Small Arms
The modern British Military uses a range of small arms. The Browning 9mm pistol is standard issue and has been in use since World War Two. It is a reliable and accurate gun with an effective range of up to 45 meters. The British Military's standard issue rifle is the L85A2, commonly known as the SA80. On its introduction to the Army, marksmanship tests had to be redefined as it was such an accurate rifle. British snipers are equipped with the L115A3 Long Range rifle, a large caliber weapon with all-weather sights. First introduced into Afghanistan in 2008, the L115A3 has an effective range of 1100 meters.
The modern British Military uses a range of small arms. The Browning 9mm pistol is standard issue and has been in use since World War Two. It is a reliable and accurate gun with an effective range of up to 45 meters. The British Military's standard issue rifle is the L85A2, commonly known as the SA80. On its introduction to the Army, marksmanship tests had to be redefined as it was such an accurate rifle. British snipers are equipped with the L115A3 Long Range rifle, a large caliber weapon with all-weather sights. First introduced into Afghanistan in 2008, the L115A3 has an effective range of 1100 meters.
Automatic Weapons
The British Military relies on a wide range of support weapons. These include the L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), a 7.62 mm belt-fed machine gun. It has an effective range of 800 meters when fired from a bipod and 1800 meters when tripod mounted in a sustained-fire role. Other support weapons include the Heckler & Koch 40mm Grenade Machine Gun (GMG) which fires 340 round per minute and the L1A1 12.7 mm (.50 caliber) Heavy Machine Gun (HMG), an updated version of the Browning M2. After the recent experiences of the British Military in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Minimi Light Machine Gun was introduced to add firepower to smaller units.
Anti-Tank Weapons
The primary man-portable anti-tank weapon used by the British Military is the LAW 80, an unguided anti-tank rocket launcher which fires a 94 mm warhead to a range of up to 500 meters. The L2A1 ILAW is another unguided anti-armor rocket. It is designed to be used a single soldier. It has an effective range of 300 meters and has been used by the Royal Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq. Finally, the U.S.-made Javelin is the British Military's medium-range anti-tank missile. It is a "fire-and-forget" missile which, once fired, finds its own way to the enemy target using an infra-red seeker light. It was used by the SAS in Iraq to great effect.
Mortars and Hand Grenades
Also in current use by the British Military are hand grenades and mortars. The L16A2 81mm mortar can be fired at 15 rounds per minute and provides accurate high explosives, light and smoke at a range of 5,650 meters. Modern hand grenades include the L109A1 HE fragmentation grenade, introduced in 2001. It is filled with nitramine and uses a fuse delay of three to four seconds. For signaling purposes, the British Military uses the L64, L65, L66 and L67 smoke grenades, which release a colored smoke. Finally, the White Phosphorus Grenade can be used to both attack and defend by creating smoke screens or acting as a useful tool for clearing compounds and trenches.
The British Military relies on a wide range of support weapons. These include the L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), a 7.62 mm belt-fed machine gun. It has an effective range of 800 meters when fired from a bipod and 1800 meters when tripod mounted in a sustained-fire role. Other support weapons include the Heckler & Koch 40mm Grenade Machine Gun (GMG) which fires 340 round per minute and the L1A1 12.7 mm (.50 caliber) Heavy Machine Gun (HMG), an updated version of the Browning M2. After the recent experiences of the British Military in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Minimi Light Machine Gun was introduced to add firepower to smaller units.
Anti-Tank Weapons
The primary man-portable anti-tank weapon used by the British Military is the LAW 80, an unguided anti-tank rocket launcher which fires a 94 mm warhead to a range of up to 500 meters. The L2A1 ILAW is another unguided anti-armor rocket. It is designed to be used a single soldier. It has an effective range of 300 meters and has been used by the Royal Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq. Finally, the U.S.-made Javelin is the British Military's medium-range anti-tank missile. It is a "fire-and-forget" missile which, once fired, finds its own way to the enemy target using an infra-red seeker light. It was used by the SAS in Iraq to great effect.
Mortars and Hand Grenades
Also in current use by the British Military are hand grenades and mortars. The L16A2 81mm mortar can be fired at 15 rounds per minute and provides accurate high explosives, light and smoke at a range of 5,650 meters. Modern hand grenades include the L109A1 HE fragmentation grenade, introduced in 2001. It is filled with nitramine and uses a fuse delay of three to four seconds. For signaling purposes, the British Military uses the L64, L65, L66 and L67 smoke grenades, which release a colored smoke. Finally, the White Phosphorus Grenade can be used to both attack and defend by creating smoke screens or acting as a useful tool for clearing compounds and trenches.
