Weapons used by the Royal Green Jackets and it's predecessors and now the Rifles.
Machine Guns
Bren Gun .303 - Based on a Czech design the Bren was the main fire support weapon of a British infantry section. Reliable and very accurate the Bren had a long career in all British and Commonwealth armies and is still in production today. 7.62mm Version called the L4 Light Machine Gun.
Lewis .303 - The Lewis gun was developed before World War One and was design by American Isaac Lewis. It was not used by US troops but found favour in Europe. It was in Britain were the Lewis gun was manufactured and by late 1915 is was adopted by the British army. The Lewis was finally replaced by the modern Bren in 1938. During the early part of WW2 the Lewis gun was forced into service due to losses in France and was issued to AA detachments and reserve units.
Vickers .303 - Standard Medium Machine Gun from before WW1 and served right through to the end of WW2 and beyond. I was issued to machine gun battalions at regimental level and was also found in nearly every front line unit. It was mounted on vehicles and early AFVs.
Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) - The powerful L1A1 12.7 mm (.50) Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) is an updated version of the Browning M2 ‘Fifty-cal’ – recognised as one of the finest heavy machine guns ever developed.
Grenade Machine Gun (GMG) - The Heckler & Koch 40mm GMG provides unrivalled infantry suppression, combining the best characteristics of the heavy machine guns or light mortars, usually employed in this role.
General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG)
Light Machine Gun (LMG)
STEN 9mm SMG - The Sten was a cheap but effective weapon made out of stamped components, it was issued to NCOs, truck drivers and motorcycle crews and gave Infantry sections more fire power in close quarter engagements.
June 1941 (Mk. I) June 1942 (Mk. II) November 1942 (Mk. III)
Pistols
Webley .455 - After being the standard service revolver during WW1, the Webley Mk. IV was still wildly used as a sidearm in WW2.
9mm Browning Pistol
Sig Sauer P226 - Variants of the SIG Sauer P226 were purchased as an interim weapon to replace the L9A1 Browning under an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) for use in Afghanistan. Although purchased as an interim weapon, they will continue to be used until the end of their life cycles.
Glock 17 - Adopted as the new standard issue pistol to replace the L9A1 Browning, and eventually, the SIG Sauer P226. The Glock 17 is a sidearm used for close combat with a magazine capacity of 17 9mm rounds. Over 25,000 were purchased.
Mortars
81.5mm/81mm - The early 3in mortars originated were first used in WW1 and this basic design was improved during the interwar years and as a result the ML 3in was the standard medium mortar used by British and Commonwealth countries in WW2 and beyond. Improvements were made during 1942 which allowed for greater range and these were called Mk. II LR (Longer Range) and they were issued in 1943. The ML 3in was issued to mortar platoons at battalion level.
60mm
52mm/2in Mortar - The 2in mortar was the standard platoon level mortar found in all infantry units, based on a Spanish model the 2in could fire not only HE but smoke and illuminating rounds too. It was used on every front and remained in service for over 40 years. Last used in Afghanistan.
Anti-Tank
Boys .55 - The Boys was the standard infantry anti-tank weapon used during the early phase of the war. It was heavy plus had a strong recoil and even at very short ranges it could only penetrate at most around 20mm of armour. It was issued at company level until replaced by the more effect PIAT. It continued in service mainly behind the front line and was also mounted on early armoured vehicles.
PIAT - Hollow Charge Projectile - The PIAT was a crude but effective way of engaging enemy armour at short ranges. It fired a hollow charge bomb (HEAT) which could penetrate up to around 100mm of armoured plate at 100 metres. It was also used in the direct fire role against strong points and could lob a bomb over 300m against large targets like buildings. Being man portable the PIAT replaced the Boys and were issued in the same way at company level.
Carl Gustav -
Milan -
Javelin - The Javelin is a man-portable medium range, anti-tank guided weapon, replacing Milan. It has a tripod (for firing and observation) and has longer range, greater lethality, more powerful all-weather, day/night optics and a lighter load for the infanteer than Milan. Designed initially to destroy tanks and AFV, javelin is also employed against fixed defences, bunkers and buildings. The system allows the firer to lock-on the target, fire and ‘forget’. So as soon as the missile is launched, the firer can move on, switch targets or move position. javelin has a maximum range of 2500 m.Javelin adopts a top-attack flight profile against AFV (attacking the top armour which is thinner) and a direct-attack mode for use against buildings or fortifications.
The Light Anti-Structure Missile - LASM is a single-shot, unguided rocket, housed in a telescopic launcher, a one-shot system discarded after launch. LASM is smaller and lighter to carry than the 84mm ILAW.
NLAW - THE NLAW is a man-portable, disposable, anti-tank weapon, a soft-launch system, allowing it to be fired from a window within a confined space without any backblast.
Light Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW) 66mm - LAW 66 is a lightweight, one-shot, disposable rocket launcher, that is highly effective against soft-skinned vehicles and light armour, up to a range of 200 meters. 66s can also be used against bunkers or buildings, it is ineffective against MBTs, although in skilled hands one could be used to disable the tracks.
Grenades & Mines
HE
Phosphorous
Distraction
Smoke
Claymore
Rifles
Pattern 1776 Infantry Rifle
In January 1776, 1,000 rifles were ordered to be built for the British Army. A pattern by gunsmith William Grice, based on German rifles in use by the British Army, was approved for official issue as the Pattern 1776 Infantry Rifle. The barrel is 28 13/16 inches with hook breech in .62 calibre. Eight hundred were delivered through four Birmingham producers: William Grice, Mathias Barker, Galton & Sons and Bejamin Willets. Two hundred more were obtained from Hannover.
This weapon was issued to the light company of each regiment in the British Army during the American Revolution; these were probably present at most battles in the conflict in the American Revolution.
Enfield Rifles
Throughout the evolution of the British rifle the name Enfield is prevalent; this refers to the Royal Small Arms Factory in the town of Enfield north of London, where the British Government produced various patterns of muskets from components manufactured elsewhere beginning in 1804. The first rifle produced in whole to a set pattern at Enfield was the Baker rifle.
Baker Rifle with Sword bayonet
The Baker rifle was a muzzle-loading flintlock weapon used by the British Army in the Napoleonic Wars, notably by the 95th Rifles and the 5th Battalion, 60th Regiment of Foot. This rifle was an accurate weapon for its day, with reported kills being made at 100 to 300 yards (91 to 274 m) away.
At Cacabelos, in 1809, Rifleman Tom Plunkett, of the 95th, shot the French General Colbert at a range allegedly of 400 yards. The rifle was in service in the British Army until the 1840s.
Brunswick Rifle
.702-inch Pattern 1851 Minie Rifle
.577-inch Pattern 1853
.656-inch & .577-inch Pattern 1858 Indian Service Rifle
Pattern 1860 Short Rifle
Snider–Enfield Rifle
Martini–Henry Rifle
Martini–Metford Rifle & Martini–Enfield Rifle Zulu Wars
Pattern 1913 Enfield
The classic Lee-Enfield rifle served the British well through two world wars and the Korean War. The SMLE (Short Magazine Lee Enfield) No. 1 Mk. III made its name in World War One and combined with ability of the British soldiers skill in firing up to thirty aimed shots a minute made the Germans think that they were on the receiving end machine gun fire. It had a smooth bolt-action which allowed for rapid fire. It could also hold up to ten rounds, which was double what its rivals could hold.
Pattern 1914
Rifle, Number 4 Lee Enfield
This version was a wartime improvement on the No. 1, it was easier to turn out and featured a shortened stock. It also had new battle sights with better adjustability. A new spiked bayonet was also introduced.
Rifle, Number 5 Lee Enfield
This rifle was developed for jungle operations in south Asia, it was lighter but suffered from various problems which included a “wandering zero” due to the stock heating, which caused problems at long ranges. It also suffered from recoil and blast problems and these were down to the short barrel.
L1A1 SLR 7.62mm
The L1A1 SLR (Self Loading Rifle) is the British version of the FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Leger) – Light Automatic Rifle, one of the most famous and widespread military rifle designs of the late 20th century. Developed by the Belgian Fabrique Nationale Company (FN).
Rifle 5.56mm L85 (SA80) A1, A2, A3 - The L85 is designed for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. The gas operated action has a short stroke gas piston, located above the barrel with its own return spring. The gas system has a three position gas regulator, one position for a normal firing, second for a firing in adverse conditions, and the third for launching rifle grenades (gas port is shut off).
The L85A1 was improved in 1997 after constant complaints from the troops. The main problems were difficult maintenance and low reliability. These problems led British troops to nickname the weapon the "civil servant", as, in their estimation, you could not make it work and could not fire it. Improvements were made during 2000 – 2002 when 200,000 of the existing 320,000 L85A1 Automatic Rifles were upgraded. Improvements were made to the working parts (cocking handle, firing pin etc.), gas parts and magazines.
The improved rifle is named L85A2. During active service, the A2 can be fitted with a 40 mm grenade launcher, a light attachment and a laser sighting device. Sighting systems include the SUSAT (pictured) with 4x magnification and a trilux gas-filled conical reticule or iron sight consisting of a foresight and rear sight with adjustable rear sight for low light conditions.
L129A1 Sharpshooter 7.62mm - Lewis Machine & Tool's LM308MWS, was chosen by the MoD in 2010 to meet a £1.5 million urgent operational requirement in the Afghanistan conflict for a semi-automatic 7.62mm rifle with excellent accuracy, whose rate of fire and robustness made them usable within infantry squads, not just by specialised sniper teams. It had to demonstrate lethality in the 500–800-metre range, which was not uncommon in Afghanistan.
L96 7.62mm - The L96 is a sniper rifle produced by Accuracy International derived from their PM rifle which was designed by Olympic marksman Malcolm Cooper. This weapon was adopted into British Service in the early 1980s as a replacement for the Lee–Enfield L42.
L115A3 Long Range Sniper rifles .338 - The Army adopted the AWM rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum as the L115A1 Long Range Rifle. The British L115A1 rifles are outfitted with Schmidt & Bender 3-12×50 mm PM II/MILITARY MKII 3-12×50 mm 0.1 mil telescopic sights.
M4 Combat Shotgun - Semi-automatic, fires a 12 bore shot/shell cartridge and is fitted with a detachable Eotech Sight (for use by day or night) which sits on a standard Picatinny rail. It has an iron sight and a telescopic 3-position extendable buttstock.