In a recent article/video we looked at the UK’s newly selected Alternative Individual Weapon system, the L403A1. The Knight’s Armament KS-1 was selected as the new rifle for the Ranger Regiments of the Army Special Operations Brigade and for elements of the Royal Marines Commandos.
One question which frequently appeared in the comments was “can it fit a bayonet?” This is a good question because the British Army is known to be a proponent of bayonet use with a long history of using it to great effect from the 1600s right through to recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron member with new L403A1 (Royal Marines Commandos)
The short answer to the question is – yes. The longer answer is a bit more complex. Just a week after the selection of the new rifle was announced Knights Armament displayed one of the rifles with a bayonet fixed at the DSEI 2023 exposition in London. This naturally caught some attention.
L403A1/KS-1 with a bayonet seen as DSEI 2023 (via social media)
However, when the selection of the L403A1 was initially announced a breakdown of the Alternative Individual Weapon system’s accessories and ancillaries was released. This included: a Vortex 1-10x LVPO, an Aimpoint ACRO and a QDC/MCQ-PRT [Quick Detach Coupling/Mini Close Quarters–Pressure Reduction Technology] suppressor along with a sling, a vertical front grip, and a Surefire weapon light but noticeably it did not include a bayonet.
Breakdown of the parts and accessories adopted with the L403A1 (Edgar Brothers)
The ability to fix a bayonet was not part of the weapon’s original requirements and it was not stipulated by the Rangers or Commandos. Instead, Knight’s Armament developed the capability themselves, perhaps recognising the UK’s fondness for the bayonet and the British Army’s long history of its use as both a training aid and as a weapon of war.
KAC’s 1st bayonet design with QDC attachment mechanism (courtesy of Gregory Knowles)
TAB reached out to Knight’s Armament about the bayonet and they confirmed that “the bayonet was designed in anticipation of a potential need, though not required as part of the contract.” The bayonet seen fixed to the rifle at DSEI was apparently the first iteration of the design which according to Knight’s Armament “used the same mounting mechanism as the suppressors” but a new “revised design uses an attachment mechanism that is more similar to the SA-80 bayonet attachment/retention design.”
Essentially, rather than using the suppressor’s ‘Quick Detach Coupling’ system the newer iteration of the bayonet uses a pivoting catch. The quick-detach method used by the suppressor involves the suppressor being rolled one way until the index pin seats in a notch before tightening it by twisting it the other direction.
Photos of 2nd bayonet design (Knight’s Armament Company)
The new iteration of the bayonet fits over the rifle’s 3-prong QDC muzzle device and uses the same style of catch system as the SA80. Knight’s Armament explained that “the redesign was a refinement of an initial concept after some basic testing and feasibility evaluation.” The bayonet haven’t undergone any serious testing as they’re still in the development phase. A chromed version of the latest iteration of the bayonet was also displayed at DSEI and has a removable pommel piece that can act as a small storage space and makes the bayonet more comfortable for use as a knife.
The bayonet’s blade is offset to the left side with a corresponding hole which lines up with the muzzle.
While bayonets aren’t currently planned to be issued with the rifles, the requirement might develop once they enter service. If, in the future, the UK Ministry of Defence requested a bayonet for the new rifles it seems that Knight’s Armament could be able to oblige.
There is a rich history of attaching home-made, ad-hoc forward grips to weapons within the British military. In the 1940s troops fashioned home-made forward grips for Sten machine carbines while in the 1960s at least one member of the SAS operating in Borneo during the Indonesian Confrontation attached a carved wooden foregrip to his M16. In the 1980s the operators with the SAS’ counter-terrorism teams attached L1A1 SLR pistols grips to their MP5s.
British troops in Northern Ireland with L1A1s fitted with makeshift front grips made using a spare pistol grip attached with a jubilee clip
The intermittent tradition appears to have continued into the early 1990s with one member of the Staffordshire Regiment seen to have mounted a pistol grip to the forend of his L85A1. The soldier and his adapted rifle appeared in a number of photographs and some footage taken during a field exercises in Saudi Arabia.
Commandos on parade with STEN MkIIs equipped with ad-hoc front grip, at Kabrit in June 1943 (IWM A17755)
The battalion deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of 7th Armoured Brigade in October 1990, as part of Operation Granby. During the phase of operations in the Gulf which the US designated Operation Desert Shield allied forces prepared to liberate Kuwait and took part in a number of field exercises.
On 10 November, 1990 Sgt. Dave Miles, a British Army photographer filmed up-close footage of C Company, 1st Battalion during a live fire exercise. During one brief section of the footage the L85A1 with foregrip can be seen firing. On 6 January 1991, C Company took part in another live fire exercise which again saw them filmed and the same rifle features in several brief sections. It also appears in photographs taken by AP photographers Patrick Baz and Sadayuki Mikami, an unnamed British Army photographer and US Army photographer PFC John F. Freund.
Company C, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, during a live fire training exercise assaulting a mock village and trench complex, 6 January 1991. (XVIII Airborne Corps History Office photograph by PFC John F. Freund)
Unlike some of the earlier examples of wooden ad-hoc foregrips this one appears to be fashioned from a spare SA80 pistol grip attached to the rifle’s plastic forend by a bolt. While mods like this one weren’t that uncommon they are rarely so well documented in photographs and videos. It’s also interesting to see just how common painting weapons was.
Royal Marines Commandos in Afghanistan c.2006. An LSW rear grip fitted as an ad-hoc foregrip (Commando: On the Front Line)
Similar modifications were made using the rear grip from the L86A1 Light Support Weapon. These were again bolted through the vents in the underside of the rifle’s plastic handguard. One of these modifications was seen a number of times in the hand of a member of the Royal Marines Commandos during the 2007 documentary Commando: On the Front Line.
Generally the addition of foregrips make for handier, more pointable weapons. Arguably, the soldier from C company was ahead of his time as later, following the L85A2 refits and the Afghanistan urgent operational requirements, Grip Pod vertical front grips were paired with the rifles.
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The United Kingdom has announced the selection of the Knight’s Armament Company KS-1 as the new individual weapon for the new Ranger battalions and the Royal Marines Commandos. The requirement for the new rifle was released back in August 2021, and called for the “procurement and support of an Armalite Rifle (AR) platform Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) System.”
The requirement called for a ‘Rifle System’ which comprises the weapon and a ‘Signature Reduction System’ [suppressor] and an ‘Optic System’. The rifle itself had to be ‘gas operated with a rotating, locking bolt’ and was to specifically have “a standard configuration, not bullpup, with the magwell in-front of the trigger housing.”
Royal Marines Commando with L403A1 (Royal Marines/Royal Navy)
The UK launched Project Hunter to select a new Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) to replace the SA80/L85 series of rifles and Colt Canada L119s in service with the Rangers and elements of the Royal Marines Commandos. After two years of competition the UK MoD has announced that Knight’s KS-1 has been selected as the L403A1, beating off reported competition from Heckler & Koch, SIG Sauer, Daniel Defense and Glock.
Other weapons believed to have been evaluated include the HK416A5, the SIG Sauer SPEAR-LT, the Daniel Defense M4 and Glock’s GR-115F. Other companies believed to have submitted rifles include Colt Canada, Lantac, Haenel and Steyr amongst others.
The new rifles will supplement the L85A2 and L85A3 which currently equip the majority of the UK armed forces. The rifles will be procured via UK-based company Edgar Brothers and the £90 million ($110 million) contract will see up to 10,000 new rifles delivered over the next decade. An initial £15 million order for 1,620 AIW systems has been placed with the British Army fielding them with the Army Special Operations Brigade, with the brigade expected to receive the first rifles by the end of 2023. The Royal Marines’ ‘strike companies’ and Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron will also be among the first to receive the L403A1. The ‘Alternative Individual Weapon’ essentially fulfils the same role every AR-pattern rifle in UK service has since the 1960s.
New Alternative Individual Weapon – L403A1 (UK MoD)
The UK’s Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge said:
“This is another example of how we are committed to investing in the most advanced battlefield equipment to back our troops on the battlefield. This advanced rifle’s ability to help soldiers maintain the stealth edge not only protects them but delivers war-fighting advantage over our adversaries.”
Interestingly, the UK Ministry of Defence’s press release emphasises that as an AR-pattern rifle the L403A1 “shares much in common with the rifle systems used by many of the UK’s allies. Given their specialist role, and the critical task of working with and alongside many of the UK’s allies, the platform will enable ASOB to share skills and drills in an efficient manner.”
Close up of the Vortex and Aimpoint optics which make up part of the AIW package (Royal Marines/Royal Navy)
So what does the Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system include?
The system builds around the Knight’s KS-1 but also includes a magnified 1-10 LPVO optic from Vortex, an Aimpoint ACRO P-2 red dot and the Knight’s QDC/MCQ-PRT suppressor. The prime contractor for the project, Edgar Brothers, are responsible for the sourcing and assembly of the AIW’s accessories. Accessories for the rifle will include a MAGPUL M54 sling, a Surefire Mini Scout Light Pro, G10 rail scales and a MAGPUL M-LOK AFG.
Anatomy of the L403A1 (Edgar Brothers)
The KS-1 is the latest iteration of the SR-16 series, it has a 13.7in (35cm) barrel and weighs 6.88lbs (3.1kg) unloaded, its overall length is 32.2in (82cm) with the stock collapsed and 34.2in (87cm) extended. The QDC/MCQ-PRT weighs an additional 13.9oz and adds just over 2 inches to the weapon’s length. The rifle uses a direct gas impingement system (or more correctly described as Stoner’s internal piston system).
The selection of the new rifle forms part of the Royal Marines’ larger modernization push under the Commando Force Programme alongside a new helmet from Gentex and Fused Binocular Night Vision devices from L3Harris.
Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron member with L403A1 in Norway (Royal Marines/Royal Navy)
We got our first indication of the KS-1’s selection in June, when the Royal Marines published a new recruitment advert featuring the rifle. It was also subsequently seen during a demonstration at Lulworth Ranges in July.
UK MoD Defence Imagery has shared some interesting photos & video from the recent Demonstration at Lulworth Range.
What caught my eye were some of the Project Hunter carbines in use. In this clip we see both the Knights Armament KS-1 AND the SIG Sauer MCX Spear-LT. 🎥My edit. 1/ pic.twitter.com/wbdNZcOXhS
— Historical Firearms | Matthew Moss (@historicfirearm) July 20, 2023
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Bibliography:
Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) System Tender Aug. 2021, UK Govt. (source)
£90 million contract equips Armed Forces with advanced new rifle, UK MoD (source)
Britain’s Commandos to get new assault rifles, Royal Navy(source)
Last year I had the pleasure of giving a talk at the Cody Firearms Museum’s Arsenals of History Symposium. I’ve been working with my friend Jonathan Ferguson of the Royal Armouries on a research paper looking at British use of the AR-15 platform. My focus for the project has been the user experience, I’ve spoken to over 25 veterans from across the British military who have experience using the AR-15/M16 platform on operations. Chronologically their experiences span nearly 60 years and this somewhat informal presentation gives a brief overview of some of the operations where the rifles have been used from the Indonesian Confrontation right through to the present day.
Some of the photos featured in the presentation
If you’re a member or former member of the British armed forces with experience with the AR-15/M16 platform I would love to hear from you, please reach out via armourersbench@gmail.com. Your help and insights would be invaluable.
Once the project is completed I’ll put together a more in-depth video discussing the history of the UK’s use of AR-15/M16-pattern rifles.
At the end of January a series of photographs taken by Canadian Army photographers showed Ukrainian troops being trained at sites in the UK as part of Operation Unifier. Unifier is a training mission carried out by the Canadian Armed Forces with training currently taking place in the UK alongside the multi-national training mission Operation Interflex.
What is interesting about the new imagery is that the Ukrainian troops in training are all armed with Bulgarian-made Arsenal AK-pattern rifles. This is the firs time this particular AK has been seen in use. If you saw our earlier videos looking at the other types of AK-pattern rifles procured by the UK for their training of Ukrainian personnel you’ll have seen Zastava M70s, Chinese Type 56s and East German MPi KMS-72s are in use.
The rifles were almost certainly procured by the UK Ministry of Defence and like the other AK-pattern rifles being used for training they will probably remain in the UK to be used in the training of future Ukrainian personnel.
A soldier with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, instructs Ukrainian recruits during a weapons class as part of Operation UNIFIER in the United Kingdom, on January 26, 2023. (Corporal Eric Greico/Canadian Armed Forces)
The Arsenal AKs were seen for the first time in photographs taken on the 23 January, during a lesson on field craft. The Ukrainian troops can be seen taking notes with the rifles slung at their sides.
The rifles appeared in photographs again on 25 January, when Canadian medics were instructing Ukrainian recruits on the application of tourniquets. One of the rifles was seen slung over the shoulder of a Ukrainian soldier rendering aid.
Subsequently on 26 January, soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry were photographed instructing Ukrainian recruits during a weapons class. The class saw Ukrainian troops learning how to operate NLAWs, grounded on the floor next to them are their Arsenal AKs.
A series of images from a counter-explosive training session on searching and spotting mines and booby traps showed a platoon of Ukrainian trainees equipped with the Bulgarian AKs.
Ukrainian recruits under the supervision of Canadian soldiers from 1 Combat Engineer Regiment practice searching for and identifying booby traps, during Operation UNIFIER on 28 January 2023 in the United Kingdom. (Corporal Eric Greico/Canadian Armed Forces)
The rifles seen in all of the photographs appear to be basic model rifles, none of the weapons have railed handguards or Picatinny on the receiver cover for mounting optics. This suggests that they are either AR-M9Fs or AR-M14Fs (at least according to Arsenal’s website). The ‘F’ refers to the folding tube metal stock which helps identify the rifles as Arsenal-made AKs. The characteristic flash hider and furniture also identify them as Arsenal rifles. It is difficult to identify what calibre the rifles are chambered in as the Ukrainians are never seen with magazines loaded into their weapons (as they’re unnecessary for the training being carried out).
The AR-M9 and M14 are bother available chambered in 5.56x45mm and 7.62x39mm. Logical arguments could be made for either calibre: the UK MoD has confirmed that other AK-pattern rifles that have been procured are chambered in 7.62x39mm so this chambering would give them ammunition commonality with other AK-pattern rifles in use. Alternatively, the UK has ample stocks of 5.56x45mm and this would also more closely mimic the 5.45x39mm AK-74 rifles the Ukrainians are likely to be issued when they return home. Either way they are AK-pattern rifles which enable training on manual of arms, handling and firing with similar weapons the trainees will probably be equipped with.
Ukrainian recruits under the supervision of Canadian soldiers from 1 Combat Engineer Regiment practice searching for and identifying booby traps, during Operation UNIFIER on 28 January 2023 in the United Kingdom. (Corporal Eric Greico/Canadian Armed Forces)
The rifles have black polymer furniture and appear to be either new or in excellent condition with few visible scratches or scrapes to the finish or furniture. Notably each rifle has green tape around the base of the folding stock onto which a rack number has been written in black marker pen.
Addendum:
As is sometimes the case with writing these articles and videos while in the process of research and production new source material emerges. On 1 February, the UK MoD shared a series of new photographs from the training of Ukrainian troops. In these a number of the Arsenal AKs were seen fitted with blank firing adapters (BFAs). This is interesting for a number of reasons – previously we have seen Ukrainian trainees using British L85A2s with BFAs for the elements of their training which required blank fire. We have covered this in an earlier article/videos – it requires additional, and largely unnecessary training on the use of the British bullpup.
Australian soldiers demonstrate section level attacks and how to handle captured enemy personnel to Ukrainian recruits during the first rotation of Operation Kudu in the United Kingdom. (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
BFAs for the 7.62x39mm AK pattern rifles procured earlier by the UK appear to have been deemed either unsafe for use in British training areas or BFAs and blank 7.62x39mm ammunition haven’t been readily available. The new photographs show that BFAs are in use with these Bulgarian AKs – likely because they were procured with the rifles direct from the manufacturer.
These UK MoD photographs also show the rifles with magazines – which indicate the rifles are chambered in 5.56x45mm. As I theorised earlier the UK has ample stocks of both blank and ball 5.56x45mm which would simplify the logistics of training the nearly 20,000 Ukrainian soldiers expected to be trained in the UK in 2023.
Australian Army soldiers from the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, receive weapon handling lessons from the British Army’s Small Arms School Corps as part of the “train the trainer” portion of Operation KUDU in the United Kingdom (Australian Department of Defence/Commonwealth copyright)
The Australian Army has also shared a large number of photographs from their involvement in the training of Ukrainian troops in the UK. The Australian military have dubbed their effort Operation Kudu. They describe Kudu as: “A contingent of up to 70 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are deployed on Operation KUDU to assist with the UK-led and based training program.” The Australian photographs show the training and familiarisation of Ukrainian troops with the Arsenal AKs with both Australian and British instructors seen in the photographs.
An Australian Army soldier from the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, assists Ukrainian recruits with cleaning their rifles during Operation KUDU (Australian Department of Defence/Commonwealth copyright)
The photographs feature members of the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and senior instructors from the British Army’s Small Arms School Corps, instructing trainees in the classroom before undertaking some fire and movement drills with blanks.
Update 08/02/23:
The Canadian Ministry of National Defense has released a short video showing some of the training Canadian personnel in the UK are delivering to Ukrainian troops as part of Operation Unifier (the Canadian element of the international Operation Interflex.)
The video focuses on some of the field exercises and urban training being provided and heavily features Bulgarian Arsenal AR-M9F (5.56x45mm) AK-pattern rifles.
Canada's Ministry of National Defense has shared a short video showing Ukrainian troops training as part of Op Unifier (Canadian element of the UK-based international Op Interflex).
— Historical Firearms | Matthew Moss (@historicfirearm) February 8, 2023
Update – 14/02/23: A video shared by the Australian Department of Defence showed Australian troops training Ukrainians with Arsenal AKs during Operation Kudu.
Last week I looked at the use of Bulgarian Arsenal AKs to train Ukrainian troops in the UK. Australia is taking part in this trading (what they call OP Kudu) Here's a video the Aus Defence has released:https://t.co/tw1HA7r6YI
— Historical Firearms | Matthew Moss (@historicfirearm) February 14, 2023
Update 15/02/23: The Danish Army has also shared several photographs of Danish troops training Ukrainians in the UK, Arsenal AKs can again be seen in the photographs (fitted with BFAs).
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In this video/article we’re going to take a look at a short internal British Ministry of Defence film about the SBS called ‘Oil Safe’. Produced in 1980 by the SSVC, the Services Sound & Vision Corporation, the 11 minute film provides an introduction to the Special Boat Service’s capabilities and procedures for retaking off-shore oil and gas rigs seized in a potential terrorist operation.
‘Oil Safe’ is not to be confused with another oil rig hijack film made the same year – ‘North Sea Hijack’ with Roger Moore.
It gives some insight into how the SBS would go about recapturing a rig seized by terrorists, showing in some detail the procedures used in operations associated with offshore gas and oil installations. The film takes us step by step through the operation from the moment the SBS are notified to the moment they exfiltrate after the operation to retake the rig is successful.
It’s definitely worth watching the whole thing, its available up on the. In this video we’ll take a look at some of the weapons featured in the film.
The first weapons we see are those of the SBS assault team as they are preparing their weapons and kit for the journey out to the oil rig. On the table we see no less than eight MAC-10s, which appear to be the 9x19mm variant. While the MAC-10 would later be surpassed by the HK MP5 it was in service with UK special forces throughout the 1970s. Here it appears to be the assault team’s primary weapon.
The MAC-10, designed by Gordon Ingram, could be paired with a sound suppressor – but these do not appear in the film. The MAC-10’s small size and considerable firepower seem well suited to the team’s task.
Also on the table are numerous L9A1 Browning Hi-Powers, a Remington 870 shotgun, a pair of AR-15s, an L1A1 self-loading rifle and an anti-riot Grenade Discharger – for CS gas. The Colt AR-15 was favoured for its firepower and light weight. The SAS and the Royal Marines’ Mountain & Artic Warfare Cadre favoured the AR-15 for the same reasons. Colt Model 602, 603 and 604s were the most prevalent models. In the film the rifle is seen with both 20 and 30 round magazines.
During the operation to retake the rig we see the team armed with the MAC-10s, AR-15s and Hi-Powers. The terrorist seen guarding the rig’s landing pad is shot by a member of the SBS armed with the Remington 870, another terrorist is shot by two SBS members with Hi-Powers who raid the rig’s cafeteria.
The terrorists are portrayed as being armed with a magazine-less M1 Carbine and a Luger P08 pistol. After the terrorists are neutralised the film explains that their weapons are taken by UK Police as part of an investigation into the seizure of the rig. Royal Marine Commandos who arrive by helicopter following the SBS’ initial assault are armed with L1A1 SLRs and L2A3 Sterling submachine guns.
Check out our earlier article/video analysing a 1984 British Army video on the SAS here.
I highly recommend watching the full film over on the Imperial War Museum’s online archive.
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Bibliography
SBS Procedure: Part 3 – Oil Safe, SSVC/UK MoD via IWM, (source)
Recently a very interesting document surfaced in an online auction, while it eventually sold for more than I could afford, I thought it was worth sharing some of the interesting images of the document that were shared in the auction.
Front page of a draft contract for ammunition, drawn up between the British Purchasing Commission and the Western Cartridge Co. (via War-Office)
The document is a draft of a contract to order .303 ammunition from the Western Cartridge Company, part of the Olin Corporation. Before the US passed the Lend-Lease Act, in March 1941, which cleared the was for greater material assistance from the US to Britain the British Purchasing Commission was tasked with procuring arms, ammunition and materials from US companies.
First page of the contract (via War-Office)
The document, originally drawn up in December 1940 called for a mind-blowing 75 million cartridge per month. To do this the Western Cartridge Company needed to expand its production capacity. The contract deals with the intricacies of expanding the company’s manufacturing base and how this expansion would be paid for.
A still from a British newsreel c.1942, showing a British ammunition factory.
The contract states that the .303 ammunition would be for aircraft, for use in weapons like the belt-fed .303 Browning machine guns used in the RAF’s bombers and fighters. The contract mentions that a total of 750 million rounds are required. 20% of these could be requested, at a month’s notice, to be tracer rounds.
It is fascinating to see not only the typed and stapled amendments but also the handwritten notes in the contract’s margins which change quantities, dates and other details. The ammunition is described in ‘Exhibit F’ of the contract as being ‘MkVII .303’. The contract also mentions that the Western Cartridge Company could use its own smokeless powder for the first 100 million rounds and subsequently either their own or powder from Du Pont or the Hercules Powder Company. This means that the ammunition was probably MkVIIIz, as the cartridges did not use Cordite. It is unclear whether the projectiles to be used in the Western Cartridge Co. cartridges used the MkVIIIz boat tail .303 projectile.
A still from a British newsreel c.1942, showing .303 ammunition being tested at a British ammunition factory. The ammunition is being tested in a Vickers Gun, a Bren LMG, a Vickers K and a .303 aircraft Browning
The Western Cartridge Company was not the only US ammunition manufacturer to produce .303. Winchester, another Olin Corporation manufacturer, and the Peter’s Cartridge Company also produced .303 MkVIIIZ.
Sadly we don’t have the rest of the document to examine but these pages offer a really interesting insight into how Britain was procuring ammunition for various weapons during the early part of the war when the situation looked increasingly desperate.
Pages from the March 1941 contract (via War-Office)
A subsequent auction listing for ‘Contract No. A-1562. Requisition No. U.S.233. Dated March, 1941’ also calls for a substantial amount of ammunition, some 400,000,000 rounds. The 42 page contract refers to the ammunition as MkVII and notes the use of Hercules Hivel 300 powder and describes it as ‘S.A. Ball .303 with American modifications dated 7 November, 1940’. The March 1941 contract also states that depending on testing it could be used for ground or air use.
If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including custom stickers and early access to videos! Thank you for your support!
Bibliography:
The .303 British Service Cartridge, R. Tebbutt, (source) Original WW2 British Contract for Manufacture of .303 Ammunition by Winchester, Dec. 1940 eBay/War-Office (source) Original WW2 British Contract for Manufacture of .303 Ammunition by Winchester, Mar. 1941 eBay/War-Office (source)
Very much looking forward to attending the 2022 Arsenal of History Symposium and co-presenting with Jonathan Ferguson (of the Royal Armouries). Our paper is on the British Army’s use of the AR-15 from the early 1960s to the present day!
SAS patrol in Borneo (Sean Flynn)
As part of the project I am also looking to speak to UK armed forces veterans who have experience using the AR-15/M16 platform from 1964 to the present. If you or someone you know would like to share their experiences and impressions of the rifle please drop me an email at armourersbench@gmail.com!
Royal Marine in the Falklands with AR-15
There are lots of other great speakers during the Symposium, check out full details here.
In 2015 the Royal Bermuda Regiment began to field the British L85A2 bullpup. Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory and is one of several territories to have its own British Army-affiliated home defence regiment.
A Royal Bermuda Regiment recruit with a Mini-14, c.2012 (RBR)
The search for a weapon to replace the Ruger began in the 2010s with the German Heckler & Koch G36 and the US M4 both being tested. The HK G36 was reportedly selected but budget constraints saw the British L85A2 adopted instead.
A Royal Bermuda Regiment recruit at the range with an L85A2 (RBR)
Reports suggest that 400 rifles were transferred along with 1,600 magazines, while over 400 ACOGs and red dot sights were also donated to the regiment by the British government. News reports at the time stated the value of the donated equipment was $1.4 million.
The Bermudan L85A2s have a somewhat unique configuration. The rifles appear to have a mix of the original L85A1 hand guards and the HK-designed conventional L85A2 plastic hand guards which were designed to be more durable. The older, original, hand guards are reportedly replaced at the unit level when they are broken.
Comparison of the old and newer rail-less plastic hand guards
The newer style of hand guard can be identified by its four rather than two hinges on its top portion, which allows access to the gas system, and by the slight slope forward at the front of the hand guard compared to the original.
An RBR L85A2 is handed back into the armoury, c.2017 (RBR)
Many associate the A2 configuration with the Daniel Defense railed forend but these are only introduced as an urgent operational requirement for operations in Afghanistan in 2009.
A member of 26 Engineer Regiment with the Brigade Reconnaissance Force in Afghanistan in 2009 with an L85A2 TES with an ACOG/red dot combination (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
Interestingly the Royal Bermuda Regiments rifles all appear to have been provided with Trijicon ACOGs, previously most commonly seen on what became known as the Theatre Entry Standard (or TES) upgraded L85A2 rifles. These optics replaced the original 4x SUSAT (Sight Unit Small Arms, Trilux) and in 2011 were in turn replaced by ELCAN SpecterOS 4× Lightweight Day Sights (LDS). TES represented a new base-line standard for configuring the rifle for front-line service rather than being a new iteration of the weapon itself.
An RBR L85A2 with an original hand guard and ACOG at the range (Royal Bermuda Regiment)
The Bermudan rifles have a riser Picatinny rail for mounting the optic on the rifle’s original NATO-spec (non-1913 Pictatinny) rail, this was initially developed for British issued TES L85A2s. In British service the ACOG had been procured first for special forces use and subsequently as a wider urgent operational requirement where it was paired with L85A2s, L86A2s and L110 FN Minimi.
Recruits introduced to the L85A2, note the sight riser with ACOG mounted (RBR)
On top of the ACOG is a CQB red dot sight, this appears to be an early Shield Mini Sight Reflex optic housed inside a sight protector. The ACOGs donated to the Royal Bermuda Regiment probably came from surplus stores.
A Royal Bermuda Regiment soldier at the range with an L85A2, note the IW-LSW marking on the side of the ACOG (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Nicholas Dutton)Royal Bermuda Regiment soldiers at the range, 2021 (USMC)
We can see on some of the photos released by the regiment that the ACOGs are marked ‘IW-LSW’ indicating that they were procured to be paired with the British Army’s L85 Individual Weapon and the L86 Light Support Weapon.
Other British Overseas regiments, like the Royal Gibraltar Regiment or the Falkland Islands Defence Force, are also equipped with L85A2s but their configurations typically use older SUSATs or the newer ELCAN Specters which suggests that the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s configuration is somewhat unique.
If you enjoyed this video and article please consider supporting our work here. We have some great perks available for Patreon Supporters – including custom stickers and early access to videos! Thank you for your support!
Bibliography:
RBR Recruits at the range with Mini-14s c.2013, BDA Sun, (source)
Rifles worth $1.4m donated to Regiment, Royal Gazette, (source)
RBR Soldiers Get to Grips with Rifles, RBR, (source)
Royal Bermuda Regiment Training, USMC/Lance Cpl. Joel Castaneda, (source)
In recent weeks we’ve examined how the UK has procured various 7.62x39mm AK-pattern rifles for use in training Ukrainian troops in the UK. The latest video and photographs from the training the UK is providing show that alongside the previously identified AK variants a number of Chinese Type 56-1s have also been procured.
Ukrainian troops with Type 56-1s at the range undertaking marksmanship training and completing weapon handling tests and passing the ACMT live firing assessment (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
On the 9th July, the UK’s Ministry of Defence announced that as part of its agreement to train 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers it had acquired a significant number of AK-pattern rifles. The MoD’s original press release stated:
“The Government has rapidly procured AK variant assault rifles for the training programme, meaning Ukrainian soldiers can train on the weapons they will be using on the front line. This effort was supported by the Welsh Guards, who tested more than 2,400 such rifles in 17 days to ensure they were ready for the Ukrainians to commence their training.”
From imagery published by the MoD we previously confirmed that the AKs procured included: Zastava M70 (or M70B)s, milled receiver M70As, folding stock M70AB2s, Hungarian FEG AK63Ds and East German MPi KMS-72s. The latest photographs released, which appear to have been taken in late July at Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA), and show a type of rifle we haven’t seen previously – the Type 56-1.
Ukrainian trainees conducting weapon drills with Type 56-1 (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
They show rifles with under-folding stocks, stamped receivers, rivet positions and enclosed front sights which indicate them to be Chinese Type 56-1s. Where did the UK procure these rifles from? While it has been suggested that the UK may have seized the rifles during operations to interdict the arming of Houthi rebels in an earlier statement to The Armourer’s Bench the MoD said that the rifles has been “rapidly procured… through a combination of international donations and private purchase.”
Ukrainian trainees conducting weapon drills (magazines off) with Type 56-1 (UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
The same cadre training at SPTA were also seen undertaking Fighting In Built Up Areas (FIBUA) training with British L85A2 rifles. It is believed that the British bullpups are being used for exercises requiring blank firing due to a likely combination of a shortage of AK blank firing adaptors (BFAs), blank ammunition, and the AK BFAs not being deemed safe enough for British training areas. The MoD previously stated that the L85A2s and their BFAs were being used to ‘maintain strict safety conditions for both British and Ukrainian soldiers during training and to meet the urgency of the training requirement.’
As with the other AK-pattern rifles procured by the UK for the training of Ukrainian personnel the Type 56s won’t be returning to Ukraine with the trainee soldiers, the UK MoD has stated that they are providing uniforms, protective kit and other equipment but not individual weapons.
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The Armourers Bench 