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Abbreviations


 

5.56mm Light Support Weapon (LSW) - Armed Forces - a5a16 - British Army - The Infantry

THE INFANTRY

5.56MM LIGHT SUPPORT WEAPON (LSW)
 

 Members of a British Gurkha unit prepare to enter a building to clear it at the MOUT facility. Their opposing force is Fox Company, 2d Battalion, 6th Marines, 2d Marine Division. MARINE CORPS BASE, CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA (NC) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

The Light Support Weapon (LSW) has been developed to replace the GPMG in the light role and about 80 per cent of the parts are interchangeable with the 5.56mm Individual Weapon (SA 80). A great advantage for the infantryman is the ability of both weapons to take the same magazines.

A rifle section will have 2 x 4-man fire teams and each fire team 1 x LSW. Like the SA 80, the LSW is currently experiencing some difficulty in firing 5.56mm ammunition supplied by other NATO countries.

This problem is under review. An Image Intensifier night sight, the CWS, has been produced for LSW, which gives excellent night vision out to 400m.

 

5.56mm Light Support Weapon (LSW) Specifications

Max Range

1000m

Muzzle Velocity

970m/s

Length

900mm

Barrel Length

646mm

Weight Loaded with 30 round magazine

6.58kg

Rate of Fire

from to 610-775rpm

 

Photo USMC