PuffadderRE: SA80 in Afghanistan
Hi Garry
about 1700 rifles were deployed to Afghanistan. Approximately 30 failures were experienced. The soldiers were told that if they cleaned the “new” SA80 in accordance with the “new” cleaning methods then there shouldn´t be a problem. The Marines aren´t exactly a bunch of idiots and it´s difficult to believe that they wouldn´t look after a rifle properly. All in all a sad affair. I´m dismayed that no heads are going to roll regarding this whole affair. Even as the weapon was undergoing troop trials more than a decade ago MoD observers witnessed troops running around with rifles that had the forearm held on with duct tape. One observer was allowed to inspect a SA 80 that had been field stripped. He was suprised to discover that the walls of the receiver(the “box” that carries all the innards including the bolt carrier)could be squeezed inward with only mild finger pressure. He was told that the receiver was a lot stiffer when everything was reassembled
I´ve actually got something that gets stiff when mild finger pressure is applied 😉
You like Bullpups? I don´t. A standard stock, receiver and forearm arrangement is a lot more ergonomic.
PuffadderQuitting the Forum?
Benjamin
don´t be a stupid shmuck. Just because a couple of guys disagree with your thoughts and ideas and like to rattle your cage a bit, it´s no reason to quit on us.
PuffadderQuitting the Forum?
Benjamin
don´t be a stupid shmuck. Just because a couple of guys disagree with your thoughts and ideas and like to rattle your cage a bit, it´s no reason to quit on us.
PuffadderRE: The EU is corrupt and fraudulent- so what´s new?
Hi Mongu. It´s not the first time either. Last year the BeeB interviewed some guy who was assigned to an EU sponsored development programme in South America. He also discovered that Spanish EU officials were acting in an, if not fraudulent, then at least in an inappropriate manner as regards funds management. He too was thrown out of his post.
Anybody out there know of a website that publishes such practices? I´m certainly not anti EU but it pisses me off no end when I hear yet again that EU officials on the Brussels gravey train with their bloody snouts in the trough. What we need is a website that names and shames those corrupt officials.
PuffadderRE: The EU is corrupt and fraudulent- so what´s new?
Hi Mongu. It´s not the first time either. Last year the BeeB interviewed some guy who was assigned to an EU sponsored development programme in South America. He also discovered that Spanish EU officials were acting in an, if not fraudulent, then at least in an inappropriate manner as regards funds management. He too was thrown out of his post.
Anybody out there know of a website that publishes such practices? I´m certainly not anti EU but it pisses me off no end when I hear yet again that EU officials on the Brussels gravey train with their bloody snouts in the trough. What we need is a website that names and shames those corrupt officials.
PuffadderRE: Euro bashing
Hi Skythe
Briefly:
Even as Iran was holding American diplomats hostage, Irsael was selling weapons to Iran. Israel did lots of business with Iran, just as America did lots of business with Iraq.
Anti Semetism in Europe? In western Europe, France unfortunately is at the top of the league. With Europe´s largest Jewish and largest Muslim community, it´s hardly suprising. In Britain it´s similar. I was suprised to learn recently that Israeli universities and research institutes have the same access to European funding(viz. my tax Euros) as any European country.
“Do you really think Europe would be as prosperous and peaceful today had it not been for American reconstruction after WWII and the subsequent defensive umbrela, which incidently continues to this day?)”
The USA certainly built up Germany and Japan after the war.
They´d seen what England and France did to Germany after WWI and soon figured that if they did the same, Germany would soon march again. During the Cold War the USA did brisk business with Europe selling aircraft and othe weapons. The Cold War was a perfect symbiosis. We got peace and the Americans got to sell lots and lots of weapons. France and England lost hegemony in the Middle East and America took over. By and large, a Win-Win.
“one gets the distinct feeling that the endless quasi-moral diatribe regularly coming out of Europe is, for lack of a better word, hypocrtical BS.”
Skythe, when you walk along a path and stumble because of an obstacle, do you warn those behind you of the obstacle, or do you just stand there and watch them also stumble and fall? Learn from Europes´ failures and successes. As Bismark once said, ” A fool learns from his own mistakes, I learn from the mistakes of others”
I like Israel- I spent half a year on a kibbutz in Northern Israel and have been there twice on vacation. Nice people, nice country. You fell for a fat man selling snake oil, and right now your country is going nowhere and getting there quick. You HAVE friends in Europe- listen to them.
Considering your diction and grammar, I find it amazing that you think that the USA selflessly sacrificed it´s men to save Europe. America goes to war when it suits America to do so. We asked them to sign up to Kyoto, they told us to get lost. We asked them to sign up to the ICC, they told us to get lost. They preach trade liberisation, and when productive foreign companies flatten domestic unproductive steel mills, they impose tarifs.
Not being satisfied with being leader of the free world, they also want to be ruler of the whole world.
PuffadderRE: Euro bashing
Hi Skythe
Briefly:
Even as Iran was holding American diplomats hostage, Irsael was selling weapons to Iran. Israel did lots of business with Iran, just as America did lots of business with Iraq.
Anti Semetism in Europe? In western Europe, France unfortunately is at the top of the league. With Europe´s largest Jewish and largest Muslim community, it´s hardly suprising. In Britain it´s similar. I was suprised to learn recently that Israeli universities and research institutes have the same access to European funding(viz. my tax Euros) as any European country.
“Do you really think Europe would be as prosperous and peaceful today had it not been for American reconstruction after WWII and the subsequent defensive umbrela, which incidently continues to this day?)”
The USA certainly built up Germany and Japan after the war.
They´d seen what England and France did to Germany after WWI and soon figured that if they did the same, Germany would soon march again. During the Cold War the USA did brisk business with Europe selling aircraft and othe weapons. The Cold War was a perfect symbiosis. We got peace and the Americans got to sell lots and lots of weapons. France and England lost hegemony in the Middle East and America took over. By and large, a Win-Win.
“one gets the distinct feeling that the endless quasi-moral diatribe regularly coming out of Europe is, for lack of a better word, hypocrtical BS.”
Skythe, when you walk along a path and stumble because of an obstacle, do you warn those behind you of the obstacle, or do you just stand there and watch them also stumble and fall? Learn from Europes´ failures and successes. As Bismark once said, ” A fool learns from his own mistakes, I learn from the mistakes of others”
I like Israel- I spent half a year on a kibbutz in Northern Israel and have been there twice on vacation. Nice people, nice country. You fell for a fat man selling snake oil, and right now your country is going nowhere and getting there quick. You HAVE friends in Europe- listen to them.
Considering your diction and grammar, I find it amazing that you think that the USA selflessly sacrificed it´s men to save Europe. America goes to war when it suits America to do so. We asked them to sign up to Kyoto, they told us to get lost. We asked them to sign up to the ICC, they told us to get lost. They preach trade liberisation, and when productive foreign companies flatten domestic unproductive steel mills, they impose tarifs.
Not being satisfied with being leader of the free world, they also want to be ruler of the whole world.
PuffadderRE: metric systems shortfall
Hi Garry
I´m a metric guy myself and the system is great. However, in the field of aviation there are some simple calculations that a pilot can easily perform in his head if he uses the imperial measurement. If he tries to use the metric equivalents he wouldn´t be able to do it without a computer. Speak to any French or German pilot and you´ll have him talking imperial measurements when it comes to aviation.
PuffadderRE: metric systems shortfall
Hi Garry
I´m a metric guy myself and the system is great. However, in the field of aviation there are some simple calculations that a pilot can easily perform in his head if he uses the imperial measurement. If he tries to use the metric equivalents he wouldn´t be able to do it without a computer. Speak to any French or German pilot and you´ll have him talking imperial measurements when it comes to aviation.
PuffadderRE: Mortars
I´ll briefly explain how the sight works. It´s so bloody simple you wont believe it!
There is no sight. The tube has a white line that runs from the base to the muzzle. The tube has, attached to it, a leather carrying strap, perhaps 2 inches wide. This strap has it´s attachment points located at the muzzle and base. The user aligns the tube with the target and estimates the range. The carrying strap has little brass plates with range in metres running it´s length.
Assume the user is right handed(I am). The users´ left hand is holding the tube near the muzzle. With the user kneeling on his right knee and his left boot in front, the strap would then run from the muzzle, down to and under the left boot and then to the base of the tube. The left boot would trap the strap at a given point indicated by the brass plate with the correct range engraved in it. From the side, the tube and carrying strap describe a triangle. The closer the target, the more verticle the tube appears. It sounds complicated perhaps, but it´s so easy that even an American could use it- or perhaps not ;). The most difficult thing is estimating the range. We shot at targets with known ranges. Often I would get to within about 4 metres of the target (close enough to make someones eyes water).
PuffadderRE: Mortars
I´ll briefly explain how the sight works. It´s so bloody simple you wont believe it!
There is no sight. The tube has a white line that runs from the base to the muzzle. The tube has, attached to it, a leather carrying strap, perhaps 2 inches wide. This strap has it´s attachment points located at the muzzle and base. The user aligns the tube with the target and estimates the range. The carrying strap has little brass plates with range in metres running it´s length.
Assume the user is right handed(I am). The users´ left hand is holding the tube near the muzzle. With the user kneeling on his right knee and his left boot in front, the strap would then run from the muzzle, down to and under the left boot and then to the base of the tube. The left boot would trap the strap at a given point indicated by the brass plate with the correct range engraved in it. From the side, the tube and carrying strap describe a triangle. The closer the target, the more verticle the tube appears. It sounds complicated perhaps, but it´s so easy that even an American could use it- or perhaps not ;). The most difficult thing is estimating the range. We shot at targets with known ranges. Often I would get to within about 4 metres of the target (close enough to make someones eyes water).
PuffadderRE: Mortars
Hi Mixtec
When I did my service in the SA Army we used a little Portuguese patrol mortar (60mm). Absolutely wonderfull. Light and almost nothing in the way of sophistication. A dream to shoot with.
PuffadderRE: Mortars
Hi Mixtec
When I did my service in the SA Army we used a little Portuguese patrol mortar (60mm). Absolutely wonderfull. Light and almost nothing in the way of sophistication. A dream to shoot with.
PuffadderRE: SAM Systems
Take it easy Jonesy. You´re right though. The later field standard was/is miles better. On a similar note, have you heard that the SA-80 is finally working. Troop trials are being conducted now, and they reckon at this rate the SA-80 could be in line to be the most reliable assault rifle world-wide. Looks like the Germans have fixed that piece of sh*t for you guys.
CROTALE rules, OK
🙂
PuffadderRE: SAM Systems
Some years ago the Russians actually demonstrated their system in UAE in front of a fairly distinguished international audience. Apparently many were left open-mouthed. The S300 can kick @rse.
Years ago AFM ran an article about the RAF Police and their use of captured Argentinian AA systems to “trap” low flying RAF pilots. They mentioned that the Rapier system is so unreliable that a joke did the rounds that RAPIER is actually an anagram for REPAIR
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