ENFIELD XL69E1 LIGHT MACHINE GUN Following the demise of the EM-2 the 7.62 NATO round enjoyed a brief period of popularity until the mid-1960's when many nations began experiments for a smaller caliber cartridge and rifle. Britain was no exception to this and in 1967 tests were started to find a new cartridge and rifle. They already had the 5.56 NATO round available for testing however the British took a different route, by 1972 they had developed their 4.85x44mm load and the XL64E5 rifle to fire it. Owing much to the prior EM-2 in form and the firing systems of both the Armalite AR-18 and the Stoner 63. The XL69E1 was designed to be a light support weapon version of the standard XL64E5 rifle. Changes from the rifle include the addition of a bipod which is fixed to the frame and not capable of being removed. Plans during the period called for the XL69E1 to be dispersed amongst infantry units at a rate of one per three riflemen. However the XL69E1 came to an abrupt halt when the XL70E3 was designed and the L85A1 was adopted.
ENFIELD XL69E1 LIGHT MACHINE GUN
Picture and information courtesy of: PIERANGELO TENDAS
