- L64/65
Infobox Weapon
name=L64 Individual Weapon
caption=
origin=flag|United Kingdom
type=Assault Rifle
is_ranged=YES
service=1960s-1980s
used_by=British Army
wars=Cold War
designer=
design_date=1960s/70s
manufacturer=RSAF
unit_cost=
production_date=1964-1970?
number=N/A
variants=XL64, XL65, XL70
spec_label=
weight=8 lb 8 oz (3.89l kg) (unloaded)
length=770 mm
part_length=
cartridge=4.85mm SAA (.191 in) 55-grain
caliber=.191
barrels=20.4 in (518 mm) 4 grooves, right-hand twist
action=Gas
rate=
velocity=2,952 f/s (906 m/s)
range=
max_range=
feed=20 round box magazine
sights=SUSAT (SUIT)The L64 was an intermediate
calibre Britishbullpup layoutassault rifle developed in the 1970s. At one time it was known as the 4.85 Individual Weapon.The British had considered bullpup designs with intermediate calibre rounds in the 1950s; though one, the
EM-2 , had been on the point of being introduced it had been dropped when a full calibre round was adopted as theNATO standard.In the 1970s, the
British Army started looking again at new assault rifle designs, using lighter rounds than the then standard-issue 7.62 mm L1A1 SLR used. Their research suggested that a slimmer bullet of the same general weight as the M16's 5.56x45 mm (.223") would result in the same ability to be fired in fully automatic mode, while having much better penetration and ballistics. The result was the .190-inch (4.85 mm) round fitted in "necked down" but otherwise standard 5.56 mm cartridges from the M16.The
Royal Small Arms Factory developed a rifle to fire the new round. The new L64/65 "Individual Weapon" was outwardly similar to the earlier EM-2, but adopted a firing mechanism very similar toArmalite 's latest AR-18 design. The first examples were available in 1972.By 1976, NATO was ready to standardize on a small calibre round. The testing of the various rounds head-to-head started in 1977. The British round out-performed the standard US 5.56 mm. However
Fabrique Nationale 's entry based on the 5.56 mm, the "SS-109" performed as well as the British cartridge. In the end it was selected largely due to its similarity with existing US ammunition.The weapon was later developed into the
SA80 family of weapons which entered service with the UK.Reference
* Ian V. Hogg and John Weeks - "Military Small Arms of the 20th Century " - Arms & Armour Press/Hippocrene - 1977 - ISBN 0-85368-301-8
External links
* [http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5823/enfieldxl64mb2.jpgImage & Specifications]
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_3_46/ai_59281216 Info of the .19 calibre]ee also
*
AR18
*Sterling SAR 87
*SA80
*T2 MK5
*SAR-80
*H&K G36
*FAMAS
*Steyr AUG
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