HMForces.co.uk

Training >> Browse Articles >> Learn About Equipment >> Small Arms

Support Weapons Of The Army

Soldiers of the Brigade of Gurkhas equipped with the L85 rifle and L86 LSW

There is an impressive array of Support Weapons available for use on operations ranging from Shotguns and Machine Guns to Mortars and Missiles. The following is a list of those weapons:

L128A1 Combat Shotgun.

A semi-automatic tubular magazine fed weapon the 12 gauge Combat Shotgun is issued for use by the ‘Point Man’ – the first and most exposed position in any formation – of an Infantry Section when operating in close country and complex terrains. With a magazine holding 7 rounds the shotgun, fitted with a day and night EOTech Sight, has a range of 130m when firing solid shot. When firing buckshot the weapon has an effective range out to 40m.

SA80 A2 Light Support Weapon (LSW).

Originally intended to provide fire support at fire team level the 5.56mm LSW suffered the same reliability problems as its sister weapon, the L85A1. With a longer barrel and tripod the weapon had increased muzzle velocity giving it a greater effective range. Although considered an accurate weapon it was not designed to have a quick change barrel thus making it impossible to deliver a sustained rate of automatic fire. Another ‘down’ side of the LSW was that it was ‘fed’ by a 30 round magazine, not belt fed.

A U.S. Marine firing the British L7A2 GPMG

Because of its limitations but ability, when using the SUSAT Sight, to fire accurately at distances of up to 600 metres, the LSW is now primarily used as a marksman’s weapon. Fire support at section level is now provided by the heavier belt fed 7.62 L7A1 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) or 5.56 FN Minimi belt fed Light Machine Gun (LMG).

L108A1/L110A1 Minimi Light Machine Gun.

The Minimi LMG was provided to improve on the firepower capability of the L85 (SA80) and L86 (LSW). The weapon is a 5.56mm belt fed machine gun used mainly with the bipod enabling it to provide a sustained rate of suppressive fire of between 700 and 1,000 rounds per minute out to an effective range of 800 metres – something not possible with the 30 round magazine fed LSW.

L7A2 General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG)

The GPMG, a tried and trusted weapon fondly known by those who use it as the ‘Gimpy’, has been in use with the British Army for many years. Known for its ‘stopping power’ – and greatly favoured by the Parachute Regiment, Royal Marines and UK Special Forces – the GPMG can fire a 7.62×61mm belt fed round up to 800 metres when used in the light role and up to 1,800 metres in the sustained fire role at a rate of fire of approximately 750 rounds per minute, however many Regiments have now opted to replace the ‘Gimpy’ for the lighter 5.56mm Minimi LMG.

The ‘Gimpy’ is more commonly mounted on helicopters, vehicles and boats. When tripod mounted the stock is removed from the weapon and operated by a two man team in the sustained fire (SF) role. In the SF role GPMG’s can be grouped as a specialist Machine Gun Platoon to provide a Battalion with a high level of fire support. GPMG’s have also been mounted on the WMIK Land Rover, with the SAS mounting 3 of these weapons on one vehicle providing it with an awesome beaten zone.