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104-511: The L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle ( SLR ), also known by the initial Canadian designation C1 , or in the U.S. as the "inch pattern" FAL , is a British version of the Belgian FN FAL battle rifle . The L1A1 was produced under licence and adopted by the armed forces of the United Kingdom , Australia , Canada , India , Jamaica , Malaysia , New Zealand , Rhodesia and Singapore . The L1A1

208-463: A light machine gun in a support role, is also capable of fully automatic fire. Differences from the L1A1/C1 include a heavy barrel, squared front sight (versus the "V" on the semi-automatic models), a handguard that doubles as a foldable bipod , and a larger 30-round magazine although it could also use the normal 20-round magazines. Only Canada and Australia used this variant. Australia, New Zealand, and

312-469: A 5-round model due to problems with them becoming damaged when packed in pouches or bandoliers . The 5-round horseshoe charger had similar problems and was replaced with an conventional straight 5-round charger. The L1A1 subsequently served as the UK's first-line battle rifle up to the 1980s before being replaced by the 5.56mm L85A1 . The L1A1 and variants have seen use in several conflicts, including as part of

416-434: A Commonwealth standard), the main differences being a rotating disc rear sight graduated from 200–600 yd (180–550 m) and a two-piece firing pin. Users could fold the trigger guard into the pistol grip, which allowed them to wear mitts when firing the weapon. The Canadian rifle also had a shorter receiver cover than other Commonwealth variants to allow for refilling the magazine by charging it with stripper clips . It

520-539: A copy of the Energa rifle grenade , that would be surpassed by more recent designs still in production. Of particular note is the BT/AT 52 , an IMI version of the BT rifle grenade derived from the earlier MA/AT 52 model. It can be fired both from 5.56mm and 7.62mm weapons, which share the same-diameter muzzle device, with a maximum range of 300 m (328yd) from 7.62mm guns. The BT/AT 52

624-538: A heavy-barrel version of the L1A1 as a fully automatic rifle variant, designated L2A1. The Australian heavy-barrel L2A1 was also known as the "automatic rifle" (AR). The L2A1 was similar to the FN FAL 50.41/42, but with a unique combined bipod-handguard and a receiver dust-cover mounted tangent rear sight from Canada. The L2A1 was intended to serve a role as a light fully automatic rifle or quasi-squad automatic weapon (SAW). The role of

728-774: A large number of L1A1 rifles to many countries in the region. Among the users were New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea. During the Vietnam War , the SLR was the standard weapon issued to Australian infantrymen. Most Australian soldiers preferred the larger calibre weapon over the American M16 , because the SLR was substantially more reliable and its more powerful NATO 7.62 round could be trusted to kill an enemy soldier outright. The Australians' jungle warfare tactics used in Vietnam were refined by their experience in earlier jungle conflicts, e.g.,

832-576: A mixture of the two. The carrying handles were frequently cut off. The British SUIT (Sight Unit Infantry Trilux) optical sight was issued to some users in infantry units. The L2A1 heavy barrel variant was also issued as a limited standard, but was not popular due to the problems also encountered by other users of heavy barrel FAL variants. The L4A1 7.62mm conversion of the Bren was much-preferred in New Zealand service. The New Zealand Defence Force began replacing

936-449: A period of time due to radioactive decay . The first rear sight leaf had a 7 mm (0.28 in) aperture which could be used alone for night shooting or the second leaf could be raised in front of it, superimposing a 2 mm (0.079 in) aperture for day shooting. The second sight was the L2A2 "Sight Unit, Infantry, Trilux" (SUIT), a 4× optical sight which mounted on a rail welded to

1040-401: A point which could be illuminated by a tritium element for use in low light conditions. The inverted sight post allowed rapid target re-acquisition of the target after the recoil of the firearm raised the muzzle. The sight was somewhat heavy, but due to its solid construction was durable and robust. The SLR was officially replaced in 1985 by the bullpup design L85A1 service rifle, firing

1144-526: A suboptimal iron sight line as the rear sight element is mounted on the lower receiver and the front sight element of the sight line is mounted on the upper receiver/barrel and hence are fixed to two different movable subassemblies. The sight radius for the FAL 50.00 and FAL 50.41 models is 553 mm (21.8 in) and for the 50.61 and FAL 50.63 models 549 mm (21.6 in). FAL rifles have also been manufactured in both light and heavy-barrel configurations, with

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1248-511: A top cover. Issued to the British Infantry, Royal Marines and RAF Regiment , the SUIT featured a prismatic offset design, which reduced the length of the sight and improved clearance around the action . Also, the prismatic offset design helped to reduce parallax errors and heat mirage from the barrel as it heated up during firing. The aiming mark was an inverted, tapered perspex pillar ending in

1352-622: Is also known as Ishapore 1A1 ), is the semi-automatic version based on the L1A1. They can be equipped with the 1A and 1A Long Blade bayonet, based on the L1A4 bayonet. Production started in 1960 after the Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) evaluated several Australian, Belgian and British FAL rifles and each one was disassembled and examined. ARDE researchers began to make plans to make their own rifle after negotiations with FN were unsuccessful because of royalty requirements and

1456-689: Is capable of firing in full auto with cyclic rate of fire of around 650–750 rounds per minute. The SA58 FAL can use any metric-measurement FAL magazines, which come in 5, 10-, 20-, or 30-round capacities. Early versions of the DSA FAL included a 4140 billet upper receiver, machined from a 19-pound block of 4140 steel, and a lower receiver milled from a block of 7075 T6 aircraft grade aluminum. The barrels were provided by Badger and were double stress relieved, cryogenically treated, and had an 11 degree target crown. These barrels featured broach cut rifling, were lapped by hand, and made from 4140 carbon steel. Barrel twist

1560-565: Is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO , although originally designed for the intermediate .280 British . A license-built version of the FAL was produced and adopted by the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth as the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle . In 1946, the first FAL prototype was completed. It was designed to fire the intermediate 7.92×33mm Kurz cartridge developed and used by the forces of Germany during World War II with

1664-481: Is driven by a short-stroke, spring-loaded piston housed above the barrel , and the locking mechanism is what is known as a tilting breechblock . To lock, it drops down into a solid shoulder of metal in the heavy receiver much like the bolts of the Soviet SKS carbine and French MAS-49 series of semi-automatic rifles. The gas system is fitted with a gas regulator behind the front sight base, allowing adjustment of

1768-415: Is housed in the receiver cover, necessitating a slightly different receiver cover, recoil spring, and bolt carrier, and a modified lower receiver for the stock. For field stripping, the FAL can be opened. During opening the rifle rotates around a two-piece pivot lock and pin assembly located between the trigger guard and magazine well to give access to the action and piston system. This opening method causes

1872-439: Is manufactured to a slightly modified design using British imperial units compared to the metric units of the original Belgian FAL. Many sub-assemblies are interchangeable between the two types, while components of those sub-assemblies may not be compatible. Notable incompatibilities include the magazine and the stock . Most Commonwealth pattern FALs are semi-automatic only. A variant named L2A1 /C2A1 (C2), meant to serve as

1976-662: Is often seen in photographs with the FAL. The Israeli FAL first saw action in relatively small quantities during the Suez Crisis of 1956, being the standard-issue rifle in the Six-Day War in June 1967, the War of Attrition of 1967–1970. During the Yom Kippur War of October 1973, the FAL was still in front-line service as the standard Israeli rifle, though increasing criticism eventually led to

2080-522: Is still in use by Central Armed Police Forces , some law enforcement bodies and also used during parades by the National Cadet Corps . In 2012, around 6,000 rifles were made annually in India. As of September 2019, around a million rifles had been made. The New Zealand Army used the L1A1 as its standard service rifle for just under 30 years. The Labour government of Walter Nash approved the purchase of

2184-455: Is the fact that the G1 was the first FAL variant with the 3 mm lower sights specifically requested by Germany, previous versions having the taller Commonwealth-type sights also seen on Israeli models. The German FAL had access to high quality Hensoldt Optische Werk F-series scopes with Zeiss-equivalent optics; having 4x magnification, with a 24 mm (0.94 in) objective lens. The majority of

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2288-566: The 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. The armed forces were re-equipped by 1994 and during this period the L1A1 rifles were gradually phased out. Most were either destroyed or sold, with some going to Sierra Leone. Several thousand were sent to the US and sold as parts kits, and others were refurbished by LuxDefTec in Luxembourg and are still on sale to the European market. The L1A1 self-loading rifle has been used in

2392-860: The Cold War . L1A1s have been used by the British Armed Forces in Malaysia , Northern Ireland , and in the Falklands War (in opposition to FN FAL-armed Argentine forces), the First Gulf War (where it was still on issue to some second line British Army units and RAF personnel not yet issued with the L85A1 ), and by the State of Kuwait Army during the First Gulf War . It was used by Australia and New Zealand in Vietnam , by

2496-702: The EM-2 rifle . American company DSA (David Selvaggio Arms) manufactures a copy of the FAL called the FAL DSA SA58 FAL that is made with the same Steyr-Daimler-Puch production line equipment as the StG-58. It comes with a 406 mm (16 in), 457 mm (18 in) or 533 mm (21 in) barrel, an aluminum-alloy lower receiver, and improved Glass-filled Nylon furniture. Civilian clients are limited only to semi-automatic configuration, but military and law enforcement clients can procure select-fire configuration that

2600-851: The F88 Austeyr , a licence-built version of the Steyr AUG , in 1988. Some remained in service with Reserve and training units until late 1990. Some Australian Army units deployed overseas on UN peacekeeping operations in Namibia, the Western Sahara, and Cambodia still used the L1A1 SLR and the M16A1 rifle throughout the early 1990s. The British and Australian L1A1s, and Canadian C1A1 SLRs were semi-automatic only, unless battlefield conditions mandated that modifications be made. Australia, in co-ordination with Canada, developed

2704-666: The Indian Army by the INSAS 5.56mm assault rifle. It's also known as the Ishapore Rifle since it was also made at Rifle Factory Ishapore . A fully automatic version of the rifle (known as the 1C or Ishapore 1C ) is also available, meant for use in BMP-2s via firing ports. The 1A (which is also known as Ishapore 1A ), is the full automatic version based on the FN FAL while the 1A1 (which

2808-462: The L85A1 from 1985 onwards. The SLR was designed using Imperial measurements and included several changes from the standard FN FAL. A significant change from the original FAL was that the L1A1 operates in semi-automatic mode only. Other changes include: the introduction of a folding cocking handle ; an enclosed slotted flash suppressor ; folding rear sight ; 'sand-cuts' modifications that provided space for limited sand or other dirt ingress into

2912-517: The Labour Party lost the 1951 General Election and Winston Churchill returned as Prime Minister. It is believed that there was a quid pro quo agreement between Churchill and U.S. President Harry Truman in 1952 that the British accept the .30 Light Rifle cartridge as NATO standard in return for the U.S. acceptance of the FN FAL as NATO standard. The .30 Light Rifle cartridge was later standardized as

3016-662: The Malayan Emergency and the Konfrontasi campaign in Borneo , and were considered far more threatening by their Viet Cong opponents than those employed by U.S. forces. The Australians considered the strengths and limitations of the SLR and its heavy ammunition load to be better suited to actual combat. Another product of Australian participation in the conflict in South-East Asia was the field modification of L1A1 and L2A1 rifles by

3120-777: The Rifle No. 9 Mk 1 chambered for a 7mm intermediate cartridge . To meet this plan and strengthen ties with the United States, the United Kingdom soon dropped the No.9 rifle in favor of the Belgian FAL chambered for the newly proposed American 7.62×51mm cartridge. Based on Canada's experiments with the FAL that led to the C1A1, the United Kingdom and Australia adopted the L1A1 (or Self-Loading Rifle ) as their new service rifle in 1954. NATO standardized on

3224-574: The Special Air Service Regiment for better handling. Nicknamed "the Bitch", these rifles were field modified, often from heavy barrel L2A1 automatic rifles, with their barrels cut off right in front of the gas blocks, and often with the L2A1 bipods removed to install XM148 40 mm grenade launchers mounted below the barrels. The XM148 40 mm grenade launchers were obtained from U.S. forces. For

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3328-554: The Steyr AUG as a replacement in the form of the F88 Austeyr, with New Zealand following suit shortly after. Canada replaced its C1 rifle with AR-15 variants, such as the C7 service rifle and C8 carbine . Australia replaced its L2A1 heavy barrel support weapons with M60s and later with an FN Minimi variant: the F89. Canada replaced its C2 heavy barrel support weapons with an FN Minimi variant:

3432-516: The Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle . After testing this prototype in 1948, the British Army urged FN to build additional prototypes, including one in bullpup configuration, chambered for their new .280 British (7×43mm) caliber intermediate cartridge. After evaluating the single bullpup prototype, FN decided to return instead to their original, conventional design for future production. In 1950,

3536-711: The 1960s. However it was generally disliked and replaced by the F89 Minimi in the late 1980s. The L2A1 or 'heavy barrel' FAL was used by several Commonwealth nations and was found to frequently experience a failure to feed after firing two rounds from a full magazine when in automatic mode. The 50.41 is fitted with a synthetic buttstock, while the 50.42's buttstock is made from wood. Folding-stock, standard 533 mm (21.0 in) barrel length. Folding-stock, shorter 457 mm (18 inch) barrel, paratrooper version. Folding-stock, shorter 440 mm (17.35 inch) barrel, paratrooper version, folding charging handle. This shorter version

3640-465: The 50.61, which was heavier than 50.00. The Sturmgewehr 58 ( StG 58) is a selective fire battle rifle. The first 20,000 were manufactured by FN Herstal Belgium, but later the StG 58 was manufactured under licence by Steyr-Daimler-Puch (now Steyr Mannlicher ), and was formerly the standard rifle of the Österreichisches Bundesheer (Austrian Federal Army). It is essentially a user-customized version of

3744-589: The 7.62 mm NATO. However, the U.S. insisted on continued rifle tests. The FAL chambered for the .30 Light Rifle went up against the redesigned T25 (now redesignated as the T47), and an M1 Garand variant, the T44. Eventually, the T44 won, becoming the M14 . However, in the meantime, most other NATO countries were evaluating and selecting the FAL. Formally introduced by its designer Dieudonné Saive in 1951, and produced two years later,

3848-522: The 7.62mm NATO cartridge in 1954, but did not adopt a standard rifle. Most adopted a native design chambered for 7.62mm NATO, with Germany eventually adopting the G3 and the United States adopting the M14 . Even the C1A1 and L1A1 used inch measurements and were not interchangeable with the FAL's metric parts. France's participation was to adopt a natively-designed service rifle that used their national 7.5mm MAS rifle cartridge. The British experimental version of

3952-614: The 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge, and a slightly modified version of the CETME went on to be manufactured in West Germany by Heckler & Koch (H&K) as the G3 rifle, beginning production in 1959. The G3 would become the second most popular battle rifle in the Free World, "used by some 50 nations and license-manufactured in a dozen". Without the G3, the FAL may have completely dominated the militaries of

4056-615: The Allied Rifle Committee, designating it the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR). The weapons were manufactured by the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield, Birmingham Small Arms , Royal Ordnance Factory and ROF Fazakerley . After the production run ceased, replacement components were made by Parker Hale Limited. The SLR served the British Armed Forces from 1954 until approximately 1994, being replaced by

4160-531: The Australian L2A1. It was similar to the FN FAL 50.41/42, but with wooden attachments to the bipod legs that served as a handguard when the legs are folded. The C2A1 used a tangent rear sight attached to the receiver cover with ranges from 200–1,000 m (660–3,280 ft). The C1 was equipped with a 20-round magazine and the C2 with a 30-round magazine, although the two were interchangeable. The selective-fire C2A1

4264-515: The British L1A1 version of FAL. The Australian L1A1 differs from its British counterpart in the design of the upper receiver lightening cuts. The lightening cuts of the Australian L1A1 most closely resembles the later Canadian C1 pattern, rather than the simplified and markedly unique British L1A1 cuts. The Australian L1A1 FAL rifle was in service with Australian forces until it was superseded by

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4368-488: The C9, respectively. The Australian Army , as a late member of the Allied Rifle Committee along with the United Kingdom and Canada adopted the committee's improved version of the FAL rifle, designated the L1A1 rifle by Australia and Great Britain, and C1 by Canada. The Australian L1A1 is also known as the "self-loading rifle" (SLR), and in fully automatic form, the "automatic rifle". The Australian L1A1 features are almost identical to

4472-722: The Canadian Armed Forces, ending its military service. The Rifle 7.62 mm 1A1 , or the Ishapore 1A1 , is a copy of the L1A1 self-loading rifle. It is produced at Ordnance Factory Tiruchirappalli of the Ordnance Factories Board . It differs from the UK SLR in that the wooden butt-stock uses the butt-plate from the Lee–Enfield with trap for oil bottle and cleaning pull-through. The 1A1 rifle has been replaced in service with

4576-412: The Commonwealth SLR, but SLR magazines will not fit the metric FAL. Despite the British, Australian and Canadian versions of the FAL being manufactured using machine tools which utilised the Imperial measurement system, they are all of the same basic dimensions. Parts incompatibilities between the original FAL and the L1A1 are due to pattern differences, not due to the different dimensions. Confusions over

4680-407: The FAL (designated the X-1) initially used an 8-round "horseshoe charger" (a U-shaped clip that held the bullets) that was based on an experimental 10-round Belgian design. The operator would open the bolt and place the charger into guide rails over the chamber. The rounds would then be slid down into the detachable box magazine through the bolt. The 8-round horseshoe charger was replaced in trials with

4784-432: The FAL and is still in use, mainly as a drill weapon, or for ceremonial purposes in the Gardebataillon (Guard Battalion) of the Austrian forces. It was selected in a 1958 competition, beating the Spanish CETME and American Armalite AR-10 . Most StG 58s featured a folding bipod, and differ from the FAL by using a plastic stock rather than wood in order to reduce weight in the later production rifles (although some of

4888-434: The FAL and wished to produce it under license. The Belgians, however, refused. Being subject to two German occupations in the space of two generations ( 1914–1918 and 1940–1945 ), the Belgians insisted on the Germans purchasing only FN-made FALs. Under the German occupation during World War II, FN was taken over by the major German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM), its directors arrested, and

4992-418: The FAL has been described as the "Right Arm of the Free World". The FAL battle rifle has its Warsaw Pact counterpart in the AKM , each being fielded by dozens of countries and produced in many of them. A few, such as Israel and South Africa, manufactured and issued both designs at various times. The FAL operates by means of a gas-operated action very similar to that of the Soviet SVT-40 . The gas system

5096-463: The FAL in 9 versions: The first German FALs were from an order placed in late 1955 or early 1956, for several thousand FN FAL so-called "Canada" models with wood furniture and the prong flash hider. These weapons were intended for the Bundesgrenzschutz (border guard) and not the newly formed Bundeswehr (army), which at the time used M1 Garands and M1/M2 carbines. In November 1956, however, West Germany ordered 100,000 additional FALs, designated

5200-424: The French Fusil Automatique Lourd , it had a heavy barrel for sustained fire with a 30-round magazine as a squad automatic weapon ; Known in Canada as the C2A1, it was their primary squad automatic weapon until it was phased out during the 1980s in favor of the C9 , which has better accuracy and higher ammunition capacity than the C2. In the Australian Army, as the L2A1, it was their primary squad automatic weapon in

5304-404: The G1, for the army. FN made the rifles between April 1957 and May 1958. The G1 user modifications included light metal handguards and an integral folding bipod, similarly to the Austrian version. Neither Germany nor Austria adopted the heavy-barreled FAL, instead using the MG3 (the modernized MG42 in 7.62×51mm NATO) as its general purpose machine gun (GPMG). The Germans were satisfied with

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5408-422: The German G1 rifles were sold as surplus to the Turkish Army in the mid-1960's, and some G1s found their way to Rhodesia and Portugal . After the 1948 Arab–Israeli War , the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had to overcome several logistics problems which were a result of the wide variety of old firearms that were in service, such as the German Mauser Kar 98k and some British Lee–Enfield rifles. In 1955

5512-417: The Germans tried to destroy the FN factory with V1 flying bombs , achieving two direct hits. The memories of the Nazi occupation were still far too fresh in 1956. Based on political and economical considerations, but also national pride, the Germans aimed at a weapon they could produce domestically and turned their sights to the Spanish CETME Modelo 58 rifle. Working with the Germans, the Spanish adopted

5616-437: The IA2, MD-2 and MD-3 assault rifles, Brazil produces the M964A1/Pelopes (Special Operations Platoon), with a 16.5" barrel, 3-point sling and a Picatinny rail with a tactical flashlight and sight. Brazilian Army officially used the FAP ( Fuzil Automático Pesado , or heavy automatic rifle) as its squad automatic weapon until 2013/2014, when the FN Minimi was adopted to replace it. The Marine Corps and Air Force also adopted

5720-441: The IDF adopted the IMI -produced Uzi submachine gun and the FN FAL in order to standardize their infantry armament; with the FAL being designated Rov've Mitta'enn or Romat (רומ"ט), abbreviation of "Self-Loading Rifle". The FAL version ordered by the IDF came in two basic variants, both regular and heavy-barrel (squad automatic rifle/ light machine gun), and were chambered in 7.62mm NATO. The Israeli heavy barrel FAL (or FALO)

5824-436: The Indian Army in the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars and by various paramilitary and state police forces in counter insurgency operations up to the early 1990s, by Nigerian and Biafran forces during Nigerian Civil War and by Rhodesia in the Rhodesian Bush War . Starting in the mid-1980s, the United Kingdom started replacing its 30-year-old L1A1 rifle with the 5.56 NATO bullpup design L85A1 assault rifle. Australia chose

5928-430: The L1A1 SAS, a carbine variant of the L1A1 with a barrel length of 290 mm (11.4 inches). Argentine FALs saw action during the Falklands War , and in different peacekeeping operations such as in Cyprus and the former Yugoslavia. Argentine FALs are known to have been exported to Bolivia (in 1971), Colombia, Croatia (during the wars in former Yugoslavia during the 1990s), Honduras, Peru, and Uruguay. Along with

6032-440: The L1A1 as a replacement for the No. 4 Mk 1 Lee–Enfield bolt-action rifle in 1959. An order for 15,000 L1A1 rifles was placed with the Lithgow Small Arms Factory in Australia which had been granted a license to produce the L1A1. The first batch of 500 rifles were delivered to the New Zealand Army in 1960. Deliveries continued at an increasing pace until the order for all 15,000 rifles was completed in 1965. As with Australian soldiers,

6136-454: The L1A1 was the preferred rifle of New Zealand Army and NZSAS troops during the Vietnam War, over the American M16 during the Vietnam War, as they used the same combat tactics as their Australian counterparts. After its adoption by the Army, the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Navy eventually acquired it. Unlike L1A1s in Australian service, New Zealand L1A1s later used British black plastic furniture, and some rifles even had

6240-405: The L1A1 with the Steyr AUG assault rifle in 1988 and were disposed through the Government Disposal Bureau in 1990. The Steyr AUG was phased out across all three services of the New Zealand Defence Force in 2016. The Royal New Zealand Navy still uses the L1A1 for line throwing between ships. The United Kingdom produced its own variant of the FN FAL incorporating the modifications developed by

6344-439: The L1A1, the lack of fully automatic fire resulted in the unofficial conversion of the L1A1 to full-auto capability by using lower receivers from the L2A1, which works by restricting trigger movement. Australia produced a shortened version of the L1A1 designated the L1A1-F1. It was intended for easier use by soldiers of smaller stature in jungle combat, as the standard L1A1 is a relatively long, heavy weapon. The reduction in length

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6448-525: The L2A1 SUIT was fitted. The flash suppressor is fitted with a lug which allows the fitting of an L1-series bayonet , an L1A1/A2 or L6A1 blank firing attachment or an L1A1/A2 Energa rifle grenade launcher. Initial production rifles were fitted with walnut furniture, consisting of the pistol grip, forward handguard, carrying handle and butt. The wood was treated with oil to protect against moisture, but not varnished or polished. Later production weapons were produced with synthetic furniture. The material used

6552-423: The L2A1 and other heavy barrel FAL variants is essentially the same in concept as the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) or Bren , but the Bren was better suited to the role of a fire support base for a section, being designed for the role from the start. In practice many considered the L2A1 inferior to the Bren, as the Bren had a barrel that could be changed, and so could deliver a better continuous rate of fire, and

6656-421: The L2A1 rifles. These 30-round magazines were essentially lengthened versions of the standard 20-round L1A1 magazines, perfectly straight in design. Curved 30-round magazines from the L4A1 7.62 NATO conversion of the Bren are interchangeable with the 30-round L2A1 magazines, however they reputedly gave feeding difficulties due to the additional friction from the curved design as they must be inserted "upside down" in

6760-462: The L2A1. The L4A1 Bren magazines were developed as a top-mounted gravity-assisted feed magazine, the opposite of what is required for the L2A1 FAL. This was sometimes rectified by stretching magazine springs. The Australian L1A1/L2A1 rifles were produced by the Lithgow Small Arms Factory , with approximately 220,000 L1A1 rifles produced between 1959 and 1986. L2A1 production was approximately 10,000 rifles produced between 1962 and 1982. Lithgow exported

6864-403: The Makleon: By Israeli training practice, when the light machine guns are used as fire base to cover the forward movement of the rest of the section, they should not operate at more than two hundred yards' [183m] maximum range from the target. To cut that distance by half is considered better. In the attack, LMGs are rated as highly expendable items and are shoved far front. When the section rushes

6968-411: The Maranyl furniture, as extra supplies became available it was retrofitted to older rifles as they underwent scheduled maintenance. This resulted in a mixture of wooden and Maranyl furniture within units and often on the same rifle. Wooden furniture was still in use in some Territorial Army units and in limited numbers with the RAF until at least 1989. The SLR selector has two settings (rather than

7072-500: The Minimi to replace the FAP. IMBEL also produced a semi-automatic version of the FAL for Springfield Armory, Inc. (not to be confused with the US military Springfield Armory ), which was marketed in the US as the SAR-48 (standard model) and SAR-4800 (made after 1989 with some military features removed to comply with new legislation), starting in the mid-1980s. IMBEL-made receivers have been much in demand among American gunsmiths building FALs from "parts kits". IMBEL in 2014 offered

7176-408: The U.S. prototype ".30 Light Rifle" cartridge. FN decided to hedge their bets with the U.S., and in 1951 even made a deal that the U.S. could produce FALs royalty-free, given that the UK appeared to be favouring their own EM-2. This decision appeared to be correct when the British Army decided to adopt the EM-2 (as Rifle No.9 Mk1) and the .280 British cartridge. This decision was later rescinded after

7280-465: The United Kingdom presented the redesigned FN rifle and the British EM-2 , both in .280 British calibre, to the United States for comparison testing against the favoured United States Army design of the time—Earle Harvey's T25. It was hoped that a common cartridge and rifle could be standardized for issue to the armies of all NATO member countries. After this testing was completed, U.S. Army officials suggested that FN should redesign their rifle to fire

7384-499: The United Kingdom used the Bren light machine guns converted to fire the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge for use in the support role. Canadian C1s issued to naval vessels for boarding party usage were also capable of fully automatic fire. The L1A1 and other inch-pattern derivatives trace their lineage back to the Allied Rifle Commission of the 1950s, whose intention was to introduce a single rifle and cartridge that would serve as standard issue for all NATO countries. They originally adopted

7488-614: The West during the Cold War. The G1 featured a pressed metal handguard identical to the ones used on the Austrian Stg. 58, as well as the Dutch and Greek FALs, this being slightly slimmer than the standard wood or plastic handguards, and featuring horizontal lines running almost their entire length. G1s were also fitted with a unique removable prong flash hider, adding another external distinction. Of note

7592-456: The air with clouds of dust filled with fine grit, soldiers would jump from the half-tracks to hit the sand, finding the rifles filthy at the moment of contact. In such lightning-fast mobile warfare, the men would hardly have time to eat, sleep or clean their rifles. Though the IDF evaluated a few modified FAL rifles with 'sand clearance' slots in the bolt carrier and receiver (which were already part of

7696-463: The assault with a volley of grenades onto the enemy positions intended to stun and suppress the defenders, while being immediately followed by the infantry assault while the enemy was shaken. Israel's infantry prefers the rifle-fired antitank grenade to the bazooka for shock effect on a group or bunker. At night, if the section should run into an ambush, the grenadier fires, and all the others rush straight in, not firing. Initially, Israel manufactured

7800-697: The assembly lines run by slave labour after only 10% of the Belgian factory workers showed up when ordered to do so. After the Normandy landings , the Germans stripped the FN factories of everything useful and sent it back to augment German industries, destroying what they couldn't carry. FN tried to recoup its losses immediately after liberation near the end of 1944 by refurbishing Allied weapons and producing cheap, easily produced spare parts such as tank tracks. To make matters worse,

7904-514: The clause that Belgian technicians help manage the production lines. 750 rifles were made per week. FN threatened a lawsuit when they learnt of the unlicensed variant. Then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was not made aware of it and after he had heard it, offered to settle FN's complaints by agreeing to purchase additional Belgian-made FALs, FALOs and MAG 60.20 GPMGs. In 1998 onward, Ishapore 1A1, 1A and 1C were gradually withdrawn from service and replaced by INSAS rifle. The Ishapore 1A1, A and 1C

8008-577: The differences has given rise to the terminology of "metric" and "inch" FAL rifles, which originated as a reference to the machine tools which produced them. Despite this, virtually all FAL rifles are of the same basic dimensions, true to the original Belgian FN FAL. In the US, the term "metric FAL" refers to guns of the Belgian FAL pattern, whereas "inch FAL" refers to ones produced to the Commonwealth L1A1/C1 pattern. SLRs could be modified at unit level to take two additional sighting systems. The first

8112-415: The early FN-built production rifles did come with wooden stocks). The rifle can be distinguished from its Belgian and Argentine counterparts by its combination flash suppressor and grenade launcher . The foregrip was a two-part steel pressing. Steyr-built StG 58s had a hammer forged barrel. Some StG 58s had modifications made to the fire mode selector so that the fully automatic option was removed, leaving

8216-541: The enemy position under cover of the LMG fire, one rifleman stays behind to protect the gunners. Marshall also notes the advantage of both rifle and LMG ammunition being interchangeable, with the squad carrying sixty 20-round magazines, with 1,200 rounds in total. The Israeli FALs were originally produced as selective-fire rifles, though later light-barrel rifle versions were altered to semi-automatic fire only. The first rifles were Belgian-made, with Israel later licence-producing

8320-504: The following conflicts: FN FAL During the Cold War the FAL was adopted by many countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), with the notable exception of the United States. It is one of the most widely used rifles in history, having been used by more than 90 countries. It received the title "the right arm of the free world" from its adoption by many self-proclaimed free world countries. It

8424-405: The gas system in response to environmental conditions. The piston system can be bypassed completely, using the gas plug, to allow for the firing of rifle grenades and manual operation. The FAL's magazine capacity ranges from five to 30 rounds, with most magazines holding 20 rounds. In fixed stock versions of the FAL, the recoil spring is housed in the stock, while in folding-stock versions it

8528-509: The heavy barrel intended for automatic fire as a section or squad light support weapon. Most heavy barrel FALs are equipped with bipods , although some light barrel models were equipped with bipods, such as the Austrian StG 58 and the German G1, and a bipod was later made available as an accessory. Among other 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifles at the time, the FAL had relatively light recoil, due to

8632-574: The initial C1 and the improved C1A1 version were made for the Royal Canadian Navy , under the designations C1D and C1A1D. These weapons are identifiable by an A for "automatic", carved or stamped into the butt stock. Boarding parties for domestic and international searches used the C1D. The Canadians also operated a fully automatic variant - the C2A1 - as a section support weapon, which was almost identical to

8736-706: The integral muzzle brakes. A Peruvian derivative of the FAL designed by the Diseños Casanave Corporation in 2010. Like the FAL, it uses standard 20-round box magazines with the same 7.62×51mm caliber ammo. The FAL has been used by over 90 countries, and some seven million have been produced. The FAL was originally made by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN) in Liège, Belgium, but it has also been made under license in fifteen countries. As of August 2006, new examples were still being produced by at least four different manufacturers worldwide. A distinct sub-family

8840-465: The phasing-out of the weapon. Israeli forces were primarily mechanized in nature; the long, heavy FAL slowed deployment drills, and proved exceedingly difficult to maneuver within the confines of a vehicle. Additionally, Israeli forces experienced occasional jamming of the FAL due to heavy sand and dust ingress endemic to Middle Eastern desert warfare. With the soldiers traveling in open-topped halftracks in fast-paced operations, with tank tracks filling

8944-432: The rifle was also built in 1973. Canada adopted the FAL in 1954, the first country in the world to actually ante up and order enough rifles for meaningful troop trials. Up to this point, FN had been making these rifles in small test lots of ones and twos, each embodying changes and improvements over its predecessor. The Canadian order for 2,000 rifles "cast the FAL in concrete" for the first time, and at FN, from 1954 to 1958

9048-399: The selector with only safe and single-shot positions. The StG 58 was replaced by the Steyr AUG (designated StG 77) in 1977, although the StG 58 served with many units as the primary service rifle through the mid-1980s. A semi-automatic, twin-barrel variant chambered in the 5.56mm "Duplex" round during Project SALVO . This weapon was designed by Stefan Kenneth Janson who previously designed

9152-502: The shooter receives considerable abuse from recoil, and the weapon climbs off-target quickly, making automatic fire only of marginal effectiveness. Many military forces using the FAL eventually eliminated full-automatic firearms training in the light-barrel FAL. Depending on the variant and the country of adoption, the FAL was issued as either semi-automatic only or select-fire (capable of both semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes). Also known as FALO as an abbreviation from

9256-523: The standard model of the FAL rifle was called the FAL 'Canada'...These excellent Canadian-built rifles were the standard arms of the Canadian military from first production in 1955 until 1984. The Canadian Armed Forces , the Ontario Provincial Police and Royal Canadian Mounted Police operated several versions, the most common being the C1A1, similar to the British L1A1 (which became more or less

9360-428: The three that most metric FALs have), safety and semi-automatic , which are marked 'S' (safe) and 'R' (repetition.) The magazine from the 7.62mm L4 light machine gun will fit the SLR. Commonwealth magazines were produced with a lug brazed onto the front to engage the recess in the receiver, in place of a smaller pressed dimple on the metric FAL magazine. As a consequence of this, metric FAL magazines can be used with

9464-423: The upper receiver, bolt and bolt carrier; folding trigger guard to allow use with Arctic mitts; strengthened buttstock ; enlarged change lever and magazine release catch ; vertical stripping catch to prevent unintended activation; deletion of the automatic hold-open device and the addition of retaining tabs at the rear of the top cover to prevent forward movement of the top cover (and resulting loss of zero) when

9568-406: The user-adjustable gas system being able to be tuned via a regulator in fore-end of the rifle, which allowed for excess gas which would simply increase recoil to bleed off. The regulator is an adjustable gas port opening that adjusts the rifle to function reliably with various propellant and projectile specific pressure behavior, making the FAL not ammunition specific. In fully automatic mode, however,

9672-506: The weapons and its magazines. The Israeli models are recognizable by a distinctive handguard with a forward perforated sheet metal section. Israeli-made magazines were made in the same FN standard of steel, finished with durable black enamel paint, and bearing two Hebrew characters stamped into the metal on one side. The IDF always emphasized the used of rifle grenades, integrating its usage into their doctrine of night assaults. Approaching enemy positions within rifle-grenade range, initiating

9776-609: Was 1:11. Rifles produced during the Federal Assault Weapons Ban from 1994 to 2004 included integrally machined muzzle brakes that served to reduce muzzle rise and recoil. Further more, these muzzle brakes added additional length to barrels to achieve the 16.5 inches that would otherwise have been considered short-barreled rifles under the National Firearms Act . As such, DSA FAL barrels that were effectively ~14 inches, could be legally considered 16.5 inches due to

9880-409: Was Maranyl, a nylon 6-6 and fibreglass composite. The Maranyl parts have a "pebbled" anti-slip texture along with a butt has a separate butt-pad, available in four lengths to allow the rifle to be fitted to individual users. There was a special short butt designed for use with Arctic clothing or body armour, which incorporated fixing points for an Arctic chest sling system. After the introduction of

9984-441: Was achieved by installing the shortest butt length (there were three available, short, standard and long), and a flash suppressor that resembled the standard version except it projected a much smaller distance beyond the end of the rifling, and had correspondingly shorter flash eliminator slots. The effect was to reduce the length of the weapon by 2 1/4 inches. Trials revealed that, despite no reduction in barrel length, accuracy

10088-567: Was designated the Makle'a Kal , or Makleon , having a standard handguard improved with a perforated metal sleeve around the heavy barrel, and a wooden handguard with a heat shield. The folding bipod being directly attached to the barrel. The Israeli Makleon was fed by a 20-round magazine. Analysing the Israeli campaign of 1956 in the Sinai, during the Suez Crisis , Brigadier General SLA Marshall noted of

10192-629: Was manufactured under license by the Canadian Arsenals Limited company. Canada was the first country to use the FAL. It served as Canada's standard battle rifle from the early 1950s to 1984. It was eventually phased out in favor of the lighter Diemaco C7 , a licence-built copy of the M16 , with a number of features borrowed from the A1, A2, and A3 variations of the AR platform assault rifle. Selective-fire variants of

10296-472: Was more accurate and controllable in the role due to its greater weight and better stock configuration. For this reason, Australia and Britain used the 7.62mm-converted L4 series Bren. Most countries that adopted the FAL rejected the heavy barrel FAL, presumably because it did not perform well in the machine gun role. Countries that embraced the heavy barrel FAL included Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, and Israel. Unique 30-round magazines were developed for

10400-562: Was produced to replace the Bren Gun for the Canadian Army. While a reliable and accurate weapon, the C2A1 was unpopular among Canadian soldiers due to its very limited sustained fire capability: the C2A1 lacked an interchangeable barrel, and its bottom-loading magazines were time-consuming to reload. Roughly 2,700 examples were produced. In the late 1980's the C2A1 was replaced by the FN Minimi in

10504-441: Was requested by Belgian paratroopers. The upper receiver was not cut for a carry handle, the charging handle on the 50.63 was a folding model similar to the L1A1 rifles, which allowed the folded-stock rifle to fit through the doorway of their C-119 Flying Boxcar when worn horizontally across the chest. Folding-stock, standard 533 mm (21.0 in) barrel length, ' Hiduminium ' aluminium alloy lower receiver made it lighter than

10608-673: Was slightly reduced. The L1A1-F1 was provided to Papua New Guinea, and a number were sold to the Royal Hong Kong Police in 1984. They were issued to female staff cadets at the Royal Military College Duntroon and some other Australian personnel. In 1970, a bullpup rifle known as the KAL1 general purpose infantry rifle was built at the Small Arms Factory Lithgow using parts from the L1A1 rifle. Another version of

10712-400: Was the " Hythe sight", formally known as the "Conversion Kit, 7.62mm Rifle Sight, Trilux, L5A1" (L5A2 and L5A3 variants with different foresight inserts also existed) and intended for use in close range and in poor lighting conditions. The sight incorporated two rear sight aperture leaves and a tritium illuminated foresight insert for improved night visibility, which had to be replaced after

10816-663: Was the Commonwealth inch-dimensioned versions that were manufactured in the United Kingdom and Australia (as the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle or SLR), and in Canada as the C1. The standard metric-dimensioned FAL was manufactured in South Africa (where it was known as the R1 ), Brazil, Israel, Austria and Argentina. Both the SLR and FAL were also produced without license by India. The Dutch company Armtech built

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