Sierra Leone: September 25, 2000

Archives

British Pathfinders (parachute scouts) sent to Sierra Leone had a serious problem in a 17 May battle when attacking RUF rebel troops reached within 40 yards of their trenches. The troops (who had, on orders, not fired until the rebels were properly identified) found their SA80 rifles were unable to function due to faulty safety switches. The British troops were defended by Nigerian peacekeepers and by their own machineguns, which were a different design from the notoriously unreliable and unpopular SA80. The Pathfinders were able to use the built-in telescopic sights of their rifles (during periods when the battlefield was illuminated by flares) to spot targets for their machinegun teams.--Stephen V Cole

 

Article Archive

Sierra Leone: Current 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close