3 Commando Brigade

Interesting vid. I didn't realise this weapon was so widely used - let alone comparable to the AKs/M16s!

"The Bitch"

During the Vietnam war the Australians and the New Zealanders both deployed forces in country to support US combat operations. The ANZAC (Australia New Zealand Army Corps ) forces included a full squadron of the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR).

Upon deployment, the SAS Troopers were armed with L1A1s manufactured by the RSAF at Lithgow which is comparable in size to the US Rifle M14 and not well suited to jungle operations. To overcome this, these rifles were field modified, often from heavy barrelled L2A1 automatic rifles, with their barrels chopped off immediately in front of the gas block, and often with the L2A1 bipods removed and a XM148 40 mm grenade launcher mounted below the barrel. The XM148 40 mm grenade launchers were obtained from U.S. forces. For the L1A1, the lack of fully-automatic fire resulted in the unofficial conversion of the L1A1 to full-auto capability by simple filing of the selector, or by inserting a 'foreign body' to block the sear.

They would typically be equipped with 30-round magazines, either the straight version specifically made for the L2A1, or the slightly curved on used on the L4 Bren conversion. (As this mag was designed to feed downwards it often had an extra spring inserted to help feed upwards properly).

The barrels were chopped to make handling in the bush easier, and to increase the sound and flash signature when the weapon was fired. When a contact was initiated, the typical SASR 5-man patrol would lay down massive amounts of fire, the sound and flash of the chopped barrels adding to the 'shock and awe' effect, disorienting the VC or NVA and giving them the impression that they were in contact with a much larger force.

To the Troopers this modified L1A1 was simply called "The Bitch".

(Picture of Australian Special Air Service Troopers in Vietnam)