French Special Forces Disaster

[shakespeare]

The french FAMAS is lever-delay blowback, so it doesn't depend on gas to cycle, therefore doesn't rquire a BFA for operation. However, BFA's are normally fitted to avoid flash burn. As this happened during a hostage rescue display, perhaps BFA's weren't fitted to add realisim? They certainly got that.

[KLOCKAN]

If you don't put the BFA with blanks , you have to reload everytime you shoot ( so that is not realistic at all ) there is not enough power in a blank for an automatic reload with out BFA.

[shakespeare]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakespeare The french FAMAS is lever-delay blowback, so it doesn't depend on gas to cycle, therefore doesn't rquire a BFA for operation. However, BFA's are normally fitted to avoid flash burn. As this happened during a hostage rescue display, perhaps BFA's weren't fitted to add realisim? They certainly got that.

OK, just learnt that he actually fired live rounds with the BFA attached. Unbelievable. The crowd were hit with rounds and disintegrated pieces of the BFA. Definately no promotion to the Swat team for him then.

[shakespeare]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLOCKAN If you shoot live rounds with a BFA on the Famas ,,,, One thing is sure you will only shoot ONE ,, barrel out and breechblock in your FACE . Rudy

Although deeply screwed in, it is still designed to minimise injury should a live round be fired into it. A few people have been killed doing this, but most just suffer injury. The fragments of the BFA that struck the crowd testify that he did indeed fire live rounds with it attached. The BFA would've disintergrated on the first shot. The end of the barrel probably looks like a golf ball now.

[Roadhog]

Have fun explaining that to the armourer when you turn in the rifle...."Nah, it was like that when it was issued...."

Seriously though, why didn't the bloke notice the the "blanks" in one of the mags he was issued had bits sticking out the end?

[shakespeare]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roadhog Have fun explaining that to the armourer when you turn in the rifle...."Nah, it was like that when it was issued...." Seriously though, why didn't the bloke notice the the "blanks" in one of the mags he was issued had bits sticking out the end?

Good question. According to the report, he changed his mag mid execise and this is when it went disasterously wrong. He had left a full mag from when they were on the range earlier in the week in his webbing. Couple of things don't make sense here. Ammo is normally handed back and accounted for at the end of a range day by serving troops, so what was he doing with a full mag in his webbing? Also, surely he would've felt the difference in weight between a blank mag and live mag? Before the exercise he would've checked his kit and mags? When the first round ripped the BFA off, why did he continue to fire? The sight of a golf ball at the end of the barrel, a recoil like an elephant charge as the BFA was blown off, people screaming....Reactions of a turtle? The FAMAS is single, 3 burst and full auto. Looking at the footage it seems he was on full auto, so he either froze with his finger on the trigger, or he unscrewed the BFA to its limit and meant to to it. Their hostage rescue skills are outstanding....if I was ever taken hostage and found out this lot were coming to rescue me, I think I would keep my blindfold on and start the old classic "Our Father, who art in heaven,.....".

[bow6385]

FAMAS when you absolutely, positively have to kill every mother f****r in the room......

[Roadhog]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bow6385 FAMAS when you absolutely, positively have to kill every mother f****r in the room......

"..... accept no substitutes."

But as Shakespeare pointed out live mags should get handed in- or at least they do in the British Army where walking around with live ammo is discouraged. But if they do let blokes just wander off with live mags after the ranges- sort of a keep this one for a rainy day situation- I wonder what else you might see.... blokes going shopping with a tank? Popping round to the girlfriends in a helicopter?
You know I think someone may be telling a few porkpies about this....