One point that you might be able to clarify.  The information says that both the bodies (we call them receivers) of the L85 and L86 were modified by H&K.  Did H&K modify the existing bodies made by Royal Ordnance or did H&K make new, replacement ones for the L85A2 and L86A2?  If H&K replaced the bodies with new ones, that's the most damning indictment yet of this arm for the forces.

 

[For the life of me, I cannot understand how it has taken so bloody long to get all the bugs out of this design.  The amount of time, effort, and money spent is just mind-numbing.  I cannot but imagine the effect all this screwing about has had on the forces who have had to use the equipment during both peace and war since the first arms were adopted.]

 

Have you gotten any in-service comments on the Minimi (L108A1 and L110A1)?  Some of our users (we call them the M249 here) have been less than pleased the way these guns have performed during Gulf Wars 1 and 2 and in Afghanistan.