Reashot Xigwin
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By Chris Hughes
11 Jan 2013 02:00
Defence chiefs bought 25,000 of the handguns for £9million and UK troops will be issued them for Afghanistan patrols within weeks
Take aim: Royal Marine Royal Marine Sgt Steve Lord tries it out Take aim: Royal Marine Royal Marine Sgt Steve Lord tries it out
Phil Harris
British soldiers are ditching the traditional Browning pistol for the more sophisticated and deadly Glock 17 – as used by our police.
Defence chiefs bought 25,000 of the handguns for £9million and UK troops will be issued them for Afghanistan patrols within weeks.
The new Glocks, which can hold 17 bullets as opposed to the 13 used by the Browning, replaces the Browning after more than 70 years since it was first used by our forces in World War II..
The contract with Viking Arms Ltd of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, also includes more than 25,000 holsters.
The MoD said the contract for a replacement pistol was put out to tender two years ago and is not in response to any specific or increased threat.
Soldiers under threat from close quarters - as in during patrol, whilst driving or if they are mentoring Afghan forces- are issued with the 9mm handguns.
Glock 17 Deadly: Glock's clip
Phil Harris
Glock 17 Change: New Glock under old Browning
Phil Harris
Warrant Officer 1 Mark Anderson, Royal Marines, from Exeter in Devon, tried out the new weapon before the contract was awarded.
He said: “Pistols are vital in close combat and are a key part of a soldier’s armoury.
“Reliable, light and easy to carry, the Glock inspires confidence and performs exceptionally well.”
Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne said: “We are determined to provide our troops with the best possible personal kit available and these new Glock 17s will give them greater firepower and accuracy on operations.
“Now that we have balanced the budget we can invest with confidence in the equipment our Armed Forces need for the future.
“I have seen this pistol demonstrated in target ranges and am impressed that this new lighter, safer generation of pistol provides both better value for money for the MoD and will complement the wide range of weapons already available to front line troops.”
The Glock pistol, manufactured in Austria, will be used alongside the range of weapons available to the military, including SA80A2 assault rifles, light machine guns, sharpshooter rifles, general purpose machine guns, combat shotguns, and sniper systems.
British Army buys Glock 17 pistols to replace traditional Browning - Mirror Online
Insider attacks lead to new sidearms for British troops
Kim Sengupta Author Biography. Friday 11 January 2013
Royal Marine Sergeant Steve Lord tests a Glock 17 9mm pistol, on an indoor shooting range at Woolwich Barracks, south-east London, as personnel from all three services are to start using the new Glock pistols after a contract was awarded to replace the currently used Browning model
'We cannot pretend there is any more to do in Afghanistan': Lord Ashdown urges withdrawal of troops
British forces are to be armed with a new combat sidearm for the first time in more than half a century to protect themselves against new types of threats. The Browning Hi-Power pistol, which first came into service in 1954, will be replaced by the Glock 17, which has been chosen after intensive trials.
One of the reasons for bringing in the new gun was attacks faced by UK troops in Helmand, increasingly from members of Afghan security forces in so called 'green on blue' shootings, as well as from the Taliban. The Glock is 'faster on the draw' than the ageing Browning and simpler to use in highly dangerous situations where split seconds can mean the difference between death and survival.
The Ministry of Defence has ordered 25,000 Glocks for all three services which currently have a total strength of around 220,000. The numbers mean that they will not be for general use, but issued at the discretion of commanders. However, enough of them will be sent to Afghanistan to ensure all personnel serving there have access to the pistols if necessary.
The Glock, which uses the same 9 mm ammunition as the Browning, was selected after tests lasting two and half years in conditions from the Arctic to the jungles of Borneo. No British company tendered for the £8.5 million contract won by the Austrian manufacturers which saw off six other competitors. Warrant Officer 1 Mark Anderson, of the Royal Marines, a veteran of 26 years, who had been involved in the selection process from the start, said "The Glock beat the others being tested pretty easily, this was the outstanding pistol."
Insider attacks lead to new sidearms for British troops - Home News - UK - The Independent
throw away the L85...
11 Jan 2013 02:00
Defence chiefs bought 25,000 of the handguns for £9million and UK troops will be issued them for Afghanistan patrols within weeks
Take aim: Royal Marine Royal Marine Sgt Steve Lord tries it out Take aim: Royal Marine Royal Marine Sgt Steve Lord tries it out
Phil Harris
British soldiers are ditching the traditional Browning pistol for the more sophisticated and deadly Glock 17 – as used by our police.
Defence chiefs bought 25,000 of the handguns for £9million and UK troops will be issued them for Afghanistan patrols within weeks.
The new Glocks, which can hold 17 bullets as opposed to the 13 used by the Browning, replaces the Browning after more than 70 years since it was first used by our forces in World War II..
The contract with Viking Arms Ltd of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, also includes more than 25,000 holsters.
The MoD said the contract for a replacement pistol was put out to tender two years ago and is not in response to any specific or increased threat.
Soldiers under threat from close quarters - as in during patrol, whilst driving or if they are mentoring Afghan forces- are issued with the 9mm handguns.
Glock 17 Deadly: Glock's clip
Phil Harris
Glock 17 Change: New Glock under old Browning
Phil Harris
Warrant Officer 1 Mark Anderson, Royal Marines, from Exeter in Devon, tried out the new weapon before the contract was awarded.
He said: “Pistols are vital in close combat and are a key part of a soldier’s armoury.
“Reliable, light and easy to carry, the Glock inspires confidence and performs exceptionally well.”
Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne said: “We are determined to provide our troops with the best possible personal kit available and these new Glock 17s will give them greater firepower and accuracy on operations.
“Now that we have balanced the budget we can invest with confidence in the equipment our Armed Forces need for the future.
“I have seen this pistol demonstrated in target ranges and am impressed that this new lighter, safer generation of pistol provides both better value for money for the MoD and will complement the wide range of weapons already available to front line troops.”
The Glock pistol, manufactured in Austria, will be used alongside the range of weapons available to the military, including SA80A2 assault rifles, light machine guns, sharpshooter rifles, general purpose machine guns, combat shotguns, and sniper systems.
British Army buys Glock 17 pistols to replace traditional Browning - Mirror Online
Insider attacks lead to new sidearms for British troops
Kim Sengupta Author Biography. Friday 11 January 2013
Royal Marine Sergeant Steve Lord tests a Glock 17 9mm pistol, on an indoor shooting range at Woolwich Barracks, south-east London, as personnel from all three services are to start using the new Glock pistols after a contract was awarded to replace the currently used Browning model
'We cannot pretend there is any more to do in Afghanistan': Lord Ashdown urges withdrawal of troops
British forces are to be armed with a new combat sidearm for the first time in more than half a century to protect themselves against new types of threats. The Browning Hi-Power pistol, which first came into service in 1954, will be replaced by the Glock 17, which has been chosen after intensive trials.
One of the reasons for bringing in the new gun was attacks faced by UK troops in Helmand, increasingly from members of Afghan security forces in so called 'green on blue' shootings, as well as from the Taliban. The Glock is 'faster on the draw' than the ageing Browning and simpler to use in highly dangerous situations where split seconds can mean the difference between death and survival.
The Ministry of Defence has ordered 25,000 Glocks for all three services which currently have a total strength of around 220,000. The numbers mean that they will not be for general use, but issued at the discretion of commanders. However, enough of them will be sent to Afghanistan to ensure all personnel serving there have access to the pistols if necessary.
The Glock, which uses the same 9 mm ammunition as the Browning, was selected after tests lasting two and half years in conditions from the Arctic to the jungles of Borneo. No British company tendered for the £8.5 million contract won by the Austrian manufacturers which saw off six other competitors. Warrant Officer 1 Mark Anderson, of the Royal Marines, a veteran of 26 years, who had been involved in the selection process from the start, said "The Glock beat the others being tested pretty easily, this was the outstanding pistol."
Insider attacks lead to new sidearms for British troops - Home News - UK - The Independent
throw away the L85...
