Information AboutRarden |
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The British designation is L21A1 Rarden. The RSAF Enfield manufactured the Rarden since the early 1970s . However the RSAF was included within the Royal Ordnance Factories , in the early 1980s , in the run up to their Privatisation ; becoming part of Royal Ordnance . Royal Ordnance (RO) planned to close Enfield and several other sites after privatisation. British Aerospace (BAe) bought Royal Ordnance on 2 April 1987 and the closure of RSAF Enfield was announced on 12 August 1987. Most of RO Enfield's work was moved, prior to the closure, to RO Nottingham. It appears that manufacture of the Rarden was carried out at British Manufacture and Research Company BMARC from 1985 . They were also taken over by BAe in 1992 , becoming part of RO Defence ; now renamed BAE Land Systems . The RARDEN cannon is or has been fitted to a number of armoured vehicles in the British Army :
It appears that the Rarden was also intended to be retro-fitted to the FV 432, but when fitted with Rarden and its turret there was too little room left to accommodate the necessary infantry. Some vehicles were fitted with the Fox turret, as an experimental fire support vehicle. There were problems with the weapon fouling external fittings (which meant that the turret had to be mounted on a three inch spacer) and with blast damage to the floatation screen. The weapon was designed for minimum inboard length, allowing for more space in the turret. Another feature is that no gun gas escapes into the turret. Spent cases are ejected forwards. Unlike the belt-fed systems on most vehicle weapons, Rarden is loaded manually with three-round clips (which can result in a heavy work load for the gunner and also limits its use as an anti-helicopter weapon). The operation is long recoil, barrel and bolt initially recoiling together. Rarden does not require an external power source and can therefore remain in action even if the vehicle is disabled. The British Army is considering various 40 mm replacements for the Rarden. SPECIFICATIONS
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