Videos tagged with Light Support Weapon

This video explores the rare CZ-2000 light support weapon, a component of a planned Czech infantry arms suite derived from the Lada project. The system, which also included a compact SMG and a standard rifle, never entered production, making surviving examples like this historical artifact from CZ's archives exceptionally scarce. The video focuses on the LMG variant, distinguished by its longer barrel and bipod, and provides context on its development as a squad support weapon. It highlights the rarity of the CZ-2000 and its historical significance within Czechoslovakian and Czech small arms development.

This video delves into the pre-production history of the SA80 rifle, focusing on the XL85 and XL86 variants. It highlights key mechanical changes, such as the redesigned magazine well for improved precision and the addition of a barrel support on the Light Support Weapon (LSW) to address the persistent 'split group' issue. The video also touches upon the declining morale at RSAF Enfield due to impending factory closure, which is suggested to have impacted quality control. Companion blog posts offer detailed photographic evidence.

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.

This video from Armament Research Services (ARES) delves into the early history of the SA80 rifle program, focusing on the very first mockups. It explores the British military's long-standing interest in reduced-power cartridges post-WWII, which eventually led to the SA80 family. The content highlights five initial wooden and metal mockups, examining their conventional and bullpup configurations, as well as variations in stock design. A key takeaway is the early consideration of a universal optical sight. The video also details the subsequent functional prototypes, which were conversions of existing rifles, specifically a Stoner 63 and a Sterling AR18, into bullpup configurations. The description emphasizes the iterative development process with features like safety and magazine catch being refined.

This video demonstrates the terminal ballistics of the SA80 L86A1 Light Support Weapon firing a 5.56x45mm NATO round into a 10% ballistic gelatine block. It explains the principles of permanent cavity, temporary cavity, and penetration, using the gelatine block as a scientific standard to simulate human tissue. The description also touches on the history and design intent of the 5.56mm round as an intermediate rifle cartridge.

This video demonstrates the terminal ballistics of the SA80 L86A1 Light Support Weapon firing 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition into a 10% ballistic gelatine block. The content explains the scientific principles behind ballistic gel testing, including the formation of permanent and temporary cavities, and the importance of penetration depth. It details how gelatine simulates human tissue for wound track analysis and discusses the characteristics of the 5.56mm round, its origins with the AR-15/M16 platform, and its effectiveness when yawing. The description also provides a link to the Royal Armouries collection.