Steyr AUGs of the Falkland Islands Defense Force

[@SavageShooter93]

Its so cool to see Ian flying all over the world to look at interesting gun collections in private hands, military museums and even law enforcement collections all by invitation. I remember when Forgotten Weapons was a tiny little channel basically run out of Morphys or Rock Island auction houses and now Ian is a world renown firearms historian. He deserves every bit of his success.

[@scottyelder8351]

He has become Gun Jesus ! No higher award exists lol 😂

[@moosesnWoop]

yeah!

[@amazoniancustodian]

the idea of a bayonet on a bulpup is hilarious. every inch counts i guess 😂

[@MilStdNZ]

And author don't forget that accolade!

[@Tallus_ap_Mordren]

British Armorer: AUGs you have are outdated. Here’s a an L85A2, you’re welcome! FIDF volunteer: Is this all you have? I’m left-handed, left-eye dominant. British Armorer: No, you’re not. FIDF Volunteer: But- British Armorer: No, you… are… not.

[@Aren-1997]

As capable as modern L85A2s are with the propper training, that's still a massive downgrade for them haha.

[@TeeDubzz]

Falklands should have just bought F-88's off Australia

[@carterjones8126]

All British men are right-handed from birth. Factory settings innit.

[@TheWalterHWhite]

Can we just appreciate how Gun Jesus keeps cranking videos out on the daily and he never advertises or has gaudy promotions. He jumps straight into the content and doesn't waste your time. This is what youtube was meant to be.

[@nou-oo2ij]

Except for the Scottish souvenir plots scam...

[@Verdha603]

And except for the “Get Entered to Win” ads too.

[@maxaslagolis]

@@nou-oo2ij Was only a scam if you were a moron. Anyone with more than 9 braincells understood what they were buying was a silly novelty,

[@L5GUK]

​@@Verdha603 Or the push to his alternative publishing mediums.

[@levanpkh6882]

word

[@SteamgeezerGaming]

I remember being at a big international military shooting competition at Bisley years ago (early '90s maybe?) and meeting some guys from Oman who indeed had the AUG with SUSATs fitted. We were all impressed with the front pistol grip which made the rifle rock solid in the offhand position. They were also issued with umbrellas (to provide shade in the desert) and had actual, proper umbrella pouches on their webbing, which we found much more interesting... 🙂

[@leinadj12ify]

I competed at Bisley (Army Reserve team) in 2007 and chatted with the Omanis (pink DPM!) and FIDF, played with the SUSAT fitted AUGS. Pretty neat rifles.

[@martinwinther6013]

The AUG was revolutionary in a time when scopes wasnt the standard. A great platform that unfortunately aged like milk

[@stuartstratford9543]

umbrellas are great for hiding your heat signature ...

[@alltat]

@@stuartstratford9543 Umbrellas are great for morale too. The biggest challenge would be finding umbrellas that are rugged enough without costing a small fortune each.

[@MikeBobby-l7o]

@@martinwinther6013 Aged like milk? AUG has newer gens with modular rails.

[@SteveDonaldson-r5k]

As an amusing aside, when I was there in '89 we were on patrol and decided to bimble over to the police station and say hello. When we got there it turned out to be the jail as well; there were five cells all occupied (a mixture of islanders in for incest and a couple of Chilean mariners in for murder on a fishing trawler). The police were all out at work and one of the prisoners had been left in charge! We had a cuppa and a chat. The guy in charge explained that there wasn't much risk of escape because there's nowhere to escape to!

[@AshleyPomeroy]

There was a fascinating case in 1980 where a Royal Marine vanished on the islands - Alan Addis. He was helping train some local defence volunteers, and there's still controversy over whether he got lost on his way to the lodgings or was murdered.

[@AntonAdelson]

"islanders in for incest" I'm guessing they're indigenous people? Why would they go to jail for incest? I'm sorry I've just never heard of anyone going to jail for incest so I'm curious! Thanks!

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Sounds like," The Andy Griffith Show: South Atlantic edition? "

[@dotdashdotdash]

In(cest was common in the UK up to the end of World War 2, mostly in villages where roads were bad and people didn't own a car or even a horse and trap. Circumstances like those can make your brother or sister somewhat attractive. One small town 2 miles from me had a dna survey done by a Danish university looking for prehistoric DNA and they found 25% of the 2000 people sampled were inbred by cousin or sibling inbreeding)

[@RollerCoasterLineProductions]

Sounds like a white dudes for Biden Harris get together

[@ChrisStudham]

I served in the Sultanate of Oman, I was there for the change over from FN SLR to Steyr AUG with the telescope in the carry handle, it was great and the nickname of the reticle "doughnut of death" was accurate., it was difficult to miss a man-size target at 300 yards.

[@red_star_MN]

In a similar vein, Irish Army AUGs have an "Automatic Lock Out" button on the underside of the trigger, that when extended (default position) prevents the full travel back to auto fire position. This was implemented as when the AUG was introduced back in the 1980s the Irish Army did alot of cash escort duties, where an armoured car would be delivering large amount of paper money to banks every week so they could cash workers pay cheques on a Friday, and the soldiers would act as deterrent to the I.R.A. attempting an armed robbery. The Irish government was worried that if a robbery attempt was made the soldiers might pull the trigger too hard under stress and spray an urban area with automatic gunfire !

[@PiYodTong]

Ireland was a SS (poop show) for most of the last hundred years. The English calling it "the Troubles" seems disingenuous.

[@justindunlap1235]

That's actually a great way to implement a fire control on a pre-built system .

[@goldiefish72]

Australian F88s also have the Automatic Lock Out.

[@Mugdorna]

I grew up in a Border town. Many mornings opened my front door (we lived next door to the bank) and had to ask the trooper to move aside so I could go to school/the shop.

[@ryand2939]

"...armoured car would be delivering large amount of paper money to banks every week so they could cash workers pay cheques on a Friday, and the soldiers would act as deterrent to the I.R.A. attempting an armed robbery." Yeah that would have won them the love and support of the working class I am sure.

[@RAFFIZUMZ]

The AUG as the locally made EF88 is still going strong in Australia.

[@scottborham2838]

Loved the F88 when I was in and the F89

[@jeppejensen2684]

EF88 look sexy

[@jamesm3268]

​@@scottborham2838no one liked the f89 please be honest. It was a jam central. The gun on the other hand was great.

[@haley746]

And the upgraded F90 is kinda cool too

[@GigAnonymous]

Funnily enough, the F90 is a Austrian design, licensed to a French company, for production in Australia.

[@ruairiobradaigh9810]

I was one of the first recruit platoons in the Irish army to be trained with the steyr ,we started with the fn,loved the styer year was 1988

[@scottborham2838]

Used the F88 in the Australian Army back in early 2000's. It has its haters but I loved it. Haven't seen the 3 position selector before very interesting. We had a pull down switch on the bottom of the trigger for single fire which stopped the trigger being pulled all the way back for full auto. When Australia sent troops to Somalia in 19992 the Somalians referred to the Steyr as the rifle that never misses. Would have loved to fired the LSW version but Australia uses the F89 Minimi as a LSW. Great video as always.

[@bosknight7837]

As someone who uses it in the Austrian army,it’s just genuinely one of the best conscript rifles out there. Just a great gun overall,and the modernized A1 Mod rifles are pretty dope too

[@petesjk]

Minimi is probably better as a LSW, though heavier.

[@kiwigrunt330]

We had the three-position selector.

[@Cyan_Nightingale]

AUG/F88 was also excellent during the action in Timor & Afghanistan. In Timor particularly, Australian soldiers were checking from house to house. Bullpup was excellent for CQB, while maintaining long barrel for long range engagement situation.

[@mirandahotspring4019]

Across the ditch in NZ we had the three position selector on ours, and most of them were from Lithgow, Australia. Gave you safe, semi, and choice, as we called it. Choice still used trigger control to fire semi or full auto. Agree with you, I loved them as well. We had a tiny cross hair inside the donut. It was a hard rifle to miss with!

[@chopper7352]

It is my understanding that the Original Standard Steyr AUG had a 1.5 X Optic (not 3 X). The carbine rig Ian is using for his demo is the very same rig in Australian service (F-88C) that I used as an Aussie Trooper in the Light Horse / Cavalry.

[@VoiDukkha]

indeed, the original (Austrian) is 1.5X optic. that's what i thought from 4:34 when Ian talks about effective range; with 1.5 X you aren't going to hit anything past 300 meters

[@rotj4587]

​@@VoiDukkha Hitting 300 with the 1.5 is fine, the round lands at the same point of aim at 100, 10mm rise at 200 At the time I received instruction, effective individual fire to 400, effective section fire to 500

[@arumatai]

@@VoiDukkha In my experience out to 500 meters with a full length barrel AUG is very doable with the 1.5 optic (with the donut + crosshair reticle that is), but obviously a 1-8 optic is much preferable at those ranges, especially in real world applications where target identification and discrimination is one of the most significant issues.

[@MumblingNoob]

yes the built in one was.

[@Truthbomb918]

​@@VoiDukkhaor see anything beyond it to hit

[@tasman006]

Australia have had them since the late 80s and upgraded them to the. The F88 Austeyr was replaced by the Enhanced F88 (EF88) Austeyr in 2016, but some units still use the F88

[@matthewrikihana6818]

I used the Styer in the mid 90's NZ Army, and I loved it. I find My muscle memory of field stripping my rifle good for occupying my hands and boredom during boring meetings.

[@tomlong8472]

Refilling imaginary mags is good for that to

[@mirandahotspring4019]

Ex RNZAMC myself and loved the Steyr, who were you with?

[@tribalismsucks7784]

I carried an AUG while working as a Customs Special Agent. I loved it. I was even lied to when they took it away from me. I was told it was being sent to be inspected and then they handed me an M4. I was not happy. I loved that AUG.

[@bulukacarlos4751]

Argentinian here. Excellent video 1- At 5:43 you say that the telescopic sights are 3x, I understand that they are 1.5x. 2- Curious fact: in 82 Argentina took at least 2 AUG to the conflict, one for members of the special forces and another for the head of General Menendez's custody. Edit: I had forgotten to mention that the first AUGs that arrived in Argentina did so as a "supply weapon"(*) with the SK-105 Kürasier armored vehicles. (*) I don't know what the correct word is in English for the small weapons that accompany a large weapons system like a tank or a ship. Greetings from Patagonia Argentina.

[@seanherrmann6301]

AUG scopes are offered in both 1.5x and 3x

[@bulukacarlos4751]

@@seanherrmann6301 Thanks

[@TheOz91]

Malaysia fielded AUGs at about the same time as the Aussies and Kiwis, and this included the technical data package and license to manufacture locally. However, issues with quality control was the last straw in dropping the AUG by the 2000s and Malaysia never got the A2 ane A3 variants. They did eye the XM8 as the replacement but when the US did not adopt it, they switched to the M4A1 plus a license from Colt to produce it locally. Still, plenty of AUGs still in service until the 2010s. And the adoption of the M4 made sense considering Malaysia's long history with the M16, starting with the Model 601/Armalite AR-15. Additionally, Malaysia is weird in that while the AUG was a mainline service rifle, recruits were trained on M16A1s and still do to this day. This meant that they had to do additional training by the time they got to their units.

[@Pakiu1306]

Yup. It’s a real shame. We could’ve got the updated ones. The M4 carbine that came afterwards did it’s job especially during the 2013 Lahad Datu standoff so there’s that

[@TheOz91]

@Pakiu1306 The real issue, I heard, was the polymer mix used for the receivers and components; recall that the AUG has a polymer hammer. The M4 and other CAR-15 type carbines (Colt Model 653 and others) have served the Malaysia Army quite well, so the transition to the M4A1 is a no brainer. But yeah, the A2 and the A3 could have served quite well especially the ability for mounting optics.

[@gansior4744]

I got a Malysian AUG. Amazingly shooting rifle, although casting does remind me it's a old rifle

[@forgamerd7575]

They still adopted the XM8 just for the PASKAL unit.

[@finnl6887]

Were the QC issues with imported AUGs, locally produced ones, or both?

[@creanero]

I imagine they're pretty happy to keep the Steyrs in reserve given what happened to their frontline rifles last time. Switching from an L85 to an AUG is a lot better than switching from an SLR to a Lee-Enfield.

[@K__a__M__I]

It's also faster than reloading.

[@LtCWest]

@@K__a__M__I Ah, a classic meme ^^

[@georgesedov7973]

Taiga is actually a thick boreal forest. What you probably meant was "tundra".

[@DEATH-THE-GOAT]

Heathland and moorland. These wild, open landscapes stretch over large areas. In Sweden we call the Heathland and moorland _"Hed"_ and _"Mo",_ and the area beyond the tree growing line, _"Kalfjäll"_ (Bare Mountains)

[@zoutewand]

​​@@DEATH-THE-GOAT fjall sounds a lot like the Dutch word heuvel (hill), does the fjall have a sort of eh/ah/uh vowel at the beginning when spoken? Kall reads exactly like the Dutch word for bald/bare, kaal

[@MercatorProjections]

The vegetation of the Falkland Islands is not classified as tundra but rather as temperate grassland and heathland.

[@zoutewand]

​@@DEATH-THE-GOAT also the Dutch word for heathland is just heide which also nicely translates to hed. Cool stuff

[@queuedjar4578]

Thanks for tuning into Forgotten Biomes

[@Nerfhalo1]

Of course the MOD would be pissed that they chose the AUG. It’s the gun equivalent of going to your favorite seafood restaurant with a buddy, getting the fish while they get the steak, and you get food poisoning.

[@esbenm6544]

Well they had already given tens of thousands British troops diarrhea at that point, they must have seen seen the bad reviews.

[@mrkeogh]

"Adopt this marvel of Enfield engineering won't you, lads?" "No thanks, we've been invaded already so we'll adopt something that actually works. Don't want to give the Argies any more ideas..."

[@colbunkmust]

@@mrkeogh interestingly, the Argentinian paratroopers use AUGs as well.

[@Nerfhalo1]

@@esbenm6544 Oh definitely. Ian's video on the L85A1 talked about how MOD tried to hide all that diarrhea.

[@harryspeakup8452]

@@colbunkmust Evocative of both sides using variations on the FAL during the 1982 events

[@TheDennys21]

In my humble opinion, this is the coolest looking rifle ever made.

[@johnvanzoest4532]

The Argentines have the AUG as well. Maybe the FIDF were counting on capturing a few more...

[@tangouniformcharly]

Asi es, vinieron de dotacionben los tanques, y se los pasaron a los comandos, tambien teniamos ar15. Pero a mi entender, en el terreno de Malvinas, fueron mas efectivos los fal. Saludos desde Argentina

[@causewaykayak]

Good to see more of the Falklands trip. A commercial request: Any chance the FW team could post a link to the Varusteleka smock top recommended by Les from 'Logistics' It looks ideal for many day out here in Ireland. Thanks in anticipation.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

It's this: www.varusteleka.com/en/product/sarma-tst-l3-wind-anorak/62498

[@causewaykayak]

Many Thanks FW.

[@Mugdorna]

What, our balmy tropical paradise?

[@bebopwing1]

"you suck and we hate you" -HK sales rep, probably

[@col.strayga1389]

Came here just to say that.

[@davidoldboy5425]

Their stupid loss

[@philllax1719]

Its a money laundering scheme, they're not actually interested in selling guns

[@t4nkychannel921]

HK: "Have you committed war crimes?" Falklands: "No." HK: "Are you a criminal syndicate?" Falklands: "No, we're a legitimate government." HK: "Do you have a history of human rights abuse?" Falklands: "Amnesty put us in their in two different articles, but they didn't talk about us." HK: "I'm sorry, but you are not the kind of client we wish to work with."

[@ivanvoronov3871]

awesome to see falklands content

[@tda2806]

Just a gentle chide, Stanley is actually a city, it received it's letters patent granting city status in 2022.

[@ryand2939]

There are "cities" in Florida that are smaller than Stanley all over the place. The meaning of the word has been lost.

[@tda2806]

@@ryand2939 I assume that you are a citizen of the USA and you are correct, for you the use of the term city has little or no meaning. In the UK and its dependencies city status prodigious and highly prized, very few new cities have been created in the millennia that the Kingdom has existed, there are just 76 cities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireleand with 5 more in Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. Stanley or Port Stanley is honoured to have city status and this honour should be respected

[@私にはリアルすぎる]

As an Argie myself this video is a gem in a already precious channel, thx so much!!!

[@claff9732]

Really cool story. I had no idea the FIDF used the Steyr. And you showcased the LMG barrel. I was 22 years in the Irish Army and even worked as an armourer at one point in my career and I never laid my eyes on the mythical LMG barrels. Carbine barrels yes, but never the LMG barrel or their 42 round magazines. Thanks Ian. Also just on a point Steyr have now developed bullet stop BFA's in recent years. They were adopted by the Irish Defence Forces in the last 2 years. I think they will stop 3 live rounds.

[@jameslawson3876]

The AUGs in Australian service used a 'single shot lockout button', which was a small metal button on the base of the trigger which you could pull down to keep the rifle on semi-auto as it physically stopped the trigger from being depressed further back to the full auto position. The safety catch remained the same with the two positions. I had never seen that three position catch before and assumed the lockout buttons were standard, but evidently not. Fabulous rifle and as others have commented, even more lethal as the EF88 update. (Still miss my SLR, however)

[@kiwigrunt330]

We had the three-position safety.

[@SnoopReddogg]

Only jubes and pogues used the lock out button.

[@peterschechter1110]

Interesting stuff. It seems a bit similar to MOD's general dissatisfaction with the Royal Bermuda Regiment's use of commercial off-the-BassPro-shelf Ruger Mini 14/20GB rifles from 1983 (which had their wood stocks replaced by commercial Choate black polymer stocks in 1994. After more than one less-than-favorable readiness review, MOD simply gave the RBR its needed requirements of L85A2 rifles; the changeover was completed in 2015. An actual Mini 14 with the Bermuda crest is one of gun collecting's holy grails, in my view. I've read that ALL of the Rugers were destroyed, but it was rumored that one of the Regiment's armorers might have spirited away a couple of them for posterity's sake. Oh to be the lucky guy to find one of those mystery guns, if indeed they do actually exist.

[@HellbirdIV]

If I had a nickel for every time an English-speaking island with a complex historical relationship to Britain adopted the Steyr AUG, I'd have four nickels, which isn't a whole lot but it's weird that it's happened 4 times.

[@Broeils]

Maybe the L85 is just that bad 😂

[@jayr2634]

Do you have a fedora'd platypus problem too?

[@mrkeogh]

Yeah, weird isn't it? Imagine the sheer joy of the procurement officers in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand who got to phone up the old colonial masters and tell them their new service rifle was absolute dogshit 😄

[@spudgamer6049]

If what Ian was saying about Steyr's willingness to accommodate even smaller orders is true, maybe it isn't so weird, especially considering the situation with the British service rifle of that era.

[@Rb889]

@@mrkeogh Half the reason the Irish adopted the AUG was purely to thumb their noses at the British. The Falklands seem to have done the same.

[@DonaldRay666]

The built in optic on the AUG is a Swarovski with 1.5. magnification

[@theltlexay]

Still in use in a picatinny form in Australia, bc they're (relatively compared to Elcan Spectres etc) cheap and we have a lot of them left over from our F88 SA1, SA2 and F89s.

[@Goc4ever]

The FIDF was very kind to give you access to their Steyr AUG so that you can show it to us. It's fantastic knowing that you are travelling worldwide to provide us with high-quality content and for that i thank you.

[@_f355]

5:14 "tundra" is the word you were looking for, "taiga" is a very dense forest.

[@DEATH-THE-GOAT]

I dunno. Heathland and moorland, seems more proper name.

[@buggerybop]

Love the steyr. Absolutely hated the fact that as a left handed guy in the Irish army they wouldn't make the simple adjustment to let me shoot left handed

[@avengermkii7872]

Steyr AUGs will always be my favorite rifle. It looks amazing and I don't know why similar bullpups are like them.

[@thomasosildenif763]

Ian ,you are the man.. amazing that you get all these invites. I would suggest it’s due to your amazing attitude and care with these systems.. Down a rabbit hole watching all your old videos. I love your shot show videos they are epic. the truth hurts to some of these guys. Keep up the content love this stuff.

[@beefycheesecake]

Ireland has been using the AUG for decades and never had an issue with them.

[@DrFod]

I'm sure they've never had a malfunction with the five rounds a year they put through them.

[@vh1775]

Have they used them in Anger yet?

[@paulhennessy5627]

Frequently, actually.

[@operatorhoot470]

And our military is ALWAYS on the tightest of budgets.

[@itsanofromme6099]

​@@DrFod ask us here in Australia how we like them, a lot of my mates that have served love the AUG/EF88 and have never had any issues with them

[@lycossurfer8851]

Last time I was this early von Spee was looking at the islands.

[@sirjacobthe8]

Ian, I have always really been fascinated by the Falkland Islands war and the FIDF. Thanks for showing this. Max Hastings has a great book about the Falklands war if you’re interested.

[@milomindabinda8115]

Geek fact, but the NZDF version of the A1 AUG also used the 3 position cross bolt safety, with the donut with fine cross hairs reticle. A great service weapon, I remember it fondly. Incidentally I also used the L85A1 extensively in the late 90’s and wasn’t a fan…

[@skyd8726]

The NZDF rifles started out with a long list of faults, akin to the L85 fiasco. Luckily these were fixed quickly, but I remember it taking a while to find out that the UV rays were damaging the plastics - also fixed later on.

[@mirandahotspring4019]

I was in the RNZAMC and we were one of the first units to get the Steyr. Great rifles! Who were you with?

[@skyd8726]

@@mirandahotspring4019 RNZN.

[@milomindabinda8115]

@ RNZIR then UK Para. My Steyr at WTD was an actual Austrian build from memory, then unit issued AU build early production versions with some manufacturing niggles. Overall an excellent weapon and I had no complaints.

[@mirandahotspring4019]

@@milomindabinda8115 OK, I got to fire one of the two original Austrian Steyrs at WTDF, they had ordered them for trials I believe. That would have been late 70s I think, or very early 80s. We got them issued in the medics in 1988. I also went through PTSU in Whenuapai so you could say I was a Kiwi para. 😇

[@frcrr]

"Taiga" is the cold climate forest, usually coniferous. Cold steppes should probably be called tundras?

[@sputnikkvlm4000]

You are 100% correct Sir!

[@WolfoftheWoods02]

The AUG is the better Bullpup rifle in comparison to the L85A1/A2...and likely the A3 as well. So the MOD being miffed with the Falklanders using a better rifle than their own troops was likely a sore point for a long time.

[@alexithymia6288]

I have the AUG A3 M1 (civilian model) here in the US, and it's a blast. Even picked up the new .300BLK barrel for it, just a quick barrel and mag swap and you go from 5.56 supersonic to .300BLK subsonic with a suppressor. Definitely the coolest setup I own. Sad that it doesn't have the progressive full-auto, but I have the parts on standby for conversion when I get the licensing to do so.

[@seanbertrand5289]

Crazy. I was just watching some stuff about the defense forces different service rifles. Should do one on the Bermuda mini 14

[@bigpoppa1234]

"I'm here in the maldives checking out the Maldives National Defence Force and their G3A3 and Type 56 rifles."

[@peterstadlmaier3107]

There already was one.

[@seanbertrand5289]

@@peterstadlmaier3107 sweet, appreciate it

[@dogsnads5634]

@@seanbertrand5289 Believe Block on the Range also did one.

[@ElChris816]

I'm enjoying this series FW is doing concerning the 1982 war in the Falkland Islands. Great video.

[@tj006smith6]

The 3 position safety catch is the same one the New Zealand Defence Force Steyr's had. The 3 position safety and "Doughnut" reticle with an internal cross hair (vs external) were two of the main differences between the Australian (F88) and New Zealand (IW) versions of the rifle. The NZDF initially received Austrian produced Steyrs until the Australian ADI (now THALES) production lines were set up and the QC was sorted out. The Austrian made rifles or more importantly the butt stocks on them were preferred by some here as the pistol grip was better shaped and not as chunky as the Aussie made ones.

[@redcat9436]

Malaysia used the three position safety on their AUG's as well.

[@pdalia]

Why I’m not surprised that HK wasn’t helpful at all, it’s like SOP for them. Nice choice and maybe one of the few coincidences with the Argie neighbors who have been using them in limited numbers since the 70’s. It’s a superb flawless assault rifle.

[@taff1538]

Wonderfully informed video Ian. Top man

[@howardmaryon]

Your recent foray into Falklands lore of course included the British soldiers affection for the “SLR”, and predictably no British veteran would endorse the incredible debacle of the SA80.

[@SldgeHammr]

Ian is rocking the Marathin GSAR - Artic Edition. Fitting for how close he is to Antartica

[@zeb3144]

Always liked the AUG. Futuristic looking rifle.

[@markunger1098]

Interesting video. I don’t blame the FIDF for going for this weapon. L85/SA80s weren’t that great. I didn’t have to use them as much as other parts of the Forces but every time we did training with them the instructors would tell us about the many shortcomings. When you cocked a 1st generation SA80 you had to do a forward assist (making sure the cocking handle went fully forward using your thumb) because you couldn’t rely on the springs.

[@legoholic]

Small correction; The Elcan on that looks to be a SpecterOS3.4x (the C79/C79A1 setup rather than the M145). It would be a 3.4x magnification, not a 4x.

[@cedhome7945]

I went to a airshow in Bournemouth and the royal marine commandos had a static display with Lewis machine 7.62 rifles also they had knights armament 5.56 and sig 5.56. Unfortunately the Sargent on the stand didn't know much about them and wasn't sure which ones where for test purpose or what was going to be adopted. Sorry I couldn't see what model the sig was but very interesting either way.... 🇬🇧🇺🇲👍

[@AkioHabana]

I never knew that an AUG could mount a bayonet, how badass!

[@Reawer]

bruh you can mount a blade on anything

[@jhnshep]

When I was issued one, the scabbard had a metal blade so you could use it with the bayonet as wire cutters.

[@xt301]

nowaday we have military rifles that is without bayonet mount like F2000 or XM7 but AUG is designed in last century

[@DefunctYompelvert]

it can use the standard M16/M4 bayonet also

[@isaacfreeman8860]

The glock field knife was the first bayonet. Its plugged

[@DoomyMacDoomface]

One other country that also historically followed the UK in armaments procurement, yet replaced their FALs with the AUG: the Republic of Ireland.

[@michaelmulligan0]

Correct but U.K. didn’t use FAL (they used SLR (only capable of semi automatic))

[@himo3973]

@@michaelmulligan0 also the SLR was manufactured to imperial measurement not metric as is the FN FAL

[@andrewcombe8907]

Ian that bayonet with a rib spreader and wire cutter at the end of the AUG rifle is absolutely wicked.

[@xgford94]

0:43 “ with bullpup rifles that WORKED “😂😂 0:43

[@AndrewMychalus]

A cynical part of me wants to say the British really wanted the FIDF to be armed with double shotguns limited to nothing more dangerous than #4 birdshot, because well.... Glad to see the local defense forces were given the authority to choose their own arm and apparently choose well.

[@OxhornLimeworksLtd-ik8qu]

This is really interesting. I'm British and had no idea the Falklanders had so much autonomy.

[@mikemac7133]

Lithgow has produced a bullet trap for the Australian version of the Steyr AUG since 2010. Issues about the best new rifle for Australia to replace the current EF88 version aside, the British concern about bullet traps sounds like a bit of a quibble. It would be interesting to hear what problems the FIDF experienced with the AUG in service since Steyr seems to have provided good support and Australia and New Zealand would have been in a good position to provide informal assistance.

[@evenjohansen4584]

I was looking away at 9:21, and I had to do a double take to see if there was some loose animal or something in the room!

[@RollerCoasterLineProductions]

Took me 3 replays to discover metal on metal sounds

[@madbrowndog4887]

As an ex-RAAF member, it was interesting to watch this review. I enlisted when the L1A1 SLR was still in use for recruit training. Being right handed but only able to wink the right eye meant that I had to shoot as a lefty to qualify (barely). Later, as an Aircraft Technician, with the AusSteyr I only had to do annual shoots to remain current. But I found I could shoot right handed, with both eyes open using what you call the donut of death. My accuracy improved immensely. I don't like the idea of that double detent safety switch on the AUG. Ours had a separate lockout button on the trigger which, when pulled out prevented the trigger from engaging full auto. During shoots at the range, the range master would require all troops to check that the lockout button was in the out position. On one occasion, I noted that he had omitted that instruction. I checked mine anyway. First firing detail on the mound got the command to fire, and one shooter (actually my Flight Sergeant) loosed off a whole mag. Range Master called Stop Stop Stop and started hurling abuse at the FSGT. Range Master claimed he had called out that inspection, FSGT maintained he had not. Myself and others backed up the FSGT, and a couple of others checked and found their weapons were also on full auto. Range Master ate some humble pie. Later, back in the Hangar, the FSGT admitted that he had been waiting years for that opportunity and wasn't going to pass it up!

[@alliwantisfinancialstabili7414]

According to Wikipedia, FIDF has two permanent members, with two rotating batches of reservists, 100 personnel in each batch. That is an incredibly tiny command structure.

[@SnoopReddogg]

Official rank designation for the two full time members are: Martin from down the road, and, Stephen the butcher at Port Stanley

[@brucewilliams6292]

Ian, taking us to places and meeting people we didn't know exists! Thanks

[@Craig-u6j]

i am sure Guns and Ammo or Gun Mart magazines did a fairly damming compare and contrast during the procurement process, and pointed out the basic stuff about the AUG, which was already a mature design, such as inverting the bolt to make it Ian handed, ease of swapping barrels, lack of things to rust, barrel length interoperability, and sight choices. All in all a better choice over the A1.

[@derrenjesson8923]

Love your videos, thanks Ian.

[@riccicrozzie8204]

Australia too also switched from the SLR to the Steyr.

[@servicerifle16]

Replacing the AUG with the L85 is quite the downgrade, imagine being lefthanded too.

[@Panzermech]

I haven't seen night vision that old since Soldier of Fortune magazine was in print.

[@whatcanilearnhere9158]

5:15 taiga is a cold, subarctic forest biome that stretches across the Northern Hemisphere, spanning parts of Asia, Europe, and North America

[@Eddy-xh5mz]

Probably is called Steppe, same as the eastern patagonia

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Yeah, steppe is what I was thinking of and should have said.

[@alekseykuleshov111]

As I heard Ian, I thought he mistake taiga for tundra. Taiga is actually a lot of forest, while tundra is more like small plants on earth and open spaces. Which looks much more like islands. Not sure what biome is exactly right for this location though.

[@stremmify]

I know it is also wrong, but Falklands look more tundra than taiga

[@tturi2]

I think he meant mammoth steppe

[@DEATH-THE-GOAT]

Heathland and moorland are wild, open landscapes stretch over large areas. In Sweden we call them *"Hed"* or *"Mo",* and above the tree growing line, *"Kalfjäll";* bare mountain

[@HamSandwich277]

@7:48 I remember the first time I fired an AUG nobody told me about the two-stage trigger. I got quite a surprise when I followed through with my trigger pull after my one intended single shot. 😬

[@austenpowers]

Always enjoy your content Ian, cheers 🫡🍻🦾

[@Cantab-ml6pw]

I'm not military (but I've had the great honour to work alongside many military people, serving and ex-) and for reasons too tedious to go into I was for a time in charge of a Thales small arms simulator - including having to maintain the adapted rifles used, which were CAR-15, L85A1 and Steyr AUG. I always, always preferred shooting with the Steyr. For some reason or another (probably due to the lack of a cartridge to make contact with), we got through firing pins like nobody's business on all 3 rifle types, but when it came to replacing these and generally maintaining the weapons, again the Steyr came out ahead; so easy. This was at a time when the soldiers I was working with had the L85A1 and hated it (but not as much as being told by politicians that it was "world beating"). They were jealous even using these part-deactivated weapons. The FIDF chose well.

[@garavin]

Thanks for this review, Ian. After the FAMAS, the AUG is my favorite bullpup (esp. the F90 version produced by Thales)

[@turbogerbil2935]

British overseas territories have their local defence forces and police funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which is why they do not automatically get issued with British Army firearms and equipment funded by the Ministry of Defence. Different ministries, different budgets.

[@davedavids57]

The Falkland Islands don't actually receive anything from the FCO for the FIDF they are wealthy enough with fishing rights not to have to. Similar to Bermuda and Gibraltar who don't receive funding for their forces either.

[@SnoopReddogg]

Ditto with Bermuda and their AC Rugers.

[@brockshields9336]

Those were some well worn AUGs. 30 yrs old and still a thing of beauty.

[@AdderallAdvocate]

Always one of my top bucket list firearms to own honestly it's the only realistically feasible to obtain because a ppsh and/or a Dragunov are my top three so the steyr Aug A1 I believe is the semi auto civi model thank you for the video always come away from your channel with some new knowledge

[@hankskorpio5857]

Ian and morning coffee. 🌄 Great combo

[@mare2971]

Another time zone, same procedure. I just finished my shift...

[@tyreni]

Hadn't noticed, but you're right. It's routine!

[@MrBrewsk]

Love your videos for the history. Wish you all the best.

[@paidwitness797]

My uncle had a Steyr AUG back in the late 80s, no idea how as we live in UK. While he did have a firearms dealer licence im pretty sure as he kept it behind the fireplace rather than in his gun room it was very suspect!

[@liammeech3702]

up until the late 80's you *could* own semi-auto/burst-fire centre-fire rifles.

[@AllAboutSurvival]

It's fascinating how they chose a more reliable option over the L85A1 despite British expectations.

[@leonardjanda6181]

Some of the best made Barrels ❤❤❤

[@beetooex]

Could you make the arguement that it would have been better to stick with 7.62 in their terrain?

[@maxkennedy8075]

You could, but much of the rifle fighting in the war was very close combat (night attacks, storming trenches) and a lighter round means you can carry more ammo. Its all a tradeoff

[@ianhelyar6383]

Waaay back, I went to an Army open day in Australia. I got to fire a Steyr loaded with blanks. (the Army ain't stupid!) I found the Steyr to be very easy to aim and fire, and as a left-hander, also very easy to use. I don't remember having to switch over, but no hot brass hit me anyway. What really got me was the apparent lightness of what's actually a fairly heavy weapon. Having the CG so close to the body really helps!

[@bernardmueller5676]

The AUG is awesome.

[@neilmorrison7356]

Sounds like you had a great time in the Falklands 🇫🇰🇫🇰🇫🇰

[@christopherseivard8925]

Sold! Off to Classic Firearms to shop!

[@ianjardine7324]

I can tell you exactly why they chose the Aug over the civil servant. Both the UK and Falklanders gave the rifles to veterans to test but the Islanders were in the unfortunate position of not having enough politicians to drown out the sound of the veterans cursing vehemently and pounding the L85 against a rock in frustration.

[@Just_a_guy093]

every time an aug video comes out, reguardless of who it is. i watch. more aug content please!!!

[@leinadj12ify]

Just a quick correction on the comment that "CSW" (actually CWS) fitted to SUSAT for NV capability - it didn't, it's a totally independent sight that replaced the SUSAT on the weapon

[@romeocedeno8092]

This was an amazing video thanks

[@MrOsvorn]

The AUG has been the primary weapon for the Tunisian's police and armed forces since late 70s, special force and other elite troupes switched to M4.

[@TheArmourersBench]

Nice, I thought you might get a look at these.

[@DIVeltro]

Now I am extremely curious as to what happened to the SLR's that the AUG replaced....

[@justinhughes558]

Cool! Perhaps a segment on the Australian EF88 would be of interest?

[@SnoopReddogg]

Proposed itinerary: 1) Lithgow Small Arm Musuem & Factory 2) Singleton Infantry Musuem 3) Powerhouse Musuem (houses one of two known McCruddin LMGs in existence) 4) Australian War Museum ( huge reference collection of small arms)

[@edgaraquino2324]

Is this the same type of weapon used by the blond guy with glasses in the 1st "Die Hard" film? That is the first time I had seen one....Good review, thanks!😊

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Yep.

[@edgaraquino2324]

​@@WALTERBROADDUS thanks!

[@beowulfsrevenge4369]

The FIDF wanted a bullpup rifle that wasn't based on the L85? I wonder why... 🤔

[@patrickbenjamin9056]

I had no idea they used Steyr AUGs? Thanks greatly for the video.