I Have to get one of these!

[troopie]

This meant to be a one weapon per section arm. Use it to shoot through walls, take out light vehicles, take gun emplacements. The rest of the section will have assault rifles and the usual LMG. During WW2 and after, South African rifle sections often carried a big game rifle. Often to take out agressive Cape Buffalo (they like hunting you as much as you like hunting them) or other large animals, but often for combat purposes. This is a milspec elephant rifle, not much more. The problem may be cost. If it costs much more than an elephant rifle, the army will still use Holland and Hollands.

troopie

[thatguy96]

Isn't that the role that was previously filled by the Milkor MGL-MK1? Is this thing designed to replace that weapon? It does seem like it was designed with a similar role in mind.

[RecruitMonty]

My point is that this weapon represents this sort of fuzzy logic which I think is dangerous.

[Mobhack]

hmm - lots of weight for a specialist role that does not come up that often?.

i dont see anything in that thing that could justify the weight penalty - best to use that weight allowance for a few bullet-trap rifle grenades and/or disposable LAWS. (Apparently the 66mm M72 LAW is making a comeback as it is light, handy and efective for tasks not involving the killing of modern MBT).

Cheers
Andy

[thatguy96]

Yes, and its odd, because both the M72A7 and the M32 grenade launcher (Milkor MGL-140 IIRC) have been brought back by the USMC primarily (though the Army has also reissued the M72 on a very limited basis), who realize the need for such weapons, especially in an urban enviornment. This is all while the US Army is in the process of developing the XM25, which is very close to the South African weapon described here. I never understood why rifle grenades were not more popular.

They give the additional range desired, better terminal effects often, and don't require a specialist weapon, often at a far cheaper rate than developing on of these things.

[Mobhack]

maybe an institutional memory of the problems of having to fiddle about with blank rounds for firing r/gren, and not having troos use a live round by mistake?.

Bullet trap R/gren have been around since the mid 70s, for 5.56mm anyway, but it took the UK army till the late 90s to introduce RGGS. However this will now be replaced with the L17 UGL (40mm H&K) - which will also (possibly?) replace the 51mm platoon mortars. I think the UGL has the advantage of accuracy at the longer ranges, but primarily it has a round ready to go that is not interfering with the proper use of the rifle.

But neither really replace a section individual weapon, like the 20mm thingy would have to.

Andy