Army assault rifle 'lost' in Pembrokeshire

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Drizzt

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Army assault rifle 'lost' in Pembrokeshire

Oct 19 2005

By James Tapsfield


An intensive search continued today after a second soldier lost a firearm within a week.

An SA80 assault rifle went missing during an army exercise in Pembrokeshire, the Ministry of Defence confirmed.

It reportedly belonged to a sergeant major in 14 Signals Regiment who was taking part in the training with 900 other soldiers.

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The exercise was suspended when officers realised the weapon – capable of firing 700 rounds a minute – had been lost on Monday morning.

An MoD spokesman said: “There is an SA80 rifle that has been lost.

“It went missing during an exrcise in Pembrokeshire, and belonged to a member of 14 Signals Regiment.

He added: “The incident is being investigated by the Special Investigation Branch.”

On Saturday another soldier left a gun loaded with 13 rounds of blank ammunition in the disabled toilet of a Sainsbury’s store in Hitchin, Herts.

She was named in a national newspaper as Captain Alice Bromage.

A 20-year-old man from Ickleford, Herts, was arrested yesterday morning on suspicion of theft by finding the 9mm pistol.

Herts Police confirmed that the US-made Sig Sauer automatic pistol had been found.

It was recovered by officers from a postbox in the Hitchin area this morning.

The Sun reported that the latest weapon had been lost by an Artificer Sergeant Major who was in charge of a 90-strong group of soldiers.

He apparently handed it to one of his juniors at a temporary command post before going to do some administrative work, and could not find the weapon when he returned.

The 14th Signals Regiment is part of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. The regiment is based in Wales, and acts as the army’s electronic warfare specialists.

The loss is being probed by the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100...-rifle--lost--in-pembrokeshire-name_page.html

oops....
 
"Get the boys on line, we're walking across this shire til we find it."

Good job Ma'am and Sgt. Major. Way to lead by example.:rolleyes:
 
I was stationed in the UK when they banned pistols, what a mess! An urban culture largely opposed to guns is going to have a Hell of a time using them when they need them.
Our own military is pretty bad, because we don't practice enough when not in actual combat, and only "elite" forces get anywhere near close to enough practice to be proficient. Over my almost 27 years in I have seen times when the Marines and Navy units couldn't get ammo to do annual quals with. I had to send my Marines to Parris Island since they couldn't get ammo from the Army when stationed on an Army base. Some Army units qualified folks with electronic attachments on their M-16s (getting their marksmanship medals), none of the bang and smell of cordite - no recoil too, I suppose that helps! We have folks in the military scared of firearms and unfortunately they are not corpsmen and medics! When I was in Bahrain (25km from Saudi Arabia over the Causeway) and heading to Kuwait in March of 03, I went, requal'd with the Beretta, but couldn't get one, because all the supply guys had taken them (they look cool)! And we didn't have enough for all the Sailors heading up for the war! That is what happens after years of no funding! I have heard that the Army maintains a ton in warehouses for war, but haven't heard of them breaking any 1911A1s out. I would have rather had a .45ACP we used to carry instead of the Beretta anyway. But they aren't issuing them! The only way to get proficient is with practice. At the base I am stationed (or rather where my ship is homeported), no private firearms or ammo is allowed! That really encourages proficiency! But it does make the ninnies happy. And our JAGs (lawyers)! .:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
 
I wouldn't worry about it too much, if a crazed killer gets his hands on it it'll probably jam, spontaneously drop out the magazine, and crack the takedown pins before he can cause much damage :neener:
 
Vane, you insight into the state of the British military is fascinating, I had no idea how unprepared they were. One can't really blame them, a lack of funds and probably any respect from the public caused this.
 
Herts Police confirmed that the US-made Sig Sauer automatic pistol had been found.
Click to expand...
Hoplophobes blaming the US for their gun problems again? Why the need to say that the pistol, though a SIG, was made in the US? Are they suggesting ever-so-subtly that all guns involved in crimes in the UK, or that get lost in the UK (and perhaps subsequently being used in crime), come from the US.:fire:
 
He apparently handed it to one of his juniors at a temporary command post before going to do some administrative work, and could not find the weapon when he returned.
Click to expand...
Hmmm. Ok ... I've not been in the service, so bear with me here ...

If you're a Sergeant Major (an 'Artificer'???), and you hand a weapon to a subordinate of some sort - well - I'd assume that you'd leave (some sort of) instructions as to the disposition of that weapon with the subordinate. Right? I mean - you're a Sergeant Major ... may not be a rocket surgeon, but not a complete idiot. Right? At least something like "Keep an eye on my piece for me" or "Take this to the dry cleaners. And don't leave without the claim ticket."

Ok ... now ... you give this subordinate your weapon, give them instructions, come back later and can't find your weapon?

What the f...? Can you at least kick the subordinates a$$?

I am obviously missing something here. Someone able to help out with this?

-
 
Getting practice...

Yes... when I was in the Corps (79-85) I had to buy an Colt AR-15 and go to public range to get enough practice. I thought it was disgusting that an active duty Marine would have to go to such lengths just to maintain basic skills.

Ohh well... we all know that it will be the Preditor RPV's and jet-jocks that win the next war anyway (sarcasim!) so it's not neccessary that Grunts be able to shoot.

Sorry for straying from the subject of "Lost Assult Weapons".

I did have a number of opportunites to serve alongside our British brothers in arms. The only ones I found to be worth anything were the Royal Marines. At least they understood that their rifles were their lives in combat.
 
Jeez. I were to happen to be a Brittish civillian and were to pay an army official big bucks (or is it Pounds or Euros now?) to 'lose' an assault rifle, it had better be something better than an SA-80.

But that's just my take on things.;)
 
Somebody's ass is in a sling. In the states there was NO reason to loose a weapon. That was court marshall time. In Vietnam it was like picking apples off a tree. Plenty everywhere and nobody cared.

Kevin
 
VANE: You stated "We have folks in the military scared of firearms and unfortunately they are not corpsman and medics". I'm sure you have vast combat experence serving on a Navy vessel, and that's what you based that statement on. Before you tar a group of people, I suggest you get some dirt time in a combat zone and maybe your opinion of corpsmen and medics will change.
 
That doesn't change the implication in Vane's post. In my opinion, makes's it worse/
 
Leatherneck, I retired after 20 yrs in the Navy with the rank of Chief Hospital Corpsman, I served 14 of those years with the Fleet Marine Force in one capicity or another. One of my awards is a Combat Action Ribbon, I stand by my post
 
Also in response to Vane, my wife put in 20 years in the Navy, retiring as a HMC (SW), spent some time on the 'green side' and did several IDC tours. When she was the shipboard IDC, she was issued a M-9 and shot it a lot for fun. The Marine detachment on her Spruance-class destroyer used to rag her about stealing their ammo. And when she goes with the range with me, she certainly does not look scared as she is lighting off the .357 125 grain JHPs from her SP-101. Having had the pleasure of meeting several of her former shipmates from Bangor, Naval Station Everett and Naval Hospital Bremerton, and gone shooting with some of them, I can think of a lot of corpsmen who are not afraid of firearms.
 
I've never served in the military, but I thought to make Captain you had to have already figured out that keeping track of weapons was required:scrutiny:
 
Leatherneck, just curious, do you agree with Vane about corpsmen and medics being scared of firearms? BTW Vane's public profile states he is in the Navy.
 
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SA80 Missing

From the article it sounded like it was a 30 mm canon or a what ever super death weapon. Looking it up I see it is a small rifle and cute looking, at that.
The rifle that is. :rolleyes:

sa80_1.jpg
 
Not the ones in my unit. Male or female they loved putting rounds downrange.

A couple of them loved it so much I felt the need to have a heart-to-heart with them about the priority of patching me up BEFORE avenging my injury. :evil:
 
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