L7A1 (SF) 

L7 configured for the SF Role

Weight: 23.73kg (With Tripod)   Range: 1,800m
Practical ROF: 200rpm

© MOD

The L7 GPMG can be mounted onto a tripod which converts it into a Support Fire heavy machine gun. The tripod is fitted with a recoil buffer and can be fitted with the same dial C2 sight that is fitted to the 81mm  mortar, which allows the machine gun to be used in a more effective support role, with an increase in range and ROF it can fire over open sights as well as in an indirect role for area suppression.

L3A4 LMG

L3A4 .30 Cal Browning Machine Gun

Weight: 14.1kg     Range: 1,000m
ROF: 120rpm

© 2 PARA

Dating back to World War Two the Browning  Mk.1 and  Mk.2  were  older-style  Commonwealth designations for the .303  caliber Browning  machine guns  used  on  the vast majority of  British aircraft  in  the  Second World War at one point or another. The  main difference between the Mk 1 and Mk 2 versions is unknown, but the weapon visually is quite similar AN/M2 aircraft gun. 
The post-war designations  for these weapons was the L3, and  they  were used by  the United Kingdom mainly mounted  in vehicles, such  as the Ferret,  Saladin,  Saracen  and  Centurion tanks which  meant  there  were  plenty  in reserve kept  in storage.  When the Falklands Conflict started a lot of these weapons were pulled out of storage and put back into service.

Machine Gun 12.7mm L1A1

12.7mm L1A1 on M63 Anti Aircraft mount.

Weight: 39.1Kg     Range: 1,000m+
ROF: 450-600rpm

A Guardsman on AA overwatch, San Carlos, Falklands.
© Welsh Guards forum

The 12.7mm L1A1 is otherwise  known as the  .50cal  M2 Browning  Heavy Machine Gun of war time fame.  The design dates back to the 1920's  and  it  is still considered  to be one of  the best  heavy  machine  guns in the world.  The British Army acquired  a  large quantity  of  the  M2's  during  World War Two but after the war production of the weapon ceased and it was slowly withdrawn from service.  In the 1970s the production of  the M2 was restarted by FN (Belgium), Ramo Inc (US) and Saco Defense Systems (US) as demand for such  a  weapon became apparent. The Army re-purchased a quantity of the US manufactured M2s and  fitted them  with British made barrels. They were then placed in storage ready for use.  In 1982 with the Falklands war, 24 M2s  along  with  M63 AA mounts were taken south with the task force. They were mainly used for air defence around San Carlos. After the Falklands the L1A1 underwent  a  period of appraisal where it was issued to some heavy support platoons.  The main  draw back with the weapon  at  the time was the fact that  there were several  model variants and  barrel lengths which caused maintenance problems. The weapon is able to fire several  types of ammunition which  includes tracer  and  armour  piercing  which  the later is proberly the Norwegian  NM 140 round commonly used within NATO armies.

There is an drill variant of the L1A1 called  the L2A1, a training variant designated the  L30A1 and a spotting rifle variant, the  L40A1 for use with the 120mm Wombat gun.

MILAN ATGW

MILAN ATGW

The MILAN (Missile d'Ifantarie  Leger Anti-Char) was developed by the French and  West-Germans.  It is a  2nd  Generation wired guided system. Produced since 1972 with the first batches entering service with the French and West-German armies in 1975. Also in 1975 the British Army showed an interest and it was not until 1978 that negotiations allowed the army to procure its first trial batches. It was later announced that the system will be on full scale issue by the early 1980's.
Primary designed for use on the plains of Germany against Soviet tanks. The Milan saw action  in the Falklands where it was found  to be effective at neutralizing the Argentine heavy weapon bunkers. The system also allows for a Thermal Imaging sight to be fitted which enables the system to operate in all types of weather conditions, day and night.

Muzzle Loading 81mm L16

81mm L16

Weight: 37.94Kg        Range: 5,650m
ROF: 15rpm

©MOD

Morzen hand held fire computer

The L16 mortar was a joint development between the Uk and Canada, after 4 years development it entered service in 1961.  Canada developed the baseplate which allowed the mortar to traverse and fire through  360 degrees without the need of  re-sighting and the C2 sight  unit. The K mount L5A2  allows  the mortar to be set up on  uneven ground with out unbalancing the mortar when  it fires. The mortar can be manpacked  by breaking it down into three loads of which the heaviest is 12.3Kg.
The L16 was used to great effect during  the Falklands war due to the mortars great accuracy and rate of fire which unnerved the Argentine troops to a degree that  the  after-the-battle reports from Argentina stated that the 81mm mortar bombs were fitted with heat  seeking warheads capable of detecting human targets.

The Falklands war also bought about a new innovation. Due to the soft ground. the mortar would sink after each shot, but this was rectified by placing a sandbag filled with soil under the baseplate to prevent the baseplate from sinking.

The L16 Mortar is capable of firing 3 types of HE bombs, 2 types of Smoke bombs and a French produced Illumination round. The late 1980's also saw the introduction of the anti-armour round - "MERLIN"