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The ENFIELD 5.56 mm CADET GP RIFLE - L98A1
and the L14A1 .22RF Heckler & Koch conversion kit for the L85A1 (SA80)
The images shown are by courtesy of the Trustees of the Enfield (M.O.D.) Pattern Room Collection - late of the R.S.A.F. ( Royal Small Arms Factory), Nottingham, and now gifted to the Royal Armouries Museum at Leeds. The collection still continues as a working reference library for Small Arms of the World and maintains its acquisitive remit to that end.
The L98A1 Rifle is a full-calibre (.223"), non self-loading modified version of the "Individual Weapon" L85A1 - SA80 Service rifle for Cadet and training use. The action can only be cycled manually by use of the cocking lever. Each round is loaded from the magazine in this way and there is no option for either semi-automatic or fully-automatic selective fire as is available on the L85A1. Additionally, the rifle can itself be fitted with a .22RF (rim-fire) small-bore conversion unit to permit equivalent magazine-fed, but single action, use on indoor or small-bore ranges. This training arm is in current use by the British Military, although there is a replacement model mooted. The intention is to provide the cadet force with a semi-automatic version of the L98A1 in the coming years; this rifle would still exclude any option for true selective fully-automatic fire.
Below, is a side elevation of the rifle with the breech block in the forward (closed) position.
This example is the original Government Pattern arm. From 1998 all in-service rifles were retro-fitted with modified cocking handles.
Whilst, below, it is shown with the cocking lever pulled back, ejection port open and the breech-block to the rear.
As standard issue, the Cadet GP ( General Purpose ) rifle is fitted with iron sights, but it can also be fitted with the 4 power SUSAT optical sight (Sight Unit, Small Arms, Trilux) more usually seen on the full service arm - the L85A1 - SA80, for which the L98A1 is the training version.
Also manufactured was an equivalent version of the L86A1 LSW ( Light Support Weapon ). The standard LSW is fitted with a longer barrel and a bi-pod. The non semi-automatic version was only sold on the commercial market and not adopted by the British Government for Service use.
Below, loosely describable as a training rifle, in parade ground terms at least, the DP (Drill Purpose) deactivated rifle, the latter day equivalent to the L59A1 and A2 DP Rifles of the 1970s.
CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE TO VIEW CONTEMPORARY VIDEO
OF
The Pattern
'14 No.3 Rifle, the SMLE
No.1 Rifle and No.2
Rifle, the No.4 Rifle and the
FN-SLR Rifle and the EM2 Bulldog
precursor to the current SA-80 Rifle, and Service Rifle Target shooting
at BISLEY CAMP RANGES Post WWII
We shortly hope to add the L14A1 (Heckler & Koch) .22RF conversion kit for the L85A1/2 (SA80) Individual Weapon
The notation for this conversion kit is interestingly shared with that for the Carl Gustav MAW - Medium Anti-armour Weapon - a modern equivalent of the WWII rocket firing " Bazooka", as well as with both a drill round (1995) and a grenade.
In the meantime, view the earlier equivalent kit for the FN SLR
Click here to access a Chronology of Enfield genre Training Rifles, Adapters & Cartridges
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