Thread by @nicholadrummond

INFANTRY WEAPONS (Thread)
The Capability Ground Manoeuvre team at Army HQ has recently confirmed that the 5.56mm L86A2 LSW and L110A2 Minimi LMG will be removed from service together with M6-640 60mm Light Mortar by the end of 2019. The question is what will replace them?
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The 7.62mm L129A1 Sharpshooter Rifle and L7A2 GPMG are increasingly being used at section level. They add a much appreciated extra weight of fire but a most unwelcome extra weight of the combat load burden.
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But it is absolutely correct that British Army infantry sections should built around a machine gun capable of accurate and sustained long-range automatic fire. But should sections end-up being a mix of 5.56mm and 7.62mm weapons or should there be a separate MG platoon?
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At the moment, infantry companies have three rifle platoons plus an MG platoon. But the third rifle platoon is made-up from Army Reservists. So most of the time Regulary Army rifle companies train without the fourth platoon.
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Would it be better to make 7.62mm GPMGs an integral part of rifle platoons again with one per section and return to an ORBAT of three regular rifle platoons? Between 1937 and 1987 NATO armies were built around large calibre MGs. (5/7)

In the meantime, the Army is evaluating the lightweight SAAB Carl Gustav 84mm anti-tank weapon and a multi shot medium velocity 40mm GL. Both these weapons would do much to enhance organic firepower.
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Under present plans British Army sections will have L85A3 Assault rifles plus 7.62mm Sharpshooter rifles (and possibly a multi-shot MV 40mm AGL). I am not convinced this provides sufficient firepower.
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