Ralph Brooker
1st #instrument. A second-hand ‘simple system’ (which is technically harder than the successor #Boehm system) clarinet. Never settled on a comfortable embouchure.
2nd 🎷. A Guban alto saxophone - a licensed Selmer Mk.VI alto copy. Best saxophone I ever had. Superior to the #Selmer #SA80 Super Action 80. I saved
up for one during a tour of Northern Ireland. Bought it cash from Bill Lewington. Took me for a mug until I waved 💷 at him. Later the British Army changed from the #SLR to the SA80!
Dec 27, 2022 at 4:28pmWeb
Show threadRalph BrookerDec 27, 2022
PS. The early version of the #SLR’s successor, the #SA80, was nicknamed ‘the civil servant’ (unkindly to civil servants perhaps): it doesn’t work and you can’t fire it!
Show threadGrumpy SapperDec 27, 2022
@RalphBrooker The A3 & it's varients are a lot better weapon, the A1 was a problem child, though, lol.
Show threadRalph BrookerDec 27, 2022
@nidgethompson I heard that the British Army will return to a seriously upgraded 7.62mm SLR. I never toured NI with an A1 SA80. Patrol commanders were still using AR15s which had been exclusive to COP/COT in 1982.
Show threadGrumpy SapperDec 27, 2022
@RalphBrooker Yes mate, the sharp shooter rifle. Only certain members of a section are issued it, though.
Show threadRalph BrookerDec 27, 2022
@nidgethompson They’ll be queuing for a slice of that Nidge!
Show threadGrumpy SapperDec 27, 2022
@RalphBrooker This is it, Ralph.
Show threadRalph BrookerDec 28, 2022
@nidgethompson This is the one I saw. Article raises questions whether modern soldier can handle the kick of the old 7.62 round. Hated 5.56.
Show threadGrumpy SapperDec 28, 2022
@RalphBrooker It's my understanding you have to pass the marksmanship scores to be in a chance of firing this. They still have Gimpy so they know the kick of 7.62.
Show threadRalph BrookerDec 28, 2022
@nidgethompson Gimpy had less of lick imho. But the lads adapted from .303. The AR15: you heard rather than felt. The sound of the recoil spring in the butt.
Show threadRalph BrookerDec 28, 2022
Less of a kick because on bipod legs unless you’d gone all Rambo which in my opinion was worth 28 days in the guardroom.