SAS Weapons - AW50 (L121A1)

The Accuracy International AW50 (L121A1)is very similar to the L96A1/AW, and is technically part of the same family of rifles. The .50BMG round fired by the AW50 sets it apart, however. Like the L82a1 used by the Royal Marines, the AW50 transcends a mere sniper rifle and becomes an anti-material weapon. The AW50 is more accurate than the L82a1 at long range.

When loaded with armor-piercing ammunition and in the skilled hands of an SAS trooper, the AW50 can engage a wide range of soft and hard targets. Vehicles can be disabled with a strategically placed shot to the engine, as can parked aircraft and even lightly-armored vehicles. The AW50 is ideal for counter-sniper missions at the .50 round can penetrate through the enemy shooter's cover.

After successful use within 22 Special Air Service, the AW50 has been slowly introduced to other units. The weapon makes for an ideal method of clearing suspected IEDs or mines at stand-off range and has found a use in counter-insurgency situations such as Iraq.

The AW50 has a folding-stock and comes in a hard case, along with spare magazines and cleaning accessories. In the field, the AW50 can be packed into a soft-padded case and carried in a sling harness.

Royal Marines Maritime Sniper teams use the L121A1 in the counter-smuggling role, where its used to shoot and disable the engines on smuggler's speed boats.

AW-50 - standard 5-round magazine fitted

« SAS weapons

LEARN HOW TO PASS SELECTION & JOIN AN ELITE UNIT... find more military careers info »