SA80 Assault Rifles

Osprey Weapons #49

by Neil Grant, Peter Dennis (Illustrator), Alan Gilliland (Illustrator)

Now the standard weapon for British soldiers across the globe, the SA80's early years were shrouded in controversy after a series of dismal performances. It was prone to jamming in desert conditions, had several flimsy parts that would often break after repeated use, and had an incredibly sensitive magazine catch. When these issues came to light, the SA80 was lambasted by the news, leading to the Ministry of Defence ordering an extensive modification program that dramatically improved reliability.

Combat accounts and in-depth analysis of the SA80's performance in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, and Iraq guide the reader through its troubled life, while vivid artwork helps to illustrate the transformation it underwent; from an unreliable rifle disliked by the soldiers who used it to being one of the world's most innovative and accurate small arms.

Genres: Military History, History

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Norbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed book. I just found strange that informations regarding the upgraded versions are in the "use" section instead of the "development" one

[William Paley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Design problems are detailed here. Not a bad read.

[Andy Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to know about the ins and outs of the SA80 this is your book. This has the history of why it was created and the nitty gritty pitfalls which gave the 1st versions it's bad reputation. If you like pew pews and military history this is for you.