Posted on 04/09/2008 8:03:38 PM PDT by PotatoHeadMick
Seven British soldiers were shot in Basra last year by the same sniper rifle, the Ministry of Defence has revealed.
The troops were picked off one by one on the streets of the southern Iraqi city by a weapon firing high-velocity American-made bullets.
Rifleman Aaron Lincoln, 18, Kingsman Danny Wilson, 28, Kingsman Alan Jones, 20, Corporal Rodney Wilson, 30, Rifleman Paul Donnachie, 18, and two others who have not yet been named, were all killed by bullets from the same weapon, said a spokesman for the MoD.
But he could not verify that a single gunman was responsible.
Rifleman Lincoln, of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, was killed on April 2 last year by a single bullet that penetrated his protective glasses and helmet, an inquest in Spennymoor, County Durham, heard yesterday.
Of the five soldiers that have been identified, four were shot in April. Corporal Wilson was killed on June 7.
Ballistics expert Ann Kiernan told the inquest: "There had been several incidents where projectiles have all been discharged from the same rifle."
The bullets were made by arms manufacturer Lake City Arsenal and the hearing was told the military cannot yet provide helmets strong enough to withstand such powerful ammunition.
Rifleman Lincoln's platoon had been sent on to the city streets as part of an operation to divert enemy attention from a re-supply convoy of 30 trucks due at the British camp.
Coroner Andrew Tweddle said he was concerned the bullet had penetrated the soldier's helmet, but noted evidence given that the Army were unable to "provide a higher level of protection".
He recorded a narrative verdict of unlawful killing, adding that Rifleman Lincoln was shot by enemy fire. "He sustained a single gun shot wound to the head,' he said. 'This 5.56mm, U.S. manufactured round was not fired by friendly forces.'
Best way to stop a sniper is with another sniper. Instead of making a big deal over this guy using US-made ammo, the Brits should be stalking this guy.
Hard to do that sitting on an airfield outside of town.
There are literally billions of ‘em in that area.
That the opposition got their hands on 7 is no surprise.
FAL is a great rifle. So is M-1A.
Have reloaded ammo for thirty years, but her's your information, .224" - .22 WMR, .222 Remington, .223 Remington, .22-250 Varminter, .223 WSSM (http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_bullet_diameter.htm)
Wrong, the Brit's only have the bullet, a green tipped .224 penetrator, there is no way they would know what it was fired from, since many custom barrels use the same number of rifling's and just change the twist. But if it was a left are right hand twist might help.
Where does the green tip info come from? A link to that might be nice. If what you say is true (green tipped .224 penetrator) then is it safe to assume that only Lake City makes it?
I could look up domestic sources for the product myself.
The DM (a very pro-British and conservative newspaper btw) isnt claiming American involvement.
‘Tis a lazy headline though, which the DM can be guilty of at times.
Well, then, what are they claiming? That they were shot by M855? How do they know it wasn’t British L2A1, inasmuch as both projectiles are made to the exact same specifications?
Well, then, what are they claiming? That they were shot by M855? How do they know it wasn’t British L2A1, inasmuch as both projectiles are made to the exact same specifications?
sorry, double tap.
Again, how can they tell it's american-made ammo from the projectile, when British forces are equipped with ammo that uses the very same projectile?
Does L2A1 have a green painted tip on the bullet? If not, that may be how they determined it was M855.
Thanks for the link.
L
A fair question that one.
From the projectile alone one would thing that wouldn't be possible.
L
Well, as I thought, British L2A1 5.56 Ball ammo does not have a green painted tip, like our equivalent M855. Other than that, the projectile for both would be made to the same specs.
Also, I wonder how they know it wasn't fired from a L85?
Precious few details in this article.
Because the L85 is unlikely to work and it’s less accurate when it DOES work than an M16A4.
The tip may or may not still have the green paint on it after being fired, or it may have worn off. I've got a couple thousand LC M855 upstairs and on some the tip is so worn as to be almost invisible. Granted that's not likely to happen to 7 bullets, but it is possible. Or some bright little jihadi dirtball may have removed it.
Also, I wonder how they know it wasn't fired from a L85?
Most by the rifling. Although you're correct there are very few details in this article. Kind of makes you wonder why they call it 'news' at all.
L
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