It's their standard infantry weapon. It was adopted, despite the existence of far better arms that could have been license-built, because it was the only domestic Brit weapon offered. It continues to be used because of the British Unwarranted Cultural Superiority syndrome - the same thing that sank their auto industry (along with their unions).
The smarter Brit soldiers cadge M-16s from us whenever they can, in-theater, and this causes a bit of scandal. Some of it has even hit the press and has been reported here on FR over the years.
"It's their standard infantry weapon. It was adopted, despite the existence of far better arms that could have been license-built, because it was the only domestic Brit weapon offered. It continues to be used because of the British Unwarranted Cultural Superiority syndrome - the same thing that sank their auto industry (along with their unions).
The smarter Brit soldiers cadge M-16s from us whenever they can, in-theater, and this causes a bit of scandal. Some of it has even hit the press and has been reported here on FR over the years."
Quite sorry to hear it. The British gave us our foundations---Shakespeare, the Magna Carta, they laid the cornerstones of our civilization. Now, I guess we have to do the best we can to lead them.
Even so, M16's aren't the most reliable rifles, either. They jam all the time, too. In this respect, AK's are much better.