Sten's? PIAT'S? Longbows?! Have you all been at the gaffers special brew...?
Right UK weapons. First off the
Armed Forces.
Pistols:
Browning L9A1
The Standard up until only recently (Was a SIG, now the Glock 17) this is the pistol of the British armed forces. Expect this mainly to be issued to Officers and military police. Pistols being introduced to the rank and file is a new thing. I have no idea of the amount ordered. But I expect there to be new batch ordered from Canada or Browning USA. Soldier/Sailor/Airman has a pistol? Its this.
Walther PPK.
Issued to undercovers and off duty Intelligence types.
Sig Sauer?
"THEM" switched to this pistol at some point prior to 9/11. When exactly, I can't be sure.
Rifles:
SA80
This is the standard rifle 5.56 of the HM Armed forces. 300,000 were ordered in the first batch. There would be a second batch ordered in the mid nineties and possibly continue throughout the war. More on that later...
A1? A2? A3?? The version that is issued to ground troops in Eastern Europe is undoubtedly the latest model. But expect earlier versions to crop up in the UK.
L1A1.
Heres a fun one... If anyone has an exact amount of how many of these were made I would generally like to know!
In our timeline, the many hundreds of thousands of these weapons were sold off en-mass to various third world countries with the end of the cold war.
Now in Twilight 2000 does this still happen? Or does the UK retain these?
If they do. Expect this weapon EVERYWHERE in the UK. Militia/Home defence unit? This. Marauders? This. These would probably be dispatched to various caches for police and Home defence military units use and would undoubtedly fall into the hands of various types. Crates would also fall off the backs of lorries...
Ammo? HA! Good luck.
Colt M16
Used by special forces and was for a while issued to Northern Ireland based
infantry units. About 10,000 were ordered, mostly M16A1's. What happened to these weapons is a mystery.
Accuracy International L96A1 Sniper rifle.
The standard 90's sniper rifle. Occasional in continental and foreign based UK units. VERY rare in UK ones.
Remington 870 Shotgun
RARE. But around...
Submachine guns
MP5
Used by special forces and military police units. I would expect quite a few examples of this.
Sterling L2A3
See L1A1. Here, there and everywhere! 9mm.
Machine guns.
L7A2 GPMG
The highly prized 'battle winning' MG is going to be going to be found where British units are.
Variants:
L8A1: Coaxial for Chieftain
L8A2: Coaxial for Challenger
L20A1: Used in Helicopter gun pods
L37A1: Turrented FV432 APC
L37A2: Cupola used on challenger and probably FV432
L43A1: Scorpion mounted.
L4A4 LMG
A modified 7.62mm 'Bren' this weapons was issued as an LMG to support units who did not require GPMG. I have no idea of the amount made. But see L1A1.
Browning M2 .50 (L1A1)
Not a typo. The designation was the same! This was brought back to british units for use at checkpoints and AA duties.
Anti-tank.
M72 LAW (L1A3B1)
Cheap bunker and light vehicles buster. If the US is still using this, The UK would too. (How heavy is this for those who carried it?)
LAW 80
The replacement for the LAW 66 and the Carl Gustav. One shot disposable weapon. I doubt it making an appearance in the UK.
Carl Gustav L14A1
THIS would be the older anti tank weapon brought back for UK service.
Milan Anti-tank.
Police
Pistols.
Browning
Glock
The police began to use the glock at some point in the 90's. Again I cannot be sure.
Smith and wesson .38?
Issued to police and special branch. I have no idea when phased out.
Submachine gun
MP5
Semi-Auto only. British Police are NOT allowed full auto weapons.
Rifles.
G3 7.62mm
L1A1 7.62mm
Heckler & Koch HK33
There appears to be a Remington sniper rifle used. What one I do not know.
Sources of weapons.
The usual Military bases and munitions dumps, Police stations and ad-hoc places required by HM government.
Weapons manufacturers.
Contrary to popular belief small arms production in the UK was not entirely extinguished. A Third World War would probably given it boost of adrenaline.
Royal Ordnance (Owned by BAE)
The manufacture of the SA80 was completed in Royal Ordnance's Nottingham Small Arms Facility by 1994. I expect this facility to make it to WW3. However that probably wouldn't be enough to produce the many thousands of rifles...
Other facilities would have been setup. Where? When? What size? I leave to you! This gives gamers a chance to introduce all their favourite weapons systems and no doubt examples are around for testing/comparison.
Royal Ordnance Factory Leeds.
Owned by the 1990's by Vickers Defence Systems.
BAE bought Heckler and Koch in the 1990's. A UK factory?
Accuracy international. Portsmouth
Maker of the arctic warfare weapon.
Various other ones. I am not sure of a complete 1990s list.
Smaller firms.
Various 'over and under' and double barreled shotgun firms are/were knocking around. A good location for gamers.
I.E
"Pratt and sons". Trumpton, UK
Family owned Custom Shotgun manufacturer to the landed gentry since the 1880s. The firm has struggled in recent years. But has found steady sales abroad in the face of a shrinking home market. Pre-war it produced hundreds of various shotguns and rifles some to custom order.
Based on an industrial estate just outside of the small town of Trumpton. It employed 135 people and had recently upgraded its machinery. Following the nuclear exchange various weapons went missing. But some remain onsite in obscure places. Its machinery remains in place have been put into storage by the owners. Some raw materials onsite. But the machines require a generator.