The SA80 (Small Arms for the 1980s) is a series of 5.56x45mm bullpup assault rifles and light support weapons designed on the operation of the Armalite AR-18 and SAR-87 (An advanced AR-18 made by the rival company Sterling Armaments of Dagenham), and produced from 1985 to 1994 by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock.
In 1988 production of the rifle was transferred to the Royal Ordnance’s Nottingham Small Arms Facility (later British Aerospace, Royal Ordnance; now BAE Systems Land Systems Munitions & Ordnance).
Unlike other bullpup weapons like the FAMAS and AUG series, the L85 series has no ambidextrous ejection port, forcing it to be used right-handed only.
The SA80 can be seen in the following films, television series, anime and video games used by the following actors:
Specifications
(1985-1994)
- Type: Assault Rifle
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
- Capacity: 20, 30-round STANAG Magazines
- Fire Modes: Semi/Auto (safety is separate from fire selector)
L85
L85A1
The original variant of the SA80 series issued to the British forces. These were manufactured by Royal Ordnance (Formerly known as Enfield) from 1985 until 1994 after the notorious faults of the weapon in battlefield conditions.
L85A1 with SUSAT scope - 5.56x45mm NATO
L85A1 with SUSAT scope - 5.56x45mm NATO
Film
Television
Show Title/Episode
|
Actor
|
Character
|
Notation
|
Air Date
|
Soldier Soldier |
Robson Green |
Dave Tucker |
w/ SUSAT scopes, w/ and without bayonets and protective covers |
1991 - 1997
|
Soldier Soldier |
??? |
British Army soldiers |
w/ SUSAT scopes, w/ and without bayonets and protective covers |
1991 - 1997
|
Bugs/"Stealth" |
|
|
|
1995 - 1999
|
Firefly |
??? |
Alliance soldiers |
w/SUSAT scopes |
2002
|
Firefly |
??? |
Browncoats |
|
2002
|
Ultimate Force |
|
British MOD police |
w/SUSAT scopes |
2002 - 2006
|
|
SAS troopers |
w/SUSAT scopes, only used for ceremonial occasions
|
Red Cap |
Tamzin Outhwaite, others |
British Army |
W/SUSATs or Iron Sights |
2003 - 2004
|
Zero Hour |
??? |
British Army soldiers |
|
2004-2007
|
Battlestar Galactica |
??? |
Honor guards |
w/white-painted handguard and lower receiver |
2004 - 2009
|
Battlestar Galactica/"Resistance", "The Farm" |
??? |
Caprica Resistance fighters |
w/ SUSAT scopes |
2004 - 2009
|
Situation Critical |
??? |
British Army soldiers |
w/SUSAT scopes |
2007
|
Caprica |
??? |
Caprican police officer |
|
2010
|
Video Games
Anime
Film/Series Title
|
Character
|
Notation
|
Date
|
Akira |
Neo Tokyo Police troops |
w/SUSAT scopes |
1987
|
Spriggan |
British (?) troops |
|
1994
|
Upotte!! |
Eru |
|
2012
|
L85A2
The L85A2 is a revamped version of the L85A1 with improved components, most notably the external 'Comma' shaped combined charging handle/brass deflector and stronger internal parts. The upgrading of L85A1 rifles to the L85A2 standard was carried out by Heckler & Koch (which, at the time, belonged to BAE) between 2002 and 2006; since then further improvements have been made in response to operational requirements, including new RIS/RAS equipped foreguards and the adoption of the ACOG sight by some units in Afghanistan. The new foreguards and the adoption of the Elcan Spectre as the official replacement of the SUSAT will be applied to all British Army units over the next three to four years.
L85A2 with SUSAT scope - 5.56x45mm NATO
L85A2 with magazine removed, railed forend, ACOG scope, Grippod foregrip, and Surefire FHSA80SA flash hider - 5.56x45mm
Film
Title
|
Actor
|
Character
|
Note
|
Date
|
Children of Men |
|
British soldiers |
With SUSAT scopes |
2006
|
Flood |
|
British soldiers |
|
2007
|
Dragoon |
Tristan Erwin |
Peters |
With ACOG |
2012 |
|
Television
Show Title/Episode
|
Actor
|
Character
|
Notation
|
Air Date
|
Sherlock / S01E01 - "A Study in Pink" |
??? |
British Army soldier |
w/SUSAT scope |
2010
|
Doctor Who |
??? |
British Army paratroopers |
w/and w/out Surefire weaponlights |
2005 - ????
|
Ultimate Force |
??? |
British Army soldiers |
w/SUSAT scopes |
2002 - 2006
|
Anime
Video Games
L22
L22 Prototype
Converted from L86A1 Light Support Weapons, These are issued to AAC, RAC and some REME Crew as a personal defence weapon. Often wrongly refered to as the L22A1, this gun was never given an L designation, known only as an SA80 AFV or Armoured Fighting Vehicle.
SA80 AFV prototype with SUSAT scope - 5.56x45mm NATO
Video Games
Game Title
|
Appears as
|
Mods
|
Notation
|
Release Date
|
Killing Floor |
Bullpup |
w/EOTech red dot sight and 40-round magazine |
|
2009
|
L22A1
Converted from L86A2 Light Support Weapons, These are issued to AAC Crew as a personal defense weapon. Often wrongly labelled the L22A2. The L22A1 has the same internal modification as the L85A2 and L86A2, but as the modification were done before the L22 was officially introduced it is designated the L22A1. New upgrades are now available such as the 20rnd magazine and picatinny rail systems.
L22A1 w/20-round magazine and SUSAT scope - 5.56x45mm NATO
Film
Title
|
Actor
|
Character
|
Note
|
Date
|
Dragoon |
Tristan Erwin |
Peters |
With ACOG |
2012
|
Video Games
L86
L86A1
The L86A1 Light Support Weapon is the sustained fire variant of the SA80 series. Many have been replaced by the FN Minimi in this role or converted into L22 Carbines for AFV/Chopper crew members as a personal defense weapon.
L86A1 with SUSAT scope - 5.56x45mm NATO
Film
Title
|
Actor
|
Character
|
Note
|
Date
|
A Sound of Thunder |
|
Apartment Resident |
Lacks either iron sights or optics |
2005
|
Dragoon |
Tristan Erwin |
Peters |
With SUSAT Scope |
2012 |
|
Television
Title
|
Actor
|
Character
|
Note
|
Date
|
Soldier Soldier |
|
British Army Soldiers |
w/various optics, w/ and w/O BFAs |
1991-1997
|
Red Cap |
|
British Army Soldiers |
w/SUSAT optic |
2003-2004
|
Video Games
Anime
Title
|
Character
|
Note
|
Date
|
Black Lagoon |
|
Seen on wall, with SUSAT scope |
2006
|
L86A2
A revamped L86A1 LSW. The L86A2 is in limited usage along the FN Minimi, only for DMR purposes as it has superior accuracy/range. The L86A2 is also used by the ACF but only 3-Star+ Trained Cadets are allowed to use this weapon.
As of 2009/10, futher modifications have been made to L86A2s used in Afghanistan. These have the current foreguards replaced with the DD-quad RAS foreguard (with the ability to add various extras on all surfaces, such as foregrips or flashlights). The outrigger under the barrel can been removed (but bipod retained) or replaced with a RiS/RAS rail system. SUSATs retained, with the intention of replacing them with Elcan Spectre optics. These modifications have only been made to a select few units L86A2 DMRs. Those units not in, or immediately going to Afghanistan have yet to recieve the upgrades.
L86A2 with SUSAT - 5.56x45mm NATO
Video Games
Game Title
|
Appears as
|
Mods
|
Notation
|
Release Date
|
Project Reality |
|
With optional SUSAT scope |
|
2005
|
ArmA II |
|
With Trijicon ACOG |
Added in Operation Arrowhead: British Armed Forces |
2010
|
SA80 Prototypes
Various prototypes made by Enfield for the British Government, starting in 1969. Various models, earliest using NATO 7.62. However, both of those listed below used the experimental British 4.85mm round. When NATO adopted the US 5.56 round, the XL70 series was redesigned to fire 5.56 and renamed under the SA80 programme - Small Arms for the 1980's. This project also included an LSW (although that version had a changeable barrel). Originally, the weapon had only a SUSAT - which was built in to the rifle, and non-removable - however, there was a folding foresight (visible).
XL64E5
Television
Video Games
Anime
Film/Series Title
|
Character
|
Notation
|
Date
|
Upotte!! |
|
w/SUSAT scope |
2012 - ????
|
XL65E4 LSW
Video Games
Game Title
|
Appears as
|
Mods
|
Notation
|
Release Date
|
Fallout 2 |
"XL70E3" |
Bipod removed |
fires 5mm rounds |
1998
|
See Also