Posted on 01/01/2005 11:09:57 AM PST by MaxMax
British soldiers training for Iraq are saying "bang bang" instead of firing their grenade launchers because the Ministry of Defence did not buy enough, defence sources said yesterday.
The MoD did not have the money to order sufficient Under-Barrel Grenade Launchers for the SA80 rifle, so all those available have had to be sent to Iraq.
British soldiers stationed in Basra They also failed to buy any training rounds so soldiers cannot be trained on the weapon until they reach Iraq.
They are having similar problems with the Minimi Light Machinegun because there are no blank attachments, which allow blank rounds to be fired safely, or cleaning kits. Those for other weapons are not suitable.
"The Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher is a success and the boys love it," one source said. "But all that's been bought is the high-explosive ammunition. There has been no buy for any training ammunition." Troops from 12 Mechanised Brigade, who are scheduled to go to Iraq in April, will spend the next three months carrying out training for the deployment.
But they will be unable to use either the Minimi machinegun or the grenade launcher because the attempts to cut costs mean that they will not be able to train properly on either equipment until they get to Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Here my joke about using harsh language has materialised much to my dismay.
We had that here in America. Soldiers took to yelling "budget cuts" instead of "bang bang"...
Another Shell Scandal for the British although obviously on a much smaller scale.
Bang bang, he shot me down, bang bang, that awful sound bang bang, I hit the ground, bang bang... my baby shot me down.
I like the Minimi SPW. It's too bad new machineguns were banned back in the '80s. I'd love to own one.
"The Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher is a success and the boys love it,"
Don't remind me. Another unfulfilled Christmas wish. No pony and no under-barrel grenade launcher. Santa is really getting under my skin.
The Japanese took training for duty in Iraq in a slightly different vein:
The SDF took the first step into rough waters when the government chose to join the U.S.-led ``coalition of the willing'' to fight terror after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.
It was new territory compared to previous PKO missions.
Early this year, during shooting drills for troops headed for the southern Iraq city of Samawah, Col. Koichiro Bansho, head of the first GSDF contingent to provide humanitarian help, gave instructions that were unheard of to his troops.
``Don't worry about cartridges,'' he said.
Previously, to strictly monitor the use of bullets and cartridges, SDF troops had always used cartridge cases on their guns to stop spent ones flying away during shooting drills.
In real combat-which the SDF has never been involved in-such cases would not be used, allowing empty cartridges to fall away when guns are fired.
The warning was meant to ensure the safety of the troops in ``live'' combat situations. There was a fear SDF troops might become distracted, their eyes following the flight path of the cartridges. That lapse of attention, even for a moment, could prove fatal in real combat, Bansho told the troops.
LOL!!
My son needs a front sight adjustment tool for his M249 SAW. He's hitting about two inches too low at 36 yards. That translates to trouble at the longer ranges. Unfortunately, FN didn't return my calls, my manuals don't show a blueprint like my M-16 manual does and the tool isn't part of his kit at his level. If anyone can help, I would appreciate it.
Color him thrilled.
When I went through the police academy, we did the same thing.
Our instructor told us that how we practiced was exaclty what we would do in a crisis.
He told us horror stories about officers found dead with cartridges in their hands.
I talked to a sales rep and he said he didn't know of one. Apparently, it's for the front sight elevation and it has to go through the front sight hood at the top. That makes it even more difficult.
My M16 manual has a blue print and I can make most of the tools but the SAW manual has some pretty poor pictues. It looks like a T-Handle with a horizonal cut across the bottom. Sort of like a Black Powder nipple wrench.
Thanks for the reminder and the effort. I'll try FN again today.
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