SR 88
| SR 88 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Singapore |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1984–2000[1] |
| Used by | See users |
| Wars | Bougainville conflict Solomon Islands conflict |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS, now ST Kinetics)[1] |
| Designed | 1978[1] |
| Manufacturer | • CIS: 1982–2000[1] |
| Produced | • SR 88: 1988-1995[1] • SR 88A: 1990-2000[1] |
| Variants | See variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | • SR 88: 3.68 kg (8.11 lb)[1] • SR 88A/Carbine: 3.7 kg (8.16 lb)[1] |
| Length | • SR 88: 912 mm (35.9 in)[1] • SR 88A: 960 mm (37.8 in)[1] • SR 88A Carbine: 810 mm (31.9 in)[1] |
| Barrel length | 460 mm (18.1 in)[1] |
| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO[1] |
| Caliber | 5.56 mm (0.22 in)[1] |
| Barrels | Single barrel (progressive RH parabolic twist, 6 grooves)[1] |
| Action | Gas-operated long-stroke piston, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | • SR 88: 750 rounds/min[1] • SR 88A: 800 rounds/min[1] |
| Feed system | 30-round STANAG Magazine[1] |
| Sights | Iron sights[1] |
The SR 88 (Singapore Rifle 88) is an assault rifle designed and manufactured in Singapore by Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS, now ST Kinetics).[1]
Development
[edit]Following the poor sales of the SAR 80, and with their involvement with the Sterling SAR-87, CIS came up with an improved design – the new SR 88. Many of the parts and mechanisms are similar to its predecessor. Later production models were further improved with higher quality materials including a new handguard and buttstock, this version was designated the SR 88A.
The SR 88A was built in two versions, the standard model and the latest carbine model which is a heavy-duty mil-spec version with a shorter barrel and a retractable butt-stock popularly called today as the "baby ultimax" because of its overall shorter length and function and frame similarities with the Ultimax 100. Its magazine catch will accept a regular M16 magazine and a C-mag which is also used in M16 rifles.[1]
Design details
[edit]It uses long-piston-stroke, gas-operated action with a rotating bolt. The gas piston and gas cylinder are chromium-plated. The gas system features a three position gas regulator – two open positions, for normal and harsh conditions, and one closed for launching of rifle grenades.[1]
The barrel is equipped with flash hider, which also serves as a rifle grenade launcher. The lower receiver is an aluminium forging, and the upper receiver is made from stamped steel.[1]
Furniture (stock, pistol grip, handguards) is made from plastic materials. The standard stock is of fixed type, but the SR 88 is also available with a side-folding stock. The side-folding carrying handle is mounted at the forward end of the receiver.[1]
Variants
[edit]- SR 88
- Standard rifle variant.[1]
- SR 88A
- Improved variant of above.[1]
- SR 88A Carbine
- Carbine variant for use by paratroopers.[1]
Users
[edit]Papua New Guinea: Papua New Guinea Defence Force[2] and Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary with the SR88A.[3]
Bougainville: Used by Bougainville Revolutionary Army. Captured from Papua New Guinea Defence Force.[citation needed]
Philippines: To the Philippine Marine Corps, all donated by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas with ten SR88s transferred to the PMC.[4]
Singapore: Singapore Armed Forces.[5]
Slovenia: Slovenian Armed Forces.[citation needed]
Solomon Islands: Royal Solomon Islands Police Force[2]
Somalia[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa Richard J, 2008.
- ^ a b Capie, David (2004). Under the Gun: The Small Arms Challenge in the Pacific. Wellington: Victoria University Press. pp. 70–71. ISBN 978-0864734532.
- ^ Capie, David (2004). Under the Gun: The Small Arms Challenge in the Pacific. Wellington: Victoria University Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-0864734532.
- ^ "BSP donates firearms to PMC". Philippine Marine Corps. Philippine Marine Corps. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Modern Firearms - Assault Rifles - SR-88". Archived from the original on 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2012-04-04.
- ^ Small Arms Survey (2012). "Surveying the Battlefield: Illicit Arms In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia". Small Arms Survey 2012: Moving Targets. Cambridge University Press. p. 338. ISBN 978-0-521-19714-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-31. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
- Bibliography
- Richard Jones; Andrew White (2008). Jane's Guns Recognition Guide. HarperCollins. pp. 314–315. ISBN 978-0-00-726645-6.