This video is a book review of Steve Raw's "The Last Enfield: SA80 The Reluctant Rifle". The book, published in 2003, comprehensively details the development of the SA80 weapons family, from its early Enfield Weapons System origins through its transition to 5.56mm, troop trials, adoption, and subsequent issues like those revealed in the Gulf War, leading to the HK A2 redesign. The review highlights the book's thoroughness in covering design changes, special prototypes, and accessories, emphasizing the often disastrous development path of the SA80 and labeling it an essential read for anyone interested in weapons design and military procurement.
This video delves into the history of the SA80 rifle family, specifically focusing on the XL70 series final prototypes, including both the Individual Weapon (IW) and Light Support Weapon (LSW) variants. It highlights critical design and testing issues that plagued the development, such as extremely low Mean Rounds Between Failure (MRBF) rates, far below the initial targets. The description details how RSAF Enfield allegedly altered testing parameters to achieve seemingly better results rather than fixing fundamental problems. Furthermore, the video touches upon the endemic issue of split groups in the LSW during full-auto fire, which was never fully resolved. Armament Research Services (ARES) provides expertise in this technical intelligence analysis.
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