British Rifles for the Collection

Take a look at the gunners in this photo, and you may notice something unusual. They are wearing Australian uniforms, but instead of standard Australian Steyr rifles, they are holding British SA80 rifles.

The photo was taken by Neil Ruskin in 2011 in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The men – part of Tiger Troop, raised from 1st Field Regiment – were serving in the last of six rotations of gunners from the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery who deployed with the British Royal Artillery as part of a third-country deployment to support Task Force Helmand operations between 2008 and 2011. The story of the Australian gunners in Helmand is a unique part of Australia’s commitment to the war in Afghanistan – from the environment they operated in, to the equipment they used.

The six rotations drew upon men from the 8th/12th Medium Regiment, 4th Field Regiment, 1st Field Regiment, and 105th Medium Battery of the Royal Australian Artillery. After initial preparations in Australia, they were sent to Britain for six months of integration and pre-deployment training with their Royal Artillery counterparts. They learned how to operate the L118 light guns that they would be using in Afghanistan. The L118 was in many ways identical to the L119 light guns then operated in the Australian Army, the distinctions being a different barrel and a digital GPS system.

The UK, supported in large part by Denmark, was responsible for Helmand Province between 2006 and 2014. During that time, their focus was on security and stabilisation in what was known as a notoriously dangerous province. Deploying as part of British artillery troops, the Australian gunners worked out of various Forward Operating Bases and Patrol Bases to provide fire support to British, Danish and later, American patrols.  

As they deployed as part of British units, the Australians were equipped with the standard British Army rifle. The SA80 had been in operation with the British Army since 1985. Like the Steyr, the SA80 is a bullpup-style assault rifle, meaning the magazine and breech are behind the firing grip.

On 24 July, General Sir Patrick Sander, Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, presented two SA80s to the Australian War Memorial. This generous donation from the British Army will join the Memorial’s collection associated with the Australian gunners in Helmand.