Hi Michael
05 Apr 98, Michael Shirley writes to Rick Nolan:
RE:SA80
 RN>> Its over designed and too fragile IMHO.
 >
 >         But it was invented in Britain, and I'm sure that this was an
 > issue.
Sorry,I can't believe I didn't include that small fact !
 >         The original concepts date from the late 40's when the EM-1
 > was developed by a team under a Mr. Noel Kent-Lemon. This was followed
 > by the EM-2 from the same team. Both were gas operated
 > bullpup configuration rifles and were capable of selective fire. The
 > Brits designed a .280, (7mm) cartridge for these rifles and both had
 > fixed optical sights as primary sighting systems, the first shoulder
 > arms to do so.
 >
 >         Unfortunately for Mr. Kent-Lemon's team, the US insisted on
 > the 7.62 NATO cartridge which was too large for the EM-2 design to be
 > redesigned to accomidate. This forced the Brits to adopt the FAL,
 > which was originally intended for a case based on the German 7.92mm
 > round, but
 > which was adaptable to the NATO cartridge.
 >
 >         Like most ordinance bureaucracies, the Brits kept the design
 > on a back burner and when it came time to adopt a new NATO standard
 > rifle cartridge, they came out with a 4.85mm Individual Weapon, which
 > was the conceptual decendant of the EM-2. They did, however,
 > remembering the problem with us ramming our cartridge down everyone
 > elses throats, leave the rifle so that it could be redesigned to
 > handle other cartridges, and when the Belgian SS-109 was adopted, it
 > was easily converted to handle this round, which is how it wound up
 > being adopted as the SAA 80, which is a little bit easier to use from
 > an infantry fighting vehicle's firing port than a fully stocked
 > conventional rifle is, even though firing port weapons aren't all that
 > effective.
Thanks for the history,I didn't know any of this.
 >         At least they kept up with the French and their FAMAS. >
Right, (although the reason why escapes even semi-normal people!)
 RN>> BTW,the thing I couldn't understand was why you guys put up with
 >> those MREs,I thought the British "compo" rations bad till I ate
 >> a MRE !
 >
 >          It's because they were such an improvement on
 > C-Rats, or more formally, Meal, Combat Individual Type C. Until you've
 > eaten something like eggs and ham slices, cold, which tastes like and
 > has the same consistancy as congealed grease, you'll never understand
 > just why MREs are such a delicacy.
It just used to make me laugh,seeing these guys taking more care
of their exotic condiments than they did with their weapons ;-)
BTW,I know that its off topic to mention the politics of gun
control here,but can you point me to an echo that allows this ?
Regards,
Rick
rickn@pointless.gen.nz
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