UK army dumps Browning pistols for Glocks

BRITAIN'S army is dumping the Browning pistol it has used for more than 40 years, opting for the faster and lighter Glock 17.

The defence ministry said on Friday it had signed an STG8.5 million ($A13 million) contract for more than 25,000 of the Austrian-made pistols.

The UK joins a host of law enforcement agencies and the Dutch, Norwegian and Austrian armies in opting for the Glock 17. The pistol has a larger magazine than the Browning in use by the UK armed forces.

Britain's defence ministry said the decision to abandon the Browning came after it became increasingly expensive to maintain the pistol.

"When it came out in the 1960s, it was a fantastic pistol, but technology advances," said Warrant Officer 1 Mark Anderson, who tested the sidearms competing for the UK contract after the defence ministry put out a tender for a replacement pistol two years ago.

The faster and more accurate Glocks are considered a boon for troops increasingly facing threats at close quarters, like in Afghanistan where soldiers are dealing with the risks of insider attacks.

Anderson said the Glock earned the confidence of the troops and passed tests of extreme temperatures and climates "with flying colours".

The Glock magazine capacity is 17 rounds, compared with the Browning's 13, and the new pistols are quicker on the draw.

While the Browning had a manual safety catch that needed to be switched off, with the Glock "you just draw it and engage," Colonel Peter Walden told reporters.

That's because the Glock has three internal safeties and can be kept loaded in a holster, unlike the Browning, Walden said.

Saving vital seconds could be the difference between life and death, said Walden.

The defence ministry said the Glocks should be deployed in Afghanistan by the latter part of 2013.

The Glocks are being issued as secondary weapons mostly for personal protection in case the primary firearm fails or soldiers are in close environments, like compound-clearing operations, where short-barrelled weapons are considered a smarter choice.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

UK army dumps Browning pistols for Glocks

Dengan url

http://beritasementara.blogspot.com/2013/01/uk-army-dumps-browning-pistols-for.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

UK army dumps Browning pistols for Glocks

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

UK army dumps Browning pistols for Glocks

sebagai sumbernya