L86 machine gun
The 1970 year of the 20th century became very important in stories rearmament of the North Atlantic bloc. Partnership agreement on transfer to another ammunition for small arms weapons (from 7,62 mm to 5,45 mm) entailed not only a radical change in the characteristics of weapons, but also the replacement of the model range of weapons in general.
Adopted new shot made it possible to significantly reduce the mass and force of recoil types of rifle weapons, ammunition in the wearable version to do more, increase the mobility of units, and with it the tactics of the motorized infantry unit changed.
Work on the creation of weapons under the "single cartridge"
Work on the creation of weapons under the "single cartridge" with reduced impulse actions were prepared long before the technical re-equipment. At the end of the 60s of the 20th century, the SA-80 rearmament program began in the British Isles, which envisages the creation of new types of small arms in the IW (individual weapon) and LSW (light military support) types. During the implementation of this program in the IW category, the XL-65 assault rifle for 4.85x49 was created, and the result of the LSW category was the creation and adoption of the machine gun by the Armed Forces of the Kingdom, which after the standardization program for the "single cartridge" was named L86A1. During the same program, the rifle was called L85A1.
The principle of operation of the machine gun L86A
The L86A1 light machine gun was designed based on the L85A1 assault rifle. It is an automatic type weapon, where the principle of operation of automatics consists in applying the energy of the gases of gunpowder that are removed after firing a shot from the bore of the weapon. In the production of a shot, a part of the released gases is removed from the barrel part and creates pressure on the gas piston, which has a small working stroke. The powder gas exhaust system is equipped with a gas regulator, which adapts the weapon for shooting in field and other non-standard situations, and also supports the firing of grenades. Under the pressure of gas energy, the piston moves in the opposite direction and engages the gate frame, which moves progressively with the help of 2 guide rods, which increases the reliability of the weapon when it is contaminated. The shutter when exiting from the state of engagement with the breech of the 7 barrel with lugs, during the return movement, extracts the shot cartridge. Under the action of the force of expansion of the return spring, the bolt begins a forward stroke, while the next ammunition is sent to the chamber, while the barrel bore is locked at the same time. When all the cartridges are fired, the machine gun is set to a shutter lag, which is turned off in manual mode, using the flag - the fuse on the right side of the barrel box, which is located behind the hole for the extraction of spent cartridges. The hole is located on the right side of the upper part of the machine gun and is equipped with a metal curtain with a spring that, when fired, rises to eject the fired cartridges. The constructive arrangement of the extraction hole makes it difficult for a person with a left leading hand to shoot, because with the emphasis placed on the left shoulder, the heated cartridges will fly straight into the face of the shooter. The machine gun is arranged according to the configuration of the bullpup (the holder is located at the back of the trigger), which makes its dimensions more miniature than with the classic arrangement of the holder. With such a length of the trunk. USM kurkovogo type, connected with the descent of the plow. The safety flag is located above the trigger guard and is executed in the form of a button with the “safe” and “fire” positions, and the fire-type interpreter is located in the lower left part and makes it possible to fire in two positions: single shots and automatic bursts. The trunk box consists of two parts (upper and lower), which have a pin joint. When assembling a machine gun, both steel and polyamide parts made from materials of increased strength (weapon accessories) are used.
Differences between machine gun and assault rifle
The differences between the machine gun and the assault rifle consist in the barrel length (646mm in L86 and 548mm in L85), the L86 has an additional handle that is located behind the neck of the holder and helps fire in bursts. Also machine gun L86A1 is equipped with bipods that increase the area of stability of the machine gun when shooting prone. Bipods are regulated only in height from 19 cm to 28.5cm.
The disadvantages and advantages of weapons
These include low unpretentiousness, as in the prototype L85A1, as well as the small capacity of the standard clip (clip holders are used on 30 shots, but it is also possible to use STANAG 4179 firing tanks under the “single cartridge”). The main advantages of the L86A1 include its good accuracy, which directly depends on the length of the barrel and the SUSAT optics equipment.
The machine gun remains in service with the army of the United Kingdom and is designed to support motorized infantry units with high-density fire, or to destroy enemy enemy infantry units at ranges exceeding the damaging effect of L85 assault rifles and L110 short-barreled machine guns, which are replaced by L86.
Adopted new shot made it possible to significantly reduce the mass and force of recoil types of rifle weapons, ammunition in the wearable version to do more, increase the mobility of units, and with it the tactics of the motorized infantry unit changed.
Work on the creation of weapons under the "single cartridge"
Work on the creation of weapons under the "single cartridge" with reduced impulse actions were prepared long before the technical re-equipment. At the end of the 60s of the 20th century, the SA-80 rearmament program began in the British Isles, which envisages the creation of new types of small arms in the IW (individual weapon) and LSW (light military support) types. During the implementation of this program in the IW category, the XL-65 assault rifle for 4.85x49 was created, and the result of the LSW category was the creation and adoption of the machine gun by the Armed Forces of the Kingdom, which after the standardization program for the "single cartridge" was named L86A1. During the same program, the rifle was called L85A1.
The principle of operation of the machine gun L86A
The L86A1 light machine gun was designed based on the L85A1 assault rifle. It is an automatic type weapon, where the principle of operation of automatics consists in applying the energy of the gases of gunpowder that are removed after firing a shot from the bore of the weapon. In the production of a shot, a part of the released gases is removed from the barrel part and creates pressure on the gas piston, which has a small working stroke. The powder gas exhaust system is equipped with a gas regulator, which adapts the weapon for shooting in field and other non-standard situations, and also supports the firing of grenades. Under the pressure of gas energy, the piston moves in the opposite direction and engages the gate frame, which moves progressively with the help of 2 guide rods, which increases the reliability of the weapon when it is contaminated. The shutter when exiting from the state of engagement with the breech of the 7 barrel with lugs, during the return movement, extracts the shot cartridge. Under the action of the force of expansion of the return spring, the bolt begins a forward stroke, while the next ammunition is sent to the chamber, while the barrel bore is locked at the same time. When all the cartridges are fired, the machine gun is set to a shutter lag, which is turned off in manual mode, using the flag - the fuse on the right side of the barrel box, which is located behind the hole for the extraction of spent cartridges. The hole is located on the right side of the upper part of the machine gun and is equipped with a metal curtain with a spring that, when fired, rises to eject the fired cartridges. The constructive arrangement of the extraction hole makes it difficult for a person with a left leading hand to shoot, because with the emphasis placed on the left shoulder, the heated cartridges will fly straight into the face of the shooter. The machine gun is arranged according to the configuration of the bullpup (the holder is located at the back of the trigger), which makes its dimensions more miniature than with the classic arrangement of the holder. With such a length of the trunk. USM kurkovogo type, connected with the descent of the plow. The safety flag is located above the trigger guard and is executed in the form of a button with the “safe” and “fire” positions, and the fire-type interpreter is located in the lower left part and makes it possible to fire in two positions: single shots and automatic bursts. The trunk box consists of two parts (upper and lower), which have a pin joint. When assembling a machine gun, both steel and polyamide parts made from materials of increased strength (weapon accessories) are used.
Differences between machine gun and assault rifle
The differences between the machine gun and the assault rifle consist in the barrel length (646mm in L86 and 548mm in L85), the L86 has an additional handle that is located behind the neck of the holder and helps fire in bursts. Also machine gun L86A1 is equipped with bipods that increase the area of stability of the machine gun when shooting prone. Bipods are regulated only in height from 19 cm to 28.5cm.
The disadvantages and advantages of weapons
These include low unpretentiousness, as in the prototype L85A1, as well as the small capacity of the standard clip (clip holders are used on 30 shots, but it is also possible to use STANAG 4179 firing tanks under the “single cartridge”). The main advantages of the L86A1 include its good accuracy, which directly depends on the length of the barrel and the SUSAT optics equipment.
The machine gun remains in service with the army of the United Kingdom and is designed to support motorized infantry units with high-density fire, or to destroy enemy enemy infantry units at ranges exceeding the damaging effect of L85 assault rifles and L110 short-barreled machine guns, which are replaced by L86.
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