Lesson 1.pdf

Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only 41 Chapter 1 The Basic Skills – L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle Rifle Lesson 1. General Description, Safety, and the Sights Instructors Notes 1-01. Aim. To introduce the L98A2 Cadet GP (5.56mm) Rifle, its characteristics and safe handling. a. Characteristi...

Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only 41 Chapter 1 The Basic Skills – L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle Rifle Lesson 1. General Description, Safety, and the Sights Instructors Notes 1-01. Aim. To introduce the L98A2 Cadet GP (5.56mm) Rifle, its characteristics and safe handling. a. Characteristics of the L98A2 Cadet GP (5.56mm) Rifle. b. To teach the safety precautions. c. To teach the fitting of the sling and carriage. d. To describe the sighting system. 1-02. Timings. Two 40-minute periods (to be covered in one training session). 1-03. Method. A basic indoor instructional lesson or outdoor. 1-04. Stores. Rifle fitted with iron sight 1 per cadet/CFAV Sling (not fitted) 1 per cadet/CFAV Magazines 2 per cadet/CFAV Maintenance Kit 1 per cadet/CFAV Table optional Weapon Stand and pointer optional Handouts for named parts optional 1-05. Preparation. a. If required, set up the table and stand and mount the rifle on the stand, muzzle cover fitted to the Rifle. b. 1-06. Position handouts, a sling, combination tool and a rifle under each chair. Miscellaneous. a. The instructor is always to ensure that all rifles present have been cleared, by them, before the lesson starts and inform the cadets of this fact. b. The instructor must inform the cadets that the rifle is ONLY to be fired from the right shoulder. The instructor is to identify all left-handed members of their squad and inform them each individually of this fact. c. When handling the parts of the rifle, the instructor is to name them and their purpose. However, at this stage, the cadet is not expected to memorise all the names, use of handouts can act as a future reference for cadets. d. Impress upon the squad that when they are cocking the weapon, the cocking handle is to be gripped firmly with the forefinger and thumb of the left hand and only when pulled fully to the rear may it be held, using only the forefinger. AC 71807-C Aug 23 Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only e. 4-2 Technical details on the weapon (L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle) can be found at page ix and should be studied before teaching the lesson. Preliminaries 1-07. Safety Precautions. Inform the squad that the weapons have been cleared and inspect the squad’s pouches and magazines, this includes the removal of Viper vests and thorough search, with all compartments/pouches turned inside out and inspected by the instructor, a student is to inspect the instructor’s pouches. 1-08. At night, weapons must be inspected using a white light torch to ensure that the chambers are clear. 1-09. The Rifle MUST be fired from the right shoulder. The instructor is to identify all left-handed members of their squad and inform them each individually of this fact. 1-10. Ensure the squad have their magazines in the left pouch and that it is fastened. 1-11. Organise the squad in pairs and explain that during practice phases of the lesson they may operate in teams and compete against each other. 1-12. Revision. Revise the Marksmanship Principles. Introduction 1-13. Explain: The L98A2 5.56mm Cadet GP Rifle is the standard weapon used by cadets after progression from smallbore weapons, and you must become skilled in its use to enable you to pass your Weapon Handling Test, shooting tests and whilst at the same time handle it safely amongst your fellow cadets. Conduct of the Lesson Characteristics of the L98A2 Cadet GP (5.56mm) Rifle 1-14. Explain: The L98A2 Cadet GP (5.56mm) Rifle is a magazine fed weapon which is capable of firing single rounds producing: a. Accurate. Quick and accurate fire at short range opportunity targets. b. Control. With its self-loading capability and a 30-round magazine, a high standard of fire control is necessary to prevent wastage of ammunition. c. Effective Range. A high rate of accurate, rapid fire at ranges up to 300 metres and accurate deliberate fire at longer ranges. d. Fire as a Section. It can provide Effective section fire at ranges up to 600 metres. 1-15. Confirm by questions. The Parts of the Weapon 1-16. Explain: (Name, Reveal, Teach) Point out the following on the rifle (see Fig 1-2): a. Muzzle cover. b. Muzzle. AC 71807-C Aug 23 Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only 43 c. Flash eliminator. d. Hand guard and top cover. e. Foresight. f. Sight rail, cheek piece. g. Safety catch, pistol grip, trigger guard and trigger. h. Cocking handle, ejection opening and dust cover. i. Holding open catch. j. Butt, front, and rear sling loops. k. Trigger Mechanism Housing (TMH) front and rear locking pins. l. Magazine housing, magazine catch and bolt release catch. m. Gas plug, gas cylinder and gas piston. Note: Explain and Demonstrate, the squad imitating: The instructor is to ensure that the chamber, body, and face of the bolt are indicated to the cadets during this stage of the Rifle Lesson. This will ensure that they understand the parts of the weapon in preparation for NSPs. 1-17. Confirm by questions. AC 71807-C Aug 23 Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only 45 Fig 1-2. The L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle (Named Parts) Safety Precautions 1-18. Explain: The Normal Safety Precautions (NSPs) are to be carried out: a. At the beginning and end of every lesson, practice, or range period (unless moving immediately onto another SAA Lesson). b. Immediately on returning to barracks, or on completion of any patrol, exercise, or duty. 1-19. Explain and Demonstrate, the low port position: 1-20. Explain and Demonstrate with the squad imitating: a. On the command “For inspection – Port arms”: (1) Starting from the ‘Low Port’ position (see Fig 1-3) advance the left foot, hold the pistol grip with the right hand, forefinger outside the trigger guard and bring the rifle to a horizontal position at waist level. Support the handguard with the left hand. (2) Physically ensure the safety catch is at Safe (S) using the left thumb. (3) Cock the weapon. To do this, tilt the rifle slightly to the right and, using the left hand over the top of the rifle, grip the cocking handle with the thumb and forefinger and pull it fully to the rear. (4) Hold the cocking handle back with the forefinger, depress the holding open Fig 1-3. The Low catch with the thumb, ease the cocking Port Position handle forward so that the catch arrests the forward movement of the carrier and replace the left hand underneath the hand guard. (5) To inspect the rifle, push it forward and twist it to the left so that the ejection opening is uppermost. Look into the opening and ensure the body, chamber and face of the bolt are clear of ammunition or obstructions (see Fig 1-4). (6) At night, weapons must be inspected using a white light torch to ensure that the chambers are clear. (7) When the rifle is to be inspected by another person, place it with the ejection opening uppermost on the right shoulder. AC 71807-C Aug 23 Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only 4-6 b. The instructor is to show their own rifle to a cadet in the squad to prove that it is clear and then inspect the squad’s rifles to make certain that they are also clear. c. On the command “Ease Springs” return the weapon to the horizontal position. (1) With the left hand, press down on the bolt release catch, then tap forward on the cocking handle and grip the handguard. (2) Put the safety catch to Fire (F) with the right forefinger. (3) Operate the trigger. (4) Put the safety catch back to Safe (S) using the left thumb. (5) Close the dust cover with the left hand by folding it upwards and backwards so that it engages its slot. (6) Ground arms, ensuring that the cocking handle is facing upwards. (Once teaching of the sling has been carried out, cadets will allow the weapon to hang, freeing their hands). (7) Unfasten the ammunition pouches and remove the contents. d. The instructor’s pouches, magazines, and drill rounds (if they have been issued) are to be inspected by a cadet in the squad. e. The instructor is to then inspect all pouches and magazines. This includes the removal and thorough searching of Viper vests, with all compartments/pouches turned inside out to ensure that there are no live rounds present. If issued, drill rounds are to be inspected. f. When the above drills have been completed, the squad are to replace all magazines in their pouches which are then to be fastened, pick up their weapons and adopt the ‘Low Port’ position. 1-21. Confirm by question and practice. Safe Handling: Rifle with No Magazine Fitted 1-22. Explain and Demonstrate: On handing over a rifle to another cadet, if no magazine is fitted point the muzzle in a safe direction and carry out the “NSP”, showing the recipient of the weapon that the chamber, body, and face of the bolt is clear. If picking up unattended rifle carry out “NSP”. Emphasise that the rifle is never to be pointed at anyone in jest. 1-23. Confirm by questions and practice. AC 71807-C Aug 23 Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only 4-8 The Sling 1-24. Description. Explain: The sling consists of two lengths of webbing type material (see Fig 1-5). The longer piece has at one end a female part of a clip and a loop attached; the other end of the strap is clear. The shorter piece has the male part of the clip at one end and the adjustment buckle and loop at the other. Fig 1-5. The Sling 1-25. a. b. Fitting. Explain and Demonstrate, the squad imitating: Join the sling together using the male/female clip ensuring that the flat loop and the ridged edge of the gate are the same way up. Take the sling and lay it flat along the weapon ensuring that the female clip end is towards the muzzle and the flat plastic loop pointing outwards. Feed the clear end through the front sling loop (from the muzzle end towards the butt end of the rifle) and then back through the plastic loop on the strap. Then feed the sling under the ridged edge on the gate in the base of the male clip and pull tight (Fig 1-6). AC 71807-C Aug 23 Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only 49 Fig 1-6. Sling Fitting (1) c. Ensuring that the longer strap remains untwisted, then feed the clear end through the rear sling loop on the weapon and pull tight (Fig 1-7). Fig 1-7. Sling Fitting (2) d. Check the shorter strap is not twisted and then feed the clear end of the longer strap outwards through the main gate of the buckle bar. Finally, thread the clear end of the longer strap back through the gate in the buckle (Fig 1-8). Fig 1-8. Sling Fitting (3) 1-26. Removal. Explain and Demonstrate, the squad imitating: To remove the sling, reverse the fitting procedure. 1-27. Confirm by practice, leaving the slings fitted. AC 71807-C Aug 23 Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only 4-10 Carriage 1-28. Explain and Demonstrate, the squad imitating: The sling can be used for front slung carriage or back carriage. a. The Front Slung Carriage (Fig 1-9). To adopt the front slung carriage, separate the two straps and insert the head, right arm and shoulder through the loop formed by the straps. The weapon will now be suspended from the left shoulder and across the chest. The position of the weapon in relation to the chest can be adjusted by pulling downwards on the spare material of the clear end of the longer strap. The rifle can now be moved varying from muzzle upwards to muzzle pointing down or kept parallel to the ground. Fig 1-9. Front Slung Carriage b. Quick Release (Fig 1-10). Operation of the quick release will allow the weapon to be brought rapidly into the Alert from the front slung carriage. AC 71807-C Aug 23 Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only 411 Fig 1-10. Quick Release c. The Back Carriage (Fig 1-11). To adopt the back carriage, re-fasten the quick release and separate the sling to form two loops. Put an arm through each loop to position the rifle, muzzle down, in the centre of the back, cocking handle uppermost. Fig 1-11. Back Carriage 1-29. Confirm by questions and practice, returning to the front slung carriage. The Sights 1-30. The Iron Sight. (Fig 1-12). Explain: The Iron Sight is the sighting system for the Cadet GP Rifle and consists of a foresight block and a carrying handle which incorporates a dual leaf aperture back sight. a. The Foresight. Explain: The foresight consists of a blade which is mounted in the foresight block. At the bottom of the block there is a female dovetail which fits into a matching male dovetail on the top of the gas block. The two are held together by a retaining screw. The foresight is protected on both sides by extensions of the block. The foresight can be adjusted for zeroing by means of the vertical adjustment screw retained by the locking plunger. b. The Back Sight and Carrying Handle. Explain: The backsight is incorporated into a carrying handle which can be fitted to the sight rail by means of matching dovetails. The handle is positioned by a locating stud, which is secured by a retaining screw engaging one of three holes in the sight rail and is secured by two retaining screws. The backsight has two leaf apertures — a small one for ranges up to 300 metres, and a larger one for AC 71807-C Aug 23 Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only 413 Fig 1-12. The Iron Sight 1-31. Removing the Iron Sight. Explain and Demonstrate, the squad imitating: To remove the Iron Sight: a. Fully undo the foresight block retaining screw, using the combination tool (Fig 113). b. Fig 1-13. Removing the Foresight Slide the foresight block off the dovetail and tighten the screw. c. Open the top cover. Loosen the retaining screws and the locating stud on the carrying handle, and then slide the handle forwards and clear of the sight rail (Fig 1-14). d. Close the top cover. AC 71807-C Aug 23 Handling Instructions: For MOD Cadet Forces Use Only 4-14 Fig 1-14. Removing the Carrying Handle 1-32. Fitting the Iron Sight. Explain and Demonstrate, the squad imitating: To fit the Iron Sight: 1-33. a. Loosen the foresight retaining screw fully, using the combination tool. b. Ensure that the locking plunger is facing to the rear and mate the dovetail joints. Check that it is flush front and rear, then tighten the screw; do not over tighten. c. Using the combination tool, loosen the carrying handle retaining screws and undo the locating stud sufficiently for the carrying handle to slide easily along the dovetail on the sight rail. d. Open the top cover and slide the carrying handle rearwards onto the sight rail. Adjust for correct eye relief and tighten the locating stud, ensuring that it has engaged into one of the three holes on the sight rail. Note the hole selected for future reference. Tighten the two retaining screws; do not over tighten. Confirm by questions and practice. Conclusion 1-34. End of Lesson Drill. a. Questions from the squad on the entire lesson. b. Confirm by questions and further practice if time permits. c. Safety Precautions. Normal. d. Pack kit. e. Summary. To include the importance of safe handling. f. A forecast of the squad’s next lesson on this subject. AC 71807-C Aug 23