SA80 Grenade Systems

There has been a number of systems produced to fire grenades from the SA80. In the past they have been fired from the end of the barrel as they were from the attachments on the Enfield No. 4 and the L1A1 SLR. A NATO standardization meant that all grenades manufactured by NATO countries could be fired fron all NATO country rifles. All rifles were fitted with the same sized flash eliminator to acommodate all rifle grenades. This was part of the STANAG or Standardization Agreement. Lots of problems with this. Grenades all needed different sights, the firer had to swap the live round for a blank round in order to fire it. Im sure there has been accidents. Then came the bullet trap version which meant you didn't have to change ammunition, the bullet momentum would carry the grenade. After all this we are now at the Underslung Grenade Launcher or UGL. The ones we are using on the SA80 are made by H+K but are essentially the same device as the M203 the Americans have been using since Vietnam. We do eventually learn. You have to remember we are 20 years behind the Americans. Whats the betting we end up with an M16 clone as our main battle rifle in a few years time. See the reserve M16 story on the history page.

Drill grenades.

Grenade mounted.

One of the most recent drill grenades.

Drill grenade mounted.

European telescopic bullet-thru grenades with pop out sights.

Bullet trap version of the A/T rifle launched grenade.

Early RARDE SUSAT with fitting for a Grenade Launcher built in to the bodywork.

Grenade launching sight that fits ontlo a regular SUSAT.

Grenade launching sight fitted.

Stock picture of SA80 A2 with H+K Underslung Grenade Launcher which takes most types of 40mm grenade cartridge. Alleluja ! We finally caught up with the yanks. This is a modified version of the H+K AG36 and comes in an A2 and an A1. A1 is shorter and in use on the L119 Carbine and with UKSF and Pathfinders.

UGL practice rounds.

The UGL foregrip top.

UGL sights.

UGL grenade bandilier.

UGL cleaning kit.