L98A1 Cadet GP Rifle
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| L98A1 Cadet GP | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cadet training rifle |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1980s–present |
| Used by | UK Cadets (ATC ACF CCF SCC) |
| Wars | None |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1985–1994 |
| Variants | L98A1 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 785 mm |
| Barrel length | 495 mm |
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| Cartridge | 5.56 x 45 mm NATO |
| Caliber | 5.56 mm |
| Action | Straight Pull bolt action |
| Muzzle velocity | 940 m/s |
| Effective range | 300 m (individual) 600 m (section) |
| Maximum range | 800 m |
| Feed system | 30-round STANAG magazines |
| Sights | Iron Sights |
The L98A1 Cadet GP Rifle (GP - General Purpose) is the standard rifle for British Army, Air and Sea cadet shooting. This weapon was introduced alongside the SA80 series from 1989 onwards for cadet use, as at the time cadets were not permitted to fire semi- or fully-automatic weapons.
Contents |
[edit] Differences from SA80
The main difference between the GP and the SA80 IW is that the GP is a straight pull manually-operated weapon and cannot fire in automatic or semi-automatic. The absence of a flash suppressor and fire selector lever plus the addition of a cocking handle extension also differentiate the two. The absence of a flash suppressor also means the weapon cannot fire rifle grenades or mount a bayonet. The GP rifle is based on the L85A1 SA80 rifle, but with absence of gas parts (as above). The GP also has a weighted trigger since it was designed as a target rifle. This is not dissimilar to the 'snowcutter' trigger on the SA80A2.
There is also a drill purpose version of the L98A1, designated L103A1. This weapon cannot chamber rounds as the firing pin is cut short and the barrel filled with cement. This weapon is commonly identified by two white stripes with the letters 'DP' (DP- Drill Purpose) being painted on the hand guard and trigger mechanism housing. In addition, the bolt is painted red. The DP rifle is normally used for parades and ceremonial parade drill training at individual units.
[edit] Breakdown
The GP rifle strips for cleaning almost identically to the L85A1 but without the gas parts. It consists of: barrel and receiver, trigger mechanism housing (TMH), cocking handle and extension rod, bolt carrier assembly, and the recoil rod assembly, all of which can be removed and reassembled without tools. The sights and hand guard can also be detached with the aid of the combination tool.
[edit] Working parts
The GP is a manually-operated, straight-pull rifle and cannot fire semi- or fully-automatically. The SA80 IW and LSW are cocked via a cocking handle attached directly to the bolt carrier. The GP rifle, however, has a cocking handle extension piece, and is cocked with the right hand as opposed to reaching across and cocking with the left.
[edit] Training
Before using the weapon with either blank or ball ammunition, cadets receive training in the safe use of the weapon. These are assessed through weapon handling tests (WHTs) carried out as part of regular training, and at the discretion of the range staff as necessary. Drills that are taught include:
- Normal Safety Precautions (NSP)
- Stripping and reassembling the weapon
- Loading the weapon
- Make ready
- Make Safe
- Immediate Action (IA) Drill
- Stoppage Drills
- Unload
[edit] Sights
The L98 is fitted with adjustable iron sights. It consists of a rear battle and leaf sight and a front blade sight. The front sight is mounted on a protrusion extending from the hand guard. The front sight assembly is clamped to the top of this and carries the front sight blade with protective fins either side.The foresight facilitates adjustment of elevation in increments of 2 minutes of angle. The rear sight is fitted to the rear of the carrying handle also adjustable in 2 minute increments .
The rear sight has an emergency battle sight, zeroed to 100 m, which flips over to reveal an adjustable leaf sight. By turning a range dial, ranges from 100 to 500 metres are available.
If available, the SUSAT can be fitted to the GP though larger units such as the CWS night sight and the original SAWES laser training projector would foul the GP's larger cocking handle and cannot be used.
[edit] Problems
The L98 has a number of design features that cause problems when used by cadets, as well as problems inherent to the SA80 series. As the L98 is a modification of a service rifle, these are mainly due to cadets' smaller frames and lower strength, and the addition of the large cocking handle and slide.
Commonly, failing to pull the cocking handle fully to the rear results in a failed ejection of the previous round leading to a stoppage. Dirt and grit can foul the slide making the action harder to cycle further compounding this problem. Rain can also cause similar problems, as the rail along which the cocking handle slides is completely exposed to the elements, often causing the oil to wash off.
The pin securing the cocking handle to its connecting rod is also notoriously weak, often breaking during normal use.
The removal of the flash suppressor on the L98 also prevents the fitting of the blank firing attachment for the L85A1 series or the use of the safe blank firing attachment (SBFA) for the A2 series. This increases the safety distance when firing from 1m to 50m and increases the opportunity for injury.
[edit] Modifications
Conversion kits exist which enable it to fire .22 rimfire cartridges instead of the standard 5.56 mm NATO cartridge. This allows the weapon to be fired live on .22 ranges when full size military ranges are not available. The kit consists of a modified bolt carrier assembly, modified working parts (springs etc), a special magazine that is the same size and shape as the standard 5.56 mm magazine, and a special adapter, shaped like a 5.56 mm cartridge, which is fitted into the L98A1's breech and itself contains a smaller breech into which the modified bolt inserts the .22 cartridge. The modified magazine locks into the magazine housing exactly as a normal one would, the normal extended cocking handle is connected to the modified bolt carrier, and the method of operation is exactly the same as when using 5.56 mm ammunition. The conversion is not permanent and the kit can be fitted or removed from the weapon in as little time as it takes to normally strip and reassemble it. The conversion also has the effect of making the weapon semi-automatic, with the cocking handle only needed to be pulled back once.
[edit] See also
- Sea Cadet Corps (United Kingdom)
- Air Training Corps
- Combined Cadet Force
- Army Cadet Force
- SA80
- British Military Rifles
[edit] External links
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