HOME | DD

Description
Also known as the EM-2, Rifle No.9 Mk.1 was adopted by the British in 1951 as their new service rifle. IRL the weapon was swiftly un-adopted due to American political pressure to accept the 7.62x51mm cartridge as the NATO standard and ultimately replaced by the FN FAL, designated L1A1 in British service. This art piece looks at what could have been if the British had not bowed to pressure and had instead pressed on with adopting the rifle and it's cartridge (known as .280 British, a 7x43mm cartridge).

In this fictional overview, .280 British is adopted as the NATO standard after the USA acknowledged the requirement for an intermediate cartridge due to the Vietnam war. The EM-2 (now designated L1) sees progressive upgrades throughout it's lengthy lifespan to incorporate advances in doctrine and technology, culminating in the L1A4 in the modern day.

I borrowed elements from the IRL SA80 lifespan as inspiration for several of the upgrades, which see the rifle switch from wooden to polymer furniture, new scopes, adapt to Picatinny and see progressive upgrades to external and internal components.

Milestones

    ·        1951 – Rifle No.9 Mk.1 adopted.

    ·        1957 – Magazine catch shield added, 1x optical sight replaced with the 4x L3A2 SUIT (Sight Unit Infantry Trilux). Rifle redesignated as L1A1.

    ·        1968 – Wooden furniture replaced by polymer, internals upgraded with chroming to improve lifespan and aid cleaning.

    ·        1984 – SUIT replaced with SUSAT (Sight Unit Small Arms Trilux), heavy barrel and flash hider added. Several components (including the cocking handle) lightened to offset increased weight of the barrel. New, lighter, handguard introduced and an improved cheek pad added. The 20 round magazine was replaced by a 25 round version with the integrated stripper guide removed.

    ·        2002 – SUSAT gradually phased out in favour of the Trijicon ACOG (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight). Picatinny rail adaptor added to the body dovetail and a modified handguard with two rails introduced.

    ·        2004 – Overhaul of internal & external components by H&K as part of lifespan upgrade. Barrel length of rifle reduced to 20 inches and a new free floating heavy barrel fitted. New tri-rail handguard fitted with down grip/bipod. ELCAN SpecterOS replaces ACOG as the standard optic.

    ·        2018 – New quad-rail replaces tri-rail handguard, down grip/bipod replaced with a more robust down grip. Polymer 25 round magazine replaces metal version. OD brown paint scheme adopted.

Credit to Dalmace for the base model EM-2 and Ashbourton for components added to the fictional upgrades.

Description
Also known as the EM-2, Rifle No.9 Mk.1 was adopted by the British in 1951 as their new service rifle. IRL the weapon was swiftly un-adopted due to American political pressure to accept the 7.62x51mm cartridge as the NATO standard and ultimately replaced by the FN FAL, designated L1A1 in British service. This art piece looks at what could have been if the British had not bowed to pressure and had instead pressed on with adopting the rifle and it's cartridge (known as .280 British, a 7x43mm cartridge).

In this fictional overview, .280 British is adopted as the NATO standard after the USA acknowledged the requirement for an intermediate cartridge due to the Vietnam war. The EM-2 (now designated L1) sees progressive upgrades throughout it's lengthy lifespan to incorporate advances in doctrine and technology, culminating in the L1A4 in the modern day.

I borrowed elements from the IRL SA80 lifespan as inspiration for several of the upgrades, which see the rifle switch from wooden to polymer furniture, new scopes, adapt to Picatinny and see progressive upgrades to external and internal components.

Milestones

    ·        1951 – Rifle No.9 Mk.1 adopted.

    ·        1957 – Magazine catch shield added, 1x optical sight replaced with the 4x L3A2 SUIT (Sight Unit Infantry Trilux). Rifle redesignated as L1A1.

    ·        1968 – Wooden furniture replaced by polymer, internals upgraded with chroming to improve lifespan and aid cleaning.

    ·        1984 – SUIT replaced with SUSAT (Sight Unit Small Arms Trilux), heavy barrel and flash hider added. Several components (including the cocking handle) lightened to offset increased weight of the barrel. New, lighter, handguard introduced and an improved cheek pad added. The 20 round magazine was replaced by a 25 round version with the integrated stripper guide removed.

    ·        2002 – SUSAT gradually phased out in favour of the Trijicon ACOG (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight). Picatinny rail adaptor added to the body dovetail and a modified handguard with two rails introduced.

    ·        2004 – Overhaul of internal & external components by H&K as part of lifespan upgrade. Barrel length of rifle reduced to 20 inches and a new free floating heavy barrel fitted. New tri-rail handguard fitted with down grip/bipod. ELCAN SpecterOS replaces ACOG as the standard optic.

    ·        2018 – New quad-rail replaces tri-rail handguard, down grip/bipod replaced with a more robust down grip. Polymer 25 round magazine replaces metal version. OD brown paint scheme adopted.

Credit to Dalmace for the base model EM-2 and Ashbourton for components added to the fictional upgrades.