Falklands Island Defense Force

[oscarni]

I was cruising the MOD image website and came across an oddity,

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/6696/45147300ce6.jpg

Now Do you guys see it?

When did, wait firstly why do this "TA" unit operate with the Steryer AUG rather than the ubiquitous SA80a2? It just threw me a little bit, any idea, when was it adopted, why was it adopted rather than the standard issue infantry weapon?

- Phil

[retrobob]

Found a wikki article on the FIDF which would answer most of your questions.
From a much earlier thread on the subject it looks as if the FIDF adopted the Steyr around 87-88.As its a Falkland's Island's Gov't unit outside of UK MoD it has alot of latitude in procuring whatever equipment it wants and not necessarily what UK forces are using.

[oscarni]

Found a wikki article on the FIDF which would answer all your questions.Took me about 3 seconds via google.Go on, I dare ya!(I shall be asking questions later)

::Grins:: That wit...

I did stumble across that fountain of all knowledge while using this thing with a box and magical window... and a little box with two clickers and a wee wheelie guy and this tappy thing with keys named Y and N etc ;) lol Just messing with you, but thank you for replying.

Yeah I did come across that source, but I am still confused as to why if its an integrated Armed forces unit that it has "strayed" from the supply line in this way, I did notice that they operate some of the AUG's with SUSAT's as well but what I am asking is WHY not what they have, why did they choose the AUG over the SA80? Is there some operational, Political, regional, etc reason for this?

EDIT>>
Thanks for the additional information retrobob, I thought it was an integrated unit within the UK MOD?

- Phil

[retrobob]

::Grins:: That wit...

I did stumble across that fountain of all knowledge while using this thing with a box and magical window... and a little box with two clickers and a wee wheelie guy and this tappy thing with keys named Y and N etc ;) lol Just messing with you, but thank you for replying.

Yeah I did come across that source, but I am still confused as to why if its an integrated Armed forces unit that it has "strayed" from the supply line in this way, I did notice that they operate some of the AUG's with SUSAT's as well but what I am asking is WHY not what they have, why did they choose the AUG over the SA80? Is there some operational, Polictical, regional, etc reason for this?

- Phil
It's not that they've 'strayed way from the supply line' as they've never been part of the British Army and 'victualled in' to it's logistic structure.The Bermuda Regiment is similar and they actually have a Corps Warrant which makes them formaly part of the British Army( in the 'familial' sense anyway) but as they're both arms of their respective OT(Overseas Territories) Governments and funded soley by them then they've the freedom to procure/purchase as they wish. I don't think that UK MoD has ever had any problem with this though I'm sure that they do 'advise'.As example the Bermuda Regiment uses the Ruger Mini-14 as it's principal weapon(since '84) the UZI as it's SMG(since about '67) and it uses Toyota Landcruisers rather than Landrovers. Another example of 'local/colonial defence force' procurment from much earlier is the Indian Army's adoption in the late 30's, of the Vickers Berthier LMG rather than the Bren which was then being adopted by the British army.Often I think that it's a simple case of, 'You aint paying, we'll get what suit us'

[muttbutt]

Because they did, I think the FIDF is technically not in the Army so they can choose what they like....what reasons they had for that someone else may know.

[miguelencanarias]

Coming to think about it: it is probably the picture, but doesn't the pattern in some of the uniforms look different from the good ol' DPM?

[retrobob]

Because they did, I think the FIDF is technically not in the Army so they can choose what they like....what reasons they had for that someone else may know.
I seem to recall somthing I read in a UK Gun magazine at/or about the time of the SA80 related 'Cassandra' leaks and that was the FIDF's PSI at the time the Steyr entered service was ex 22 and was on contract to the FI gov't and not 'loan service' from the British Army.I'm sure that he would have had considerable input into the FIDF's decision to adpot the Steyr over the SA80 and whatever else was evaluated.

[Straker]

I remember reading a post on another forum that the unit price of the SA80 alone (without SUSAT, sling or cleaning kit) was more than the cost of the AUG with all accessories. Apparently the money for them was given by the FCO and they didn't specify a rifle.

[Anthony91]

Coming to think about it: it is probably the picture, but doesn't the pattern in some of the uniforms look different from the good ol' DPM?

It looks like regular DPM.

[zema_06]

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/6696/45147300ce6.jpg
the 2 LMG Augs in the pic have a susat instead of the usual steyr scope.

[cbreedon]

on a side note... this is an interesting story about a member of the FIDF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Peck