Enfield L85 IW (Individual Weapon) (SA80)

After British participation in World War 2 (1939-1945) had ended, thought was given to modernizing Army infantry with a new standardized automatic weapon. This gave rise to the EM-1 and EM-2 prototype rifles which centered around a 7mm cartridge and arranged in a "bullpup" configuration with the action residing aft of the trigger group. However, NATO acceptance of the 7.62x51mm cartridge forced an end to the British endeavor to which the Army then settled on the L1A1 Battle Rifle, itself nothing more than a license-production variant of the Belgian FN FAL Battle Rifle. The L1A1 began service in 1954 and saw combat in several notable conflicts involving the British military including the Suez Crisis, the Malayan Emergency and the Falklands War. The type was produced into the 1980s and saw service into the 1990s while also be adopted by Australia and Canada (as the C1A1 SLR).

In 1969, the storied facility at Enfield Lock experimented with a new 4.85x49mm cartridge to coincide with a development of a new family of automatic weapons for possible adoption by the British military. A bullpup-configured rifle design was established to fire the cartridge while the family of firearms was collectively known under the "SA80" designation. This work produced the "XL64EF" automatic rifle and the "XL65E4 LMG" (Light Machine Gun). Both designs were similar in most respects to one another which made for a logistically-friendly approach. The assault rifle would be fielded by the bulk of British infantry while the light support weapon would be given to select units intended for fire support of the main squad. Prototypes were available for trails in 1976.

Once again, NATO standardization of the American 5.56x45mm cartridge forced a change to evolving British plans. Thusly, SA80 prototypes were revised internally to fire the slightly larger round, this producing the "XL70E3" automatic rifle and the corresponding "XL73E3 LSW". Both of these designs then evolved to become their respective finalized prototype forms as the "XL85" and "XL86". In turn, these were then adopted for service in the British Army inventory as the "L85 IW" (Individual Weapon) and "L86 LSW" (Light Support Weapon), the former selected to replace the venerable L1A1. Initial deliveries of L85s began in 1985 with production handled by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock. In 1988, production was relocated to the Royal Ordnance's Nottingham Small Arms Facility which later came under the brand labeling of BAe Systems Land Systems Munitions. All production completed in 1994 to which over 350,000 units were delivered. The weapon went on to see adoption by forces in Bolivia, Jamaica and Sierra Leone.

The key design quality of the L85 was its bullpup configuration which currently remains a growing approach to most frontline automatic weapons today. In such a configuration, the primary internal elements of the weapon - the action and feed - are located to the rear of the trigger group. This allows use of a full-length barrel within a more compact form, thus retaining the needed robust qualities of an automatic assault weapon. The forend is, therefore, shortened as a result and the bulk of the weapon's weight now resides to the rear of the gun, firmly pressed against the operator's shoulder. There are two schools of thought concerning use of bullpup-configured weapons - those that cite increased accuracy and quicker response times when engaging in close-quarters affairs and those who prefer the tried-and-true nature of traditionally-arranged assault weapons. Two notable drawbacks of the bullpup design are the close location of the ejection port to the firer's face and the shortened forend which can see the operator accidentally move his hand ahead of the muzzle when firing. In relation to the first concern, the location of the ejection port also limits the weapon to favor right-handed shooters and makes an ambidextrous design impossible.

At its core, the L85 remains an effective gas-operated weapon chambered for the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge. The internal action utilizes a rotating bolt and features a rate-of-fire of 775 rounds-per-minute. The system incorporates a traditional gas piston which drives a bolt carrier riding two bolts with return springs. The receiver makes up the shoulder stock portion of the weapon and features a charging handle set to the right side - requiring the operator to reach over the receiver with his support hand. Magazines are inserted into the base of the receiver behind the pistol grip. The pistol grip is centered under the length of the design with a handguard-forend affixed ahead. The barrel is partially shrouded by the handguard and protrudes a short distance away from the weapon while being capped by a slotted flash suppressor. A standard optics system (SUSAT = Sight Unit, Small Arm, Trilux) is affixed over the receiver in the usual way while aperture iron sights are also provided. Muzzle velocity is 3,100 feet per second while the weapon is fed from a 30-round STANAG type magazine. Effective range against a single defined target body is approximately 400 meters. The firing action is selective while the rifle's body can accept the standard British Army bayonet. Primary construction of all working parts and those expecting battlefield abuse are of steel with plastic used in the furniture.©MilitaryFactory.com

Upon their inception, the L85 proved unreliable in-the-field and the first few years quite disastrous for the British military and government. British elements in the Persian Gulf War of 1991 fielded the type in number and the weapon's exposure to the dry sandy air of the region worked against the sensitive internals which required heavy lubrication - this in turn attracting even more sand particles tot he action. Cold weather issues also arose which led to fracturing of internal components, marking the L85 as a rather fragile combat weapon system. Is was also noteworthy that concern revolved around the magazine release catch which could be snagged on clothing or brush and release the magazine at the worst possible moment. A series of stop-gap modifications was enacted to pass the L85 as a competent frontline weapon though these failed to address all of the major faults of the design.

In 2000, Heckler & Koch was charged with bringing some 200,000 L85A1s to a new mid-life upgrade standard, this creating the "L85A2" mark of 2002. Various internal components were redesigned to increased reliability in-the-field. Other SA80 family weapons also followed suite (including the L86 LSW). In practice, the changes were noticeable and began to supplant fears of an untrustworthy weapon. The L85A2 remains the standard frontline automatic weapon of the British Army today (2013). The British Army website details the L85A2 as the "...most reliable weapons of their type in the world" citing increased accuracy, versatility and ergonomics in design.

Initial L85 production forms were recognized under the L85A1 designation. As mentioned, reworked designs appeared under the L85A2 designation, replacing the preceding L85A1 mark. The A2 model has since brought about support for the underslung L123A2 UGL series (HK AG-36) 40mm grenade launcher and more durable plastic and steel magazines (as opposed to the original aluminum). Picatinny rail support was also later introduced for support of various accessories and aimers which favors urban fighting seen in the Iraqi Theater. All told, the L85 has seen combat service in the Persian Gulf War of 1991, the Bosnian and Kosovo conflicts, Sierra Leone and the more modern Afghanistan and Iraqi theaters.

The L86 LSW is very similar to the L85 in overall form though intended as a light machine gun, squad-level assault weapon. Therefore, the design is given a lengthened barrel assembly with bipod with a rear vertical grip. The handguard has been noticeably shortened as well. The changes allow for a higher muzzle velocity with increased range (and accuracy at range). The original L86A1 has been upgraded to the newer L86A2 standard following the L85 changes. The L110A1 (Fabrique Nationale FN Minimi) has since supplanted the L86 in the light automatic weapon role, relegating the L86 to more of a precision-fire marksman system.

The L22 Carbine is a compact version of the L85 and primarily utilized by special elements such as marines and armored corps personnel (updated from L22A1 to L22A2). The L98 Cadet rifle lacks the gas operation of the L85 and, instead, relies on a bolt-action system (updated from L98A1 to L98A2).©MilitaryFactory.com

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November 2018 - German gunmaker Heckler & Koch has received a British Army contract to upgrade the British inventory of SA80 assault weapons.

Specifications

Royal Small Arms Factory / BAe Systems - UK; Heckler & Koch - Germany
Manufacturer(s)

Bolivia; Jamaica; Sierra Leone; United Kingdom
Operators

1985
Service Year

United Kingdom
National Origin

AUTOMATIC FUNCTION
Features a mechanical function to automate the firing action.

ASSAULT RIFLE
Modern class of long gun featuring select-fire properties, automatic internal function, and magazine feeding.

785 mm
(30.91 inches)
Overall Length

518 mm
(20.39 inches)
Barrel Length

10.98 lb
(4.98 kg)
Empty Weight

Gas-Operated; rotating bolt
Action

GAS-OPERATED
Gas-operated system is featured, typically involving a gas cylinder and rear-driven piston directing energy to the bolt component.

5.56x45mm NATO
Caliber(s)
May not represent an exhuastive list; Calibers may be model-specific dependent; Always consult official manufacturer sources.

30-round detachable box magazine
Rounds

SUSAT optics; backup iron; optional optics
Sights

Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information.

1,300 feet
(396 meters | 433 yards)
Max Effective Range

775
Rounds-per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

3,100 ft/sec
(945 m/sec)
Muzzle Velocity

SA80 - Family Designation.

L85 IW ("Individual Weapon") - Base Series Designation.

L85A1 - Initial Production Marks.

L85A2 - Improved production model.

L86 LSW ("Light Support Weapon") - Light Machine Gun form based on the L85; rear vertical grip; lengthened barrel assembly; shortened handguard.

L86A1 LSW - Initial Production Marks.

L86A2 LSW - Improved production model.

L22 - Compact carbine form.

L22A1 - Initial Production Model.

L22A2 - Improved production model.

L98 Cadet - General Purpose Rifle; sans gas action; limited to single-shot repeating via bolt--action system.

L98A1 Cadet - Initial production models.

L98A2 Cadet - Improved production models; introduced in 2009.

L103A1 Drill Purpose Rifle - Based on GP version.

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