Project – L2A1 : SACTARASS 12″

Table of Contents

Special Boat Service – 2012
The UKSF icon

The SACTARASS L2A1 is the closest thing to a lego set within the UKSF armories. Issued in three barrel lenghs and two handguard sizes, the combinations are endless. It’s also both an airsofter and reenactor’s dream in case of all the different setups seen over the years. While not the most photographed, at least on public media, the shortest L2A1 is an amazing piece of eye candy.

Special Boat Service – 2012

When I got into reenacting, the most prominent photos sets were of both TF Black and TF Knight showcasing their iconic mix of British issued gear matched with the Paraclete armor and L119A1 rifles.

But part of what cimented my obsession for the UKSF kit might well be the photos from the early 2012 Taliban attack in Kabul. This triggered a response from various special forces group, NATO and Afghan aligned. Among them was the Special Boat Service with their Afghan mentorees.

After a massive firefight spanning various floors of an in construction building that assaulters had to climb out, a bunch of outlines appeared on the rooftop. One of them carried a mysterious HK figure rifle : a 12 inch HK417.

As better photos came out, one thing became clear to me. I just love that damn big gun.

Being an early addict to GBBRs, it were an unfortunate bunch of years before I could satisfy this itch. Based on the infamously bad VFC second generation HK417 gbb, I went to work and outfitted it as my favorite rifle.

Accessories thrown in :

Aimpoint magnifier twist mount*
Aimpoint COMP M4
LA-5B ATPIAL*
Magpul AFG-1
Surefire X300*
B&T Rotex III*

*All the 12″ HK417 sport a cut down front sight to allow the attachment of a suppressor. The VFC didn’t came with one out of the box, so I just cut mine in what is an easy and lazy modification.*

The L2A1, as all HK417s, is bundled with two stock pads : a concave and a convex one. The VFC only comes with the latter, so I got a genuine HK concave pad as I very much prefer this one against the shoulder.

The UKSF icon

Next to that cherished SBS, there’s also a more classical look to the 12″ L2A1 photographed in all of the UKSF regiments hands for a decade now. It’s fully part of that iconic UKSF battle rifle look, right next to the G3KA4.

Accessories thrown in :