posted on Feb, 11 2006 @ 01:45 PM
After 1945, Britain wanted a new assault rifle to replace the Lee Enfield rifle so they developed the 7mm Enfield EM2 Bullpup, Cancelled due to NATO
standards so they needed a 7.62 rifle, The L1A1 Self Loading Rifle(SLR).
The SLR was a direct licenced copy of the Belgian FN FAL rifle but only capable of semi auto fire, Was a sucessful weapon, accurate and hard hitting
towards the enemy but it was also very bulky and clumbersome, especially to those crammed in small spaces. Officers used Sterling 9MM SMGs instead of
the bulky SLRs until about 1990
In the 1970s, Enfield designed another bullpup rifle, The XL70 with a 4.85mm round, Again cancelled due to NATO standards but it lead to a rifle that
came a decade later, The Enfield (Now Royal Ordnance) SA80 Bullpup.
The SA80 5.56 Bullpup has replaced both the SLR and Sterling SMGs.
Still in service now, It is a very accurate rifle but it has had problems when used in combat, Safety catch problems, Jammings, and further problems
too. The weapon has now been revamped and some say it is sucessful, some say it is the same.
The Armalite/Sterling AR18 was also roumoured to be the SLRs replacement when the 5.56 round was introduced to Britain.
The Sterling SMG was the postwar Sten Gun Only issued to officers, Sucessful but was replaced by the SA80 in 1990, Still manufactured in India and
used by thier Army.
The Browning Hi Power pistol, Belgian designed pistol still used now
The 7.62 Bren Gun, Sucessful weapon but only used 30 round magazines, Same like the AK47 rifle so what was the point of the Bren?
Does not sound like a true machine gun.
The FN MAG 7.62 GPMG, Another Belgian designed weapon still in use now, Good service record its even replaced the US Army M60s
Looks like we have had more Belgian weapons than anything else.