displayed in the sky over New York City using drones sparked discussion about the potential implications of sky advertising.
2. Regulations currently focus on drone safety and security, but sky advertising is new and unregulated. Advertisers may be interested in using colorful, moving light shows at night to reach massive audiences.
3. Regulations could be needed to limit when and where sky ads occur to prevent overcommercialization of the night sky and impacts on wildlife, while also addressing citizen concerns about losing clear night skies.
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Similar to Armed Forces of the Commonwealth - United Kingdom - The British Army - Part 1 of 2
The document provides a history of bulletproof vests from the early 1500s to the late 1800s. Some key points:
- One of the earliest recorded bulletproof vests was commissioned in 1538 in Italy. Maximilian II tested armor against gunfire in 1561.
- During the English Civil War in the 1640s, Oliver Cromwell's cavalry wore musket-proof armor made of multiple metal plates.
- In the 1860s, Korea developed bulletproof cotton vests that were 10 layers thick and used in battle against the US in 1871.
- In the 1880s, Australian bushrangers like Ned Kelly made basic armor from plow blades that stopped bullets but lacked leg protection.
The global defence forces growing need is the main driver of the multirole helicopter market. Furthermore, unmanned military multirole helicopters are becoming more and more popular since they can perform dangerous or repetitive missions without endangering human lives. In an effort to lower fuel usage, pollution, and noise levels, efforts are also being made to create electric and hybrid propulsion systems for these helicopters.https://aviationanddefensemarketreports.com/product/global-multirole-helicopter-market/
The Multirole Helicopter Market is primarily driven by the increasing demand from defense forces worldwide. Additionally, there is growing interest in unmanned military multirole helicopters, which can execute hazardous or repetitive tasks without risking human lives. Efforts to develop hybrid and electric propulsion systems for these helicopters are also gaining traction, as they have the potential to reduce fuel consumption, emissions, and noise level .https://aviationanddefensemarketreports.com/product/global-multirole-helicopter-market/
The aerospace industry's helicopter market is expanding and well-known for its flexibility and agility. Helicopters can be used for emergency services, military purposes, personal use, and commercial transportation, to name a few possibilities. This market is distinguished by continuous innovation in design, safety features, and technology that allows products to adapt to changing industry requirements and consumer preferences. Helicopters are helpful in a range of situations due to their remarkable ability to make vertical takeoffs and landings, which permits them to operate in areas inaccessible to traditional aircraft.https://aviationanddefensemarketreports.com/product/global-multirole-helicopter-market/
Will drone swarms change the future of warfare – Jeremy SudlowJeremy Sudlow
Last month, amidst a – still visible – cloud of suspicion and disbelief, UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced ‘swarm squadrons’ would be deployed as standard by the British Armed Forces in the coming years; with the rst such squadron due to be established by the end of this year
The document discusses how the Australian Army is modernizing key capabilities to support combat soldiers and the combined arms team. It outlines several projects to enhance lethality, situational awareness, mobility and survivability of combat soldiers. It also discusses efforts to modernize armored fighting vehicles to provide protection, firepower and mobility. Finally, it summarizes projects to modernize combat support capabilities like air defense, fire support, and engineering to enhance the effectiveness of the combined arms team.
This document discusses equipment used for technical search and rescue operations. It covers requirements for operational equipment to be provided by the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) and ensures equipment is used and maintained properly. Personal protective equipment (PPE) must also be provided to protect rescuers from hazards. The AHJ must ensure atmospheric supplying respirators like self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) are available when required. Additional standards for electrical safety, technical rescuer qualifications, occupational safety, fire apparatus, powered rescue tools, protective ensembles, and life safety rope and equipment are referenced.
This document discusses rescue vehicles and equipment. It describes four categories of specialized rescue vehicles: light, medium, heavy, and special purpose/multipurpose. Light rescue vehicles are equipped for basic tasks and carry hand tools. Medium rescue vehicles can handle most rescue situations with basic to advanced equipment for one or two specialties. Heavy rescue vehicles are the most heavily equipped to handle any rescue incident. Special purpose vehicles focus on a single specialty, while multipurpose vehicles support multiple specialties. The document emphasizes that properly equipped personnel trained in equipment use and maintenance is essential for safe and effective rescue operations.
This document discusses rescue vehicles and equipment. It describes four categories of specialized rescue vehicles: light, medium, heavy, and special purpose/multipurpose. Light rescue vehicles are equipped for basic tasks and carry hand tools. Medium rescue vehicles can handle most rescue situations with basic to advanced equipment for one or two specialties. Heavy rescue vehicles are the most heavily equipped to handle any rescue incident. Special purpose vehicles focus on a single specialty, while multipurpose vehicles support multiple specialties. The document emphasizes that properly equipped personnel trained in equipment use and maintenance is essential for safe and effective rescue operations.
This document discusses ballistic protection textiles used in body armor. It begins by explaining the mechanisms by which ballistic fabrics absorb energy from projectiles, including deformation of fabric layers and dissipation of impact energy across layers. Common ballistic fibers mentioned include Kevlar, Twaron, Spectra, and Dyneema. Woven and non-woven fabrics are discussed, as well as standards for rating bulletproof vests. The document also briefly touches on future materials being researched for ballistic protection applications.
The MV-22 has proven highly effective in supporting operations in Afghanistan. During Operation Enduring Freedom, 10 MV-22s established a new base in a historic 510-mile single-leg transit from amphibious shipping in just over two hours. MV-22s have since flown over 14,000 hours conducting direct action missions, carrying over 148,000 passengers and five million pounds of cargo by exploiting their speed, range, and low noise signature to surprise enemies.
Emergency ejection system in military aircraft reportLahiru Dilshan
Safety is a major concern in the aircraft industry both in commercial and military services. In the fighter jets, there are several unique mechanisms used other than the commercial airliner. Pilots in the fighter jects can abandon the ship in case of an emergency but the other types of aircraft cannot use that kind of mechanism because the passengers are boarded.
Portable power tools present more hazards than hand tools due to their higher speeds. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) like safety glasses, face shields, gloves, safety footwear, earplugs and respirators should be worn depending on the tool. It is important to keep guards in place and hands away from moving parts to prevent injury. Power tools can cut or cause electric shocks, so wearing appropriate PPE and clothing is necessary for safe operation.
Drones have been used militarily since the early 20th century but have become more advanced and widespread in recent decades. The document outlines the history of drones and their various types, including how they differ based on size, range, aerial platform, and abilities. Drones provide advantages for tasks like surveillance and videography but also have disadvantages like potential restrictions on their use and risks of violating privacy laws.
This document discusses the history and types of drones. It begins with a brief history of drones, noting they can operate autonomously or be remotely piloted. The document then discusses advantages like their use in media, and disadvantages such as legal restrictions. Finally, it outlines different categories of drones based on size, range, aerial platform, abilities, and concludes noting the need to regulate drone use to balance benefits with protecting civil liberties.
Body armour technology has come a long way in recent years. Today's armour can protect against a wide range of threats, from small-caliber bullets to high-powered rifle rounds. But how exactly does body armour work? Let's take a closer look at the basics in our latest blog by Mr Manish Khandelwal, Director, MKU. Click here to read our documents.
This chapter discusses personal protective equipment (PPE) and respiratory protection for firefighters. It describes different types of PPE including structural firefighting protective clothing, wildland protective clothing, and medical protective clothing. Structural firefighting PPE must meet NFPA 1971 standards and includes helmets, coats, trousers, boots and gloves. Respiratory protection like self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is also covered, along with donning, doffing, inspection and maintenance procedures. The chapter emphasizes the importance of wearing proper PPE to stay safe in hazardous environments.
This document provides an overview of drones, including their history, types, applications, advantages, and limitations. It discusses the various types of drones categorized by number of rotors (single rotor, tri-copter, quadcopter, etc.), size (very small, mini, medium, large), range (very close, close, short, mid-range, endurance), and equipment (camera, FPV, GPS, stabilizer). The document outlines key applications of drones such as search and rescue, security, inspections, surveillance, science/research, and cargo delivery. It also discusses the advantages of drones being disposable, creating jobs, and boosting productivity, and the limitations including privacy issues, collisions, and
Condor Tactical is an online company that provides high quality tactical gear for military, law enforcement, and firefighting personnel at affordable prices. They have over 20 years of experience designing tactical vests, plate carriers, pouches, and other gear. Their products are used by agencies across the US and Canada. Condor tactical gear includes specialized protective clothing with 7 layers for cold weather and high heat protective gear for firefighting. They also offer weapon accessories, night vision devices, and sights to help sharpshooters aim accurately.
The document is a catalog from OREX, a company that produces single-use protective clothing for nuclear and industrial applications. It introduces their lineup of fabrics and products including coveralls, lab coats, booties and more. Their flagship product is the OREX Ultra coverall which uses a patented breathable fabric that provides unprecedented protection from radioactive contamination. The catalog describes the various product lines and their intended uses for low, moderate and high contamination environments. It aims to provide customers with the right protective clothing solution for any nuclear or industrial application.
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The Problem with School Uniforms and the Possible FixesCharlie
I talk about how school uniforms can be disruptive for autistic people and people with learning disabilities and look into what can be done to improve the situation.
The Possible Implications of Sky AdvertisingCharlie
1. A Candy Crush advertisement displayed in the sky over New York City using drones sparked discussion about the potential implications of sky advertising.
2. Regulations currently focus on drone safety and security, but sky advertising is new and unregulated. Advertisers may be interested in using colorful, moving light shows at night to reach massive audiences.
3. Regulations could be needed to limit when and where sky ads occur to prevent overcommercialization of the night sky and impacts on wildlife, while also addressing citizen concerns about losing clear night skies.
The document summarizes Montenegro's complex governmental system and history. Montenegro is a semi-presidential parliamentary republic with a directly elected president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The country has experienced various rulers throughout its history, including being part of the Ottoman Empire, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Montenegro declared independence in 2006 and now has a multi-party parliamentary system within a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic.
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Answers about how you can do more with Walmart!"
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Armed Forces of the Commonwealth - United Kingdom - The British Army - Part 1 of 2
1. 1/29
Post author By Charlie November 11, 2021
Armed Forces of the Commonwealth – United Kingdom
– The British Army – Part 1/2
theweeklyrambler.com/armed-forces-of-the-commonwealth-united-kingdom-the-british-army-part-1-2/
I thought I would have a crack at a new series on here. This series will focus on looking
into the armed forces of each country a part of the Commonwealth of Nations, to learn
about equipment of personnel, vehicles, weapons, and more. Naturally we shall start with
the United Kingdom.
This for the United Kingdom is Part 1 of 2, Part 1 focuses on the British Army as is
evident, on the equipment and weapons they use. Part 2 will focus on all the vehicles
used by the British Army. Then after that I will move on to the Air Force and then Navy.
The British Army
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Photo taken by Cpl Paul Jarvis/MOD. License: OGL v1.0. Source.
The British Army are the ground forces of the United Kingdom including soldiers, their
equipment and weapons, vehicles, and tanks. As it stands the British Army has around
83,700 personnel and 30,000+ reserves, totaling around 118,000+ manpower. The British
Army, just like the other branches of the armed forces, are suited for fighting abroad such
as in peacekeeping missions and other military operations and can be sent to work in
humanitarian situations. The forces are geared towards expeditionary warfare and the
British Army’s rapid response brigade (able to deploy at short notice) is the 16 Air Assault
Brigade, of which is actually only based around 20-minutes away from where I live.
Such rapid response brigades obviously also work alongside the other armed forces
branches when needed for air or sea transport and support.
As it stands there are as many as 214 corps, regiments, and units that make up the
British Army and have a focus on various or specialize in numerous different areas and
activities from logistics and support, to infantry, medical, armoured, artillery, bomb
disposal, communications, information, intelligence, training, ceremonial, assault support,
and more.
So, let’s get into what equipment and weapons our soldiers have access to…
British Army Personnel Equipment and Weapons
Luckily when it comes to the British Army they maintain a handy website of equipment,
weapons, and vehicles that are currently in active use and ready for active use should it
be needed. As such, much of what is seen here is cited from army.mod.uk, but I will also
look deeper into things elsewhere for multiple perspectives.
Equipment and Armour
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Personal Role Radio
Photo by Swadim from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.
Now a days communication is almost always near instant and that comes to massive
benefit to the armed forces of the world, including the British Army who actively use the
Personal Role Radio (currently the H4855) to keep in contact with each other during
operations and in active war zones. The radio is geared towards communication over
short distances, and so it isn’t foolproof if some soldiers end up too far away due to
whatever reason, but there is still the strong possibility that their radio will be in close
proximity to another fellow soldier.
Most important is that the website states the radio remains effective through thick cover
and building walls, which is excellent news as such is important for survival in firefights.
But overall the radio is far more effective out in rural areas where its full range can be
utilized, too many walls or other obstacles in urban areas can still interfere with the
signal.
The website says the radio allows section commanders to react quickly and efficiently to
rapidly changing situations, this is obviously essential as battles and active war zones
would often be rapidly changing situations. Reliable communication for fire teams is
superior for effective and efficient organization and response.
The website notes that the system is easy to use, is not obtrusive, and is comfortable to
wear while being rugged enough to keep working through the harshest of environments.
Shouting and hand signals are often still used alongside the radios. Hand signals in
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particular may remain superior inj certain situations as they are much quieter, and have
far less of a chance of accidentally alerting nearby enemies to your presence. Hand
signals also can’t be intercepted by counter-intelligence electronics used by the enemy.
Although there is some integrated protection against enemy interception of personal role
radio communications it isn’t foolproof and is one of the downsides of them, as they are
not securely encrypted, although probability of interception is low.
The battery life of these radios last 20 hours, has 500-meter range in rural areas, 200-
meter in urban environments, and 256 channels that can be utilized.
Clothing
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Photo by Peter Davies (MOD) Photographer/MOD. License: OGL v1.0. Source.
Personnel currently use the multi-terrain pattern combat clothing which blends into
various environments, woodlands, jungle, compounds, crops, grasslands, and arid stone,
all areas where they’re most likely to be deployed. The current clothing is fairly new and
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replaced the previous Combat 95 uniform that had been in use for around four decades.
The website explains the uniform’s camouflage was developed after extensive laboratory
tests and field evaluations.
This also included computer modelling to represent deserts and mixed environments in
Afghanistan.
So as can be seen the uniform is best suited for current operations and deployments that
the British Army are most likely to take part in or be involved in. Many people will look at
both the previous uniform and the current and probably not really be able to tell much of a
difference, but small changes and new designs can make all the difference while out
there, that can’t really be seen just by eye alone, which is why it involves so much testing
through various means.
But that also isn’t all, we also get information on other articles of clothing. There is
clothing designed to be resistant to flames, very handy during warfare I can only imagine,
and there are also special anti-microbial underpants, and unlike normal underwear that
you would preferably like to wash each day after wearing, the anti-microbial underpants
can be worm for days at a time without causing discomfort or poor hygiene, very optimal
for the situations soldiers may find themselves in, where lugging off uniform to change
underpants regularly is simply not always possible, it’s clearly more efficient to wear pants
that can stay on for longer periods of time without adverse effects.
When talking about the entire clothing and uniform of the Army it comes under the name
of Personal Clothing System. The website describes the current uniform as the toughest,
efficient and most comfortable yet and that it is easily adaptable for various environments.
Uniforms also include pelvic protection and body armour.
The thermal shirt and windproof thermal smock provide thermal insulation and sweat
wicking, this means that soldiers are less effected from being too hot or too cold and that
their sweat will be transferred to the outer layer and dried off, preventing discomfort and
adverse hygiene, soldiers simply don’t have time or the ability to wash every day while on
operations or in war zones.
The website makes sure to note that pockets on the uniform are placed in such a way
that they’re easily accessible at all times, even while wearing body armour, and it is of
note that the additional panels on uniform help to prevent wear and tear, very important to
make the precious uniform last as long as possible and keep soldiers as safe as
possible.
The Personal Load Carrying Equipment is what the soldiers use to carry all the
equipment they need on their operations; it is designed to hold everything a soldier needs
for at least 48 hours. It is known as a webbing system, but basically, it’s just a highly
specialized backpack. Things these webbing systems hold include ammunition, an
entrenching tool, bayonet, food and water, means to cook, protective and
communications equipment, among other items and clothing.
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Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan also receive specialized water proof socks that reach up
to the knees, these socks also protect against bacteria and are perfect for when a soldier
may need to wade through a body of water, keeping them more comfortable than they’d
otherwise be if they got completely soaked, creating unhygienic conditions and breeding
grounds for bacteria. The website notes that they are also far superior to any
conventional socks you or me may have, able to also be used during winter months to
keep soldiers’ feet nice and warm.
Body Armour and Helmet
Photo taken by the Army/MOD. License: OGL v1.0. Source.
There are currently two body armour types, the Osprey Assault Body Armour is still in
widespread usage but it is being phased out by the new Virtus body armour. The Osprey
Assault Body Armour provides what it describes as excellent protection against ballistics,
and is also more comfortable than previous armour. The current Osprey armour improved
upon the previous by being designed as closer fitting. Improved rubber mouldings on the
shoulders of the armour also help to prevent heavy rucksacks and weapons from slipping
off, making them more efficient.
Ammunition is also made more accessible by the addition of draw-cords as an alternative
to velcro, and the protective plate of the armour was moved into a pocket within
the armoured vest which makes it less bulky and obstructive to movement.
Then we have the brand new Virtus system body armour, which improves on agility and
carrying of heavy equipment. Protection is the same as the previous Osprey armour but is
much lighter and moves with the body a lot easier, which is what improves agility and I
can only imagine makes it more comfortable, it says it also gives a slimmer profile to
soldiers, I can imagine many technical situations where that is handy.
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The Virtus body armour protection can also be modified via the addition or removal of
soft armour pads and hard ballistic plates allowing the ability to match to the type of threat
being faced. It is also explained that one of the most radical additions to the Virtus is an
integral spine known as the dynamic weight distribution system which is a device that
spreads the weight of body armour and carried equipment across the back, shoulders,
and hips. More friendly to your health and again helping to improve agility and
weight efficiency.
This weight distribution system was specifically designed due to the long-running issue of
soldiers being overburdened on the field, which may result in back, spinal, knee and leg
injuries in the long term, as well as causing acute injuries, and also just generally makes
them slow and bulky and in turn more visible, which may present an easier target for
enemies. A system that can largely scale back this problem would be quite the large and
needed step forward.
But there have been complaints that the new Virtus armour and kit-carrying system has
only been designed with men in mind, with injuries for female soldiers using the new
Virtus armour continuing due to heavy weight and a fitting more aligned with the build of
men, in particular hip injuries have been reported in woman using the new waist
pouches.
The Virtus also comes with a quick-release system which is a pin on the chest area that
can be pulled to release the entire armour. I can see that being very handy if a soldier is
wounded and they need to quickly access the area, less time is spent lugging off
the armour manually.
It is noted with the Virtus Body Armour system that soldiers will need a day’s worth of
training and familiarization to get used to it. That doesn’t sound too bad considering all its
benefits.
You never really think about how advanced a simple piece of uniform and
body armour can be, but there is so much that goes into them that you’d never really think
much of.
There have been other general complains about the Virtus Body armour. According to a
BBC article from May 2016 there have been complaints from soldiers about the new
body armour. One complaint is that the webbing a part of the armour which allows
carrying of a soldier’s kit and ammunition, have been snapping, there have also been
complaints of less room to carry things. And soldiers who have gone into a prone position
while wearing the new armour have found it difficult to get back up again. Some have also
said the armour is too difficult to get on in the dark.
The Ministry of Defense promised back then to have all the issues addressed and that the
majority of feedback for the Virtus Body Armour was positive.
The above could merely just be teething problems of a new armour and since we’ve
heard no further complaints yet from news articles of anything significant and notably
the armour was upgraded in 2018, according to overtdefense.com, two years after its
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initial introduction likely to fix the problems brought up, I think it’s safe to say that overall,
the armour is currently working out.
Finally, we come to the helmet. The British Army currently uses the Virtus helmet which
replaced the Mk7 Helmet. The helmet allows easy mounting of night vision goggles,
mandible guard, visor, and includes a counterweight to help keep the neck comfortable,
the helmet can be easily adjusted for size just like a bicycle and climbing helmet can.
The helmet is also designed not to interfere with body armour and carried equipment
while lying in a prone position. The Virtus Helmet also includes increased protection at its
sides and the Helmet is lighter than the previous Mk7 Helmet, increasing comfort and
agility.
Communications within the British Army
The ability of communication is extremely important on the battlefield, active war zones,
and during missions and operations amidst hostile and difficult environment allowing
superior organisation and efficiency. We already had a look at the Personal Role Radio
used by individual troops, but the entire communications infrastructure is far larger in
scale and is broken down into Digital Communications, Tactical Communications, and
Satellite Communications. All three include voice, data, satellite link, and landline
communication types, much of which is also integrated among each other.
Digital Communications
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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One of the most modern types of communication on the battlefield, the British Army
website states the importance of the flow of increasing amounts of information in
extremely complex environments to continue without interruption and also without
disruption and exploitation by the eneny. One of the British Army’s digital communications
system is called Falcon, a joint tactical trunk communications system for the Land
Environment, which replaced the former Ptarmigan system.
Falcon uses Internet Protocol technology enabling high capacity, tactical, and formation
level secure, communications system used by various divisions and brigades of the
British Armed Forces.
BAE Systems describes the communication system as one of the most advanced
available, calling it the difference between winning or losing information superiority in one
of its fact sheets. The system is also highly adaptable and able to work with numerous
other communications systems, making it effective for working with multi-national and
coalition partners. It can inter-operate with things like SKYNET and Bowman systems as
well.
BAE Systems calls Falcon a key element of the networked battlefield with it allowing high
capacity voice, data and video communications over a common Wide Area Network
(WAN), naturally it can also be used over a local network when needed. It can also
provide a secure link back to the UK if needed.
Falcon is also faster to setup compared to older systems as it replaces older fragmented
systems with one integrated system. This also means less manpower is needed to be
deployed to the frontlines and costs are reduced. It is also able to be easily pre-
configured and quickly setup even in the most hostile environments according to BAE
Systems.
It is also apparently easy and hassle-free to transport the system.
Of course with anything going across the internet you will also want as good encryption
as can be implemented, but even the strongest encryption can still be cracked by a
determined adversery who has enough time and resources. That is always the risk and
no communications are foolproof from potentially being compromised by enemy
intelligence.
BAE Systems says that Falcon uses the Internet Protocol in a ‘highly secure way’,
although that gives us relatively little information on how it does this. But it is true the way
in how the Internet Portocol works makes such communications more resilient to
interference attempts from electronic and physical attacks, aiming to disrupt or knockout
communications rather than compromise the information itself.
Falcon uses dynamic intelligence to adapt to any attempts at physical or electronic
attacks by re-routing through different nodes if others have been taken out by enemy
operations, enabling important information to still reach its intended recipients with
relatively little disruption in time.
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So for the enemy when it comes to the Falcon, its largest weakness would likely be
compromising its data by attempting to crack the encryption security being used. I will
assume that Falcon likely uses the best currently available encryption that exists, as that
would make sense for something as sensitive as military communications.
Tactical Communications
Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
Tactical communications include radios used by the British Army, which currently use the
Bowman family of radios which include HF, VHF, and UHF voice and data
communications from formation headquarters forward to fighting units. Bowman uses the
latest radio and computer technology, making them fit for modern purpose.
The Bowman radios, which replaced Clansman, provide integrated digital
communications that network interface with higher level systems as well as with ISDN,
Skynet V, Cormorant, and Falcon communication systems. The voice and data
communications are secure according to the British Army’s website and include
integrated GPS systems.
Tactical communications are essential to carrying out objectives on the battlefield and
amongst hostile environments, without it communication would be chaotic and unreliable.
Enemies will often aim to attempt to disrupt tactical systems via electronic and radio
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inteference as well as by physical attack to try and send communications into dissaray
and gain the upper-hand – although with the presence of digital communications as
explained earlier this is not as effective in the modern day.
Bowman does also include countermeasures against such attempts at disrupting
communications, such as measures against electronic attacks via a frequency-hopping
spread spectrum.
The Bowman radio gives secure and integrated communications (both voice and data) to
dismounted soldiers, individual vehicles, as well as command headquarters. Integrated
voice and data encryption provides Bowman radios with security, although as said before
encryption can still be cracked by an determined enemy with enough time and resources,
which is why it is important to keep up to date on encryption at all times.
GPS is also integrated into the system to help prevent friendly-fire and increase overrall
situational awareness. The Bowman system really is the backbone of the British Army’s
ability to be cohesive on the battlefield and deployments.
It has been announced that Bowman will eventually be replaced by a next-generation
tactical communications system known as Morpheus, promising to be an open and
modular system, giving improved access to modern IT systems and a simplified user
experience. The open approach of Morpheus aims to allow new technologies including
radios and apps to be quickly integrated to the new system, in a bid to tackle emerging
threats and improve interoperability with allies.
Satellite Communications
Image by PIRO4D from Pixabay
Communication via satellite links is both modern, highly strategic, and efficient, the
provision of the British Army’s tactical satellite ground terminals is responsible to the
Royal Signals. There are three satellite communication systems and services currently
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used by the British Army.
One is the Small Satcom, which is made up of SWE-DISH CCT-120 satellite ground
terminal which is owned by Paradigm. Small Satcom uses the Skynet5 network enabling
it to provide usage worldwide. Small Satcom is lightweight, able to be transported in an
airframe, and can be setup by a trained operator in under half an hour.
Reacher is a system/service that provides the cornerstone of satellite communications
terminals for the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense. Reacher provides various
services via robust and secure communication links. There are three variants of the
Reacher terminals, large and medium terminals can be mounted on the Mowag Duro 3
vehicle. The other variant is a Royal Marine terminal.
Then Skynet V is a service that owns and manages satellites in orbit and controls satellite
ground stations. The Skynet V private finance initiative itself also provides the Reacher
and Talon satellite ground systems, among others. Skynet V enables the capability of
extending in-theatre systems which include the Falcon and Cormorant systems, as well
as others, providing interoperability between different communication systems and as
such more effective overall communications.
Weapons
Weapons used by soldiers include small arms and support weapons such as the SA80,
grenades, heavy machine guns, and guided missiles.
SA80
Photo by Stuart Hall/MOD. License: OGL v1.0. Source.
First of all, we have the SA80 which are currently the standard combat weapons used by
the British Army, specifically the SA80 A2, which include Individual Weapon and Light
Support Weapon variants. SA80 is a grouping of what the British Army website calls
‘revolutionary’ assault weapons and have been in use since 1985. The British Army
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website also says that on the introductory testing of the weapon it was so accurate that
Army marksmanship tests had to be re-designed. The weapon is also highly versatile and
ergonomic.
The weapons are produced by Heckler and Koch, one of the most well-known weapon
development companies in the western world. These weapons use NATO standard 5.56 x
45mm ammunition. The website goes on to say the variants used by the British Army
have been modified through the gaining of operational experience, which includes a
major update in 2002 which created the SA80 A2 series, which they laud as the most
reliable weapons in the world.
The length is 785mm with a barrel length of 518mm, and 5.56mm calibre. The weapon
weighs 4.98kg with fully loaded magazine (feeds a 30-round magazine) and optical sight
attached. The muzzle velocity is 940 meters per second, a cyclic-rate of 610-775 rate per
minute, and an effective range of 400 meters.
The SA80 also comes with an underslung grenade launcher called the AG36 40mm
grenade launcher manufactured by Heckler and Koch, and comes with an EO Tech
Holographic and an ISTEC range drum. The grenade launcher has an effective range of
350 meters, and it is low recoil, easy to use, ammunition is reduced in weight, and a
grenade can be chambered ready for use while being able to actively fire the SA80
without catastrophic consequences. It weighs 1.12kg, has a 76 meter per second muzzle
velocity, and a cyclic-rate of 5-7 per minute.
The grenade launcher is currently fielded with Practice and High Explosive ammunition
natures. Six of the grenade launchers are distributed per platoon for increased flexibility
and weight of fire. There are future considerations to add fire control systems, extended
range ammunition, and buckshot rounds which would allow usage in close-quarter
battles.
The SA80 A2 is set to be eventually phased out by the upcoming SA80 A3 which will be
more precise and accurate thanks to a new handguard that supports the upper receiver,
the gun will minimise infrared and visual spectrums, and is better resistant to abrasion.
The SA80 has faced much criticism and reported problems in the past and was plagued
with initial production issues which threatened the operational future of the SA80 series
with possible replacement. One such early problem reported is that the weapon’s
magazine would often drop out when the user bumped it against their body, due to there
being no guard around the magazine’s release catch. The gun was also designed only
with right-handed users in mind, making it difficult to use for those left-handed. The gun
was seen as unreliable in semi-automatic mode. The gun was also easily damaged as
well, the catch over the gas mechanism would also need to be taped down as it would
otherwise often pop-open. And suppressive fire was unreliable due to small-capacity
magazine and the barrel overheating, among other issues.
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More so while being used in the harsh climate of the Middle East there were reports that
dust could cause the gun to become jammed, which could be very life threatening for the
soldier in question, with them no longer having a working weapon that was best-effective
for the current situation they were in.
All of the complaints led to the commissioning of the LANDSET Report which concluded
by criticizing the weapon’s entry into service and identified dozens of faults with the gun.
Although this report was initially denied by the MoD after it was leaked to the press, they
eventually admitted it was real, but despite this still didn’t take it seriously until some
years later, leading to the A2 upgrade.
The upgrade to the A2 variant fixed many of these initial issues, although there have still
been some complaints. But generally, the majority of opinions on the A2 upgrade have
been positive and with the upcoming A3 upgrade on the way the operational future of the
SA80 family seems to have been assured for now, although uptake of the weapon by
foreign armed forces and security services is lacking.
Glock 17
Photo by Askild Antonsen on Flickr. CC BY 2.0. Source.
But what about the so-called secondary weapon? as those who play shooter games may
be wondering. The British Army use the Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol, more specifically
the Generation 4 variant. The Glock 17 replaced the previous Browning pistol, of which
the Glock 17 is lighter, has increased accuracy, and holds 17 x 9mm rounds, 4 more
rounds than the Browning pistol.
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The Glock 17 first came into service in 2013 and replaced the previous Browning L9A1
which had been used for over four decades. The Glock 17 is also lighter, its safety
mechanism has been designed so that the gun can be drawn and fired faster than the
Browning, and the gun also has the ability to mount gun lights and laser pointers.
Worldwide the Glock 17 is seen as universally reliable and has very little complaints or
faults. The Glock series of weapons itself has been widely adopted around the world by
armed and security forces owing to its prestige and reliability.
The Combat Shotgun
Photo in the Public Domain.
Next up… close quarters weapons. Something I myself always disliked while playing
shooter games were shotguns, since they could easily kill you off-guard in one hit. The
website calls it a Combat Shotgun but does not give the specific name, but I believe it is
probably the L128A1 Combat Shotgun, also known as the Benelli M4 Combat Shotgun. It
is semi-automatic, and is a tubular magazine-fed weapon using a 12-gauge 18.4mm
cartridge.
The shotguns operating system is called the Auto-Regulating Gas Operated Twin
System, twin meaning it uses two gas pistons, the system includes a rotating bolt head
and dual locking lugs. The shotgun also comes fitted with an EOT tech sight enabling use
day or night, and also fixed iron sight, and it also has a telescopic buttstock for better
accuracy. The weapon cannot be fired while squatting, but can fire in all other
conventional positions.
There is a rail on top of the weapon that allows various attachments such as scopes,
lasers, and flashlights.
The shotgun is 1,010mm in length when the buttstock is extended and 886mm when it is
closed. The weapon ways 3.8kg, effective range is 130 meters for solid shot and 40
meters for buckshot. The shotgun has a 7-cartridge magazine.
Many civilian users have complained that the extendable buttstock is either too long when
extended or too short when retracted, but the military version avoids this issue as it has
three different extensions rather than just two. Overall, the weapon is received positively
within the military and is also used by the United States, Italy and other countries armed
forces and security services owing to its reliability.
L115A3 Long Range Sniper Rifle and L96
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L115A3 Long Range Sniper Rifle. Photo from Defense Imagery/MOD. License: OGL v1.0.
Source.
Moving on to more specialised weapons we have rifles, and the British army uses two
types, sniper rifles, and sharpshooter rifles.
The first is the L115A3 Long Range Sniper Rifle. In the British Army snipers are vital on
the battlefield for intelligence gathering, identification of targets, and taking out any high-
value targets that have been discovered and identified. The L115A3 is part of the Sniper
System Improvement Programme, of which the first were deployed in Afghanistan in 2008
and so they are relatively new and modern, replacing the L115A1/A2 and the L96.
The Programme also includes night sights, spotting scopes, and laser finders for better
accuracy and identification, and tripods for better accuracy.
Improved sight and tactical supressors with the L115A3 also enabled it to remain hidden
while firing in the dust and darkness.
The L115A3 is a large-calibre weapon and includes state-of-the-art telescopic sights
which work day and night and within all weather conditions, which greatly helps to
increase the effective range of the weapon.
The L115A3 is designed and manufactured by Accuracy International, it has heavier
bullets than the L96 (8.59mm to the L96’s 7.62mm) which is also less likely to be
deflected over very long distances. The L115A3 weighs 6.8kg and is 1,300mm in length,
muzzle velocity is 936 meters per second, has a 5-round box feed, and an effective range
of over 1,100 meters, which is better than the L96 and much more effective in the current
environments they were used in, such as Afghanistan, and enabled British soldiers to
much more easily outrange insurgents and keep an edge.
The L115A3 uses a Schmidt & Bender 5-25×56 PM II day scope which is much improved
from scopes used by the previous L115A1/2 and L96 sniper rifles. As can be guessed
attachments can be fitted to enable usage in the dark.
One difference on the L115A3’s made for the British Army that may be noticed is the
presence of a fluted barrel, which are not usually available on other issues of the L115A3
made by Accuracy International as they feared it could interfere with the accuracy of the
sniper rifle.
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The L115A3 is also superior in its ergonomic design, being easy to handle and hold, and
naturally has soldiers handling it in an efficient manner, which helps with general
accuracy.
A British Army sniper currently holds the record for the longest sniper shot in history using
the L115A3 in 2009 at a distance over 2,400 meters, taking out two Taliban machine
gunners in Afghanistan.
The L115A3 has been praised for its accuracy and reliability and as one of the most
advanced and effective sniper rifles currently around.
Photo by John Torch II from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.
There was also the L96A1 Sniper Rifle, manufactured by Accuracy International, older
than the L115A3, but still provided a first-round hit 600 meters effectively, and was able to
harass enemies up to 1,100 meters away, it was later improved with a x3-x12 x 50 sight
and spotting scope for better accuracy and identification, this was done specifically
following mounting complaints from soldiers using the weapons in Iraq, where the original
scope was generally less than adequate. The gun uses 7.62x51mm NATO cartridges in a
10-round box magazine.
The L96 is referred to as a pioneer for modern sniper rifles and was the first military-
issued sniper rifle manufactured by Accuracy International. It was also one of the first
modular sniper rifles enabling the gun to be easily taken apart, which was good for
ergonomic reasons and also enabled damaged parts to be replaced far more easily,
making it a lot more efficient and reliable. It originally used a Schmidt & Bender PM 6×42,
but as already mentioned above the scope was later improved, and also altogether
surpassed by the scope used by the current L115A3 sniper rifle. Scopes could be
switched between L96s without little issue, such as without really having to spend time
refocusing the scope.
But the gun was not without its issues, with one particular big issue being the L96’s firing
pin, which would commonly break when in use which then meant the gun could no longer
fire its shots. The firing pin would break due to cheaper production changes by another
company that Accuracy International had outsourced towards as AI at the time was not
large enough to have the production capacity for the number of sniper rifles ordered by
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the British Army. The firing pin issue was also serious due to the force of ejection when
the pin broke and was fired out of the gun, which could strike soldiers using it causing
injuries.
This problem put the L96’s future in jeopardy as the British Army begun considering going
back to its older sniper rifle, but luckily Accuracy International took over full production of
the weapon and remedied the issue, and the company it had outsourced to, known as
Pylon, eventually went out of business.
The monopod fitted on to the back-underside of the L96 was also a bit difficult to retract
again if it had been extended for use, but this issue was not immediate and so wasn’t
improved until manufacture of future sniper rifles.
The L96 has been phased out since 2014 and there are only now a very limited number
left as the Ministry of Defense destroyed the vast majority of their L96 Sniper Rifles and
disposed of them.
L129A1 Sharpshooter Rifle
Photo by Stuart Hill/MOD. License: OGL v1.0. Source.
Next is the semiautomatic L129A1 Sharpshooter Rifle, the website says this weapon
class has improved long-range firepower on the frontlines. It uses the same rounds as the
L96 and its accuracy is better enhanced for engagement in longer-range firefights. The
website also says it is used by some of the best shots in the infantry. It weighs 4.5kg, and
has a 20-rounds detachable box magazine.
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The weapon has been in service since 2010 and was introduced to enable effective
engaging of enemies, such as in Afghanistan, as fighters there used small arms that
would outrange the British soldiers own assault rifles and light machine guns, which was
not expected as studies anticipated that most militaries small arms entering into the
modern era post World War 2 would be no more than 300m, of course this outlook
neglected unconventional armed forces such as terrorist groups. The L129A1 is able to
engage effectively up to 800 meters and therefore counters such longer-ranged small
arms used by insurgents. The weapon features an ACOG 6×48 scope for long-range
targeting, and also includes a reflex scope with this for close quarters targeting. The
weapon also has an extendable stock and bipod.
The weapon is either used in a marksman role or has also been used by spotters a part
of a sniper team. Spotters use a modified variant of the L129A1 which uses a 3-12 x 50
sniper scope made by Schmitt & Bender instead of an ACOG scope (usually used by
marksmen), but the sniper scope also includes the option for close-quarters targeting
similar to the ACOG scope, and the spotter variant also includes a surefire suppressor.
The British Army have also been pursuing ammunition with armour-piercing capability for
this variant of the weapon, increasing its effectiveness in the sniper-support role.
It really is a weapon for the modern-day War on Terror. One fun fact is that the weapons
were held by security forces within helicopters during the 2012 London Olympic Games.
The weapon is manufactured by the Lewis Machine and Tool Company.
L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun and Minimi Light Machine Gun
Photo credit goes to FN Herstal. CC BY 2.0. Source.
The British Army’s main General Purpose Machine Gun is the L7A2, manufactured by FN
Herstal, which is a 7.62mm x 51mm belt-fed general purpose machine gun. The weapon,
which has been in service for over five decades but still remains effective, can be used as
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a light weapon, but is usually used in a sustained fire role. When being used in a
sustained fire role the weapon is operated by two men in a specialist Machine Gun
Platoon to provide battalion-level fire support, in such a role the weapon is mounted on a
tripod and has a C2 optical sight fitted. In this mode it puts out 750 rounds per minute up
to an effective range of 1,800 meters with reliable precision at such long ranges.
When used in a light machine gun role it is used along with a fold-out bipod. Many Army
vehicles and some helicopters in the British Armed Forces have these General
Purpose Machine Guns mounted on to them. Light mode effective range is 800 meters.
Cyclic rate of fire is 750 rounds per minute.
The gun includes a 50-round belt magazine, is 13.85kg, is 1,230mm in length when in
light mode, with barrel length of 629mm. Muzzle velocity is 838 meters per second, it can
use a 100-round disintegrating link belt.
The Minimi LMG. Photo credit to FN Herstal. CC BY 2.5. Source.
The British Army also used the Minimi Light Machine gun and was often used over the
L7A2’s light weapon capability, although the Minimi has started to be phased out since
2018. The weapon is manufactured by FN Herstal and uses 5.56x45mm disintegrating
belt fed 100-200 round box, firing 700-1150 rounds per minute up to an effective range of
800 meters. It is lighter than the L7A2 and therefore more effective in a light role and can
be more efficiently used in a single-man role.
The L7A2 on the other hand is actively used by the Parachute Regiment of the British
Army in Afghanistan and since 2018 its usage has begun to be widened over that of
the Minimi, with precision fire being favoured at longer ranges, which is where
the Minimi falters and becomes less accurate, only being good for suppressive fire at
such longer ranges. Over-long and long-term sustained usage of the L7A2 in drawn out
battles can lead to the barrel melting, but this issue is avoided by bringing spare barrels
along with the L7A2 when needed. Outside of this easily avoidable issue, the gun is still
seen as one of the best machine guns that exist, despite it being so old now.
These General Purpose and Light Machine guns would have also been used to more
effectively engage the extended small arms ranges beyond 300 meters used by
insurgents in Afghanistan instead of using assault rifles which are less effective in the
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to stick around for such a long period of time goes to show how well received the weapon
is and how reliable many users see it.
The weapon weighs 38.15kg, has a length of 1,656mm and a barrel length of 629mm,
12.7mm calibre, 915 meters per second muzzle velocity, and a 50-round disintegrated
belt feed. Its effective range is 2,000 meters and a large cyclic rate of 485-635 rounds per
minute.
Grenade Machine Gun
Photo by Anderle from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source.
The British Army also use grenade machine guns, which is the Heckler & Koch 40mm
Grenade Machine Gun (which the British army called the L134A1 GMG), and what the
British MOD website calls an unrivalled infantry suppression weapon that combines the
best characteristics of heavy machine guns and light mortars that would otherwise be
used in such a role. It is a very modern weapon and first came into operation for the
British Army in 2006 after calls for a gun similar to a Heavy Machine Gun but with
explosive output behind its shots, in Afghanistan it has been used to far more easily
counter insurgents armed with AK weapons and RPGs, in defense of airfields and
forward operating bases.
By combining the suppressive force of the Heavy Machine Gun and the explosive power
of a Mortar, it avoids problems with conventional rifle ammunition not providing a
fragmentation affect making them largely ineffective against advancing armoured infantry
vehicles and battle tanks, and avoids the problem of mortars having a relatively low rate
of fire. So, in essence, the grenade machine gun combines the advantages and
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eliminates the disadvantages. The Grenade machine gun as well as firing lethal
fragmentation rounds, can also fire other types of grenades such as smoke grenades for
example.
This weapon is usually mounted on WMIK Land Rovers but can also be fired from
ground-based tripods. The weapon weighs 28.8kg (lighter than both the currently used
Heavy Machine Gun and Mortar), is 1,090 meters in length with a barrel length of 415mm,
uses 540 x 53mm cartridge, a 32-round disintegrated belt, muzzle velocity of 241 meters
per second, and an effective range 1,500 meters, but can also harass enemies up to a
further 2,200 meters away.
The weapon can also have various advanced optics and targeting systems, as well as a
fire control system computer, also called the ballistics computer, attached on to it to make
it more accurate, deadly, and destructive than it already is. It really is one of the most
advanced pieces of weaponry currently used by the British Army.
Practically one of the only complaints you’ll see about this beast is people saying – “does
the Army really need something this destructive?”
Mortar
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Photo by Hisamikabunomura from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source.
Like many military forces of the world the British Army uses mortars when needed, their
main current mortar is the L16A2 81mm Mortar which is known as a Battlegroup level
indirect fire weapon. This mortar is able to provide both accurate and high-explosive,
smoke, and illuminating rounds up to an effective range of 5,650 meters. It requires at
least three soldiers to operate it.
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The particular Mortar used by the British Army has been in service since the mid-1960s
but has managed to remain relevant, although it could be we’ll see it used less and less
with the growing presence of Grenade Machine Guns, although Mortars like this even
then will likely be kept around due to their superior range, although this range is more
suppressive than precise, but then so that is also the purpose of the Grenade Machine
Gun – suppression of the adversary.
Mortar platoons that are within mechanised and armoured infantry battalions have their
mortars mounted on and fire from armoured personnel carriers, which provides to
increase mobility, rapid disengagement and movement to new fire positions. The Mortar
itself weighs 35.3kg, and has a barrel length of 1,280mm, a muzzle velocity of 225 meters
per second and a 4.2kg HE L3682 feed.
Although the Mortar is a number of decades old it has received some upgrades through
its lifetime to keep it relevant, such as a GPS Receiver and Target Locating Equipment to
make the Mortar more accurate and increase their efficiency during missions. Further
upgrades are expected in the coming years, such as improvements to the lethality of the
ammunition against structures, enemy equipment, and armoured targets. So, it would
seem there is no plans to retire this old boy just yet.
The Mortar can be quickly dissembled and reassembled to move it, usually it is moved via
ground vehicle (such as an APC) or helicopter, but can also be carried by two soldiers
when dissembled.
One of the dangerous parts of using Mortars is that Mortar-bomb stockpiles can explode,
such as if hit/targeted by enemy fire, which then can cause a chain reaction that may
seriously injure and kill friendly soldiers. But there is ammunition being worked on to
reduce the chance of this reality taking place, such as Insensitive Munition Mortar-bombs
currently being developed by BAE Systems, designed in such a way to reduce the risk of
chain reaction explosions.
There are also two other Mortar-bomb munitions currently in development, Precision
Guidance munitions which are Mortar-bombs with GPS technology literally built into them
that will allow Mortar-bombs already fired to be course-corrected, making them even
more accurate and able to correct a number of mistakes in the initial firing. The other are
Preformed Fragmentation munitions, basically bigger boom, bigger Area of Effect, more
destruction.
The Mortar can also use Infrared Illuminating rounds, because although normal
Illuminating rounds are good, they can also backfire and inadvertently compromise the
friendly troops positions, meanwhile the Infrared Illuminating rounds largely eliminate this
possibility and instead help to enhance the ability of night vision equipment to see the
enemy, now that’s pretty impressive.
This Mortar type has wide usage by forces of numerous countries worldwide owing to its
long-standing success and reliability.
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Guided Weapons
Finally, the British Armed forces also have a variety of guided weapons, both the main
ones being the anti-tank Javelin and NLAW missile weapons.
Javelin
Photo by Stuart A Hill AMS/MOD. License: OGL v1.0. Source.
First up the Javelin is a medium-ranged anti-tank guided weapon which replaced the
previous Milan in 2005. The British Army’s Javelin is an enhanced version of the
American variant, America’s Javelin proved its effectiveness on the fronts of Iraq and
Afghanistan. The weapon is specified for taking out tanks and light armoured vehicles,
but can also take out fixed defences such as bunkers and buildings, and is not limited by
the weather or time of day. The British version includes a more effective sight system as
well as a tripod for firing and observation.
The Javelin includes an integrated sight which allows an operator to lock on to a target
and then fire, with no further monitoring required as the missile will guide itself to the
target, since it does not need to be monitored the operator can quickly move on to other
targets or move to a different position. It can be used in overfly and direct attack
operational modes. The weapon is good against armoured vehicles as the weapon
plummets down on to it from above, hitting the vehicle typically where its armour is
weakest. In the direct attack mode, it is great for assaulting and penetrating enemy
fortifications.
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The Javelin is operated by two, the firer, and a controller or observer, who commands the
weapon and assists with loading, identification of targets, and damage assessment on the
battlefield. The weapon weighs 24.3kg, is 1.39m in length, and has a velocity of 150
meters per second, and an effective range of 2,500 meters.
The warhead used by the weapon has two stages of detonation which is designed in such
a way to penetrate reactive armour and then base armour. The weapon is lighter than
older missile systems and also more easily dissembled and reassembled, making it more
efficient. The weapon is also incredibly accurate and has a successful impact rate of over
90%, I guess letting a targeting computer do all the work rather than manually controlling
the rocket like in previous systems is clearly superior.
Since the weapon also does not need to be monitored or manually controlled after firing
the operator/s are generally safer as they can more quickly hide or take cover without
being compromised, which was a stronger possibility with previous missile
systems. Furthermore, soldiers firing the weapon, and those nearby, are also safer as the
missile is soft-launched first before properly firing off, this means the missile does not
ignite first in the firing tube, meaning there is minimal backblast, which can cause injuries,
this also means the weapon can be fired from structures far more safely and without the
needed pre-preparation first, making it far more efficient.
The weapon only has some drawbacks such as the weight of the weapon, although it is
lighter than previous systems, that doesn’t mean it still isn’t heavy, and so that can lead to
some minimal logistical issues and possible injuries from carrying/using the system. The
thermal optics used by the weapon is also an impact to efficiency as there needs to be a
period of waiting after having fired so the thermal optics can be cooled sufficiently.
NLAW
Photo by Jorchr from Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source.
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The British Army also uses another type of anti-tank guided missile known as the Next-
Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon or NLAW for short, manufactured by Saab Dynamics,
and has been in service since 2009 replacing the previous LAW-80 system. The website
calls it the first non-expert, short-ranged, single-soldier, anti-tank missile which means it is
easy to use and only requires one operator (the Javelin is best with two operators
although it can be fired by a single operator, but it is more difficult and cumbersome with
one operator), it can apparently knock out any main battle tank very quickly in just one
shot, where the missile strikes from above, similar to the Javelin. The weapon can be
ready to fire within 5-seconds making it highly efficient.
The weapon includes predicted line of sight guidance and also features overfly top and
direct attack modes, as well as night vision optics, and so it can also be used against
fortifications. The weapon is best suited for light forces operating dismounted in any
environment and climate conditions, even built-up areas, since the weapon is also soft-
launched similar to the Javelin it can be safely used in enclosed areas. It has an effective
range of 600 meters which can be pushed up to a maximum range of 1,000 meters,
weighs 12.5kg, is 1,016mm in length, has a 2.5x magnification optical sight, and has a
shelf-life of two decades.
The weapon is clearly based on the Javelin having the same attack modes and
capabilities, although this missile system is far lighter but also has far less of an effective
range. It is also a disposable weapon whereby the weapon is fired a single time and is
then disposed of, quite simply put.
Thank you for reading this first part on the equipment and weapons used by the British
Army. Next up will be the section on all the vehicles used by the British Army, and then
after that we shall go on to the British Air Force and then Navy.