SAS small arms

[ZeroG]

Do the SAS use anything else besides SA80?
Do they use the M4/M203?

[kalashnikov]

I'm quite sure they use the M4/M203 ("Armalite") rather than the abominable L85A1. As for any other weapons, you'll have to wait for the experts to reply.

[ZeroG]

Thanks. Sounds like they really need to get rid of that SA80 and issue the M4 or the Sig551 to all they regular infantry.

[TR]

I always got the impression that the SAS used the M-16A1/CAR-15's back in the 70's and 80's... so if that is true they've probably moved over to the M-16A2/M-4's. There are rumors that Spain sold a quantity of their excellent Ameli Light Machineguns to England back in 96. So far however I've not found anyone who can tell me if this is true and where the weapons went.

T.R.

[TR]

Try here for some initial answers to your question...
http://members.xoom.com/_XMCM/sas_mil/english/sas_utrustning.html


T.R.

[baboon]

What's this Ameli LMG? Does anyone have any info on this weapon ? Thanks in advance.

[baboon]

The M16 was adopted by the SAS at the time of the " confrontation " in Borneo, 1963-66. By the time of the Gulf War the A2 was definitely the main weapon, it appears in all the photos I've seen. Photos taken in Oman and the Falklands show a mixture of M16A1s and SLRs (FN FALs).

[TR]

The Cetme/Santa Barbara Ameli is a Spanish 5.56 NATO 'light" machine-gun:

5.56x45mm NATO
Reatarded Blowback Operation
Full Automatic
150 (A) (CYLIC) 850-1200 Rounds Per Minute
910 Meters Per Second (1286 Foot Lbs Energy)
9.620 kg (Loaded)
40 CM Barrel
97 CM OA Length

From all accounts I've ever seen the Ameli is
a decent, reliable machinegun... but definately not something seen much outside of Spain.

T.R.

[TR]

Oh yeah-almost forgot...

The Ameli fires from a 200 round box magazine (disintegrating links of course)...

T.R.

[baboon]

Thanks TR. The SAS also used the CAR-15, known by them as the Colt Commando, in the Falklands, and there is at least one picture of this weapon in the Gulf, used by a motorcyclist.

[TR]

Ironic that they would call it the Commando is that is the name of a Colt "carbine" which is actually shorter in length (barrel, etc) than the CAR-15 or M-4...

Also I think the SAS were fond of the
Benelli 121 M1, before that probably the Browning Autoriot pattern.

T.R.