Useful

**filthyphil** · 08-02-2012, 05:38

Out of interest, and at the risk of starting another SLR thread, how were they allocated and who got them?

**timex** · 08-02-2012, 06:28

IIRC they were issued to everyone with an SLR when the Unit deployed on Op Banner.

**filthyphil** · 08-02-2012, 06:44

Was it up to the individual if they were used?

**timex** · 08-02-2012, 07:10

It was a while ago (81) and the guys had to use them. Some left them off others liked them as they give you a bit of magnification when patrolling.

**OldSnowy** · 08-02-2012, 07:15

Originally Posted by filthyphil

Was it up to the individual if they were used?

What sort of Army do you think it was in the '70s / '80s? There was no mix-n-match then!

If you were issued a SUIT you used it. In the Infantry, at least, there was not really an option, as far as I recall. They were pretty useful, the Tritium provided a decent glow, but the arrow pointing down always seemed odd, and they did not keep their Zero well after being bashed around in LRs, Pigs, people's heads, etc. The spring fitting was not particularly robust, and I was not alone with having it attached via a loose bit of para cord to the rifle stock, just in case...

Personally I preferred the lightly wider foresight blade with a tritium source built-in. Combined with the twin aperture rear sight it made shooting in low light a lot easier, and without the loss of SA you got with the SUIT. SUIT was never intended for use in darkness (that's what the nice little IWS was for) but for use in crepuscular conditions - a word I've never forgotten, and which I try to bring into conversation even now to show how edumacated I am.

**noliveroundsemptycasespr** · 08-02-2012, 07:23

Originally Posted by OldSnowy

What sort of Army do you think it was in the '70s / '80s? There was no mix-n-match then!

If you were issued a SUIT you used it. In the Infantry, at least, there was not really an option, as far as I recall. They were pretty useful, the Tritium provided a decent glow, but the arrow pointing down always seemed odd, and they did not keep their Zero well after being bashed around in LRs, Pigs, people's heads, etc. The spring fitting was not particularly robust, and I was not alone with having it attached via a loose bit of para cord to the rifle stock, just in case...

Personally I preferred the lightly wider foresight blade with a tritium source built-in. Combined with the twin aperture rear sight it made shooting in low light a lot easier, and without the loss of SA you got with the SUIT. SUIT was never intended for use in darkness (that's what the nice little IWS was for) but for use in crepuscular conditions - a word I've never forgotten, and which I try to bring into conversation even now to show how edumacated I am.

My goodness i am impressed, and i think crepuscular should be used more often its a cracker!!!!!!!!

**Nato Standard123** · 08-02-2012, 11:07

Originally Posted by OldSnowy

What sort of Army do you think it was in the '70s / '80s? There was no mix-n-match then!

If you were issued a SUIT you used it. In the Infantry, at least, there was not really an option, as far as I recall. They were pretty useful, the Tritium provided a decent glow, but the arrow pointing down always seemed odd, and they did not keep their Zero well after being bashed around in LRs, Pigs, people's heads, etc. The spring fitting was not particularly robust, and I was not alone with having it attached via a loose bit of para cord to the rifle stock, just in case...

Personally I preferred the lightly wider foresight blade with a tritium source built-in. Combined with the twin aperture rear sight it made shooting in low light a lot easier, and without the loss of SA you got with the SUIT. SUIT was never intended for use in darkness (that's what the nice little IWS was for) but for use in crepuscular conditions - a word I've never forgotten, and which I try to bring into conversation even now to show how edumacated I am.

Must admit that we , RGJ. were all issued with one, It was personal choice whether you used it and was split about 50/50. Some people thought that it slowed you down when snap shooting but the range package at Lydd gave you plenty of practice. I liked it and always used it.

Re the Zeroing. Yep, they were a bit fragile but that's what the Pipe Range was for...check re using para cord to secure the things, just in case.

**ugly** · 08-02-2012, 14:45

In 83 we were issued ours or rather made to zero ours for an Op Banner tour, I hadnt used mine since arriving in Bn and didnt like the one in Training and we generally didnt use them after training on them at IJLB. The Bn ordered everyone to use it but luckily mine was BLR the week we deployed and as a baton gunner I didnt want to lose the sight when the rifle was slung. It meant that I got the IWS but I only took that out once in 4 months.
In essence on Op Banner policy was everyone was issued in Bn and was supposed to use from CO down. I recall a fair few of us didnt.

**AlienFTM** · 08-02-2012, 16:06

Originally Posted by timex

IIRC they were issued to everyone with an SLR when the Unit deployed on Op Banner.

Not the NI Armoured Car Regiment (Omagh). Being cavalry we simply used our inherently better marksmanship skills without relying on newfangled technology.