Quote:
Originally Posted by HorseSoldier
Haven't been able to access the original article, but in relation to this discussion it's worth mentioning that apparently a serving member of the SASR has written a critique of the F88 where the solution he advocates is something in a conventional format. See Soldier Systems Daily for link. |
Yeah I read that article on Soldier Systems. I recall hearing the same criticism with the early body armour vests and the L1A1 SLR. The butt would slip of the vest or the vest would prevent the soldier from seating the butt into the shoulder. The Brits had a similar problem and modified their body armour. It's certainly not an issue that just happened because we use the F88 which is sort of the implication the author is making.
I can appreciate that for a specialist unit with a small number of personnel, the reloading issue could be significant. An SASR unit might be operating with just six men in combat but for an infantry unit, it's typically going to be a platoon. I don't feel that the reloading time is as big an issue in those circumstances.
The F88 might not be well suited for special forces use, fair enough, but to suggest that because it doesn't suit his 'apparent' experiences in special forces doesn't mean it should be dropped from all infantry use. I feel he is letting more of his personal opinion into that statement than a professional opinion.
In regards to warrant officers in Australia, they are senior NCOs with long military experience placed in a position between NCOs and officers - in local terms, warrant officers tell generals how to use the army and give policy guidance to god - so it bothers me that a serving warrant officer of the SASR prefers to remain anonymous when voicing such criticism.
His position alone would normally mean his opinion in the matter would be well regarded but by refusing to identify himself, he weakens his position. The F88 has been in service for nearly 20 years now so it's unlikely that it would jeopardize his career if he made legitimate criticism of it now. Unless of course he is just expressing a purely personal opinion or he isn't actually quite what he says he is.