by R. Blake Stevens and Jean E. Van Rutten

Monsieur Jean E. Van Rutten, demonstrating the then-current Gewehr 1-type FAL to the late Shah of Iran, at Mossal Arsenal, near Teheran, 9 November 1958. Between

M. Van Rutten and the Shah are Monsieur Tomson, Direc­tor of the FN Cartoucherie, and Iranian Gen Daftari.

About the Authors R. Blake Stevens is the founder and president of Collector

Grade Publications Incorporated, and to date the author of

eight published books on modern military small arms. Born

in 1938, Mr. Stevens lives and works in Toronto.

Jean-Etienne Van Rutten (1925-1982), a Belgian national,

enlisted in the No. 10 Inter-Allied Commando group after the

liberation of Belgium in September, 1944. He qualified for

officer training but, as that course ran for some months, he

joined as an enlisted man in order to see action against the

Germans as quickly as possible.

Following training in Sussex and at the famous Achnacarry

castle Commando camp in the north of Scotland, M. Van Rutten

served with distinction in Europe until the end of the war,

after which he exchanged his green beret for the Belgian Army

rank of Commandant (between Captain and Major).

He joined the famous armsmaking society Fabrique Nationale

in 1947 already a weapons expert, and for the rest of his

lifetime he bore the FN standard into virtually every country

of the free world, successfully demonstrating such FN arms

as the F A L and the M A G .

As regards this book, the importance of Jean Van Rutten's

contribution cannot be overestimated. A l l too often today the

weapons historian is too late: after a short lifespan of crucial

usefulness to the manufacturing process such items as "one-off'

prototypes, handmade working models, drawings and other

supporting documents are simply thrown away in the name

of "bottom l ine" cost-effectiveness. Fortunately, however, in

the case of the F A L rifle, M. Van Rutten felt strongly about

preserving the modern history of FN as reflected in its arms

developments and production. During his last years as Chargé

de Missions of F N ' s Defence and Security Divis ion, he

assisted Collector Grade in the preparation of two of the most

popular gun books ever produced, The Metric FAL and The

Browning High Power Automatic Pistol

Acknowledgements

This book cou ld not have been written without the

whole-hearted support of Fabrique Nat ionale Her-

stal. The co-operat ion and encouragement

received at every turn is grateful ly acknowledged,

especia l ly f rom the underment ioned:

René Laloux, Honourary Cha i rman of the

Board of Directors of FN

Bernard Regout , General Manager, FN

Defence and Secur i ty Branch (BDS)

Jean-Paul Denis , B D S Qual i ty -Contro l tech­

nic ian (Bal l is t ic Laboratory)

Pol Dessard, B D S Sales and Technica l

Manager, Latin Amer ica , Spain and

Portugal

C laude Gaier , Chef de Service, Cul tura l

Affairs Department

André Hougardy , Technica l Assistant, B D S

Research and Deve lopment Department

Robert Nondon faz , Sales Manager, FN

Sport (Browning)

A la in Renard, B D S Market Research Dept

( IREM)

Harry Tintner, B D S Sales Manager, Far East

Gaston von Bel leghem, Cul tura l Affairs

Department

The authors also wish to thank the fo l lowing in­

d iv iduals, whose contr ibut ions have enhanced this

book:

Ron Bridges, Mi tcham, Surrey, England

Dr Edward Eze l l , Woodbr idge, V a , U S A

Char les R. Fagg, Pusl inch, Ontar io, C a n a d a

Wi l l P iznak, Huguenot , New York, U S A

Co l George von Rauch , H igh land Park,

N.J . , U S A

Terry L. Wi l lson, Pietermari tzburg, R S A

Wi l l i am H. Wood in , Tucson, A r i zona , U S A

The fo l lowing publ icat ions have been consulted

and/or quoted:

Mauser Rifles and Pistols, W . H . B . Smith,

S tackpo le Books, Harr isburg, Pa, 1946

German Pistols and Holsters 1934 -1945, Maj

R.D. Whit t ington I I I , Brownlee Books, 1969

L'Épreuve des Armes a Feu a Liège 1672 -1972,

Claude Gaier, L iège, 1972

Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre 1889 -

1964, L iège, 1965

The EM-2 Concept and Design, Thomas B.

Duge lby , Co l lec tor Grade Publ icat ions,

1980

The American Rifleman, November, 1951

art icle "Tha t .280 British Car t r idge" by Phil

Sharpe

Table of Contents

Book One — The Genesis of the FAL Rifle

Preface — René La loux, C . V . 0 1

Introduction: The Debt to L iège - C laude Gaier 3

Chapter 1: Fabr ique Nat ionale d'Armes de Guerre 5

Chapter 2: The First Four Prototypes 17

Chapter 3: Prototypes 4 to 16 (1949 -1950) 43

Chapter 4: Prototypes 17 to 22 (1950 -1951 ) 59

Chapter 5: Prototypes 23 to 27 (1951 ) 81

Chapter 6: Prototypes 28 to 42 - Debut of the FAL (1952) 93

Chapter 7: Prototypes 43 to 49 (November 1952 - Ju ly 1953) 121

Book Two — The Golden Age

Introduction 147

List of Trials Rif les and Accessor ies made to order, 1954 -1968 148

Part One : The FAL ' C a n a d a ' 1953 153

The United States, 1954 -1957 157

The Fort Benning T48 manual 163

The United K ingdom, 1954 217

Belg ium, 1954 225

Venezue la , 1954 230

Israel, 1955 235

Argent ina, 1955 238

Belgian Congo , 1955 244

Luxembourg, 1956 246

Paraguay, 1956 247

Part Two: The German Gewehr 1, 1956 -1959 249

Part Three: The Wor ld Takes Over

Qatar, 1956 257

Kuwai t , 1957 259

Austr ia, 1958 262

Peru, 1958 266

Indonesia, 1958 268

C u b a , 1958 269

South A f r i ca , 1960 270

Chi le , 1960 272

Saudi Arab ia , 1960 273

Ecuador , 1960 275

Ho l land , 1961 276

Portugal , 1961 277

Tha i land , 1961 278

Braz i l , 1964 279

Greece, 1965 281

Bol iv ia , 1978 282

Part Four: Prototype and Experimental FALs

The FAL 'Para ' 283

The FAL Compet i t ion model 286

The Swedish Experimental FAL, 1960 288

The B lowback FAL, 1964 290

The FN FAL .22 Convers ion Unit 291

The FAL and the Future:

• No 1 - The 3-shot Burst Dev ice 292

• No 2 - The 'Min i -FAL' ca l .223 293

• No 3 - The Stamped FAL Prototype (7.62 mm Rotary Bolt) 295

Part Five: The FAL and the BATF 297

Part Six: The FAL Today 299

Countr ies Adopt ing the FAL Ri f le 299

FAL Cont ract Serial Numbers and Factory Model Designat ions 300

The Three Basic FAL Receivers 303

Current FAL Product ion Models:

(a) Mil i tary 305

(b) Compet i t ion and Sport 307

(c) the Redesigned FAL ' U S A ' 308

Book Three: The FAL Gazetteer

P a r t i : I l lustrated FAL Parts List and Of f i c ia l FN Nomencla ture 311

Barrel Group 312

Receiver Group 314

Mechanism Group 316

Lower Receiver Group 318

Butt Group 320

Magaz ine Group 321

Part 2: Of f i c ia l Canad ian and British Nomencla ture

(a) Canad ian 322

(b) British 325

(c) Of f i c ia l UK /Canad ian Parts Interchangeabi l i ty List 329

Part 3: The FAL Check List

I Barrel Group 331

II The Upper Receiver 334

II I Sights and Opt i cs 339

IV The Lower Receiver 344

V Accessor ies and Anci l lar ies

• Bayonets and Scabbards 350

• Blank Firing Adapters 352

• Grenade Launchers 353

• Grenades 355

• FN 7.62 N A T O Ammuni t ion 357

• Dust Cover 358

• FAL Tools 359

Part 4: Metr ic/ Imperial Measurement Converter 363

The FAL Series: Chrono log ica l Index to Volumes 1, 2 and 3 365

Off icial Trials Reports and Manuals Reprinted or Excerpted in the FAL series 371

Frontispiece

Dieudonné Joseph Sa ive (1888 -1970) Of f icer of the

Order of Leopo ld , Honourary member of L'Associ­

ation des Ingénieurs de la Université de Liège,

Inventor of the FAL Ri f le, holding FN FAL proto­

type no 47. — FN Archive

Book 1

Preface by Monsieur René Laloux, C. V. O.

Director-General of Fabrique Nat ionale, Herstal 1950 - 1963

President du Conseil d'Administration 1963 - 1964 Honourary Cha i rman of the Board of Directors

When Mr Blake Stevens asked me to draw up a

preface for his third volume dedicated to the F A L

rifle, a book third in a series but in fact first and most

important in its scope, I d id not hesitate for an in ­

stant to accept the proposit ion: first because I con­

sider the F A L one of the most bri l l iant of the numer­

ous small arms created at FN since its founding in

1889, and moreover because it gives me the occasion

to speak of the capacious genius of the Belgian inven­

tor Dieudonné Saive. Dur ing his lifetime, Monsieur

Saive's many innovations were generally introduced

to the world under the FN trade name 'Browning', and

it is with pleasure that, after al l these years and my

long association with Monsieur Sa ive , I now see his

accomplishments r ightful ly attributed to h im.

Dur ing both wor ld wars, once in 1915 and again

in 1941, Monsieur Saive left his own country, oc­

cupied as it was by the Germans, and went to work

in England, the first time at the V ickers machine gun

manufactory, . . . and the second time at Cheshunt,

where the Brit ish had established a refugee small

arms study group, several kilometres f rom central

London in order to avo id bombardment.

Monsieur Saive's success in the domain of small

arms design was of course material ly aided by the

hands and minds of the artisans at his disposal in

Herstal, both in the creation of his prototypes and in

their later mass product ion. Indeed, it was this

traditional, unique concentration of ski l led firearms

'know-how' which attributed to the decision of the

greatest firearms designer the wor ld has ever known ,

John M. Browning, to come f rom Utah and establish

himself here in the Liège area, where death took h im

in the very offices which FN had placed at his dis­

posal in Herstal .

I wou ld also l ike to take this opportunity to

thank the Brit ish mil i tary authorities, to whom is due

in great part the creation of the F A L rifle. Aware as

they were of the importance of the work being done

by the Belgian team at Cheshunt, they requested, af­

ter the war, FN 's continued participation in what

became an international project involv ing the U K ,

the United States and C a n a d a , to create a new type of

light infantry rifle. FN enthusiastically accepted this

proposal, and it was under the flag of Great Bri tain

that FN first carried home the v ictory, technical and

poli t ical, of the F A L , thanks to the actions of S i r

Winston Church i l l . T h i s , certainly, merits remem­

bering, for this attitude of a great country towards

one of such smal l size is indeed infrequent !

I t remains only to thank Mr Blake Stevens, and

Monsieur Jean V a n Rutten, for hav ing prepared this

excellent book on the F A L rifle.

Foret-Trooz, Belgium August, 1981

Introduction

Gunmaking: The Debt to Liege

by Claude Gaier Director of the Musée d'Armes of Liège

A highlight of European gunmaking, Liège is an old

French-speaking city of eastern Belg ium, located six­

ty-five miles from Brussels and close to the German

and Dutch borders. It was founded in the eighth cen­

tury, on the banks of the Meuse river. T h i s is the

place where metalworking, mechanics and arms-

making blend into a l iv ing tradition dating back to

the Middle Ages when Liège was the capital city of an

almost independent pr incipal i ty, vassal to the Ger­

man emperors. Th i s small state was declared neutral

country in 1492 and hence found it profitable to

provide weapons to foreign belligerents. From then

on, Liège became an arsenal. For more than a hun­

dred years, however, the exportation of ordnance

prevailed over that of smal l arms. Jean Curt ius

( + 1628) became the wealthiest man in Liège as sup­

plier of powder and ammunit ion to the k ing of Spa in .

The making of armour stamped out of sheet-

iron, of swords, pikes, halberds and of firearms was

also practiced. By that time, exportation had begun

on a wide scale. The fighters of the Dutch-Spanish

war or of the Th i r ty Years war drew freely f rom

Liège stores. On the other hand, the great Liège in ­

dustrialist Louis de Geer emigrated to Sweden and

established gun foundries there which helped K i n g

Gustavus-Adolphus to achieve some of his famous

military victories.

The very peculiar organization of the Liège gun

production of old deserves mention. It became

established in the seventeenth century and lasted as

such until well after the first Wor ld War . The entire

trade was controlled by a handful of merchants who

did the marketing, supplied thousands of craftsmen

with the raw material they needed, paid them for

their handwork and sold the finished weapons for

their own profit. T h e barrel makers were settled in

the country, close to the streams and rivulets which

activated their hammering, dri l l ing and pol ishing

machinery. A l l the other armourers worked in smal l

familial shops, situated in Liège (and also Maestricht

until the early eighteenth century) or in suburban

communit ies, where they would divide into groups,

devoted to var ious specialties of the gunmaking

process. Th i s system of "collective manufacture" as it

was called, evolved into a very intricate network

concerning thousands of people, f rom the wealthiest

to the most modest apprentice.

The proofing of firearms was common practice

in the sixteenth century but since it was done

privately by buyers or suppliers it d id not provide

sufficient legal guarantee. For this reason, archbishop

Max imi l ian-Henry of Bavar ia issued an edict in 1672

that the proof of Liège firearms was to be compulsory

under official supervision. A l l successfully tested

weapons had to be stamped wi th the "perron" mark,

featuring a monument topped with a column which

still is a symbol of the city. Th i s decision was enfor­

ced later on by Napoleon. After three hundred years,

the Liège Proof House remains one of the best

warrants of the quali ty of Liège guns.

T h e mil i tary weapons were exported al l over the

wor ld . France used Liège harquebus under Lou is X I I I

as later Napoleon I I I had Chassepot needle-fire rifles

made in the same city. Freder ick-Wil l iam I of Prussia

asked Liège people to bui ld up his arsenals. Benjamin

Frank l in had Liège muskets shipped to Amer ica

during the W a r of Independence. T h e Brit ish fought

the Cr imean W a r wi th Enfield rifles manufactured in

Liège; the papal troops opposed Gar iba ld i wi th

Liège-made Remingtons; the Russ ian officers used

Belgian-made revolvers at the turn of the last cen­

tury. A few years later, the first large order for

automatic pistols was placed in Liège by the Spanish

government. Established in 1889, Fabrique Nationale

Herstal (best known under the acronym: F N ) is one

of the most outstanding designers and manufacturers

of mil i tary weapons in the wor ld today.

No less famous are the Liège sporting guns and

pistols. Depending on the requirements of the custo­

mer, the best craftsmen have united there to produce

4 Gunmak ing : The Debt to Liège

arms that could reach the level of masterpieces. Liège

has become and still is famous for its firearms

engravers. Some of the best damascus barrels the gun

wor ld has ever produced were forged near Liège. I n ­

numerable fowling pieces and target or duell ing

pistols sold by Par is ian or London gun dealers were,

in fact, of Liège or igin. The Amer ican inventor John

M. Browning came to Liège to have his automatic

pocket pistol and five-shot automatic shotgun

manufactured where the finest crafted and engraved

Browning guns are still made today.

The importance of the Liège gun business

reached its c l imax in the nineteenth century. Short ly

before Wor ld War I, there were more than 14,000

people employed in arms mark ing, among them

nearly two hundred independent entrepreneur-

merchants. In 1907, the production of Liège weapons

reached an all-time record of 1,579,479 pieces. Both

Wor ld Wars and the great depression have altered

the condit ions of this trade. Home workshops have

almost disappeared and modern methods of

manufacturing now prevai l . T h e majori ty of Liège

guns and pistols for ordnance and sports are now

produced by F N , which has become a diversified in­

ternational group wi th subsidiaries and associates all

over the free wor ld . Many mil i tary small arms, both

in 7,62 and 5,56 mm calibre, of FN design or

manufacture are in use in Nor th Amer ica today.

Liège ranks among the very first arms making centres

in the wor ld , as it has for centuries.

Chapter One

Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre

In Liège today are to be seen numerous high, dome­

like hills, some barren, some scrub-covered, some

actually built-over with modern residences. These

small mountains, which tower over the city's

modern-day multi-storey bui ldings, were formed of

nothing more than the pi led-up, nineteenth-century

tailings from the coal mines which from ancient

times have honeycombed the ground now under

the city.

Steel for the armsmakers of Liège now comes

from Sweden, and coal-f ired smelters have given

way to more modern methods. Some of the high

hills have themselves been level led and their con­

tents used as roadbed fil l in the construct ion of

Belgium's modern superhighways, but many remain

as powerful reminders of the industry and deter­

mination of the people of Liège.

The hereditary armsmaking fami l ies of Liège

have over the years entrenched themselves deeply,

by social, school , fami ly and business ties into the

very fabric of polit ics and life itself. In return, the

ancient city has respected and venerated the

thousand-year life's b lood brought by her arms-

making guilds. By Napoleon's royal decree, of the

14th December, 1810 a General Proofing law for all

French territory made compulsory the proofing of

all weapons, excluding the inexpensive ' trade' mus­

kets used for bartering with native peoples in Amer­

ica, Afr ica and the far East. O n e of the armsmakers

themselves was to be the overseer and administra­

tor of this proofing faci l i ty, thus recommencing

many years of the old French tradit ion of affer­

mage, wherein one privi leged fami ly , or house, pur­

chased from the K ing the exc lus ive and hereditary

rights to be 'proofmaster', for a set price, and then

charged any and all comers whatever the market

would bear for the proofing of their arms. The

historic Laloux fami ly was the proofmaster of

Liège. By the time the new law of the independent

Belgian state of 1846 cance l led the old proof ing

system, the La loux fortune was substant ial , and the

fami ly cont inued to f igure prominently in the arms-

making business of Liège. The present-day Liège

Banc d'Épreuves, (Proof House)* , was conf i rmed in

law by the Statute of 24th May, 1888, and aside

from brief periods and during the two world wars,

has been in unwaver ing existence ever s ince.

By 1850, the revolut ionary concept of inter-

changeabi l i ty was being demonstrated by the

famous Amer ican gunmaker Samuel Col t . Whit-

worth machines, newly invented, made possible

metalworking precision of a degree hitherto

unknown. The products of the Liège armouries

soon began to bear witness to this new age. In 1869,

the electr ic dynamo was invented by Liègois artisan

Zenobe Gramme; electr ic motors soon began to

spell the end of noisome steam-drive in the sprawl­

ing factories of L iège.

Each of the proud, independent Liègois arms-

making houses was a separate entity unto itself,

with tradit ional supply routes, manufactur ing prac­

t ices, customers and rivalries. The largest had

literal control over every conce ivab le facet of their

business, from partnership in the iron mill to a

vo ice in the tradit ional ly defense-conscious

Government. They were, shall we say, geared for

product ion. A long with numerous commerc ia l en­

terprises, they had already become, by 1700, the

arms suppl iers to the major armies of Europe. In

1830, nearly 200,000 arms were forged, bored,

mi l led, s tocked, proofed and accepted at the Banc

d'Épreuves in Liège. Arms proofed in the afore­

mentioned state Proof house trebled in number to

c lose to 600,000 per year in the scant twenty-year

period 1830 to 1850.

In 1854, during the Cr imean War, the houses of

Anc ion and Company , Pirlot Brothers, Renkin

* The word banc is derived from the literal "bank" of a dozen or more barrels, routinely lined up for proofing at one time.

6 Fabrique Nat ionale d'Armes de Guerre

Fig 1 Hand-forming a damascus steel barrel around a mandrel, in the Liège of the nineteenth century.

— Musée d'Armes de Liège

Brothers and Auguste Francotte joined forces to

furnish a hard-pressed British Government with

20,000 Enf ield Muskets. (That same year, an order

was executed in Liège for a " large quanti ty of

revolvers, to be del ivered to Mr Samuel Co l t v ia

Russia") . This and other 'marr iages of conven ience '

became more and more the order of the day as

foreign governments rushed ever-larger orders to

Liège, and the firms strove to fulf i l l them. These

temporary mergers were seen by the more prudent

Liègois f irms as a weak link in an otherwise strong

chain. In 1867, the newly-establ ished armsmaking

firm of Dresse-Laloux and Company , founded in

1862, was successfu l in acquir ing the contract to

convert the entire rifle arsenal of the Belgian Army

to the new Alb in i -Brändl in trapdoor breechloading

system. The qual i ty Liège product, and the ad­

mirable despatch with which i t was del ivered,

brought fabulous foreign orders. In the heady course

of 1870 several prominent Liègois armsmakers,

including the f irm of Dresse-Laloux, endeavoured

to end the uncertainty of the temporary, per-order-

basis l iaisons among the armsmaking houses. They

establ ished the first permanent common en­

deavour, ca l led the "Li t t le Syndicate" . It was im­

mediately wished well by the Belgian government

with a healthy contract to make the Comblain

model rifle for the Belgian civ i l guard. A second

coal i t ion was formed on Apr i l 11, of that same year

— several months before the breakout of the Franco-

Prussian war - the "Lit t le Synd ica te" and others

joined in a venture f rankly descr ibed as "commer­

c ia l , but of great success" . The independent way of

thinking was deeply ingrained however, and was

hard to put to rest. A third col lect ive, including a

yet-again expanded "Lit t le Syndicate" , f inally

agreed, under the crushing pressure of work, to join

forces as "The Reuni ted Armsmakers " in 1886.

The f irepower advantage offered by the

proliferating new breechloading rifle designs

needed little proving; the whole wor ld was re­

arming with them. Redoub led foreign orders meant

an oppressively heavy product ion schedule for

everyone in Liège. This soon forced the Reuni ted

Armsmakers, together with some remaining In­

dependents, to join forces at last, all manifest ly

dedicated to the establ ishment of a "manufactory

of military arms equal to the actual necessity". On

July 3rd 1889, the uncontested proposal for the

name of the new, al l -embracing Society was

Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre — l i terally,

the "Nat ional Manufactory of Weapons of War" .

The signatories were as fo l lows:

• Albert S imonis, armsmaker

• Jules Anc ion and Company , armsmakers

• Dresse-La loux and Company , underwriters

and armsmakers

• Liègois Manufactory of Firearms, Ltd

• Dumou l in Brothers, armsmakers

• Joseph Janssen, armsmaker

• Henri Pieper, armsmaker

• Pirlot and Frésart, armsmakers

• Credit Genera l Liègois C o m p a n y Limited

• N ico las V ivar io , landowner

• Auguste Francotte, armsmaker

• Emi le and Léon Nagant , armsmakers

The new Society, or F N , as it soon became

known, immediately entered into contract with the

Belgian government to supply, at a st ipulated price

of 79 francs per weapon, 150,000 of whichever

design the government chose as the new repeating

rifle for the Belg ian Army. Belg ium, a very smal l

nation geographica l ly , nevertheless lacked little in

its age-old determinat ion to defend its sovereignty

by its own endeavour as ef fect ively as possible. A

number of breech loading rifle designs had been

made, and consequent ly thoroughly studied, by the

independent companies now compr is ing F N , under

various contracts for foreign governments. The

newly-introduced 1888 Mauser rifle, however,

made in Germany, and the new concept of charger,

or packet, loading, was immediately seen as c lear ly

superior to any system thus far tested. The Mauser

design at this point featured the Mannl icher-style

clip, which was loaded en bloc with the cartr idges

it contained. This en bloc c l ip was necessary for

feeding, but cou ld not be replenished. The

following interesting account of this period is

reprinted by kind permission of S tackpo le and C o ,

from the late Walter H.B. Smith's 1946 book

Mauser Rifles and Pistols:

Fig 2 Although patented in Paris, the electric dynamo was invented by a Liègois, Zenobe Gramme. A rifle was later made for him in Liège, featuring a damascus barrel of incredible artistry. Here is a view of the top three flats of this octagon barrel - the name of the famous inventor can be seen, masterfully woven into the steel, over and over. — Musée d'Armes de Liège

The Rise of the Mauser Clip-loader

Short ly after the introduction of the Model 1888 rifle

into Germany, Belgium considered adopting a

similar type of multiple (or packet) loading arm.

However , after careful consideration and tests of

loading systems, it was decided that a more desirable

form than the Mannl icher would be one in which the

cartridges could be inserted singly to reload the

magazine when time or opportunity permitted; in

which the clip wou ld not constitute a necessary part

of the magazine mechanism, since rusting or defor­

mation of the cl ip could result in jams; and in which

8 Fabrique Nat ionale d'Armes de Guerre

the desirable factor of single-motion magazine

loading could be retained.

The Belgian A r m y therefore requested manufac­

turers of small arms in all countries to submit rifles

into which the cartridges could be speedily inserted in

groups as in the Mannl icher, but without the draw­

backs encountered wi th the packet system of loading

where the arm could not be singly reloaded or the

magazine held in reserve during battlefield use. It was

stipulated that it was indispensable to the complete

reliability of the arm that the magazine should be

such as to permit refill ing with single cartridges at

any time.

From this request of the Belgian Government

developed the next Mauser rifle, one based on an in ­

vention of Mauser's patented under specification no.

12689 in England in 1888. Th i s device was the now

famil iar cartridge clip upon which f ive cartridges are

mounted so they can be stripped down into the

magazine without inserting the clip itself. T h i s sys­

tem permits reloading with indiv idual cartridges

whenever the magazine is part ly depleted and oppor­

tunity permits. Th i s strip-in cl ip, by speeding up

magazine loading without danger of jamming, com­

pletely revolutionized the development of mil i tary

rifles.

I ronical ly enough, the first official tests of the

new Mauser loading system were held in Eng land;

and the Brit ish War Off ice passed up an opportunity

to be the first in the field with this new form of speed

loading.

Model 1889, Belgian Mauser In response to the request of the Belgian Government

for the submission of test rifles, weapons were sup­

plied by manufacturers f rom many countries. After

extensive and detailed testing, the Belgian Govern ­

ment f inal ly accepted the new Mauser rifle. Th i s

was the first weapon manufactured by Mauser to

employ a box magazine, and the first on which his

now famous cartridge clip was used as a quick

loading instrument.

Wi th only minor modif ications, this rifle was of­

f icial ly in use by the Belgian Government in Wor ld

War I. The essential design of the rifle was so correct

that only minor modif ications were necessary; and

even the most modern Mausers va ry f rom it in detail

rather than principle.

Herr Mauser had prudently 'papered' his new in­

ventions with exhaust ive patents, at home and

abroad, including a hal f -dozen in Belg ium itself. A l l

Mauser designs, and indeed the Waffenfabr ik

Mauser factory, were part of the empire of the

megal i th ic Ludwig Loewe and Company of Berl in.

FN foresaw the impact that the new Mauser design

was yet to have. They entered into a contract with

Loewe in August , 1889, offering product ion, under

l icense, of the new Mauser designs in exchange for

FN's "acquis i t ion of materials necessary for the

mass product ion of the aforesaid rifle and the

technical assistance required to that end". An in­

t imate and complex l iaison with the German arms

industry was thus built up over the first few years of

existence of the new Fabrique Nationale cartel. The

manufacture of the Belgian Mauser rifle and its

variants was to become a mainstay of the

economies of both Belg ium and Germany: over

1,350,000 arms of all types were proofed at Liège in

1900; the industrial census had four years earlier

numbered more than 13,000 artisan-armourers in

the Liège area.

Assured of their future act iv i ty over the next

few years, the FN Society embarked on the con­

struction of a faci l i ty suitable to their purpose, and

decided on some property in the area of the parish

of Herstal , near Liège. Here they built first an ar­

moury and later a cartr idge manufactory. Their

careful ly- invested interest in, and development of,

both arms and their ammuni t ion continues to this

day.

The bonds with the covetous Ludwig Loewe

and Co grew tighter, through increased contact

with other Loewe subsidiaries, Deutsche Waffen

und Munit ionsfabr iken, (DWM), and the cartridge

factory Deutsche Metal lpatronenfabrik. FN cor­

rectly saw license to the Mauser patents as the key to

the future, and in 1891 signed further binding con­

tracts with the German giant, which granted FN

what appeared to be direct l icense to manufacture

the 1889 model Mauser rifle.

Numerous mil i tary orders fo l lowed, each with

smal l but dist inguishing variat ions to the basic

Mauser design as demanded by the various client

governments. A l l was well until Brazi l placed a

direct order with Fabrique Nat ionale for a pro­

posed modi f icat ion of the 1893 FN-licensed

"Span i sh " Mauser. Waf fenfabr ik Mauser, seeing

their hitherto c losely-held rein on events loosening

by the minute, threatened suit if FN should proceed

with the order. A draconian battle ensued, resulting

in the abject at tachment of FN to the gigantic

chain of jewels wh ich was Ludwig Loewe. Belgian

artisans were henceforth directed by German

technic ians. It was the period during which, for

good or il l, FN quite l iterally abandoned the in­

nocence of empir ical inspiration and advanced to

methods of modern-day scient i f ic analysis. There

was much to learn in the "German school" , and FN

product ion smoothed out dramat ical ly under the

pract iced hands of overseeing Loewe engineers, all

graduates of apprent iceships at D W M and Waf fen­

fabrik Mauser.

The "p ie" of Mauser rifle profits was appor­

tioned thusly in 1897:

• D W M (Berlin) 32 .5%

• Mauser Waf fenfabr ik (Oberndorf) 2 0 %

• Steyr Waf fenfabr ik (Steyr) 32 .5%

• Fabrique Nat ionale d'Armes de Guerre (Her-

s t a l ) 15%

The FN directors saw that the Mauser patent

stranglehold prec luded their ever seeing the lion's

share of the profits, regardless of how di l igent ly

they improved their product ion capac i ty . The

directorship therefore undertook to establ ish a

series of new div is ions, independent of the Loewe-

dominated armoury. These were set up and over

the years designed, developed and sold b icyc les ,

motorcycles, motor vehic les and sporting arms.

In the course of an energetic campa ign to pur­

sue viable new designs for this latter d iv is ion, the

Browning brothers of Ogden , Utah, U S A were en­

countered. An intimate l iaison of many years stand­

ing was thus begun.

After several years of contract negotiat ions by

mail, the rocksure Mormon John Moses Browning

first travelled to Europe in February, 1902, and felt

right at home in Herstal /L iège. Indeed, in the course

of his famous associat ion with F N , he made over 60

sea voyages to Belg ium. John Moses Browning was

known in the atelier as "the master". The FN artisans

genuinely revered this tal l , stern Amer ican .

Years of great d i l igence and prosperity

followed, with orders pouring in from around the

world for Browning's ever-new sporting designs and

FN-licensed Mauser mil i tary rifles. Dur ing this

period, before Wor ld War I, the FN Society

remained deeply and contractual ly involved with

the large German arms cartel .

Ties of long-standing mutual respect, built up

among these part icipants in their common en­

deavour, were shattered by the 1914 invasion of

Belgium by the German Imperial Army. After a

short, tragic resistance, the Liège city square fel l on

the 16th of August 1914. The Germans immediately

declared that FN's industrial act iv i ty should

proceed "unimpeded". Examples of determinat ion,

not to say heroism, greeted this demand. The direc­

tor himself. Monsieur Andr i , with the unanimous

approval of the Counc i l of the Society, refused to

manufacture arms for the Germans. He and others

were interned in prison camps. The Germans in

desperation f inal ly c losed the weapons faci l i ty

altogether, barred the Belgian directorship from

entering the plant, and set up a vehic le repair shop

in the FN motor veh ic le div is ion.

The end of the war was also the end of an

epoch. D W M was forced to cede its control l ing in­

terest in Fabr ique Nat ionale to a newly-formed

Liègois f inancia l union. The c l imate engendered by

the war had made German dominat ion, especia l ly

of a weapons factory, intolerable to the Belgian

consc ience.

In the euphor ia of victory, the thought was

that once the war damage was swept up and

forgotten, the Society would resume its tradit ional

activi t ies and soon recapture the pre-war era of

fabulous prosperity. Disenchantment rapidly set in

on every score. The war had dealt a death-blow to

the stabil i ty of the var ious monetary systems on

which rested the entire European economy; the

v indict ive treaties of Versai l les and Sèvres only

aggravated the situation. Massive currency

devaluat ions, together with cr ippl ing customs

duties, defeated any thought of revived inter­

national trade. FN also faced grave problems in in­

ternal re-organization. Before the war, the c lose

associat ion with the overseeing German Deutsche

Waf fen und Muni t ionsfabr iken (DWM) had been of

inest imable va lue from the standpoint of the tech­

nical expertise the Germans had pumped in. In

point of fact the key technical posit ions in the pre­

war FN factor ies had been largely a German pre­

rogative. This was now out of the quest ion, even

though it meant absolutely drastic cu tbacks in

product ion, due to the plain and simple lack of

manager ia l ly-qual i f ied Belgian personnel. Art isans,

known in their tradit ional numbers before the toll

of the war, were now almost a thing of the past.

Handwork itself and the traditions it personif ied

now had to compromise with the modern machine

age the war had brought about. A new technica l -

work-force had to be wrought from the young and

the avai lab le. A professional school was

establ ished within the conf ines of the FN factory

grounds in Herstal . Pioneer work in psycho log ica l

testing greatly improved the usual trial-and-error

methods of recruitment. This contr ibuted in the

end to a high order of success among those accep­

ted, but in direct contrast to the fifteen years of

tranqui l , albeit subservient, prosperity which had

preceded Wor ld War I, the post-war period was

gray indeed.

War reparations and reconstruct ion assistance

from the Belgian government aided in a slow but

determined re-establishment of qual i ty weapons

product ion. The directors, at the earl iest possible

opportunity, embarked on an ambit ious program­

me to modern ize the tool ing and methods of pro-

10 Fabr ique Nat ionale d'Armes de Guerre

Fig 3 The historic coat of arms of Liège, featuring the famous Perron, in use since 1811 as an acceptance proof-mark. The medals appended to the shield were awarded to the city by the Belgian government for its heroic con­duct during World War One.

— Musée d'Armes de Liège

duction in the armoury. John Browning had returned

to Herstal , and in concert with FN personnel,

worked contentedly on numerous successfu l com­

mercial projects. He was complet ing one of his

most famous designs, the Browning superposed

shotgun, when he died suddenly in 1926, in the very

off ices where he had worked. His marvel lous inven­

tive gifts had held ful l sway there for more than

thirty years. He is remembered to this day, in name

and legend, at FN and indeed throughout French-

speaking Europe, where the word "browning" is

synonymous with "pistol" .

Dur ing the just-finished First War, John

Browning had devoted his t ime and work to the

mil i tary need in the United States. He had invented

and perfected two arms: a shoulder f ired, gas-

operated machine-r i f le and a water-cooled, short-

recoil-operated light machine gun. These were

qu ick ly adopted into Amer ican service, respec­

t ively as the Browning Automat ic Rif le (BAR)

model 1918, and the 1917 Browning water-cooled

machine gun. Both weapons saw duty on the French

front. Col t 's had successfu l ly negotiated the con­

tract to manufacture these new Browning weapons,

at its Hartford plant, and had been granted the ex­

c lus ive, world-wide rights to the two designs.

In 1924 the reconstructed Pol ish Army decided

to adopt the B A R design, with slight alterations, in­

to its mil i tary service. They proposed to Colt's that

they buy several thousand machine rifles outright,

and then bring manufactur ing procedures to

Poland to make the remainder under l icense. Colt's

entered into a contract, naming FN as its European

agent. It was soon made apparent that the suc­

cessful product ion of a relatively compl icated

weapon like the B A R required a good deal of

previous arms experience. Colt 's was busy enough

at home and cou ld wel l see peril in spreading itself,

too thinly, across Europe. A contract was signed in

December 1927, naming Fabrique Nationale d'Armes

de Guerre the sole suppl ier of 10,000 modif ied BAR

automat ic rifles for the new Pol ish army.

Over six hundred new metalworking machines

were purchased for the armoury during this period.

The engineering school was proving a great suc­

cess, and the graduate technic ians grew daily more

at ease with the most del icate problems of dimen­

sioning and tolerancing.

The memories of the war lingered on, however.

A new FN ammuni t ion factory was constructed at

Bruges, still in Belg ium but considerably further

west than Herstal , away from the German border.

The Belgian government felt that, to safeguard its

very autonomy, as much spec ia l ized knowledge as

was here embodied should not be concentrated in

any one p lace. Through the early thirties, the FN

motor vehic le div is ion, wh ich by now had for years

been manufactur ing quite an extensive line of

unique, chainless b icyc les , as well as motorcycles

and motor vehic les, took these latter vehicles into

compet i t ion. Their motorcyc les and racing cars

met with success after bri l l iant success at the gala

pan-European auto rall ies and road races of the

period. At the c lose of 1935, FN proudly held 81

world racing records.

It was, however, t ime to regroup. Quantity

manufacture of commerc ia l motor vehicles in a

Europe s lammed shut with protectionism and

paranoid trade barriers seemed utterly impractical.

The director general of the FN Society at that time

was Monsieur Gustave Joassart , whose views as to

what lay ahead for FN have to this day proven

prophetic. He f i rmly directed the total effort of the

by-now considerable technical entity of Fabrique

Nat ionale into "the business of arms and

munitions". In this belief, he was ably assisted by

Monsieur René Laloux, who as assistant director

under Monsieur Joassart , was himself the son of a

respected FN administrator. He was and is today

the living face of the aristocrat ic La loux tradit ion

of armsmaking.

A certain Monsieur Dieudonné Saive had been

working with quiet dist inct ion in the armoury since

August 14, 1919. Indeed, he had spent the latter

years of Wor ld War I working as a common

machinist for the A l l ied cause, in the V ickers

machine gun factory in England, and thereafter

became John Browning's trusted assistant. Hence­

forth the process of FN prototype weapons

development was to be under his control . Under his

direction a s lowdown device, and later a qu ick-

removable barrel, were added to the FN-l icensed

version of the B A R . Both features were adopted ex­

tensively in pre-world-war-II Europe. Monsieur

Saive also modif ied the basic 1917 Browning infan­

try machine gun into a smal l or medium cal ibre

weapon, capab le of a high rate of fire, ideal for the

newly-popular pursuit and fighter aircraft of the

day. In 1932 Monsieur Saive designed a smal l

pocket or purse pistol of appeal ing form. It was

marketed successfu l ly as the "Browning Baby" in

calibre 6.35 mm (.25 A C P ) . Later he appl ied his own

ideas on combin ing manageable weight and

proportions, with the large-capaci ty prototype

high-powered automat ic pistol John Browning has

left behind. The 9 mm model 1935 GP (Grande

Puissance) was thus born as the 13-shot Browning

High Power Pistol.

In those days, and indeed ever s ince the founding

of the Society in 1889, the tradit ion of 'al l for one'

was very strongly held at F N . Even today there is

some object ion to indiv iduals ' identities being at­

tached to each success ive invention and develop­

ment. Monsieur Sa ive and Monsieur La loux

however went on to make up a team in the league

of those who deserve status as indiv iduals.

Throughout the later thirties, in the midst of slow

economic renaissance, the nations of Europe

watched the phenomenal rise of Nat ional Socia l is t

power in Germany. React ion among Germany's

proximitous neighbours was very mixed. In 1936,

from Akt iebolaget Bofors, the famous Swedish

Powder and Arms f irm, whose patents fund the

Nobel prize, FN obtained the l icense to manufac­

ture the superb 40 mm Bofors automat ic cannon.

Nationalist Ch ina , f ight ing for its life against in­

vading Japan, made Ch iang Ka i Chek the largest

cl ient FN had ever had. In the course of the thirties,

Ch ina purchased over 164,000 Mauser rifles, large

quantit ies of numerous other weapons and over

100 mil l ion infantry cartr idges. FN was very busy

supply ing Latin Amer ica , Europe and the far East

with ever increasing numbers of arms. The 3rd of

Ju ly 1939 marked the 50th anniversary of the foun­

ding of Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre.

Monsieur Joassart , the director general, noted to

his fel low-workers in a speech marking the oc­

casion that FN had tradit ional ly been involved in

two activi t ies. These he cited as the manufacture of

goods for the mil itary, or for war, and goods of

commerc ia l manufacture: shotguns, b icyc les,

motorcyc les and motor vehic les, for sale to the

general publ ic . He then declared: "Born to keep

Belg ium free, and baptised at its birth Fabrique

Nationale d'Armes de Guerre, our Society must per­

sonify the life and act iv i ty destined by our name."

As the threat of war loomed up for the second time

in a quarter-century, FN returned to the " loves of its

foundat ion and its first years", as Monsieur Joassart

put it, and became strictly and determinedly an ar­

senal .

On the first of September 1939, the Naz is invaded

Poland. France and Great Britain declared war on

Germany. The smal l nations of Europe ceased

mobi l izat ion and held their breath under a shaki ly-

declared neutrality. FN was determined that their

newly-made stocks of Bofors anti-aircraft cannon

should not aid their hated neighbour. Without wait­

ing for orders to be processed, all ava i lab le cannon

were shipped out in t ime to render precious service

to both France and England in the course of the war

years that were to fol low. The 'phoney war' seemed

to drag on interminably, then Germany suddenly

moved north on Denmark and Norway. The British

Defense Establ ishment was galvanised into act ion:

FN was hurriedly invited to erect a plant, in Eng­

land, to manufacture .50 Browning aircraft machine

guns. Monsieur Joassart , who now occup ied the

combined off ices of director general and admin­

istrator, went to Eng land, accompan ied by his

assistant director, Monsieur René Laloux. They

were in the midst of talks with the British Ministry

of Defense on May 10th 1940, when Belg ium and

the Netherlands were invaded. Hitler's Wehrmacht

had launched the first grand Western front offen­

sive against the Al l ies.

12 Fabrique Nat ionale d'Armes de Guerre

The war did not exact ly take FN unawares. In 1939,

in accord with the Belg ian Defense Ministry, the FN

Counc i l had cance l led the del ivery of weapons or­

ders to potential ly hosti le cl ients. The Liège area

was still bitterly remembered as being relatively

undefendable. The Bruges ammuni t ion faci l i ty,

farther toward the French coast, was capab le of

producing one mil l ion cartr idges a day, and was by

no means to fal l into Naz i hands. A plan was in

existence to effect the evacuat ion of strategic

machines and materials from Herstal and the

Bruges plant to several factories already set up in

the south of France.

The newly developed German "l ightning war"

tact ics staggered the world. In contrast to the first

world war, during which Belgian troops were never

complete ly defeated, Belg ium now capi tu lated in

18 days. Mechanised German units entered Liège

on the 12th of May 1940, sweeping away any token

resistance before them. Belgian General Quint in ,

commanding the Bruges area, ordered the im­

mediate evacuat ion of the complete FN Bruges

ammunit ion faci l i ty to France. Four trainloads of

machines and equipment, and several car loads of

FN personnel, were reunited at the State Arsenal of

Toulouse in early June. Unfortunately, the ar­

mist ice on the French front was declared the very

day before the machines were ready to begin pro­

duct ion of ammuni t ion to augment A l l ied suppl ies.

The new faci l i ty remained dormant; the Germans

were unable to get their c lutches on this plum for

two ful l years hence due to the neutralit ies agreed

to in the setup of V i chy France. Be lg ium, together

with Luxembourg and the northern districts of

France, fel l into the vanquishers ' hands.

Two of the FN directors who l ived in Liège

were summoned by the German area commander.

Each , separately, was ordered to react ivate the fac­

tories. The directors refused point-blank, and in this

were upheld by the FN counc i l president. Monsieur

Alexandre Ga lop in . The Germans meanwhi le

seized all the completed arms and munit ions to be

found in the factory, and prepared them for im­

mediate issue. The two Liège directors were sum­

mari ly informed that the entire FN operation was

henceforth a subsidiary of D W M , Berl in. Such in­

terests of the FN Society as were deemed worthy of

considerat ion were henceforth to be represented

by an off icer of the Oberkommando der Wehr-

macht (OKW) . As a f inal note of ignomy. Fabrique

Nationale d'Armes de Guerre ceased to exist as such

and was now of f ic ia l ly " D W M , Werk Lütt ich".

Memories die hard on both sides of the German-

Belgian border.

A steadi ly darkening period fo l lowed. The FN

directors appealed to the Germans, arguing that

peace would inevitably come, and courageously

demanding the right to prepare for the day when FN

would once again lead the world in the manufac­

ture of such things as sporting arms and bicycles.

The Germans curt ly agreed that two smal l offices

cou ld be opened in the city of Liège for this pur­

pose. At first the Germans were almost em­

barrassingly unsuccessfu l at keeping the FN facil ity

al ive. Of a prewar labour force of 10,000, only

about 1,000 agreed to stay and work voluntari ly. By

the spring of 1942, however, an iron grip tightened

merci lessly on every possible supply source as

more and more weapons, munit ions and vehicles

were swept up in the colossal German war effort.

The off ices which FN had set up for research were

summari ly c losed, and the two uncompromising

directors. Monsieur Pommerenke and Monsieur

Lecocq , were conf ined to house arrest. The other

staff members were ordered to return to the plant

and a labour force of 12,000 was coerced from the

gray, conquered ci t izenry of Europe by new Nazi

"obl igatory work" orders.

Two years of this hated work, marked by ram­

pant sabotage, ended very soon after the Al l ied in­

vasion of Normandy on the 6th of June, 1944. In a

reverse-replay of the l ightning Naz i arrival four

years earlier, German plans for the complete

evacuat ion of "Werk Lüt t ich" back to the

fatherland were largely foi led by the quick All ied

advance. On the 5th of September the hated O K W -

appointed director released the Liège directors

from their conf inement and without ceremony

returned to them possession of the FN works. He

then left, his overseers and troops fol lowed, and

Liège was l iberated by Amer ican troops three days

later.

The factories were in a shambles. The very

heart of the plant, nearly two thousand machine

tools of the latest design, had been methodical ly

crated and sent off on goods trains to D W M plants

in Germany and Poland. Most of what the Germans

left behind had been merci lessly worked to near-

co l lapse during the occupat ion . The Americans

immediately declared Liège an Al l ied provisioning

area. The cr ippled FN works was nursed into 24

hour-a-day product ion of s imple but strategic items

requiring a relat ively low degree of accuracy in

manufacture: cast-iron tank treads, stamped-and-

welded jerrycans — anything to begin the

revi tal izat ion process as qu ick ly as possible. The

Germans, beaten back on every front, now resorted

to desperate tact ics to postpone their inevitable de­

feat. Fevered research had provided them with fan­

tastic new rocket weaponry, combining offence

with defence. Ful ly aware of the potential of the

Liège area even after their despoi lat ion of it, the

Fig 4 When the Germans left in 1944, the FN factories were in a shambles.

— FN Archive

crumbling Reich concentrated madly on its further

destruction. From November 1944 to February

1945, Liège was a target for very heavy V-1 and V-2

rocket-bomb at tacks. The map in f igure 7 shows the

number and locat ion of the strikes, as the Germans

vainly tried to deny the Al l ies this source of supply.

General Walter Dornberger later wrote a book en­

titled V-2, and is quoted by Gen Ju l ian Hatcher in

his famous "Notebook" as saying: "The V-2 rocket

weighed 8,818 lbs (empty of fuel but with warhead).

It rose in mid-fl ight to a height of 56 miles at a ve lo­

city of 3,000 to 3,600 feet per second, and struck its

target with the energy of roughly fourteen hundred

million foot-pounds." The FN factory bui ld ings

sustained extensive and repeated damage (see

f igures 5 and 6), but were stil l in operat ion when the

European war ended in May 1945.

As the war neared its end, every US mil i tary

smal l arm in Europe had to be c leaned, inspected,

gauged, repaired with spare parts either suppl ied or

newly manufactured, and then packed away. The

Amer icans, in return for loyal and herculean efforts

expended on their behalf, gave the job to F N . The

factories, which the personnel had part ial ly recon­

structed, were able to complete this monumental

endeavour in just one year. More than 2,100,000 US

smal l arms weapons of every descr ipt ion were

processed.

14 Fabrique Nat ionale d'Armes de Guerre

Fig 5 Initial V-1 f ly ing-bomb strike on the FN head of­f ices, November 28, 1944.

Fig 6 Second V-1 strike, Christmas eve, 1944. John Browning had worked and died in these offices.

— FN Archive

Fig 7 A map of the Liège area showing V-bomb strikes 1944-45.

1 6 F a b r i q u e N a t i o n a l e d ' A r m e s d e G u e r r e

Fig 8 Refurbishing M1 Garand stocks in an FN atelier. One scene from among hundreds, 1945. Over two million American small arms were reconditioned at FN during and after the final months of the war.

— FN Archive

Chapter 2

The First Four Prototypes

A m o n g t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h o s e a t F N w h o h a d

initially r e fu sed t o w o r k for t h e G e r m a n s , f ive

v a l u a b l e m e n w e r e a i d e d t o e s c a p e t o E n g l a n d , b y

a long a n d c i r c u i t o u s r o u t e , in t h e s u m m e r o f 1 9 4 1 .

In a journey las t ing seve ra l m o n t h s , t h e f ive t r a v e l l e d

sou th b y t r a in t h r o u g h F r a n c e , t h e n S p a i n , a n d o n

to neutral Po r tuga l . T h e o n l y ' h i c c u p ' in t h e a r r a n g e ­

men t s w a s t h a t all f ive b o r e a B e l g i a n p a s s p o r t ,

issued in t h e s a m e n a m e ! I t w a s f o r t u n a t e l y c o u n t e r ­

signed by a h i g h - r a n k i n g , p r o - G e r m a n F r e n c h of­

ficer. A s m a l l KLM a i r c r a f t w a s still m a k i n g s c h e d ­

uled f l ights f r o m P o r t o , P o r t u g a l t o Br i s to l , Eng­

land, a n d t h e f ive , s p l i t i n t o t w o g r o u p s , e s c a p e d .

O n e o f t h e f ive , t h e d i s t i n g u i s h e d FN d i r e c t o r

genera l G u s t a v e J o a s s a r t , w a s s u b s e q u e n t l y e l e c ­

ted u n d e r - s e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e i n t h e B e l g i a n g o v e r n ­

ment - in -ex i l e i n E n g l a n d . A n o t h e r o f t h e g r o u p ,

D i e u d o n n é S a i v e , h a d b e e n a s m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r

FN's chief a r m s d e s i g n e r s i n c e t h e d e a t h o f J o h n

Browning in 1 9 2 6 . His n e w g a s - o p e r a t e d , t i l t i n g - b o l t

rifle de s ign h a d b e e n w e l l i n h a n d w h e n t h e G e r ­

m a n s i n v a d e d B e l g i u m . T h e d r a w i n g s fo r t h i s d e ­

sign had b e e n h i d d e n . M . S a i v e r e f u s e d t o w o r k for

t he Naz i s , a n d c o n t i n u e d his w o r k , o s t e n s i b l y o n

' c o m m e r c i a l ' p r o j e c t s , i n t h e lof t o f o n e o f t h e

small Liège o f f i c e s t h e G e r m a n s h a d a l l o w e d .

W h e n h e left, t h e d r a w i n g s w e r e c o u r a g e o u s l y

s e c r e t e d on his p e r s o n , a n d u p o n his a r r i va l i n

England h e o f f e r e d t h e m a n d his s e r v i c e s t o t h e

British Min i s t ry o f D e f e n c e . H e w o r k e d o n t h i s

p r o j e c t unt i l t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f B e l g i u m as a m e m b e r

o f t h e m u l t i - n a t i o n a l S m a l l A r m s G r o u p , a t

C h e s h u n t , u n d e r UK Col E.N. K e n t - L e m o n . T h e

s tory o f his rifle, k n o w n a n d f i rs t m a d e in E n g l a n d

as t h e EXP-1, is r e l a t e d in V o l u m e T w o of t h i s s e r i e s ,

UK and Commonwealth FALs. M o n s i e u r R e n é

Laloux, a s s i s t a n t d i r e c t o r t o M o n s i e u r J o a s s a r t , a n d

a l so o n e o f t h e g r o u p o f e s c a p e e s , w a s h i m s e l f t h e

s o n o f a r e s p e c t e d FN a d m i n i s t r a t o r , a n d t h e s c i o n

o f a n h i s t o r i c f o u n d i n g f a m i l y o f t h e o r i g i n a l 1 8 8 9

Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de G u e r r e . A s h r e w d ,

a r i s t o c r a t i c m a n . M o n s i e u r L a l o u x w a s r igh t a t

h o m e w i t h t h e ' o l d s c h o o l t i e ' t r a d i t i o n s o f t h e u p ­

p e r - c l a s s o f f i c e r s o f t h e Bri t ish A r m a m e n t D e s i g n

E s t a b l i s h m e n t (ADE). T h e r e w a s o f c o u r s e m u c h

h i s t o r i c a l g r o u n d i n g for t h i s a s s o c i a t i o n , la id s i n c e

t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y b e t w e e n t h e Armuriers o f

L iège a n d t h e Bri t ish g o v e r n m e n t . M o n s i e u r La loux

b e c a m e f a s t f r i e n d s w i t h s e v e r a l i n f l u e n t i a l Bri t ish

o f f i c e r s w h o w e r e k e e n l y i n t e r e s t e d i n a r m s , a r m a ­

m e n t s a n d t h e i m p r o v e m e n t s t h e w a r w a s b o u n d t o

b r i n g t o m i l i t a r y w e a p o n r y . A c o m m o n p u r p o s e

e x i s t e d a m o n g t h e m al l . Af te r t h e w a r t h e s e a s s o c ­

i a t i o n s p r o v e d t h e b a s i s fo r a s t u n n i n g l y s u c c e s s f u l

c o - o p e r a t i v e r a p p o r t b e t w e e n t h e Bri t ish a n d

F a b r i q u e N a t i o n a l e , w h e r e i n m u c h c a p t u r e d infor­

m a t i o n , t r i a l s r e s u l t s a n d n e w f i n d i n g s w e r e f r ee ly

p o o l e d .

W i t h t h e c o l l a p s e o f G e r m a n y i n M a y 1 9 4 5 ,

t h e v i c t o r i o u s Al l ies w e r e f r ee t o e v a l u a t e G e r m a n

w a r t i m e rifle a n d c a r t r i d g e d e v e l o p m e n t s a t t h e i r

l e i s u r e . T h e s e j o b s n a t u r a l l y fell t o t h o s e c o n c e r ­

n e d w i t h a r m a m e n t s i n t h e r e s p e c t i v e Al l i ed c o u n ­

t r i e s . I n Br i ta in , e v i d e n c e s o o n s h o w e d t h e ADE

t h a t , i n s p i t e o f e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g a d v e r s i t i e s , t h e

G e r m a n s h a d m a d e a s t o u n d i n g a d v a n c e s i n t h e

e c o n o m i e s o f w e a p o n s c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d in te r ­

m e d i a t e c a r t r i d g e d e s i g n , a n d i n t h e p r o c e s s w e r e

we l l o n t h e w a y t o n o t h i n g less t h a n a c o m p l e t e

r ev i s i on o f E u r o p e a n i n f a n t r y t a c t i c s . A s t h e Bri t ish

p l u m b e d t h e full i m p o r t o f t h e n e w G e r m a n 7.92

Kurz " i n t e r m e d i a t e " c o n c e p t s , FN, w i t h c o n ­

s i d e r a b l e Al l i ed a s s i s t a n c e , d e t e r m i n e d l y r e b u i l t it 's

s h a t t e r e d p r o d u c t i o n c a p a c i t y a n d r e s e a r c h

f ac i l i t i e s . T h e f i rm w a r t i m e a s s o c i a t i o n s m e n t i o n e d

a b o v e k e p t t h e m p r ivy t o e a c h o t h e r ' s f i n d i n g s a n d

1 8 T h e First F o u r P r o t o t y p e s

Fig 9 From the Ideal Calibre Panel's research which led to the UK .270 and .280 cartridges, the March 1947 Fort Halstead report was a milestone. Variables were ex­

plored, within an empirical relationship, for four emergent calibres. In this example, the cartridge base diameter is twice that of the bullet.

d e v e l o p m e n t s . T h e Bri t ish c o n d u c t e d f i r ing t e s t s o f

cap tu red lots o f G e r m a n 7.92 Kurz a m m u n i t i o n ,

using w a r t i m e M P 4 4 a s s a u l t r if les. T h e y w e r e s o

impressed w i th t h e h a n d l i n g c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d

accu racy r e su l t s t h a t t h e y t h e m s e l v e s u n d e r t o o k t o

rewrite t h e c o n c e p t s o f s m a l l a r m s for t h e Bri t ish

Army M o n s i e u r Sa ive , a t t h e h e l m o f all n e w

military a r m s i n v e n t i o n a n d r e s e a r c h s t u d y a t F N

since 1932 , h a d a t his d i s p o s a l p r o d u c t i o n

workshop n u m b e r 74, k n o w n as Groupe 74. M o n ­

sieur Laloux, h imse l f n o w a full d i r e c t o r of t h e FN

Society, w a s a b l e t o e f f e c t s m o o t h l i a i son b e t w e e n

the British r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d M o n s i e u r Sa ive ' s

Groupe 74. T h e d e e p Bri t ish i n t e r e s t in w a r t i m e

German 7.92 Kurz i n t e r m e d i a t e c a r t r i d g e

d e v e l o p m e n t s led to a r e q u e s t by t h e ADE for ex­

tensive s t u d i e s o f t h e b a l l i s t i c s o f t h i s c a r t r i d g e to

be u n d e r t a k e n , u n d e r c o n t r a c t , by Fabrique

Nationale d'Armes de Guerre. On S e p t e m b e r 30,

1946, FN w a s o f f i c i a l ly a s k e d to p a r t i c i p a t e in

British Col E d m u n d s ' " I n f a n t r y C o m b a t W e a p o n "

p r o g r a m m e . D u r i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g m o n t h , i n

response t o t h e U K r e q u i r e m e n t s . M o n s i e u r S a i v e

c o n s t r u c t e d a M a n n b a r r e l (a f ixed, s i n g l e - s h o t t e s t

a p p a r a t u s u s e d for b a l l i s t i c s t u d i e s ) for t h e FN

Ballistic L a b o r a t o r y . I t f e a t u r e d t h e " c h a m b e r a n d

barrel prof i le o f t h e G e r m a n a u t o m a t i c c a r b i n e o f

1944" (MP44). Af ter a s c a n t t w o m o n t h s o f b a l l i s t i c

test ing, i n D e c e m b e r , 1 9 4 6 , M o n s i e u r S a i v e u n d e r ­

took t h e s t u d y a n d e x e c u t i o n o f a p r o t o t y p e

a u t o m a t i c c a r b i n e i n ca l 7.92 m m K u r z . T h e Bri t ish

were m o s t s e r i o u s a b o u t e x p l o r i n g th i s n e w d i r e c ­

tion, and w i th t h e i r u s u a l t h o r o u g h n e s s w e r e fun­

ding p r o t o t y p e w e a p o n p r o g r a m m e s a t h o m e , b o t h

a t BSA and RSAF Enf ie ld , as w e l l as a t FN. All w e r e

g i v e n t h e s a m e t a s k : t o s t u d y t h e p r o b l e m s o f a

n e w , l i g h t w e i g h t a u t o m a t i c rifle, o r c a r b i n e , for a

n e w c a r t r i d g e i n t h e m e d i u m p o w e r r a n g e .

T h e EXP-1 ( l a t e r t h e s u c c e s s f u l 1 9 4 9 SAFN)

rifle a c t i o n , a r o u n d w h i c h M . S a i v e h a d o r i g i n a l l y

h u n g t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l , f u l l - l eng th m i l i t a r y t r a p ­

p i n g s o f t h e d a y , p r o v e d w o r t h y o f g r e a t a d a p ­

t a t i o n . His f irst a t t e m p t a t c o m b i n i n g a s c a l e d -

d o w n v e r s i o n o f t h i s p r o v e n a c t i o n , f i r ing m e d i u m -

p o w e r e d a m m u n i t i o n , r e s u l t e d i n t h e p r o t o t y p e

l ight a u t o m a t i c c a r b i n e se r ia l n o 1 , c h a m b e r e d for

t h e 7.92 Kurz c a r t r i d g e . This ini t ial p r o t o t y p e w a s

r e a d y for its f i rs t t r i a l s o n N o v 2 1 , 1 9 4 7 , a n d w a s

d e m o n s t r a t e d t o v i s i t i ng E n g l i s h m e n Br igad i e r -

G e n e r a l J o h n B a r l o w a n d Col E . N o e l K e n t - L e m o n ,

a t t h e B e l g i a n m i l i t a r y r a n g e s a t Z u t e n d a a l o n

J a n u a r y 1 3 a n d 1 4 , 1 9 4 8 .

B r i g a d i e r B a r l o w , l a t e r t o h o l d t h e k e y p o s t o f

D i r e c t o r o f Ar t i l l e ry (Smal l Arms) , a n d h i m s e l f

t w i c e a King's P r i z e w i n n e r a t Bisley, w a s k e e n l y in­

t e r e s t e d i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e f i ne s t p o s s i b l e

a r m a m e n t for t h e Bri t ish s o l d i e r . I t b e c a m e his f i rm

be l i e f t h a t F N w a s " o n t h e r igh t t r a c k " t o w a r d th i s

e n d , a n d he t h e r e f o r e b e c a m e a g r e a t a l ly o f t h e FN

p r o d u c t , a i d i n g a n d e n c o u r a g i n g its d e v e l o p m e n t

t o t h e b e s t o f his c o n s i d e r a b l e a b i l i t i e s , b o t h a t

h o m e a n d a b r o a d . H e a n d M o n s i e u r L a l o u x w e r e

p a r t i c u l a r l y c l o s e t h r o u g h o u t t h i s p e r i o d o f

p r o t o t y p e d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d i t w a s t h r o u g h h im

t h a t M . L a l o u x l a t e r s h o w e d his g r a t i t u d e t o

E n g l a n d in a m o s t f i t t i ng m a n n e r , a s we sha l l s e e .

A Review of UK Intermediate Cartridge Development

Fig 10 The UK Armaments Design Department's Idea l Calibre Panel issued a definitive, detailed Technical Report in March, 1947, entitled, "The Choice of a Stan­dard Round for Small Arms". Exerpted here in figures 9 to

13, the report explored, in some depth, what happens when certain variables in a cartridge design are manipu­lated. The British were deeply committed to this project.

20 T h e First Four Pro to types

Fig 11 Same criteria as explored in Fig 9, except calculations based on a cartridge base diameter 1.8 times bullet diameter.

Col E.N. K e n t - L e m o n w a s in c h a r g e of r if le

d e v e l o p m e n t a t Enf ie ld , a n d i n d e e d h a s b e e n

cal led " t h e f a t h e r of t h e EM-2". (This s t o r y i s t o l d in

detai l in t h e C o l l e c t o r G r a d e b o o k The EM-2, Con­

cept and Design by T h o m a s B. D u g e l b y ) .

F o r t u n a t e l y for t h e a u t h o r s o f t h i s p r e s e n t

book, M o n s i e u r L a l o u x w a s i n t h e h a b i t o f k e e p i n g

m e t i c u l o u s n o t e s o f all i m p o r t a n t m e e t i n g s , a s t h e y

h a p p e n e d , a n d t h e n p r e p a r i n g a n d d i s s e m i n a t i n g

reports , b a s e d o n t h e s e n o t e s , t o all c o n c e r n e d

within t h e FN o r g a n i z a t i o n . He will be q u o t e d ex­

tens ively i n th i s v o l u m e . His o n - t h e - s p o t r e p o r t s a r e

i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f b o t h t h e

overall p i c t u r e a n d e a c h s p e c i f i c i n c i d e n t . Th i s

pivotal e a r l y e n c o u n t e r w i t h his f r i end G e n e r a l

John Bar low, on t h e o c c a s i o n o f t h e f irs t t r i a l s o f

the new 7.92 Kurz c a r b i n e , h e r e p o r t e d t h u s l y :

The 7.92 s h o r t c a r b i n e w a s d e s i g n e d b y M . S a i v e i n

response t o t h e Br i t i sh " I n f a n t r y C o m b a t W e a p o n "

p r o g r a m m e , first i n t r o d u c e d t o u s b y t h e l a t e C o l

E d m u n d s . T h e a r m w e i g h s 3 .8 K i lo s ( 8 1 / 2 lbs . ) a n d

shoots 500 r o u n d s p e r m i n u t e . T h e c a r b i n e w a s

presented t o o u r g u e s t s d u r i n g t h e m o r n i n g o f t h e

13th a n d sho t for f u n c t i o n a n d p r e c i s i o n a t 2 5 m e t r e s

that s ame a f t e r n o o n . T h e n e x t d a y w e all w e n t t o

Zu tendaa l for m o r n i n g a n d a f t e r n o o n s h o o t s . I h a v e

since rece ived w o r d f r o m G e n e r a l B a r l o w t h a t t h e y

were de l igh ted w i t h al l a s p e c t s o f t h e a r m : de s ign ,

ease o f h a n d l i n g a n d f u n c t i o n . T h e y w e r e m o s t ex­

cited a n d eage r t o h a v e m o r e c o m p a r a t i v e t r i a l s s u c h

a s w e h a d o r g a n i z e d a t Z u t e n d a a l i n o r d e r t o f u r t h e r

examine a t first h a n d t h e poss ib i l i t i e s o f t h i s n e w t y p e

o f w e a p o n . I t w a s a g r e e d a m o n g u s t h a t t h e w e a p o n

of the fu tu re w o u l d fire a m o r e p o w e r f u l c a r t r i d g e

than the 7.92 K u r z . T h e B r i g a d i e r a s k e d i f o t h e r

p r o t o t y p e s c o u l d b e m a d e r e a d y q u i c k l y i n o r d e r t o

d e m o n s t r a t e t h e m t o t h e U K W a r Off ice . I g u e s s e d

that th ree o r f o u r m o n t h s w o u l d b e n e e d e d , a n d

suggested a d e m o in L o n d o n . B a r l o w ' s i d e a h o w e v e r

was t o b r i n g t h e Br i t i sh off icers o v e r t o H e r s t a l , a s

our facilities for s u c h a s h o o t w e r e m o r e e x t e n s i v e .

After t he s h o o t a s Z u t e n d a a l , w e w e r e p r i v a t e l y

made a w a r e o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f b o t h t h e n e w U K

.280 r o u n d a n d M r K e n t - L e m o n ' s E M - 2 . T h e r e l a t i o n

be tween the p o w e r o f t h e c a r t r i d g e a n d t h e w e i g h t o f

the a r m g a v e u s m u c h ins igh t i n t o t h e Br i t i sh q u e s t

for a n e w i n f a n t r y w e a p o n .

Fig 12 The British narrowed their study to four possible calibres in their 1947 Fort Halstead report. Using the above model, variables in all four emergent calibres were explored. (Figs 9, 11, and 13)

m i n u t e s o f t h e s e t r i a l s a r e r e p r i n t e d ful ly i n

V o l u m e Two. M o n s i e u r L a l o u x ' l a t e r r e c a p o f t h i s

s a m e e x p e d i t i o n i s a s f o l l o w s :

Mons i eu r La loux ' i d e a t o d e m o n s t r a t e c a r b i n e n o 1

i n England w a s a c c e p t e d . Trials w e r e h e l d a t En­

field o n t h e 7 t h o f Apr i l , 1 9 4 8 w h e r e c o m p a r i s o n s

were m a d e a m o n g w e a p o n s i n c a l i b r e s 9 m m

P a r a b e l l u m , .30 M 1 C a r b i n e a n d 7.92 K u r z . T h e

W e r e t u r n e d t o E n g l a n d w i t h t h e l i t t le c a r b i n e a t t h e

r e q u e s t o f G e n e r a l B a r l o w , w h o w a n t e d t o

r e p r o d u c e , i n f r o n t o f t h e W a r Off ice a u t h o r i t i e s , t h e

t r i a l s w e h a d h e l d b e f o r e h i m a n d M r K e n t - L e m o n a t

Z u t e n d a a l t h e 1 4 t h o f J a n u a r y p a s t . T h e d e m o n -

Universal Carbine Trials at Enfield 7 April 1948

2 2 T h e First F o u r P r o t o t y p e s

Fig 13 The same four calibres and the same criteria as in figs 9 and 11. Problems solved for cartridge base diameter 1.6 times bullet diameter.

s t ra t ion w a s t h e r e f o r e a t t h e b u t t s , n o t o n l y t o

present a n a r m w h i c h w e felt r e s p o n d e d t o t h e l a t e

Col E d m u n d s ' I n f a n t r y C o m b a t W e a p o n p r o g r a m ­

me, b u t m o r e p a r t i c u l a r l y t o s h o w t h e p r e c i s i o n

which o n e m i g h t a t t a i n , s h o o t i n g f r e e h a n d o n

au toma t i c fire a c a r t r i d g e r e d u c e d in p o w e r , c o m ­

pared to the s t a n d a r d m i l i t a r y rifle c a r t r i d g e s o f t h e

day .

T w o U K G e n e r a l Of f ice rs p l u s M r K e n t - L e m o n

and A u s t r a l i a n M a j o r H a l l ( the i n v e n t o r o f t h e H a l l

rifle — Ed) w e r e p r e s e n t . T h e a c t u a l t r i a l s w e r e c o n ­

ducted b y C a p t a i n Y e a r s l e y , o f Tes t ing s e c t i o n , R S A F

Enfield. A f t e r w a r d s , M o n s i e u r S a i v e , t h e i n v e n t o r o f

the FN C a r b i n e , g a v e a br ief e x p l a n a t i o n of t h e func ­

t ioning of t he a r m .

F r o m the p o i n t o f v i e w o f p r e c i s i o n , t h e s h o o t i n g

clearly s h o w e d r e su l t s a k i n t o t h o s e w e h a d e x p e r i e n ­

ced a t Z u t e n d a a l : t h a t a i m e d , f u l l - a u t o m a t i c fire w a s

possible w i t h o u t sacr i f ic ing a c c u r a c y . G e n e r a l

Dowler a s k e d m e i f o u r a r m h a d b e e n a d o p t e d b y t h e

Belgian A r m y . I s a i d t h e r e w a s a g r e a t d e a l of in ­

terest. H e p r e d i c t e d t h e n e w d e s i g n w o u l d s i m p l y

fo rce i ts o w n a d o p t i o n , l o n g b e f o r e a n y t h i n g c o u l d

h a p p e n t h r o u g h t h e n o r m a l m i l i t a r y c h a n n e l s .

O n t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e s e e n c o u r a g i n g r e s u l t s , t w o

m o r e " U n i v e r s a l C a r b i n e s " w e r e o r d e r e d b y t h e

Bri t ish M i n i s t r y o f D e f e n c e on Apri l 2 n d 1 9 4 8 .

T h e s e w e r e o r i g i n a l l y t o h a v e b e e n i n 7.92 Kurz

c a l i b r e l ike n o 1 , b u t t h e Bri t ish h a d p r o g r e s s e d far

e n o u g h a l o n g w i t h t h e i r I d e a l C a l i b r e P a n e l ' s n e w

p r o t o t y p e c a r t r i d g e s t o r e q u e s t t h e n e w w e a p o n s

b e m a d e u p for t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l U K .280 (7x43

m m ) r o u n d . ( N o t e : Full d e t a i l s o n Bri t ish c o n t e m ­

p o r a r y c a r t r i d g e d e v e l o p m e n t a r e t o b e f o u n d i n

V o l u m e Two.)

A f u r t h e r m e e t i n g w a s h e l d i n L o n d o n on J u n e

1 6 t h t o d i s c u s s p o i n t s r a i s e d b y th i s n e w U K o r d e r .

M o n s i e u r L a l o u x l a t e r n o t e d t h a t B r i g a d i e r B a r l o w

Fig 14 FN Universal Carbine cal 7.92 Kurz, serial no 1. Still 'in the white' for its initial appearance at Zutendaal on November 24, 1947.

Fig 15 Prototype no 1, calibre 7.92 Kurz, broken open to show ease of field stripping. The later improvements to this same carbine are pictured in Volume Two.

2 4 T h e First F o u r P r o t o t y p e s

Fig 16 The short-lived UK Ideal Calibre Panel's .270 car­tridge case, (7 x 47.5 mm). Drawing date July, 1948. This project lasted 10 months only and was superceded by the .280.

h a d t h e r e g i v e n h im 5 0 s a m p l e s o f e a c h o f t h e

Bri t ish r o u n d s t h e n u n d e r d e v e l o p m e n t : t h e s h o r t ­

l ived .270, (7 x 4 7 . 5 m m ) , a n d t h e .280 (7 x 43 m m ) .

T h e s e w e r e h a n d e d o v e r t o M o n s i e u r S a i v e . T h e s e

o r ig ina l , 1 9 4 8 - d a t e d Bri t ish .280 r o u n d s w e r e m a d e

u p w i t h a so f t s t e e l - c o r e d b u l l e t , a n d M o n s i e u r

La loux t o l d t h e B r i g a d i e r t h a t F N i n t h e p a s t h a d

f o u n d th i s c o n t r i b u t e d n e i t h e r t o a c c u r a c y n o r e a s e

o f m a n u f a c t u r e . B r i g a d i e r B a r l o w c o u n t e r e d t h a t

t h e ini t ial Bri t ish a c c u r a c y t r i a l s h a d b e e n m o s t

s a t i s f a c t o r y . M o n s i e u r L a l o u x a s k e d for a f u r t h e r

2 5 0 c a s e s o n l y for t h e .280 c a r t r i d g e , h a v i n g i n

m i n d t r y i n g t h e m o u t , l o a d e d w i t h t h e s t a n d a r d F N

7 mm l e a d - a n t i m o n y - c o r e d b u l l e t k n o w n a s t h e S -

1 2 . H e e s t i m a t e d t h a t for w e a p o n s t r ia l s wi th t h e

n e w .280 c a r b i n e s , a m i n i m u m of 10 ,000 rounds

w o u l d b e n e e d e d , a n d a r r a n g e m e n t s w e r e m a d e

w i t h B r i g a d i e r B a r l o w t o r e s e r v e th i s q u a n t i t y , o n c e

UK p r o d u c t i o n w a s a l i t t l e m o r e a d v a n c e d . As far

a s t h e t w o n e w a r m s t h e m s e l v e s w e r e c o n c e r n e d ,

t h e Bri t ish w a n t e d a p a t t e r n m u c h l ike c a r b i n e no 1 .

D e t a i l s s u c h a s b o r e d i a m e t e r , ba r r e l l eng th and

n u m b e r o f r if l ing g r o o v e s w e r e left e n t i r e l y to FN to

d e c i d e . T h e Bri t ish f a v o u r e d a 20-sho t , d e t a c h a b l e

m a g a z i n e , a g a i n l ike t h a t o n c a r b i n e n o 1 . M o n s i e u r

La loux c o m m e n t e d t h a t a g r e a t d e a l o f careful

t e s t i n g w o u l d be n e c e s s a r y in o r d e r for FN to fur­

n ish t w o w o r k i n g p r o t o t y p e s , m a d e for a c a r t r i d g e

h e r e t o f o r e u n k n o w n t o t h e m . H e m a d e i t c l e a r a l s o

t h a t t h e Bri t ish w e r e p u r c h a s i n g o n l y t h e t w o c a r ­

bines , n o t t h e r igh t s t o t h e d e s i g n itself. A p r i c e w a s

a g r e e d u p o n , a n d B r i g a d i e r B a r l o w s e e m e d m u c h

i m p r e s s e d t h a t M o n s i e u r La loux fe l t t h e o r d e r

cou ld b e c o m p l e t e d d u r i n g t h e c u r r e n t y e a r .

Back h o m e i n H e r s t a l , M o n s i e u r Sa ive ' s

Groupe 74 f irst c o n s t r u c t e d a n o t h e r M a n n b a r r e l to

the Brit ish .280 s p e c i f i c a t i o n s . P r e s s u r e a n d

v e l o c i t y c u r v e s w e r e m e t i c u l o u s l y p l o t t e d i n t h e

FN Ballistic Labora to ry , us ing t h e s a m p l e UK r o u n d s

s u p p l i e d b y B r i g a d i e r B a r l o w . T h e s e r e s u l t s w e r e

used b y M o n s i e u r S a i v e t o e f f e c t t h i s f irst

e n l a r g e m e n t o f his o r i g i n a l c a r b i n e d e s i g n . Ser ia l

n u m b e r i n g o f t h e s e ini t ia l FN c a r b i n e p r o t o t y p e s

had q u i t e p r a g m a t i c a l l y s t a r t e d a t " 1 " , a n d n o w j u s t

kep t g o ing . T h e first .280 " U n i v e r s a l C a r b i n e "

t h e r e f o r e , w a s se r ia l n o 2 , a n d w a s o f c o n v e n t i o n a l

des ign. I t w a s d e s c r i b e d a s " t h e l og i ca l r e s u l t o f t h e

e x p e r i e n c e g a i n e d w i t h c a r b i n e n o 1 , a d a p t e d t o

t he l o n g e r .280 c a r t r i d g e . " I t w a s p r o o f e d a n d r e a d y

for tr ial on J a n 7 , 1 9 4 9 . T h e s e c o n d o f t h e ini t ia l

.280 c a r b i n e s , se r i a l n o 3 , u s e d t h e s a m e b a s i c a c ­

t ion b u t w a s m a d e u p i n t h e " b u t t l e s s " c o n f i g u r a ­

tion as e m b o d i e d in t h e t h e n - p o p u l a r Bri t ish EM-1

Fig 17 FN medium-powered ammunition comparison chart, prepared in response to the UK Infantry Combat Weapon programme. Time of flight, mid-range trajectory (MRT), energy and practical maximum range are com­pared, for three medium-powered calibres: 9 mm Parabellum, .30 US Carbine, and 7.92 Kurz.

a n d EM-2. I t w a s r e a d y for p r o o f i n g C h r i s t m a s Eve

1 9 4 8 , t h u s k e e p i n g M . L a l o u x ' p r o m i s e t o h a v e a

p r o t o t y p e c o m p l e t e d b y t h e e n d o f t h e y e a r . Br iga­

d i e r B a r l o w c a m e o v e r a g a i n w i t h Col K e n t - L e m o n

t o v i e w t h e ini t ia l t r i a l s o f t h e s e n e w c a r b i n e s ,

t o g e t h e r w i t h c a r b i n e n o 1 , w h i c h h a d b e e n " im­

p r o v e d " a s a r e s u l t o f t h e e a r l i e r t r i a l s . T h e s e c o m ­

p a r i s o n s w e r e h e l d a t t h e F a b r i q u e N a t i o n a l e t e s t

r a n g e s a t Z u t e n d a a l f r o m t h e 1 7 t h t o 1 9 t h o f

J a n u a r y , 1 9 4 9 . T h e F N c a r t r i d g e w o r k s h a d m e a n ­

w h i l e c o m p l e t e d t h e l o a d i n g o f t h e 1 0 0 e m p t y .280

c a s e s M o n s i e u r L a l o u x h a d b r o u g h t b a c k f r o m

E n g l a n d . T h e y h a d b e e n l o a d e d w i t h t h e r e g u l a r F N

139-g ra in , 7 mm " t y p e S" ( s p i t z e r p o i n t ) f l a t b a s e

b u l l e t , a n d Bofor s p o w d e r . T h e s e w e r e t e s t e d a l o n g

w i t h Engl i sh l o a d i n g s f e a t u r i n g b o t h l e a d a n d s t e e l -

c o r e d .280 b u l l e t s , i n t h e n e w c a r b i n e s , i n t h e

p r e s e n c e o f M . L a l o u x a n d t h e t w o E n g l i s h m e n .

Two t e n - s h o t g r o u p s for e a c h c a r t r i d g e t y p e w e r e

f i red a t 1 0 0 m e t r e s , a n d m e a s u r e d for e x t r e m e hor i ­

z o n t a l a n d v e r t i c a l s p r e a d . ( T h e s e f i g u r e s , w h e n

2 6 T h e First F o u r P r o t o t y p e s

Fig 18 FN carbine no 2, the first in UK .280 calibre. Con­ventional configuration; left-hand side view. Cocking handle around gas piston, as on number 1.

Fig 19 FN carbine no 2, cal .280, right-hand side view Proofed on January 7, 1949.

Fig 20 UK ADE demonstration photo of FN .280 carbine, serial no 2, as presented at Enfield, Bisley, Warminster, Woolwich and Hythe, showing the various barrel length/ handguard configurations made up for the March, 1949 Enfield expedition.

a d d e d t o g e t h e r a n d s u b j e c t e d t o a s i m p l e f o r m u l a ,

give a r e v e a l i n g p o i n t o f r e f e r e n c e k n o w n as ' f i gu re

of meri t ' . )

This for t h e U K r o u n d s a v e r a g e d 1 4 0 m m w h i l e

the F N l o a d i n g s a v e r a g e d o n l y 1 2 3 m m . S i n c e

length o f b a r r e l w a s t h e i r p r e r o g a t i v e , FN h a d fur­

nished t w o for c a r b i n e n o 2 , i n 2 3 " a n d 1 9 " (587 a n d

487 mm) . C a r b i n e n o 3 , t h e " b u l l p u p " .280, a l s o h a d

a 2 3 " ba r r e l , a l t h o u g h by v i r t u e of its d e s i g n i t w a s

shor ter o v e r a l l . B r i g a d i e r B a r l o w ' s s h o o t i n g p a r ­

t icu lar ly w a s n o t i n t h e l e a s t i n c o n v e n i e n c e d b y t h e

co n f i gu ra t i on o f t h i s a r m a n d h e s e e m e d i n f a c t t o

prefer i t t o t h e m o r e c o n v e n t i o n a l n o 2 . A n

e n i g m a t i c Col K e n t - L e m o n r e t u r n e d t o E n g l a n d a s

soon a s t h e t r i a l s w e r e c o m p l e t e d . M . L a l o u x a n d

Brigadier B a r l o w t h e n s a t d o w n t o d i s c u s s t h e

results o f t h e t r i a l s . T h e y d id so i n t h e l igh t t h a t t h e

British h a d b e e n w o r k i n g o n v a r i o u s a c t i o n s , b a s e d

o n t h e b u l l p u p c o n f i g u r a t i o n , s i n c e 1 9 4 7 . Tes t

results w e r e "still c l a s s i f i ed" . FN h a d f r o m s c r a t c h

c o m e u p w i t h c a r b i n e n o 3 , w h i c h f u n c t i o n e d w e l l ,

in less t h a n a y e a r . B o t h m e n w e r e a w a r e o f t h e s e

facts . Br igad ie r B a r l o w w a s m o s t e a g e r t o t a k e t h e

n u m b e r 3 c a r b i n e b a c k t o E n g l a n d , o s t e n s i b l y for

a m m u n i t i o n t e s t i n g . M . L a l o u x c o u n t e r e d b y of­

f e r ing t o m a k e u p a b o l t - a c t i o n M a u s e r c h a m b e r e d

for t h e .280, a s a p r e s e n t , b u t B r i g a d i e r B a r l o w

d e c l i n e d t h e of fer . M . L a l o u x ' p o s i t i o n w a s t h a t ,

a s i d e f r o m t h e q u e s t i o n o f FN's p r o p r i e t a r y r igh t s t o

t h e d e s i g n , m o r e t e s t s a n d t r i a l s w e r e n e c e s s a r y t o

p e r f e c t t h i s j u s t b a r e l y - c o m p l e t e d p r o t o t y p e .

F ina l ly , t h e y a g r e e d t h a t c a r b i n e n o 2 , t h e c o n v e n ­

t i o n a l .280, w o u l d be a v a i l a b l e for UK t e s t s , i n

E n g l a n d , d u r i n g t h e s e c o n d half o f F e b r u a r y , a n d ,

a s s o o n a s i t c o u l d r e a s o n a b l y b e d o n e , M . La loux

w o u l d p r e s e n t h i m s e l f i n L o n d o n a l o n g w i t h c a r ­

b i n e no 3 for a f u r t h e r W a r O f f i c e d e m o n s t r a t i o n .

M. L a l o u x e x p r e s s e d FN's i n t e r e s t in a s s i s t i n g in a n y

w a y p o s s i b l e a t t h e u p c o m i n g U K t r i a l s a t t h e P e n -

d i n e E x p e r i m e n t a l E s t a b l i s h m e n t . This i n t e r e s t

q u i c k e n e d a s h e l e a r n e d f r o m B r i g a d i e r B a r l o w t h a t

Enf ie ld p r o p o s e d t o f ie ld t w o e n t r i e s for t h e s e

t r i a l s , BSA a n o t h e r , a n d t h a t t h e r e w e r e t o b e

A m e r i c a n o b s e r v e r s p r e s e n t .

Fig 21 FN carbine no 3, calibre .280. The same basic design as no 2 but made up in the popular 'bullpup' con­figuration of Enfield's EM-2. Left-hand side view. FN photo dated January 24, 1949.

Fig 22 FN carbine no 3, calibre .280, right-hand side view.

2 8 T h e First F o u r P r o t o t y p e s

Fig 23 FN carbine no 2, of conventional design, stripped for Enfield parts cataloguing, 1950. Compare with fig 24 below.

Fig 24 FN carbine no 3, the 'short one', stripped as above. Note that while carbine no 2 is listed as having 37 parts, no 3 is deemed to have 48.

T h e L o n d o n m e e t i n g t o o k p l a c e f r o m M a r c h 2

t o 4 , 1 9 4 9 . M m . La loux , V o g e l s a n d S a i v e b r o u g h t

a l o n g c a r b i n e s no 1 , 2 , a n d 3 , a s w e l l a s a s e l e c t i v e -

fire FN49 (SAFN), in .30-06 c a l i b r e . This w a s a v e r y

i m p o r t a n t g e t - t o g e t h e r , w h i c h i n c i d e n t a l l y in­

t r o d u c e d a h i t h e r t o u n k n o w n e a r l y p r o t o t y p e o f

w h a t b e c a m e t h e BSA 2 8 P (Vol 2), a n d h e r e i s M.

L a l o u x ' r e p o r t of it:

Light Auto Rifle .280

3rd of M a r c h

W e a r r i v e d a t Enfie ld i n t h e a f t e r n o o n w h i l e t h e

w e a p o n s , w h i c h h a d a r r i v e d t h e n i g h t b e f o r e , w e r e

u n p a c k e d . W e f o u n d o u r s e l v e s a m o n g m a n y o f

Bar low's c o m p a t r i o t s . W e w e n t t o t h e r a n g e s t o e n ­

sure the a r m s w e r e f u n c t i o n i n g , a n d t o f ami l i a r i ze t h e

shoo te r s w h o w o u l d m a n i p u l a t e t h e m t h e f o l l o w i n g

d a y .

Resu l t s o f t h e p r e l i m i n a r y s h o o t — t h e t w o c a r ­

bines w e r e first f i red s ing le s h o t f r o m t h e p r o n e

pos i t ion , t h e n o n a u t o m a t i c f r o m t h e h i p :

C a r b i n e n o 2 ( w i t h b u t t ) : n o s t o p p a g e s .

C a r b i n e n o 3 : o n e o r t w o fa i lu res t o eject a n d

fa i lures t o fire f r o m t h e h i p . M o n s i e u r S a i v e a d ­

jus ted t h e g a s r e g u l a t o r a n d 2 ser ies of 5 s h o t s

w e r e f i red w i t h o u t f au l t .

4th of M a r c h

T h e p r o g r a m m e l a id o u t fo r u s b e g a n w i t h a

conference d u r i n g w h i c h B r i g a d i e r B a r l o w a n d M r

K e n t - L e m o n t o o k t h e f l o o r .

I n t he w a i t i n g r o o m , b e f o r e h a n d , w e h a d b e e n

reun i ted w i t h C l a u d e P e r r y , t h e Chief d e s i g n e r fo r

BSA, w h o h a d i n t h e s h o r t s p a c e o f t w o m o n t h s

des igned a rifle, a lbe i t o n e still in n e e d of e x t e n s i v e

debugg ing . D u r i n g t h e w a r , h e h a d w o r k e d a t

C h e s h u n t u n d e r K e n t - L e m o n a n d h a d i n d e e d b e g u n

there a r o u n d t h e e n d o f 1 9 4 1 , s e v e r a l d a y s b e f o r e

w e h a d a r r i v e d a t t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t a s re fugees f r o m

occupied B e l g i u m . I f o u n d h i m in exce l len t sp i r i t s ,

bu t i t a p p e a r e d h i s d e s i g n w a s r e g a r d e d w i t h o u t

m u c h s y m p a t h y b y t h e Br i t i sh off icials .

W e w e r e t h e n i n t r o d u c e d , i n t h e c o n f e r e n c e

r o o m , t o a b o u t 3 0 h i g h r a n k i n g W a r Off ice a n d

M i n i s t r y o f S u p p l y off icers , a m o n g t h e m G e n e r a l

C r a w f o r d , D e p u t y Chief o f t h e I m p e r i a l G e n e r a l

Staff, G e n e r a l Fes t ing , D i r e c t o r o f W e a p o n D e v e l o p ­

m e n t , a n d G e n e r a l F a i r b a n k s , D i r e c t o r o f I n f a n t r y .

T h e r e w e r e a l s o t w o A m e r i c a n o b s e r v e r s w h o w e

r e c o g n i z e d a s h a v i n g b e e n t o F N p r e v i o u s l y , d u r i n g

t h e A m e r i c a n l i b e r a t i o n .

A l l t h e d e s i g n t e a m s p r e s e n t w e r e a s k e d t o g ive a

s h o r t d i s c o u r s e o n t h e p r o g r e s s o f t he i r a r m s

d e v e l o p m e n t . I s p o k e first , of o u r r e s e a r c h t o w a r d s a

u n i v e r s a l w e a p o n t o r e p l a c e t h e c u r r e n t p i s t o l ,

m a c h i n e c a r b i n e , se l f - load ing rifle a n d l igh t m a c h i n e

g u n . I m e n t i o n e d t h e G e r m a n M P 4 4 , i n 7 .92 K u r z

c a l i b r e , first s h o t i n E n g l a n d in A p r i l 1 9 4 5 . Fo r t h e

s a k e of c l a r i t y I of fered a c o m p a r a t i v e list of ex i s t ing

m i l i t a r y c a r t r i d g e s , n u m b e r e d i n t e r m s o f i n c r e a s i n g

p o w e r , a s f o l l o w s :

1 . 9 m m P a r a b e l l u m

2 . 3 0 U S c a r b i n e

3 . 7 .92 K u r z

4 . .280 U K

5 . .303 Br i t i sh

6. .30-06

I n r e s p o n s e t o t h e .280 p r o g r a m m e , i n w h i c h w e

h a v e p a r t i c i p a t e d s ince J u n e o f 1 9 4 8 , F N t h e n p r e ­

s e n t e d i ts t w o t y p e s o f a u t o m a t i c c a r b i n e s :

• t h e first , (ser ial n o 2 ) ; c o n v e n t i o n a l , w i t h b u t t , a n d

Fig 25 FN carbine no 3, cal .280, shown in its light sup­port role with bipod attached. See Volume Two (fig 17, page 36), for a manned view of the 'business end' of this arrangement.

3 0 T h e First F o u r P r o t o t y p e s

Fig 26 FN carbine no 3, breech area. Note the offset, folding rear sight and the FN logo engraved over the chamber. — Photo: Thos. B. Dugelby

a s h o r t e n e d b a r r e l ;

• t h e o t h e r , (serial no 3 ) w i t h o u t b u t t i n o r d e r to

r e d u c e o v e r a l l l e n g t h .

N o 2 , t h e F N .280 c a r b i n e w i t h b u t t s t o c k ,

w e i g h e d 8.5 lbs a n d h a d a t o t a l l e n g t h of 39" w i t h a

19" b a r r e l . N o 3 w e i g h e d t h e s a m e b u t d u e t o i ts b u t -

t less c o n f i g u r a t i o n c o u l d m o u n t a b a r r e l of 2 3 " in a

t o t a l l e n g t h o f o n l y 34" . T h e a d v a n t a g e s o f t hese w e r e

g i v e n a s f o l l o w s :

1 . M a n o e u v e r a b i l i t y : t h e r i gh t h a n d s t a y s o n t h e

p i s to l g r i p w h i l e l o a d i n g a n d c o c k i n g a r e d o n e w i t h

t h e left.

2 . Re l i ab i l i t y : t h e a r m s w e r e seen a s p a r t i c u l a r l y

we l l s ea led a g a i n s t i ng re s s o f m u d o r w a t e r .

3 . Ease o f s t r i p p i n g .

4 . L ight w e i g h t : t h e c o m b i n a t i o n of l ight rifle

a n d m o d e r a t e reco i l r o u n d w a s c o n s i d e r e d a p l u s for

t h e c o m f o r t o f t h e s h o o t e r .

I f in i shed b y s a y i n g t h a t t h e s e w e a p o n s , d e m o n ­

s t r a t e d i n J a n u a r y , h a d n o t y e t b e e n s u b j e c t e d t o

s e r i o u s a c c u r a c y t r i a l s b u t i f t h e y exc i t ed a n y in ­

teres t , w e w e r e d i s p o s e d t o p e r s e v e r e .

D i r e c t l y I h a d f in i shed s p e a k i n g , t h e d e m o n s t r a ­

t i o n o f t he a c t u a l f i e ld - s t r ipp ing o f c a r b i n e no 2 , by

s i m p l y b r e a k i n g o p e n t h e r ece ive r a t t h e b u t t , c a u s e d

a s e n s a t i o n .

B a r l o w e v i n c e d sa t i s f ac t ion , w h i c h t h e f o l l o w i n g

p r e s e n t a t i o n s a u g m e n t e d : first o f all c a m e C l a u d e

P e r r y . I r e a d f r o m t h e h a n d o u t s w e h a d r e c e i v e d t h a t

t h e B S A c a r b i n e , w i t h a c o n v e n t i o n a l o n e - p i e c e

s t o c k , w a s t h e l igh tes t d e s i g n p r e s e n t e d . I ts p r i n c i p a l

t o u t e d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c w a s a u n i q u e s l o w d o w n d e v i c e ,

w h i c h w a s a b o u t t h e size o f a b o x o f m a t c h e s a n d

p e r m i t t e d a r a t e of fire of 150 r p m . N e x t t h e first En ­

field d e s i g n w a s s h o w n , t h e E M - 1 . I t w a s p r e s e n t e d

b y M r K e n t - L e m m o n a n d d e m o n s t r a t e d b y o u r

f r iend M r S t a n l e y T h o r p e , w h o w a s i ts d e s i g n e r . I t

w a s a c a r b i n e of t h e n e w b u t t l e s s t y p e ; a s t a m p e d

steel r e ce ive r c o v e r e d t h e m e c h a n i s m . I t used a

l o c k i n g s y s t e m w h i c h t h e Br i t i sh h a d d i scovered

a m o n g l a t e - w a r t i m e G e r m a n d e v e l o p m e n t s . T h e

t a k e d o w n s y s t e m w a s v e r y l a b o r i o u s . I wil l no t

s p e a k a g a i n o f t h i s a r m excep t t o s a y i t d idn ' t shoo t

w e l l . T h e n t h e s e c o n d Enfield de s ign , t he E M - 2 , w a s

d e m o n s t r a t e d b y i ts d e s i g n e r , C a p t J a n u c s e w s k y , the

o n l y P o l i s h officer still w o r k i n g a t Enfie ld . T w o iden­

t ical e x a m p l e s w e r e s h o w n , w i t h different bar re l

w e i g h t s . T h e y f e a t u r e d a fa i r ly s i m p l e t a k e d o w n ,

s imi l a r t o t h e M P 4 4 . T h e b o l t i n c o r p o r a t e d b o t h the

m o v e a b l e l o c k i n g lugs a n d t h e f i r ing p i n . A cri t icism

c o u l d b e m a d e i n t h a t all t h e f u n c t i o n s w e r e concen­

t r a t e d i n th i s b o l t . T h e o v e r a l l w e i g h t w a s less t h a n

o u r s .

A l i t t le af ter l u n c h we w e n t to t h e b u t t s for the

a c t u a l f i r ing d e m o n s t r a t i o n s . Fo r t h e func t i on ing a n d

p r e c i s i o n t r i a l s , 5 0 - y a r d s ingle s h o t p r o n e fir ing, six

s h o o t e r s w e r e a l i g n e d s h o u l d e r - t o - s h o u l d e r w i t h the

f o l l o w i n g a r m s s u p p o r t e d b y s a n d b a g s :

• a Lee-Enfield b o l t - a c t i o n .303

• t h e 2 FN c a r b i n e s

• t h e 2 Enfield m o d e l s

• t h e B S A

T h e Lee Enfield s h o t a 2-3 cm g r o u p , the semi­

a u t o m a t i c c a r b i n e s d o u b l e t h a t , excep t for the BSA

w h i c h fou l ed i m m e d i a t e l y . W i t h th i s excep t i on , all

w e a p o n s f i red w i t h o u t i n c i d e n t .

T h e nex t e v e n t w a s a s s a u l t f ire, 2 5 y d s full a u t o ,

f r o m t h e "h ip" . A n E M - 2 g a v e o n e misf i re a n d one

m a l eject . FN c a r b i n e no 2 f i red w i t h o u t fa i lure ; the

" sho r t " FN c a r b i n e (no 3) h a d o n e fail to fire, as I

r eca l l . T h e g r o u p s w e r e m a r k e d o n t h e t a rge t s after

e a c h s h o o t i n g w i t h p a s t e - o n w h i t e p a p e r discs a b o u t

4 " i n d i a m e t e r . M o s t s h o o t e r s s u c c e e d e d i n keep ing

n e a r l y all t he i r s h o t s o n t h e t a r g e t , b u t w i t h w ide

dispersion a s m i g h t be e x p e c t e d f r o m th i s t y p e o f

shoot ing.

A m o r e d e t a i l e d e x a m i n a t i o n o f e a c h a r m b e g a n

with a s h o o t o f t h e t w o FN c a r b i n e s , s ingle s h o t a n d

full a u t o , p r o n e , w i t h a n d w i t h o u t b i p o d . W e n o t i c e d

a cer ta in c h a n g e in m e a n p o i n t o f i m p a c t w h e n

shoot ing w i t h t h e b i p o d . A l s o , a s b e f o r e , t h e s ingle

shot g r o u p s w e r e m u c h m o r e a c c e p t a b l e t h a n t h o s e

fired fu l l - au to . C a r b i n e no 2 f i red w i t h o u t i n c i d e n t

but no 3 h a d t w o fa i lu res t o f i re . T h e s e de fau l t s w e r e

wi thou t d o u b t , a s b e f o r e , d u e t o p r e m a t u r e h a m m e r

fall; the h a m m e r f o l l o w i n g t h e b o l t c a r r i e r d o w n i n

its f o r w a r d s t r o k e w i t h o u t suff icient e n e r g y t o a c ­

tivate the p r i m e r .

A t l u n c h I w a s s e a t e d b e t w e e n B r i g a d i e r B a r l o w

and Gene ra l Fes t ing . I f o u n d t h e l a t t e r m o s t p l e a s a n t

and h e w a s m o s t i n t e r e s t e d i n o u r p a s t a n d p r e s e n t

activities. I no t iced a f r amed p h o t o g r a p h on the d in ing

hall wa l l , o f t h e t r ip l e 2 0 m m O e r l i k o n c a n n o n , a n d

observed t o Br igad i e r B a r l o w t h a t th i s t r ip l e m o u n ­

ting c o n f i g u r a t i o n h a d b e e n t h e w o r k o f o u r M o n ­

sieur Sa ive . H e w a s m o s t i m p r e s s e d a n d p o i n t e d o u t

and exp la ined th i s f e a t u r e t o G e n e r a l Fes t ing . Af t e r

lunch Br igad ie r B a r l o w t o o k i t u p o n h imse l f t o i n ­

terest G e n e r a l W r i s b e r g , t h e M i n i s t r y o f S u p p l y ' s

Direc tor o f W e a p o n s D e v e l o p m e n t , i n o u r a t t e n d a n ­

c e a t t h e u p c o m i n g U S A w e a p o n s t r i a l s . G e n e r a l

W r i s b e r g a g r e e d t o h a v e t h e r e q u e s t r e l a y e d t o

A m e r i c a n O r d n a n c e b y t h e Br i t i sh a t t a c h é i n

W a s h i n g t o n .

A f t e r l u n c h t h e t h r e e r a n k i n g G e n e r a l s , w h o m I

m e n t i o n e d ea r l i e r , e a c h s h o t i n succes s ion a n E M - 2 ,

t h e t w o F N c a r b i n e s , t h e B S A rifle a n d for c o m ­

p a r i s o n t h e F N 4 9 .30 c a l i b r e . T h e p r o g r a m m e w a s

five s ingle s h o t s , t h e n a b u r s t a t a l a rge t a r g e t

r e p r e s e n t i n g a s t a n d i n g m a n . T h e s h o o t e r s w e r e

s t a n d i n g , w i t h t h e w e a p o n s s u p p o r t e d o n a res t .

T h o u g h t h e B S A e n t r y c o n t i n u e d t o g ive p r o b l e m s ,

t h e o t h e r w e a p o n s f u n c t i o n e d w i t h o u t i n c i d e n t . I t

s e e m e d t h e p r e f e r e n c e o f t he se officers w a s for o u r

c a r b i n e n o 2 , t h e o n e w i t h t h e b u t t s t o c k . ( G e n e r a l

Fes t ing o b s e r v e d t h a t full a u t o fire w i t h t h e S A F N

w a s h a r d l y a "p i ece o f cake" . ) In a n y e v e n t , t h e q u i c k

r e l o a d i n g o f th i s rifle by m e a n s o f o u r 1 0 - s h o t s t r i p ­

p e r c l ips c a u s e d a s e n s a t i o n .

B r igad i e r B a r l o w g a v e o u r M . V o g e l s a c o p y o f

a n A D E p a p e r d e s c r i b i n g t h e p r i n c i p l e s de s i r ed i n a

U n i v e r s a l w e a p o n , t o g e t h e r w i t h s u p p o r t i n g p h o t o s

Fig 27 The 1949 SAFN rifle, calibre .30M2, used as a control rifle in the UK Light Auto Rifle trials, Enfield, March 1949. Here the FN 10-shot stripper clip is being demonstrated.

3 2 T h e First F o u r P r o t o t y p e s

Fig 28 The original UK-designed .280 steel-core 130 gr bullet, as drawn and dimensioned by FN. Drawing date November, 1950. This bullet gave disappointing accuracy results.

Fig 29 The UK .280 case Berdan-primed, as drawn and dimensioned by the FN Ballistic Laboratory. Drawing dated November, 1950.

o f t h e a r m s s o far d e m o n s t r a t e d t o t h e m .

A f inal c o n f e r e n c e w a s h e l d , t o w h i c h n e i t h e r w e

n o r P e r r y w e r e a d m i t t e d . A f t e r w a r d s , i n o p e n

sess ion , t h e t h r e e g e n e r a l s w h o h a d s h o t t h e a r m s

w e r e i n v i t e d t o g i v e the i r i m p r e s s i o n s . T h e r e w e r e n o

c r i t i c i sms offered r e g a r d i n g o u r c a r b i n e no 2 o r t h e

E M - 2 , w h i c h i t s e e m e d w e r e u n a n i m o u s l y a p ­

p r e c i a t e d . T h e se s s ion w a s t h e n d e c l a r e d a t a n e n d .

P r i v a t e M e e t i n g w i t h Br igad i e r B a r l o w

4 M a r c h 1 9 4 9

— a summation —

I p a s s e d on t h e r e su l t s o f s o m e e x p e r i m e n t a l s h o o t i n g

t r ia l s we h a d c a r r i e d o u t w h e r e i n a lo t o f 100 .303

Br i t i sh c a r t r i d g e s h a d b e e n l o a d e d w i t h t h e 7 .65 m m

Belg ian b u l l e t . I a l s o g a v e h i m t h e m u z z l e v e l o c i t y

test r e su l t s w e h a d o b t a i n e d w i t h o u r n o 2 c a r b i n e fit­

t e d w i t h a 19" b a r r e l a s o p p o s e d to t h e l o n g (23")

b a r r e l . T h e d i f fe rence w a s i n t h e r a n g e o f o n l y 2 5

m / s e c . B r igad i e r B a r l o w t h e n v o l u n t e e r e d t h e in fo r ­

m a t i o n t h a t e v e r y o n e a t t h e s h o o t h a d e x p r e s s e d a d ­

m i r a t i o n for t h e FN " s h o r t o n e " (serial no 3 ) . I w a s

m o v e d t o o b s e r v e t h a t t he se c a r b i n e s w e r e o u r v e r y

b e s t p r o d u c t , a n d m o r e o v e r e m b o d i e d all t he

m o d i f i c a t i o n s w e h a d s o far f o u n d n e c e s s a r y d u r i n g

o u r t r i a l s a t H e r s t a l . W e a g r e e d t h a t t h e t w o c a r b i n e s

s h o u l d n o w g o b a c k t o B e l g i u m b u t b e r e a d y for a

r e t u r n m a t c h in E n g l a n d , a s a n e w ser ies o f t r i a l s w a s

s l a t ed t o b e g i n a r o u n d t h e 1 0 t h . T h e u p c o m i n g ex­

p e d i t i o n t o A m e r i c a w a s s c h e d u l e d f r o m A p r i l 15 th

t o M a y 1 5 t h . B a r l o w w a s c o n f i d e n t t h e Br i t i sh l i a i son

se rv ice i n W a s h i n g t o n w o u l d b e a b l e t o o b t a i n t h e

r e q u i r e d p e r m i s s i o n t o a l l o w u s t o a t t e n d . I r e q u e s t e d

t h a t w e b e i n t r o d u c e d a s " the E u r o p e a n m a n u f a c t u r e r

o f B r o w n i n g f i r e a r m s " . I b e l i e v e w e b o t h n o w u n d e r ­

s t a n d jus t w h y F N i s s o i n t e r e s t e d i n a t t e n d i n g th i s

d e m o n s t r a t i o n !

F r o m B a r l o w ' s r e m a r k s t h e g e n e r a l i m p r e s s i o n

s e e m e d t o b e exce l len t a n d i n fact h e c o n s i d e r e d t h e

e v e n t t h e " s e c o n d o f h i s i m p o r t e d v i c to r i e s " . Fo r h i s

p a r t h e h a d t w o r e q u e s t s : o n c a r b i n e n o 1 , t h e

original 7 .92 K " U n i v e r s a l C a r b i n e " , he w a n t e d us to

install a m o r e r o b u s t b a r r e l - a n d - h a n d g u a r d con f ig ­

u ra t ion , e spec i a l ly for a u t o m a t i c f i re . W e w e r e n o t t o

exceed 1 1 lb s , t h u s a l l o w i n g u s t h e a b i l i t y n e a r l y t o

doub le t he p r e s e n t a c t u a l 2 lb b a r r e l w e i g h t . H i s

second r e q u e s t c o n c e r n e d p i s t o l d e v e l o p m e n t . F r o m

his desk d r a w e r he p r o d u c e d a 13 s h o t H i - P o w e r

pistol m a d e b y t h e C a n a d i a n f i rm J o h n Ing l i s . T h i s

very a r m w a s i s s u e d t o c e r t a i n Eng l i sh t r o o p s , h e s a i d

(the C o m m a n d o s ) . T h e r e w a s a p r o g r a m , n o t y e t of­

ficial b u t o f w h i c h he h a d k n o w l e d g e , fo r a n e w

pistol spec i f i ca t ion : 9 m m P a r a b e l l u m c a l i b r e , w e i g h t

not o v e r 2 lbs , m a g a z i n e c a p a c i t y , I t h i n k , 10 c a r ­

tr idges, b u t f i t ted w i t h a d o u b l e - a c t i o n t r igge r , l ike

the w e l l - k n o w n W a l t h e r P - 3 8 . H e a s k e d i f w e w e r e

in teres ted i n s t u d y i n g s u c h a p r o b l e m . T h i s g a v e m e

the occas ion t o reca l l o u r i n t i m a t e i n v o l v e m e n t w i t h

this p i s to l , a n d M o n s i e u r S a i v e p r o m i s e d t o c o n c e r n

himself w i t h t h e d o u b l e - a c t i o n q u e s t i o n .

W e t h e n h a d d i n n e r w i t h C o l o n e l S h e p h e r d a n d

b r o u g h t h i m u p - t o - d a t e o n t h e e v e n t s o f t h e d a y .

S igned , R . L a l o u x

Mm. La loux a n d S a i v e i n d e e d h a d s p e n t s o m e t i m e

in C a n a d a , d u r i n g t h e w a r in 1 9 4 4 , a s s i s t i n g in t h e

s e t u p o f m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e B r o w n ­

ing H i - P o w e r p i s t o l , a t t h e J o h n Ingl is C o m p a n y ' s

p l an t i n T o r o n t o . W h e n t h e y left t h e p l a n t , t h e y

w e r e b o t h p r e s e n t e d w i t h p l a i n - g o l d w r i s t w a t c h e s .

M. La loux w e a r s his to t h i s d a y . I t i s e n g r a v e d on

t h e b a c k : 'R. La loux , f r o m his f r i e n d s a t J o h n Ingl is

Co Ltd'.

M u c h w a s 'in t h e w i n d ' c o n c e r n i n g t h e t o p - s e c r e t

A m e r i c a n d e v e l o p m e n t s o f l i g h t w e i g h t r if les a n d

shor t c a r t r i d g e s . T h e Bri t ish w e r e a l r e a d y t a l k i n g o f

t h e i m p e n d i n g t r i a l s i n t h e USA. M o n s i e u r L a l o u x

was m o s t p l e a s e d w i t h t h e c o u r s e o f e v e n t s t h u s far

i n E n g l a n d , p a r t i c u l a r l y w i t h t h e f e e d b a c k o f infor­

m a t i o n a n d o p i n i o n s his ADE c o n t a c t s b r o u g h t h im .

T h e A m e r i c a n s w e r e a n o t h e r s t o r y e n t i r e l y h o w ­

e v e r , a n d i t w o r r i e d h i m t o b e a w a r e , o n t h e o n e

h a n d , o f h o w i m p o r t a n t a g o o d s h o w i n g c o u l d b e t o

F N a t t h e u p c o m i n g A m e r i c a n t r i a l s , a s s u m i n g t h e

Bri t ish w e r e a b l e t o a r r a n g e t h e p r o m i s e d inv i t a ­

t i on ; y e t o n t h e o t h e r h a n d t o b e s o c o m p l e t e l y i n

t h e d a r k a b o u t w h a t t h e A m e r i c a n s w e r e d o i n g o n

t h e i r o w n . I t w a s k n o w n t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n s h a d

b a s e d t h e i r l i g h t w e i g h t rifle c a r t r i d g e d e v e l o p m e n t

o n t h e c o m m e r c i a l .300 S a v a g e c a s e . O t h e r t h a n

t h a t , A m e r i c a n O r d n a n c e Col R e n é S t u d l e r ' s a d a -

m e n t b l a n k e t o f s e c r e c y h a d c o m p l e t e l y d e f e a t e d

M . L a l o u x ' m o s t d e t e r m i n e d e f f o r t s t o f ind o u t j u s t

w h a t F N w a s u p a g a i n s t . M . L a l o u x n e v e r t h e l e s s

d i r e c t e d t h a t h e n c e f o r t h all .280 d e v e l o p m e n t s b e

p a r a l l e l l e d u s i n g t h e .300 S a v a g e c a s e for c o m p a r i ­

s o n , a n d t h a t F N s h o u l d f a m i l i a r i z e itself a s m u c h

a s p o s s i b l e w i t h t h e .30 c a l i b r e a s we l l a s t h e Bri t ish

.280.

A c o u r s e o f a c t i o n w a s d r a w n u p , b e g i n n i n g

w i t h w h a t l i t t l e w a s k n o w n for s u r e :

Cal ibre .280 UK

Cal ibre .300 S a v a g e

M u z z l e e n e r g y ( k g m ) 2 5 0 3 0 0

B u l l e t w e i g h t (gr) 9 9 .3

B u l l e t j a c k e t gi lding m e t a l t o m b a c

A v e r a g e c a r t r i d g e

l e n g t h ( m m ) 6 4 . 5 6 4 . 8 5

P o w d e r c h a r g e (gr) 2 .20 2 .60

M u z z l e v e l o c i t y ( m / s e c ) 7 3 5 7 9 5

T h e p r o g r a m m e w a s , for " t h e 7 m m " , a s t h e

.280 w a s f i rs t k n o w n a t FN, t o c o n s t r u c t a ' c r u s h e r '

Fig 30 A pressure testing device, known as a bloc mano­mètre, made up by Monsieur Saive's Groupe 74 for peak pressure copper 'crusher' tests of UK .280 cartridges.

3 4 T h e First F o u r P r o t o t y p e s

m e c h a n i s m for t h e .280 r o u n d .

N O T E : This d e v i c e , f i t t e d t o t h e c h a m b e r o f a

M a n n b a r r e l , a l l o w s m e a s u r e m e n t o f t h e a c t u a l

p e a k p r e s s u r e d u r i n g f i r ing o f a c a r t r i d g e by m e a n s

A UK r e p o r t , s u m m a r i z i n g t h e e v e n t s o f t h e

M a r c h , 1 9 4 9 Enf ie ld s h o o t w a s a s f o l l o w s :

o f a s m a l l c o p p e r p e l l e t o f k n o w n s i z e a n d c o m ­

p o s i t i o n b e i n g c r u s h e d b y a p i s t o n a r r a n g e d d i r e c ­

t ly o v e r a h o l e in t h e c h a m b e r , ( an d in t h e t e s t c a r t ­

r idge) . C r u s h e r s w e r e u s e d e x c l u s i v e l y for t h e s e

m e a s u r e m e n t s for m a n y y e a r s a n d g a v e e x t r e m e l y

a c c u r a t e a n d r e p e a t a b l e r e s u l t s i n u n i t s o f

m e a s u r e m e n t , o f t h e c r u s h e d c o p p e r p e l l e t , k n o w n

as C U P ( c o p p e r u n i t s o f p r e s s u r e ) . (The d e v i c e i s

Data of New Automatic Rifles, shown at RSAF Enfield Demonstration on 3rd March 1949

E M - 1 E M - 2 FN B S A

Heavy Barrel

Light Barrel

Heavy Barrel

Long N ° 2

Short N ° 3

A. Weights

1 . Rifle w / o u t b a y o n e t o r m a g a z i n e 8lbs 1 1 o z s 7lbs 3 1/2ozs 8lbs 6ozs 8lbs 1 4 o z s 8lbs 1 4 o z s 7lbs*

2 . Bar re l 2 lbs 6 ozs 2 lbs 2 lbs 1 5 o z s 2 lb s 2 lbs 1lb 5ozs

3 . M a g a z i n e E m p t y 7 1/2ozs 9ozs 8ozs 8ozs 1 1 3 / 4 o z s

4 . M a g a z i n e Fil led 1lb 4 1/2ozs 1lb 6ozs 1lb 5 1/2ozs 1lb 5 1/2ozs 1lb 9 1/2ozs

5 . B a y o n e t s (Type) 13 1 /4ozs (#7) 13 1 /4ozs (#7) - - 1 0 1 / 4 o z s (#5)

6 . B i p o d ni l ni l 8 1/2ozs 8 1/2ozs nil

B. Lengths

1 . Rifle w / o u t B a y o n e t 36 i n c h e s 3 5 i n c h e s 43 i n c h e s 34 i n c h e s 39 1 /4 i n ches

2 . Rifle w i t h B a y o n e t 4 4 i n c h e s 43 i n c h e s 5 1 1 / 2 i n c h e s 42 i n c h e s 46 3/4 i n ches

3 . Bar re l (bul le t t r a v e l ) 2 3 i n c h e s 2 3 i n c h e s 2 3 i n c h e s 2 3 i n c h e s 16 1 /3 i n c h e s

C. Other Data

1 . M a g a z i n e C a p a c i t y 2 0 20 2 0 2 0

2 . C y c l i c R a t e ( r p m ) 400 ( e s t i m a t e d )

5 0 0 / 5 5 0 550 2 5 0 ( a p p r o x )

3 . S igh t s , t y p e S ight b a s e M a x . r a n g e (yds)

s t eps (yds)

U N I T

800 100

U N I T

800 100

I R O N 19 1/2

1000 m e t r e s 1000 m e t r e s

U N I T

6 0 m i n s 1 m i n c l icks

4 . O p e r a t i o n G a s G a s G a s G a s

5 . M u z z l e B r a k e N o N o O p t i o n a l F lash H i d e r g i v i n g s o m e

recoi l r e ­d u c t i o n (no b a c k b l a s t )

* I n c l u d e s s l o w i n g d e v i c e 2 . 6 oz a n d F lash H i d e r 5 .3 oz

described more fully in Thos B. Dugelby's EM-2, Concept and Design.)

With the crusher ready, the plan was to begin a study of powder types comparing Bofors powder and ball powder with that removed from UK-loadings of .280 rounds, and begin production of FN .280 cases.

For the .300 Savage, they would construct another crusher, (FN having had no trouble ob­taining the actual chamber dimensions for this round), make up some bullets much like the sam­

ples they had of 9.3 gr Frankford arsenal 1945 bullet, and make up some cases.

On the 12th of August, 1949, Groupe 74 took time out from making prototypes 'to order', and began work on a very interesting variant of the fledgling Universal Carbine. Not a great deal is known about

Fig 31 FN experimental carbine, unserial led and un­marked. Cal ibre .30 US Carb ine. Left-hand side view. The device above the buttplate is merely part of the d isp lay

mount; when on d isp lay in the FN of f ices, the carbine is presented vert ical ly . A .30 Carb ine dummy cartr idge is also fitted to the base.

Fig 32 The act ion of the .30 Carb ine prototype, broken open for inspection. Note the stamped lower receiver and

the rear- locking rotary bolt housed in the bolt carrier. Th is was the first trial of the cock ing handle on the receiver.

36 The First Four Prototypes

Fig 33 FN .30 Carb ine ca l rotary bolt prototype, right-hand view. The dimensions of this weapon are as fo l lows: length 930 mm height with magaz ine 200 mm length of barrel 455 mm

magaz ine capac i ty 30 cartridges weight with magaz ine 2.960 kg weight of empty magaz ine 90 gr weight of bolt-and-slide mechan ism 350 gr

Fig 34 The FN .30 Carb ine cal prototype, act ion right-hand side.

it: it is recorded only that a single arm was made up

in the Amer ican .30 Carbine cal ibre , and that the

prototype was c o m p l e t e d in March, 1 9 5 1 . Its pur­

pose seems to have been to invest igate a l te rna te

methods of c o m p o n e n t manufac ture , and to exper­

iment with a different locking system instead of the

regular tilting bolt . Beyond that, nothing appears to

be known or r emembered abou t this en igmat ic

weapon, which is still on display at the FN works.

Upon examinat ion it appears obviously from the

same family as its brothers, but it is never theless

unique in many respects . It features more extens ive

use of stampings, and a tota l ly unique rear-locking

rotary bol t within the familiar bol t carrier. It was

the first to r e l o c a t e the cock ing handle to the side

of the receiver, instead of the earl ier s leeve around

the gas piston, as was the c a s e on carbines 1 to 3.

This arm bears no markings or serial number, and

remains to this day a uniquely fascinat ing weapon.

Monsieur Ernest Vervier, another FN designer of

note, at this t ime Monsieur Saive's chief assistant,

under took to be present with carb ine no 2 at the

Fig 35 Rear- locking, rotary bolt and bolt carrier f rom the .30 Carbine prototype.

extensive UK retrial of arms, held by the British at

Enfield in preparation for their upcoming Amer ican

expedition, on June 8, 1 9 4 9 . His report to Monsieur

Laloux is excerpted herewith:

The trials began at 1 0 : 3 0 a .m. Colonel Wat t s and

several officers of the Arsenal were present. M a j o r

Griffiths was in charge of the event. Mr Kent-

Lemon arrived at 1 1 : 3 0 with Mr Januszewski, who

carried a fitted b o x containing his EM-2 rifle. During

the entire period of the trials he engaged in constant ,

feverish activity, stripping out and replacing certain

components of his rifle, then retiring into the

cleaning room. Brigadier-general Bar low assisted at

the afternoon trials, along with three representatives

of B S A .

Arms presented:

a) FN carbine no 2 with light (485 mm) barrel . In

view of the special trials to be held, I moved the gas

regulator to maximum gas.

b) E M - 2 . This arm is provided with a tiny optical

sight mounted on a long folding arm. (NOTE: This

" l o n g folding arm" was a British prototype idea of

doubtful value, which was soon phased out leaving

prac t ica l ly no t race . This rifle with sight as here

descr ibed is pictured in the Co l l ec to r Grade book

EM-2, Concept and Design by Thos B. Dugelby.)

c) B S A . Did not participate in any trials except the af­

ternoon shoots . Did not go through the cold trials.

W h a t struck me most about this arm, (when it could

be persuaded to work) was the slow-down device for

full auto fire.

d) Ml Garand — provided as a control rifle.

Trials Programme

1. Cold Test functioning at — 40 °C

Weapon Method Results

EM-1 1/2 mag shot by shot: rest of mag

full auto

• the weapon was not ready

EM-2 same as above • several failures

to close

• failures to feed

• rubber buttplate fell off

BSA same as above • not ready for this shoot

FN carbine

same as above • no stoppages

Garand 2 clips of 8 cart­ridges shot by shot

• no stoppages

We again tried the three arms, the E M - 2 , the FN

and the Garand, at ambient temperature and shot the

three without observat ion. T h e B S A failed to feed its

second cartridge. Excessive play of the magazine in

the receiver obliged the shooter to hold it in place in

order to continue shooting. The bolt holdopen failed

to function when the magazine was empty.

The three, the EM-2, the FN and the Garand, again

passed the trials firing 8 0 ° downwards and 8 0 ° up­

wards, wi thout observat ion .

The BSA failed again to feed the second car­

tridge on its 8 0 ° e leva t ion test . The same c o m m e n t

again applied regarding the loose magaz ine . The

bol t holdopen a lso failed again.

2. Sand Trials

T h e arms, with full magazine at tached and one round

in the chamber , were subjected to a 5 minute artificial

sandstorm within an apparatus. Attempts were then

made to eject the protective cartridge, then feed and

fire off the rounds in the magazine.

38 The First Four Prototypes

Weapon Results

EM-1 • the weapon was not ready

B S A

• insufficient recoil on each shot

• hand operation difficult

• no supplementary magazine

available

EM-2

• safety could not be applied

• one "double" on single shot fire

• one incomplete lockup

• no supplementary magazine avail­

able

FN carbine

• 1st magazine: The ejection of the

protective cartridge in the chamber

was improperly executed by the

firer. Ma jo r Griffith mentioned

this incident in his report.

• 2nd magazine: Incomplete lockup

on first few cartridges. A simple

shake of the weapon cleared this

up.

M l Garand

• insufficient recoil on first clip; one

case locked in chamber , ejection

could only be effected by pounding

on the case with a cleaning rod

down from the muzzle.

• same incidents on the second clip

3. Mud Trials Each arm was laid in a mud bath, first with the right

side down for one minute, then again one minute on

the left side. A loaded magazine was also placed in

the mud as above . As was the case for the previous

trials, the firing order was to attempt one-half a

magazine shot by shot and the remainder fully

automatic . If a complete magazine was fired, a

second or supplementary magazine was to be fitted

and firing continued.

Weapon Results

EM-1 • weapon was not ready

B S A • insufficient recoil on first 4 or 5

cartridges

EM-2 • incomplete locking on rounds 7-11

FN carbine

no 2 • 1st magazine: no observation

• 2nd magazine: incomplete locking

on 2nd and 3rd cartridges. In­

sufficient recoil on 10th round

M l Garand • 1st clip: incomplete locking each

time. Cleaning rod necessary to

extract fired cases. Did not fire

a second clip.

Brigadier Bar low related to me as I was busy in the

cleaning room that even with a sear replacement the

EM-2 had continued to double. After several trials I

innocently asked the Brigadier if the B S A rifle was

equipped with a bolt holdopen device, as we had not

as yet seen it work . He immediately asked a B S A

technician, who spoke of a problem with the spring

. . . O u r carbine was thoroughly cleaned, just like the

other arms after each test, by Enfield armourers. It

shot in total 160 rounds.

Before I left, I corrected the follower springs in

our two spare magazines. In resume, our arm

emerges a viable entity in these very severe trials,

with a net superiority over the others, especially in

the mud and dust tests, wherein we alone finished the

second magazine. Brigadier Bar low asked me to

communicate his entire satisfaction back to Fabrique

Nationale. He has agreed to lend us a firer for

preliminary training before the next round of trials.

Signed, Vervier

A scan t few days later there was a very important

demonst ra t ion laid on at Bisley Camp by Brigadier

Barlow, the Director of Artillery (Small Arms). Mon­

sieur Laloux a t tended on issued pass no 40 , and

brought home his copy of the agenda, which was as

follows:

Demonstration of

New Small Arms Ammunition & Auto. Rifles

at Bisley

Tuesday, 14th June 1949

Time Table

09.45 hrs Short talk by C . S . ( M ) , in A . R . A .

Officers' Club House

10 .00 hrs. Proceed to Short Siberia Range

10.10 hrs. Items 1 to 7, and 8 and 9, con­

currently on adjoining ranges.

12.45 hrs. Break for lunch

1 3 . 5 0 hrs. Proceed to Stickledown Range

1 4 . 0 0 hrs. Items 10 to 13

1 5 . 3 0 hrs. Demonstrat ion finishes

approx.

1 5 . 4 0 hrs. Discussion in A . R . A . Officers'

Club House

13.00 hrs. Lunch in North London Rifle Club 16 .45 hrs. Tea in North London Rifle Club

Item/Nature of Demonstra t ion Range and Rds. fired Target Object

1. Accuracy

(a) .280 Ball 130 gr. bullet

M . S . Core

(b) .280 Ball 140 gr. bullet

M . S . Core

2 0 0 x

4 groups of

20 rounds each

with each type

Plain Card To demonstrate the basic ac­

curacy of the ammunit ion alone,

using a M a n n barrel to eliminate

any weapon effect.

(c ) .303 M k . 7 174 gr. bullet

NOTE: The figure of merit given by the lead cored 130 gr. and 140 gr. bullet is rather better than that of the

mild steel cored bullets. For information the following figures have recently been obtained for all four types

of bullet.

130 gr: M . S . Core 1.9 " 140 gr: M . S . Core 2 . 0 2 "

130 g: Lead Core 1.64" 140 gr: Lead Core 1.43"

The following results have been obtained from .303 M k . 7 of current manufacture:

Greenwood & Bately 1.56" R . O . F . Radway Green 1.32"

2. Penetration of Mild Steel Plate

(a) .280 Ball 130 gr. bullet

M . S . Core

(b) .280 Ball 140 gr: bullet

M . S . Core

2 0 0 x

2 rounds of

each type

.08 Mild Steel

plates spaced

10" apart

To determine the relative effect of

the various types of ammunit ion

: against a mild steel target.

(continued)

40 The First Four Prototypes

I tem/Nature of Demonstra t ion Range and Rds. fired Target Objec t

(c) .303 M k . 7 174 gr: bullet

3. Penetration of (i) earth (ii) sand

(a) .280 Ball 130 gr. bullet

M . S . Core

(b) .280 Ball 140 gr. bullet

M . S . Core

2 rds of

each type

against each

target

(i) earth

filled boxes

(ii) sand

filled boxes

To determine the relative effect of

the various types of ammunition

against earth and sand defences

4. Penetration of Armour Plate

(a) .280 A . P . I . 100x

5

9 m m of

Homogeneous

Hard Armour

Plate ( I .T .70 )

at normal

angle of impact

To show the maximum thickness

of Homogeneous hard armour

plate which can be defeated by

.280 A P I ammunit ion

5. Functioning of A . P . I , for flash

(a) .280 A . P . I . 100x

5

mild steel

plate at normal

angle of impact

The incendiary affect of all types

of A P I ammunit ion depends

upon the flash functioning of

round after passing through a

protective plate.

6 . Ignition of Petrol by A . P . I .

Ammuni t ion

(a) .280 A . P . I . 100x

as required

filled or partly

filled petrol

cans behind a

burster plate

Ignition of petrol with incendiary

ammunit ion is largely a matter of

chance. Condit ions in respect of

fumes and air mixture must be

favourable for ignition.

7. Rapid Fire

All types of automatic Rifle:

(a) EM-2

(b) FN Long Model

(c) FN Short Model

(d) B . S . A . Model

2 0 0 x

30 rds per rifle single

shot in 1 minute

4 ft. classifi­

cation

To demonstrate the ability of the

automatic rifles to give 30 aimed

shots in 1 minute.

8. Classification Course (1949)

This course is being fired with

following weapons:

(i) Rifle N o . 4

(ii) Rifle N o . 4 modified to

take .280

(iii) EM-2 fitted with optical

sight

(iv) EM-2 fitted with iron

sight

a) To compare the accuracy

results which would be given by

firing .303 M k . 7 & .280 ammuni­

tion from similar weapons.

b) To compare the accuracy

results given by the two methods

of sighting.

(continued)

Item/Nature of Demonstra t ion Range and Rds. fired Target Objec t

Practice No.11 Applicat ion 2 0 0 x

5 rds.

4 ft. classifi­

cation

Practice No . 12 Applicat ion 2 0 0 x

5 rds.

Figure 11

Practice No . 13 Snap 2 0 0 x

5 rds.

5 seconds exposure

Large Snap

Practice No. 14 Applicat ion 3 0 0 x

5 rds.

Round Cover

4 ft. classifi­

cation

Practice No. 15 Rapid 3 0 0 x run to 2 0 0 x . Fire

5 shots in 1 minute

4 ft. classifi­

cation

Practice No . 16 Snap 3 0 0 x

5 rds.

5 seconds exposure

Figure 11

NOTE: The results, which have been obtained previously by subjecting each type of automatic rifle to the

above classification course are available on the firing point; it will be seen that each rifle has been fired by

several different firers.

9. Functioning of Tracer

Ammunition

(a) .280 Tracer

(b) .303G M k . 7

6 0 0 x

10 rds. single shot

in 20 seconds

Stop Butt To demonstrate general func­

tioning & trajectory to 6 0 0 x in

comparison with .303 G M K . 7

10. Automatic Rifle in Machine

Carbine role

(a) Snap Practice (No. 3) 2 0 x

4 rounds per weapon

fired single shot

T ime 10 seconds

4 Fig: 2 spaced

1 width apart To demonstrate the comparat ive

efficiency of the automatic rifles

and the Sten M k . 5 in the machine

carbine role.

(b) Accuracy when fired in bursts 5 0 x

3 bursts from each

weapon

4 ft.

classification

(continued)

42 The First Four Prototypes

I tem/Nature of Demonstration Range and Rds. fired Target Object

1 1 . Rapid fire effect of Light Auto

Rifle type Weapon

(a) 4 Auto Rifle 3 0 0 x

30 rds per rifle,

shot in 1 minute

from shoulder

A series of Fig. 11

targets

To demonstrate the comparative

efficiency of a group armed with

auto rifle and Bren Group in

engaging a C o m m o n target.

(b) Bren L . M . G .

12 . With Bipod

(a) EM-2 rifle with light barrel

and bipod

(b) FN rifle with medium weight

barrel, with bipod

120 rds. in bursts

in 1 minute

3 0 0 x

Rapid fire for 1 min.

from the shoulder

A series of Fig. 11

targets

To demonstrate the capabilities of

light auto rifle, when fitted with a

light bipod, to undertake the role

of an L . A . G . if such a weapon is

fired

N O T E : For discussion later:

(i) Is an L . A . G . or auto weapon such as the Bren really required, if each man is armed with a light auto rifle and

trained to fire rapid single shots. Demonstration 1 1 .

(ii) If the answer to (i) is that an L . A . G . is still required, is the light auto rifle with bipod attachment suitable for

this role. Demonstration 12 . (Note: It can be taken that the light auto rifle with no support and fired in bursts is

useless in the L . A . G . role.)

1 3 . Functioning

Functioning of Light Al loy

Cartridge Cases in the auto

rifles.

3 0 0 x

As required, both

single shot and in

short bursts

Fig. 11 To demonstrate the general func­

tioning of the auto rifles when

firing light alloy cartridge cased

ammunit ion.

The final tally of points from this exhaust ive dem­

onstrat ion was:

Rif le Points

Enfield No. 4 .303 471

Enfield No. 4 .280 441

FN. 2 8 0 s e r # 2 422

EM-2 w/optical sight 350

EM-2 w/iron sight 329

BSA 1 6 2

Chapter Three

Prototypes 4 to 16

The pace was picking up cons iderab ly as the British

sought a c lear -cu t answer to their ques t for the

ideal Infantry C o m b a t W e a p o n . Both the FN .280

carbines, serial no. 2 and the 'short ' no. 3, were

featured in an endurance trial at W o o l w i c h Ar­

senal, August 3, 4 and 5, 1 9 4 9 . Following this there

were trials at the Schoo l of Infantry, Warminster ,

and at the Hythe ranges in Kent. Numerous r ecom­

mendations were made during these trials to im­

prove certain features of these arms. (Extensive

notes on this period are to be found in V o l u m e

Two.) On the strength of the trials results, the

British Ministry of Supply announced its intention

to place a formal order with FN for an additional

twelve, .280-ca l ibre carbines . These were to em­

body all the changes and improvements the rather

exhaustive British trials had shown necessary . The

order was finalised on O c t . 24 , 1 9 4 9 .

The British were by now veterans of two in-

depth visits to the USA, and, al though honour-

bound not to pass on any significant information

regarding American deve lopments , had been ab le

by August 31 , 1 9 4 9 , to bring the rim and ex t rac tor

groove of their own .280 cartr idge into line with the

latest Frankford Arsenal T1E1 cartr idge base

dimensions. (This was the first of three US trials car­

tridges, all loosely referred to as the 'T65 ' , which

had rim dimensions c o m p a t i b l e with the issue

.30M2.) The resulting UK round b e c a m e known as

the ' .280/30 ' . The British order for the 12 new FN

carbines , however, specif ied c h a m b e r dimensions

for the original .280 . Meanwhi le , FN was doing

s o m e homework of its own on the UK .280 ammuni­

tion supplied under the terms of the Infantry Com­

bat W e a p o n prototype deve lopmen t con t rac t . On

Sept. 2, 1 9 4 9 , the FN Central Laboratory reported

on a chemica l analysis of the powder taken from

some of their sample UK-loaded .280 cases . The

p resence of heavy powder fouling had been repor­

ted at the W o o l w i c h endurance trials, where UK

ammuni t ion had been used exclusively. The results

of the FN analysis showed that potassium sulphate,

a flash-reducing salt, was present in the powder and

was likely the cause of the heavy fouling. The

report explained: "This salt is fixed, and forms,

along with the residues of powder combus t ion and

metal par t ic les from the cartr idge, an ext remely

adherent deposi t . This deposi t logically augments

itself progressively with the number of rounds

fired." The cases were re-loaded with FN's nor­

mally-used Bofors powder, and sent to the UK, via

M. Vogels , for trial, a long with a copy of the results

of the above powder analysis. Major May's reply is

of interest:

Letter from: Ministry of Supply, Branch A . / 3 . , 3 5 / 3 7 , Old Queen S t . , London, S . W . I .

FN (England) Ltd. ,

102 Eaton Place,

London, S . W . I .

Dear Mr . Vogels,

I attach a preliminary report on the firing trials

carried out at Swynner ton on the .280 ammunit ion

loaded with Bofors Propellant .

This propellant is not considered suitable for the

.280 for the following reasons:

(i) The bulking of this powder is inferior to that

of the .280; this feature is critical with the longer

bullets i .e. A P I and 140 grain ball rounds.

(ii) Locat ion of the position of 'All Burnt ' in the

Barrel , (a) .280 at 13 1/2" of shot travel; (b) Bofors at

16 1/2" of shot travel (estimated). Note: (b) is being

44 Prototypes 4 to 16

confirmed by a pressure-space curve; these results

will not be available until about 15 Sept.

(iii) Muzzle flash is pronounced with the Bofors

propellant, giving a 6" glow at the muzzle; no flash

was noted with the .280 propellant. Note: A pressure

barrel with a 23 1/2" shot travel was used for this

shooting.

O u r Research Department is having an indepen­

dent analysis carried out on the .280 Propellant; it is

not understood how potassium sulphate was found

in the sample analysed in Liège, since no instructions

were issued to the manufacturers to incorporate that

flash reducing salt into this propellant.

Yours sincerely,

(signed) John S. M a y , Majo r for D. of A. (S .A . )

Att : Preliminary report

Preliminary Report

Ammunit ion: .280 Ball Ammuni t ion (130 grain Bullet); Propellant: Bofors Flake Propellant Lot 201 of 8,500

1. Combined Veloci ty & Pressure Measurement .

Mean of 5 rounds.

Ammunit ion Veloci ty at 90° Pressure in tons

per sq. in:

(Base Copper)

.280 Ball loaded

with Bofors pro­

pellant

2277 1 6 . 0

Charge Weight:

30 .35 gr.

.280 Ball Control 2273 16 .1

Charge Weight:

2 9 . 6 gr.

2. Bulking of the propellant.

Weight of Propellant required for filling the Car­

tridge to the top: (a) Bofors Propellant - 36 .4 grains;

(b) . 2 8 0 - 4 1 . 1 grains.

3. Position of 'All Burnt ' .

(a) Bofors Propellant at 16 .5" of shot travel (esti­

mated); (b) .280 at 1 3 . 5 " of shot travel.

4. Muzzle Flash from pressure barrel .

(a) Bofors propellant - 6" glow at muzzle; (b)

. 2 8 0 - n i l .

The first FN mention of the .280/30, or the .280 'New

Rim' as it was first ca l led , is from a lab analysis

report of the powder removed from a lot of these

new UK cartridges on 9 D e c e m b e r , 1 9 4 9 . The

charge was uniformly 29.5 grains of a new small

tubular-grained graphited powder, and the offen­

ding salt had been omit ted .

The British had been successful in pinning the

Americans down to an ac tual schedule of c o m ­

parative trials of both countr ies ' new designs of

ammunit ion and arms. Extensive t echn ica l trials

were to be held at Aberdeen Proving Ground in

Maryland, fol lowed by a course of t ac t i ca l trials at

Fort Benning, Georgia . (Note: A comprehens ive

reprint of the 1 9 5 0 Aberdeen weapons trials is to be

found in V o l u m e One , North American FALs.) The

British had entered two rifle designs, the first of

which was their own EM-2. For the second they

proposed to t ake one or more of the new lot of

twelve FN Universal Carbines they had ordered.

The first of these, serial no. 4, was proofed and put

into service at FN on Dec . 3, 1 9 4 9 . Barrels of both

1 9 " and 2 3 " were made up for several of these early

carbines as Amer ican preferences were as yet

unknown. The British, in response to M. Laloux'

request at the Enfield d e m o that June, had sent

over a man in the person of British Army Quarter­

master-Sergeant Thwaites, for familiarization with

the new carbines . Timing was of the e s sence as the

American trials were now scheduled to begin on

the 16th of February. Q M S Thwaites took the first

new carb ine (serial no. 4) back to England on

January 10th, 1 9 5 0 , for a shakedown trial at En­

field. They were joined there by M. Vogels on the

23rd with carbines numbered 5, 6 and 7, in t ime for

the last 'dress rehearsal ' of all the UK entries before

Aberdeen.

An M1 Garand and a No 4 Lee-Enfield were in­

cluded by Brigadier Barlow as control rifles. The

Rifle Data Shee t included in the Repor t was pre­

pared as extensively as possible and included as

reference all ava i lab le information on several of

the top-secret Amer ican 'T'-series rifles then under

examination: The T25 had been the first rifle

designed for the American T65 cartr idge. It

featured a rear-locked, tilting bolt , and was

designed by Col Studler 's protege at Springfield

Armory, Mr Earle Harvey. The T28 was an adap­

tation of the M P 4 4 Assault rifle, again in ca l ibre

.30T65, designed by Mr Cyril A. M o o r e as an in­

vest igation of low-cost, s tamped-metal fabr icat ion

techniques . The T31 was an a t tempt by John

Garand to design a low-recoil infantry rifle. The T25

rifle b e c a m e the American entry a t the 1 9 5 0 Aber­

deen and Fort Benning trials, while the latter two

designs were deemed unsuccessful and were

discont inued soon afterwards.

Demonstration of New Small Arms Ammunition and Auto Rifles

C.I.A. Ranges, Enfield Lock, Tuesday, 24th January 1950, D. of A. (S.A.)

1. Rifle Data Sheet: EM -1 EM -2 FN BSA Rifle

T 2 5

Rifle

T 2 8

Rifle

T 3 1

Rifle

M l

A. Weights (FN has 19" barrel) lb . oz. lb . oz. lb . oz. lb . oz. lb . oz. lb . oz. lb . oz. lb . oz.

1. Rifle without bayonet ,

magazine

2. Barrel

8 1 1

2 6

7 3 1/2

2 0

8 9

1 1 3

7 1 2

1 10 1/2

7 0

1 1 3

7 0

1 1 3

7 0

n / a

9 8

2 1 0

3. Magazine empty 0 7 1/2 0 9 0 8 0 11 3 / 4

B. Lengths inches inches inches inches inches inches inches inches

1. Rifle without bayonet

and muzzle stabilisers

2. Barrel length (bullet

travel)

36

2 3 . 5

35

2 3 . 5

39 & 42

19 & 22

3 9 . 4

1 8 . 4

4 1 . 3

2 0 . 2

4 3 . 5

2 0 . 2

35

n / a

4 3 . 6

2 1 . 3

C. Other Data

1. Type of operation

2 . Magazine capaci ty

3. Cyclic rate of fire

4. Type of sight

5. Muzzle stabiliser

Recoil reducer

Flash Hider

6. Type of bayonet

gas

2 0 rds

4 0 0 / 4 5 0

Unit

no

no

no

N o . 7

(blade)

gas

2 0 rds

5 0 0 / 5 5 0

Unit

no

no

no

N o . 7

(blade)

gas

2 0 rds

500

Iron

(Folding)

yes

no

yes

N o . 9

(blade)

gas

2 0 rds

250*

Opt ional

Iron or

Unit

yes

yes

yes

N o . 5

(blade)

gas

2 0 rds

600

Iron

(Folding)

yes

yes

yes

n / a

gas

2 0 rds

625

Iron

(Folding)

yes

yes

yes

n / a

gas

2 0 rds

n / a

n / a

n / a

n / a

n / a

n / a

gas

Iron

(Folding)

no

no

no

7. Recoil veloci ty - 7 . 7 f . s . - - 1 0 . 8 5 f.s. - - -

* Explanatory; can be varied after trial.

46 Prototypes 4 to 16

D. Ammunition Data U .K. USA

1. Types Ball (130 grain bullet)

Ball (140 grain bullet)

A . P . / A . P . I .

Tracer

Observing

Rifle Grenade

Ball (150 grain bullet)

Ball (140 grain bullet with M . S . core)

A . P . / A . P . I .

Tracer

Observing

Rifle Grenade

2. Muzzle velocity 2 , 4 0 0 f.s. 2 , 8 0 0 f.s.

3. True pressure M a x . 19 t .s . i . (for 130 grain bullet)

M a x . 22 t .s . i . (for 140 grain bullet)

M a x . 5 0 , 0 0 0 p.s . i . ( = 2 2 t .s . i . )

4. Type of propellant N . C . N . C .

5. Tracer performance (a) Dark ignition 90 yds ± 30

(b) Bright trace at least 800 yds (a) Da rk ignition 50 yds approx

(b) Bright trace 1,000 yds approx

6. Max imum grenade range

(1 1/4lb. U .S . M 9 A 1 ) 2 5 0 yds 2 5 0 yds

Table of Comparat ive Weights of Various Types of S .A .A.

Type of Weight of Bullet Weight per round Weight per 100 rds

Calibre Case in grains in grains in lbs.

.280" Brass 130 3 0 0 4 .3

Light Al loy 130 2 0 1 . 2 5 2 .8

.280" Brass 140 310 4 .44

Light Al loy 140 2 1 1 . 2 5 2 . 9 4

.30" T 6 5 Brass 140 361 5 .16

Light Al loy 140 2 4 5 . 6 3 .46

.30" T 6 5 Brass 150 371 5.3

Light Al loy 150 2 5 5 . 6 3 .6

. 3 0 / 0 6 Brass 150 397 5.9

.303" Brass 174 387 5.5

Light Al loy 174 2 7 5 . 5 3 .9

Limit of Success of Various Types of S . A . A .

Limit indicated by • Target: Steel Helmets

Type of Bullet

Range in yards

Type of Bullet 700 800 9 0 0 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600 1700 1800

.280" Ball (lead core)

130 grains

•

.280" Ball (lead core)

140 grains

•

.280" Ball (mild steel core)

130 grains •

.280" Ball (mild steel core)

140 grains

•

.280" A.P. I . 130 grains •

.30/06 Ball M2 150 grains •

.30/06 A.P . M2 150 grains •

.303" Mk.7 174 grains •

.303" W M k . 1 174 grains •

W.C. 66674S

Programme

Weapons : EM-2 , E M - 1 , FN, B S A

A. Ammunition: One .280" weapon. ( .303" as

control for comparison in Tests 1, 2 and 3.)

1. Penetration of M . S . plates*

2. Penetration of earth*

3. Penetration of wood*

4. Ignition of petrol by A P I round

5. Observing round against 'hard' target.

* Fired at same time as 'B ' be low.

B. Weapons

1. 100 yards grouping — 5 rounds single shot.

2. 100 yards grouping — 1 magazine in bursts from

bipod or sandbags.

3. 25 yards grouping — 1 magazine in bursts of 2 / 3

rounds fired in the machine carbine role (with

sling, e tc . ) .

4. 2 0 0 yards Figure 2 Target — 1 magazine rapid

( f i r ed single shot) .

5. C . I . G . S . to fire all weapons.

FN carbines numbers 4, 5, 6 and 7 were quickly sent

back to Herstal for a final tune-up after the Enfield

shoot, then carefully packed , with the necessary

spares, and sent off by d ip lomat ic courier to Aber­

deen Proving Ground. The British, who as men­

t ioned had already held several meet ings in the

USA, were for the first t ime successful in acquiring

permission for several representat ives of FN to at-

48 Prototypes 4 to 16

tend these important trials at Aberdeen. Monsieur

Laloux took ship to New York while Monsieur Saive,

anxious to be on hand right from the first shots

fired, flew over to wa tch his inventions perform in

the new, pan-Atlantic compet i t ion .

Excerpts from Monsieur Laloux' later confiden­

tial report of the trials follow:

Aberdeen — Universal Carbine Second week of the trials

On Wednesday Feb 17, after my departure for New

York , the first shots had already been fired. They be­

gan with test no . III, a shoot of 100 rounds to ensure

proper functioning. M. Saive assisted, firing carbines

numbers 6 and 7 in single shot and both short and

long bursts of fully automatic fire, without incident,

although the ammunit ion appeared to have sensitive

primers.

Monday Feb 20 was taken up in photographing

our carbine, (no 4 ) , and in drawing up the official

parts list. (Appended to this report - Ed.)

On Monday Feb 20 , Tuesday Feb 21 and Thurs­

day Feb 2 3 , the precision shooting trials were held

with our carbine no . 4 (Test X ) . (Wednesday was

Washington's bir thday and a holiday). M. Saive was

unfortunately not allowed to assist at any of these

trials; Brigadier Bar low himself was also absent.

Q M S Thwaites was the firer, and the results he ob­

tained were unfortunately erratic — due, I feel, to his

being an N C O and much more used to performing

the firing exercises themselves without due regard for

the results, which were as follows for our arm:

Accuracy Test

Date: 28 Feb 1950

Rifle: FN serial no 4

Range: 100 yards

Fired from: bench rest

Wind: S S W , 20 to 28 mph

Direction of fire: SW

Rifleman: Thwaites

Sky condit ion: overcast

Targets are of 10 rounds each. Measurements are in inches.

Target

Number M.R. M.V.D. M.H.D. E.V.D. E.H.D. E.S.

Centre of Impact

From Point of Aim Remarks

1 3 .56 3 .18 1.27 12 .12 4 .65 1 2 . 3 0 Right 1.08

Below .25 Normal group (rifle previously

fired 14 rounds)

2 3 .00 2 . 6 6 .91 1 2 . 6 0 4 .82 12 .63 Right .59

A b o v e .81 Normal group

3 2 .55 2 .22 .91 7 .64 4 . 1 1 7 .70 Right 1.00

A b o v e 1.83

Normal group

Average 3 .04 2 . 6 9 1.03 10 .79 4 .53 1 0 . 8 8 Right .89

Above .80

4 2 .42 2 .03 1.08 8 .70 4 . 4 8 8 .70 Right .86

Below 2 .08

Each shot was the first from a fully

loaded magazine.

5 1.58 .73 1.28 3 .39 6 .63 7 .00 Right .05

Below .76

Each shot was the 11th from the

magazine (9 rounds remained in

weapon) .

6 2 .35 1.67 1.39 5 .70 5 .92 8 .15 Left 1.42

Below 1.98

Each shot was the last from the

magazine.

Target

Number M.R. M.V.D. M.H.D. E.V.D. E.H.D. E.S.

Centre of Impact

From Point of Aim Remarks

7 1.57 .97 1.02 3 .51 3 .30 4 . 4 0 Left .50

Below 3 .07 Each round loaded directly into

chamber and bolt closed as gently

as possible. Magazine not at tached

to rifle.

8 2 . 3 9 1.41 1.51 6 .06 7 .90 8 .65 Left 1.50

Below 3 .50

After firing 40 rounds automatic

fire to heat barrel . Each round

loaded directly into chamber as for

target 7.

9 2 . 7 4 1.90 1.70 6 .36 7 .24 8 .30 Left .55

Below .66 First 10 rounds from a fully loaded

magazine. O n e minute cooling

period between shots.

10 1.65 1.19 .73 6 .30 3 .27 6 .35 Right .19

A b o v e 1.55

Last 10 rounds from a fully loaded

magazine. O n e minute cooling

period between shots.

11 1.77 1.57 .63 5 .51 2 .82 5 .80 Right 1.77

A b o v e 3 .47

Fired without grip in normal

manner .

Thursday the 24th I finally received the following

figures from Bar low concerning the accuracy results

of our carbine no 7:

Hor. Vert . Hor. Vert. FN no 7: rifleman Herbert 1. 5 .50 X 1 2 . 5 0 FN no 7: (Herbert) 1. 5 3 . 5 0 X 45

2 . 3 .25 X 14 2 . 60 .25 X 3 5 . 6

3 . 3 .50 X 1 0 . 7 5 3 . 2 4 . 2 5 X 2 9 . 2 5 Average 4 .08 X 1 2 . 4 1 Average 4 6 . 1 6 X 3 7 . 9 5

FN no 7: rifleman Thwai tes 1. 3 .75 X 9 FN no 7: (Gustafson) 1. 3 1 . 6 X 4 5 . 2 5 2 . 5 .25 X 8 2 . 4 0 . 9 0 X 4 6 . 3 5

3. 3 X 8.25 Average 4 0 . 9 1 X 4 3 . 9 5 Average 4 X 8.41

FN no 7: (Thwaites) 1. 4 8 . 3 5 X 2 2 . 6 0 FN no 7: rifleman Gustafson 1. 4 .25 X 1 2 . 5 0 2 . 2 1 . 0 0 X 2 0 . 0 0

2 . 3 X 13 3 . 2 6 . 9 0 X 1 6 . 5 0

3 . 4 . 5 0 X 10 Average 3 2 . 0 8 X 23 .03

Average 3 .90 X 11 .83

EM-2 — Average

EM-2 1. 2 2 . 5 0 X 4 2 . 8 0

(Average) — Thwai tes 1. 4 . 5 8 X 5 .50 2 . 4 1 . 1 1 X 3 1 . 0 0 (Average) — Gustafson 2. 4 . 1 6 X 5 .58 3. 2 1 . 0 0 X 2 0 . 8 3

(Average) — Herbert 3. 3 .25 X 5 .16

Single shot: 100 yards, 10 shots (inches) Auto: 50 yards, 20 shots in bursts of 5

50 Prototypes 4 to 16

serial no 13, marked " X 2 E 1 " . These weapons are now on display at the Q A D ( W ) Pattern Room at Enf ie ld Lock, Middlesex, Eng land.

each 600-round cycle .

( N o t e : c o m p l e t e tes t p r o c e d u r e s a n d resu l t s i n V o l ­

u m e O n e . )

After these series were completed, I leaped at a chan­

ce to fire the E M - 2 . Bar low mentioned that the EM-2

had suffered a broken locking lug during the third

endurance cycle.

We had been forewarned by Herstal of the con­

siderable fouling to be expected with the UK 140-gr

pink-tipped loads, and after proving that our carbine

could fire an entire course of 600 rounds without any

adjustment or attention, we were authorized to

enlarge the gas take-off aperture from 2 .75 to 3 mm.

We could see the existing hole was almost completely

closed by fouling, and removed a considerable quan­

tity of metallic deposits before actually getting down

to enlarging the hole.

So far we had been shooting with the short (19")

barrel, (guns 6 and 7.) After a discussion with Bar­

low, wherein we decided against changing over to the

longer barrel, or shooting any of the 130-gr loads,

even though they had been brought over and were

available, we decided to enlarge the gas passage holes

in the gas regulator, to provide a sort of receptacle

Fig 36 Three of the 12 UK-ordered Carabines Automa­tiques de Moyenne Puissance (CAMP) cal ibre .280. Above : serial no 6, used at Aberdeen; centre: serial no 11; below:

It is most unfortunate that we were unable to see the

successive shots hit the target, in order to ascertain if

the walk' was progressive, or if the weapon was

shooting one high and the next low.

As the final stage of the precision shooting, Gus­

tafson continued with no 7 on Wednesday. The

shooting was a bit better — an American officer ex­

hibited a target featuring a nice group with no flyers,

which he had obtained by reloading the magazine af­

ter each shot and controlling the closure of the bolt as

gently as possible.

We will of course endeavour to clear up this

problem but it will be difficult if we are not allowed

to assist in the actual shoots . I repeated to Bar low

that the principle of our carbine is identical to that of

the self-loading rifle (SAFN) , wherein it gives ex­

cellent results, and which moreover proved its

precision to his satisfaction at Woolwich .

Thursday the 24th saw the beginning of the en­

durance trials (Test X I ) . This shoot was composed of

10 series of 600 rounds, with each of the groups of

600 broken into 6 series of 100 rounds, alternately

single shot and full automatic . The weapons were

allowed to cool to ambient temperature between each

series of 100 ; it was permissable to oil the arms after

each series of 100 but not to clean them until after

for the powder fouling (Barlow's idea), and to take 5

or 6 coils off the operating spring. These

modifications were made to carbine no 7, which ap­

peared in perfect working order, following which we

ensured it was well cleaned and oiled. T h e trials are

to recomence Monday morning. Monsieur Saive and

I are going to Washington for the weekend. R. Laloux

Aberdeen Proving Ground

Official Parts List for Rifle, Lightweight, Calibre .280 FN

Results of Test I (b)

1. Plug, gas cylinder, assembly, consisting of:

Plug, gas cylinder

Plunger, gas cylinder

Retainer, plunger

Spring, plunger

2. Piston

3. Spring, piston

4. Lock, gas regulator

5. Cover, bolt

6. Slide, bolt, assembly, consisting of:

Pin, connecting rod

Plunger, connecting rod

Rod, connecting

Slide, bolt

Spring, connecting rod

7. Extractor, assembly, consisting of:

Extractor

Spring, extractor

8. Bolt

9. Pin, firing pin retaining

10. Spring, firing pin

11. Pin, firing

12. Swivel, front

13. Screw, front swivel

14. Screw, hand guard

15. Guard, hand, assembly, consisting of:

Bushing, left

Bushing, right

Guard, hand

16. Barrel and receiver, assembly, consisting of:

Barrel

Block, gas

Block, bolt locking

Bushing, gas cylinder

Collar, hand guard

Cylinder, gas

Handle, cocking

Pin, gas b lock

Pin, gas cylinder

Plunger, gas regulator

Plunger, cocking handle

Receiver

Regulator, gas

Rivet, cocking handle stud

Sight, front

Spring, gas regulator

Spring, cocking handle

Stud, cocking handle

17 . Screw, slide retaining

1 8 . Screw, rear sight adjusting

1 9 . Ramp, rear sight

2 0 . same as part 18

2 1 . Spring, rear sight lock

2 2 . Lock, rear sight

2 3 . Slide, rear sight

2 4 . Pin, trigger housing

2 5 . Screw, trigger housing

2 6 . Trigger housing, assembly, consisting of:

Housing, trigger

Screw, grip retaining

Tube, operating spring

27 . S tock , assembly, consisting of:

Screw, sling swivel

Swivel, sling

S tock

2 8 . Plate, butt

2 9 . Screw, butt plate

3 0 . same as part 29

3 1 . Sear , automat ic

3 2 . Spring, automatic sear

3 3 . Spring, magazine catch

3 4 . Catch , magazine

3 5 . S top , bol t , assembly, consisting of:

Lock, screw, bolt stop

Plunger, bol t stop

Screw, bolt stop

Spring, bolt stop

Stop, bol t

Thumbpiece , bol t , stop

3 6 . Screw, magazine catch

37 . Lever, change

3 8 . Cover , trigger housing

52 Prototypes 4 to 16

3 9 . Hammer , assembly, consisting of: 5 1 . Nut, grip retaining screw

Guide, hammer spring 5 2 . Latch

Hammer 5 3 . Plunger, latch

Pin, hammer spring guide 5 4 . Spring, latch

4 0 . Spring, hammer 5 5 . Spring, latch retaining plate

4 1 . Retainer, hammer spring 56 . Plunger, latch retaining plate

4 2 . Sear 57 . Plate, latch retaining

4 3 . Plunger, sear 5 8 . Plunger, operating spring

4 4 . Spring, sear 5 9 . Spring, operating

4 5 . Trigger 6 0 . Washer , operating spring tube

4 6 . Plunger, trigger 6 1 . Screw, operating spring tube

47 . Spring, trigger 62 . Follower, magazine

4 8 . Guard, trigger 6 3 . Tube, magazine

4 9 . Lever, opening 64 . Base, magazine

5 0 . Grip 65 . Spring, magazine

Fig 37 C loseup of the receiver of one of the C A M P car­bines. Note the removeable sideplate on the mach ined

lower receiver. Figure 38 shows the ' D ' (demounting) posit ion of the change lever for removal of the sideplate.

Monsieur Vogels was FN's 'man in London', and pre­

pared the following resume of recen t events , as he

had heard them, on March 2, 1 9 5 0 . Mm. Laloux and

Saive were still in Amer ica and copies of this docu­

ment went to them as well as back to Herstal to M.

Joassar t , the director-general , and Monsieur Saive's

chief assistant. Monsieur Vervier:

FN (England) Ltd.

102 Eaton Place

London S . W . I

Carbine .280 - Trials in U S A

1. I met with (UK) Col Wat t s , March 2, 1 9 5 0 . He

read a long letter just received from Brigadier Bar­

low, and concentrated on two extracts which have

been the subject of recent cables:

It appears the comparison weight trials of the

three arms under consideration favour the American

rifle, called the T 2 5 . It is decidedly the lightest.

The actual weights are as follows: (with full

magazine)

T25 8.37 lbs (3 .8 kg)

EM-2 8.57 lbs (3 .89 kg)

FN 9 .18 lbs (4 .17 kg)

Moreover, it is alleged there is an EM-2 model

which will weigh out less than the T - 2 5 .

2. Automatic precision fire: this shoot (Test X) is at

50 yards with a 10 ft x 6 ft target. Twenty rounds are

fired, in bursts of 5 to 10 rounds, The FN carbine and

the EM-2 with the three best shooters put all their

shots in a circle 2 ft in diameter. Even the poorest

shooters can easily keep all their shots on the target.

With the T 2 5 , no one, from the best to the worst, is

capable of keeping all 20 shots on the target." (Note:

these fully au tomat ic firing results are curiously

missing from the official published results of Test X,

reprinted in Vol. One.) The American cartridge is more powerful, but

on the other hand the T 2 5 is very unpleasant to

shoot. All the shooters dislike it. The UK . 2 8 0 / 3 0

cartridges preoccupy many because of their marked

lack of precision on the target. The difficulties with

heavy fouling are also well demonstrated. While I

was in Col Wat ts ' office, a cable arrived informing

him that the EM-2 had twice broken a locking lug

during trial. The cable requested spares be sent on

immediately to avoid the necessity of cannibalizing

the other test EM-2 rifles.

As to the end of the trials, it appears they are

taking much longer than planned to complete and the

estimate is now two and a half months for the tech­

nical trials to be finished. It has also been decided to

undertake the tactical trials at Fort Benning

simultaneously. This is why we are being pressed to

send over the rest of the ordered FN carbines — the

tactical trials are due to begin the day all the ap­

propriate material arrives. Major de Quincey con­

firms that B O A C agrees to transport the material by

air as ordered by the Ministry of Supply, with labels

attached showing weight, dimensions, and a detailed

list of contents. This method of transport is en­

visaged for the two latest carbines, now ready, num­

bers 8 and 9 as well as the remaining six.

— signed, J. Vogels

With the trials in full swing, the fouling created by the UK .280 cartridges seemed ironically to be one of the few things keeping a more decisive success from Monsieur Laloux' grasp. Although now too late to affect the trials, he directed every effort into

analysis of this weak foreign link in the carefully-prepared FN chain. The Ballistic Laboratory back in Herstal prepared a report on the 9th of March regarding experiments with the various loadings of .280 so far available from the British:

Fouling of the .280 Automatic Carbines

1. Previous Developments

Fouling trials were held on Feb 10 , 1950 , firing

50 rounds of .280 ammunit ion loaded with 140-gr

bullets. M. Vogels asked that we repeat the same test

using cartridges loaded with 130-gr bullets; this was

done on March 3.

2. Equipment Used

We carried out these trials using a special M a n n

barrel, calibre 7 mm, chambered for the .280 , with a

pressure-measurement takeoff point situated in the

same location as is the gas b lock of the FN carbine. A

long, capped cylinder, of 5 mm interior diameter

screws into this takeoff hole. It plays the role of the

gas cylinder.

3. Trials

We fired 100 of the .280 140-grain loads, in five

series of 20 , at a rate of roughly 1 minute and 50

seconds per series. We measured the variation in the

weight of our 'capture' cylinder after each 20 shots

We made the same series of trials with the 130-grain

loads.

(continued)

54 Prototypes 4 to 16

4. Results

UK Cases with 140 grain bullet UK cases with 130 grain bullet

Time Weight of Capture Cumulative Weight of Capture Cumulative Cylinder Gain Cylinder Gain

Before shooting 3 7 . 7 4 6 0 gr 3 7 . 7 1 8 6 gr

After 20 rds 3 7 . 8 4 8 4 gr 0 .1024 gr 3 7 . 7 8 1 0 gr 0 .0624 gr

After 40 rds 3 7 . 8 9 5 2 gr 0 .1492 gr 3 7 . 8 4 9 8 gr 0 .1312 gr

After 60 rds 3 7 . 9 3 1 2 gr 0 .1852 gr 3 7 . 9 2 7 6 gr 0 .2090 gr

After 80 rds 3 7 . 9 5 9 6 gr 0 .2136 gr 3 7 . 9 9 4 6 gr 0 .2760 gr

After 100 rds 3 7 . 9 9 8 8 gr 0 .2528 gr 3 8 . 0 5 9 0 gr 0 .3404 gr

5. Nature of the deposits The residues were extracted from the cyl inders ,

Monsieur Laloux' report from Aberdeen had ended with the seemingly innocent comment that he and Monsieur Saive were going "to New York for the weekend." His weekends were very busy; Monsieur Laloux was a master at sounding people out, and dividing them into two groups - those who could be of assistance to him and therefore to FN, and those who could, or would, not. He was never a man to waste time or just relax in the middle of an event which could appreciably alter the fortunes of Fabrique Nationale.

On the 9th of March, 1950, while the trials were still proceeding, Monsieur Laloux and Mon­sieur Saive visited the offices and plant of the Win­chester Repeating Arms Company in New Haven, Connecticut. Olin ball powder was used exclusively in Col Studler's vaunted, top-secret .30 calibre con­

cept. Needless to say, for M. Laloux, it rankled that the T25 rifle, whatever its idiosyncracies, had been noticeably less bothered at Aberdeen by any seri­ous powder fouling than had the FN entries, which perforce were shooting ammunition designed and manufactured in England; ammunition over which FN had no control. Monsieur Laloux ensured that powder trials in Herstal began comparing samples of Olin ball powder to the more traditional Euro­pean types very soon after this meeting took place. His report of the Winchester visit shows clearly that even while involved in complex and delicate nego­tiations about top-secret gunpowder, he missed very little indeed of what was shown him. His re­marks were obviously never meant for publication, but ponder nevertheless where Winchester would be today had they been read and taken to heart!

Winchester Repeating Arms Company New Haven, Connecticut

9th March 1950

1. Generalities The visit, delayed by the absence of the Regional

Manager Mr Dawson, was necessarily cut short in

order that we might still catch the train for Toronto .

We were met at the station in New Haven by Mr

Tobler, recently returned from Herstal, who was the

old director-general of Winchester before its absorp­

tion into the Ol in group.

In the absence of Mr John Olin, with w h o m I

had exchanged courteous correspondence and who

was vacationing in the Bahamas , we were finally

rescued by Mr Dawson. He immediately took us to a

boardroom where a large table was laid for a later

lunch. Here we met numerous of his fellow Win­

chester executives.

I had been advised by the writer Walter H.B.

Smith that very great changes were taking place at

Winchester . Indeed, several days before our visit the

head of the Winchester Research division, and the

Works manager himself had been politely informed

their services were no longer required. According to

W . H . B . Smith, who to us had seemed to have

already chosen sides in the affair, things were not

going at all well at Winchester . The parent company

was giving too little individual freedom yet too much

responsibility to its Winchester executives.

after each trial and were sent to the lab for chemical

analysis.

We had just sat down when Dawson started

asking about Aberdeen. He was very close to the

mark in his appreciation of the situation there regard­

ing our carbines, and above all, the British car­

tridges. I explained modestly that I was there to serve

the English cause in this endeavour, and had a very

limited amount of freedom to act as an agent of FN.

We spent the rest of the lunch period discussing

generalities.

We decided to devote our first two hours to a

tour of the factory, and the rest of the afternoon to

the research laboratory. (This latter, like the Marl in

facility, had the appearance of an informal club, but

with more test instruments and equipment.) A con­

tract was in the works between the Belgian firm

Poudreries Réunies and the Olin group, but US

government regulations were still holding up a final

agreement regarding an exchange of information on

the Olin military ball powders. Mr John Olin him­

self, it was indicated, was ready to begin negotiations

directly with FN as soon as a change in the

regulations,-billed as imminent, allowed a settlement

of this gunpowder situation. For my part I did not at­

tempt to hide that our financial situation had evolved

very much in the right direction since Mr Olin had

visited Herstal.

2. The Visit to the Arms Factory

Mr Rogers, the new W o r k s manager, was just

back from a three week trip to the Winchester plant

at East Alton, Ill. He directed his assistant Mr Emil

Scheur, (German, as his name would indicate), to

show us around and answer all our questions.

The New Haven factory, with its multitude of

different arms under production, was very large. The

workshop building itself was no small achievement.

Five or six stories high, it surrounds a courtyard at

least a hundred metres square. The workshops are

very well lit and about 50 metres long. On every side

of a central passage, four very cramped and close-

together ranks of machine-tools are arranged by

type. The overall impression created by these cram­

ped, ancient facilities is very much less than ours: at

first glance the number of machine tools seems about

the same, if not greater, but at the time of our visit

the degree of utilization of each machine was very

much less. Around each group of machines were only

a few operators, and most of the machines were

unoccupied. Mr Scheur confirmed that the number of

machine operators was only about 2 , 0 0 0 . The most

surprising thing for me, and M. Saive agreed on this

as well when I asked him, was that the whole place

was so old; not only the buildings, but the equip­

ment, and most of all the production methods. Belt-

driven machines predominated, although some had

been converted to individual motors . The number of

single-stage machines, permanently set up for repeti­

tive operations were grouped together, as was the

practice, and the impression here was quite simply

fantastic. It appeared that no one had done anything

to reduce the number of these repetitive, hand-fed

operations, which are after all the most tedious and

unpleasant in all manufacturing. To sum up the

machinery: apart from the vertical barrel drilling

machines and the new Salstrom stockmaking panto­

graph, nothing sensational or unknown to us, at all.

As regards the work methods, we never saw a

single plan or detail sheet anywhere in the factory.

This may have been my fault for not insisting; a

request of mine to examine any one single plan was

not satisfied. It appears operation detail sheets as

such do not exist. T h e work is not done in any form

of assembly line. T h e machines in the workshops are

grouped by type: milling machines of the same type,

copy-mills, drilling machines, and so on. In prin­

ciple, the machines don't budge and the work is trans­

ported from one group of machines to another in in­

numerable coded trays. This was indeed a formidable

process !

Trays were piled up everywhere, in some places

occupying a complete work station — an enormous

volume of material .

All handwork is done by males, except for the

inspections. For the inspections, we noticed

numerous stations, equipped with gauges. Surprising

as it seems, we were assured that the Garand rifle had

been extensively produced here during the war, by

the same production methods we had just seen.

Wi th all the curious features, several points of

interest merit further description:

• an eight-station Sals t rom copy mill, identical to

the one at Marl in , alongside numerous old, single

function machines.

• the vertical barrel-boring machines designed by

Winchester themselves.

• the final function-shooting and inspection, which

are done simultaneously by very competent

operators and consist of a complete examinat ion fol­

lowed by a functional shooting trial of each arm.

• the barrel heat-treating facility, wherein the barrels

are automatical ly conveyed through the various

stages of the process. I will consider particular atten­

tion to this idea to be time well spent, when we come

to install our own new heat-treating facility.

I did find it hard to believe a time of 7 1/2

minutes, given to me as the time it took to rifle a .30

calibre Mauser-type barrel, as it coincided with the

same time quoted by Marl in to rifle a soft steel .22

56 Prototypes 4 to 16

barrel .

I feel we owe it to ourselves to investigate this

method of barrel rifling, although, like at Marl in,

polishing the insides of the shotgun barrels was

manually guided on horizontal machinery.

T ime did not permit more than a quick visit to

the Research Labora tory , and I can add little to what

M. Vogels has already reported. I must say there was

not much activi ty.

They did tell me they had obtained excellent

results in the lost wax casting process by substituting

a plastic for the wax . T h e manufacturing costs of cer­

tain parts I was shown were in the neighbourhood of

2 0 % lower than the usual machinings.

I admired the newly refurbished library and arms

collection. T h e collection is very beautiful and very

well rounded out.

— R. Laloux

As the 1 9 5 0 Fort Benning t ac t i ca l ammuni t ion trials

carried on, the FN factory finished and proofed the

last of the order of twelve UK .280 carbines (num­

bers 4 to 15) , on 7 April. An FN trials bulletin dated

the 6th of April detai ls ve loc i ty measurements of

UK .280 ammunit ion, heads tamped RG 48 (130-

grain bullet) and K49 (140-grain bullet), fired in FN

carbine no 14 . The results were as follows: (Figures

expressed in averages for both of two 10-shot

groups.)

The Benning trials were dest ined to drag on

right through the summer, but the Aberdeen trials

were now over, and the r ecommenda t ions of the

testing officers had been unofficially made

avai lab le to FN. Monsieur Saive's 'Groupe 74 ' lost

no t ime in comple t ing another carbine , (number

16). It was identical to the Ministry of Supply's .280

carbines which had figured in the American trials,

but embod ied a cer tain number of the changes

r e c o m m e n d e d in the US report. It was proofed on

April 21 and was the sub j ec t of a trial, under M.

Saive's direct ion, at Zutendaal from 1 0 - 1 2 May,

1 9 5 0 . The FN fac tory had by now al tered the

working name of their 'Universal Carbines ' to Cara­

bines automatiques de moyenne puissance

(medium-powered au toma t i c carbines) , which be­

c a m e con t r ac t ed to the initials 'CAMP'. Both names

were hencefor th used in te rchangeably in various

co r r e spondence and reports.

Monsieur Saive's own report of this compar i ­

son trial follow:

C.A.M.P. .280 Zutendaal Trials, 10 M a y 1950

Following up on the American trials and the results,

now available to us, we felt a comparison of the car­

bine which did so well in England prior to the US

trials, (number 2 ) , as opposed to an arm embodying

the UK-recommended improvements, such as we

sent over to America , would be most interesting: to

experiment with them, to shoot them, and to record

the conclusions. To this end, we have prepared the

following arms:

1. The original carbine no 2, which was submit­

ted to the Woolwich trials in July 1 9 4 9 . This weapon

has fired more than 1 0 , 0 0 0 rounds, It is now fitted

with a new, long (560 mm) barrel and the original

butts tock. T h e rear sight is mounted on the body

cover .

2. The brand-new carbine no 16 , which is with

the following exceptions, identical to numbers 4 to

15 , which were tested in America :

• 500 mm barrel , reinforced at the gas b lock

• gas takeoff point moved back 21 mm

• modified gas piston and gas plug

• stronger return springs, like the original

(101 coils)

Plan of the trials:

a) To examine the influence of the form of the

butts tock and the length of the barrel on accuracy.

(Carbine no 2)

b) To judge the effect of the reinforced 500 mm

barrel on accuracy (carbine no 16 ) .

c) To see what difference is made in mean point

of impact (MPI) with bayonet on and off, both long

and short barrels (both carbines).

d) To assure the new gas cylinder locat ion allows

Average M.V. Group 1 Average M.V. Group 2

130-grain R G 4 8 130-grain RG48

689 m/sec + 1 2 - 1 4 6 8 5 m/sec + 8 - 5

140-grain K49 140-grain K49

667 m/sec + 1 8 - 1 5 672 m/sec + 1 0 - 8

adequate power for cycling the action (carbine 16 ) .

All shots fired seated, with a rest, at 100 yards, in

series of 10 shots. The ammunit ion used was UK .280

headstamped K 4 9 (Kynoch) with 140-gr bullets.

Conclusions: The accuracy results of carbine no 16 with the

reinforced 500 mm barrel seem good. The form of the

stock and the additional barrel length do not appear

to affect the precision.

Shooting with fixed bayonet has the effect of

lowering the M P I about 20 cm for the 500 mm barrel

and 39 cm for the 560 mm barrel .

The modification of the gas takeoff locat ion in­

creased the recoil and ejection forces of the arm. A

recoil spring of 98 coils seems sufficient.

— D. Saive

Chapter 4

Prototypes 17 to 22 (1950-1951)

FN was at this t ime (and for some t ime thereafter)

deeply commi t t ed to a series of exhaust ive and

meticulous ammuni t ion trials. The .280 round as

loaded in the UK and supplied to FN under the ter­

ms of the cont inuing weapons deve lopmen t con­

tracts was simply not performing to anyone 's satis­

faction. Trials of the 130-gr versus 140-gr bul let

loads were analysed in numerous, lengthy reports

under such headings as opt imum bullet profile,

ballistic charac ter i s t ics , powder analysis, copper

crusher tests, and Mann barrel a c c u r a c y results.

Even before the full story was in regarding the bes t

the British load could do, as supplied, the FN

technicians had qui te naturally begun cast ing

about on their own to be t te r the pe r fo rmance of

the basic round. New tests were run, d o c u m e n t e d

under headings such as "the search for the u l t imate

powder for the .280 round," wherein various lots of

powder, notably of Bofors manufac ture , were tried

in an effort to improve ball is t ics and a c c u r a c y .

Renewed copper crusher measurements , using the

new powder loads, were recorded. The original UK

cases , loaded with the 7 mm FN S-12 bullet, had

also been the sub j ec t of numerous trials, and now

every possible permutat ion and combina t ion of

primer, powder and bul let were exper imented with

in an a t t empt to ach ieve the required results. Suc­

cess in making the .280 shoot cont inued to e lude

the FN engineers however, and the voluminous files

of the period deal ing with ammuni t ion develop­

ment bear mute witness to their most de termined

effort to explore every c o n c e i v a b l e avenue, perfor­

ce using the British .280 cases .

In the light of the dawning world-wide interest

in the FN carbine , Monsieur Saive, on beha l f of

Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre, drew up the

necessary documen t s in order to file for a patent

in Belgium, descr ibing his design as it was em­

bodied in carbines 4 to 1 6 . With the excep t ion of

the early trigger plunger design and r emovab le

s ideplate , his descript ion of the bas ic theory of

opera t ion of his invention as t ranslated from these

1 9 5 0 documen t s suffices admirably today, and

descr ibes the very latest models :

Notice of Patent Application in Belgium for an Automatic Firearm

(Universal Carbine, cal .280)

This invention concerns an automatic firearm with

fixed barrel, gas operated; the gas mechanism being

located above the barrel . This basic configuration, as

regards the line of sight which is through the rear

sight to the front sight, (this latter placed on top of

the gas cylinder), permits the lowering of the centre

of gravity of the arm to the level of the axis of the

barrel; the buttplate of the a rm being itself located on

a continuation of this axis, assuring stability and ac­

curacy during automatic fire. This arm is of the

locked breech type; that is to say it is capable of using

ammunit ion comparable in power to that normally

used in mili tary rifles.

T h e modern tendency is to an intermediate cart­

ridge — that is to say a cartridge satisfactory at to­

day's more realistic combat ranges, without being

overpowered, as of old. This allows the development

of an arm such as this present invention, a light car­

bine at once capable of the role of sub-machine gun

and light machine gun, without sacrificing charac­

teristics needed for its main use as a repeating rifle or

a semi-automatic rifle.

60 Prototypes 17 to 22

Fig 38 The original drawings for Monsieur Saive's Belgian patent application are shown in figs 38 to 43.

The present invention aims to furnish the user

with a general-use, selective semi-automatic and

automatic-fire arm in a light, robust and easily-main­

tained configuration.

A particularly constructive characteristic, con­

stituting an essential feature of the invention, is that

the butt and trigger group are hinged at mid-point to

the receiver and can be pivoted downwards, allowing

extremely easy access to the recoiling parts, which

are made up of a tilting bolt sheathed in a protective

slide. This latter is fitted at its rear end with an articu­

lated rod which contacts the captive return spring,

housed and protected inside the but ts tock. This

arrangement permits the easy withdrawal and inspec­

tion of the bolt elements. T h e point of articulation of

the butt to the receiver also serves as the axis of

rotation of an important safety feature of the arm,

the secondary or automatic sear, which must be trip­

ped by the bolt slide coming completely home before

the trigger sear can function. In automatic fire, this

safety sear is in complete control .

Another practical feature of the invention is the

extractor, wherein the act ion of hooking over the rim

of the chambered cartridge is materially assisted by

the closing bolt slide, riding against the outer side of

the extractor and augmenting the act ion of the ex­

tractor spring. T h e extractor head assures a tight grip

on the fired case, transporting it securely backward

until contact is made with the fixed ejector. The

locat ion of the position of the bolt locking face and

the locking shoulder in the receiver, is also as close as

possible to the vertical centre of gravity of the arm,

again contributing to great stability during automatic

fire. Moreover , selecting the positions for safe, single

shot and automatic fire are obtained by manipulation

of a single transverse lever through the trigger

housing. The same lever can be moved up past the

'safe' position and around to the front, (only when

the butt is lowered for field stripping), allowing the

dismounting of the side plate, and exposing the

trigger and sear mechanism for disassembly or in­

spection without the use of any special tool what­

ever.

Additional characteristics are explained in the

following paragraphs which refer to the drawings of

the invention in figures 38 to 4 3 . The upper part of

figure 38 is an elevation drawing of an arm pursuant

to this invention. Below is an elevation showing the

same arm with the butt lowered and the locking

mechanism withdrawn for inspection from the

receiver. T h e magazine is also withdrawn from its

housing. An enlarged insert shows the removable

sideplate and change lever. Figure 39 is, above, a

cutaway view in longitudinal section, with the

Drawn by the inventor himself, with explanations in the text below.

moving parts forward, the arm unloaded and all

springs at rest. Be low this is another longitudinal sec­

tion showing the bol t held open by the bolt stop,

which is actuated by the magazine follower when the

magazine is empty. In this position the hammer is at

its near-maximum depression, held down by the

lower surface of the bol t . Referring to the drawings

thus far described: an arm as embodied by this inven­

tion comprises essentially a barrel , (2) , fixed in a

receiver, (5), to which is articulated a butt and trigger

housing, (3), moving about the axis (4) .

In the body, or receiver, (5) , are housed the ele­

ments of the locked breech, namely the bolt slide, (6) ,

and the tilting bolt , (7) . This mechanism can be slid

out to the rear by grasping the connecting rod (8) , the

rear end of which is visible at the opening under the

bolt cover (5a) when the arm is broken open. T h e

bolt cover protects the mechanism and can also, if

necessary, be easily removed with the arm broken,

by sliding it to the rear. Unlocking of the breech is ef­

fected by a piston (1) being struck on its front face by

some of the gases formed by the ignition of the

powder in a chambered, fired cartridge, which flow

down the barrel behind the bullet and move up

through the gas takeoff hole in the barrel and its en­

circling gas b lock , (2a) . This piston moves back and

taps sharply on the upper front face of the bolt slide

(6) , which moves to the rear and effects the unlocking

of the bolt (7) , by lifting it up out of engagement with

the bolt locking b lock (17) , then controlling its fur­

ther movement towards the rear by its cam faces (6a)

contacting the corresponding cam faces on the bolt

(7a) . T h e connecting rod (8) compresses the opera­

ting spring (11a) by pushing back the operating

spring plunger (11) . T h e operating spring is housed in

a solid tube, projecting from the rear of the trigger

housing, (3) , around which is located the but ts tock.

T h e actual firing of the cartridge is accomplished

by the firing pin, (12) , which is hit by the hammer

(9), released by the sear (13) , following the operator's

finger pressure on the trigger (14) .

T h e arm is first manual ly brought to a state of

readiness by means of the cocking handle, which is

located on the left forward side of the receiver. By its

position it permits arming with the left hand, the

right hand remaining ready on the pistol grip.

T h e ancillaries for the arm include a bipod, a

flash hider, a bayonet and a grenade launcher.

Fig 39 Cutaway sections of the left-hand side of the ac­tion of M. Saive's carbine design. Above: moving parts forward, all springs at rest; below: bolt held open by the bolt stop, actuated by the magazine follower.

62 Prototypes 17 to 22

The fire selector mechanism is arranged to give

positions for 'S ' (safety), 'R' (single shot) , and 'A'

(automatic fire). These positions are indicated by the

extremity of the change lever, (15) , situated on the

left side of the trigger housing.

Fig 40 Mechanism with change lever at 'S ' for safety.

Figure 40 shows a view of the mechanism with

the change lever at 'S ' for safety. T h e spindle of the

change lever (15) prevents the trigger (14) from

leaving its posit ion.

Fig 41 Change lever set for single shot fire.

Figure 41 is the same view with the change lever

set for single shot fire. T h e trigger, (14) , under finger

pressure, can now pivot rearwards, up into a slot

cut in the change lever spindle (15) . This raises the

sear tail, which is resting on the upper trigger step

(14a) , lowering and disengaging the sear nose from

the inferior hammer notch (9a) .

In this position, it will be noted that:

1. the slide (6) is completely home and rests on the

front face of the receiver (5);

2. the bolt is completely locked down in front of the

locking b lock (17) and moreover is maintained in this

position by the locking surface of the slide, (6b) , con­

tacting and securing the upper surface of the rear of

the bolt (7b) from any upward movement :

3. the safety sear, (10) , is disengaged from the

superior hammer notch (9b) by the lower projecting

lug (6c) of the bol t slide forcing forward, in its final

locking movement , the nose of the safety sear, (10a) ,

thus pivoting the safety sear on its axis (4), and

releasing the hammer (9) .

On ly when the arm is completely locked and

safe to fire will this set of circumstances assure the

hammer a clear strike on the firing pin (12) , as the

posterior end of the firing pin is presented for trans­

mission of the hammer b low to the primer of the cart­

ridge locked in the chamber only when the slide is

fully forward. Wi th the safety sear depressed,

therefore, and after the hammer (9) is released from

the inferior hammer notch (9a) , the sear (13) is im­

mediately returned to the forward position on its

elongated pivot hole, through which passes the tran­

sverse trigger pin, by the reassertion of the sear

spring, (13a) . The sear tail abandons its position on

the upper trigger step, (14a) , and falls ready to re­

engage with the notch in the trigger. This forward at­

titude permits the sear nose, (13b) , to catch the in­

ferior hammer notch, (9a) , when it, the hammer not­

ch, is once again presented during the action of firing

the round, the hammer then being pivoted rearward

on its axis by the rearward-moving bolt-and-slide.

The superior strength of the hammer spring forces

the sear tail back against its spring to butt the sear

securely against the trigger notch and hold the ham­

mer in the cocked position.

To fire another shot it is then necessary first to

release the finger pressure on the trigger. The

lowering trigger tail releases the tail of the sear from

the trigger notch, enabling the sear again to move up

and back and be supported by the trigger contact

point, (14a) . A new pressure on the trigger will

enable the supported sear to trip the hammer, and

recommences the above cycle, which constitutes

single-shot fire, activated each time by the trigger.

Figure 42 represents the arm, actuated for full-

automatic fire. T h e change lever, (15) , moved to its

appropriate 'A' locat ion presents to the trigger tail a

port ion of its spindle cut more deeply than the semi­

automatic groove. T h e pressed trigger pivots the

trigger tail into this deeper groove, which pivots the

sear tail up farther than before. T h e sear nose is

withdrawn farther from the inferior hammer notch,

(9a); to such a degree, in fact, that, even when sprung

forward into the trigger notch, the sear can no longer

catch and hold the inferior hammer notch. Firing

continues, without intervention from the sear, under

the sole control of the safety, or 'automatic ' sear (10)

in relation to the superior hammer notch (9b) , and is

initiated each time by the lower lug of the slide (6c)

tripping the forward arm of the safety sear (10a) as

the slide completes its forward stroke.

Releasing the trigger interrupts this cycle, which

will recommence when the trigger is again pressed.

Figure 43 is a view representing the mechanism

at the exact moment where the slide, moving for­

ward, is not yet fully returned to its forward

position. It is about to trip the safety sear (10) and

release the hammer . This illustrates the fact that the

hammer fall is retarded until locking is complete,

thus ensuring reliable ignition.

Fig 42 Change lever set for fully-automatic fire. Fig 43 Full-auto fire; trigger pulled but slide not yet fully home. This demonstrates the important safety action of the safety sear.

By the middle of June , 1 9 5 0 , a scan t three months

after M. Laloux' visit to Winches te r , Olin ball

powder was for the first t ime included, a long with

two Bofors types, in trials of .280 rounds topped

with FN S-12 bullets , the casings being ob ta ined by

breaking down loaded UK rounds and dumping out

their ICI powder. The ball powder s eemed well

within the range of the others as to ve loc i ty and

pressure. The only note was that the ball powder

charge of 1.70 gr didn't fill enough of the cartr idge

case to ensure sa t is factory ignition. This led to a

whole new range of 'maximum charge ' trials, with

all avai lable powders, but still the velocity-versus-

pressure figures were not sat isfactory.

Monsieur Laloux journeyed to London for a

protracted meet ing with Brigadier Barlow on the

14th of June, regarding both the FN carbines and

the UK cartr idges. In his report of the visit M.

Laloux first s ta ted that hencefor th any new FN car­

bines would be cons t ruc ted with a slightly longer

magazine well in order eventual ly to be ab le to

feed and c h a m b e r the elusive Amer ican .30 light

rifle cartridge. This deve lopmen t would be incor­

porated without an overall change in the length of

the arm. He reported to Brigadier Barlow the FN

decision to pursue a doub le (7 mm and .300 Savage)

course as regards ammunition, the 7 mm henceforth

to be loaded with the lead-core , s t ee l - j acke t S-12

bullet in cartr idge cases of both British and FN

manufacture, and the c o m m e r c i a l .300 Savage

cases to be loaded with a regular military hard-

lead-core , coppe r - j acke t ed bullet , recent ly design­

ed at FN (see figure 48). FN would then dec ide

which course offered the most promise.

Brigadier Barlow insisted that a s tee l -core

bullet was essent ia l . O n e of the American require­

ments the .280 couldn ' t yet m e e t was the abili ty of

the round to p ierce a standard infantry he lmet at

1,100 yards, and he felt a lead-core bullet would

simply not be ab l e to accompl i sh this feat .

Monsieur Laloux counte red by saying FN was

forced to approach the problem from a different

point of view — their reputat ion rested on their

carbines , and these were exper iencing poor ac ­

curacy with the British s tee l -core bullets, while

tests showed the regular 7 mm S-12 bul let did bet­

ter.

No ag reemen t was reached, save to keep e a c h

other current on new deve lopments . The FN lab

cont inued with renewed crusher trials compar ing

various powder loads for pressure, and now also

bullet penetrat ion, using both UK and FN bullets .

Brigadier Barlow was ab le to include the new,

longer receivers FN was planning into the existing

con t r ac t by securing Ministry of Supply approval

for "one carb ine in T65 cal ibre" . It was to be some

t ime yet however, before the ac tua l dimensions of

this ephemera l round, jea lous ly guarded by US Ar­

my O r d n a n c e Colonel René Studler, were to find

their way to Belgium.

64 Prototypes 17 to 22

Canada had sent observers to the 1 9 5 0 Aberdeen

trials, and perhaps the most sal ient c o m m e n t re­

garding their impressions is that the Governmen t of

Canada promptly ordered two CAMP carb ines for

trials. This order had now been approved, and the

two new carb ines were a l lo t ted FN serial numbers

17 and 1 8 . Whi le superficial ly identical to number

1 6 , these were the first to be c h a m b e r e d for the

.280/30 'New Rim' cartr idge and were thus capab le ,

with a c h a n g e of barrel only, of firing both .280/30

(7 mm) and .300 Savage cartr idges. The Fort Ben-

ning t ac t i ca l trials cont inued on into the fall,

building an ever-increasing mountain of s tat is t ics

but not pointing out a c lea r -cu t winner. Monsieur

Vervier was still in a t t endance . Monsieur Laloux

had requested a short resume of the emergen t ball­

istic results thus far on the .280 project , and the FN

Ball is t ic Laboratory submit ted the following

figures on August 3 1 , 1 9 5 0 :

.280 Cartridge: Velocity Pressure

Particulars of Event (kg / cm 2 )

1. Trial, Sept. 1949 , using @ 30 m: 2 5 2 0 the original UK 130-gr ball 690 m / s

bullet loaded with 1.97-gr

of Bofors lot 2 0 1 (Trial con­

ducted in England).

2. FN Trial, June 1950 - @ 25 m: 3940

UK original . 2 8 0 / 3 0 cart­ 688 m / s

ridges — 140-gr bullet.

3. FN Trial, July, 1950 using

FN S-12 140-gr bullet loaded

with:

a) 1.97-gr of Bofors lot 204 @ 25 m:

652 2 0 6 0 b) 2 .10-gr of Bofors lot 2 0 4 @ 25 m:

688 2547 -c) 2 .13-gr of Bofors 227 @ 25 m:

703 2 6 7 1

Fig 44 Canadian-ordered CAMP carbine serial no 17, the first in calibre .280/30, left-hand view. A simple change of barrel allowed conversion to .300 Savage calibre.

— Diemaco Incorporated

Fig 45 Canadian CAMP carbine no 18. This particular weapon was later used by the American H&R team, working at Canadian Arsenals, to design their T48 cocking handle. Note the 'in-the-white' BAR-type cocking handle. Compare with fig 140. — Diemaco Incorporated

Carbine no 1 6 , which M. Saive had c o m p l e t e d

in April, 1 9 5 0 to e m b o d y s o m e Aberdeen Proving

Ground recommenda t ions , figured in a demonst ra­

tion and trial laid on by the Schoo l of Infantry at

Warmins ter on the 4th of Sep tember . Shortly there­

after Monsieur Laloux a t tended a Ministry of Sup­

ply meet ing in London on the 19th , where he met

Major Dunlop, who was slated to t ake over Major

May's duties as liaison off icer be tween the Ministry

of Supply and FN. The a b o v e .280 ammuni t ion

study figures M. Laloux had requested were passed

on to the British. Major May c o m m e n t e d that they

were aware of the pressure dif ferences be tween

firing of the UK and FN bullets , and fel t this dif­

ference was due to the FN rifling being different

from the original UK test barrels, which had used a

twist of one turn in 8 1/2" . Major May again spoke of

the popularity of s tee l -cored bullets being due

simply to the shor tage of lead which occur red in

America during wart ime: the British were in this

matter merely trying to p l aca t e the Amer icans .

Monsieur Laloux drew Major May's a t tent ion to the

abominable a c c u r a c y of the furnished lots of UK

.280 cartridges. S o m e recent ly-received bullets had

been so bad, he said, they gave grounds to annul

the cont rac t comple t e ly . Major May admit ted and

apologized for this embarrass ing fact , and in the

process ment ioned s o m e face t s of interest as yet

unknown to FN regarding the Amer ican .30 cal

bullet: the co re was in three sect ions ; a lead tip, a

steel body and a c losing light-metal base disc. Fur­

ther, the steel sec t ion was an inner pointed cylin­

der, fitted inside the lead tip. It did not c o n t a c t the

outside bullet j a c k e t at any part of the front curve,

or ogive, of the bullet . This was in direct opposi t ion

to the UK round, wherein the one -p iece steel core

filled more of the curved portion of the bul le t as

well, c loser to the tip. A new lot of UK bullets,

made up in imitation of this American concep t , in­

itially s eemed to offer much bet te r precision and

had recent ly been sent over to the USA in t ime for

the last few trials at Fort Benning. These trials had

just now been comple t ed , and Brigadier Barlow

was expec ted b a c k by the first of O c t o b e r with the

eager ly-awai ted results.

Meanwhi le , the Canadian carbines , numbers

17 and 1 8 , were being put through their initial

paces at FN, shoot ing both UK-supplied .280/30

(heads tamped K49) and FN reloads of the British

cases . The carbines performed without obser­

vation, but the ammuni t ion cont inued to give some

problems. As soon as Brigadier Barlow arrived back

in England he met with FN's London representat ive,

M. Vogels , on O c t o b e r 1, in the p resence of Min­

istry of Supply off icers Col Wat t s and Maj Dunlop:

the long-awaited Fort Benning results were of cour­

se top priority. Monsieur Voge l s ' report on this

meet ing follows:

Fig 46 CAMP carbine no 17, right-hand view. Note the early flash hider.

Fig 47 CAMP carbine no 18, right-hand view. Note the folding rear sight. In these early carbines, the magazine

pushed straight up to lock into the magazine catch, with no front locking lug or lip.

66 Prototypes 17 to 22

.280 Ammunition

Meeting with Brigadier Barlow 11 Oct , 1950

The Infantry Field Forces Board No 3 at Fort Benning

have concluded in their report that the .280 am­

munition was superior to the American .30 calibre.

They have requested from the British an im­

provement in the .280 to flatten the mid-range trajec­

tory. The mid-point of trajectory of a 600-yard shot

should not exceed 4 feet (and was in fact, according

to Bar low, 4'6" for the . 280) . He felt the American

demand was possible, using the 130-gr bullet with a

muzzle velocity of 2 5 6 0 feet per second (783 m / s e c ) .

Mr Duneclift, (the chief assistant on the British .280

Ideal Calibre Panel — Ed), is already at Swynner ton

working out the problem.

I again brought up the figures submitted by

Monsieur Laloux to the Ministry of Supply, which

give the comparisons found in trials we have made

with various bullets and powders. Brigadier Bar low

stated categorically that they would not accept the

lead-core ball bullet at any price, due to its insuf­

ficient penetration. Trials carried out on steel helmets

using 130-gr bullets had revealed that a lead-cored

bullet would only perforate out to 700 yards, while a

steel-cored bullet of the same weight would perforate

Fig 48 The FN-designed .300 Savage full metal jacket military bullet. Drawing date 16 October 1950.

at 1,300 yards. Wi th 140-gr steel-cored bullets, this

latter range was extended to 1,600 yards.

It appears from Brigadier Barlow's quotes that,

in Col Studler's view, there is no need whatever for

ordinary ball (lead-core) bullets in the U S A . Indeed,

he told the Brigadier he foresees exclusive use of ar­

mour-piercing, steel-cored bullets by- the American

army.

In order to improve the accuracy precision of the

.280 bullet, we must modify the shape of the soft-

steel core, giving it a sharper point and a slightly

reduced rear diametre, more closely approximating

the core of the US round. The presence of a certain

amount of lead in front of the steel would better

distribute the weight of the core and add to

stabilization of the bullet.

From what I can gather, it is Barlow's wish that

FN should now try to resolve the ammunition

problem on its own, independent of any further UK

development. In the light of what he told me of the

importance of the soft-steel core, it seems we must

sooner or later accept it as the coming standard.

— J. Vogels

Ammunit ion trials at FN hencefor th incorporated

mid-range t ra jec tory measurements into their con­

tinuing tes t reports of powder and bullet variations,

both in 7 mm and for the .300 Savage, for which in-

cident ly FN had now designed a bullet, a lbei t one

with a lead core . Carbine no 19 , identical to the

Canadian numbers 17 and 18 excep t with certain

changes to but t s tock and but tplate , was the first to

feature a s tamped lower receiver or trigger

housing. It was in ca l ib re .280/30 and was proofed

on O c t o b e r 24 , 1 9 5 0 . Meanwhi le , the original UK-

con t rac ted carbines automatiques à moyenne puissance were returned by the Americans to W o o l ­

wich Arsenal in late O c t o b e r . Under the terms of

the con t r ac t with FN, they were Crown property,

and were re-condit ioned and rechambered for the

'new rim' .280/30 at RSAF Enfield and made the sub­

j e c t of a compar i son trial, a long with similar

veteran EM-2s, at Pendine, in Wales , in April of

1 9 5 1 . (This report is fully reprinted in Vo lume

Two.) As a result of these trials, which in fac t were

not entirely sat isfactory, a pivotal c o n f e r e n c e was

held on November 6th. Major Dunlop, Major May's

successor at the Ministry of Supply, was present

along with Mr Dunecl i f t of the Ideal Calibre Panel

and his successor , Mr Ansell, and a Mr Cuthbert ,

who was in charge of ball is t ic trials. The FN works

was ably represented by Monsieur Van Vyve and

Monsieur Tomson of the Cartoucherie. The latter

reported to the directors of the FN Soc i e ty as

follows:

.280 Ammunition Conference with the Ministry of Supply, Nov 6, 1950

Major Dunlop first revealed the three finalized,

critical criteria for a satisfactory .280 round:

1. mid-range trajectory at 600 yards of not more

than 4 feet;

2. bullets with 1 0 0 % steel core; lead is viewed as

a strategic metal .

3. Accuracy results to include an average figure

of merit for eight series of 20-shot groups, at 600

yards, of not more than five and one-half inches.

On the basis of these requirements, we are faced

with a double problem. First, we must search out a

propulsive powder which will reduce the M R T but

keep pressures within established limits. (This means,

in principle, using our piezo-electric pressure-test

devices, average pressure must be very close to 2 1 . 5

tons per square inch, with no measurement exceeding

22 tons per square inch, that is to say 3460 k g / c m 2 ) .

(NOTE: Piezo-electr ic devices do much the s ame

work as the old copper crushers, but whereas the

copper pellet remained crushed to give a reading

of peak pressure only, the p iezo-e lec t r ic t ransducer

measures the complete pressure curve over the

period of t ime of the explosion. Moreover , this in­

formation is made ava i lab le instantly, in the form

of a pressure/ t ime graph. - Ed.)

Secondly, we must improve the accuracy of the

very familiar composite-core ball bullet. Mr

Duneclift has sent us a copy of the accuracy trail

results with the three lots of cartridges we sent them

last September:

• lot 1 - UK ball 140-gr; powder Bofors 227-figure

of merit 1 3 . 2 "

• lot 2 - FN S-12 bullet, Bofors lot 227 powder -

figure of merit 7 .3"

• lot 3 - FN S-12 bullet, Bofors ' .280 ' powder -

figure of merit 7 . 1 "

Mr Duneclift then told us about the tentative

measures which they had taken to improve the UK

140-gr ball bullet; the results are still not satisfactory

and he asked for our help and advice.

Fig 49 Comparative shooting tables prepared by the FN Ballistic Laboratory comparing the .300 Savage with the .280/30, as loaded by the British, and as loaded by FN (here called the 7 mm). Angle of departure in mils.

Fig 50 Comparative times of flight, in seconds, for .300 Savage, FN .280/30 (7 mm) and UK .280/30. Part of an FN report dated October 24, 1950.

68 Prototypes 17 to 22

Fig 51 Comparative Terminal Velocity graph, .300 Savage, UK .280/30, and FN .280/30 (7 mm).

Monsieur Tomson c losed by proposing that FN

send 5 kilos of the Bofors 'special .280 ' powder to

England for compara t ive trials with the UK regular

ICI powder. As far as the bullet was conce rned , he

felt the improvement to the steel co r e as outl ined

earlier, i.e. a s imple cylinder of soft steel with a

front lead sect ion, was reasonable , but he could

not see the value of the lead 'base plug' proposed

by the British. Mr Dunecl i f t theor ized that this

al lowed the base to 'mushroom' slightly upon

firing, thus forming a more ef fec t ive gas seal and

contr ibuting to accu racy , espec ia l ly in worn

barrels. Monsieur Tomson was skept ical . The FN

.50 ca l ibre steel co re bullet gave exce l l en t ac ­

curacy results, he said, without the lead plug and in

spite of its boat-tail core .

At this meet ing the British agreed to supply

1,000 bullet j acke t s , 1 ,000 mild steel , f lat-base .280

bullet cores , and 1,000 cases . FN would gauge

these to ensure uniformity, and then try to c o m e up

with a bullet that would satisfy the a c c u r a c y

requirements without regard for length and weight

restrictions. If successful , they would then use their

findings to fabr ica te an entirely new, FN bullet , this

Fig 52 Remaining energy, shown in ft/lbs and kg/m for .300 Savage, .280/30 UK, and FN .280/30 (7 mm).

t ime following all requirements for length and

weight as laid down by the Ministry of Supply. A

breakthrough was promised in the shortest t ime

possible.

Monsieur Laloux reported on new develop­

ments on January 3, 1 9 5 1 , for the first t ime coining

the term Fusil Automatique Léger (or Light

Automat ic Rifle). I t would still be some t ime hence ,

however, before the famous initials 'FAL' would be

in general use. Monsieur Laloux' report is titled,

"The Light Automat ic Rifle and Cartridge for

Same , " and begins with a resume of known facts , as

follows:

The presentation at Fort Benning by Col Studler of

the . 3 0 T 6 5 cartridge and the new American carbine,

(T25) proves that the Garand has a very limited fur­

ther lifespan. It also shows that the American

position against the 7 mm is irreversible.

This induces us at FN, we who possess the most

popular arm used in the trials, to reconsider the

question of the ammunit ion: we have the weapon;

the calibre doesn't matter .

To sum up the ammunit ion question, we can en-

visage three choices:

1. The .300 Savage case, 4 7 . 5 mm in length, necked

down to accept the standard 7 mm Mauser (S-12) 9-

gr bullet. This results in a total cartridge length of

68.6 mm with a breech pressure of somewhat less

than 3,000 k g / c m 2 .

2. The compromise B' round; that is the T 6 5 case, 49

mm in length, necked to the same 9 gram, 7 mm

bullet. This gives an overall length of 70 .7 mm with a

muzzle velocity of 840 m / s e c (2 ,750 f t / sec) .

3. The T65 (T65-E3) cartridge itself. We do not have

the drawings but the general characteristics are

known to be as follows:

Bullet weight 137 grains (8 .88 grams)

Total cartridge 2 .8 inches (2 .785 inches

length mentioned in US trials

report)

If our future weapons are to fire a cartridge 2 .8"

in length, that is to say, the T 6 5 , we must be pre­

pared for this eventuality. To this end I suggest the

following:

1. A programme of manufacture of ammunit ion

using the 7 mm Mauser bullet in the available .300

Savage cases.

2. Monsieur Saive will modify an existing 'Crusher'

or build a new one to test-fire these cartridges. We

will be trying various powder loads to acquire the

maximum obtainable muzzle velocity.

3. As a means to shoot this ammunition, we will use

carbine number 16 , the earlier 'brother' of the two

carbines we have built for Canada (numbers 17 and

18) .

4. Wi th this combinat ion we will be able to study the

questions of recoil, accuracy, and penetration, in

both semi-auto and automatic fire.

5. Monsieur Saive will soon be able to tell exactly the

minimum amount of extra weight necessary to build

into our carbine design to handle the American am­

munition.

6. We must at all cost obtain the plans for the

American . 30T65 cartridge, or at least the case

drawings.

7. Finally, M. Saive will undertake the construct a

prototype capable of firing the .30 calibre T 6 5 am­

munition.

Fig 53 FN carbine no 19, calibre .280/30 (called the 7 mm Short by FN). Proofed October 24, 1950. The first to feature the stamped lower receiver.

Brasschaat, (in old Flemish, Brasschaet) artillery

range, near Antwerp, is the headquar ters for the

Belgian Army's CEEA sec t ion — Centre d'Etudes et

d'Expériences de l'Armée or Army W e a p o n s Trials

facility. Here a full week of confident ial shooting

trials were held by the CEEA, from January 22 , to

February 2, 1 9 5 1 . Featured was FN carb ine no 19 ,

firing both regular UK .280/30 cartr idges and those

loaded with S-12 bullets, in compara t ive trial with a

regular Belgian army issue FN49 rifle in ca l ib re

.30M2 (.30-06). In the middle of the trials, on Jan

26th, by special invitation, nearly fifty observing

officers from the UK Army Counci l , France,

Holland, the USA and Belgium at tended, al though

the range was c losed to reporters and the public.

Belgian army a c c e p t a n c e of the FN carb ine was ab­

solutely essential to any cont inued hope of success

on the world market . The day's trials were

scrupulously run by ded ica ted army personnel ,

without any opportuni ty for FN engineers to assist

in the firing. The main events of the 'observers ' day'

p rogramme were to be as follows:

1. FN to present the au toma t i c carb ine (serial no

19), and .280/30 cartr idges loaded with S-12/2

bullets .

2. The UK Direc tor of Artillery, (Small Arms),

70 Prototypes 17 to 22

Brigadier Barlow, to present the UK ammuni t ion.

3. Captain Moreau , the Belgian Army off icer in

charge of CEEA trials, then to give a resume of the

CEEA trials results thus far with the new carbine .

4. Finally, an abbrev ia ted series of shoot ing trials,

concen t ra t ing first on accu racy , then penetrat ion,

then special-purpose ammunit ion.

Two official reports of this important trial

follow: Monsieur Laloux' report to the FN directors,

submit ted the day after the observers ' day event,

and then the Belgian Army's CEEA sect ion con­

fidential report of the c o m p l e t e 10 days of trials,

signed by Capt Moreau , which necessar i ly took

several weeks to compi le .

First, Monsieur Laloux:

Automatic Carbine Meeting at Brasschaat 26 January, 1951

We began with the presentation of the arms and the

ammunit ion.

After an introduction by Capt Moreau ,

Brigadier Bar low took the floor and asked me to

translate the historical resume which he had

prepared, on the birth of the .280 cartridge. This

proved extremely well detailed. The Brigadier con­

cluded with sincere praise for the co-operation which

the British had received from FN.

Next, I presented without further ado the FN

carbine, pointing out its simplicity and ease of strip­

ping. I also spent some time describing the classic 7

mm S-12 lead-core bullet with which we have loaded

our . 2 8 0 / 3 0 cartridges.

In closing, I expressed in return to Brigadier

Barlow our pleasure in hearing his kind words, and

in our continued association.

After Capt Moreau had read out the list of even­

ts to follow, we went on to the accuracy trials. It was

made apparent right at the outset that the firer,

Belgian Sgt-Major Delaet, was an 'ace', and as such

was of considerable assistance to our cause. He first

fired 15 single shots at 2 0 0 metres into a circle a little

bigger than 20 cm {7 1/2"). The Belgian issue FN rifle

(FN49) and the new carbine were shot com­

paratively, and the carbine completely outclassed the

rifle, which was not at all bad. Several targets were

shot on full-automatic fire, both at 200 and 400

metres.

In resume, all the observers were most impressed

by the accuracy of our carbine.

Then followed the penetration trials, where it

developed that in spite of our preparations we had no

UK steel-core ammunit ion for comparat ive shooting.

The FN-loaded . 2 8 0 / 3 0 was comparable to the . 30M2

as loaded by FN, both denting 5 mm plate steel and

piercing 3 mm plate. At 450 metres, all projectiles,

including the UK . 2 8 0 / 3 0 tracer, pierced an army

steel helmet.

The morning shoot ended with a trial wherein a

gasoline can behind a thin plate was shot at, with one

single shot of each type in an attempt to set it afire.

After lunch, successive ranges were shot with

tracer bullets wherein the UK tracer showed an ex­

cellent dark red trace right out of 1,000 yards. In the

course of these trials, the .303 FN bullets in the Lee

Enfield control rifle and the . 2 8 0 / 3 0 carbine were

shot in parallel, and everyone felt the trajectory was

substantially the same.

Observat ion rounds were shot during the same

trial, the UK observing cartridge giving 5 0 % clearly

visible observation on hard ground, but only at short

distances.

Afterwards, we moved on to a penetration shoot

using wooden boards stacked with spaces between

them. The average penetrations were as follows:

. 2 8 0 / 3 0 FN ball 39 cm

API . 2 8 0 / 3 0 (UK) 30 cm

.30 M 2 FN 39 cm

.303 FN 24 cm

UK Captain M o o r e then proceeded to launch

several UK 560-gram grenades, some from the

shoulder and the rest with the butt supported on the

ground, to demonstrate that our carbine could be put

to this use.

Everyone was satisfied that the . 2 8 0 / 3 0 is a

really viable infantry cartridge, and that the carbine

itself is an ideal instrument of war .

Finally, several officers themselves shot the car­

bine, and some also the FN rifle, as well. As we broke

up, Bar low looked absolutely radiant, and we our­

selves received numerous compliments on the per­

formance of the day.

I had a very interesting conversat ion with some

Belgian general officers of the D G I (Directorat Gen­

erate de l'Infanterie) who felt, based on what they

had seen, that a decision should be made the by 15th

of February on the future of Belgian armament .

Probably the greatest accomplishment of the

day was to show Barlow, and hence the A D E , just

what the . 2 8 0 / 3 0 could do stacked up against 'con­

ventional ' ammunit ion. He was visibly well pleased

and took his leave for England very proud indeed of

his role in this success.

As a result of this trial, we are advised that the

Second Belgian Chasseurs, at Charleroi , wish to run

some user trials with our carbine, beginning the 5th

of February.

— R. Laloux

Captain Moreau 's CEEA report follows:

Belgian Army Weapons Trials Centre Brasschaat — Polygone

12 February, 1951

To Monsieur The Minister of National Defense

Object: FN Automatic Carbine 7 mm — Report of Trials of 22 Jan to 02 Feb, 1951

II. Purpose of the Trials

The trials were undertaken with a double pur­

pose, to study:

a) the behaviour of this arm during firing;

b) any real advantages offered by the new am­

munition. To this end we have constantly compared

the .280 cartridge with the regular Belgian army .30

M2 cartridges, fired from an issue FN 49 automatic

rifle.

The programme consisted of the following:

a) Veloci ty trials

b) Accuracy trials

c) Penetrat ion trials (wood plank, sheet steel, steel

helmet)

d) user trials

d) functioning trials

f) gauging of arm before and after the trials.

III. General Characteristics, Comparing the FN .30 and 7 mm Rifles

Characteristics FN .30 calibre

FN 7mm Characterist ics FN .30 calibre

FN 7mm

( . 2 8 0 / 3 0 )

Total length of rifle 1.13 m 1 m Length of cartridge 8 4 . 6 m m 6 4 . 5 5 m m

Total length of barrel 590 m m 500 m m Length of case 63 .3 m m 4 3 . 4 3 m m

Total weight (maga­ 4 . 4 4 kg 4 .3 (pro­ Length of bullet 2 8 . 5 m m 2 9 . 5 0 m m

zine empty) totype) Weight of cartridge 2 6 . 2 6 gr 20 gr

Magazine capacity 10 rds 20 rds Weight of primed case 13 gr 9 gr

Total wt-magazine full 4 .7 kg — Weight of bullet 9 .75 gr 9 gr

No of grooves - rifling 4 4 Weight of powder charge 3 .35 gr 2 . 0 8 gr

Rifling - direction right hand right hand Bofors Bofors

Twist - 1 turn in 254 m m 2 2 0 m m Case material brass brass

Rear sight graduation 100-1000 100-600 Bullet type M 2 type S-12

m in 100's yards in pointed

100's ogive

Principle of operation gas im­ gas im­ Bullet envelope material brass gilding

pingement pingement metal

Method of locking tilting bolt tilting bolt Bullet core material lead- lead-

Type of fire S S and S S and ant imony ant imony

full auto full auto M a x chamber pressure 2900 2 8 6 0

Theoretical rate of fire 650 rpm 700 rpm k g / c m 2 k g / c m 2

I. Introduction

The purpose of this report is to give an account

of the trials which have taken place at the shooting

ranges at Brasschaat , with a prototype FN Automat ic

rifle, shooting a 7 mm ( .280 calibre) bullet.

I V . Comparison of General Characteristics — .30 and 7 mm Ammunition

72 Prototypes 17 to 22

V. Execution and Results of the Trials

a) The 7 mm FN prototype tested (serial no 19) had

fired roughly 1,000 rounds before its arrival at Brass­

chaat.

b) All the firing was done with ammunit ion head-

stamped 'FN50' (for the .30M2) and 'FN51' (for the 7

mm) .

1. Velocity trials

a) An average measurement of velocity was taken for

each shot by two chronographs using four electro-

acoustic screens.

b) Results

2. Measurement of maximum theoretical rate of fire

(using a C E E A disc apparatus turned by a syn­

chronous motor)

FN 7 mm: 700 rpm

FN .30 : 640 rpm

3. Accuracy trials

a) All accuracy shooting was done at a vertical 4m x

4m target by a trained regular A r m y sniper N C O .

b) Each comparison shoot with the FN .30 was

executed immediately after the corresponding 7 mm

group was shot, to ensure similar atmospheric and

visibility condit ions.

c) Results

Posit ion and type of fire: single shot from bench

rest.

Distance A r m No of Shots on H L H + L MPI

Shots Target (cm) (cm) (cm) (average)

200 m FN .30 15 15 38 18 56 52 15 15 31 17 48

52

FN 7mm 10x15* 3 1 . 8

400 m FN .30 15 15 108 63 171 155 15 15 55 90 145

155

FN 7mm 15 15 39 2 4 63 73 .5 15 15 61 23 84

73 .5

600 m FN .30 15 15 125 50 175 165 15 15 90 65 155

FN 7mm 15 15 63 40 103 105 .5 15 15 77 31 108

* Remarks: for the 10 groups of 15-7 mm shots at 700

m we have calculated:

i ) most probable M P I values: abscissa — 9 ; ordinate

+ 7. ii) most probable mean deviation: vertical —4.3 cm;

horizontal + 2 . 7 cm.

A r m No Rds Fired Before Trial

Powder

Temperature

No of Shots

Fired

Avg Velocity at 54 M (m/sec)

Avg Deviation (m/sec)

Calculated M.V.

(m/sec)

FN 7mm 1000

(at FN)

1 1 ° C 10

10

707 .3 1 3 . 8 738 .5

FN .30 350

(previous trials)

1 1 ° C 10 775 2 2 . 5 8 1 2 . 5

FN .30 2043 5 ° C 10 702 .7 2 0 . 1 735 .6

7 m m 3054 5 ° C 10 703 .8 30 735 .7

4. Targets fired after Functioning Trials

The FN 7 mm had at this point fired 3 ,064

rounds. Posit ion: bench rest; distance: 2 0 0 m; arm:

FN 7 mm.

Results:

No Type Shots H L H + L MPI of of on (cm) (cm) (cm)

Shots Fire Target

15 SS 15 2 1 12 33 34

15 SS 15 2 4 11 35 34

5. Rapid-fire trial

To evaluate the accuracy of semi-automatic fire,

6. Penetration trials

a) The target butts were constructed of the following

materials:

i) A succession of 20 vertical dry, fir planks 4 cm

thick, spaced 10 cm apart .

b) Execution and Results of Penetrat ion Trials

i) wood planks — results

Distance A r m Number of Corresponding

(m) Planks Per­ Thickness of

forated W o o d

200 FN .30 13 52 cm

10 4 0 cm

6 24 cm

FN 7 m m 11 44 cm

10 4 0 cm

10 4 0 c m

9 36 cm

8 32 c m

400 FN 7mm 3 12 cm

5 2 0 cm

4 16 cm

4 16 cm

600 FN 7mm 5 2 0 cm

4 16 c m

FN .30 6 24 cm

7. Functioning Trials

a) execution: these trials were carried out with the 7

mm rifle in two series of 5 0 0 rounds each, shot 400

rounds single shot and 100 rounds automatic (short

shooting a given number of bullets in a minimum

time. Posit ion: prone — weapon supported; distan­

ce: 2 0 0 m; arm: FN 7 m m .

No Type Shots H L H + L Time

of of on (cm) (cm) (cm)

Shots Fire Target

15 SS 15 45 17 62 7 sec

15 SS 15 4 1 53 94 6 sec

ii) Mi ld steel plates of both 3 mm and 5 mm

thickness.

iii) Steel helmets, fixed on a panel inclined backwards

at a 4 5 ° angle.

ii) steel plate

Dist­ A r m Plate Perforation

ance Th ick­ Yes or No of No of

(m) ness no Perfor­ Shots

ations

2 0 0 FN .30 5 m m yes 3 3

2 0 0 FN 7mm 5 m m yes 3 3

400 FN .30 3 m m yes 3 3 400 FN 7mm 3 m m yes 3 3 400 FN .30 5 m m no 0 3 400 Fn 7mm 5 m m no 0 3

600 FN .30 3 m m yes 1 1

600 FN 7mm 3 m m yes 2 2

iii) steel helmets: distance - 450 m; one shot one .30

and one 7 mm both perforated.

bursts) as follows:

i) For each series of 400 rounds single shot, 20

rounds per minute with the arm allowed to cool to

ambient temperature every 100 rounds.

74 Prototypes 17 to 22

ij) Automat ic fire: 20 shots per minute, with

cooling only after each complete five minute (100-

round) cycle .

A complete and thorough cleaning of the arm

was allowed after each of the 500-round cycles,

b) Observat ions

i) first series of 500 rounds:

• semi-automatic fire 1 case not ejected

1 incomplete closure of the

breech

4 failures to feed

• automatic fire 1 case not ejected

ii) second series of 500 rounds:

• series - automatic fire no incidents

• automatic fire 2 failures to feed

• cartridge case ejection: while shooting from the

kneeling position, the

ejected cases were found

about 3 metres to the right

of the firer.

VI. Gauging and Measuring the Interior of the Barrel

Gauging was done before and after the Brasschaat trials. T h e following results were obtained:

Calibre Muzzle End Chamber End of Plug Before After Before After

Gauge

(mm)

7 .00 ran ran

7 .01 ran 3 m m — 460 m m —

7.02 ran 2 7 0 m m ran

7.03 4 m m 84 m m 160 m m

7.04 50 m m 130 m m

7.05 48 m m 88 m m

7.06 47 m m 48 m m

7.08 47 m m 47 m m

VII. Interpretation of the Results:

1. Veloci ty trials

It will be remembered that a mean muzzle

velocity was recorded at the start of the trials of

738 .5 m / s e c . This characteristic combined with the

power of the projectile justifies, in our view, a change

in the name of the FN prototype to automatic rifle as

opposed to the FN description automatic carbine.

Weapons of the last war period such as the Bren and

the Lee-Enfield have a muzzle velocity much similar

to that of this new FN weapon. We therefore recom­

mend the name "Automatic rifle" for adoption by the

Five-Power European Commit tee .

After shooting 2 , 0 0 0 rounds, the muzzle velocity

remained practically the same.

2 . Accuracy trials

A brief recapitulation of the principle results (2 x

15 rounds from bench rest):

Distance A r m H + L

(m) (cm)

2 0 0 FN .30 52

FN 7mm 34

400 FN .30 158

FN 7mm 73 .5

600 FN .30 165

FN 7mm 105 .5

T h e dispersion obtained with the 7 mm rifle was

systematically and overall better than that of the .30

rifle.

T h e remarkable accuracy of the 7 mm rifle

prompts two comments :

a) A barrel shorter by 9 cm than that of the current

issue rifle has no adverse effect on accuracy;

b) the relatively wide dispersion of the issue .30

calibre rifle was due to the higher power of its am­

munition. In effect this caused many important

variations shot-to-shot and influenced the resultant

score.

3. Variat ions in accuracy at 2 0 0 metres with change

in shooting position of the arm:

The following results were obtained with the 7

mm rifle, shooting of groups of 15 shots each:

Position H + L (cm) H + L (cm) H + L (cm)

@ 200 m @ 4 0 0 m @ 600 m

bench rest 34 73 .5 105 .5 It can be seen that accuracy from the prone

position differs only marginally from that obtained

shooter prone 4 4 . 5 84 118 from a bench rest. From the standing position,

however, these results are, in effect, multiplied by a shooter factor greater than 3.

standing 156 306 -

4. Full-auto burst fire

A glance at the results obtained will show that it

is extremely impracticable to attempt accurate shoot­

ing in bursts of full-automatic fire at distances over

200 metres, even from the prone position.

5. Rapid-fire test

It seems this test points out the most practical

way of using an arm of this type to its best effect. The

resulting group obtained, (H + L = 62 cm) , together

with the theoretical maximum aimed rate of fire of

130 rpm, shows the weapon plainly in its element.

6. Accuracy re-trial at the end of the event.

The accuracy obtained had not varied after

shooting 2 , 0 0 0 rounds.

7. Penetration of Mild Steel Plate

The 7 mm ammunit ion clearly perforated a 3

mm plate at 600 metres. Employed against personnel

protected by a steel helmet or individual armour-

plate, or against soft-skinned vehicles, the am­

munition is sufficiently efficacious to render an

enemy hors de combat.

8. Functioning trials

A shoot of 1,000 rounds, 800 semi-automatic

and 2 0 0 full-automatic, gave only 9 incidents of mal­

function.

It could well be admitted that the mechanism

functions in a satisfactory manner .

9. Gauging the Barrel before and after the Shoot

T h e gauging done after the 2 ,000-round course

of fire shows the muzzle of the barrel worn (enlarged)

about 0 .02 mm. This is insignificant.

VIII. Conclusions

The FN 7 mm rifle is a simple, solid, easily-

managed and well-balanced arm. The trials we have

conducted prove to our satisfaction that the 7 mm FN

rifle constitutes an excellent individual arm for the in­

fantryman.

The energy and trajectory characteristics of the

new ammunition can be favourably compared with

those of the issue Belgian . 3 0 M 2 .

We suggest a new series of trials be considered,

with the arm fitted with a bipod, in order to in­

vestigate the possibilities of its use as a light-support

automatic rifle.

— Signed, Officer in Charge of Trials

'Capitaine Moreau '

Brigadier Barlow and Monsieur Laloux later me t in

Herstal for a private meeting, shortly after the suc­

cessful Brasschaa t demo. The sub jec t was the lead-

cored FN 7 mm bullet , and the f ac t that it did so

much bet ter on the range than did the s teel -cored

British bullets, loaded in identical cases . Brigadier

Barlow admit ted as much - in fact , he did not at­

tempt to hide the f ac t that he was very satisfied

with the results ob ta ined with the FN .280/30 car­

tridge. Monsieur Laloux pressed his advantage,

arguing that the terms of the deve lopmen t con t r ac t

would be bes t served by FN's moving ahead

without delay in their ammuni t ion studies, using

their own lead-core bullets instead of trying fruit­

lessly to get the British s teel-cored ones to group

sat isfactori ly. Brig Barlow acqu ie sced , and was

76 Prototypes 17 to 22

given 2 0 0 of the FN loads to t ake home for further

study in England.

At the c lo se of the meeting, M. Tomson, of the

FN Cartoucherie, took the Brigadier on a short tour

to point out s o m e of the English bullet j a cke t s and

cores , just received for trials use, and found defec ­

tive.

Appended to M. Laloux' report of this meet ing

was an expanded list of .280 (FN) cartr idge partic­

ulars, expressed in English terms of measurement :

The UK War Of f i ce had analysed the American

compla in ts and recommenda t ions s temming from

the 1 9 5 0 trials, with a part icular degree of care. A

report was issued on March 1 3 , 1 9 5 1 , call ing for

certain improvements in any future FN carbines

delivered for trial. The British, meanwhile , were so

impressed by the Brasschaa t d e m o that FN was

cal led in to assist, a long with a group of officers,

notably Captain Moreau of the Belgian Army

CEEA, in the drawing-up of a new trials package to

be run at Pendine Experimental Establishment.

Veteran carbines no 4 to 15 were refurbished and

refitted, in England, and two new carbines were or­

dered, numbers 20 and 2 1 , specif ical ly to embody

the American recommenda t ions . The new carbines

were now to be tested, as soon as they could be

made avai lable , a longside the latest models of Col

Kent-Lemon's EM-2.

The March War Of f i ce report ca l led for FN to

make the following modif icat ions in the new car­

bines:

• ex t rac tor and ext rac tor spring to be reinfor­

ced

• hammer to be reinforced

Fig 54 UK ADE photo of the 'latest model', FN carbine serial no 20, calibre .280/30, proofed March 20, 1951.

Shown below in comparison is the earlier CAMP carbine no 13, the "X2E1".

Case . 2 8 0 / 3 0 - Bullet . 2 8 0 / 7 mm

length of cartridge 2 .54"

length of case 1.71"

length of bullet 1.16"

weight of cartridge 309 grains

weight of primed case 139 grains

available volume .147 i n 3

weight of bullet 139 grains

weight of powder charge 3 2 . 1 grains Bofors flake

chamber pressure 4 0 , 7 0 0 l b / i n 2

muzzle velocity 2 , 4 0 0 fps

muzzle energy 1,771 f t / lbs

• butt to be lengthened 1"

• return spring tube to be s t rengthened

• rear sight to be modified to al low for more

positive adjus tment and positioning

• change lever to be redesigned and fire sel­

ec t ion points reposi t ioned

• magazine c a t c h to be s t rengthened

• direction of e j ec t ion of spent cartr idges to

be al tered

• handguard to be enlarged in cross sec t ion

• barrel to be lengthened 20 mm (.8")

Carbine number 20 , with a number of these

changes incorporated in its design, was proofed at

FN in cal ibre .280/30 , on March 20 , 1 9 5 1 . On this

same day, a letter was received at FN's London of­

fices, from Barlow's peop le at the Ministry of Sup­

ply:

During a recent examinat ion of rounds ( . 2 8 0 / 7 mm)

supplied by you, we have found that the bullet pull

varies from 87 lbs to 165 lbs.

Though this does not in any way appear to im­

pair the performance of the ammunit ion, we feel

that it should be brought to your attention.

Yours faithfully,

DeQuincey, M a j o r

For: D of A (SA)

The Belgians were nonplussed. What were these

English up to? Perfect ly good bullets , by Brigadier

Barlow's own admission "flawless", being pulled

apart instead of being shot - c lear ly this was mad­

ness! Resignedly, FN ammuni t ion tes t reports soon

began including bullet-pull figures, a long with the

other points of re ference .

Carbine no 21 was proofed on Mar 29 , and

both these new arms (numbers 20 and 21) were the

sub jec t of initial functioning trials at FN, before

being sent to England along with a substantial

shipment of spares, tools and prototype parts for

the upcoming (April 16 -21) Pendine trials. (Volume

Two). Monsieur Saive's careful memorandum of

goods shipped indicates that ca rb ine no 20 had

fired an initial 8 1 0 rounds; ca rb ine no 2 1 , 8 8 5 .

Monsieur Laloux had meanwhi le prepared

some further notes from the stat ist ics given him by

Brigadier Barlow during their March meeting:

1. Official barrel lengths of arms tried in U S A

EM-2 625 mm (24.6")

T 2 5 5 6 1 . 5 m m (22.1")

FN Carbines nos 4-15 4 8 4 . 4 mm (19.2")

2. Striking Energy at 1 ,000 yards

.303

T 6 5

. 2 8 0 / 3 0

387 f t / lb (53 .5 kg)

2 9 4 f t / lb (40 .6 kg)

293 f t / lb (40 .5 kg)

3. T h e FN . 2 8 0 / 7 mm load was found to have a

higher muzzle velocity than the UK . 2 8 0 / 3 0 . The

following values have been computed in England,

shooting both types of cartridges in an EM-2 :

Muzzle velocity

Recoil energy

. 2 8 0 / 7 m m FN

2 , 4 4 7 fps

(746 m / s )

7 .44 f t / lbs

(1 .03 kg)

.280 RG 140-gr

2 , 3 3 0 fps

710 m / s )

6.5 f t / lbs

( .90 kg)

Fig 55 Another ADE publicity photo, this time of FN carbine no 21, proofed on March 29, 1951. This particular photo was used to augment several handouts prepared by FN, and it was some time before anyone noticed UK

Major Douglas Maber's tongue-in-cheek measuring lines, faintly drawn-in below the carbine and labelled "Actual Length of EM-2". Monsieur Laloux was not amused.

78 Prototypes 17 to 22

On the eve of the Pendine trials, FN carb ine num­

ber 22 was proofed. This arm was very similar to

numbers 20 and 2 1 , but was the first to field a new,

increased-diameter handguard, designed to keep

soldiers ' fingers from any c o n t a c t with hot meta l . It

was a lso the first to do away with the d e t a c h a b l e

s ideplate on the left side of the lower receiver .

A new bayone t was introduced: a modified

FN49 type, fitted with a spring-loaded c a t c h cap­

ab le of al lowing abou t 10 mm forward m o v e m e n t

of the whole bayone t during recoil . This was to ne­

gate the usual e f fec t on normal MPI, when firing

with bayone t fixed.

The 'FN versus the EM-2' trials at Pendine,

April 16 to 2 1 , 1 9 5 1 , are covered in V o l u m e Two,

with a full reprint of the Board of Off icers ' report.

This report ended by concluding that neither rifle

was a c c e p t a b l e for adopt ion in its existing s tate ,

al though the FN was more dependable , performed

bet ter under adverse condi t ions, and was, overall ,

the more accu ra t e . Brigadier Barlow met with an

eager Monsieur Laloux the evening of the last day

of the trials. The Brigadier formally conf i rmed that,

as regards ammunit ion, the UK decis ion had

Fig 57 FN carbine no 21, right-hand view, fitted with a prototype right-hand cocking handle. Tests with this weapon proved M. Saive's original left-handed design was faster. This knob was attached directly to the bolt carrier and reciprocated with it.

Fig 58 FN carbine no 21, after circa-1952 experiments at FN. Compare with fig 55. Note the cutaway magazine well, to test M. Saive's prototype 'front lip' magazines.

Fig 56 An early box label, from the initial year of FN pro­duction of .280/30 cartridges. FN used Bofors powder and the S-12 lead-core 7 mm bullet. (Headstamp FN 51 .280/30).

definitely been taken in favour of the .280/7 mm as

pioneered and loaded by FN. Monsieur Laloux was

not one to miss an advantage:

I immediately asked Bar low if this decision had yet

been communicated to the Belgian Ministry of De­

fence, which had until now heard nothing but the

vaguest of rumours. Bar low promised to have

General Barber , the Director of Infantry, arrange for

an official letter to the Belgian Defense Ministry, in­

forming them of the UK decision in favour of the

.280 /7 mm.

This was good news of the highest order to

everyone at FN, ye t while they had won the bat t le ,

it soon seemed they had lost the war. A scan t four

days later, on April 25 , 1 9 5 1 , the UK Army Council

announced it had dec ided to p roceed unilaterally

with the adopt ion of the .280/7 mm cartr idge and

the EM-2 rifle.

Fig 59 UK special-purpose bullets, studied and drawn at FN. Left: 115-grain tracer; centre: 130-grain armour-piercing incendiary (API); right: 128-grain observing. Drawing date: 7 February, 1951.

Chapter 5

Prototypes 23 to 27 (1951)

This unilateral adopt ion of the EM-2 by England

caused a great deal of cons terna t ion amongs t those

committed to NATO standardizat ion, both in the

UK and abroad. In the f a c e of a c u t e disappoint­

ment at the British decis ion, FN cont inued, with as

many governments as would listen, a de termined

programme to interest them in the merits of the FN

automatic carbine . Carbine no 23 , virtually identi­

cal to no 22 , was proofed on May 30, 1 9 5 1 . I t was

formally presented to the Belgian par l iament in

early June. The populari ty of the FN design grew;

Monsieur Laloux himself drew up the trials

programme for a three-day June visit from an in­

terested French Army mission.

During this demonst ra t ion a scheduled en­

durance trial of "be tween five and six thousand

rounds" went off without a hitch. AN FN memoran­

dum recording this event c loses :

"We must work quickly in order to use the

results obta ined to benef i t our c ause in England."

In another short internal memorandum, dated 20

June 1 9 5 1 , M. Laloux wrote that "the English are

now calling the .280 cartr idge the 7mm. We at FN

will hencefor th refer to this cartr idge as the 7mm

short."

The French Army delegat ion was most im­

pressed with the FN carbine . A c o m p l e t e series of

trials was soon scheduled , to be held in France in

the autumn of 1951 under the direct ion of French

Genera l Lavaud, Direc tor of the Army Technical

Sec t ion , and featuring FN carb ine no 23 .

This s tubborn determinat ion to p romote the

FN product s eemed to be of no avail, at least in

England; the UK Army Council remained adamant ,

even in the f a c e of growing NATO concern , in its

decis ion to adopt the EM-2.

Carbine no 24 , the first with the built-in carry­

ing handle, was proofed on August 1. This was the

first FN arm official ly designated as ca l ib re "7mm

short". It featured a new series of modif icat ions,

t o o late i t would seem, under the c i r cums tances , to

have any e f fec t in England, but nonetheless adop­

ted as a result of British r ecommenda t ions

following the trials of carbines number 20 and 21 at

Hythe and Pendine. The modif icat ions included:

• a l ightened barrel, with a small , neat bayone t lug

Fig 60 FN carbine no 24, with modifications as recom­mended by UK trials at Pendine and Hythe. No 24 was the first to feature the folding carrying handle and the first

officially designated as calibre "7 mm Short". FN photo dated 16 August, 1951.

82 Prototypes 23 to 27

Fig 61 FN carbine no 24, complete disassembly view. Photo dated 16 August, 1951.

for the new 'spring-loaded' bayonet .

• a slightly re- located gas t akeof f point, and

correspondingly shorter gas cylinder and piston.

• a screw-threaded front sight, ad jus tab le for e le ­

vation.

• a lighter, more posit ive rear sight.

• a modified bu t t s tock profile, with a higher butt-

plate.

• a strengthened ext rac tor .

• an altered body cover , which ef fec t ive ly lowered

the path of spent cartr idge e jec t ion .

• a redesigned safe ty /change lever, with the semi

and auto fire posit ions c loser together .

• an insulated f ibre-covered, short, button-l ike

cocking handle.

• a carrying handle, fitted at the point of b a l a n c e

above the c h a m b e r around the gas cylinder.

• a reinforced handguard, the first with longitud­

inal grooves.

• a grenade launcher, adapted to mount on the

bayonet lug.

Carbine no 25 , virtually identical to no 24 , was

proofed on Aug 25 . In the f a c e of this cont inued

determination on the part of FN, the NATO defense

ministers met in New York in August. Britain was

persuaded to pos tpone ac tua l quant i ty manufac­

ture of the EM-2.

Col Kent-Lemon's EM-2 was, nevertheless , the

subject of a lavish UK publici ty d e m o at Warmin­

ster on the 10th of August, at which t ime the new

' 7 m m ' name was first revealed to the English press.

(This event is further descr ibed in both Vols O n e

and Two.)

Comparison firing trials were held against ob ­

solete British Lee-Enfields and American M1

Garands. The FN carb ine was, if anything, con­

spicuous in its a b s e n c e .

Fig 62 The first printed manual for the FN Carbine, showing the revolutionary folding carrying handle of no 24.

FN 'struck back ' on S e p t e m b e r 6th with a well-

planned demonst ra t ion of its own at Brasschaat ,

featuring the new carb ine no 24 , in front of an

a s semblage of over one hundred Allied officers.

Fig 63 FN carbine no 24, after trials in the USA. Note the finalised 'wraparound' handguard, designed by M. Saive at the suggestion of an American friend.

84 Prototypes 23 to 27

Monsieur Laloux had a t ightrope ac t to perform,

and he did it with passing skill. FN had by now a

great f inancial s take in the UK 7mm short cartr idge,

and was supplying it in quanti ty, under con t r ac t to

the British Ministry of Supply, ironically for the EM-

2 trials. This si tuation was not to be upset. On the

other hand, FN knew that Britain was s tubbornly

'out on a limb', with the EM-2 and as such was sub­

j e c t to cont inuously mounting pressure from all her

NATO allies, espec ia l ly the powerful and

vociferous Americans . Into all of this Monsieur

Laloux was bound to insert whatever praise he

could for the FN prototype, which he and many

others bel ieved was qui te simply the best c h o i c e

for a s tandardized infantry weapon for all of NATO.

Here are Monsieur Laloux' opening remarks, given

at Brasschaa t in front of British, American, French

and numerous other military de legates , all poten­

tial c l ients for the FN carbine:

Introductory Remarks at the Brasschaat Demonstration

September 6, 1951

General and Gentlemen:

First of all, I wish to thank the Belgian Ministry

of National Defence for giving us this opportunity of

demonstrating our new weapon. Fabrique Nationale,

as the name itself suggests, has since its inception

tried to serve the a rmy by bringing technical know­

ledge to bear on military problems.

T h e problem concerning which I am going to

speak to you today was introduced to FN by the

British Ministry of Supply. On behalf of the Belgian

factory I represent, I should like to offer my thanks

to them for the confidence placed in us. The co­

operation thus established, irrespective of frontiers,

could serve as a model at international level.

W h a t I have just said is in no way changed by

the decision which England has recently taken (a

decision which was not what we could have hoped)

although our col laborat ion will perforce be limited in

future to the ammunit ion.

I should also like to thank the many represen­

tatives of N A T O countries present for accepting the

invitation extended by our Mil i tary Technical

Fig 64 Illustrating the handiness of the FN carbine (no 24). Note the early FN 49-type bayonet. From the original FN Fusil Automatique Leger (FAL) manual (fig 62).

Fig 65 FN carbine no 24 at the carry. From the original manual of the FAL in cal 7 x 43 mm (7 mm Short).

Research and Development Service in such numbers.

I will deal first with the new ammunit ion and

then with the weapon designed to fire it. . . It

features a reduction in the size and weight of the car­

tridge with sufficient energy at prevailing firing

distances but muzzle energy reduced so as to permit

accurate single shot and full automatic fire from a

lighter weapon than the semi automatics at present in

use.

Up until now, development followed the line of

giving the infantryman the most powerful am­

munition he could fire in a rifle. After the first Wor ld

War the Americans developed a 11 .3 gram bullet

(Ml ) for their .30 calibre, but the fact that during the

second Wor ld W a r they decided to use their old

.30 /06 bullet (renamed M 2 ) , weighing only 9 .8

grams, already shows a certain drawing away from

the idea of a maximum powered cartridge.

Fig 66 The low line of sight of the FN carbine allowed the user to present a difficult target to hit.

During the last war, there appeared on both

sides of the firing line ammunit ion between the pistol

cartridge calibre and the existing 7.9 mm, .303 and

.30 infantry cartridges. T h e American .30 Carbine

needs not be stressed; its insufficient power (muzzle

energy only twice that of the Parabellum) and

behaviour at ranges over 2 0 0 metres bear out the well

known fact that it was designed rather as a replace­

ment for the pistol than the infantry rifle.

T h e first short infantry ammunit ion seems to

have been achieved by the Germans with their 7.9

short, produced at the end of the war; its muzzle

energy is three times that of the Parabellum and the

Germans designed a weapon for it which could fire

single shot and full automatic . The first prototype of

the weapon we are going to show you was designed

for this cartridge and demonstrated by us to the

Belgian Authorit ies in February 1 9 4 8 .

After the war, the English decided to abandon

the .303 and followed up the same idea; they de­

signed a .280 cartridge the muzzle energy of which

was originally about 2 4 0 kgm, i.e. four times that of

the Parabel lum.

This so-called .280 round was really a 7mm,

which you will see had considerable influence on its

final development. Although the idea was good, the

first rounds produced in England were not very

satisfactory; accuracy was poor , pressures too high

and irregular. Successful development was somewhat

hindered by the fact that the English were trying to

use a mild steel core instead of a lead core . In spite of

this, the ammunit ion was recommended for further

development after the trials which took place in the

United States from the Spring to the Autumn of 1950 .

86 Prototypes 23 to 27

Up to this point, FN had used British cartridges

only when making the prototypes of their weapon,

but when the results of these trials started to come

through, they decided to approach the ammunit ion

problem as well.

As stated, the British bullet was in reality a

7mm, weighing 140 grains, i.e. 9 grams. Among the

bullets currently manufactured by FN was the 7mm

Mauser , a bullet which has existed for many years

but agreed perfectly in calibre and weight with the so

called .280 British bullet. The Mauser 7mm is a flat

base type bullet ('S' type) with lead core and plated

steel envelope, well-known in military and sporting

circles for its high degree of accuracy and retention of

velocity; due to its small diameter and excellent

ballistic coefficient. The idea of putting this bullet in

the British case after having filled it with a suitable

powder (in this case a powder of Swedish origin)

seemed too natural not to be tried: as you will see,

the result was excellent.

The external characteristics of this ammunit ion

are the same as those of the English cartridge and the

same case is used:

Total weight: 20 grams as against 2 6 . 2 6 gr for the .30

M 2 , i.e. 2 4 % lighter.

Total length: 6 4 . 5 5 mm as against 8 4 . 6 mm for the

.30 M 2 , i.e. 2 4 % shorter.

The great advantages that general use of such an

ammunit ion would bring are obvious; the load

would be lightened and made less cumbersome and

the cost would be lower.

Ballistical characteristics are as follows:

Muzzle Veloci ty : 2 ,255 fps; i .e. about 33 metres (100

feet) more than that of the original English .280 ,

whereas the original Mauser 7mm ammunition, using

the same bullet, has a velocity of 840 (roughly 2 , 5 5 0

fps) to 890 m / s according to the length of the barrel .

Pressure: the above-mentioned velocity is attained

whilst maintaining the pressure below 3 ,000 k g s / c m 2

(43 ,000 lbs . / sq . in . ) This pressure is due to the

powder used and an adequate primer. We would

mention that the FN cartridge primer is non corro­

sive.

Kinetic energy: Muzzle 250 kgm (1 ,800 f t / lbs) ; a t 600

metres 85 kgm (600 f t / lbs ; at 1000 metres 45 kgm

(325 f t / lbs) .

On the diagram before you are shown the

kinetic energy curves in terms of distance for the

. 3 0 / 0 6 , the .303 and the 7 mm. At the muzzle the

kinetic energy of the 7 mm is only 7 /10 ths of the .30 ,

but still more than enough to kill a man. At 1,000

metres, thanks to its intrinsic qualities, the 7 mm

rejoins the .30 with a remaining kinetic energy of ap-

prox. 45 kgm. , which is about the same as the muzzle

energy of the Parabel lum fired from a pistol. As there

is no question of the infantry cartridge being used to

perforate armour-plating, and it is only expected to

be effective against such objectives as helmets and

unarmoured vehicles, this cartridge appears to be

very adequate, even at these distances, while its

reduced muzzle energy allows full automatic fire un­

der conditions which may be considered as accep­

table.

Accuracy: I should like to close the section on the

new ammunit ion by referring to its accuracy; its ex­

cellence in this respect can be vouched for by all who

have tried it. During the trials in the United States,

the mean radius, or figure of merit at 600 yards was

used to measure accuracy. The required M R , or

figure of merit, was 7". It has been proved during

trials that the FN 7 mm can easily achieve an MR of

less than 3 .5" (9 cm) at this distance.

Both as regards power and accuracy, this car­

tridge solves the problem. I am pleased to say that

the British have just given it the correct name of 7

mm' but to avoid confusion with the 7 mm Mauser, I

would suggest that it should henceforth be called the

7 mm short'.

Let us now turn to the weapon. To avoid any

misunderstanding, I wish to mention here that the

Belgian Government has adopted the .30 American

cartridge for their small arms, for the time being.

They have acted wisely in this because rearmament

was an immediate need and the .30 American car­

tridge is the best mass-produced infantry am­

munition now available. FN are producing several

types of weapon firing this ammunit ion, which have

recently been shown to the press here: our self-

loading rifle and automatic rifle, (the SAFN, adopted

in 1951 by the Belgian A r m y — Ed), and the Brown­

ing automatic machine rifle with detachable barrel .

T h e weapon I am going to speak about now is a

prototype and has never yet been in production; it

has been developed as an infantry weapon for the

future. Its main outward features are:

• length, 1 metre, with a 50 cm barrel;

• weight, with handle and reinforced hand-guard, is

less than 3 kg 9 0 0 (8 .6 lbs) .

It should be recalled here that the weight of most

single shot infantry rifles is in the neighborhood of 4

kg, the self-loading rifles average more, about 4 kg

300 ; the FN self-loading weighs a little less, the

Garand a little more .

To lighten the soldier's load, General Staff are

asking for a weapon weighing 8 lbs (3 kg 650) or even

less, but the soldier does not only carry his rifle, the

magazines and bayonet have to be taken into account.

Mil i tary and sportsmen know that if a weapon is

to be comfortable to fire its weight must be related to

the power of the ammunit ion it has to use.

This is even more important for a weapon firing

full automatic. There is a very good reason why

existing automatic machine rifles, firing the normal

infantry round, weigh from 8 to 9 kgs.

Muzzle-brakes, which have been tried to absorb

the recoil, have certain disadvantages: if they are ef­

ficient they throw back (i .e. towards the firer) an un­

pleasant surge.

I draw two conclusions from this:

1. What really counts is the overall weight to be

carried and this total weight should be laid down by

the Chiefs of General Staff;

2. With the total weight limit fixed, it is desirable to

keep the weight of the weapon as high as possible and

reduce the weight of the accessories; this gives better

accuracy and the weapon is more comfortable for the

firer.

The FN prototype has been developed on these

lines: the magazine weighs 2 2 0 grams only, the

bayonet 280 grams, the weapon alone 3 kg 9 0 0 .

At the outset, we thought that the weight should

not be less than 4 kgs, particularly for a weapon

which has to fire full automatic , but following the

trials in England we concluded that a weight of 3 kg

900 was admissible.

As we have just been speaking of transport, I

would mention that the latest model, now before

you, has a collapsible carrying handle, fitted at the

weapons's centre of gravity.

The general data on which the weapon had to be

designed is as follows:

• It had to have a removable magazine, taking 20

cartridges. This was needed to increase fire power,

both single shot and full automatic .

• The weapon had to be of the locking breech type as

the power of the cartridge obviously excluded a

blowback type of design. As you can see, the breech­

block is a solid part.

• The bolt had to be closed when firing. This was

necessary for a light weapon, which has to be fired

from the shoulder as a rifle, and is not purely a

machine-gun.

• Naturally, there is a holding-open device to keep

the mechanism open when the magazine is empty;

this serves to warn the firer and makes reloading

easy.

• Finally, gas operation was preferred to recoil for

reasons common to all infantry weapons between the

blow-back type and the machine gun.

On this basis, the chief of our Design Depart­

ment, M. Saive, has designed a weapon which is bo th

conventional and simple, as you will now see.

By this I mean that the weapon has a butt and

the conventional type of sight.

Up to the present the butt has seemed as essential

a part of the rifle as the barrel and breech-block. As

the butt is not a working part, the idea of suppressing

it arose, as a means of reducing the weight. W e , our­

selves, designed a .280 prototype without a butt, but

we later abandoned it as we considered it had serious

disadvantages:

a) The relative positions of human eye and

shoulder mean that the line of sight has to be raised if

the butt is suppressed. This , to our mind, is a great

drawback; the soldier seeking cover at ground level is

obliged to raise his head to get his line of sight and is

thus exposed to enemy fire. In addition, raised sights

are more liable to get out of order than those at

weapon level.

It has also been said that a straight-line weapon

tends to be steadier, but the essential point is rather

that the centre of gravity of the weapon should be in

line with the barrel axis. This is the case with the

weapon now before you and this alignment ensures a

longitudinal recoil .

b) As Brigadier Bar low once said to me, it is un­

fortunately impossible to redesign the human body

— the butt forms a natural liaison between the

human body and the barrel of the weapon, which has

to be trained on the target. Although the butt is not

an active part, it plays its role perfectly, as has been

demonstrated by the natural ease in firing the

weapon moving it from the hip to the shoulder.

c) Finally, suppression of the butt entails a

change in the general design of the weapon: bringing

the ejection opening to the same level as the firer's

face, bringing the trigger forward beyond the

magazine, level with the barrel, which causes the

following drawbacks:

1. Over-heating of the trigger during sustained

fire to the point of burning the firer's forefinger;

2. the weapon cannot be fired by a left-handed

man;

3. danger to the firer's face and eyes in the case

of any explosion occurring.

As for the optical sight, as we have already said,

we should prefer it if it improved accuracy, but trials

have proved that this is not the case. Furthermore, it

seems to us that its serious disadvantages in rain,

snow or mud and its fragility outweigh the advan­

tages it has.

Finally, I should like to emphasize the simplicity

of our weapon; our long experience in the domain of

small arms makes us at tach great importance to this.

Simplicity is of the foremost importance to the

soldier, but it should also concern those responsible

for supplying his equipment. Not only does it mean

more rifles in war-t ime, but also saves time in con­

verting from one type of armament to another. It

88 Prototypes 23 to 27

Fig 67 FN carbine no 24 being examined at the Brasschaat demonstration, September 6, 1951. The design

was presented here to numerous Allied military dele­gates, and proved a great success.

also means lower costs, but this point is not to be dis­

cussed here.

To find out how simple our weapon is all you

have to do is handle and strip it.

Handling: T h e weapon has been designed (as the

Browning Automat ic Machine Rifle) so that the right

hand remains on the pistol grip and all other

operations are done on the left, i .e. on the firer's side,

whether in the upright or prone position. Tha t is:

• cocking

• removing an empty magazine and reloading

• closing the weapon

• operating the change lever.

Stripping: Stripping is extremely easy because the

rifle opens like a shot gun and the mechanism can be

withdrawn towards the rear.

Here, I have three comments to make:

• Firstly, the soldier never has to touch the return

spring, which is encased in the butt and needs no

maintenance;

• secondly, the weapon never remains open. After

withdrawing the breech-block and slide, the soldier

can close the weapon and put it on the ground while

he examines the parts withdrawn;

• thirdly, the whole mechanism can be seen when

the cover is taken off.

The first two remarks would have little meaning

if stripping could always be done on a table but in

practice the soldier usually has to put springs and

parts he has stripped on dusty or muddy ground.

I should like to mention here that the weapon is

completely weatherproof, without using any special

cover; this is the finest guarantee against getting

foreign bodies in the mechanism; it must be remem­

bered that a cover , like a door, can be open or closed.

. . . I could continue to give you further details

but these you will find in the brochure which will be

distributed.

Here is a list of the accesssories which can be

supplied with the weapon:

1. Bayonet: Here is the light bayonet , designed for

this weapon; it has a spring device to prevent the

weight of the bayonet from influencing the mean im­

pact point.

2. Grenade launcher: Here is the grenade-launcher

for firing the Energa 640 gram grenade under the

same conditions as the .30 infantry rifle as will be

demonstrated later. To fire this, shut off the gas in­

take by turning the plug by 1 8 0 ° .

3. Bipod: Here is the bipod — in certain circum­

stances its use makes the weapon more effective in

the machine rifle role.

4. Optional Sight: Finally, here is the optional sight

for the use of snipers. This is very simply mounted on

a cover and the rifle destined for snipers thus needs

very little special preparation.

5. Other: If required, the weapon can also be sup­

plied with a flash hider or muzzle brake .

I have come to the end of my talk, which I fear

has been a little lengthy. I hope that the firing which

Captain Moreau is now going to carry out in your

presence will prove that the combinat ion of the 7 mm

short round and the Universal light automatic rifle,

which we have developed, constitute a logical and

well-balanced armament .

The Brasschaa t demonst ra t ion was a great success .

The Americans in part icular were impressed with

the new FN carb ine .

Carbine no 26 , a special order for 7 mm short

trials in Venezue l a , was hurriedly prepared using

the old receiver and trigger housing, (with

sideplate), from carb ine no 20 . It was proofed on

O c t 3. Meanwhi le , Amer ican results were rather

guarded following tests which had been carried out

on the bes t the UK could produce - 'Lot 20 ' of the

UK-loaded .280 /30 cartr idges. These had been sub­

j e c t e d to a minute examinat ion in the USA. FN

received a copy of the Amer ican report, dated 16

O c t o b e r 1 9 5 1 :

Evaluation of New UK calibre .280 Cartridge

Fig 68 FN carbine no 26, the 'Venezuelan' prototype. Originally described as follows: weight: 3.65 kg; length: 900 mm; barrel length: 380 mm. Proofed October 3, 1951.

Fig 69 FN carbine no 26, right-hand side. Originally designed with the early magazine, later modified to ac­cept the new 'front lip' magazine.

The UK calibre .280 cartridge has been examined by

Frankford Arsenal , Remington Arms Company , Ol in

Industries, Inc and E. I . du Pont de Nemours and

Company , Inc with a view to reproducability under

mass production condit ions. Frankford Arsenal is the

control centre for the US small arms ammunit ion in-

90 Prototypes 23 to 27

dustry; Remington and Olin were the major

producers of small arms ammunit ion during Wor ld

W a r II under direct Government contract and as

operators of Government-owned Ordnance plants.

The following represents the composite comments of

these facilities:

Bullets: Bullets of the close dimensional tolerances

demonstrated by UK Lot 20 could only be produced

under very careful manufacturing conditions with

excellent tool control and using selected raw

materials. Production of such bullets in volume

would be costly, and the necessary care required in

handling would result in low production rates. The

meplat (bullet point) could not be maintained under

present US manufacturing condit ions.

The bullet is coated with approximately . 0 0 1 " of

cupronickel. On the basis of previous US experience,

it is considered that the coating is too thin and will

result in muzzle sparklers. This had also been in­

dicated in the September 1951 tests.

The bullet does not have a machined cannelure.

Apparently the projectiles are press crimped into the

case, resulting in a low bullet pull (average of ap­

proximately 90 lbs and very erratic) as compared

with US calibre .30 ammunit ion. This may be expec­

ted to result in poor machine gun performance (short

round).

Cartridge: The uniformity of weight and dimensions-

of the complete round will be subject to the same

comments that applied to the bullet and case. At­

tainment of the British uniformity would, in mass

production, be considerably more costly than for

present ammunit ion. The characteristics of the

British cartridge are comparable to US 'National

Match ' ammunit ion which is made under very care­

fully controlled condit ions. In mass production, it is

anticipated that the accuracy of the British cartridge

would approach that of present calibre .30 Ball M2

ammunit ion. (7 .5" mean radius at 600 yards) . No

determination can be made as to the ability to meet,

in mass production the velocity of UK Lot 20 .

Reliable figures with respect to accuracy and velocity

can only be achieved as a result of mass production

trials, employing production tools and methods.

Even though in total only a handful of prototypes

existed. Monsieur Laloux was most keenly aware

that unmis takeab le signs of approval and interest

in the new FN design were being expressed by an

ever-increasing body of the world's most influential

military men. With courageous foresight, he deter­

mined to prepare for eventual success . In a private

direct ive to the FN Soc ie ty on the 2nd of Novem­

ber, 1 9 5 1 , Monsieur Laloux ordered that the basic

raw materials necessary for the cons t ruc t ion of

2 0 , 0 0 0 FN universal carbines be purchased and

s tockpi led, against what he firmly bel ieved was to

be an inevi table demand.

On November 13th , a further direct ive was

c i rcula ted among all FN depar tments conce rned

with a rmamen t deve lopment :

"In future official co r respondence , notably

with armies, foreign governments and commis­

sions, the appel la t ion of our hitherto-known Uni­

versal Carbine will be: Fusil Automatic Leger d'In­

fanterie." (English: Infantry Light Automat ic Rifle;

initials 'FALI').

The following day, Nov 14 , 'FALI' number 27

(identical to no 24 with a slightly different hand-

guard shape) was proofed and ready for trial.

A major pol icy s ta tement , reviewing all

deve lopments so far, was prepared for general

distribution by Fabr ique Nat ionale on November

20 . FN, through Monsieur Laloux, was determined

to stand firm on the merits and strengths of the

Saive design, and wished to record the reasoning

behind this decis ion for posterity:

The 7mm Short Ammunition and the Light Automatic Rifle

I. Introduction

1. Since the war, the tendency has been towards

a light, self-loading rifle capable of selective fire,

combined with an 'intermediate' cartridge, of reduced

size and weight, yet with sufficient power at any

realistic combat range.

This new arrangement is to supercede the infan­

tryman's current arsenal of machine pistol, rifle and

L M G , and moreover is capable of launching

grenades.

2. The English, desirous of abandoning the old

r immed .303 , are firmly committed to this new path.

They have developed a 7 mm cartridge and have con­

tracted for the development of two prototypes to

shoot it — one the UK EM-2 and the other the

Belgian FN.

T h e original UK steel-cored bullet is inherently

inaccurate — FN has solved this problem by

suggesting the extremely accurate 7mm Mauser

bullet, and this solution has now been adopted by the

British.

The two rifle designs have basic distinguishing

differences — the Belgian is conventional, with a butt-

stock and iron sights, while the British is revolution­

ary, without a but ts tock and with a unit-power op­

tical sight. From the point of view of performance,

both these weapons have been perfected.

3. The Americans , for their part, while busy

researching a solution to the same basic problems as

the British, have so far not without good reasons,

stuck to their existing mili tary cartridge and their

Garand rifle, of which there are literally millions in

existence. Unfortunately the . 3 0 / 0 6 cartridge and the

Ml rifle itself are heavy and overpowered and as

such not well thought of in modern-day Europe. The

British have done well in declining the adoption of

this less than up-to-date rifle and ammunit ion

system.

4. The most sensible solution, to avoid all of the

western powers switching to a new system at once,

seems to be for the British to adopt the 7mm and the

Americans to follow suit in two or three years ' t ime.

Of course, for this plan to work , the British and the

Americans must agree at least on their future short

cartridge, if not on the rifle as well. Unfortunately,

this is not the case — the Americans find the 7mm

lacking, or beneath their standards, in killing power.

As to the UK rifle, its unconventional design and

complexity have met with disfavour in Amer ica . T h e

British would have been on firmer ground if they had

instead favoured the FN design. .

Finally, the French, and other countries of com­

paratively lesser import, are impatient that the two

giants cannot agree.

remaining energy figures are as follows:

Distance . 30 M 2 7 mm Short

2 0 0 metres 2 7 7 kgm 180 kgm

4 0 0 metres 140 kgm 118 kgm

600 metres 82 kgm 77 kgm

800 metres 48 kgm 53 kgm

1000 metres 43 kgm 42 kgm

The 7mm ball , as shown above , conserves its

energy at distances over 600 yards. Moreover , 7 mm

dispersion figures are roughly half those acceptable

as standard for the .30 M 2 . In summation as

established by actual shooting trials of many thou­

sands of rounds, the 7 mm Short offers the advan­

tages sought, without compromising power require­

ments, at a dramatic price reduction.

(In the foregoing, we have compared the new

7 mm Short against the .30 M2 ( .30-06) . There is of

course a new American 'short' .30 calibre cartridge,

now undergoing US trials, but we have as yet found

it impossible to ascertain its characteristics, and

therefore a comparison with it cannot be made at this

time There is of course nothing to say regarding the

decisions of others to pursue their stated goals both

in .30 calibre and 7mm; the essential point being a

net reduction in weight.

In any case the final decision will recognize a

bullet of the order of 9 grams. A n y increase in calibre

as compared to the demonstrated 7mm conclusion

will bring with it a corresponding deterioration in the

proven conservat ion of residual, or striking energy.

II. The Ammunition Problem The new ammunit ion must offer the following

advantages:

a) weight and size reduction;

b) a reduction in muzzle energy sufficient to al low

aimed, full-auto fire teamed with adequate killing

power at today's realistic combat ranges;

c) excellent accuracy.

We at FN feel the 7mm short cartridge meets

these conditions:

a) Compared to the Amer ican .30 M 2 , the 7mm short

offers the following percentage reductions:

weight of cartridge 24 % less

length of cartridge 2 3 . 5 % less

powder charge 3 8 . 5 % less

price of manufacture 16 % less

b) Muzzle energy is roughly 225 kgm as compared

with 347 kgm for the .30 M 2 . At other distances, the

III. The Rifle Problem T h e object ive, stated succinctly, is for an arm to

materialize, at once light enough for comfortable ,

single-shot fire and portabil i ty, but at the same time

stable enough to al low effective automatic fire, and

to be popular enough to be adopted by all of us.

Today, there are two arms available, chambered

for the 7mm Short and embodying the above objec­

tives: the British EM-2 and the Belgian FN.

Leaving aside for the moment all the fine points,

and admitting voluntari ly that the two arms are to all

intents and purposes identical as regards reliability

and safe operation, and freely admitting an equal

degree of inherent technical competence in their

design, there remain a certain number of criteria

wherein the Belgian arm enjoys an incontestable

superiority. These are:

• Its profound simplicity; it is one of the most un-

92 Prototypes 23 to 27

complicated weapons in existence, immediately ap­

pealing to the front-line soldier as well as to those in

the supply system. This means not only more rifles in

time of war but also, and this is extremely important

today — less time elapsed in converting from any

current weapon system to this one.

• Its classical form assures it numerous partisans,

and makes it the prime candidate for standardization

among all the Western powers. T h e British rifle, with

its buttless configuration, is a very peculiar arm,

which moreover requires elevated sights, forcing the

user into a more vulnerable position.

• Its less expensive manufacture price of 20 to 2 5 %

below that of the EM-2 , translates, in a re-armament

situation, into a higher production rate and a

lessened total financial burden.

Finally, the FN weapon has been extensively

trials-proven, and is in a much more advanced state

of readiness for quanti ty production.

Although most of the details concern ing US mili­

tary rifle deve lopmen t were at this t ime still secret ,

the influential National Rifle Associa t ion in Wash­

ington sought to keep its members informed as

much as possible abou t the ongoing military car­

tridge controversy. Retired Amer ican Maj-Gen

Julian Hatcher, head of the NRA techn ica l staff,

approached US O r d n a n c e Col René Studler, the

Assistant Chief of O r d n a n c e and head of the US

Rifle Program. Maj-Gen Hatcher requested s o m e

information and stat is t ics on the UK .280/30 car­

tridge, in order to prepare an unbiased, c o m ­

parative ar t ic le in the Associat ion 's journal , the

authori tat ive American Rifleman. This information

was denied by Col Studler on grounds of national

security. A well-known NRA techn ica l staff writer

and cartr idge expert , Mr Phil Sharpe, one of the

later designers of the 7X61 Sharpe and Hart spor­

ting cartridge, c o n t a c t e d an influential friend in

New York: there were those in Amer ica who already

had an int imate knowledge of the .280, and who

were following with interest the deve lopmenta l

s tages of the UK-FN 7 m m concep t . Sample UK .280

and .280/30 rounds were furnished in an unloaded

condi t ion from this 'private co l lec t ion ' , and Mr

Sharpe's in-depth ar t ic le , ent i t led "That .280 British

Cartridge", duly appeared in the November , 1951

American Rifleman. The ar t ic le reported on the

weights and measurements of the round and s o m e

ve loc i ty and pressure figures of various test

loadings, made up using commerc i a l American

IMR-type powders. The ar t ic le sums up:

"The .280 British cartr idge is an interesting lit­

t le baby which canno t be loaded to proper veloci ty

without running into the 5 0 , 0 0 0 - 55,000-pound

pressure levels. A hot little baby like the .280 can

produce a lot of grief in a lightweight, mass-

produced shoulder weapon. Nevertheless, the

vague and cont rad ic tory publicity this cartridge

has received is dispelled. This baby is be t ter than

we thought!"

Col Studler, in a furious rage, charged the NRA

with violat ion of US security. He felt the test car­

tridges used in the ar t ic le must have been stolen,

and ordered a full-scale securi ty c h e c k and a count

of all the existing sample .280 ammunit ion supplies

stored at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Everything

c h e c k e d out, however. The British, far from o b j e c ­

ting to the ar t ic le , w e l c o m e d it and its fair and ob­

j ec t ive c o m m e n t s , as being c loser to the truth than

any other information coming out of America . (Col

Studler was indeed being most vociferous in his

self-styled .30 ca l ib re publici ty campaign; every

possible advantage was at t r ibuted to the T65 , while

the British .280 efforts were lambas ted merci lessly

as being total ly unworthy of American military

considerat ion.)

Chapter 6

Debut of the FAL Prototypes 28 to 42

Events were now taking p lace thick and fast in

England, Amer ica , Canada and Belgium.

Inexorably, more information was b e c o m i n g avail­

able, day by day, regarding both rifle and cartr idge

developments . The s imple odds of happens tance

alone meant that i t was merely at mat ter of t ime

before more of the jealously-guarded details and

specifications b e c a m e public domain.

The British general e l ec t ions late in 1951 over­

threw the Labour party, whose d e f e n c e minister

and Prime Minister had championed the EM-2, and

returned to power Sir Winston Churchill 's Conser­

vatives. The order to adopt the EM-2 was counter ­

manded. (Volume Two has a good deal more on this

subject.) The Americans , o n c e again, re jec ted the

.280/7mm c o n c e p t as unsui table to their needs.

The p recoc ious FN carbine universelle had un­

dergone name changes as well, as its many modifi­

cations. Official FN documen t s began preferring

the name Fusil Automatique Léger (Light Auto Rifle

- or FAL), as early as January, 1 9 5 2 . At FN, Mon­

sieur Laloux was more consc ious than ever before

of the one p iece of information he lacked: the

Americans had the cartridge; FN had the rifle. The

two simply had to be brought together . Finally, in

early 1952 , a single T65E3 cartridge, with powder

and primer removed, was air mailed to M. Laloux

by an influential friend in New York. The e f f ec t was

instantaneous: FAL number 28 was proofed on

March 14, 1 9 5 2 , the first-ever FN proto type bored

and carefully c h a m b e r e d by Monsieur Saive to fire

the final, 51 mm case- length version of the Ameri­

can trials T65 cartr idge. Monsieur Laloux and Mon­

sieur Saive were soon in New York with the proto­

type. Arrangements were made for them to travel

to Washington and Aberdeen. Dr Fred Carten, the

Director of Research and Deve lopmen t for the Of­

fice, Chief of Ordnance , introduced them to Col

Studler, the Assistant Chief of Ordnance . They were

ushered to an indoor range and handed one e a c h of

both the T44 and T47 rifles. They were not per­

mitted to examine these arms; the firing points

were left purposely darkened. Monsieur Saive fired

both Amer ican prototypes, and both malfunc­

t ioned badly. FN serial number 28 was brought out,

and it fired a full clip of American ammuni t ion

flawlessly, much to the chagrin of Col Studler.

Monsieur Laloux poli tely thanked the Colonel on

behal f of FN for the opportuni ty of firing " these ex­

ce l l en t Amer ican arms". They all returned in silen-

Fig 70 At last! The initial FN drawing of the US .30 T65E3 51 mm case, dated February 19, 1952.

94 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

ce to the privacy of Col Studler 's off ice , where the

Colonel abruptly told Monsieur Laloux that he

would give FN a c o n t r a c t for ten FAL prototypes,

for the upcoming 1 9 5 2 Amer ican trials, at a price of

$10 ,000 US. Monsieur Laloux in all sincerity

protested the price, pointing out that ten thousand

dollars was simply not enough money for ten

tool room-produced weapons . Col Studler replied

that he mean t $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 per weapon. The offer was

a c c e p t e d on the spot, and a most jubi lant FN dele­

gation returned to their New York friend's apart­

ment filled with news of the vindicat ion of their

years of perseverance . As if to prove the old adage

of either feas t or famine, official drawings of the

hitherto unob ta inab le Amer ican round, plus sam­

ples of the ca l ibre .30 T65E3 , in various loadings,

were now supplied to FN by the c a s e lot under the

terms of this deve lopmen t con t rac t . The con t r ac t

itself was in f ac t expanded in scope , on April 17, to

include a maximum of fifteen FN trials rifles.

Thus, after a courageous period of per­

severance , in the f a c e of very limited prospects at

best in the US, plus outright d i scouragement in

England, the fortunes of FN all at o n c e took a

heady swing upwards, toward the most opt imist ic

viewpoint possible, as these two largest of

Belgium's allies o n c e again dec la red themse lves

potential c l ients .

The following d o c u m e n t goes far in recreat ing

the problems of the day as seen by the United

Kingdom - at the t ime the Amer ican T65E3 proto­

type cartr idge was by no means assured of its later

adoption by all the NATO powers; indeed, many

saw in its physical charac te r i s t ics inherent

problems of an insurmountable nature.

The Americans , in the course of achieving the

ball ist ic goals they had set themselves with the T65

cartridge, began with a 47 mm c a s e length and en­

ded with one of 51 mm. In addition, the c a s e walls

were c loser to being straight and parallel to e a c h

other than was the usual military prac t ice . This

c a m e to pass due simply to the beauroc ra t i c

restriction of maximum c a s e length, versus the

ca l cu la t ed internal c a s e vo lume necessary to

propel the bul le t at the required veloci ty .

The .30-06 case , for example , had a c a s e with

. 0 1 6 5 " included taper per inch. The .30 T65E3

proposed an included c a s e taper of only .012", a

measurement recognized by its designers as "less

than ideal". (In compar ison, today's 5.56 mm

military round has an included c a s e taper of

.01746") .

I t was strongly held at the t ime that this c a s e

taper fac tor influenced the primary, and even the

secondary, extract ion properties of a cartr idge

Fig 71 Monsieur Laloux, holding FN FAL no 28, the first in calibre .30 T65. Monsieur Saive is in the background. Picture taken in New York City in March, 1952, as they prepare to present the FAL to Col Studler.

case , in "a dele ter ious fashion". The lack of taper

also mean t a sharp shoulder, plus a greater distan­

ce from cent re l ine to the guiding surface of the

outer c a s e wall; the former character is t ic

decreas ing the robustness of the c a s e in military

use. Both charac te r i s t ics very definitely added to

the rifle designer's problems in physically feeding

the cartr idges into the weapon.

Furthermore, as pleased as FN was at last to

have a foot secure ly in the American door, the 7

mm c o n c e p t they themselves had so resolutely

championed had many supporters, all of whom

were s incere and deserved the utmost support and

co-operat ion. So, as a determined 'back-up ' plan to

the powerful Amer ican .30 ca l ibre 's teamroller ' , the

'Small Arms Deve lopmen t Commit tee ' , or as it

b e c a m e known, the ' B B C Commi t t ee ' led off

bravely with its first informal meet ing on June 25,

1 9 5 2 . The following is a reprint of the draft minutes

of this meeting:

Minutes of the Informal Meeting of Technical Representatives of the

Small Arms Development Committee held at 3 5 / 3 7 , Old Queen Street, London, S W 1

on 25th June, 1952

Present:

U K

Brigadier J . A . Bar low

Lt Col B . K . Goode

Mr A. Duneclift

Major J . P . M a y

D of A (SA) Chairman

A D E

A D E M O S

M 3

Belgium

Col F . E . M . Van Loo Belgian A r m y

Monsieur R. Laloux FN

Monsieur E. T o m s o n FN

Col S .E . Morres Canadian A r m y Liaison

Staff

The Chairman opened the meeting by welcoming the

Canadian and Belgian representatives on the Devel­

opment Commit tee .

1. The Chairman then gave a short summary of the

background history leading up to the Canadian

suggestion of a compromise round in 7 mm calibre;

the main points of the summary were as follows:

1.1 The original low velocity . 2 8 0 / 3 0 am­

munition was criticised for lack of stopping power

and poor wound ballistics at short ranges in tests in

1950 in the U S A .

1.2 Criticisms were also based on the poor ac­

curacy of the UK mild steel-cored small arms ammu­

nition, and the height of trajectory, during the 1950

tests.

1.3 U S A rejected the 7 mm calibre early in 1 9 5 1 ,

although Infantry Board no 3 had recommended it

for development.

1.4 In view of USA's attitude, UK adopted a

solid lead core bullet of FN manufacture with a muz­

zle velocity of 2 , 5 5 0 ft per sec; subsequent develop­

ment was entirely based on UK requirements which

were for a lead core ball round and tracer.

1.5 In September, 1 9 5 1 , the Working Par ty of

the Standing Group of N A T O retested the lead cored

7 mm small arms ammunit ion ( . 2 8 0 / 7 m m ) .

This ammunit ion was at that time criticised for

lack of stopping power at short ranges and for its

relatively poor penetration of helmets, body armour

and hard targets.

1.6 Canada then suggested a compromise which

consisted of utilising the .30 T 6 5 E 3 (51 mm) case

Fig 72 The complete US T65E3 round, first drawn and dimensioned by FN in February, 1952.

necked down to take a 7 mm bullet; this would give

an added case capaci ty and a possible dividend of

some increase in veloci ty.

1.7 On examination of Canada's proposals, UK

agreed in principle with the proviso that the T 6 5 E 3

case may not function satisfactorily because of:

a) added bullet intrusion

b) insufficient case taper

c) case headstrength.

If these had no adverse effect, the 7 mm bullet in a

necked down T 6 5 E 3 case seemed a good com­

promise.

1.8 Since Canada believed that considerable

dividends could be obtained with the 7 mm am­

munition and since Belgium had also shown great in­

terest in its development, it was decided on a military

level to form a Small Arms Development Commit tee

of Canada, Belgium and the UK; governmental ap­

proval was to be obtained later.

2. T h e Chairman explained that prior to the receipt

of information that Belgium would participate in 7

mm development, a favourable opportunity had

presented itself for informal discussions with

Canada

96 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

Canadian representatives on a technical level. In or­

der to save time a tentative programme of work to be

undertaken by Canada and UK had been agreed.

He asked the Canadian representative to give his

report.

2 .1 The Canadian representative stated that he

had received no progress report from the Director of

Armament Development, Ot tawa; since Canadian

Governmental approval had not yet been given, he

surmised that O t t awa was reluctant to circulate any

progress that they had made. The Chairman then

summarised for the benefit of the Commit tee the

development work that Canada had provisionally

agreed to do.

2 . 1 . 1 . To concentrate upon the development of a

7 mm round using the U S A Frankford Arsenal T11

construction principle, and the T 6 5 E 3 cartridge case

necked to 7 mm.

2 . 1 . 2 . To develop, as an alternative, a new

design of armour piercing and mild steel core bullet,

utilising the T 6 5 E 3 cartridge case necked to 7 m m .

2 . 1 . 3 . To develop barrels using initially a scaled

down version of the American T 2 5 rifling leed and

twist.

2 . 1 . 4 . To manufacture 10 EM-2 weapons and to

carry out pressure barrel and weapon trials. The

sights for the weapons were to be provided by U K .

2 . 1 . 5 . To investigate the possible use of Western

ball propellant.

2 . 1 . 6 . To conduct Arct ic ballistic and user trials

in winter 1 9 5 2 / 1 9 5 3 .

2 .2 Belgian Review: M. Laloux summarised the

Belgian opinion on this development.

2 . 2 . 1 . He foresaw difficulty in obtaining good

accurate armour piercing ammunit ion; it was essen­

tial from the standpoint of American approval to

have this ammunit ion before any further progress

was made with the rifles.

2 . 2 . 2 . From his experience, he did not foresee

any difficulty in the use of the T 6 5 E 3 case, insofar as

case taper and case headstrength were concerned; he

could not comment at this stage on the effect of bullet

intrusion.

2 . 2 . 3 . FN were converting their rifle to take the

T 6 5 ammunition; they were also manufacturing their

own design of the T 6 5 E 3 case and using the .30 Ball

M2 bullet for their own trials.

2 . 2 . 4 . He considered that for 7 mm a velocity of

the order of 8 0 0 / 8 2 5 metres per sec ( 2 , 6 5 0 / 2 , 7 0 0 ft

per sec) should be the maximum velocity.

2 . 2 . 5 . He expected to have within the next fort­

night one pressure barrel to fire the T 6 5 / 7 mm am­

munition; the length of this barrel was 2 1 " . In ad­

dition, he would have available one M a n n barrel and

three Mauser type rifles for ammunit ion testing. He

Fig 73 FN experimental mild-steel 'Monobloc' bullet, prototype 1. Project begun by FN Ballistic Laboratory in 1951.

thought that these rifles would provide a good yard­

stick for the comparison of results achieved in the

three countries and he offered to let UK and Canada

have one each of these Mauser rifles for their own

trials. Both countries accepted this offer. The rifles

were being chambered for the US T 6 5 E 3 case as

produced by FN.

2 . 2 . 6 . A little work had been done on the tracer

round and he saw no difficulties in meeting our

requirements; he had had no experience of the

manufacture of an armour piercing/incendiary

round.

2 . 2 . 7 . In answer to a question by the Chairman,

M. Laloux reported that they had done little work on

producing a steel cored bullet.

2 . 3 . UK Review: The Chairman gave the review of

the progress of the British work .

2 . 3 . 1 . All the UK work had been based on a 7

mm H.V . (49mm) case with the same taper as on our

original .280 low velocity round and the standard US

. 3 0 / 0 6 ammunit ion. The overall length of our rounds

agreed with that dimension on the .30 T 6 5 am­

munition.

2 . 3 . 2 . The UK were using for their initial trials a

moderated nitrocellulose propellant (tubular) con­

taining a flash inhibitor. Trials were planned using a

Western ball powder, which is reputed to give a

Fig 74 FN 'Monobloc' solid-steel bullet, prototype II. Developments to date as included in an FN Ballistic Report dated May 8, 1952.

much better barrel life and which is known to have a

higher density than the normal UK powders.

2 .3 .3 . Evidence had been obtained that our 1950

design of mild steel cored bullet became slightly boat

tailed on firing; this seems to account for the inac­

curacy. Trials were to be fired with a similar bullet in

which the lead base plug had been replaced by gilding

metal. The UK were going to manufacture a 'Russian'

copy of the FA-T11 bullet; quantities of this type of

bullet were not expected to be delivered before

August.

N O T E : In passing, the Chairman noted that the

Canadian forecast of steel cored bullets to be

produced by Canada was also sometime in August.

2 .3 .4 . The Research Department was working

on a method of filling for the tracer bullet.

2 .3 .5 . Preliminary trials to determine what effect

bullet intrusion has upon accuracy, have given an in­

conclusive answer; further trials are planned. At a

recent meeting with Dr Carten of the Office of the

Chief of Ordnance, US Army, he stated that a steel

core bullet with a gilding metal base plug and hard

clad steel envelope was likely to be unaffected by

bullet intrusion, so far as accuracy was concerned.

2 .3 .6 . Preliminary tests under normal conditions

had shown that the case taper was unlikely to affect

the functioning of the weapon; tests under adverse

conditions would be fired shortly. If these were

satisfactory the UK would abandon the case which it

is using for weapon functioning tests, and would

adopt the T 6 5 E 3 taper as and when a satisfactory

round had been developed. In this connection he

mentioned that if the Canadian development of the

T 6 5 E 3 case and 7 mm stell cored bullet were suc­

cessful, that would be the opt imum solution. If bullet

intrusion had an adverse effect on accuracy, then a

slightly shorter T 6 5 E 3 case would be developed by

the UK (maintaining the standard T 6 5 round length)

provided there was no difficulty about taper.

2 . 3 . 7 . The UK were investigating the use of four

groove rifling; barrels had been made using the nor­

mal US dimensions and the FN bore dimensions; the

form of rifling in each case was that of the standard

American rifles. First results indicated that the

barrels with the FN bore dimensions would probably

give the better results. It was agreed that each coun-

Fig 75 The next logical step: the US T65E3 case necked down to 7 mm. Drawn and dimensioned by FN in April, 1952. This cartridge was known initially as the 7 mm Medium; later the 7 mm Medium 1.

98 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

try should circulate to the others, copies of the

various barrel designs that were being tested.

2 . 3 . 8 . Investigations have been conducted by

UK ballistic experts to determine the stability and

rate of twist required for the 7 mm bullets. They had

reported that the rate of twist required to give equal

stability to the US using the FA-T11 type bullet

would be one in 9 .75" in 7 mm; the stability factor of

the US ammunit ion was 1.4 a t 6 0 ° F ; a t - 6 0 ° F this

factor dropped to 1.1, a figure which is not expected

to result in good accuracy. Since there is no available

information on bullet stability at these temperatures,

it will be necessary for trials to be fired in the Arct ic .

The rate of twist of the various countries con­

cerned in this development, is given below:

U K 1 in 8 .25"

Canada 1 in 10"

Belgium 1 in 8 .5"

U S A 1 in 12"

In order to clarify what the UK means by stability

factor, A D E agreed to send a copy of the formula to

Col Van Loo of the Belgian Army .

2 . 3 . 9 . The UK was developing their EM-2 rifle in

.30T65 and in 7 mm H.V . calibres; the first 30

weapons were manufactured with a barrel with the

Garand form of rifling, chamber and leed; a new

barrel to the latest US design was being fitted.

3. Technical Problems

T h e Chairman summarised the outstanding

problems.

3 .1 Design of general purpose bullet with good

accuracy.

3.2 To determine the correct relationship be­

tween bullet and rifling.

3 . 3 . To determine the correct length and rate of

twist in the barrels.

3 .4 T h e design of a suitable cartridge case; the

burden of development on this item is with Canada,

with the UK working on an optimum type (49 mm) of

case for 7 mm as an insurance should the T 6 5 E 3 case

present extraction difficulties in adverse conditions in

weapons.

3 . 5 . T h e design of the remainder of the family of

bullets.

3 . 6 . To finalise the muzzle velocity and muzzle

energy figure on which this development is to be

based. It was considered doubtful that the US would

accept a lower muzzle velocity than 2 , 7 5 0 ft per sec.

3 .7 To find a suitable propellant and cap compo­

sition.

4. Development policy and allocation of

Development Effort

4 . 1 . S A A

4 . 1 . 1 . It was agreed that the following rounds

Fig 76 Part of FN's intensive examination of the US 51 mm case. This drawing compares the shoulder dimen­sions of the 7 x 51 Medium with those of the 7 x 57 Mauser.

should be developed to meet the N A T O military

characteristics and that the following countries

should participate in the development of the bullets,

as given below:

general purpose round Canada and UK

mild steel core round Canada and UK

lead core Belgium

A P I round UK

observing UK

tracer UK and Belgium

rifle grenade UK

blank UK

The necessary ballistic trials on the general purpose

bullet should take place both in UK and Canada; un­

til these trials are completed, little design work can

take place on the other types of bullet.

The propellant investigation will be handled

mainly by Canada, although both Belgium and UK

will be firing their own trials.

4 .2 Lightweight rifles

4 . 2 . 1 . UK to finalise designs of EM-2 in both T 6 5

and 7 mm calibres.

4 . 2 . 2 . Belgium to finalise designs of their rifle in

both calibres; this assumes the production of an ac­

curate 7 mm general purpose round.

4 . 2 . 3 . The co-ordination of the development of

the 7 mm barrels; information from Canada was

requested on this i tem.

4 . 2 . 4 . The following accessories are required to

be developed for each weapon:

a) bayonets

b) grenade launchers

c) flash suppressors

d) recoil reducers (if necessary)

e) sights for EM-2

f) magazines

g) arctic fitments

h) b lank firing at tachments

4 . 3 . New Supporting Weapons and Converted

Standard Weapons

The Chai rman stated that the UK would try to

produce by mid 1953 a sustained fire machine gun in

7 mm. It was agreed that Belgium should convert to

.30 T 6 5 and 7 mm the Browning Automat ic Rifle and

the Browning M 1 9 1 9 A4 Machine Gun; the UK

would convert the Bren L M G and Vickers M M G to

both calibres.

5. Trials Pol icy

5.1 Interim Trials: Two main types of trials were

required; those concerned with the provision of a

suitable general purpose round and those concerned

with the barrel development. It was agreed that all

results of those trials should be circulated through the

Secretary to the other countries concerned.

5 .2 . Comparat ive Trials: The Chairman stated

that it was necessary at this stage to decide on the

form that the trials which are scheduled to be fired

next year, should take; consequently he had prepared

a suggested programme based on the 1950 and 1951

series of trials as a basis for discussion. He stressed

the fact that the programme was merely a first effort

draft and was merely put forward as a basis for

discussion with a large saving of time for the C o m ­

mittee. In general it was based on the tests carried

out in U S A in 1950 and 1 9 5 1 . He emphasised that he

hoped that members of the committee would not

think that UK was attempting to call the tune. UK

would be only too happy to add, delete, or alter the

tests in accordance with the agreed views after

discussion. Copies were then issued, and he

requested members to go away and study these

suggested trials and forward to him any comments

and proposed amendments . He asked that this might

be done prior to the next meeting, in order that

another draft could then be prepared and made

available for further discussion. Comments were

requested by the 15th August.

Colonel Van Loo made a tentative suggestion

that consideration might be given to the question of

the trials being held in Belgium rather than in one of

the countries who were represented on the Standing

Group of N A T O . Belgium was prepared to offer the

necessary facilities. It was agreed to record this offer

in order that it could be considered by the Main

Commit tee .

6 . Act ion

The actions required by this meeting are sum­

marised:

6 . 1 . Canada and Belgium to forward at least two

copies of their barrel designs showing chamber , leed

and rifling to the Secretary S A D C for circulation.

These designs should be accompanied with relevant

information on performance.

6.2 Canada to forward progress report on the

investigations being carried out by her.

6 .3 . T h e interchange of all data, trials reports

etc. , to be co-ordinated by the Secretary.

signed,

John F . M a y , Ma jo r

Secretary, Small Arms Development Commit tee

The next two years were for FN in direct cont ras t to

the anxious period before Sir Winston 's counter ­

manding of the EM-2 and FN's finally acquir ing the

dimensions of the US T65E3 case ; this was indeed a

period of de termined and rewarding progress. A

beginning co r r e spondence be tween Monsieur

Laloux and Col Studler heralded the start of

production on the Amer ican-con t rac t FN rifles; the

Colonel had his own ideas abou t what these should

look like, and as a result, FN was kept very busy

modifying their already-improved design.

By July 18 , 1 9 5 2 , FN was ready to consign the

first four proofed and modified FAL rifles to the

tender hands of the Amer ican O r d n a n c e Corps.

The following passages are excerp ted from a

letter of this da te from Monsieur Laloux to Col

Studler:

. . . we are at the point of sending you the first rifles

made expressly for you at FN, and I felt I should send

you the following information about them.

First, rifle no 2 9 . This arm was built at the same

time as no 28 , which you saw during our visit to

Washington. We have since made the following

modifications:

• after 939 fired rounds, we mounted a new 2 1 "

1 0 0 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

Fig 77 FN FAL no 29, the first to feature the new 'front lip' magazine. This close-up view shows the later FN pro­totype hinged clip-loading body cover.

barrel with the interior chamber and rifling dimen­

sions conforming to your plan no S A 2 2 5 7 5 , which

you gave me in Washington.

• shortly after this, after a total of 999 rounds fired,

we changed the method of mounting the magazine

(by adding the front ' l ip ') to assure it a more secure

mounting.

• the only parts replaced during the course of the 999

rounds fired in trials were the extractor and its

spring.

In total to date, this weapon has fired 8 ,700

rounds, and is certainly capable of many thousands

more. The five magazines which accompany it are

new; all the above shooting was done with two

magazines only in order thoroughly to test their new

mounting system.

All of this firing was done in series of 100 round

cycles, each cycle fired without pause, alternating

one cycle full automatic and one semi-automatic. We

have already advised you that the cartridges you sent

(lot 14) are very accurate.

The rear sight on no 2 9 , as well as on the three

other rifles we are sending, is still graduated for the 7

mm bullet. After our rather hasty trials here it seems

that these suffice for short distance shooting but over

400 yards the rifle shoots a little high; in fact, the 500-

yard setting could be used for 600 yard shooting.

All of the trials were done with the rifle 'in the

white'. It has now been parkerised and looks brand

new, but I assure you the complete arm is composed

of original parts; some marks of use do in fact still

show on the butt and handguard.

The rifle is now ready for delivery and its por­

tion of the package contains:

• 5 magazines

• one complete spare bolt-and-slide assembly, also

serially numbered 29

• one combinat ion tool

• one experimental muzzle brake, also bearing serial

no 29

Finally, the three rifles, numbered 30 , 3 1 , and

Fig 79 The Browning name was added to the first .30 calibre FAL manual for US distribution.

3 2 . These rifles are identical and completely inter­

changeable one with the other. They begin the

originally-contracted series of ten which Monsieur

Saive is preparing for the upcoming Fort Benning

Fig 78 FN FAL no 29, the first of 15 made up to US Ordnance Col René Studler's order. 21" barrel; featured in the August, 1952 Aberdeen trials.

1 0 2 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

Fig 80 FN FAL no 29, with proposed loading-gate body cover and prototype 10-round stripper clip in place for loading.

trials. These arms are again a little different from

numbers 28 and 2 9 , in that the receiver is a little shor­

ter and the 'tail' of the slide is also slightly shortened.

These three rifles are, like no 2 9 , fitted with the

American-dimensioned barrel, and are equipped to

take the new 'front lip' magazines. Again, as regards

the rear sight, they are still graduated for the 7 mm

bullet. They have just this week been proofed, sub­

jected to initial trials, and then parkerised. Contrary

to no 2 9 , they are still quite new, having to date fired

only the following number of rounds:

rifle no 30 270 rounds

rifle no 31 270 rounds

rifle no 32 350 rounds

Some very few extraction problems were noted

during these trials — we feel a stronger wire in the ex­

tractor spring is required, and have included a num­

ber of spares for your use. We are frankly still unsat­

isfied with the wire we are using and when our

research has found the ideal solution we will send a

new batch of springs over by airmail.

These three new rifles are accompanied by :

• complete spare slide-and-bolt assembly

• spare firing pins with springs

• 7 spare extractors and springs

• one hammer

• one automatic-fire change lever

• one sear

• 5 magazines

• one detachable bipod

• one bayonet , with the new FN spring-loaded

at tachment system

• one combinat ion tool

• one serially-numbered experimental muzzle brake

for each gun

• 2 grenade launchers (for the 645-gram Energa

grenade)

• 3 spare recoil springs

• several spare extractor springs.

After trials here, we feel the detachable bipod

might interest you, especially for prone, full-auto

fire. We find the groups shot with the bipod are as

tight as those shot with rifle supported on sand­

bags. The bayonet features the FN-developed system

wherein the mass of the bayonet springs forward

slightly during recoil . We have thus managed to keep

the difference in the M P I of groups fired with and

without the bayonet to 1 or 2" at 100 metres.

This complete package is on its way today to

you in care of Col Blanchard, the US A r m y attaché in

Brussels.

In spite of our annual factory holidays next

week, we will do our utmost to deliver the remaining

7 original rifles to Fort Benning as soon as possible.

Most of the parts are finished now, and the final

assembly and test firing should be completed by the

end of August.

In trials here, we found that our rifles will shoot

interchangeably the cartridges in your lot 14, with

the 140-grain T 9 3 bullet, (instrumental MV 2 ,780

fps), as well as those made by FN and loaded with the

regular 150-grain M2 ball bullet, ( M V 2 ,500 fps).

Wi th relation to the rear sight, your Dr Carten has

promised to send me the proper rear sight gradient

for the .30 calibre.

I hope you will oblige me by keeping me posted

on how the trials are going. You will recall my

suggestions that we be allowed to furnish someone

from FN for assistance at the shoots and to keep our

arms in fit order. Please let me know how you feel

about this. I will send either Mqnsieur Saive himself

or his principal assistant, Monsieur Vervier, who

assisted at Fort Benning during the 1950 trials.

The last thing Col Studler wanted was someone

from FN nosing around the ' impartial ' trials he had

scheduled for Fort Benning. It was irksome enough

having foreign rifles even featured in Amer ican

trials. He instructed Col Kelly, President of US Army

Field Forces Board no 3, to acknowledge Monsieur

Laloux' feeler abou t sending s o m e o n e over with a

polite but vague reply abou t the 7 mm Short trials.

René Laloux, Directeur General

Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre

Herstal-les-Liege, Belgium

Dear Sir:

T h a n k you very much for your letter of the 18th

of July. It is gratifying to know of your interest in the

performance and development of weapons and am­

munition for the N A T O soldier.

I am happy to report that we have concluded the

firing in connect ion with the test of the 7 mm am­

munition furnished by you . The tests conducted by

this Board were of the ammunit ion only and no

evaluation was made of the rifle as such.

Detailed report on the test of the 7 mm am­

munition will be dispatched to Office, Chief of A r m y

Field Forces, Fort Monroe , Virginia, in the near

future and it is anticipated that you will be furnished

a copy of the completed report.

A r m y Field Forces

Board No 3

Fort Benning, Georgia

6 August 1952

The initial purpose of the new lightweight rifle

(serial no 24) furnished by you has been satisfied.

However, we would like to retain the rifle for demon­

stration firing here at the Board and the Infantry

School pending the arrival of new FN rifles cham­

bered for calibre .30 ammunit ion which we are ex­

pecting momentar i ly .

Permit me to express my appreciation of your

courtesy in this matter . The cooperat ion received has

been most helpful.

signed,

Henry E. Kelly

Colonel , Infantry

President

The BBC C o m m i t t e e had set itself the problem of

designing an a c c e p t a b l e 7 mm al ternat ive to the US

T65 .30 ca l ibre round. Monsieur Laloux was

dedicated to this p ro jec t and felt i t meri ted the

highest level of endeavour . However, FN was now

concerned with the compara t ive T65 trials them­

selves in the USA. M. Laloux pragmat ica l ly took

stock of the situation thusly:

First of all, i t was essential to have s o m e o n e go

over to view the Fort Benning trials. He feared the

Americans would purposely delay, or ignore

al together, his request to be kept informed. W h o to

send? Monsieur Saive was an obvious first c h o i c e ,

well respected as a met icu lous man, an

unassuming but iron-willed artisan who took pride

in pristinely-finished prototype parts and who was

happiest in his own serene workshop, where the

crass prac t ices of mass-manufacture never in­

truded. He was sorely needed, right where he was;

new, prototype ideas which worked were Monsieur

Saive's special ty , and, as the popularity of his

design grew, problems requiring his a t tent ion were

cropping up out of the blue with increasing

frequency.

Monsieur Vervier, M. Saive's chief assistant,

however, a lso spoke some English and had put in

several uncomplaining months in Amer ica during

1 9 5 0 . Monsieur Laloux dec ided to send him to the

1 9 5 2 trials.

Other than Col Kelly's not very informative

letter, FN had heard nothing from the Amer icans

s ince the first lot of rifles had been dispatched. This

increased Monsieur Laloux' suspicions that the

headstrong Col Studler was ignoring him. Through

run in early August at Fort Benning (results in

Vo lume Two):

Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

a wel l-placed Amer ican Army friend at Springfield

Armory, Col Chatfield, Monsieur Laloux essayed a

fait accompli:

Colonel R . R . Studler

Ass't Chief of Ordnance

Pentagon Building

Washington, D . C .

Dear Colonel Studler:

12 August, 1952

.30 calibre T 6 5 round. I'm sure you won't mind our

satisfying this demand from our French allies, es­

pecially since you suggested to me yourself that we

should ask them to assist in the trials we held for Dr

Carten. I shall show them one of your rifles; this will

necessitate only a short delay before delivery at your

end, as the demonstrat ion is scheduled for here in

Herstal and will be very brief.

Please reply as soon as you can. In the mean­

time, please accept by best sentiments.

— R. Laloux

My last letter to you was the one announcing the

arrival of our first four rifles. Some time has passed

since then, so I though I'd write to refresh your

memory on a few points.

1. The sending of our envoy, Monsieur Vervier,

to America:

I will telegraph Col Chatfield tomorrow to con­

firm the arrival of M. Vervier in Springfield. He left

today by plane. He knows our rifles inside and out

and I'm sure you will be very happy to have his

assistance. I am most impatient to learn how our rifle

is doing in the Springfield trials — as M. Vervier is

stopping there I'm sure he will send back a detailed

report.

2. Progress report on the next rifles.

The seven rifles we are now working on, serial

numbers 3 3 - 3 9 , along with the three already sent,

will complete the initial contract we negotiated last

spring in Washington. The production of parts for

these rifles is now complete and we are beginning the

assembly phase. They will be finished before the end

of the month.

There remain only four rifles to complete the ex­

panded contract for 15 , number 29 serving as the first

of the additional five. We could send one of these ad­

ditional four with the seven we are now completing,

if this would serve your purpose and there are no ad­

ditional modifications. This would leave only three,

and I recall you wanted these left for the moment so

that any modifications shown necessary by the tests

can be built in. There seems little point in beginning

them until the Fort Benning trials results are in and

we are aware of whichever features you feel are in

need of improvement . Please confirm that this meets

with your approval, and let me know when you feel

delivery should be effected on these final rifles.

Returning to the subject of Monsieur Vervier's

visit, I would very much like to see the programme of

your trials — this would give me an advance estimate

on the length of his stay in your country.

Finally, the French authorities, who as you recall

tried out our rifle in 7 mm calibre last year, have

requested a demonstrat ion of a similar rifle firing the

Monsieur Vervier was several days too late at

Springfield. The firing was pretty well over. The FN

entry had not done nearly as well as expectat ions

might have hoped. M. Vervier reported back im­

mediately, giving the results, as he had obtained

them, and his opinions after subsequently

examining rifle no 29 .

M. Laloux immedia te ly c o n t a c t e d Col Studler:

21 August 1952

Dear Colonel Studler:

We have just received M. Vervier's first letter

containing the detailed reports of the trials executed

at Springfield with rifle no 2 9 , between July 30 and

Aug 1 5 . I have no doubt it was on your initiative that

the results were made available to us in such com­

pleteness, and I wish to thank you personally for this

much-appreciated mark of confidence.

I very much regret that M. Vervier had not been

present right from the beginning of the trials as I'm

sure many of the reported incidents, particularly the

'fail to fire', which is completely unknown to us here,

and due I am certain to excessive rebound of the bolt

carrier, would never have happened. It seems clear

from the report that your trials people were unaware

of the function of our gas regulator, and that they

used the arm throughout with the regulation set on

maximum gas, thus imparting an extremely violent

action to the rifle and leading directly to the incidents

noted of the weak recoil spring, the rebounding bolt

carrier, the feed problems, the ruptured extractor,

etc.

On the other hand, all the trials here were fired

with no flash hider or compensator on the muzzle.

T h e at tachment we included with rifle no 29 was

hastily produced for your consideration only, and

yet if I am not mistaken, all the Springfield trials

were fired with it installed; this could well have

modified the functional characteristics of the

mechanism.

Be that as it may , in order to give our arm the

chance it deserves, we simply must have a delegate in

attendance at all the trials right from the outset, not

only to instruct the shooters but to keep us informed

of the events as they occur .

In another vein, and before this deluge of 'in­

cidents' quite obscured the horizon, I was pleased

with our showings as reported in the Springfield Fun­

ction Report and Data Sheet. I am sure our standings

in the wet test, dust test, precision fire, loose hold

and rotation 90° have not escaped your attention, as

well as the remarkable condition of the great

majority of the arm's components after over 1 1 , 0 0 0

shots fired, for the first time with your .30 calibre

cartridges.

Monsieur Vervier seems to have put the weapon

back in service in record time with the following

modifications:

• replacement of the takedown latch spring

• replacement of the ejector assembly

• installation of a new extractor and a stronger

spring

• modification of the front locking lip of the

magazine

• adjustment of the gas regulator to the correct

position.

M. Vervier reports he is now on the way to Fort

Benning while rifle no 29 has been sent to Aberdeen.

I have a few general observations for your con­

sideration:

This rifle, no 2 9 , shot 8 ,700 rounds at FN and

3 ,096 at Springfield. In order for the new Aberdeen

trials to be conclusive, it would be more desirable to

fire them with a fresh rifle. Also , for reasons stated

above, it would be appreciated if you could wait un­

til M. Vervier arrives from his few days at Fort Ben­

ning before commencing.

The final paragraphs of the above letter repeat the

strongly-worded request for c o m p l e t e and deta i led

information on t imes, p laces and the nature of

future US tests . Supplying these dates , notwith­

standing that they were qui te rightly regarded as

secret or at least confidential by the Americans ,

was moreover the farthest thing from Colonel

Studler's mind. The Amer ican product was his first

concern , and he was not above pulling whatever

'strings' he could to ensure its vindicat ion, while

maintaining on the surface a cordial if somewha t

vague relat ionship with Monsieur Laloux. His reply

to M. Laloux' let ter of 12 August was as follows:

Dear Mr Laloux:

Your letter of 12 August came in 20 August and

we found it most interesting, as we have your pre­

vious letters.

Y o u probably knew by now that Mr Vervier

spent a couple of days at Springfield and is now

down at Fort Benning, along with three of the FN

rifles.

We have had no report on events at Benning,

but I expect to go down there in the next week or so,

and will then give you a brief report on the tests.

We should have sent you information on the test

at Springfield, but since we neglected to do it, I am

enclosing the data. Y o u will note that the functioning

is not as good as you reported. Tha t is not surprising

in view of the large number of rounds on the gun

before we started our firing. We would be interested

in knowing if your firing was done before or after

parkerizing the parts. It has been our experience that

parkerizing may have a poor effect on functioning.

The next seven rifles for Benning and the next

rifle for us should all be sent here to: Colonel René R.

Studler, Office Chief of Ordnance, Washington 2 5 ,

D . C . Attention: O R D T S . We will deliver the seven

Benning rifles to the Board as soon as we get them.

I agree with you that the last three might be held

until we get some data from tests at Benning or

Aberdeen. It may be that the tests will show that

some changes are necessary.

Meanwhile , I invite your best thought on the

following subjects:

Weight reduction: As you know, your rifle

weighs about 8 3/4 pounds, while the T 4 4 and T 4 7

weighs about 8 1/4, with the desired goal as 7 pounds.

Rear sight: Our users require a windage adjust­

ment on the rear sight while your sight does not have

that feature.

Heavy barrel: It is probable that our users may

ask for a heavy barrelled version of the FN, as a

possible replacement for our 20 pound B A R . Our

own heavy barrelled T 4 4 and T 4 7 rifles weigh about

11 pounds, with bipod.

Removal of Automatic Feature: O n e of the

requirements for our light rifles is that, by removal of

a piece or assembly, the gun can be made to fire semi­

automatic only, and conversely, by simple

replacement of that part or assembly the selective

semi- or full-automatic feature can be restored. I do

not recall whether your rifle has this feature, or not,

but if not you should give it some thought.

Clip loading: If the soldier carries all his

ammunition in magazines (say 160 rounds in 8

magazines), he will have quite a load and he will be

carrying about 4 pounds of magazines alone. One

way we feel that it might be possible to reduce the

magazine load is by providing a means of quickly

1 0 6 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

reloading magazines, such as by providing most of

the soldier s ammunit ion in clips or chargers or other

fast reloading method. I believe your equipment

would be helped by a method of quickly reloading

magazines, either on or off the rifle.

Change in Centre of Impact: As you know, a

change in centre of impact is not uncommon with

heat, with number of rounds in the magazine, with

muzzle accessories, etc, and is definitely not

desirable. Your rifle appears to be good in this

respect with regard to the bayonet , although I do not

believe your spring suspension method is the main

reason. We blocked out the spring action and found

no appreciable change, as you will see from the in­

closed figures. The figures also indicate that your

rifle shows relatively little change in centre of impact

between bare muzzle, bayonet and compensator .

However, in looking back at the old tests, I note that

your rifle shifted centre of impact a considerable

amount with the flash hider. You will recall that at

one time, centre of impact changed with the amount

of ammunit ion in the magazine. You may have con­

sidered all these things in the design of your latest

rifle, but, if not, you might give them some thought.

I cannot tell you at the moment how fast the

Benning tests are going, nor when they might be

finished. I hope to be able to get some information

for you on this subject, which might help you plan on

M r . Vervier's activities and to plan on completion of

the last three rifles.

In regard to the request from the French for a

demonstration, I have no objection to your showing

them one of our rifles. I am sure they will be in­

terested in the T 6 5 F N .

We will try to keep you informed on progress

here.

Sincerely yours,

signed, René R. Studler

Colonel , Ord Corps

encl: test report

Compara t ive Accuracy with Various Muzzle Attachments — 100 yards

Fabrique National

no 29

Mean

Radius

Extreme

Vertical

Extreme

Horiz.

Extreme

Spread

LCI from

Elevation

P O A

Windage Variat ion of LCI

from basic

Elevation Windage

Basic accuracy

w / C o m p o n e n t s 1.73 4 .6 4 .4 5 .1 2 .6U 0 . 5 R

w / B a r e Muzzle 1.7 4 .2 3 .9 5 .1 0 .8U 0 . 8 R 1.8D 0 .3R

w / F N Bayonet 1.6 4 .4 3 .6 4 .7 4 .6U 1.2R 2 .0U 0 .7R

w / F N Bayonet -

spring action b locked 1.43 3 .7 3 .8 4 . 4 4 .3U 0 . 5 R 1.7U 0.0

Note: A b o v e figures based on average of three 10 shot targets. Basic Accuracy : Sights on rifle zeroed at 6 o'clock.

No further sight adjustment made.

Monsieur Saive had also analysed the Springfield

report as sent back by his assistant, the late-arriving

Monsieur Vervier. He wrote back to M. Vervier on

the 21s t of August, the same day Monsieur Laloux

was requesting from Col Studler details, which

would never arrive, of future American trials. Mon­

sieur Saive spoke first to his a s soc ia t e of the avidity

with which the results had been examined in Her-

stal, and the regrettabil i ty of M. Vervier 's late

arrival at the trials. By his ca lcu la t ions , of the 21 %

of-all-shots-fired incident rate reported, 4 4 % of

these were due to the magazine , and 3 7 % to the

excess ive rebounding of the bolt carrier, or slide.

The rest were direct ly a t t r ibutable to the im­

properly-set gas regulator, a fault Monsieur Vervier

would have instantly cor rec ted .

M. Saive agreed with M. Laloux that the FN

muzzle brake had been hurriedly included, for use

at best in the full-auto trials only, and he added his

d isappointment that it had been left a t tached

throughout the c o m p l e t e trial. He c losed by repor­

ting to M. Vervier that the remaining seven (serial

number 33-39) of the original 10 rifles con t r ac t ed -

for in Washington that April were to be proofed on

the following day, Aug 22, and that in their initial

trials special a t tent ion would be given to the

problem areas signalled in M. Vervier 's Springfield

report.

At this point, at FN, the three sal ient misfor­

tunes which had befal len them at Springfield were

still at tr ibuted to bad luck: M. Vervier 's la te arrival,

the wrong gas sett ing used, and the exper imental

flash hider adamant ly left a t t ached throughout the

trial. Monsieur Laloux exper ienced an increasingly

uneasy feeling that only the first of these was pure

happenstance . He was further upset, and made

even more keenly impat ient at the d i s tance

separating him from the ' ac t ion ' in America , by a

plaintive c a b l e from Monsieur Vervier, who infor­

med his superior that he had been brusquely

denied a c c e s s to the Fort Benning trials, and had

spent his t ime there so far ' cool ing his heels ' in a

barracks room, tantal izingly ab le to hear, but not

see, the shooting.

He had thought it bes t to leave Fort Benning,

and go to Aberdeen. Monsieur Laloux cab l ed

Colonel Studler right away, and received the

following casual ly innocent reply, dated August 26:

Dear M r . Laloux:

Your letter or 21 August and your cable of 22

August arrived yesterday.

M r . Vervier was in the Office Friday and we had

some discussion on the rifle situation. I showed him

some of the things I mentioned to you in my last let­

ter, so that he might amplify it if he thought

necessary.

We made arrangements for him to go to Aber­

deen on Monday , 25 August, to observe the firing

there. We made arrangements for him to stay at

Aberdeen as long as he thought he could be useful.

Like you, we were surprised to hear that he had

left Benning, and as soon as I learned of it, I called

Benning. Y o u realize of course, that I have no control

over what the people at Benning do. All I can do is to

advise them, and I have already advised them of my

feelings in this matter .

I am sure you appreciate that I am just as

anxious as you are to give the FN rifles a completely

fair test. I feel as strongly as you on the matter of

having M r . Vervier present at Aberdeen and at Ben­

ning to teach the test personnel and to learn about the

performance of your rifles. Unfortunately, we have

put security restrictions on certain portions of our

rifle, which means, in general, that M r . Vervier can­

not see our rifles in most of the tests. This makes it a

bit awkward for the Benning people.

However , I can assure you that I will do all in

my power to see that M r . Vervier observes as much

testing as possible and that he gets a chance to see

that the rifles are properly adjusted and maintained.

I was somewhat shocked to read M r . Vervier's

account of the firing at Springfield. I don't under­

stand why they failed to adjust the gas regulator

properly. I will make an effort to see that the record

on this matter is properly straightened out.

While the functioning at Springfield was not

good, I did not feel badly about it, as I had your

records and knew that the rifle had given good per­

formances in your hands. I do feel better about it

now, however, after reading M r . Vervier's report,

although I feel that Springfield did not do a very

good j o b .

I do not think that you can blame Springfield for

using the muzzle brake . As you know, we have used

them to a considerable extent on our rifles. I feel that

Fig 81 FN FAL no 29, featuring a prototype of Monsieur Saive's 'wraparound' handguard as later featured in UK trials at Pendine Experimental Establishment. Photo August, 1953.

1 0 8 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42 Prototypes 28 to 42

your rifle should work properly with the brake . T h e

decision as to whether or not it is desirable is one that

has to be made by the user. I also realize that it might

affect the operation of your rifle if it had not been

thoroughly checked.

In my last letter, I covered some of the points

you inquired about in yours of 21 August. I will en­

deavor to obtain information on the extent of the

Benning tests, and will give you that information and

our program at Aberdeen as soon as I can.

I know you must be disturbed at the way things

have been handled here, but you can be assured that I

will do all I can to get and keep the tests on the right

track.

Sincerely yours,

Signed, René R. Studler

Colonel , O r d Corps

Monsieur Laloux quickly realized that despi te the

conci l ia tory tone of Col Studler's letters, an ac t ive

campaign of his devising was in progress, a imed

implacably at giving every possible advantage to

the American trials rifles. In addition, FN had of­

ficially heard very little indeed regarding the

results of the earl ier US 7 mm Short trials. On the

advice of the President of the Fort Benning AFF

Board no 3, Col Kelly, M. Laloux addressed himself

directly to the off ice of the Chief of US Army Field

Forces in Fort Monroe , Va. In a letter dated August

27, he briefly reminded the Americans that FN had

delivered 2 ,000 rounds of 7 mm Short FN am­

munition, plus FN light au to rifle no 24, to Fort

Benning, and put them at the disposal of Col Kelly's

AFF Board no 3, free of charge. This, he said, plus

the unprecedentedly generous offer which FN had

officially extended to the USA, giving the

Americans free manufactur ing rights to their FAL

rifle, made FN's request for US 7 mm trials infor­

mation not unreasonable . He backed up this letter

with one dated the same day to the Belgian military

a t t a ché in Washington, bringing that official up-to-

date and asking for his every possible ass i s tance in

having this most r easonab le request for infor­

mation granted. Regarding the .30 T65 trials so far,

at Springfield, Aberdeen, and now at Fort Benning,

and in part icular the refusal to al low M. Vervier to

view these later sessions. Monsieur Laloux could do

little for the m o m e n t but appeal o n c e again to

Colonel Studler. This he did on August 30th, first

reiterating his view that the poor per fo rmance of

number 29 at Springfield was not due to its great

number of rounds fired, nor to its subsequent

parkerising, but to the improperly set gas regulator,

aggravated by the use of the exper imental muzz le

brake. The trials at Aberdeen would prove this out,

he said, as Monsieur Vervier had now adjusted the

rifle to his sat isfact ion, and any further malfunc­

tions would therefore point to legi t imate problem

areas.

With regard to Fort Benning, M. Laloux voiced

to Col Studler his "great surprise" at the brevity of

M. Vervier's stay:

. . . I could only conclude that he had been dismissed

by Col Kelly, the 7 mm rifle having done well enough

to be a source of embarrassment to the Board . . . I

understand perfectly that M. Vervier cannot follow

the actual combat trials, but could he not stay in the

same capacity he held two years ago at the 1950 trials

and be of assistance in the evenings after the shoots,

helping to clean the rifles and more importantly to

repair any small defect or fault pointed out during

the day by the testing officers? I hope we feel the

same about this, and that you will be successful in

arranging for our delegate to return to Benning

before the next seven rifles arrive there. To finish

with this subject, that of M. Vervier's presence at the

trials, I am indeed reassured by your last letter, and

now feel confident that we are in good hands . . .

The letter cont inues , assuring Col Studler that the

points raised abou t the weight of the FN rifles, the

adjus table rear sight problem and the desirability

of clip-loading were being studied by Monsieur

Saive. M. Laloux suggested that the next two rifles

in the con t r ac t be made up with heavy barrels. A

few of these barrels had already been constructed,

and weighed in at 3.65 lbs each .

The removal of the au to fire feature had taken

M. Saive no t ime at all; the r ep lacement change

lever he had made up provided for safe and semi

only, and could be quickly installed in p lace of the

original selective-fire lever.

It was the plan to include a sample of this new

lever with the next shipment of arms.

These seven rifles, the last of the original con­

t rac t of ten, were now proofed, test fired and

parkerised ready for shipment. They bore serial

numbers 3 3 - 3 9 . This left four rifles to c o m e , of a

pattern not yet finalised, to c o m p l e t e the expanded

con t r ac t total of fifteen.

A general information memorandum was then

issued to the FN Directorship by Monsieur Laloux

on Sep t ember 1st, bringing everyone up-to-date on

how their cause was faring in the United Sta tes . He

had spoken with Monsieur Vervier by t ransat lant ic

t e l ephone and M. Vervier had reported that this

t ime he was staying at Aberdeen Proving Ground's

Off icers ' Club over the Labour Day weekend. M.

Laloux c o m m e n t e d wryly at this that their status

had indeed risen in the last two years !

Fig 82 Monsieur Saive, at work in his atelier, on the FAL receiver modifications made necessary by the introduc­tion of the 'front lip' magazine.

M. Vervier 's t e l ephone report had gone on to

say the a c c u r a c y trials had just been c o m p l e t e d at

Aberdeen, and they were now doing functioning

trials with the rifles held loosely or in various ab­

normal positions such as 8 0 ° up, 8 0 ° down, left and

right side up, e t c . Incidents of fail-to-fire, due to the

rebounding slide, and fail-to-fire due to bol t over­

ride of the magaz ine were still being reported.

He (M. Vervier) had at M. Saive's direct ion

obl iquely modified the front f a c e of the slide, and

had obta ined, through the intervention of Col

Studler, permission to refire the normal horizontal

shoot. A total of 4 0 0 rounds had been refired in this

position, with only one single s toppage. Rifle no 29

had now fired 1,454 rounds at Aberdeen for a grand

total of 1 3 , 2 5 0 rounds in its l ifetime.

The Fort Benning c o m b a t trials were con­

tinuing, but no news at all of them had reached M.

Vervier. Col Studler had promised him a report in a

few days, and in any c a s e he had finally been

promised he could return to Fort Benning when the

seven rifles arrived.

Monsieur Saive reported on his final shake­

down trial of FALs number 33 to 39 at Zutendaal ,

1 0 0 rounds single-shot plus 1 0 0 on full-auto had

been fired with e a c h rifle, in addition to an ac ­

curacy trial, for a total of 1,844 rounds fired in the

day. Eleven ext rac t ion s toppages and 28 bolt-

overrides were exper ienced . M. Saive modified the

magazines slightly, and adjusted the gas

regulation. He was pleased to report no incidents

of slide rebound, and also felt the new, stronger-

wire ex t rac te r springs he had developed were

sat isfactory. NOTE: This was still the early, 'Hair­

pin' ex t rac tor spring, copied from that of the FN-

made Browning Automat ic Rifle (BAR).

The shipment was cra ted up, and ready for

solemn send-off on Sept 3. The two cra tes weighed

in at nearly 44 kilos, and their con ten ts was listed as

follows:

Case 1 :

• 4 c o m p l e t e rifles, numbers 33 , 34, 35 , 36

1 1 0 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

• 24 magazines

• 4 bipods

• 4 bayone ts

• 4 grenade launchers

• 2 flash hiders

• 4 combina t ion tools

• 4 muzz le brakes

• 2 spare firing pins with springs

• 2 ext ractors with springs

• 1 hammer

• 1 sear

• 2 recoil springs

• 2 sear springs with plungers

• 1 special wood pistol grip (slanted)

• 1 special change lever marked 'R'

• 1 special sear for s ame

Case 2:

• 3 c o m p l e t e rifles, numbers 37, 38, and 39

• 18 magazines

• 3 bipods

• 3 bayone ts

• 1 grenade launcher

• 1 flash hider

• 3 combina t ion tools

• 3 muzzle brakes

• 1 firing pin with spring

• 2 extractors

• 1 change lever

• 2 recoil springs

• 1 sear spring with plunger

Fig 83 Some publicity photos (figs 83 to 85) of a FAL in the no 33 to 37 serial range, in various configurations: here it features the early forend and pistol grip.

A main reason why M. Laloux had not personally

confronted Col Studler over the fate of the FN rifles

in America , aside from his day-to-day m a n a g e m e n t

activit ies, c o n c e r n e d his involvement with the BBC

Commi t t ee and their proposed 7 mm 'Compromise ' .

He saw, as few did, that there were at this point,

within the ammuni t ion problem itself, two dist inct

variables: the bul let and the case . A brief progress

meet ing was held in London, comprising only him­

self along with Brigadier Barlow and UK Col John­

son, on S e p t e m b e r 3rd. The reunion of the c o m ­

plete c o m m i t t e e had been postponed until the end

of the month at the request of the absen t Cana­

dians. Monsieur Laloux s tated the problem as, sim­

plified, one c o m p o s e d of two main parts: the am­

munition, and the arm. He further proposed that

theirs was not merely a problem of simplif ication,

but of redressing a poli t ical mishandling, or at least

miscasting: the impor tance of standardizing the

ammunition was 1 0 0 t imes greater than using the

same rifle. In enlisting the enthusiast ic support of

everyone possible in the Western Al l iance to the

cause of s tandardizat ion, i t was found that the

Americans a lone had serious reservations about a

non-American rifle, and in insisting on the adoption

of both together , rifle and round, there was the

dist inct danger of forfeiting the standardizat ion of

both. Brig Barlow agreed.

With regard to the ammunit ion quest ion, it

was M. Laloux' further suggestion that the new

Commi t t ee adopt the terminology and reporting

methods used by the Americans in their trials:

number of armour plates perforated at a certain

dis tance, as well as the d is tance giving 7 0 %

penetrat ion, and so on.

He reviewed his fruitless efforts to obtain of­

ficial T65 results for use in compar ison with the

avai lab le Ministry of Supply 7 mm report of 11 O c t

1 9 5 1 . He spoke of his co r re spondence with Col

Studler, and his determinat ion to s u c c e e d with this

request, in which he said he felt comple t e ly

justified.

Col Johnson spontaneous ly offered the use of

the advanced photo-e lec t r ic equ ipment a t Pendine

Experimental Establ ishment for all remaining ter­

minal ve loc i ty trials con templa t ed by the Commit-

tee , and promised to make ava i lab le to all the

de lega tes a detai led descript ion of the ava i lab le

facil i t ies there.

A document , recent ly received, enti t led

Canadian Directorate of Armament Development —

Small Arms — Report no 7 was read by Col John­

son, wherein the Canadians reported they had ex­

per ienced no difficulty perfect ing their own version

of the 7 x 51 mm cartr idge case , and further repor­

ted that its capac i ty had been measured as 9%

more than that of the FN T65 'necked down' 7 mm

cases , al though the external dimensions were c o m ­

patible. The 10 too l room EM-2 prototypes had been

begun at Canadian Arsenals Limited.

The British ment ioned in closing the

discussion, their plans to p l ace two .30 ca l ibre EM-

2s at the disposal of Amer ican Ordnance , and to

ask Col Studler for his frank opinion of them.

Monsieur Saive wrote a private, low-key letter to

Monsieur Vervier on the 4th of Sep tember . At this

point M. Vervier had been in America , staying here

and there, for a lmos t a month, with no respite in

sight. This letter was as much a friendly a t t empt to

keep up the spirits of M. Saive's absen t c o l l e a g u e as

it was an official exchange of information:

4 September, 1952

Dear Monsieur Vervier ,

It would be useless to try and tell you, amid the

ceaseless criss-crossing of letters and telegrams, the

degree of interest with which we here in Herstal

follow the course of the trials and the peregrinations

wherein you find yourself at the centre.

As well as possible, I am keeping Madame Ver­

vier abreast of the developments, as we discussed.

At the factory, we are readying some arms in

expectation of orders from Brussels, which could

come at any hour. We are also keeping ourselves

ready to effect any modifications or improvements

you request. M. Laloux' latest letters will keep you

informed as to the results of trials here where your

suggested changes have been incorporated into the

basic design.

We have reported the trials with 10-round

charger clips, and are studying a new body cover

configuration which permits the charging of the

magazine while mounted on the rifle. I will keep you

posted on this; don't hesitate to assure the Americans

that it is definitely 'in the works ' .

Fig 84 The FAL pictured in fig 83 fitted with the proto­type Sniper scope featured at Brasschaat (fig 67), and the new, swept-back pistol grip.

Fig 85 The prototype wraparound forend and the Springfield Armory design 5-prong flash hider, featured on the same basic rifle as above.

Fig 86 The FN Ballistic Laboratory prepared an in-depth report for the full BBC Committee meeting of September 24, 1952. This report included sectioned photographs of the major contending bullets, all as loaded in the FN-

A few words about the test-firing I did with the

seven new carbines: At first, they performed perfect­

ly. The gas regulators were closed down a little too

much for my taste, but we counted on the following

shoot to loosen the new weapons up a little.

We were much gratified at the accuracy results,

which were of the same order as you obtained in

similar trials before; at 100 metres, Monsieur V a n

Rutten shot some beautiful groups. Afterwards, we

made US T65E3 case. Above: FN S-12/2 lead core; centre: FN P-70/2 steel core; below: FN SS-77 .30 calibre lead core.

essayed a successful functional trial of 100 rounds

semi- and 100 rounds full-automatic from each rifle,

using a slight modification of your design of the new

magazines, which we have numbered 25 to 66 in­

clusive. O u r work , and these trials, have brought us

great satisfaction, as I believe that we have now

solved the problem which caused all the failures-to-

feed at Springfield. We are now busy with extractor

trials — the classic 1-piece design with the wire

1 1 2 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

spring, versus the new proposed two-piece design

with coil spring. We hope to be able to include the

new design in the next rifle (no 4 0 ) .

Fig 87 A continuation of the cartridge examination report prepared by the FN Ballistic Laboratory for the BBC Committee, featuring US-made, Boxer-primed car-

Everything here is, as you can imagine, in a very

disordered state, but rest assured that everyone is

doing his utmost to be of assistance to you during

this feverish period.

And so, again bon courage, and please continue

with your reports, which are very much appreciated

here by all.

— Dieudonné Saive

Col Studler replied on S e p t e m b e r 8 to Monsieur

Laloux' s c a r c e l y - c o n c e a l e d impa t i ence regarding

M. Vervier 's non-a t tendance at Fort Benning,

assuring the FN director general that M. Vervier

was now indeed at Benning and that he, Studler,

had ta lked to the Infantry Board and they had

agreed to use him. His let ter goes on:

. . . I am glad to get a preliminary view of your

thinking on the points I mentioned. Whi le I agree

that a heavier rifle would be more pleasant to shoot , I

tridges. Above: US FA-T21 steel core; below: US T-93 steel core.

am sure you realize that reduced weight is what the

customer wants and we should do our best to give it

to him.

On the heavy barrel guns, I agree that two of the

last guns should have heavy barrels. Our own guns

have barrels of the same weight as on our B A R .

On the elimination of the automatic feature, I do

not agree that removal of one part and replacement

by another is an entirely satisfactory method. It is

much preferable to eliminate automatic fire merely

by removal of a piece.

We are looking forward to receipt of the next

rifles, as we are anxious to get them to Benning. I ex­

pect they will come in this week.

The seven new FAL rifles did indeed arrive, and the

Fort Benning trials cont inued, but with the original

rifles; the new arrivals being curiously 'missing

from the ranks'. Meanwhi le , on Sep t ember 24 , the

full ' B B C C o m m i t t e e ' me t in London. Brigadier

Barlow took the chair, and had with him two

1 1 4 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

Fig 88 A chart prepared by Monsieur Van Vyve of the FN Ballistic Laboratory showing the residual kinetic energy of the various loadings of the 51 mm T65E3 case

Ministry of Supply officers; the ADE ammuni t ion

side was represented by two Majors from the test

cen t re at Fort Halstead. The Canadian Army liaison

officer based in London, Col Morres, and Capt

Moreau, the Belgian off icer in charge of the CEEA

(Weapons Study trials) a t tended, a long with M.

Laloux and M. Tomson of the FN Cartoucherie.

It was not an easy meeting; M. Laloux was still

flushed from his encounte r s with the Americans .

The Canadians, through Brig Barlow and Col

Morres, again presented their report number 7.

This, as ment ioned earlier, had already been read

out at the S e p t e m b e r 3rd informal meet ing. The in­

tensity of recen t work at Herstal made M. Laloux

impatient with this obvious s lowness of develop­

ments in Ot tawa . Col Morres did go on however to

report that a new 140-gr mild s teel -cored 7 mm

bullet had been developed , with the Amer ican-

model co re design, to go along with the previously-

reported Canadian 7 x 51 mm c a s e design, which,

with the same external c a s e measurements , yielded

9% more capac i t y than did the US c a s e 'necked

down'. Drawings of this c a s e were promised to all.

The 10 EM-2 rifles being made up at Canadian Ar­

senals Ltd, in the 7 x 51 mm cal ibre , had originally

been target ted for D e c e m b e r , 1 9 5 2 , four months

away, but this da te now appeared a little op­

timistic. (A new Canadian deve lopment , the Robin­

son tank mach ine gun, was much ment ioned in

private conversa t ion as being sought-after by the

Americans as well as the Canadian Army.) M.

Laloux then e loquent ly presented the Belgian syn­

opsis of events to date: after finally obtaining and

studying the Amer ican case , FN had returned to the

earlier UK design, which matched , more c losely ,

the c lass ic Amer ican .30/06 case . Their first conce rn

compared with the .280/30 (7 mm Short). Presented by Monsieur Laloux to the delegates of the BBC Committee, London, September 24, 1952.

however was the maximum ob ta inab l e muzz le

ve loc i ty with the 7 mm S-12 9-gram bullet , as tried

in every ava i lab le ca se . This bul let design of course

had been well studied in its role in the .280/30 car­

tridge, (as loaded by FN and ca l led the 7 mm Short).

FN was moreover now perfect ing a new AP bullet ,

the prototype of which was ca l led the P-70. It

featured the standard two-piece cons t ruc t ion of

gilding enve lope and t empered core . The bul let

was slightly lighter than the S-12 and had a boat-tail

base to which was at t r ibuted its exce l l en t terminal

ve loci ty charac te r i s t i cs a t maximum ranges.

The a c c u r a c y was not qui te as good as the

lead-core S-12, but was "rather more on a par with

the US s teel -cored T93E1" bullet , samples of which

had been tes ted by FN under the terms of the con­

tract signed with Col Studler. M. Laloux went on to

reveal that "lot 1 4 " of the T65 cartridges, as sup­

plied by the Americans , with T93E1 armour-

piercing bullets, would not regularly p ierce a plain

1-inch plank at 2 ,000 metres, while the 7 x 51/P-70

combina t ion was lethal at that range. FN had pre­

pared c o m p l e t e tab les of the various bul let

weights, measurements and per formance , and

these were now handed out to the other de lega tes .

M. Laloux ca l led for a series of trials, to be held on

an official level, compar ing their version of the new

7 mm Medium ( 7 x 5 1 m m ) with the T65 .

Brigadier Barlow, speaking for the British, first

c o m m e n t e d that, as usual, FN was well ahead of

everyone e lse in the deve lopmen t of new rounds.

The UK report was then read out: a s c a l e copy had

been made of the Amer ican cartridge, but with a

mild steel co re bul le t of 9 grams. The results were

not yet what the British had hoped; by no means

were they ready to t ake on Col Studler's T93E1 AP

design.

Enfield had c o m p l e t e d four new semi-auto

EM-2 rifles, c apab l e , with a single barrel change

and gas adjus tment only, of firing both ca l ib re

.30T65 and 7 x 51 mm rounds. An endurance trial of

5,000 rounds, plus mud and sand trials, had so far

been successful ly essayed with a total of only 7

stoppages, using Amer ican T65 ammunit ion. Three

of these rifles were already on their way to the USA

for inclusion in the Fort Benning trials. Col Studler

had requested 10 , but Brig Barlow had said the

three were all they were ab le to supply. In addition,

Bren LMGs had been successful ly conver ted to fire

T65 ammunit ion, using EM-2 magazines . The two

existing .280 prototypes of the new UK 'sustained-

fire' LMG were a lso being conver ted to T65 ca l ibre .

The War Of f i ce had requested a schedu le for

the upcoming 1 9 5 2 - 5 3 trials, and Brig Barlow

cal led for advice from the de lega tes . M. Laloux

reiterated his view that the problem was not so

Fig 89 FN armour piercing trials results, presented at the September 24, 1952 BBC Committee meeting. Above: Col Studler's ' l o t 14', the T93E1, as fired from the 51 mm case; second: .30 M2 lot RA42, at 1,160 yards; third: FN P-70/2; below: fired and unfired FN second-prototype Monobloc II solid-steel 7 mm.

much technica l as pol i t ical , and the trials should be

separa te for ammuni t ion and for rifle, as otherwise

the Amer icans could be faced with an insoluble

d i lemma. They were already, he said, in the middle

of user trials, the results of which might not be easy

for them to f ace , should the FN entry prove

superior to the Amer ican T47 and T44 .

A schedule was agreed upon for the Arct ic

1 1 6 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

trials, for the coming 1 9 5 2 - 5 3 winter:

1. penetrat ion in wood

2. a c c u r a c y

3. penetrat ion of mild steel plate

4. penetra t ion of steel he lmets

5. penetra t ion of nylon body armour

6. penetrat ion of mannequins dressed in full

Arct ic gear

7. ball is t ic trials

These would be fol lowed by normal-

tempera ture trials, with such added events as gren­

ade firing, plus endurance shooting designed to

highlight the degrees of wear and fouling

produced.

Canada was to host the Arct ic trials, and FN

offered their faci l i t ies for the subsequent normal-

tempera ture firing. Captain Moreau of the Belgian

army weapons test ing sec t ion (CEEA) reported he

was avai lab le for any direct c o n t a c t by the other

c o m m i t t e e members regarding these for thcoming

trials.

FAL no 40 had been comple t ed , following Col

Studler's instructions, early in Sep tember , and with

his permission had been demons t ra ted by FN to the

visiting French army mission at Brasschaa t on Sept

Fig 90 FN drawings, prepared for Col Studler, illustrat­ing the prototype windage-adjustable rear sight and strengthened extractor (above), together with M. Saive's

26. This arm featured for the first t ime the half-

length body cover with built-in magaz ine charging

guides. To reload the magazines off the rifle, a

special magaz ine adapter feature, of a design

suggested by M. Saive, was proposed, as yet in

drawings only, to be if desired built into the left-

hand side of the s tock. The ex t rac tor was for the

first t ime the new exper imental two-piece type,

with a coil spring instead of the old, bent-wire 'hair­

pin' spring. The rear sight was a special model also,

with built-in windage adjustment . The arm was

slated for delivery to Col Studler personally, at the

Pentagon, who was to send it on to Aberdeen for

"special engineering" tests.

Monsieur Laloux wrote Col Studler on O c t 8,

unable to repress a whiff of Gal l ic sa rcasm regard­

ing Monsieur Vervier 's recept ion at Benning:

M. Vervier keeps me up-to-date with regular reports

on the trials (at Fort Benning). He is able to make

himself useful, in a general way, but not in the

shooting itself, although they seem to be keeping him

informed of events as they occur, and he is frequently

allowed to examine the arms. All of this conforms to

what I had originally proposed to you, and, from the

'off-the-cuff' sketch of his proposed magazine loader, to be built-in to the side of the FAL buttstock.

Fig 91 Initial design of the FN P-70 AP bullet, with lead base. Drawing dated 24 September, 1951.

point of view of col laborat ion, if we are indeed not

allowed to view the actual trials, this has to be the

next best thing. M. Vervier seems well pleased with

the welcome he has been extended at Benning. It ap­

pears he will soon be leaving there to attend the

technical tests you are planning at Aberdeen with the

new rifle (no 4 0 ) . This rifle has been sent from

Brussels by commercial airline, addressed directly to

you at the Pentagon. It incorporates the

modifications you requested — the rear sight with

windage adjustment, and the charger guides on the

body cover and receiver.

If the charger guide idea is adopted, we might

consider adding a special closing cover to keep the in­

terior of the mechanism free of dirt. A magazine

adapter, which will hold a charger guide directly in

line for charging the magazine, much like the B A R

design, has been proposed for your approval by M.

Saive, as you know; he imagines the adapter built

directly into the but ts tock so it cannot be lost by the

soldier. M. Saive is also well on the way with the

next two rifles, built to your order with heavy barrels

and bipods. They should be ready around the end of

Oc tober . To sum up: we have thus far delivered, in

Fig 92 Second revision of the P-70 boat-tail bullet, with redesigned lead base plug.

Fig 93 Final version of the P-70, the P-70/2. One-piece steel core, total weight 134 gr. This version featured ex­cellent terminal velocity at long ranges.

118 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

three shipments, rifle no 29 and numbers 3 0 - 3 2 ;

numbers 3 3 - 3 9 ; and now no 4 0 . T h e two heavy-

barrel versions will make a total of 14 , leaving only

one rifle to fulfill the contract we signed in Washing­

ton.

We have two weeks ago had the visit from the

four French officers, which I mentioned to you; we

ran for them a trial featuring your rifle no 4 0 . From

their point on the fence, the FN rifle, firing the new

ammunit ion, is perfectly acceptable.

As regards the cartridges — when we met in

Washington you admitted to me the only really in­

teresting thing about your new T 6 5 cartridge was the

case, and that you were ready to consider a bullet

that could better the results of your T 9 3 E 1 .

As you are aware, we have been working on a

bullet improvement study, in close co-operation with

the British and the Canadians; no doubt you are

receiving regularly the reports of the Commit tee ,

which was set up to this end. This and the infor­

mation to follow are freely sent to you in a spirit of

col laborat ion which I am sure you will appreciate:

I showed you the cases we had made in .30

calibre, following your plans for the T 6 5 E 3 . Our first

order of business was to try these cases, necked down

to 7 mm and loaded with our well-known 7 mm S-12

Mauser bullet. We achieved in this a muzzle velocity

of 2 , 7 5 0 fps, with a 2 1 " barrel, and a very comfort­

able chamber pressure. In effect, we gained 2 7 0 fps

over the same bullet in the 7 mm Short case, even

when the latter was fired from the EM-2 , with a 24 1/2" barrel . We have been encouraged by these results and

have moreover developed a 133-grain, armour pier­

cing, 'boat-tail ' bullet (the P -70) . T h e MV is slightly

inferior to that of the lead-core; 2 , 6 7 0 fps.

Important as muzzle velocity is, the residual

velocity and foot-pounds of energy remaining are

what is really at issue. Frequently, penetration

results at a certain distance, are not in agreement

with remaining energy calculations for the same

range. This appears due to the fact that the variable

quantities of the bullet's coefficient of friction and

energy have not been allowed for. Suffice it to say,

our new bullet, the P-70 , does very well indeed on

penetration trials, thanks perhaps to its streamlined,

'boat-tail ' shape. This , plus the predictably steeper

angle of descent of the .30 calibre bullet, gives our

bullet a decided edge in comparat ive penetration

trials at extended ranges.

All of these results stand ready to be proven at

your convenience; at any rate it seems quite well

established that it is possible to make a satisfactory 7

mm armour-piercing bullet !

Monsieur Laroux conc luded by offering Col Studler

"a sample lot of the new 7x51 cartridges, conta ining

the P-70 AP bullet;" all the Colonel had to do was

ask for them.

Unbeknownst to M. Laloux, an interim report

had already been prepared by the enthusiast ic AFF

Board 3 at Fort Benning, in e f fec t recommending

American acquis i t ion of the FN/FAL and the dis­

cont inuat ion of the T 4 4 project . Col Studler's reluc­

t a n c e to furnish any reports to Monsieur Laloux can

bet ter be understood in the light of this interim

report.

Meanwhi le , Col Studler replied to M. Laloux

earnes t a t tempts to interest him in the P-70 AP 7

mm bullet as follows:

Dear M r . Laloux:

Wi th reference to your letter of 18 October 1952,

I am pleased to note that M r . Vervier is keeping you

informed of the Fort Benning tests. Rifle no 40 has

arrived and, as you suggested, M r . Vervier is to visit

my office today for the purpose of examining the

weapon. The Aberdeen tests are scheduled to start 28

October , and M r . Vervier will be accompanied to

Aberdeen by one of my engineers. We plan to put

this weapon through our standard engineering tests,

with which you are already familiar.

I have noted with interest the chargers and clips

for loading the magazine of the FN rifle. It is my plan

to forward the special cover and charger to Fort Ben­

ning for their consideration in the current test.

Wi th reference to the two heavy barrel rifles that

you expect to complete about the end of the month, I

would suggest that they be shipped directly to me, as

was done in the case of rifle no 4 0 . This will eliminate

the difficulty experienced at Fort Benning in getting

these rifles released by customs officials.

I read with interest your discussion of the new 7

mm cartridge which you have under development.

Your P-70 bullet appears to have favourable long

range performance characteristics. I would like to

assure you, however, that by applying similar design

characteristics to calibre .30 bullets, we obtain a

similar improvement.

Wi th reference to the postscript of your letter

concerning a possible demonstrat ion before represen­

tatives of the European Defence . Communi ty , I

believe that this would be unwise in view of the

current trials at Fort Benning and the present status

of the overall project insofar as it affects the U S , UK

and other N A T O countries. I would, therefore,

suggest that a decision on this demonstration be

deferred until after the conclusion of the Fort Benning

tests.

Sincerely yours,

signed, René R. Studler

Colonel , O r d Corps

Fig 94 FN FAL no 38, as photographed by Springfield Armory and featuring the short, charger-loading body cover and the US-designed, 5-prong flash hider.

1 2 0 Debut of the FAL - Prototypes 28 to 42

FN rifles numbers 41 and 42 were c o m p l e t e d and

proofed late in Sep tember . They were both fitted

with heavy barrels and charger-loading body

covers , two-piece, reinforced extractors , and the

Springfield-design five prong muzz le brake. They

both had bipods: no 41 was fitted with a light, 'car­

bine ' bipod with pronged or sharpened ends; no 42

featured a heavier, large-footed bipod without the

prongs, similar to that used on the FN Fusil

Mitrailleur Démontable (FMD), the Saive-modified

BAR with qu ick-change barrel. The pistol grips of

both these heavy-barrel rifles were the old 'right-

angle ' pattern of no 24, thought to be more prac­

tical for prone shooting.

Monsieur Vervier had persevered at Aberdeen,

faithfully observing the special engineering trials

Col Studler had ordered on FN no 40 . News of the

enthusiast ic Amer ican response to the Fabrique

Nat ionale arms was difficult to keep hidden from

M. Vervier, despi te Col Studler 's efforts to keep FN

in the dark. No t ime was lost in te legraphing the

good news to Monsieur Laloux, who was thereby

forearmed and much gratified.

Monsieur Laloux wrote M. Vervier, still in

America , on Nov 6 to thank him for his a t ten-

t iveness. The bu t t s tock containing the built-in

loading ramp had been c o m p l e t e d and sent out to

Col Studler, he reported, and went on to suggest

that the t ime was right for M. Vervier to request

another private meet ing with the Colonel :

. . . Y o u could then ask him what the future plans

are, what more he expects from you and, following

on, what he expects from FN. If the final results at

Aberdeen with rifle no 40 are good, don't be afraid to

push him a little ! We already know he is a master at

surviving any disaster, but now he is under pressure

from the users, who like our product. This is why he

now needs us; certainly he would not be otherwise

interested in dealing with a private firm, and a

foreign one, at that ! Press him about the possibility

of trials with our new 7 mm Medium (7x51) against

the T 6 5 — it will be impossible to avoid comparisons

unfavourable to the .30 calibre.

As for Fort Benning, since you have such good

connections there now, it would be a pity if you

returned to Belgium without the results of the last

few trials and the latest news of our standings. It ap­

pears from here that you were well and truly denied

any access to information on the other candidate

weapons! In spite of everything, you have done ex­

ceptionally well, and we all look forward to your

return around the end of November .

Monsieur Laloux was also looking ahead a little

father than the end of November . He recal led that

adopt ion of any new military rifle, the Garand in

1 9 3 6 for example , was heralded by the production

of s izable quant i t ies of the final prototype, on a

rush basis, for issue to regular army units for actual

field trials. Not for nothing had he insisted on or­

dering, nearly a year before , the s tockpi le of

materials necessary to manufac ture 20 ,000 FN

fusils automatiques légers. He was firmly convinced

that soon, very soon, an ava l anche of orders for the

perfec ted Saive design would c o m e pouring in

from numerous c l ient governments , all clamouring

to have their rifles delivered quickly, so their

respec t ive t roop trials might begin. New machinery,

and s t reamlined product ion plans designed to cope

with the mass manufac tu re of thousands of FAL

rifles, were very much on the agenda at Fabrique

Nat ionale .

Chapter 7

Prototypes 43 to 49 (November 1952 - July 1953)

The European D e f e n c e Communi ty met on Novem­

ber 6th 1 9 5 2 , despi te Col Studler's misgivings,

choosing as their venue, Brasschaa t Artillery

Range. Orders and st ipulat ions for new FN proto­

types were for thcoming: the bas ic design was

requested by the as tu te British in one e a c h of three

separa te and dist inct versions (numbers 43 , 4 5 , and

46). Canada and V e n e z u e l a e a c h wanted one more

prototype of the latest design (numbers 44 and 49

respectively). The US c o n t r a c t was still one rifle

short of comple t ion and this b e c a m e number 48 ,

the co inc iden ta l 'T48 ' .

Monsieur Vervier finally returned to FN, the

first week in D e c e m b e r . A week later. Col Studler

'bit the bul let ' and sent a te legram to M. Laloux, or­

dering 500 of the proffered 7x51 mm cartr idges

loaded with the new FN P-70 bullet , and 5 0 0 .30

ca l ibre bullets , to be made up on the s a m e prin­

ciple. Monsieur Laloux responded on D e c e m b e r

15th by saying, tongue in cheek , that he was "sur­

prised at this request , after having received your

(Col Studler's) let ter of O c t o b e r 27 ."

He took the opportuni ty to remind Col Studler

that, despi te FN's repea ted requests, and the inter­

vention of the Belgian Military a t t aché , no results

had ever been rece ived of the 7 mm tests fired at

Fort Benning, even though the cartr idges and the

arm that fired them, FN no 24 , had been p laced at

the AFF Board's disposal free of charge . M. Laloux

went on to say that, with new trials being c o n t e m ­

plated by the Amer ican O r d n a n c e Corps, he him­

self was schedul ing a trip to the USA around the

end of January 1 9 5 3 , and as M. Vervier had repor­

ted that Col Studler would be "in the O f f i c e "

throughout that period, ". . . my principal reason for

returning to the United Sta tes is to see you."

Monsieur Vervier 's visit had lasted a lmos t four

months, and despi te the sabre-rattl ing from home,

and the de l ibera te obs t ruc t ionism under which he

worked while in Amer ica , this knowledgeab le .

unassuming man had s u c c e e d e d in performing a

very de l i ca t e and demanding j o b exceedingly well,

and along the way made a few friends:

14 January 1953

E. Vervier

Rue Thier des Monts , 159

Herstal-Lez-Liege

Belgium

My Dear Ernest:

I have received your letter of January 9th, your

Christmas card, and the package containing the hand

guard and four piston springs. T h a n k you very much

for all.

T h e heavy barrel rifles have arrived and are

giving a good account of themselves. We had some

trouble with the rebound of the slide or bolt carrier. I

took a file and beveled the face of the carrier. This

seems to have eliminated that trouble. I did it the

same way I saw you do it.

T h e new hand guard is very satisfactory.

Removing the grooves on the bo t tom has made it

much more comfortable .

I have assembled rifle no 36 with all the modifi­

cations that you have sent me, that is the new hand

guard, the new pistol grip, the new stock with the

loading device, the special dust cover with the

charging aperture, the light pressure sear, and natur­

ally it has a reduced piston. Should the ejector break,

I will have the new ejector installed. Until it breaks,

however , I feel this is unnecessary.

I will give the polish and stain to Sgt W e b b who

is now on leave. In his name and in his absence I ex­

press his sincere appreciation.

T h a n k you again for your continued friendship

1 2 2 Prototypes 43 to 49

and assistance. Give my best wishes to your wife and

son.

Very truly yours ,

Rober t H. Clagett, J r .

Majo r , Infantry

This next period, the winter of 1 9 5 2 - 1 9 5 3 , was per­

haps Monsieur Laloux' finest hour. He had travelled

abroad qui te often during his career , preferring

wherever possible s teamship to aeroplane. In his

own affairs he was ar is tocra t ica l ly parsimonious;

he made his own notes, in longhand, on yellow,

legal-size pads of paper, and he always submitted

his own reports:

Fusil Automatique Léger (FAL) Trip to America, February 1953

I took the night train from Washington to Fort Ben-

ning, and coincidentally met Col Crossman, Col

Studler's assistant, on the station platform. We

travelled together and struck up quite a conver­

sation, although he is an officer through and through

and very closed-mouthed about any topics of any

sensitivity at all.

We arrived at Fort Benning first thing in the

morning and immediately I was able to meet the of­

ficers under Col Kelly, comprising the Infantry Field

Forces Board No 3: Lt-Col Wiley , the representative

from the Ordnance Corps; Lt-Col Minion, Small

Arms Section; Maj Clagett, who had been the Ameri­

can in charge of the trials with our FN weapons;

Lt-Col Christiansen, in charge of pistol trials, and

Capt Hill, a paratrooper, assigned to Maj Clagett.

Everyone spoke warmly of M. Vervier, and.

asked after his health.

Throughout my stay I had three visits with Col

Kelly himself, who struck me as a solid serving of­

ficer, courageous and a good leader of men, but not

at all a research person. I first thanked him for the

hospitality he had shown our M. Vervier . He in turn

politely thanked us for supplying such a capable

fellow; I replied that this was in keeping with our

promise to Col Studler to do our utmost for him in

return for a fair chance for our rifles.

I ascertained that the report (of the AFF Board

no 3) was nearly ready and would soon be sent on to

the Office, Chief of Ordnance, for the drafting of a

Fig 95 The short-lived UK Optimum 1 cartridge, wherein the bullet was to be seated as high as possible in the 43 mm .280/30 case, to increase case capacity. Shown in an

FN study, loaded with the P-70 and S-12/2 bullets. Mon­sieur Saive had misgivings about this design.

statement on the situation.

Col Kelly asked the purpose of my visit. I said it

was threefold: to bring over several replacement FAL

parts of an approved design; to learn the results of

the trials fired since M. Vervier's departure, and to be

better acquainted with the officers actually putting

our weapons through the trials — if this was also

their wish. I said that I felt that our mission included

co-operation between us.

T h e second time we met, Maj Clagett alone was

with us. I asked them if they were aware that FN had

formally offered the rights to produce the FAL, free

of charge, to the United States. They replied that

there had been some word about it but that they were

happier now to be hearing it 'from the horse's mouth' .

I spoke of our newest developments, and was

rewarded to hear that, if Col Studler was contem­

plating further extended trials, there would be by the

end of the year a need for several thousand rifles of

both types, the FAL and the T 4 4 .

I found Majo r Clagett to be genuinely interested

in the FAL as a rifle, and I left for him a large-scale

plan drawing, showing the arm and all its parts in a

cutaway' view.

As regards the nagging question of the seven

millimetre results . . . I didn't speak with Kelly about

this but I did mention to Lt-Col Minion that the rifle

(no 24) was ours, and that it was still here, and that

furthermore we had heard nothing at all of the trials

results. He was visibly shocked and volunteered to

go and get the rifle, right away, for me to take home.

I suggested that it should be kept a while yet against

the moment of the final decision on the question of

choice of calibre. . . .

Monsieur Laloux included with this segment of his

report an organisat ional chart , as he had c o m e to

understand it, of the Amer ican army weapons

testing facil i ty, and its channels of reporting:

1 2 4 Prototypes 43 to 49

With Major Claget t along, M. Laloux frequently

met with some of the American testing officers to

discuss, informally, their feelings abou t the FAL

and to demons t ra te to them s o m e of the latest FN

proposals .

First, he illustrated three possible configura­

tions of the FAL rifle: (1) with the opening top

loading ga te (as shown in fig 77), accep t ing the 1 0 -

round stripper clips; (2) with the built-in charger

guides of the 'short ' body cover , as in the later US

Fort Benning prototypes, (number 36-41) ; and (3) for

guard or parade duty with a 10-shot magaz ine and,

for sniper use, the c lose ly- to leranced, full-length

body cover, sui table for rigid t e l e s c o p e mounting.

On these o c c a s i o n s the Amer icans freely gave

their views on a number of topics , among them the

usefulness of the full range of accessor i e s which FN

had supplied; they had, for example , no t ac t i ca l use

for a bipod on a normal, light-barreled rifle.

Of the two heavy-barreled versions of the FAL,

which FN had supplied, the American junior of­

ficers preferred the heavy FMD-type bipod over the

light ' carb ine ' type. They thought the FN bayonet ,

as modified by M. Vervier, was sat isfactory, but the

muzzle brake was universally and heartily disliked.

There was a discussion but no conc lus ive opinion

regarding the newly-avai lable semi-auto-only

change lever. As regarded the pistol grip, everyone

preferred M. Saive's second design, the ' inclined' , or

swept-back, grip over the earl ier ' r ight-angled'

style. M. Laloux dec ided then and there that this

would be the grip design incorporated in future

models . The sling featured also as a traditional ad­

junc t to precision shoot ing in America , he noted,

and should be firmly mounted on any future US

FALs.

As the visit progressed, M. Laloux noted

several Amer ican partisans of the 7 mm ca l ibre in

his audience , among them Maj Clagett , and his

aide, Capt Hill. M. Laloux told them in all serious­

ness of the posit ive results they had obta ined at FN

with the 7x51 mm cartridge, al though, he said, the

ammunit ion quest ion had unfortunately b e c o m e a

personal issue with Col Studler, who would hear of

no ' compara t ive ' trials. The en igmat ic reply from

several of the officers at Fort Benning was that Col

Studler would, God willing, soon retire.

During M. Laloux' visit, a t ab le of results was

finally made ava i lab le to him, concern ing the 7 mm

trials fired at Fort Benning.

He was naturally interested in reading of these

compara t ive ammuni t ion trials, which had taken

p lace early in 1 9 5 2 . As ment ioned, these had

featured the freely-supplied carb ine no 24 , with

2 ,000 rounds of the FN-developed 7 mm Short am­

munition, (the .280/30 case ; with the S-12 bullet)

Fig 96 The Canadian-made 7 x 51 mm case had 9% more case capacity; this FN comparative study of wall thicknesses, dated December 1952, shows why. Left: FN Berdan-primed case; right: Canadian Boxer-primed case.

shooting against American T44 and T47 rifles in

ca l ibre .30 T65 . Garand control rifles had also been

shot, and their results a lso recorded. Monsieur

Laloux was wryly amused to see that the figures

given him were in compar i son only of the "FN 7

mm" and the 'old ' (UK .280/30) 7 mm; all references

to the T65 and .30-06 had been carefully deleted.

(Note: This c o m p l e t e t ab le appears, in part of the

1 9 5 2 US Trials results, on page 72 of V o l u m e Two of

this series).

At the final dinner, held to wish Monsieur

Laloux bon voyage back to Belgium, Maj Clagett

suggested he show Ordnance Col Crossman some

samples of the latest FN 7x51 mm cartridges. This

Monsieur Laloux did, and Col Crossman said, after

examining them for a few moments , that he could

well see two ca l ibres as standard; one for rifle and

one for LMG. (Col Crossman's greates t personal

conce rn in the matter, however, conce rned the

arrival on the field of ba t t le of the ammunit ion in a

useable state; that is, pre-loaded into clips or ban­

doliers c a p a b l e of direct attachment to the

weapons.)

Monsieur Laloux returned to Europe in t ime to par­

t ic ipa te in a preparatory BBC C o m m i t t e e meeting,

in London, on March 27.

The sub jec t was ammunit ion. Trials had recen­

tly been carried out in the Canadian Arct ic at Wat­

son Lake, in the Yukon, where the .280/30 , or the 7

mm MK 1z as the British now ca l led it, scored sur­

prisingly well. In addition, the EM-2 had been sue-

Fig 97 Residual energy table prepared by the FN Ballistic Laboratory for the BBC Committee meeting of April 23, 1953.

cessful in o ther trials held at the Canadian Army

base at Fort Churchill , in northern Mani toba .

Monsieur Laloux was impatient: the Amer icans

had made no sec re t of their re ject ion, on several

occas ions , of both this cartr idge and rifle; surely

any hope for standardizing arms or ammuni t ion

among the western powers lay in other, more up-to-

date answers. A trials p rogramme was discussed for

the coming summer of 1 9 5 3 . Brigadier Barlow

chalked up on the b l ackboard the list of rounds of

ammunit ion they must assess:

• .30 cal ibre , s tee l -core; the latest US bul le t design

being the boa t ta i led Frankford Arsenal FA T21 E4

• .30 cal ibre , lead-core, as a lready studied at FN

• 7 mm steel -core , f lat-base, ei ther UK or Canadian

manufac ture

• 7 mm steel -core , boat ta i l ; the FN P-70 improved

• 7 mm lead-core; the tried and true FN S-12.

All the a b o v e loadings were to be in the 51 mm

case , the 7 mm loadings merely a necked-down

copy of the Amer ican T65E3 , whose lack of c a s e

taper had already been noted. The necking to 7 mm

crea ted an even sharper shoulder.

The British had had misgivings abou t this c a s e

design ever s ince the initial BBC C o m m i t t e e

meet ing in June of 1 9 5 2 . They had now deve loped a

new 7 mm round, of the same overall length as the

loaded 7x51 or T65 , ye t with a more c lass ica l ly

shaped, 49 .15 mm case . It was ca l led the 7 mm Op­

t imum 2, (to distinguish it from an earlier, short­

lived British idea which, as the Opt imum 1, had

featured the regular old, 43 mm .280/30 c a s e with

the bul let sea ted higher into the c a s e neck in an at­

t empt to provide more c a s e capac i ty) .

In spite of the promising results the 7 mm

Short ammuni t ion had turned in at Wa t son Lake,

the British re luctant ly agreed at this preliminary

meet ing to abandon the 'short ' c o n c e p t , and to

1 2 6 Prototypes 43 to 49

Fig 98 Recapitulation of results, as prepared by FN, using both FN and US published results up to March 20, 1953.

Fig 98 (continued from previous page)

1 2 8 Prototypes 43 to 49

Fig 99 A further FN compendium of results for the various cartridges tested, showing BBC Committee and Arctic trials results.

swing all their energies into developing the new,

longer c a s e designs. These , firing the new 7 mm

bullets deve loped by Canada and FN, would be

c a p a b l e of matching or bet ter ing the US .30 ca l ib re

requirements . I t was the only hope; the only other

c h o i c e was simply to adopt the US T65E3 without a

whimper.

The main c o m m i t t e e meet ing was held at the

British War Off ice , on the 23rd of April 1 9 5 3 , with

General Mathews, the Director of Infantry,

presiding. The British delegat ion, which included

Brig Barlow and Col E.N. Kent-Lemon, was ten

strong; the Canadians and Belgians e a c h presented

only two de lega tes . The minutes of the previous in­

terim meet ings being read and a c c e p t e d . Genera l

Mathews asked affably that the Canadians and

Belgians not be a larmed at the overwhelming

British majority.

The ques t ions of which ammuni t ion to test,

the laboratory methods of testing which would give

the most rel iable results, and the nature and venue

of future compara t ive trials, domina ted the

discussion. The British were apparent ly there in

fo rce to ' request ' a final stay of execu t ion for their

long-nurtured 7 mm Short (7x43) round, and the EM-

2 rifle. As it turned out, the planned protest didn't

get off the ground, as it needed little convincing to

show them that the world had indeed moved on.

Brig Barlow produced the plans for the latest US

Frankford Arsenal design, the FA T 2 1 E 4 boattai l

bullet . The unit-power opt ic sight, developed in

England as an integral part of the EM-2 'bullpup'

concep t , had been successful ly adapted to the FAL.

Indeed, one of the latest prototypes ordered by the

British was to fea ture this sight system (no 46). The

sight, on its prototype FN top cover , was exhibited

by Monsieur Laloux.

The c o m m i t t e e agreed that tests would be per­

formed on a total of nine types of bullets:

• 7 mm S-12 f lat-base

• 7 mm P-70 boat ta i l

• 7 mm Canadian f lat-base

• . 3 0 T 9 3 E 1 US f lat-base

• .30 FA T 2 1 E 4 boat ta i l

• 7 mm French exper imenta l lead-core

• .30 French exper imenta l lead-core

• .30 French exper imental s tee l -core

• .30 FN lead-core boat ta i l

In the middle of a long, final discussion regar­

ding loca t ion of the proposed trials, s o m e o n e

Fig 100 Composite FN drawing of both (49 and 51 mm) cartridge cases under consideration by the BBC Commit­tee. Drawing dated 22 January 1953.

mused abou t whether the .30-06 M2 bullet , and the

.303 British, might not as well be included as con­

trols. Monsieur Laloux, who had that day already

successful ly avoided the planned British coup to

restore the old 7 mm Short and the EM-2, now rose,

and, recall ing the 1 9 5 0 trials in Amer ica , the 1951

trials at Pendine and the 1 9 5 2 trials again in

America, said it was his fervent hope that he would

not die of old age before the trials were c o m p l e t e d !

The final report of the test ing off icers at Fort

Benning was at last re leased, under the t i t le "Army

Field Forces Board No 3 Repor t of P ro jec t 2 4 9 5 ,

Lightweight Rifles and Ammunit ion, Fort Benning,

Georgia, April 30 , 1 9 5 3 " . The report showed a

decided p re fe rence for the FN Light Auto Rifle,

over ei ther the modif ied T25 , known as the T47, or

the Springfield Armory T44. The report went on to

say that the FN design has ou tper formed the

American entries in every "adverse condi t ion" tes t

excep t ex t r eme cold; that is, in the mud, dust, rain,

endurance, cook-o f f and abnormal hold trials, the

FAL was superior. (The EM-2 rifle was o n c e and for

all e l iminated from Amer ican compe t i t i on by this

report.)

Monsieur Laloux issued an order on the 11 th of

May, 1 9 5 3 , to begin FN vo lume product ion of

10 ,000 fusils légers automatiques d'infanterie. The

barrel (and sights) a lone would distinguish the .30

ca l ibre from the 7x51 mm versions, as all were to be

made up with the s ame receiver, d imensioned for

rounds of a total length of 2.8". This first series of

FAL rifles was further defined as being fitted with a

20-shot magazine , c a p a b l e of se lec t ive fire and

featuring the ' incl ined ' pistol grip, long body cover,

and bayone t lug. The muzz le was to be left plain,

with no flash hider or muzzle brake, and no bipod

was fitted.

The Amer ican-con t rac t FN rifles, including the

heavy-barrel versions no 41 and 42 , had been retur­

ned to Belgium for modif icat ion. Monsieur Saive

had overseen the changes , which included the

following:

• new, stronger e j e c t o r b lock

• new magaz ine charger-cl ip design, made

necessary by the new e j e c t o r b lock

• reinforced but t a t t a c h m e n t to trigger housing

• reinforced return spring tube

• new rear sight cursor with windage adjus tment

• new handguard, without finger-grooves

• front sight c a p a b l e of e leva t ion adjus tment

• ' incl ined' pistol grip

• reinforced ex t rac tor

• 10-round magaz ines

• semi-auto change lever only

• permanent pin installed on trigger housing to pre­

vent change lever rotat ion to full au to posit ion.

1 3 0 Prototypes 43 to 49

Fig 101 FN-manufactured 'medium-powered' cartridges, 1951-1953. Compare with Volume Two, fig 216. The only UK rounds FN did not manufacture were the short-lived .270 and the British 7 x 49 mm 'High Velocity'.

(The two heavy-barreled rifles were sub j ec t ed to

the first nine modif ica t ions only.)

O n e light rifle was fitted with a newly-

designed Arct ic folding triggerguard-and-grip

arrangement . The arms were returned to Fort Ben-

ning and arrived there on June 30th, in t ime for the

c o m m e n c e m e n t of what was billed as the final trial

to dec ide on the next US Army rifle. The c h o i c e had

narrowed to only two; the FAL or the T44 . Monsieur

Vervier was again ca l led upon to journey to

America , but unlike the de l ibera te obs t ruc t ionism

he encoun te red in 1 9 5 2 , this was a 'whole new ball-

game' . With the FN rifle a 'smart money ' c h o i c e for

American adoption, there were now no restrictions

p laced on M. Vervier 's movements ; he found no

difficulty in observing all trials of both arms and

was freely shown the light and heavy versions of

the T44 . Indeed, in his first report back to Monsieur

Saive he was ab le to e n c l o s e a copy of the trials in­

dex and schedu le which he had promptly been

given by Col Kelly:

Army Field Forces Board No 3 Fort Benning, Georgia — Project 2 4 9 5 A

Rifle Test 1953

1. Index to Tests

Test no 1 Physical characteristics

Test no 2 Relative weights

Test no 3 Base of assembly

Test no 4 Ease of care and cleaning

Test no 5A Bench rest accuracy

Test no 5B Prone accuracy

Test no 5C Change in centre of impact

Test no 6 Automat ic accuracy with bipod (HB)

Test no 7A Short range automatic accuracy

(moving target)

Test no 7B Automat ic accuracy

Test no 7C Automat ic fire distribution

Test no 8 Rapid fire effectiveness

Test no 9 Durabil i ty

Test no 10 Reliabili ty

Test no 11 Smoke and flash

Test no 12 Bayonet

Test no 13 Grenade launching

Test no 14 Magazines and clips

Test no 15 Indirect fire performance (HB)

Test no 16 Sustained fire capabili ty (HB)

Test no 17 Squad firing

Test no 18 Sights

Test no 19 Aerial delivery

Test no 20 Compar ison against M G ' s

Arctic Phase

Test no 1 Ease of handling

Test no 2 Durabil i ty and reliability

Test no 3 Accuracy and functioning

Test no 4 Winter trigger

Test no 5 Ammuni t ion

Test no 6 General

Fig 102 The 'medium power' concept, 1943 to 1953: 1. .30 US Carbine 2. 7.92 Kurz (7.92x33 mm) 3. UK .270 (7x47.5 mm) 4. 7 mm Short (7 x 43 mm) 5. 7 mm Optimum 2 (7x49.15 mm) 6. .30 T65E3 (7.62x51 mm)

1 3 2 Prototypes 43 to 49

2. Schedule of Tests

1st day — 1 July

Test Officer

Inspection and weighing of weapons and accessories.

Study, check test ease of handling, simplicity and

ease of care and cleaning. Tests 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Asst Test Officer:

Firing for adjustment of weapons and familiarization

of firers.

2nd day — 2 July

Function firing of all test weapons. 300 rds per gun.

Making final adjustments before start of test. Zeroing

fire.

Tests 9 and 14 .

3rd day — 3 July

Test Officer:

Check test of bench rest accuracy, sight setting.

300 yards only. Test 5 A .

Asst Test Officer:

Sustained fire capabil i ty HB and M G . Test 1 6 .

4th day — 6 July

Test Officer:

Check test of prone accuracy, loading practice,

slings, sight settings. 300 yards only. Test 5 B .

Asst Test Officer:

Bipod indirect fire capabil i ty. Test 15

5th day - 7 July

Test Officer:

Check test of change of centre of impact due to

muzzle at tachments . Test 5 C .

Asst Test Officer:

Continuat ion of bipod indirect fire capabil i ty.

Test 1 5 .

6th day - 8 July

Squad field firing tests. Test 17.

7th day - 9 July

Squad field firing tests. Test 17 .

8th day - 10 July

Squad field firing tests. Test 17.

9th day - 11 July

Auto fire distribution. Test 7C

10th day - 13 July

HB and L M G field firing accuracy. Test 6.

11th day - 14 July

Test Officer:

Moving target accuracy. Test 7A .

Asst Test Officer:

Transition range firing.

12th day - 15 July

Test Officer:

Durabil i ty test. Infiltration course phase. Test 9.

Asst Test Officer:

Transition range firing.

13th day - 16 July

Test Officer:

HB and L M G auto fire accuracy bipod and stan­

ding. 200 and 50 yards. Test 7 B .

Asst Test Officer:

Rapid fire effectiveness. Test 8.

14th day - 17 July

Test Officer:

Reliability Test — a) place three rifles in cold

soak; b) muddy water and rain test.

Asst Test Officer:

Durabil i ty test — underbrush and sand bank

phases. Test 9.

15th day - 18 July

Reliabili ty test. Natural and artificial dust phase.

Test 1 0 .

16th day - 20 July

Reliability test. Fire cold soaked rifles. Check

test of smoke and flash. Check flash during darkness.

Test 10 and 1 1 .

17th day - 21 July

Test Officer:

Check of LB automatic fire capabil i ty. Test 7A

and 7 B .

Asst Test Officer:

Bayonet course. Durabil i ty and ruggedness test.

Function firing. Test 12 .

18th day - 22 July

Same as 15th day.

19th day - 23 July

Test Officer: Rate of fire LB rifles. Test 8.

Asst Test Officer:

Rate of fire HB rifles and M G ' s . Test 8.

20th day - 24 July

Test Officer:

Grenade launching test. Test 1 3 .

Asst Test Officer:

Loading time test. Test 1 4 .

21st day — 25 July

HB and L M G auto fire at moving targets. Test

7A .

Note: 21st day to end of six week period daily check

firing for reliability, adjustments, and any necessary

re-tests or additional tests.

There were those amid the Amer ican c a m p who

remembered that FN, being a private company , was

more free with its handouts - pamphlets , small

accessor ies , sample cartr idges, e tc ; the very first

day of the trials, M. Vervier was taken aside by an

American off icer and blandly asked if 'San ta Claus '

had brought anything with him this t ime!

Observers to the trials included off icers from

both Canada and the UK, as well as three represen­

tat ives from Springfield Armory who were M. Ver-

vier's oppos i te number and keenly pulling for their

T44.

During the first three days of the 1 9 5 3 Fort

Benning trials a total of 4 ,258 rounds was fired.

Meanwhi le , Brigadier Barlow, the UK Director

of Artillery (Small Arms), had arranged a new series

of trials, at RSAF Enfield and Pendine Experimental

Establ ishment , to tes t FN FAL number 4 3 . This rifle

had been ordered by the UK at the Wes te rn Allian­

ce m e e t at Brasschaa t , and was the proto type of a

series the British were considering for quant i ty

t roop trials.

Consequent ly , they were most conce rned that

no 43 should perform sat isfactori ly. A full report

was prepared, listing the trials performed and the

results, and a copy was submit ted to Monsieur

Laloux at FN by Lt-Col Johnson, Brig Barlow's

assistant:

Fig 103 Monsieur Ernest Vervier, after successfully completing a very muddy 'durability' trial at Fort Benning, Ga. July, 1953.

.30 Calibre FN Rifle no 43

Summary of the results of trials carried out with the above rifle at Enfield and Pendine

between 9th and 25th June 1953

1. Information

T h e FN rifle, which in the 7 mm calibre did ex­

tensive trials in this country in 1951 has been

developed to fire the Amer ican .30 cal T 6 5 E 3 type

cartridge.

2 . Objec t

To determine whether the rifle will stand up to

the more powerful round and in particular to :

2 .1 Carry out an endurance test for freedom from

stoppages, and breakages under normal condit ions.

2 .2 Test rifle under adverse conditions of mud, sand,

sea water , extreme hot and cold.

2 .3 To note effect of fitting a bayonet on position of

M P I .

2 . 4 To determine whether the body cover makes a

1 3 4 Prototypes 43 to 49

Fig 104 FN prototype no 43, ordered by the British and the subject of extensive trials at Enfield and Pendine, 9-25

June, 1953. Forerunner of the UK X8E1 rifle, studied in Volume Two.

suitable mount for an optical sight.

2 .5 To determine if the rifle retains its accuracy when

hot and after firing 600 rounds.

3. Programme of Firing at Enfield

3.1 Weigh a n d measure rifle and accessories. M e a ­

sure free length of springs, cartridge head space and

trigger pull before and after firing 6000 rounds.

3.2 Short preliminary functioning test.

3.3 Measure gun speed at start, middle and end of

trial.

3 .4 Standard mud test. (This was repeated.)

3.5 Standard sand test.

3 .6 Effect of Bayonet on position of M P I at 2 0 0 and

300 yards.

3 .7 Measure veloci ty at ambient temperature at 90

feet at start of trial, middle of endurance test and at

end of trial.

3 .8 Compare the position of M P I at 2 0 0 yards before

and after the endurance test using both the optical

sight and bore sighting.

3 .9 Endurance Test. Cycles as follows:

10 rds cold diagram at 2 0 0 x single shot

100 rds single shot. 7 minutes

Cool in still air for five minutes

100 rds 10 bursts of 10 rounds. 1 minute

Cool in still air for 30 minutes or air line for

10 minutes

100 rds single shot. 7 minutes

Cool in still air for five minutes

100 rds 10 bursts of 10 rds. 1 minute

Cool in still air for 30 minutes or air line for

for 10 minutes.

100 rds single shot. 7 minutes

Cool in still air for five minutes

12 . 100 rds 10 bursts of 10 rounds. 1 minute

1 3 . 10 rds hot diagram at 2 0 0 x . Single shot

1.

2 .

3 .

4 .

5 .

6.

7.

8.

9 .

1 0 .

1 1 .

14 . Strip, clean, examine, measure free length

of springs and cartridge head space.

Note: T h e rifle m a y be oiled after series 4, 8, if

this is considered necessary. The necessity to oil

and the degree of oil will be recorded. The test

will be repeated 10 times.

3 .10 Fire at horizontal with rifle loosely held.

Start Finish

Trigger pull 14 1/2 lbs 12 lbs

Cartridge head space 1 .636 in 1 .636 in Spring, firing pin, free

length 1 .765 in 1.65 in Spring, piston return

free length 10.45 in 10.25 in Springs, return, free

length 19 .8 in 19.4 in Spring, hammer, free

length 3 .25 in 3 .25 in

4 .2 Preliminary Functions

Horizontal 100 rds, ss, correct

Depression 10 rds, ss, 3 trapped case, 80 rds auto,

1 trapped case

Elevation 80 rds, ss, correct; 80 rds auto, correct

4. Results of Tests at Enfield

4.1 Weight and Measurements

Rifle, length 41 3 / 8 inches

with bayonet fixed 49 inches

Barrel length 20 7 / 8 inches

Weight , rifle 9 lbs 1 oz

empty magazine 8 to 8 1/4 ozs

full magazine 1 lb 9 ozs to 1 lb 9 1/4ozs

Bayonet 9 3/4 ozs

Scabbard 4 1/2 ozs

4 . 9 . 3 . Cold and Hot Diagram — results

Cold Diagram Hot Diagram

Cycle MPI Group MPI Group

1 8.5 L 3 .5 up 7 . 5 x 5 2 4 . 5 L 2 4 D 25 x 10*

2 1 R 17 up 5 . 5 x 6 . 5 1 R 15 .5 up 9 x 1 2 . 5 3 .5 L 2 0 up 4 x 6 1.5 L 17 up 9 x 6 4 2 .5 L 23 up 4 x 8 . 5 5 L 2 3 . 5 up 7 x 9

5 2 .5 R 2 0 . 5 up 5 . 5 x 8 . 5 1 R 2 1 . 5 up 1 2 . 5 x 1 1

6 3 R 22 up 7 . 5 x 1 1 . 5 1.5 R 13 .5 up 9 . 5 x 5 . 5 7 2 R 22 up 5 . 5 x 7 . 5 1 R 17 .5 up 8 x 7 8 2 R 22 up 5.5x7.5 1 R 22 up 8 x 7 9 4 R 2 0 up 5 x 8 2 .5 R 19 .5 up 5 x 8 . 5

10 3 .5 R 2 0 . 5 up 6 . 5 x 6 . 5 2 .5 R 2 7 up 5 x 1 1 . 5

Mean 1.7 R 2 1 up 5 . 4 x 7 . 8 . 5 R 1 9 . 7 up 8 x 8 . 7

The results of the first cycle were disregarded. See remarks on Sight Bracket paragraph 7.4.

4 .10 Rifle loosely held at horizontal

30 rounds single shot and 30 rounds in short

bursts were fired with the rifle in the normal position,

on its left side and on its right side. Functioning was

correct.

Note: T h e rifle was fitted with the following new

design components :

• ejector — improved heat treatment

• extractor — strengthened

• magazine spring — heavier gauge wire

Range Change in position of MPI

2 0 0 x . 5 " left 3 .7" down

3 0 0 x 3 .5" left 9 .5" down

Start of trial 652 rpm, regulator

unsecured 3 6 0 °

Start of 6th cycle 714 rpm, regulator

unsecured 180°

End of endurance 723 rpm, regulator

unsecured 1 8 0 °

1st Test 2nd Test

1st Magazine correct correct

dirty magazine failed failed

clean magazine failed failed

Optical Sight Bore Sight

MPI Group MPI Group

Start of endurance 10L, 2 1/2 up, 6L, 25 1/2 down

8 x 6 6 x 5 1/2 End of endurance 3 .75L, 22 .75 up 9 . 7 5 R , 2 6 . 2 5

4 x 7 down; 4x4 .25

(See remarks re Sight Bracket para. 7.4)

4 . 9 . 1 . Stoppages Missfire, de­ 5th cycle

fective cap

Light strike 9th cycle

4 . 9 . 2 . Breakages Hammer Spring

rod 10th cycle

4 .3 Gun Speed

Start of trial 2 7 2 0 f.s.

6th cycle 2714 f.s.

End of endurance 2685 f.s.

4 .7 Velocities

4.8 Comparison of bore sighting and optical sight

4 .4 Mud Test

T h e failure was due to friction of the mud in the

working parts and to mud drying in the hot chamber;

it resulted in failure of the breech to close, in a few

cases the hammer did not rise even when the breech

closed and in the 2nd test there were failures to ex­

tract.

4 . 9 Endurance test

Except for the following the rifle fired correct ly.

4 .5 Sand Test

Correct on all three magazines.

4 .6 Effect of Bayonet on position of MPI Note: Found on examinat ion did not cause a stop­

page.

Light strike was possibly caused by a piece of

brass in the trigger mechanism. The hammer did not

come right up and was freed by hand.

1 3 6 Prototypes 43 to 49

Fig 105 The UK-designed 'prong' or 'trident' bayonet. In the days of the Lee-Enfield, British standing orders were to "fix bayonets" after dark. It was reasoned that a bayonet - flash hider combination would aid night

• fore-end, with top enclosed — This was too hot to

hold during the endurance test and the wood was

charred.

5. Programme of Firing Tests at Pendine

5.1 Rifle chemically dry at normal temperature.

5.2 Chemical ly dry and kept at — 6 5 ° F for 12 hours.

5.3 Oiled with 'oil low cold test no 2 ' and 5 0 % water­

less kerosine and kept at —65°F for 12 hours.

5 .4 Loosely held and fired at 80° elevation and

depression.

5.5 Tropical Test. Heated to 1 2 5 ° F for 12 hours.

5 .6 Salt water test

6. Results of Tests at Pendine

6.1 Chemically dry at normal temperature

One magazine only. Failed to feed, and had to

be hand operated on 2nd and 12th rounds. Otherwise

correct .

6.2 Chemically dry and kept at -65°F for 12 hours

An extra magazine was also put into cold cham­

ber. First four rounds had to be hand operated,

remainder correct until the last two rounds of the 2nd

magazine which did not feed. The magazine spring

had ridden up on the left side of the platform which

was jammed and would not move up or down.

Magazine no 86 — it was not used again in these

trials.

6.3 Cold oiled

Oil low cold test no 2 and 5 0 % waterless

kerosine at - 6 5 ° F for 12 hours. An extra magazine

was included in this test. Both magazines — no

failures.

6 .4 Elevation and Depression

At normal temperature, loosely held:

+ 80° 60 rds s.s. correct

— 80° 60 rds s.s. correct

— 80 ° 60 rds short bursts correct

It was not considered safe to fire short bursts at

elevation.

6.5 Tropical

12 hours at 125 °F; an extra magazine was in­

cluded. Both magazines: no failures.

6 .6 Salt water

Salt water plus 1 0 % marine sand by volume

agitated by compressed air. Rifle and magazine with

round in chamber and extra magazine were suspen­

ded for total of two minutes.

Fig 106 The UK 'Optimum 2' case, 49.15 mm in length. Dimensioned and drawn by FN, 28 April 1953. Later ter­med the 'Medium 2'.

shooting accuracy. The handle embodies the FN 'elastique' concept, designed to reduce the usual change in MPI when shooting with bayonet fixed.

The rifle was now functioned by hand without magazine three times. It then functioned correctly ex­cept that the 9th and 11th rounds and the 5th, 15th and 17th rounds of 2nd magazine had to be operated by hand.

Notes on Tests at Pendine 1. Unless otherwise stated all firing was single shot. 2. In all these trials the rifle was subjected to the cold, hot, etc. conditions with a magazine fitted and except in the case of 6.1 an extra magazine was included and fired.

7. Remarks on Trials at Enfield and Pendine 7.1 During all firing under normal conditions at am­bient temperature including the endurance test, a total of about 7,100 rounds was fired:

one stoppage (a lightly struck cap; the hammer had failed to come right up.)

One breakage (broken hammer spring rod,

Fig 107 The US boat-tail Frankford Arsenal T21E4 (described by FN in fig 98 as the 'T65E4').

found on examination at the end of the en­durance test.) This did not cause a stoppage.

7.2 Functioning under adverse conditions 7.2.1. The rifle passed the Sand, Tropical and — 65°F correctly oiled. Tests without any stoppages. 7.2.2. In the mud test on both occasions it fired the original magazine subjected to the mud test on the rifle without any stoppages but failed with sub­sequent magazines in both tests. 7.2.3. Chemically dry. Normal temperature — 2 stoppages. Chemically dry —65°F stoppages on the first four rounds. Sea water test — 11 stoppages.

(There was also a failure to fire the last two rounds in the chemically dry at — 65°F. This was due to a jammed magazine platform.)

The Chemically dry tests are not representative of service conditions but they are a method of com­paring the reserve of power in weapons under adver­se conditions that can be more closely controlled than mixtures of mud, sand, etc. The conditions of the sea water test are no more severe than those of a beach landing.

In every case the stoppages in these three tests which can be called 'failed to fire' or 'breech failed to close' were due to the failure of the working parts to come fully forward due to friction.

In the majority of cases the rifle stopped with the cocking handle half way forward when the extra load of removing the round from the magazine occurs or with the cocking handle almost fully forward when the bolt is being forced down into the locked position.

Stoppages also occurred with the cocking handle in intermediate positions.

If it were possible to close the bolt by hand, most if not all of these stoppages could have been cured by pushing the cocking handle forward.

In this trial the immediate action used was to pull the cocking handle back a controlled distance and release. The energy was generally sufficient to close the bolt.

The failures to fire after operation by hand were because the firer pulled the cocking handle back too far and the bolt engaged, and tried to find the top round in the magazine.

It is not considered that a man could be expected to apply the I.A. of "pull back exactly x inches" in ac­tion.

The only I.A. that can be taught to clear this stoppage, which appears to be the most common

Round in chamber fired 2nd round failed to feed operated by hand 3rd round failed to feed Did not operate by hand.

Magazine was removed to clear.

4th round failed to feed operated by hand 5th round failed to feed operated by hand 6th round failed to feed operated by hand 7th round failed to feed Would not operate by

hand. Magazine was removed.

138 Prototypes 43 to 49

Fig 108 FN Ballistic Laboratory report dated 30 July 1953, showing remaining velocity for two loadings of the

7 x 49.15 mm Optimum 2 (Medium 2) versus two loadings of the US T65E3.

caused by a malfunction, is that which is recommen­ded by the makers:

Remove magazine 'Pull back' and release Replace magazine. If there is still a round in the chamber the rifle

would fire, if the round had been ejected or had fallen out, it would be necessary to 'pull back' again to load. The complete cycle might then have to start again as the energy applied to the next round would be the same as that applied to the round which had caused the stoppage.

The first seven rounds of the sea water test would have entailed removing and replacing the magazine seven times.

This illustrates the importance of being able to apply extra energy to close the breech of a self loading rifle in adverse conditions.

7.3 The fitting of a bayonet altered the position of the MPI by:

.5 inches left. 3.7 inches down at 200 yards. 3.3 inches left. 9.5 inches down at 300 yards. This is acceptable but the results may vary when

the bayonet is fitted with a pronged flash hider.

7.4 There is no indication that the body cover does not make a suitable mount for the optical sight. (See Appendix 'A')

The attachment of the sight to the bracket and the bracket to the rifle was not satisfactory. The retaining screws continually worked loose.

At the end of the first cycle of the endurance test they were firmly staked by FN representative. From then on there was no movement but it is impossible to compare the position of groups fired before with those fired after the screws were secured in this way.

7.5 The mean of the 10 shot accuracy diagrams during the endurance test at 200 yards are:

Cold 5.4" x 7.8" 1.7" right 21" up Hot 8" x 8.7" .5" right 19.7" up

Fig 109 A comparison chart to fig 108, plotting residual kinetic energy for the same cartridge types.

The mean size of the diagrams fired before the endurance test was 7" x 5.75"; after the test the mean was 4" x 5.65" at 200 yards.

These results, in particular the improved small rectangles at the end of the endurance test, are satisfactory.

7.6 Total rounds fired: at Enfield 7,156 rounds of .30 cal T104E1 At Pendine 360 rounds of .30 ball LR; i.e. T65E3

case, M.E. bullet.

Appendix A To test the rigidity of the slide carrying the Optical Sight during its removal, and replacement 500 times.

1. Programme 1.1 Fire one 20 round accuracy group at 200 yards from the Enfield Rest. Record position of MPI and size of group. 1.2 Break rifle, remove slide, replace slide and close butt. Repeat 100 times, clean barrel. 1.3 Repeat 1.1 and 1.2 four times

1.4 Repeat 1.1.

2. Results

Ammunition used: 120 rounds .30 T104E1

Position of MPI Group Size 1st group 2 R, 22 up 5 x 5 1/2

140 Prototypes 43 to 49

Fig 110 FN prototype no 45, originally ordered by the British in cal 7 x 49.15 mm (Optimum 2), with an eclectic mixture of British and American features: UK muzzle brake, 'double-effect' cocking handle and unit-power op-

Maximum variation from mean: 9" R. 1.4" up

3. Remarks

There was no variation in the position of MPI

during the test.

The size of the 20 shot rectangles was satisfac­

tory throughout the trial.

Fig 111 Closeup of the action of FN prototype no 45. The British-style 'double-effect' cocking handle was

tic sight; distinctive American bulbous trigger and folding 'Arctic' trigger guard. Later rebarreled to 7.62 mm NATO.

- QAD(W) Pattern Room

Position of MPI Group Size

2nd group 1 R, 20 1/2 up 5 x 7

3rd group 2 R, 20 1/2 up 3 1/2 x 7 1/2

4th group 2 R, 20 up 5 x 4 1/2

5th group 3 R , 20 1/2up 5x5 1/2

6th group 2 1/2R 20 up 7x8 1/2

Mean of 6

groups 2.1" R 20.6 up 5.1" x 6.4"

called for in the June 1953 Enfield and Pendine trials held to test FN prototype no 43.

Fig 112 Closeup of the folding front iron sight on FN no 45. The rear projection on the sight base was a prototype idea only - it provided a fulcrum when adjusting the gas regulator with the point of a cartridge.

In Amer ica , it was by now an open secret that the

FAL would be the next US mil i tary rifle. Press

releases were carefu l ly fed f rom Co l Studler's of­

f ice to prepare the Amer i can publ ic for the fact

that a ' foreign' rifle cou ld be better than a native

US product. An early sample is the fo l lowing ex­

tract f rom Army Times of Ju ly 4, 1953:

of a new light machine gun , and of the fact that both

the FN and the T-44 must be further modif ied before

either can be standardized.

T h e new machine gun wi l l weigh only about 20

pounds, yet wi l l replace guns weighing 32 to 40

pounds wi th no loss in firepower.

A r m y Field Forces is now testing both the T-44

and the FN at Fort Benning, G a . Results of these tests

are expected by this fal l at wh ich time one or the

other gun wi l l be p icked.

T h e new rifle wi l l replace four weapons — the

.45 submachine gun — the carbine, the M-1 rifle and

the B A R . T h e machine gun using the T 6 5 cartridge

wou ld replace both the light and heavy cal .30 guns

now used.

T h e new rifle still has the automatic fire

capabi l i ty. Wi th a b ipod mount, it wi l l be satisfac­

tory as a substitute for the B A R , according to testi­

mony.

T h e new light machine gun is similar in most

respects to the rifle, being modif ied to accept a belt

feed, instead of a magazine feed.

Monsieur Vervier was freely a l lowed to assist in the

Fort Benning trials this t ime, and reported that they

were up and on the range early every morning at 7

a.m. The troop trials were much more di f f icul t to

fo l low and record than the more methodical

technical tests, he said. In the 'squad f ield firing

test', for example, a group of ten soldiers, armed

with eight l ight F A L rifles plus the two heavy-

barrels, s imply "spread out into the bushes and

started f ir ing in all direct ions at once"

When they returned, they casua l ly reported to

an off icer with a c l ipboard the number of rounds

they had f ired, and any di f f icul t ies they had ex­

per ienced.

Fig 113 FN prototype no 45 posing in a different guise, with 'standard' pistol grip and trigger mechanism; ex­perimental flash hider removed.

Belgian Light Rifle Tested Against T-44

WASHINGTON — A new entry — the Belgian-made FN

— has come out to challenge A r m y Ordnance's T-44

for a place as the A r m y ' s new light rifle.

Hear ings before the A r m y sub-committee of the

House Appropr iat ions committee tell of the new F N ,

142 Prototypes 43 to 49

Fig 114 Closeup of FN prototype no 45 after modifica­tion - optic sight mount now features offset emergency iron peep sight. Compare with fig 111.

M. Vervier descr ibed a trial to demonstrate to

visiting Engl ish off icers the superiority of the

cocking handle on the left side of the arm: two

soldiers, one armed with a loaded F A L and the

other with a loaded T44, wa lked slowly out onto

the range with their rifles at the carry. At the c o m ­

mand "fire", they ejected the chambered cartr idge

and fired the next round as qu ick ly as possible. The

FN system, wherein the firer kept his right f inger on

the trigger at all t imes, was demonstrably faster. M.

Vervier's report of 11 Ju ly 1953 ended with the

statement that the trials were cont inuing at a de­

terminedly fast pace, and would soon be com­

pleted. To that date, FN rifles numbers 30 to 39, and

the two heavy-barreled versions, numbers 41 and

42, had fired in total 10,004 rounds at Fort Benning,

and had exper ienced only 13 stoppages. The only

ominous note was that the result of test 1, weights

Fig 115 FN prototype no 46, ordered by the British as the forerunner of their X8E2 series of test FAL rifles, studied in Volume Two.

Fig 116 FN prototype no 47, (pictured with its inventor Monsieur Saive in the frontispiece). This rifle featured in important trials in France in 1953.

Fig 117 FN prototype no 49, ordered by the Venezuelan government in 7 mm Optimum 2, (7 x 49.15 mm), which later became a popular cartridge in Venezuela. No 49 is

the last single FAL prototype made before quantity pro­duction began.

144 Prototypes 43 to 49

Fig 118 FN prototype no 48, the rifle which became the American 'T48' Calibre .30 T65E3. Initial American test

results very much favoured this design over the native Springfield Armory T44.

Fig 119 Closeup of the 10-round 'horseshoe' stripper clip, gripped back and front in the receiver of FAL no 48.

and dimensions, listed the average weight of the 10

FN light rifles as 8.84 lb, as opposed to 8.18 lb for

the T44. (The FN heavy barrel did better, weighing

10.85 lb, as opposed to the T44E5 heavy barrel at

11.36.)

British trials results have already been given

for the first of the f inal UK prototypes, no 43.

C a n a d a had ordered no 44, in a 's tandard' con­

f igurat ion, in .30 T65 ca l . This arm was proofed and

ready in Ju ly 1953, and with it Monsieur Laloux

journeyed to O t tawa at the request of the Canad ian

government. He returned jubi lant ly to Herstal on

Ju ly 16th with the first-ever quanti ty order for the

F A L rifle. C a n a d a was first in the world to place

such an order, wh ich was for "2,000 rifles, of the

same basic type as prototype no 44, and two

mi l l ion rounds of ammuni t ion, of a type to be

dec ided on by September 30, 1953."

Monsieur Vervier himself returned to a warm

we lcome in Herstal on August 8th: the Board of In­

fantry Of f icers at Fort Benning had submitted a

conc lus ive report on their Project 2495A, which in

very few words recommended the adopt ion of the

FN light auto rifle as " l imited procurement", (a

definit ive step towards fu l l -scale US adoption), and

the "suspension of further deve lopment" on the

T44. The future of the FAL rifle, in the United States

and elsewhere, looked bright indeed.

146 The Go lden Age

Fig 120 A chart prepared for this book by M. Van Rutten showing FAL sales to 1980. New, FN-made weapons only; no spare parts or client-licensed production.

Book 2

The Golden Age Introduction

The success of the F A L design in Amer ican , Brit ish,

Canad ian and Belg ian trials proved it worthy of

adopt ion by many countr ies of the free wor ld; in­

deed, nearly every country in that wor ld without a

design of its own to adopt p lumped eventual ly for

the FAL . As had been the case with the numerous

FN Mauser models, c l ient country preferences were

often built into the F A L design. Some of these

variat ions came to be accepted as part of the

gradual evolut ion and refinement of the basic rifle,

whi le many others now serve only to identify the

'quirks' of the part icular adopt ing country.

Please note: The fo l lowing sect ion of countr ies

using the F A L rifle is in date order of adoption. The

list spans some twenty-eight years, dur ing which

t ime many changes have taken p lace. Some coun­

tries adopted the F A L but now no longer use it,

usual ly due to the later development of a domest ic

design; for example Germany. Others adopted the

FN-made product and later progressed through the

var ious FN-recommended stages of (1) in-house

assembly, fo l lowed by (2) l imited component

product ion, and f inal ly (3) complete manufacture

of the F A L in their own arsenals. This process may

have taken ten or more years, but for the sake of

clarity, once a country is ment ioned, the complete

story of F A L development to date within that coun­

try wil l be given under the one heading.

Many countr ies were quite content to adopt

the basic F A L as FN then offered it, wi thout any

unique features or identi fying marks or crest.

The dist inct ive crests on FN-contract FALs pic­

tured in the fo l lowing sect ions were as a rule roll-

s tamped on to the receivers by a die, wh ich was

made in FN's own engraving shop to the design

speci f ied by the adopt ing country.

At F N , f i l l ing quant i ty orders for governments

who had adopted the FAL was the largest but by no

means the only job at hand. Numerous other coun­

tries were performing their own mil i tary research

and weapons trials. The FAL became extremely

popular as a test rifle all over the wor ld, both as a

sample, to be studied from the standpoint of its

design and method of manufacture, and as an arm

of proven rel iabil i ty to be inc luded as a benchmark

in actual comparat ive f ir ing trials. Moreover, there

was the responsibi l i ty entrusted to Groupe 74, who

were not concerned with vo lume product ion at a l l ,

but buil t only prototypes, and constant ly modif ied

and improved the exist ing design.

Fol lowing is a listing spanning some fourteen

years from the fi les of Groupe 74, of trials rifles and

accessories made up to order for trials in other lands

and at F N . The list begins scant months before

Monsieur Sa ive retired from F N , on November 30,

1954.

His p lace was very ably taken by his chief

assistant. Monsieur Ernest Vervier, who later

designed the M A G 5 8 Mitrailleuse a gaz, or gas-

operated machine gun.

148 The Go lden A g e

Trials Rifles & Accessories Made to Order

Date Country

1954

Qty Descript ion Date

1955

Country

(conti

Qty

nued)

Description

Apri l V e n e z u e l a 1 F A L 7mm short Mar Church i l l 1 Special-order FAL

(.280) presentation

May U K & C a n 1300 F A L opt ical sight May Egypt 2 FAL Canada

bases & hoods May New 1 FAL UK-2 covers,

May U K 3 FA HB shoulder Zea land long & short

pieces l ike US (con­ May C o l o m b i a 1 F A L Standard

tract 31 Mar 54) May Peru 1 F A L Standard

Ju ly Israel 15 F A L May Germany 3 F A L with optic

Ju ly Brazi l 2 F A L type C a n a d a sight ser no G57,

ser no BRE1 & 2 G58, G67

A u g Denmark 5 F A L June Belg C o n g o 2 F A L Belgian M1

Sept Sweden spares to convert June Mex ico 5 F A L Standard 10 FN49 rifles to O c t Ho l land 3 1 FAL Canada ; 1

6.5x55 FAL U S A ; 1 F A L O

Aug Norway 10 FAL O c t Aust r ia 1 FAL C a n a d a

O c t Israel 2 FAL H B Ser no E4 O c t Germany 1 F A L C a n a d a

and E5 Dec Jordan 2 F A L Standard

O c t V e n e z u e l a 1 F A L 7mm medium Dec Luxem­

(prototype no 49) bourg 1 F A L S t a n d a r d s

O c t India 13 FAL F A L Belgian

O c t Israel 2 F A L c l ip loading

O c t Be lg ium 1 F A L heavy barrel

Nov Israel 1 F A L C a n a d a 1956

D e c Argent ina 2 F A L

Dec Argent ina 1 F A L heavy barrel Date Country Qty Description type U S A

Dec Brazi l 1 F A L C a n a d a w/ Jan Switzer­

f lash hider ser no 01 land 2 FAL Ca l 7.5 Swiss

Dec Mex ico 1 F A L C a n a d a Feb U S A 6 Amer ican trials

Dec U S A 7 F A L 7.62 for US arc­ FALs

t ic trials Feb U K 1 F A L for sand and

D e c U S A 4 F A L heavy barrel mud tests

del 11.1.55 June France 1 F A L Standard

Dec German- 2 F A L C a n a d a Aug Israel 2 F A L with sand cuts;

demo 1 F A L U S A (T48) F A L type U K - a l u m ­

1 F A L O inum lower receiver

Dec N ica ragua 1 F A L C a n a d a Aug Germany 1 F A L 2 covers for

scope sight

Sept Yugos lav ia 1 F A L Standard

1955 O c t U S A 1 1 FAL to

C O N A R C - F t Benning

Date Country Qty Descript ion O c t Germany 10 F A L metal h g &

bipod

Mar Sir Winston Nov Kuwai t 1 F A L Standard

Church i l l 1 grenade launcher D e c V e n e z u e l a 1 F A L 7mm D189;

May Spain 1 F A L C a n a d a 7.62mm 1 F A L O 7mm D190

Mar Spa in 1 F A L O

Date Country Qty Descript ion

Feb Aust r ia 1 F A L German

Feb Tha i land 1 F A L Standard D191 1 F A L O DL192

Feb Saudi

A rab ia 1 F A L Standard D193 1 F A L O DL194

Feb Indonesia 1 F A L Standard D195 1 F A L O DL196

Apr Turkey 1 F A L German G1

no 199 1 F A L Standard 200 1 FALO 198

June Indonesia 1 F A L ' type 100,000'

(German G1) ser 217 Aug Belg ium 1 Support for infra­

red (Phil ips) sniper-

scope Sept Italy 1 F A L German D235

1 F A L light D236 1 F A L O LD237

Sept I taly 1 F A L D258 'Arsenal

Exerci to ' O c t Iran 1 F A L German G1

1 FAL 'H idu ' (H idu-

minium lower re­

ceiver construc­

tion)

1 F A L O

1958

Date Country Qty Descript ion

Jan Braz i l 2 F A L Standard D284

D285

1 F A L D286

F A L extra l ight D287

Jan Braz i l 1 F A L German G1

D288

Feb Germany 1 cover for Hensold t

scope mounted on side; 1 cover for

Hensold t direct ly

over line of sight

May V e n e z u e l a 1 FAL 7 mm medium

May Braz i l 1 F A L 7.62 no E13

May Germany 1 mount for E N O S A

Scope

Sept Gua tema la 1 F A L German G1

Sept U K 2 F A L 7.62 Standard

Ministry of Supp ly

1958 (continued)

Date Country Qty Descript ion

O c t France 2 F A L Austr ian -

S T R I M grenade

launcher O c t U S A 6 F A L cal 7.62 Stand­

ard (US Army Ord ,

Phi ladelphia) O c t C u b a 1 F A L German

Dec Ho l land 1 Scope mount

' O I P'

1959

Date Country Qty Descript ion

Jan Ch i le 1 F A L O DL420

Jan Germany 2 F A L w/open sights

1 F A L

1 F A L

Feb C u b a 2 F A L Standard

Mar St Domin ­

ique 2 F A L Belg ique M1

Mar Be lg ium 1 F A L O DL1148

Apr Greece 1 F A L type Peru

Apr Ecuador /

C o l o m b i a 1 F A L Standard D464

Apr Ireland 1 F A L Standard D469

May V e n e z u e l a 1 F A L type German

May V e n e z u e l a 1 F A L 7.62 type Vene­

zue la May Be lg ium Prototype support

O I P (scope mount

and cover)

May 2 F A L 7mm medium

type Venezue la

G475

June G h a n a 2 F A L G481, G482

A u g Israel 4 F A L G496, 497, 498

G499

Aug Sweden 1 F A L type Austr ia

no 502

1 F A L Standard 504

1 F A L Standard 503

Sept FN 1 F A L Standard to

study proto .22

Sept Greece 1 F A L type Peru G514

Sept Niger ia 1 F A L Standard G515

1957

150 The Go lden A g e

1959 (continued) 1960 (continued)

Date Country Qty Descript ion Date Country Qty Description

O c t Portugal 3 F A L G517 Dec Ecuador 1 FAL , b lued, with

G 5 1 9 - 5 2 0 O I P scope

Nov Sudan 1 F A L type Peru

blued f inish G521

Nov Sudan 1 F A L Standard 1961 Nov Belg ium 1 F A L O (shor thand-

guard) Date Country Qty Description Dec 2 F A L G534-535 type

Peru Jan Tha i land 1 F A L G706

Feb Be lg ium 2 F A L folding butt

0001/2 (proto)

1 F A L G674 1960 Feb Germany

2 F A L folding butt

0001/2 (proto)

1 F A L G674

Feb Tha i land 1 F A L

Date Country Qty Descript ion Feb Ecuador 1 F A L modif ied Mar France 6 F A L l ightweight

Jan Italy 35 F A L G827-832

Mar Sweden 30 F A L Mar Ireland 1 F A L type S. Af r ica

Mar Ho l land 240 F A L leger N1-N240 Mar Sweden Convers ion parts

Mar U K 1 F A L for 3 FALs in 6.5x

Mar 10 G598-G607 51 mm

Apr Pakistan 1 F A L type Peru G593 Apr Argent ina 1 F A L Para

Apr Ho l land 10 F A L Standard, light­ 1 F A L Standard weight Apr Peru 1 F A L Para P7

May South Apr Tha i land 1 F A L Standard G1019

A f r i ca 1 F A L Standard G620 Apr V e n e z u e l a 1 F A L Para P8

1 F A L metal guard Apr Denmark 3 scope covers - In f ra-G622 red, 1 O I P , 1 Hen-

1 F A L O G625 soldt

May Portugal 1 F A L G621 Apr Turkey 1 F A L type S Af r i ca

May C o l o m b i a 1 F A L D626 no 1099

May Ho l land 5 sniper scope May Peru Phil ips IR mount. covers (Phil ips) base & scope

May Norway 2 F A L G623 G624 June Sweden 124 F A L 7.62

May Ireland 1 F A L D628 Ju ly Ho l land 2 F A L type Hol land

June C o l o m b i a 1 F A L D629 G1298-1299

June Sweden 3 F A L ca l 6.5x55mm June France 1 F A L D831 B

ser 1, 2 & 3 A u g Pakistan 1 F A L

Ju ly Turkey 2 F A L 38T-39T Aug Rhod & Ny­

Aug India 3 F A L O GL635-636- assaland 1 F A L

637 Sept Ho l land 8 22 kits

Sept S A f r i ca 1 F A L Standard Sept Ho l land 2 22 kits

Sept Braz i l 1 F A L Standard O c t Aust r ia 1 F A L Standard G1412

Sept Argent ina 1 F A L G647 O c t 1 F A L l ightweight

Sept Rhodes ia & G1413

Nyassa land 1 F A L G648 O c t France 1 F A L Peru P10

Sept C o l o m b i a 1 scope base O c t Argent ina 1 F A L Peru P9

Nov Ch i le 1 F A L D964 O c t C o l o m b i a 1 F A L Peru P11

Nov Morocco 1 F A L G675 Nov Formosa 5 F A L

1 F A L GL675 5 F A L O

Nov Denmark 6 F A L Nov Ho l land 2 F A L no 022 & 060

Nov 1 G530

Dec France 2 G702-G703

1962

Date Country Qty Descript ion

Feb France 3 F A L l ightweight

2 F A L O

Apr India 1 F A L Para P12 Date

5 F A L Standard G1996

-G2000 O c t

Apr Braz i l 1 F A L Para P13

1 F A L Standard G2004

May Liège 1 F A L Para P14 Nov

May Sweden 1 F A L

Ju ly Be lg ium 1 F A L Para 0003

1 F A L Para P15

Aug C o l o m b i a 2 F A L

Aug Sweden 10 F A L Para Date

A u g Braz i l 4 F A L G2997-G3000

Sept France 25 F A L Jan

25 F A L l ightweight Jan

A u g Sweden 100 F A L Jan

Sept C o l o m b i a 1 F A L Para P18

O c t L iber ia 4 F A L G3009-3012 Mar

O c t Braz i l 1 F A L Mar

1 F A L O

Nov L iber ia 2 F A L

Nov Germany 1 F A L Para P19 Apr

Dec Nepal 2 F A L Standard Apr

D3152-3153 May

Aug

1963 Aug

Date Country Qty Descript ion Aug

Feb C o l o m b i a 1 F A L Para Mar Be lg ium 1 F A L

Apr Saudi

A rab ia 1 F A L G3912 Date May Equador 2 F A L Para

June Sweden 10 F A L Para Jan

10 F A L

June Ho l land 2 F A L Para G3942-

G3943 Feb Ju ly Uganda 1 F A L Feb Ju ly U K 1 F A L G3944 (plast ic

butt) Mar Aug Israel 2 F A L Para Mar Aug Argent ina 2 F A L Para PG3948- Apr

3949

Sept France 2 F A L Apr O c t 5 F A L

Sept U S A 6 F A L Apr O c t Germany 10 mechanisms for May

German blanks June O c t Morocco 1 F A L Para P17

1963 (continued)

1964

1965

Country Qty Description

Hol land 1 F A L .280 modif ied

for trials in 7.62 x

39 (AK47)

U K 1 F A L 4001

Country Qty Descript ion

Austr ia 1 F A L Para

Braz i l 1 F A L

FN 1 develop prototype

F A L in .223 ca l

U S A 55 F A L

C o l o m b i a 1 F A L D4024

1 F A L O DL4022

1 F A L PO4026

Peru 2 F A L

Ecuador 1 F A L

L ibya 2 F A L Special ( l ike

L1A1)

Braz i l 2 F A L Para PG4097-

4098

Braz i l 1 F A L no 1

Greece 3 F A L 4100, 4101, 4102

Country Qty Descript ion

FN 1 .223-rifle of 2nd generation with

proto 3 shot burst

Braz i l 1 F A L no 4186

St Kitts 1 F A L

Nevis

U K 1 F A L

Argent ina 1 F A L

FN 1 .223 2nd generat ion

in stamped steel

FN 1 .223 grenade

launcher

U S A 60 F A L

Ecuador 1 F A L

FN 1 .223 2nd generat ion

152 The Go lden Age

1965 (continued)

Date Country Qty Descript ion

June Turkey 3 FAL 'maxi ' *E4313,

4314, 4315

June Turkey 2 F A L 001, 002

Aug Eth iopia 2 F A L

Aug Mex ico 3 F A L D4340, 41, 42

Aug France 1 F A L

Sept Paraguay 1 F A L Para PG4348

O c t Mex ico 1 F A L 4351

O c t Denmark 2 F A L

O c t Denmark 3 F A L 'max i '

Nov U S A 3 F A L 'max i '

Nov France 12 F A L 'max i '

Dec Mex ico 1 F A L

1 F A L Para

Dec FN 1 FALO-pro to type

open breech (full

auto f rom open

bolt)

Dec U S A 140 F A L 'max i '

1966

Date Country Qty Descript ion

Feb U K 2 F A L 'max i ' G5044-45

Jan Swi tz (Sig) 1 F A L S046

Mar Tanzan ia 1 F A L G5048

May Turkey 1 F A L Para

Sept C a n a d a 2 F A L 'max i '

O c t FN 1 Proto C A L no 3

5.56mm

Nov Turkey 1 F A L Standard

* Note: the FAL 'max i ' was a test weapon made up

to order for ammuni t ion control tests, featuring

max imum (oversize) headspace and min imum firing

pin protrusion. These were used to test expansion

of cartr idge cases. The FAL 'mini' was the reverse,

featuring a tight chamber and max imum firing pin

protrusion. These were test weapons only and

never produced in quanti ty. — Ed.

1967

Date Country Qty Description

Jan FN begin construction

of 5 proto C A L in

5.56mm Jan Z a m b i a 1 FAL Standard

May Argent ina 1 F A L Para Belgian

M3 (short barrel)

1 FAL June FN 2 40mm Grenade

launchers for C A L

5.56mm

Ju ly Sweden 1 C A L proto 5.56 mm

Aug Eth iopia 1 FAL

Aug U S A 75 FAL 'maxi '

Aug Argent ina 1 FAL short barrel

1 F A L Para M3

Dec Greece 3 F A L G559-E9651-

PG6324

Dec El S a l v a ­

dor 1 F A L Standard

1968

Date Country Qty Description

Jan Be lg ium 1 C A L Prototype

Feb Tha i land 1 F A L Feb K e n y a 1 F A L Apr C o l o m b i a 1 F A L

1 F A L Para 1 F A L O

May Norway 2 F A L 'maxi '

Part One

The FAL 'Canada'

Canada 1953

The 1953 Canad ian order was expanded sl ight ly

and conf i rmed on Ju ly 20th, 1953, by the Minister

of Defence Product ion, as being for:

• 2,000 rifles, 1,000 fitted with iron sights and

1,000 fitted with the UK-des ign unit-power opti­

ca l sight

• 6,000 magaz ines

• 2,000 bayonets

• 50 Energa-type grenade launchers

• 2,000,000 cartr idges of a design to be f ina l ized

by Sept 30, 1953.

This order was amended a short t ime later, a

fac t wh ich the author was not aware of until quite

recently, and f ina l ized, stil l for a total quant i ty of

2,000 rif les, but for 1,700 of the ' E X 1 ' or iron sight

model , and only 300 of the unit-optic ' E X 2 ' type.

(This wou ld certainly help account for the relative

rarity of the latter Canad ian model.) The Canad ian

Fig 121 FN-manufactured CDN EX1 rifle, the FAL 'Can­ada'. 1700 produced in 1954 for Canadian troop trials. Studied in Volume One. — Bruce Douglas collection

Fig 122 FN-manufactured CDN EX2 rifle. Only 300 were made; cal 7.62 mm NATO. Studied in Volume One.

— author's collection

Fig 123 The Canadian EX2 rifle. Note receiver markings and offset front iron sight. - Photo: Wm. J.S. Smith, Toronto.

154 The FAL ' C a n a d a '

EX1 and EX2 rifles were serial ly numbered O . B .

0001, to O .B . 2000.

As was ment ioned earlier, C a n a d a was the first

country in the wor ld to adopt the F A L rifle. This

precedent quite natural ly gave a point of reference

to future orders for several years thereafter. Many

other countr ies adopted the F A L 'Canada ' , with or

without modi f icat ions, as their own design.

The Amer i can T65E3 .30 cal ibre cartr idge was

adopted as standard by al l the members of N A T O

in late 1953. Its designat ion was f ina l ized as

7.62mm N A T O in 1954. At F N , the streamlined

mass-product ion techniques and machinery

layouts of Monsieur La loux design were al ready

beginning the 7.62mm Canad ian order. Records in­

d icate the EX1 ser O . B . 0002 was del ivered and had

successfu l ly f ired 6,000 rounds at Canad ian Ar­

senals ' test range by October , 1954.

Vo lume O n e contains detai led information on

the fo l lowing topics: Canad ian trials with these

metr ic-measurement weapons; the format ion of the

UK-Canada-Aus t ra l ia Ri f le Steering Commit tee,

with C a n a d a as its Design Authori ty; the sub­

sequent convers ion of the FN F A L drawings to Im­

perial inch measurement and the product ion of the

agreed-upon, modi f ied design at Canad ian Arsenals

Limited, near Toronto.

The Canad ian design is currently issued to the

Canad ian Armed Forces in three versions as

fo l lows:

1. Semi-automat ic rifle C1A1

2. Select ive-f ire rifle C 1 A 1 D , for troops of the Mari­

t ime C o m m a n d (Navy);

3. Select ive fire, heavy-barrel l ight support weapon

C 2 A 1 .

Fig 124 The supernumerary rifle in the Canadian-ordered EX series, serial no O.B. 2001. Prototype change lever but­ton and US T48-type pistol grip and trigger guard.

— Diemaco Incorporated

Fig 125 FN-produced T48E1 heavy-barrel automatic rifle, modified in Canadian trials and fitted with a Bren Mk II bipod and rear tripod bracket. Handguard removed. Compare with page 165. — Diemaco Incorporated

156 The FAL ' C a n a d a '

Fig 126 The first C1 rifle, made in 1955 by Canadian Arsenals Limited. Serial no 0L0000. Inch measurement; studied in Volume One. — Canadian War Museum

Fig 127 Current-issue Canadian C1A1D (selective fire, light barrel). Issued to troops of Canadian Forces Mari­

Fig 128 'Rifle, C1 Instructional', cutaway to show work­ing parts. — Diemaco Incorporated

time Command (Navy). Fitted with the Canadian-issue UK L1A2 grenade launcher.

The United States, 1954 - 1957

Let it be said at the outset of this section that the United States is the only country included here which did not actually adopt the FAL rifle. Sizeable quantities of several models were purchased, for extensive trials, but long after Canada, Britain, Belgium and numerous other countries had 'signed up' with FN, and even in the face of a tacit agree­ment to adopt the FAL in the American .30 calibre, which had been reached in 1952 between Prime Minister Churchill and American President Truman, the US-version of the FAL (known as the T48) was ultimately passed over in favour of the native US T44 design.

The FN arctic triggerguard as designed by M. Saive and pioneered on prototype no 38 for Col Studler's approval, was taken to heart and became the most distinguishing feature of the American T48 design, which was basically the FAL 'Canada' with this unique triggerguard added. In November, 1953,

just two months after Col Studler's retirement on August 31 as Assistant Chief of Ordnance, 100 FAL rifles were ordered from FN, 70 of the light T48 type and the remaining 30, fitted with heavy barrel and bipod, known as the T48E1. That same month, the arctic trials which had been scheduled to follow the summer 1953 Fort Benning test series began, and Monsieur Vervier once again journeyed across the Atlantic.

The news from Fort Benning of the summer Board's preference for the FN over the T44 had not come as a surprise to many in the US military; in­deed, the T44 was sent along to Big Delta, Alaska merely as a bench-mark — a place from which the FAL's performance could further be measured. A complete English-language manual was prepared by FN for the T48 model, further indicating the universal degree of assurance which prevailed at the time regarding its ultimate American adoption.

Fig 129 Excerpt f rom the cover of the original FN Engl ish- language T48 manua l , prepared for trials of FN T48 and T48E1 rifles purchased by the United States in 1953.

158 The United States 1954 - 1957

Fig 131 (overleaf) The T48E1 heavy-barrel automat ic rifle.

Fig 130 The T48 (light barrel) rifle, ca l .30 T65E3. Figs 131 to 138 are also from this first FN Engl ish- language T48 manual .

160 The United States 1954 - 1957

Fig 135 Charg ing the T48 with the 10-round 'horseshoe' cl ip. Compare the product ion front receiver guides with fig 119.

Fig 136 The 'Arct ic ' tr iggerguard hinged down. Note the FN T48 receiver markings.

Fig 137 Remov ing the 1 -p iece extractor with the aid of a cartridge.

Fig 138 Remov ing the 'hairpin' extractor spring. This design was later superceded, as it d id not stand up.

Overleaf; Above : Fig 132 Remov ing the T48 gas piston Centre: Fig 133 Remov ing the bolt and bolt carrier Below: Fig 134 Remov ing the charger- loading body cover.

162 The United States 1954 - 1957

Interest continued in spite of the 1953 Arctic trials result, which was a devastating reversal of opinion by the testing officers in Alaska. Notwithstanding M. Vervier's best efforts, they found the T48 not at all well prepared for the rigorous arctic cold. They much preferred the limited-budget T44s.

Further American orders, for advanced, FAL-equipped troop trials were nevertheless forth­coming the following summer, totalling over three thousand rifles. The true breakdown of this order is interesting, and is hitherto unreported: of the total 1954 US order of 3,303 rifles, (Volume One), fully 2,270 were the FAL 'Canada' light rifle type. Only 833 were made in the bona fide T48 configuration; the final 200 were heavy-barrel T48E1 s.

The success story of the underdog T44, which

went on (under the able direction of Col Roy Rayle at Springfield Armory to become adopted on May 1, 1957 as the US rifle, M14, is further told else­where. Nevertheless, if any further proof is needed of just how close the FAL came to US adoption, the following excerpts are presented from a rare US Army provisional manual, 1,500 copies of which were issued from Fort Benning on 8 December 1954. No expense was spared in ensuring that these instructions were accurate, thorough and could support an in-service weapon: the complete man­ual is 140 pages in length. Aside from the American 'mid point' front sling swivel, and despite the 'T48' terminology, the weapon described throughout is the FAL 'Canada'.

1. P U R P O S E AND SCOPE

This special text tells you how to fire the T48 rifle and how to take care of it in the field and in garr ison. It tells you f irst about the rifle itself—how it works, how to take care of it, and what it can do. Then it tells how to fire at a fixed t a rge t on the range and how to fire under battlefield conditions. The text also includes information on the bayonet and how to do the manual of a rms with the T48 rifle.

This text does not include all the details on pit operations, safety precautions, conduct of range firing, and technique of rifle fire. Ad­ditional information on these mat te rs can be found in FM 23-5 for the T48 rifle and in FM 23-15 for the T48E1. Where there is conflict between the information contained in this text and in the field manuals , the special text ap­plies.

Instructors and coaches should also study the fundamentals of marksmanship contained in TIS Special Text 23-5-1, "Hi ts Count."

2 . IMPORTANCE OF R I F L E TRAINING When your unit goes into battle, it will be

supported by other weapons, most of them of

larger caliber than your rifle and capable of f ir ing at longer ranges. The main purpose of those weapons is to destroy or pin down as many of the enemy as possible before you and your rifle close with him on the objective. But the final success of your squad or platoon will depend on how well you and the men next to you can shoot your rifles. The T48 and T48E1 rifles can deliver a large volume of fire when necessary, but recent wars have proved tha t one well-aimed shot is more valuable than a full magazine sprayed in the general direction of the enemy.

A poorly-trained rifleman lacks confidence and is of no help to the rest of his squad. In combat he does one of two th ings : he either doesn't fire at all or he fires wildly in the general direction of the enemy. The well-trained rifleman, on the other hand, has con­fidence in himself and his weapon. He is the one who gets hits and earns the respect of the rest of his unit.

The marskmanship t ra in ing you get is bat­tle-tested and thorough. If you learn and prac­tice the r ight shooting habits, you will become a good shot. Begin your t ra in ing by remember-

164 The Fort Benning T48 manual

Figure 1a. The T48 Rifle

Figure lb . The T48E1 Rifle

166 The Fort Benning T48 manual

ing tha t no pa r t of shooting is about right. You either HIT or you MISS, and in combat that may spell the difference between life and death for you and the other men of your unit.

3 . DESCRIPTION OF T H E T48 R I F L E

There a re two models of the T48 rifle. One, having a light barrel is called the T48 (fig. 1 a ) . The second, the T48E1, has a heavy bar­rel, a bipod, a hinged but t plate, and an auto­matic change lever (fig. 1 b ) . Both are caliber .30, magazine fed, gas-operated, air-cooled weapons. The T48 is a semiautomatic shoulder weapon and the T48E1 is a semiautomatic or automatic weapon. The hinged but t plate makes it possible for the T48E1 to be fired from the bipod or from the shoulder. The T48 can be fired automatically when fitted with

a change lever of the same design as the lever that is s tandard equipment with the T48E1. Remember these differences in the T48E1 : it has a heavy barrel , bipod, hinged butt plate, and an automatic change lever.

Both models have a front sight tha t can be adjusted when you are zeroing your rifle (par. 78) . It is mounted at the forward end of the gas cylinder. The rear sight, which is an aper­ture r amp type, is the same on both models. It is mounted on the stock group. The rear sight is marked off in 100-yard measurements from 100 to 600 yards. You can change the strike of the bullet to the r ight or left by loosening the deflection screws and moving the rear sight in the desired direction (par. 78) .

Here are some facts you will want to know about both models:

T48 TA8E1 Weights (approximate) :

Rifle without magazine 9 lbs 11 1/2 lbs Empty magazine 1/2 lb 1/2 lb Full magazine (20 rounds) 1 1/2 lbs 11/2 lbs Bipod 11/2 lbs F i r ing weight with flash suppressor and sling 11 lbs 14 1/2 lbs

Lengths (approximate) :

Rifle, overall, with flash suppressor 44 1/2" 45" Barrel 2 1 " 2 1 "

Method of operation—gas.

Method of feeding—magazine, 20 round capacity.

Cyclic ra te of fire (automatic)—650 to 700 rounds per minute.

Muzzle velocity—2,800 to 2,850 feet per second.

Maximum range—3,500 yards (ball ammuni t ion) .

Maximum effective range—500 yards .

Ammunition : Ball (M59)—for use in marksmanship t ra in ing.

Armor piercing (M61)—for use against lightly armored vehicles, protective shelters, and personnel.

Tracer (M62)—for observation of fire, incendiary and signaling purposes. Grenade Launcher (M64)—for use in launching grenades.

4. F I R E P O W E R When you squeeze the t r igger the round is

fired, the empty case is ejected, the hammer is cocked, a new round is inserted into the chamber, and the rifle is ready to fire again—

all in about one eight-hundredth of a minute. This rapid mechanical action allows each rifle­man to deliver a large number of aimed shots in a short t ime.

5. G E N E R A L Although the T48 rifle is a rugged weapon,

it can be damaged if it is not handled properly. Worn or damaged par t s can cause your rifle to malfunction and, although you may be given an "alibi" on the range when your rifle fails to fire, the enemy will not give you an "alibi."

To help keep your rifle in firing condition, follow these rules when taking it apa r t or put­t ing i t together :

Do not use force.

Do not hurry. Has te can lead to damaged par ts .

As you take the rifle apar t , lay the parts out in the order of disassembly. This will help you put your rifle back together.

You are permitted to disassemble only certain parts because constant dissassembly causes extra wear and some par t s require special tools for disassembly. The disas­sembly char t on the following page shows which groups and par ts you may disas­semble alone, under supervision, or not at all. You may disassemble those par t s indi­cated by " s " only when supervised by an NCO or an officer.

Learn the names of the groups and pa r t s as you disassemble and assemble your rifle, and

also learn their functions. The names of the important visible pa r t s of the rifles are shown in figures la and l b .

6 . DISASSEMBLY OF T H E BARREL AND R E C E I V E R GROUP

To remove the magazine, hold the pistol grip with your r ight hand and place the but t of the rifle on your r ight hip or thigh, with the sights pointing to the r ight . Loosen the sling. Grasp the magazine with your left hand so tha t your thumb is against the magazine catch and your fingers are extended around the front of the magazine. With the thumb of your left hand, push in on the magazine catch, rotate the maga­zine forward and out, and remove it from the receiver (fig. 2 ) .

Before disassembly, be sure your rifle is cocked, the safety is on, and the rear sight is at its lowest (100-yard) setting. Cock the rifle by pulling the a rming handle all the way to the rear with your left hand and releasing it. Do not squeeze the tr igger, because the hammer must be cocked to remove the bolt and bolt car­rier. Place the change lever on " S " (safe) setting. Depress the rea r sight lock with your thumb and forefinger and slide the sight all the way to the rea r (fig. 3 ) .

168 The Fort Benning T48 manual

DISASSEMBLY CHART

GROUPS AND P A R T S Disassembly by

When supervised by A F F

Board # 3 Only

GROUPS AND P A R T S Individual

Soldier Armore r NCO Officer

A F F Board # 3 Only

1. Barrel and receiver group X

Except:

Fron t sight X

Driving rod from bolt car r ier X

Handguard S X

Carrying handle X

Arming handle X

Bolt stop s X

Magazine catch S X

2. Stock and t r igger housing groups from barrel and receiver group X

3. Stock and t r igger groups including rear sight s X

Except:

Automatic sear spring from automatic sear X

Tr igger spring and plunger X

Pistol gr ip X

Hammer spring guide from hammer X

Holding plate X

Locking lever, spr ing and plunger X

Figure 2. Removing the magazine.

With your left hand, palm up, grasp the handguard below the upper sling swivel. Grasp the small of the stock with your r ight hand. Lower the muzzle of the rifle below the hori­zontal to prevent the bolt and bolt carr ier from falling out of the receiver when the receiver is opened. Press the locking lever toward the rea r with the thumb of your r ight hand and open the receiver by applying pressure down­ward on the top of the stock with your r ight forearm (fig. 4 ) . This breaking action will cause the rifle to open like a shotgun.

Pull the driving rod up and to the rear, sliding the bolt and bolt carr ier from the re­ceiver.

To remove the bolt from the bolt carrier , hold them in the palm of your left hand so the driving rod is toward your body and the open face of the bolt is up. The head of the firing

pin should protrude through its hole in the bolt carr ier . Grasp the bolt with your r ight hand so tha t your thumb is against the head of the f ir ing pin and your second finger is against the face of the bolt (fig. 5 ) . Squeeze in on the head of the fir ing pin, compressing the firing pin spring, and rotate the face of the bolt up­ward and toward your body.

To remove the f ir ing pin from the bolt group, grasp the bolt in your left hand with your left thumb over the head of the firing pin. De­press the f ir ing pin with your left thumb. Remove the firing pin retainer by drift ing it out with the point of a dummy round (fig. 6 ) . Release the pressure on the firing pin slowly with your left thumb, allowing the fir ing pin spring to expand. Lift out the fir ing pin and the fir ing pin spring. Separate these two par ts .

170 The Fort Benning T48 manual

To remove the extractor and extractor spring, hold the bolt firmly in your left hand with the face of the bolt up and the extractor to the left. Place the point of a dummy cart­ridge under the claw of the extractor and press outward. P r y up, unseating the undercut shoulders of the extractor (fig. 7 ) , and remove the extractor and extractor spr ing from the bolt. Separate these two par t s . (The ex­t rac tor and extractor spr ing a re not removed from the bolt for normal care and cleaning.)

Grasp the end of the receiver cover with your r ight hand, thumb inserted under the top of the receiver cover, and pull toward the rear , sliding it from the receiver. Grasp the small of the stock with your r ight hand and the hand-guard with your left hand. Close the receiver with a snapping motion.

To disassemble the gas system, place the rifle on a table, muzzle to the left and sights up. Hold the rifle in position with your r ight hand. With the thumb of your left hand, fully depress the gas cylinder plug lock, rotate the gas cylinder plug away from you approximately 90°, and allow the gas piston spring to expand slowly. Remove the gas piston and gas piston spring from the gas cylinder by sliding them toward the muzzle. To complete the dis­assembly of the barre l and receiver group, separate these two par t s .

The disassembled par t s of the rifle, laid out from r ight to left in the order in which they were disassembled, are shown in figure 8.

7 . ASSEMBLY OF T H E BARREL AND RE­CEIVER GROUP

Place the rifle on a table with the muzzle to the left and the sights toward your body. Replace the gas piston spr ing on the gas piston. Be sure to place the smallest end of the gas piston spring on the gas piston because reverse assembly will cause the rifle to function im­properly. Slide these two par t s into the gas cylinder, spring end first .

With your r ight hand, hold the rifle muzzle to the left with the sights up. To replace the gas cylinder plug, grasp it with your left thumb and fingers so tha t the " A " is toward the muz­zle. In this position, place the gas cylinder plug in contact with the face of the gas piston (fig. 9 ) .

Figure 3. Setting the rear sight.

Holding the rifle in place with the right hand, press the gas cylinder plug into the gas cylinder, fully depress the gas cylinder plug lock, and rotate the plug toward you until the plug lock reseats itself in the locked position. In this position, the " A " is upside down (fig. 10) .

Break open the rifle and replace the receiver cover, r ea r clip guide first, by engaging its guide ribs with the guide grooves in the re­ceiver and sliding it forward into position.

Place the extractor spring into the extractor with the short end of the extractor spring in the hole of the extractor. The long end fits along the groove on the outside of the extractor. Replace the extractor and extractor spr ing in the bolt with the claw of the extractor facing the center of the bolt. Grasp the bolt in your

Figure 4. Opening the receiver.

left hand with the extractor to the left; place your r ight thumb on top of the extractor ; press out and down on the extractor and seat it into the bolt (fig. 11) .

Replace the firing pin spring on the firing pin. Hold the bolt with your left hand. Insert the fir ing pin and fir ing pin spring into the bolt so tha t the guide lug of the f ir ing pin fits into i ts recess in the bolt. Depress the fir ing pin with the thumb of your left hand, com­pressing the f ir ing pin spring. Replace the fir ing pin retainer (fig. 12) .

To seat the bolt into the bolt carrier , place the bolt carr ier in the palm of your left hand with the open face up and the driving rod toward your body. Holding the bolt in your r ight hand, with the bottom up, seat the head of the f ir ing pin into its hole in the bolt carr ier . Regrasp the bolt with your r ight hand, placing your r ight thumb on the head of the f ir ing pin, and your middle finger on the face of the bolt.

Squeeze with these fingers, and at the same time, rota te the bolt downward, allowing it to drop into position in the bolt carr ier .

To replace the bolt and bolt carrier , set the rea r sight on its lowest sett ing (100 y a r d s ) . Hold the rifle at the balance in the palm of your left hand and depress the muzzle 45° or more below the horizontal. With your r ight hand, grasp the end of the driving rod, pick up the bolt and bolt carr ier and allow them to hang down. Engage the guide ribs of the bolt carr ier with the guide grooves in the rea r of the receiver. Release the driving rod and de­press the muzzle sufficiently to allow the bolt and bolt carr ier to slide forward independently into the receiver.

With a snapping motion, close the receiver. To check the assembly, pull the a rming handle all the way to the rea r and release it. If the bolt goes forward, the rifle is correctly assembled.

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174 The Fort Benning T48 manual

Figure 9. Replacing the gas cylinder plug.

8. DISASSEMBLY OF T H E BOLT STOP AND T H E MAGAZINE CATCH

You may disassemble the bolt stop and magazine catch only when supervised by a non­commissioned officer. Place the rifle on a table, muzzle to the left and sights away from you. With a screwdriver, remove the bolt stop and magazine catch re ta ining pin, which is located above the bolt stop, by tu rn ing counter­clockwise. The bolt stop may then be removed by sliding it toward you.

To remove the magazine catch and the maga­zine catch spring, grasp the magazine catch with the thumb and forefinger of your r ight hand. Place your left thumb against the for­ward surface of the magazine catch. With your r ight hand, pull the catch out and toward the bu t t of the rifle. At the same t ime keep the spring seated in its well in the catch. To complete the disassembly, separate the maga­zine catch spr ing from the magazine catch.

9. ASSEMBLY OF T H E BOLT STOP AND MAGAZINE CATCH

Place the rifle on a table with the muzzle to the left and the sights away from you. Seat the magazine catch spr ing into its well in the magazine catch. Hold the magazine catch be­tween your r ight thumb and forefinger, so that the spr ing is to the left and the nose is forward. Part ial ly insert the magazine catch into its re­cess so tha t it forms an angle of 45° with the rifle. Push the end of the spring forward into the rifle with your left thumb, and push the magazine catch into the rifle until the spring is seated in the recess in the t r igger housing.

Slide the bolt stop assembly forward into its recess and then insert the retaining pin. Main­tain a moderate pressure on the retaining pin and aline the bolt stop by alternately pushing it all the way into i ts recess and pulling it out a short distance. Aline the magazine catch and fully seat the retaining pin, screwing it in until it is moderately t ight .

Figure 10. Position of "A."

Figure 11. Replacing the extractor. Figure 12. Replacing the firing pin retainer.

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10. DISASSEMBLY OF T H E TRIGGER HOUSING GROUP

Remove the bolt and bolt carr ier as described in pa ragraph 6.

To separate the barrel and receiver group from the stock and t r igger housing groups, place the rifle on a table with the carrying handle down, receiver open, muzzle to the left and sights away from your body. Remove the sling from the lower sling swivel. With the thumb of either hand, or the r im of a dummy cartr idge, unscrew and remove the t r igger housing spindle by ro ta t ing it counterclockwise. Using the point of a dummy round, push down on the t r igger housing pivot and partially drift i t out. Turn the rifle over and with your r ight thumb and forefinger, remove the t r igger housing pivot from the r ight side of the rifle. Separate the barrel and receiver group from the stock and t r igger housing groups. With the muzzle to the left and the sight away from you, remove the automatic sear and spring assembly with your r ight thumb and fore­finger by sliding it to the r ight and rotat ing it counterclockwise. Do not a t tempt to sepa­ra te the spring from the automatic sear.

Grasp the pistol gr ip with your r ight hand and place the but t against your r ight hip. With your left hand move the change lever to the "R" setting. Place the palm of your left hand firmly against the hammer, squeeze the t r igger , and allow the hammer spr ing to expand slowly. With your left hand, rotate the change lever up to the vertical and remove it by pulling it out from the t r igger housing.

Reposition the stock and t r igger housing groups so tha t the sight is up and the but t is away from you. Grasp the pistol grip in your left hand, with your fingers around the back of the pistol grip, and your thumb over the t ip of the hammer spr ing housing. Place the point of a dummy round, held in your r ight hand, under the hammer spring housing and against the bridge of the t r igger housing. P r y up on the t ip of the hammer spr ing housing, unseating it from its notch (fig. 13) . Continue to pry up until the tip clears the bridge of the t r igger housing, allowing the hammer spr ing to expand. Remove the hammer spr ing housing and the hammer spring.

Holding the groups in the same position, place the point of a dummy round through the large change lever hole and pry up on the r ing of the holding plate. With your fingers, pull up on the end of the holding plate until it ex­tends from the housing. With a dummy round in your r ight hand, drift the hammer pin out and remove the hammer pin and hammer (fig. 14) .

Regrasp the t r igger housing with your left hand, palm down, so tha t your thumb is against one side of the t r igger housing, and your fingers against the other side; the stock is toward your front.

Push the front of the sear down with your left forefinger, and with your r ight hand drift the sear pin out, maintaining pressure on the sear. Remove the sear, sear spr ing and sear spring plunger from the housing. Do not re­move the sear spring from the sear spring plunger (fig. 15) .

Figure 13. Removing the hammer spring housing.

Figure 14. Trigger housing group (exploded view).

With your right forefinger against the back of the trigger, pull up on the trigger, disen­gaging the trigger spring plunger from its recess in the trigger. Remove the trigger from the trigger housing.

The disassembled parts are shown in figure 16.

11. ASSEMBLY OF THE TRIGGER HOUS­ING GROUP Grasp the pistol grip with your right hand.

Place the butt against your right hip with the rear sight to the left. Replace the trigger into the trigger housing so that the trigger spring plunger is engaged in its recess in the trigger and the base of the trigger is lined up with the base of the trigger housing.

Turn the stock so that the rear sight is up. With the spring end first, reseat the sear spring and sear spring plunger fully into its well in

the trigger. Squeeze the trigger lightly with the second finger of your right hand.

With your left thumb and forefinger, hold the forward nose of the sear so that the sear spring plunger recess is down and facing the plunger. With the second finger of your right hand, hold the trigger in place by squeezing slightly to the rear. Lower the sear between the wings of the trigger and engage the sear spring plunger into its recess in the sear.

With your left hand, place the sear pin through its hole in the right side of the trigger housing and through the right wing of the trigger, until it comes into contact with the sear. Hold the pin in place with your right forefinger, while continuing to grasp the pistol grip with your right hand. Grasp the forward nose of the sear with your left thumb and fore­finger. Lift the sear up slightly and push it to the rear (compressing the sear spring), un-

178 The Fort Benning T48 manual

til the sear moves into alinement with the sear pin. Seat the sear pin through its hole in the sear by pressing in with your right forefinger. Aline the sear pin with its holes on both sides of the trigger housing and drift the sear pin fully into position.

With the group in the same position, hold the hammer in your left hand with the polished surface up and the hammer spring guide to the rear and replace it into the housing so that it alines approximately with its holes in the trigger housing. Be sure that the holding plate is still up and extending from the housing. Hold the stock in position with the last fingers of your left hand. With your right hand, place the hammer pin into its hole in the right side of the trigger housing. Aline the hammer by pushing downward on the sear and seat the hammer pin fully into the trigger housing.

Push the end of the holding plate down­ward into the trigger housing until its hole alines with the change lever hole in the right side of the trigger housing. Insert the point of a dummy round through the small change lever hole to assist in alining the holding plate.

Rotate the hammer forward and replace the hammer spring on the hammer spring guide. Replace the hammer spring housing over the hammer spring. Rotate these parts to the rear and downward until they come in con­tact with the bridge of the trigger housing.

To seat the hammer spring housing, hold the group on a table with the sight up and the rifle butt against your hip. Extend the fingers of your left hand around the forward surface of the pistol grip, and place your left thumb on top of the hammer spring housing. Place your right thumb over the tip of the hammer

Figure 15. Trigger assembly (exploded view).

180 The Fort Benning T48 manual

spring housing (fig. 17) and push forward until the housing is just forward of the bridge. At this point, press downward with both thumbs, seating the tip of the hammer spring housing into its recess in the bridge of the trigger housing.

Replace the change lever through its hole in the left side of the trigger housing by re-alining its stud with the dismount notch in the change lever hole. Press the change lever bar firmly into the receiver and at the same time, rotate the change lever to the rear and down­ward.

Place the change lever on the "S" setting, and cock the hammer.

Place the barrel and receiver group on the table with the muzzle to the left and the the sight away from you. With your right thumb and forefinger, hold the automatic sear and spring so that the sear spring is up and the toe is to the left. With a sliding and clockwise rotary motion, replace the automatic sear so that its hole is alined with the pivot hole in the base of the receiver. At this time, inspect the automatic sear to make certain that the spring is lying flush with the side of the sear.

To join the two groups, hold the barrel and receiver group in the same position with your left hand, and grasp the stock and trigger hous­ing groups at the small of the stock with your right hand. Aline the pivot holes in the forward wings of the trigger housing with the pivot hole in the base of the receiver. With your right hand, reach under the rifle and place the trigger housing pivot into the pivot hole. In­sert the point of a dummy round into the left side of the pivot hole and realine the automatic sear. Push the trigger housing pivot until it is fully seated. Replace the trigger housing spindle and rotate it clockwise until thumb tight.

The remaining assembly is performed as described in paragraph 7.

12. DISASSEMBLY OF THE STOCK GROUP AND REAR SIGHT You may disassemble the stock group and

rear sight only when supervised by an officer and when the proper tools are available. Place the muzzle of the rifle on the floor with the butt vertical. Remove the butt plate screw by

turning counterclockwise with a screwdriver. Remove the butt plate by pulling it upward. Engage the screwdriver blade of the stock group tool with the slot in the stock retaining nut, which is now exposed. Hold the tool sta­tionary and pivot the rifle clockwise around it, loosening the stock retaining nut. Maintain a firm pressure downward on top of the tool because the driving springs are compressed and they will come out with considerable force if released too quickly. Completely unscrew the stock retaining nut and allow the driving springs to expand slowly. Remove the stock re­taining nut, its washer, the driving springs, and the driving spring plunger. Separate the inner spring from the outer spring but do not remove the driving spring plunger from the outer driving spring.

Figure 17. Replacing the hammer spring and hammer spring housing.

Remove the stock retaining screw, located immediately behind the pistol grip, by turning it counterclockwise. Remove the stock by pull­ing it to the rear.

The rear sight may now be removed from the rear sight base. Depress the rear sight lock (fig. 3) and move the rear sight to the rear. Remove the rear sight lock by sliding it from the side of the rear sight. Next, remove the rear sight lock spring from its well in the side of the rear sight. To disassemble the rear sight without disassemblying the stock group see paragraph 14.

13. ASSEMBLY OF THE REAR SIGHT AND STOCK GROUP Reseat the rear sight lock spring into its

well in the side of the rear sight. Insert the rear sight lock into the rear sight so that the serrated end appears on the outside. Aline the rear sight lock with the rear sight so that the locking lug is vertical. Depress the rear sight lock with your thumb and forefinger and re­place the rear sight on the rear sight base so that the serrated end of the rear sight lock is to the left.

To assemble the stock group, place the muz­zle of the rifle on the floor as in disassembly and slide the stock back into position over the driving spring tube. Replace the stock re­taining screw and tighten it with a screw­driver. Place the small driving spring inside the large driving spring. Insert the driving springs into the driving spring tube so that the plunger enters first. Replace the washer over the outer driving spring and allow it to fall fully into the stock. Make sure that the washer

is not seated at an angle but lies flat in the stock. Slip the stock retaining nut over the long guide of the stock group tool, so that the screwdriver blade of the tool fits into its slot in the nut. Hold the nut in place and insert the guide of the tool down through the driving springs. Press down on the tool, compressing the driving springs, and tighten the stock re­taining nut by rotating the rifle counterclock­wise around the tool.

Replace the butt plate and insert the butt plate screw, tightening it with a screwdriver.

14. REMOVAL OF THE REAR SIGHT BASE The rear sight base may be removed from

the rifle independently of the stock group, how­ever, you must be supervised by an officer. It will be removed only when the rifle has been used excessively or it has been immersed in salt water. Remove one deflection screw by turning it counterclockwise with a screwdriver. Remove the rear sight and the rear sight base from the rifle by drifting the rear sight base in the direction from which the screw was re­moved. This can best be accomplished by gentle taps on the rear sight base with the wooden end of the screwdriver. Do not remove the other deflection screw from the rear sight base because this may ruin your zero. The rear sight may now be removed from the rear sight base as described in paragraph 12.

15. REPLACE THE REAR SIGHT BASE Assemble the rear sight and rear sight

base as described in paragraph 13. Reseat the dove tail into its slot and replace the deflection screw. Tighten the screw with a screwdriver.

Section II. FUNCTIONING

16. GENERAL By taking your rifle apart and putting it

together, you become familiar with its parts. Now you will learn how these parts function. If you understand how your rifle works, you will be able to clear any stoppages that may occur, with a minimum loss of time. This knowledge will also assist you in keeping your rifle in good working order.

Each time a cartridge is fired, many parts inside the rifle work in a given order. When the rifle is ready to be fired again, a cycle of

operation, or functioning, has occurred. This cycle is almost the same in all small arms.

To help you understand the cycle of func­tioning, it is broken down into eight basic steps. Keep in mind that more than one step may happen at the same time. The steps of functioning are defined and listed below:

1. Feeding—moving the cartridge into the path of the bolt.

2. Chambering—moving the cartridge into the chamber.

182 The Fort Benning T48 manual

3. Locking—locking the bolt in the receiver. 4. Firing—driving the firing pin forward to

strike the primer cap, which sets off the cartridge.

5. Unlocking—unlocking the bolt from the receiver.

6. Extraction—pulling the empty cartridge case from the chamber.

7. Ejection—throwing the empty cartridge from the rifle.

8. Cocking—pushing the hammer into the cocked position.

17. PHASES OF FUNCTIONING The functioning cycle is divided into four

phases, with certain steps taking place in each phase. Assume that one round is in the cham­ber and that the powder in the cartridge is being ignited. The four phases of functioning and the steps taking place in each phase are listed below.

The first phase is the REARWARD MOVE­MENT OF THE BOLT CARRIER.

Action of the gas. Action of the bolt carrier. Unlocking. Extraction. Ejection. Cocking. Feeding. Termination of the rearward movement.

The second phase is the FORWARD MOVE­MENT OF THE BOLT CARRIER.

Chambering. Locking. Termination of the forward movement.

The third phase is the ACTION OF THE TRIGGER GROUP.

Semiautomatic fire. Automatic fire.

The fourth phase is the ACTION AFTER F I R I N G THE LAST ROUND.

Action of the bolt stop.

18. REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BOLT CARRIER Action of the gas. When a round is fired,

pressure of approximately 50,000 pounds per square inch is generated in the chamber and the bullet is propelled forward through the bore. As the bullet passes the gas port, a small portion of the gas, seeking the easiest means to escape, passes through the gas port into the gas cylinder where it strikes the gas piston, driving it to the rear. As the gas piston moves to the rear it compresses the gas piston spring, and a portion of the remaining gas, not re­quired to operate the mechanism, passes through the gas escape port (fig. 18 and 19a). After the gas piston spring has been com­pressed, it expands and repositions the gas pis­ton in the gas cylinder.

Action of the bolt carrier. The rearward movement of the gas piston drives the bolt carrier and driving rod to the rear. The driv­ing rod compresses the driving springs, located in the stock of the rifle (fig 19b). The bolt car­rier moves to the rear approximately five-sixteenths of an inch before the bolt group be­gins to unlock. During this initial movement of the bolt carrier, enough energy is built up to allow the bolt carrier to overcome the iner­tia of the locked bolt. Sufficient time elapses to allow the bullet and remaining gasses to escape from the muzzle before unlocking be­gins. This action is a safety feature which prevents a blowback of hot gases into the firer's face. As the bolt carrier moves to the rear, it causes the hammer to rotate to the rear and downward. As the hammer moves away from the head of the firing pin, the fir­ing pin spring expands and moves the firing pin to the rear, withdrawing the striker from the face of the bolt. At the same time, the bolt carrier moves behind the head of the firing pin, protecting it from any forward movement of the hammer.

Unlocking. As the bolt carrier continues to the rear, the camming lugs of the bolt car­rier contact the cams of the bolt and lift it up and out of its locking recess. This unlocks the bolt (fig. 19c).

Extraction. The pressure created during firing causes the cartridge case to expand in the chamber. Before the cartridge case can be

19

extracted, it must be loosened. This is done during the unlocking action of the bolt. Suf­ficient time elapses before the bolt is com­pletely unlocked to allow the cartridge case to contract slightly. The extractor claw is grip­ping the rim of the cartridge, and when the bolt is lifted out of its locking recess, it exerts a strong lever action on the cartridge case, loosening it in the chamber. This is called slow initial extraction. After the bolt is unlocked and starts to the rear, the extractor pulls the empty cartridge case from the chamber (fig. 19d).

Ejection. After the front of the empty cart­ridge case clears the chamber, the base of the cartridge case strikes the ejector. This causes the cartridge case to pivot about the extractor, strike the receiver cover and rebound to the right front (fig. 19d).

Figure 18. Action of the gas.

Cocking. As the bolt carrier moves to the rear it causes the hammer to rotate to the rear and downward, cocking the hammer.

Feeding. As the bolt clears the top round in the magazine, the magazine follower, through the action of the compressed magazine spring, pushes the top round up into the path of the bolt.

Termination of the rearward movement. The rearward movement ends when the base of the bolt carrier contacts the forward part of the stock group. In this position the driving rod has compressed the driving springs, stor­ing up energy for the forward movement.

19. FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BOLT CARRIER Chambering. The driving springs expand,

moving the bolt carrier and bolt forward. The

184 The Fort Benning T48 manual

bolt strips the top round from the magazine and pushes it into the chamber (fig. 20a).

Locking. When the bolt is all the way for­ward, the rearmost (top) camming surface of the bolt carrier comes in contact with the cam­ming surface of the bolt. This causes the bolt to be cammed down into engagement with the locking recess, locking it in the receiver (fig. 20b). As locking begins, the rim of the cart­ridge is gripped by the claw of the extractor and the base of the cartridge is pressed firmly against the face of the bolt.

Termination of the forward movement. Af­ter the bolt is fully locked in the receiver, the bolt carrier continues to move forward a short distance. As the bolt carrier moves the last five-sixteenths of an inch, the head of the fir­ing pin protrudes through its hole in the bolt carrier (fig. 20c). During this last movement the built-up portion of the bolt carrier strikes the toe of the automatic sear, causing it to ro­tate and disengage the automatic sear from its notch in the hammer. When the bolt carrier is completely forward, the head of the firing pin is exposed so that it may be struck by the hammer. The forward movement terminates

when the forward end of the bolt carrier strikes the forward end of the receiver.

20. ACTION OF THE TRIGGER GROUP Trigger action—T48 (semiautomatic). The

change lever provides a mechanical safe posi­tion ("S"), and a position for semiautomatic firing ("R"). It also has a position ("A") for automatic firing when the rifle is equipped with a special change lever. The change lever for the T48 rifle has two cut-away portions of equal depth.

When the hammer is cocked, the sear nose, engaging the lower sear notch on the hammer, holds the hammer in position against the ac­tion of the compressed hammer spring. The hammer forces the sear back until the tail of the sear is over the shoulder of the trigger. The sear spring is compressed (fig. 21a).

When the change lever is placed on the "R" setting, a cut-away portion of the change lever is exposed to the shoulder of the trigger.

When the trigger is squeezed, the shoulder of the trigger moves upward and contacts the tail of the sear. This causes the sear to rotate about the sear pin, disengaging the nose of the sear from the lower sear notch on the ham­mer. The hammer then moves forward, under

Figure 19. (Functioning.) Rearward movement.

Figure 21. (Functioning.) Trigger ac t ion .

Figure 20. (Functioning.) Forward movement.

186 The Fort Benning T48 manual

pressure of the hammer spring, and strikes the firing pin (fig. 21c).

As the hammer goes forward, the sear spring expands and forces the sear forward slightly, allowing the tail of the sear to drop in front of the shoulder of the trigger. As the tail of the sear drops down, the sear nose moves upward and presses against the under­side of the hammer.

Pressure is still being maintained on the trigger. As the hammer is again cocked, by the rearward movement of the bolt carrier, the automatic sear engages its notch on the hammer while the sear engages the sear notch. (The bolt carrier, in its last one-sixteenth of an inch forward movement, will force the automatic sear to pivot, thereby releasing the hammer and allowing only the sear to hold the hammer in the cocked position.)

When the trigger is released, the shoulder of the trigger drops and allows the hammer to rotate forward slightly. This forward ro­tation of the hammer forces the sear rearward and repositions it above the shoulder of the trigger. As the sear is repositioned, the sear spring is compressed. The parts of the trigger group are now in the same position as they were before the trigger was squeezed.

Trigger action—T48E1 (automatic). When the T48E1 rifle is fired semiautomatically, the trigger group functions the same as that of the T48 rifle. The change lever for the T48E1 also has two cutaway portions. One is of the same size as on the T48 and is used for semiauto­matic fire. The other cutaway portion is deep­er and is used for automatic fire. When the change lever is placed on the "A" setting, the deeper cutaway portion of the change lever is exposed to the shoulder of the trigger.

When the trigger is squeezed, the shoulder of the trigger rises into the deep notch on the change lever (fig. 21b and 22). As long as pressure is maintained on the trigger in this position, the nose of the sear is held down where it cannot become engaged with the lower sear notch on the hammer.

When the bolt carrier forces the hammer

back to the cocked position, the automatic sear engages its notch in the hammer and holds the hammer in position until the bolt is locked. This is just like semiautomatic fire. As the bolt carrier moves forward its last one-six­teenth of an inch, it strikes the toe on the auto­matic sear, causing it to rotate and release the hammer (fig. 21d). The hammer is then forced forward by the compressed hammer spring.

As long as pressure is maintained on the trigger, the rifle will continue to fire auto­matically. When pressure is released from the trigger, the rifle will cease firing.

Safety features. When the change lever is on the "S," or safe setting, the solid portion of the change lever bar is exposed to the shoulder of the trigger, blocking its upward movement. The sear nose cannot be disengaged from the lower sear notch of the hammer and the rifle will not fire (fig. 21a). The automatic sear also acts as a safety by preventing pre­mature firing. The bolt group must be fully locked in the receiver before the automatic sear will release the hammer. If the toe of the automatic sear is broken, the rifle will not fire because the automatic sear cannot become disengaged from its notch in the hammer.

21. ACTION AFTER FIRING THE LAST ROUND When the last round in the magazine has

been chambered, the projection on the follow­er strikes the bolt stop and forces the bolt stop against the bottom of the bolt. When the round is fired and the bolt moves to the rear, clearing the bolt stop, the follower rises moving the bolt stop into the receiver under pressure of the bolt stop spring. The face of the bolt contacts the bolt stop and the forward movement of the bolt and bolt carrier is stopped. The bolt will remain open, against the tension of the driving springs, until the bolt stop is disengaged (fig. 22). To hold the bolt open when there is no magazine in the receiver, pull the bolt all the way to the rear, press upward on the bolt stop, and allow the bolt to move forward against the bolt stop.

Figure 22. Automatic features.

Section III. OPERATION

22. GENERAL This section contains instructions for

loading the magazine; loading and unloading the rifle ; clearing the rifle ; setting the change lever; safety precautions; and adjustment of the gas.

23. LOADING THE MAGAZINE Examine each round before loading it into

the magazine to make sure it is not dirty, oily, or gritty, because a dirty round may cause a stoppage during firing. Place the front of the magazine against the palm of your left hand with your fingers gripping the side of the magazine, the follower up and your left thumb over the follower. With your right hand, place the cartridge under your left thumb, cartridge pointing to the left. Grip the right side of the magazine in your right palm, with the thumb of your right hand also on top of the cartridge. Squeeze down with both thumbs, seating the cartridge in the magazine. Follow the same procedure until 20 rounds are in the magazine. If your rifle is equipped with a cutaway re­ceiver cover, the magazine can be loaded while

in the rifle (paragraph 70). To load the maga­zine while it is in the rifle, the bolt must be to the rear and engaged by the bolt stop.

24. LOADING THE RIFLE When walking, or in the assault, the T48

rifle is loaded and unloaded with the left hand, while the right hand grips the pistol grip. To load the magazine into the rifle, hold the base of the magazine in the palm of your left hand and rotate the bottom of the magazine for­ward so that it makes an angle of approxi­mately 45° with the rifle. Retaining this angle, insert the magazine into the magazine-well so that the projection on the leading edge of the magazine engages the notch in the face of the magazine-well. Rotate the bottom of the maga­zine toward the butt of the rifle until the magazine catch snaps into place. Tap upward on the bottom of the magazine with your left hand. If the bolt is to the rear, release it by pressing down on the bolt stop. If the bolt is not to the rear, pull the arming handle all the way back and release it. The bolt will chamber the top round as it goes forward.

188 The Fort Benning T48 manual

25. UNLOADING THE RIFLE To unload the rifle, place the change lever

on the "S" setting and grasp the magazine in your left hand with your fingers around the front of the magazine and your thumb on the magazine catch. Press the magazine catch and rotate the magazine down and forward, re­moving the magazine. Pull the arming handle all the way to the rear. If a round is in the chamber, place your right hand over the cover opening and catch the round as it comes out. While the bolt is in its rearmost position, press upward on the bolt stop, locking the bolt to the rear.

26. SETTING THE CHANGE LEVER To set the rifle on the safe position, en­

gage the change lever with its notch at the letter "S".

To fire the T48 semiautomatically, engage the change lever at either the "R" or "A" notch. To fire the T48E1 semiautomatically, rotate the change lever until it engages the "R" notch.

To fire the T48E1 automatically, engage the change lever at the "A" notch.

27. TO CLEAR THE RIFLE To clear the rifle, place the change lever

on "S" and remove the magazine. Pull the arm­ing handle fully to the rear, extracting and ejecting the cartridge from the chamber. Press upward on the bolt stop, locking the bolt to the rear, and inspect the receiver and chamber to be sure they are empty.

28. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS You cannot practice safety too much when

handling weapons. Your own safety and that of others around you will depend on how well you observe all safety regulations. The follow­ing list covers some of the safety precautions for you to observe. You should also under­stand and practice the precautions contained in FM 23-5.

Never consider a rifle with its bolt closed as safe until it has been properly in­spected. Do not playfully or carelessly point your rifle at anyone. Always con­sider the rifle loaded. Be sure the barrel is free of any obstruc­tion. Consider your rifle cleared only when

the safety is on; the magazine is out; the bolt is to the rear; and the chamber has been inspected.

29. GAS ADJUSTMENT The gas regulating sleeve (fig. 23) must

be correctly adjusted before the rifle will function properly. To prevent stoppages, it is particularly important that the correct ad­justment is made on each rifle before firing on the range. The following steps tell you how to obtain the correct adjustment for your rifle, and how to remember it.

First, you must find out the absolute mini­mum amount of gas required to operate your rifle. It is the amount necessary to drive the bolt to the rear just far enough for the empty cartridge case to be ejected and the bolt stop to hold the bolt to the rear. To determine this, close the gas regulating sleeve by turning it from left to right with your combination tool

Figure 23. Gas Regulating Sleeve.

or the rim of an empty cartridge. Then open the gas regulating sleeve 20 clicks by rotating it from right to left. With the rifle pointing down range, load an empty magazine into the rifle, and one round into the chamber. Hold the rifle loosely on the palm of your left hand and hold the pistol grip between the thumb and fingers of your right hand. Do not grip the rifle with either hand. The rifle should be approximately horizontal with the butt out and away from your body. Squeeze off the round. The rifle will recoil, swinging your arms. At this time the bolt should not stay open; however if it does remain to the rear, open the gas regulating sleeve five additional clicks, fire another round in the same way, and repeat the process until the bolt does not re­main to the rear. Next, close the gas regulating sleeve until the bolt remains to the rear. Do this by closing the gas regulating sleeve sever­al clicks, test-firing a round, and repeating the procedure until the bolt barely stays open and the empty cartridge case is ejected from the rifle. If your rifle is greatly in need of gas (underpowered), close the gas regulating sleeve four clicks after each test. As the rifle approaches the point where the bolt nearly re­mains open, close the gas regulating sleeve only two clicks with each test, until the bolt just remains to the rear.

To be sure that your rifle will function if it should get dirty while you are on the range or on a field problem, close the gas regulating sleeve four additional clicks. This is the proper gas adjustment for your rifle.

To remember the gas adjustment so that it can be reset after cleaning, or if it should ever become disturbed, count the clicks that it takes to close the gas regulating sleeve. Then by opening the gas regulating sleeve the same number of clicks, you will have the proper gas adjustment.

After you have fired 500 or 600 rounds with a new rifle, the working parts become smooth and the rifle "loosens" up. You may then find the rifle using too much gas with your original adjustment. Simply readjust the gas regulating sleeve in the same way as just described.

If you should be in a cold climate where the weather causes the oil to become thick and

your rifle operates sluggishly, close the gas regulating sleeve a few clicks. If, during a patrol action or river crossing, your rifle should get dirty and you do not have time to clean it, close the gas regulating sleeve a few clicks to keep the rifle functioning properly. In either case, clean your rifle at the first op­portunity.

30. GUN BOOK When your rifle is issued, you will also

receive a gun book. It is important that you fill out this book properly and keep it up to date at all times.

As you open your book you will see cer­tain abbreviations. Use them to save time and space when placing information in the book. Your gun book will then be a record of the number of rounds fired by your rifle, the stoppages encountered, the action you took to clear the stoppages, and other pertinent in­formation. At the completion of the troop test, this information will be carefully studied to assist in evaluating the T48 rifle.

31. GRENADE LAUNCHER The rifle grenade launcher for the T48

rifle is used essentially the same as the M7A3 launcher for the Ml rifle. It will fire the same grenades that the M7A3 launcher will fire, but with greater accuracy and increased range when using the M64 grenade launcher car­tridge. The barrel and sight leaf are identical to that on the M7A3. The maximum range is from 260 to 270 yards with the M28 (Ener-ga) rifle grenade. There is no indirect fire sight for the T48 rifle.

The grenade launcher fits over the end of the flash suppressor and is held in place by a spring latch that engages the bayonet stud on the flash suppressor (fig. 24). A clip-type grenade retainer spring on the muzzle end of the launcher holds a grenade at any desired position. The nine annular grooves on the launcher are used to vary the range while maintaining the same angle of elevation on the rifle. All low-angle, direct fire is per­formed with the grenade fully seated on the launcher.

Prior to firing a grenade from the launch­er, rotate the gas cylinder plug 180° until the "A" is next to the barrel. This closes

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the gas port in the barrel, preventing the rifle from completing a full cycle of opera­tion. If you fail to turn the gas cylinder plug 180°, your rifle will still fire a grenade from the launcher, but some unburned powder may blow back into your face and temporarily blind you.

Your rifle will fire ball ammunition while the grenade launcher is attached, but the zero of your rifle will differ from its normal zero.

This difference is the result of "barrel whip" which is caused by the added weight of the launcher on the muzzle. For this reason, zero your rifle, firing ball ammunition, both with and without the launcher attached.

Marksmanship training, including sight­ing and aiming, positions, and firing courses is about the same as for the M7A3 launcher with the sight leaf. Detailed instructions are contained in FM 23-30.

Figure 24. Grenade Launcher

Section IV. STOPPAGES AND IMMEDIATE ACTION

32. GENERAL When, through no fault of your own the

rifle fails to fire, you have a stoppage. It may be caused by faulty ammunition, a faulty mag­azine or by improper functioning of the rifle (a malfunction). When a stoppage occurs, you immediately take certain steps to reduce it, without even considering what caused the stop­page. This is known as immediate action.

33. STOPPAGES Most stoppages occur because of dirty,

worn, broken, or maladjusted parts. You must watch for these defects and correct them be­fore they cause a stoppage. It is particularly important that the gas regulating sleeve be properly adjusted at all times and that you handle the magazine carefully because they are the two main causes of stoppages. The T48

rifle will function when properly cared for. Some of the common stoppages, their usual causes, and remedies are shown on page 28.

34. APPLYING IMMEDIATE ACTION Many stoppages can be prevented before

they occur if your rifle, magazine, and am­munition are cared for properly. However, some stoppages may still occur. Immediate ac­tion is taught so that you will be able to take the necessary steps to reduce those stoppages. Immediate action is performed in two phases.

The first phase of immediate action is taught as a drill. It must be applied quickly and without thought as to the cause of the stoppage. Most stoppages can be eliminated by applying the first phase of immediate action. The key words used to help you learn and re­member the first phase of immediate action are TAP, PULL, RELEASE AIM, and FIRE.

Tap up firmly on the bottom of the maga­zine. If the magazine is not fully seated, this should seat it, provided the magazine notch or the magazine catch are not worn or broken.

Pull the arming handle all the way to the rear with the left hand, palm up. This action should eject any empty cartridges remaining in the chamber, provided the extractor, ex­tractor spring, or the ejector are not worn or broken.

Release the arming handle, allowing the operating parts to move forward and lock.

Aim at your target. Attempt to fire.

35. SECOND PHASE OF IMMEDIATE AC­TION If the first phase of immediate action does

not reduce the stoppage, make a more detailed examination of the rifle. The five key words used to help you remember the second phase of immediate action are TAKE, LOOK, PULL, LOCATE, AND REDUCE.

Take the rifle from your shoulder. Look into the cover opening. Pull the arming handle all the way to the

rear. Locate the stoppage by observation. As

the arming handle is pulled to the rear, observe

what is in the ejection opening, what is in the chamber, or what is ejected.

Reduce the stoppage and attempt to fire the rifle.

36. SECOND PHASE STOPPAGES While applying the second phase of imme­

diate action, you will observe certain stop­pages. Some of the more common stoppages, their causes and remedies are listed below.

PARTIAL FEEDING Description: The rifle stops firing with a

live cartridge fed part way into the chamber, the bolt is riding over the cartridge, and the base of the cartridge is still in the magazine. This stoppage is known as partial feeding and is caused by a faulty magazine. The magazine may have a weak spring, it may be dented or dirty, or the magazine notch may be worn. The magazine catch on the rifle may be damaged or worn. In any case, the magazine is not all the way up in the magazine-well or the cartridges are not all the way up in the magazine. The bolt cannot contact the base of the top cart­ridge in the magazine; instead, the bolt slides over the base of the top cartridge and catches on its top, pushing it part way into the cham­ber. Remedy: Replace or clean the magazine, or replace the magazine catch on the rifle.

DOUBLE FEEDING Description : The rifle stops firing when

the bolt attempts to feed two cartridges into the chamber at the same time. Double feeding occurs when the first phase of immediate ac­tion is applied to a stoppage caused by partial feeding. This stoppage is due to magazine trouble. Remedy: Replace or clean the magazine, or replace the magazine catch.

SPIN BACK Description: The rifle stops firing as an

ejected cartridge case rebounds from the re­ceiver cover back into the receiver, and pre­vents the bolt from chambering the next round. The empty cartridge case is usually found in a reversed position. Remedy: Replace the receiver cover, if worn lips result in frequent "spin backs."

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STOPPAGE

Failure to feed.

CAUSE

Dented magazine. Weak or broken magazine

spring. Worn magazine notches.

Broken or worn magazine catch.

Broken or worn magazine catch spring.

Magazine not fully inserted.

Insufficient gas to drive bolt far enough to rear to allow fol­lower of magazine to feed next round.

REMEDY

Replace magazine.

Replace parts.

Tap up on magazine.

* Close gas regulating sleeve until stoppage is relieved.

Failure to chamber. Snubbed round in magazine.

Corroded or bent ammunition.

Dirty chamber.

Change magazine.

Replace ammunition.

Clean chamber.

Failure to fire. Defective hammer spring. Worn or broken firing pin. Broken automatic sear. Bent hammer or hammer spring guide.

Bolt not fully forward.

Defective ammunition.

Replace defective part.

Clean parts or *close gas regu­lating sleeve if parts are dirty.

Replace ammunition.

Failure to extract. Insufficient gas.

Dirty chamber.

Broken or worn extractor. Broken or weak extractor

spring.

* Close gas regulating sleeve until stoppage is relieved.

Clean chamber, examine the am­munition, or *close gas regulat­ing sleeve until stoppage is re­lieved.

Replace defective parts.

Failure to eject. Insufficient gas.

Broken or bent ejector.

Dirty chamber or operating parts.

Spin back.

* Close gas regulating sleeve until stoppage is relieved.

Replace defective part.

Clean chamber or parts or *close gas regulating sleeve until stop­page is relieved.

Check cover for worn lips.

*As soon as possible, you should clean the parts because excess friction from dirt may be the primary cause of the stoppage.

BROKEN EXTRACTOR Description: The rifle stops firing when

an empty cartridge case that was not extracted blocks the entry of a live cartridge into the chamber. This stoppage is caused by a worn or broken extractor or extractor spring. If the rim of the empty cartridge case is ripped off, the. stoppage is caused by a dirty chamber. Remedy: Replace either the extractor or ex­tractor spring. If the stoppage is caused by a dirty chamber, remove the empty cartridge case and clean the chamber.

BOLT NOT FULLY FORWARD Description: The rifle fails to fire because

the bolt or bolt carrier is not fully forward. Usually this stoppage is caused by the rifle be­ing underpowered (insufficient gas) which, in turn, is frequently the result of excess friction developed by dirty operating parts, or a dirty chamber. Remedy: The immediate remedy is to close the gas regulating sleeve until the rifle cycles again, however the operating parts should be cleaned as soon as the situation permits.

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Section I. GENERAL

44. Good shooting is the result of master ing the five impor tant elements of marksmanship . They a re—

AIMING.

POSITION.

TRIGGER SQUEEZE.

SUSTAINED F I R E .

SIGHT SETTING.

These five elements are tied together by the word COORDINATION. The first four steps each depend on the material covered in the steps preceding it, and each one is essen­tial to good shooting.

To develop correct shooting habits before you go on the range, your marksmanship t ra ining is divided into two phases—prepara­tory marksmanship t ra in ing and range fir­ing. The purpose of prepara tory marksman­ship t ra in ing is to teach you the essentials of good shooting. It is divided into six s teps—

1. Sighting and aiming exercises.

2. Position exercises.

3. Trigger squeeze or t r igger manipula­tion exercises.

4. Sustained fire or automatic fire exer­cises.

5. Zeroing, sight changes, and use of the f ir ing data card.

6. Examination before range firing.

The first four steps are listed in the order of instruction. They must be taught in that order. As the fifth step is not based on all the material covered in the first four steps, it may be taught any time after the first step and before the examination, either indoors or outdoors. It is an excellent subject to be con­ducted indoors during bad weather.

45. COACHING

Throughout all of your prepara tory work, one of your important duties will be to act as a coach. You and the other members of your unit will be organized into instructional groups. You will rotate within your group performing the duties of f irer and coach. As a coach you are expected and required to supervise your firer closely. You will check to see tha t he—

Blackens his sights.

Adjusts the sling properly.

Takes the correct position.

Holds his breath properly while aiming.

Aims carefully.

Takes up the slack promptly.

Squeezes the t r igger properly.

Calls each shot.

Fills out the firing data card for each shot.

Observes the safety precautions.

How well your firer learns to shoot will

depend to a great extent on how well you do your job as a coach. Don't let him down.

46. PROGRESS CHART Normally each platoon keeps a progress

chart similar to the one discussed in FM 23-5. The platoon leader can tell by a glance at this chart how far you have progressed in your rifle marksmanship t raining.

Section II

PREPARATORY MARKSMANSHIP

TRAINING

47. SIGHTING AND AIMING

In aiming the rifle you will be concerned with sight alinement and the sight picture. Sight alinement is the relationship between the front sight post and the rear aperture, while the sight picture includes sight aline­ment and the bull's-eye, or any other aiming point. To obtain the correct sight alinement, the front and rear sights should be alined as shown in figure 27a. If you were to draw an imaginary horizontal line through the center of the rear aperture , the top of the front sight post would touch this imaginary line. If you were to draw an imaginary vertical line through the center of the rear aperture, this line would cut the front sight post in half. After you have obtained the correct sight alinement, you complete the sight picture by adding the bull's-eye. The bottom of the bull's-eye appears to be jus t touching the front sight post (fig. 27b) . If you were to draw an im­aginary vertical line through the rear aper­ture, you would cut the bull's-eye and the front sight post in half.

The relationship between the f r o n t sight post and the rear sight, or sight aline­ment, is more important, to good shooting than the relationship between sight alinement and the bull's-eye. An error in sight alinement will cause the distance by which the bullet misses the target to increase as the range increases, while with correct sight alinement, an error in the placement of the bull's-eye will be the same at all ranges.

When aiming the rifle, there are three objects that your eye can see—the rear aper­ture, the front sight, and the bull's-eye. Dur­

ing aiming your eye should alternately focus on the front sight post and on the bull's-eye. However, the last focus of the eye prior to firing the weapon must be on the front sight. The front sight post should appear clear, dis­tinct, and correctly centered in the rear aper­ture . As you squeeze the trigger, this insures tha t your sight alinement is correct. When your eye is focused on the front sight post, the bull's-eye will appear to be "fuzzy" or hazy (fig. 27c).

The three sighting and aiming exercises with the T48 rifle are taught the same as with the Ml rifle, with one exception. During the second and third sighting and aiming exer­cises, when using the T48 rifle, the rear sight is placed on the 200-yard setting. All exercises are then carried out the same as described in FM 23-5.

48. POSITIONS You will learn to fire the T48 rifle with

the aid of a sling. In order to obtain confi­dence in your rifle, you should learn what the rifle can and will do under the best conditions. Using a sling helps present those ideal condi­tions. A good sling, properly adjusted, will aid even the best marksman. You will use the sling throughout your 1000-inch and known-distance range firing. When you reach the transit ion stage of marksmanship, you will learn tha t use of the sling in combat will de­pend upon the situation. For this reason, you are taught two methods for assuming the prone position, with and without the sling.

There are two types of sling adjustments when using the T48. The loop sling is used

200 The Fort Benning T48 manual

for all firing positions except standing, and the hasty sling is used with the standing posi­tion.

49. ADJUSTMENT OF THE LOOP SLING The sling is very simple in design and is

constructed from a web material very much like the belt you are now wearing around your waist. It has a hook, a buckle, and a metal clamp or keeper which holds the sling at the desired adjustment.

To adjust the loop sling, place the butt of the rifle on your right hip and cradle the rifle in the crook of your right arm. Both hands are now free to work. Release the hook from

the lower sling swivel. While using the loop sling, the hook is never attached to the butt of the rifle. Now you are ready to form the loop, which is formed from the top of the buckle. Hold the buckle with your right hand and pull the loop through the top of the buckle with your left hand. Make the loop large enough to fit your left arm (fig. 28) .

When the loop is large enough to accom­modate your left arm, straighten out the sling. With your left hand, twist the loop a half turn to the left and hold it in position with your right hand. Insert your left arm through the loop and pull the loop well up on your upper arm above the bicep and then tighten it. With

Figure 28. Loop sling.

Figure 29. Loop sling.

your right hand, loosen the clamp and pull the feed end of the sling toward the but t of the rifle until the proper adjustment is ob­tained. (This adjustment will depend upon the conformation of your body and must be determined through experimentation.) Hold the sling in position with your left hand and slide the clamp toward your body with your right hand; refasten the clamp (fig. 29 ) . Place your left hand over the sling and under the rifle, positioning the "V" formed by your left thumb and forefinger against the upper sling swivel.

The manner of adjusting the sling for the kneeling and sitt ing positions is the same as for the prone position, except tha t the sling will be adjusted somewhat shorter. Experi­ence will determine just how much the sling must be shortened for each of the positions. For each position, the sling must be adjusted so that the rifle has to be forced into your

shoulder. This gives maximum support to the rifle.

50. PRONE POSITION—T48

The prone position is most frequently used. This position presents a small silhouette and enables most of your body to be placed behind the rifle. The prone position is the most natur­al to assume, the steadiest and the most com­fortable. In each position strive for bone sup­port and muscular relaxation. The bones of your body must support the weight of the rifle, allowing your muscles to be relaxed.

To assume the prone position when using the sling, stand facing your target . The "V" of your left hand is well forward against the upper sling swivel. Your r ight hand grasps the heel of the stock. Spread your feet a com­fortable distance apar t and then shift the weight of your body slightly to the rear and drop to your knees. Draw an imaginary line

202 The Fort Benning T48 manual

from the ta rge t to your r ight knee. Place the toe of the butt well out in front of your right knee and on the imaginary line; roll onto your left side and place your left elbow on the same line. With your r ight hand on the butt, force the rifle forward in front of your r ight shoulder. Remove your r ight hand, allowing the sling to pull the rifle into the hollow of your shoulder. Grasp the pistol grip with your r ight hand and lower your r ight elbow to the ground so tha t your shoulders are about level. Position your r ight forefinger on the tr igger, relax forward into the sling and aim at the target (fig. 30) .

Check your position to make sure it is a natural one by closing your eyes for a few seconds and then opening them. The rifle should lie on line with the t a rge t ; if not, shift your body and repeat this procedure until the rifle remains naturally on the target .

To assume the prone position without the use of a sling, grasp the pistol gr ip with your r ight hand and hold the r ight side of the stock against the lower par t of your r ight forearm. Face the target and spread your feet a com­fortable distance apar t . Shift your weight slightly to the rear and drop to your knees. Place your left hand well out to the front and on line with your r ight knee. Continue to move downward and at the same time place the butt of the rifle into your r ight shoulder. Position your r ight elbow on the ground and place your left elbow as far under the receiver as the magazine will allow. Grasp the hand guard with your left hand and pull the rifle back into your r ight shoulder. Aim at the target .

The important features of the prone posi­tion apply equally whether the sling is used or not, except for those characteristics which pertain to the sling only.

The important features of the prone posi­tion are listed below. These features will be checked by the coach.

The rifle rests in the "V" formed by the thumb and forefinger of the left hand. The fingers of the left hand are relaxed.

The wrist is as s traight as possible. The left hand is forward against the upper

sling swivel. The left elbow is placed as far under the

rifle as the magazine will permit.

Daylight is visible between the sling and the crook of the elbow.

The loop of the sling is high on the left arm, above the bicep.

The left shoulder is relaxed forward.

The angle made by the firer 's spine and the rifle should be 30° or less. This will enable the firer to recover his position rapidly after each shot.

The spine is s t ra igh t ; the legs are spread a comfortable distance apar t .

The toes are pointing outward; the heels, if possible without discomfort, should touch the ground.

The right elbow is positioned so tha t the shoulders are level.

The pistol grip is held firmly with the r ight hand.

The t r igger finger contacts the tr igger so tha t there is daylight between the finger and pistol grip when viewed from above. The middle finger contacts the bottom of the tr ig­ger guard, insuring a firm grip and straight squeeze toward the rear

The neck is relaxed, the eyes are level. The cheek rests firmly against the stock forming a "spot weld." However, the eye is far enough to the rear so that the rear sight will not strike the eye as the rifle recoils. The "spot weld" is the solid contact made by the firer 's cheek and the stock of the rifle. As the rifle recoils to the rear, the firer 's head and eye will move at the same time and will be reposi­tioned at the same time. It is important for the cheek to be positioned on the stock in the same place each time the rifle is fired. This will put the eye the same distance from the rear sight each time and will insure a dupli­cation of the sight picture.

The weight of the upper body is relaxed forward against the tension of the sling.

51. PRONE POSITION—T48E1

When firing in short bursts with the rifle on the automatic setting, you must depend upon your gr ip and position. They are the most important factors in this type of rifle marksmanship and must be correct to get all the rounds of a burst into the target .

Figure 30. Prone position.

204 The Fort Benning T48 manual

Place the rifle on the ground with the sights up and the muzzle pointing to the front. Pr ior to assuming the prone position, check to be sure—

The sling is loose and out of the way of the magazine feedway. (The sling is not used.)

The gas plug is positioned properly with the " A " on the gas plug upward.

The bipod legs are in the locked position.

To assume the prone position, stand fac­ing down range and aline your body directly to the rear of the rifle. Take two steps to the rear, drop to your knees and into the prone po­sition. Raise the hinged butt plate and place the butt of the rifle to your shoulder. Spread your legs a comfortable distance apa r t and, if possible, place your heels on the ground.

Grasp the pistol gr ip with your r ight hand. Your left hand grasps the small of the stock, with the thumb under the stock and your fingers curled over the top (fig. 31 ) . Pull the rifle down and to the left with your left hand. This forces the hinged butt plate to the left and down into your shoulder, counteracting the pressure of your cheek against the stock. A firm grip must be applied to the rifle. Position your t r igger finger on the t r igger so that , when viewed from above the rifle, there is daylight between the pistol grip and forefinger. Curl your remaining fingers around the pistol grip and pull the rifle back and down into your shoulder.

The coach takes his position five paces to the rear of the firer. F rom this position he tells the firer which way to move his body in order to be directly behind the rifle. The coach moves forward and checks the firer 's feet and legs. His toes are out and, when possi­ble, the heels should contact the ground. His legs are spread a comfortable distance apar t .

He checks the shoulders, which should be level. The most common error is a low right shoulder. To correct this error the firer moves his r ight elbow inward, or his left elbow for­ward and out.

The coach checks the firer 's gr ip on the rifle after making sure tha t the firer 's chest is up and off the ground.

The coach checks to see tha t the sling is loose and out of the way of the magazine feed-

way and tha t the gas plug is positioned prop­erly. He adjusts the bipod legs by grasping the hand guard with one hand and adjusting the bipod legs to the height desired by the firer with the other hand.

He moves to the rear and rechecks the firer 's position. He then assumes the proper coaching position. In this position, he is on the firer 's left side and is far enough for­ward so he can see the firer 's eye. The coach rests on his left hip and left elbow (fig. 41) .

52. SITTING POSITION—T48 and T48E1

For steadiness, this position is second only to the prone position. The sitt ing position may be used when you do not have time or space to assume the prone position, or when your view of the ta rge t would be obscured in the prone position—such as firing in an area with high grass . It is also suitable for firing down hill.

Before assuming the sit t ing position, stand facing the target , holding the rifle with the "V" of your left hand against the upper sling swivel. Execute approximately a half r ight face and spread your feet far apart . Sit down, breaking the fall with your r ight hand, far enough to the rear so the undersides of your knees are about a hand span off the ground. Your feet should be farther apart than your knees. Relax your ankles so that your toes point forward and slightly inward. Bend your body well forward at the waist and place your left upper a rm on the flat part of your left shinbone so the tip of your elbow is crossed over the shinbone. There should be several inches of contact between your left upper a rm and left shin. With your right hand at the heel of the butt, force the rifle into your r ight shoulder and take the correct grip on the pistol grip. Block your r ight elbow on the inside of your r ight knee. Relax into the sling (fig. 32) .

These are the important features of the si t t ing position:

The rifle rests in the "V" formed by the thumb and forefinger and on the heel of the left hand.

The left elbow is as nearly under the rifle as the magazine will permi t ; the left wrist is s t raight .

Figure 31. Prone position (T48E1).

206 The Fort Benning T48 manual

-

Daylight is visible between the sling and the crook of the left elbow.

The left upper a rm is forward and down over the left knee, having several inches of contact with the inside (flat par t ) of the left shin; the tip of the elbow is crossed over the shinbone.

The weight of the body is relaxed forward at the waist.

The feet are far ther apar t than the knees, with the feet relaxed forward at the ankles. The toes are turned in.

The weight of the upper par t of the body is forward on the legs.

The butt of the rifle is held in the pocket of the r ight shoulder by the tension of the sling.

The right a rm is blocked on the inside of the r ight knee.

The grip on the pistol grip, the position of the t r igger finger, and the spot weld between the cheek and the stock are the same as in the prone position.

When taking the si t t ing position with the T48E1, lock the bipod legs back along the bar­rel and use the hinged but t plate. You may use the hasty sling instead of the loop sling. All other features of the sit t ing position are the same.

53. ALTERNATE SITTING POSITIONS

The al ternate positions are not so stable as the open-legged sit t ing position and should be used only if the conformation of your body

Figure 32. Open-legged sitting position.

Figure 33. Cross-legged si t t ing position.

prevents you from using the open-legged posi­tion.

In the cross-legged position (fig. 33) , sit with your left leg crossed over your r ight leg. Draw your feet up close to your body so the outer par t of the calf of each leg rests on the inside of the opposite foot. The backs of your upper a rms are supported against your shin-bones and are very nearly at r ight angles to them. The rest of the position is the same as for the normal si t t ing position.

In the cross-ankled sit t ing position (fig. 34) , cross your left ankle over your r ight ankle, and extend your legs well away from your body. Be sure tha t your knees are not held up by sheer muscular effort. Here, as in the cross-legged position, your upper a rms are supported by your shins. The rest of this position is the same as for the normal si t t ing position.

The cross-ankled position provides only a two-point base of support and is less stable than the cross-legged position, which has a three-

point base. If you weigh less than 170 pounds you should avoid the cross-ankled position be­cause you will rock while firing.

54. KNEELING POSITION

This position is frequently used on level ground or ground that slopes upward. It is a steady position and can be used to great ad­vantage when you don't have enough time to assume the prone position, or when the target would be obscured if you were in the sitting position. It can be used when you do not have enough space to assume the prone position.

To assume the kneeling position, face the target . Hold the rifle with the "V" of your left hand against the upper sling swivel and your r ight hand at the heel of the butt. Execute a r ight face and then place your left foot about 18 inches to the front with your toe pointing in the general direction of the target . Kneel down onto your r ight knee and sit with your r ight buttock on your r ight heel. Place your

208 The Fort Benning T48 manual

Figure 34. Cross-ankled sitting position.

left elbow several inches forward of your left knee. Cam the bu t t of the rifle into your r ight shoulder and position your r ight hand at the pistol gr ip. Hold your r ight elbow jus t below the horizontal, forming a pocket in your shoulder to hold the rifle in place. To com­plete the position, shift your weight forward, placing approximately 60 percent of your weight on your left leg. Relax into the sling (fig. 35) . Check your position by aiming at the ta rge t and closing your eyes as you did in the prone position.

These are the important features of the kneeling position:

The rifle rests in the " V " formed by the thumb and forefinger and on the heel of the left hand.

The left wr is t is s t raight . The left elbow is as nearly under the rifle

as the magazine will permit . The left elbow is several inches forward

of the left knee. The weight of the body is forward and point-to-point contact between the left elbow and knee is avoided.

Daylight can be seen between the sling and the crook of the left elbow.

The left lower leg is vertical, as viewed from the front.

The toe of the left foot points generally at the target .

The left foot is drawn back, and the body weight is relaxed forward so tha t solid contact is made between the calf of the left leg and the left thigh.

The grip by the r ight hand, the position of the cheek against the stock of the rifle, and the finger on the t r igger are the same as for the prone position. The r ight elbow is slightly be­low the horizontal.

The r ight knee is positioned so tha t the r ight thigh forms an angle of 90° with the line of aim. The entire surface of the lower leg,

from knee to toe, is in contact with the ground. With the body weight shifted forward, most of the weight is off the right leg and on the left leg. The right leg now completes a solid three-point base. If the right leg forms an angle of less than 90°, the three-point base is reduced in size. If the angle is greater, the firer is straining his thigh muscles.

The firer sits firmly on his right heel. If at first this puts too much strain on the instep, he may dig a small hole for his toe. Practice in this position will eliminate the need for this hole.

When assuming the kneeling position with the T48E1, lock the bipod legs back along the barrel and use the hinged butt plate. The hasty sling may be used instead of the loop sling. All other features of the kneeling position remain the same.

55. ADJUSTMENT OF THE HASTY SLING —WEB To adjust the hasty sling, place the rifle on

your right hip and cradle it in the crook of your right arm so that both hands are free to make the adjustment. The hook is fastened to the lower sling swivel at all times when the hasty sling is used. Unfasten the keeper and loosen the sling until the proper adjustment is obtained. This adjustment varies with the conformation of each man's body and will have to be determined through experimentation. Move the keeper toward the feed end of the sling and lock the keeper. Give the sling a half turn to the left and pass your left arm through the sling so that the sling is high on your upper arm. Move your left hand over the sling and grasp the rifle slightly to the rear of the upper sling swivel. The sling should lie flat along

Figure 35. Kneeling position.

210 The Fort Benning T48 manual

Figure 36. Hasty sling.

the back of your left hand and wrist . Grasp the butt of the rifle with your r ight hand (fig. 36) .

56. STANDING POSITION

The standing, or off-hand position is normally used in the assault for ranges of 100 yards or less. During the assault, the rifleman quickly assumes the position, fires, and then moves forward.

To assume the standing position, stand facing the target . Do a half r ight face and spread your feet a comfortable distance apar t . Raise the rifle butt upward with your r ight hand until the sights are approximately level with your eyes. Put the toe of the but t against your r ight shoulder so tha t one-fourth of the butt is visible from the rear. Grasp the pistol grip with your r ight hand. Pull the rifle s t raight to the rear and hold it against your shoulder by the force of your right hand. Raise

your r ight elbow jus t high enough to form a pocket in the r ight shoulder, and to enable you to apply force s t ra ight to the rear. Your cheek forms a spot weld with the stock of the rifle. Relax your weight s t ra ight down onto your waist, keeping your weight equally distributed on both feet (fig. 37) . If you are not aiming at the target , move your feet until the rifle rests naturally on the target .

These are the important features of the standing position :

The firer is aiming naturally on his target .

The feet are spread a comfortable distance apar t .

The weight of the body rests equally on both feet.

The left hand is positioned slightly to the rear of the upper sling swivel, with the rifle rest ing in the "V" and on the heel of the left hand.

The left elbow is as nearly under the rifle as the magazine permits .

The but t of the rifle is high on the r ight shoulder.

The r ight elbow is nearly horizontal. The spot weld is the same as for the other

positions. The t r igger finger is contacting the t r igger

so there is daylight between the finger and pistol grip, when viewed from above.

The f i rer is relaxed, allowing his weight to be evenly distributed on both hips.

The s tanding position is not t augh t with the T48E1.

57. H I P F IRING POSITION—T48

The hip f ir ing position with the T48 rifle is used to place well-directed fire on suspected enemy positions at extremely short ranges (up to 30 or 35 y a r d s ) . It is effective during the final stages of an assault, in jungle and street fighting, or in any situation where the enemy can be located only by flash, sound, or vague outline.

To assume the hip f ir ing position (fig. 38) , place your feet far enough apa r t to provide balance, with one foot slightly forward as in a boxer's stance. Point your feet in the general

Figure 37. Standing position.

212 The Fort Benning T48 manual

Figure 38. Hip firing position.

direction of the target, just as if you had sud­denly stopped walking. Bend your knees slightly with your body leaning forward from the hips, to provide a comfortable firing posi­tion.

Hold the rifle with your right hand grasp­ing the pistol grip and your right forearm along the right side of the stock. Hold the butt of the rifle tightly against the side of your right hip. Your left hand grasps the rifle near the upper sling swivel with the thumb over the top of the rifle. Bend your left arm slightly. The sling should swing loosely and not interfere with your grip.

In aiming, point the rifle in the direction of the target with the barrel horizontal or slightly depressed. It is much better to get a ricochet shot on the target than a high miss that gives no indication of its strike. You should be able to keep both the muzzle of the rifle and the target within your field of vision. Your eyes, however, should be focused on the target. By doing this you increase your ability to aim the rifle properly, and a target in a new direc­tion can be readily engaged by pivoting your entire body.

When practicing or firing from this position the coach must insure that:

The position has stability. The position is natural and well balanced

to eliminate awkwardness. The butt of the rifle is pressed against the

right hip. The barrel is pointing at the proper angle. The firer keeps his eyes on the target.

58. CROUCH FIRING POSITION—T48E1 The crouch firing position is used to fire

the T48E1 accurately when on the automatic (A) setting (fig. 39) . This position is designed for use in close-in fighting or in the assault,

when the rifleman is within 35 yards of his objective. A special sling adjustment is used. Since one standard sling is not long enough to assume the correct position, two web slings can be joined together. The bipod legs are locked in the firing position so that the firer may immediately drop into the prone position to engage a target of opportunity at greater ranges.

To adjust the sling to the proper length, loosen it and refasten the keeper. Pick up the rifle by grasping the sling so that the sights are down, muzzle pointing to your front. Place

Figure 39. Crouch position.

214 The Fort Benning T48 manual

the sling over your head on your left shoulder and allow the rifle to hang freely at your r ight side. Loosen the sling until the rifle hangs from 8 to 10 inches below your waist. Grasp the hand guard with your left hand and tu rn the rifle so the sights are up. The sling will tend to cant the rifle away from your body. To offset this, place the other end of the sling around the but t of the rifle. This tends to cant the weapon toward your body and keeps it in a stable position.

These are the important features of the crouch fir ing position:

The feet are spread a comfortable distance apar t , with one foot leading, as if the f i rer had suddenly stopped walking.

Both legs are bent slightly.

The f irer is in a crouch position with his head up.

The rifle is grasped firmly at the pistol gr ip with the r igh t hand.

The r ight forearm is along the r ight side of the stock, forcing the stock in front of the r ight hip.

The left a rm is s t ra ight and holds the bar­rel of the rifle horizontal or lower. The left a rm is used to adjust fire by raising or lowering the muzzle. The weight of the body is evenly balanced on both feet, allowing the firer to pivot on the ball of the leading foot in order to engage a ta rge t in any direction.

Both eyes a re kept on the target .

59. T H E IMPORTANCE O F T R I G G E R SQUEEZE

You have learned how to hold and aim the rifle. The next step in rifle marksmanship is the most impor tant single act in shooting—the t r igger squeeze. Unless you learn and practice the proper t r igger squeeze, you might as well forget the other steps, because you'll place more lead in the but ts than in the target .

Tr igger squeeze begins the moment your forefinger takes up the slack on the t r igger . F rom tha t point you move the t r igger s t ra ight to the rear with an evenly increasing pressure of your forefinger until, suddenly, the rifle fires. You should squeeze so tha t you never know what ins tant the rifle will fire.

60. APPLYING TRIGGER SQUEEZE

Grasp the pistol grip comfortably and firmly in your r ight hand with your forefinger touching the t r igger in a natura l position. For the average rifleman, the t r igger will contact the forefinger between the f irst and second joints.

You will notice tha t when you apply pres­sure and squeeze the t r igger to the rear, it moves easily for a short distance until you feel a s tronger resistance. This movement is called the "slack." It is the movement of the tr igger to the rear until the shoulder of the trigger contacts the tail of the sear. The remainder of the movement required to overcome this s t ronger resistance is known as the squeeze. A heavier pressure must be applied during the "squeeze" to move the t r igger until the nose of the sear disengages its notch in the hammer. To properly squeeze the tr igger, take up the slack and p a r t of the squeeze with a firm initial pressure. Continue the steady movement of your t r igger finger s t ra ight to the rear until the rifle fires. To obtain surprise shots, vary the heavy initial pressure so the rifle does not always fire at the same time.

61. COMBINING TRIGGER S Q U E E Z E WITH OTHER S T E P S

Although t r igger squeeze is the most im­por tan t single factor in marksmanship, it must be combined with your aim and position to produce the best results. Since the prone posi­tion is the most stable, it should be used when beginning t r igger squeeze exercises. Follow this sequence:

Assume your position. Be sure tha t you have bone support and your muscles are relaxed.

Inhale a deep breath of air, expel half of it, and hold the remainder by closing your throat . Keep your muscles relaxed.

Aline your sights and get the correct sight picture.

As you continue to concentrate on your sight picture, take up the slack and p a r t of the squeeze with a heavy initial pressure. Continue to squeeze the t r igger with a smooth, steadily increasing pressure until the hammer falls.

After the hammer falls, follow through.

Native American Production of the T48

In a programme designed to test the 'produceability' of the FAL, using American drawings and manufacturing practices, the FAL rifle was produced in limited quantities at two American arms factories: High Standard Arms Corp of Hamden, Conn, and Harrington & Richardson Inc (H&R) of Worcester, Mass. This story is told in more detail in Volume One.

Fig 139 The H igh S tandard T48 - o n l y 13 we re p r o d u c e d . — courtesy the late Edward J. Hoffschmidt

216 The United Kingdom 1954

Fig 140 Ha r r i ng ton and R ichardson Inc m a d e 500 T48 r i f les, f r o m m o d i f i e d , i nch -measu remen t Canad ian Ar­senals d rawings , to test the FAL's p r o d u c e a b i l i t y in the U n i t e d States. S tud ied in V o l u m e O n e .

Fig 141 Receiver mark ings , r igh t side; H&R US-made T48

The United Kingdom, 1954

In January, 1954, the United Kingdom adopted the FAL rifle in two basic configurations, the X8E1 (prototype 43) and the unit-optic sight version, the X8E2 (prototype 46). Volume Two tells the com­plete story of the trials, modifications and measurement changes which led from this initial order to the final issue L1A1 rifle design, adopted and used today by Britain, Australia and several other Commonwealth countries.

The magnitude of British orders for FN-made weapons has not previously been reported: total UK orders before production began in England ran to some 14,530 rifles of the various metric 'X8' models. It will be remembered that Monsieur Laloux, on behalf of FN, in gratitude for British assistance in the crucial early days of the develop­ment of the FAL rifle, gave free of charge to the British Crown the rights to manufacture as many

Fig 142 The FN-made UK X8E2 rifle, a quantity order based on prototype 46 (fig 115). UK-designed 'double ef­fect ' cocking handle and British-made unit optic sight. Studied in Vo lume Two. — Canadian War Museum

218 T h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m 1954

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rifles of the FN design as the British chose. In recog­nition of this and other services, M. Laloux was awarded the title of Commander of the Victorian Order by Queen Elizabeth II.

Another champion of "the Belgian rifle" was the Right Honourable Sir Winston Churchill, and, on the occasion of the great statesman's stepping down as leader of Her Majesty's government in 1955, Monsieur Laloux did not forget the debt. The following is an extract from FN Revue No MS, of February, 1965. The magazine reported that M. René Laloux, director general of Fabrique Nationale, had in 1955 presented a specially-made and inscribed FAL rifle to then-Prime Minister of Great Britain Sir Winston Churchill. For the FN Revue article, M. Laloux recalled and recorded the interview, granted by the Prime Minister, at which time the presentation had been made:

Fig 145 The popularity of the FAL in Britain is here at­tested to by this plastic model, made and sold by the UK model firm 'Airfix'.

Fig 146 Prototype telescope sight M K 2 no 2 by the UK firm A V I M O , Ltd of London and Taunton. Adjustments in the 'tip-off mount'. — FN Test and Control Laboratory

220 T h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m 1954

Adoption of the FAL Rifle by Great Britain

I will begin with as brief as possible a recap of the history of the adoption of the FAL by Great Britain.

In August, 1941, several FN employees, working as collaborators with the Nazis, decided to leave occupied Belgium in order to rejoin the British cause. The enterprise succeeded perfectly and, as soon as M. Joassart, the FN director general of that era, entered into the Belgian Government in London as Secretary of State, his companions, that is to say Monsieurs Dufrasne, Vogels, Saive and myself, desirous of placing their knowledge at the disposition of the British Government, were engaged by the UK Ministry of Supply in the study and prototype manufacture of Small Arms.

Three years later, upon the liberation of Belgium, this team returned to Herstal, but the established contacts with the British lived on, so that later when Britain, in liaison with Canada and the United States, decided to study new Infantry weapons and ammunition systems, FN was invited to participate in this development. It was a proposition we accepted with enthusiasm._

All this is to show that an event of seeming secondary importance, that is the leaving of occupied Belgium at a particularly critical stage of the war, had in fact extremely important consequences. In ef­fect, if Britain had not been interested in our prelim­inary design work, the FAL would never have been born, and I would not dare to hazard a guess as to what differences this would have made in the success of our enterprise.

The basis of the new British Infantry Armament system was a cartridge smaller than the multiple military rounds then in general use, plus a detachable box magazine of 20-round capacity — a departure from the norm of repeating rifles of the day, most of which carried only 5 rounds (with the exception of the Lee Enfield, which held 10), in addition to the concept of selectively available semi- and full-automatic fire.

Thus Monsieur Dieudonné Saive created a car­bine, from his original idea of a military arm, but opening for takedown like a sporting shotgun.

From the beginning, the Saive design met with great success. Trials were held in England in 1949, and then in America during the whole of 1950, wherein our Belgian design was in competition with an English design and the American T25. The con­clusions of these 1950 American trials were in favour of the FN entry, which was at that time unfortunately chambered for a 7mm cartridge of British design,

much weaker than the proposed US 7.62-calibre T65 round. The Americans were fiercely loyal to their own cartridge design and rejected the findings of the test commission which had recommended the FN rifle in 7mm. Finally, in 1951 after further trials in Britain, the UK government announced their unilateral adop­tion of the native British rifle, dubbed the EM-2, and the little English 7mm (.280) cartridge. This severely compromised the desired ideal of Standardization of the military rifle and round among the western powers. The British decision engendered a great storm of conflict, and provoked a defence ministers' conference; all countries concerned met in Washington, and determined to persevere in the search for a common cartridge no matter what.

The UK government subsequently held the EM-2 adoption in abeyance. At FN, M. Saive's rifle was quickly redimensioned to fire the American 7.62 mm cartridge, and the English did the same with their EM-2. Trials resumed in the U S A in 1952, this time in competition with a new American rifle, the T44.

Our M. Vervier attended all the Fort Benning trials and the arctic tests at Big Delta in Alaska. He recollects that the results were again in favour of the FN design. Subsequently, the UK War Office recommended to the new Prime Minister, Mr Win­ston Churchill, the adoption without delay of the FN rifle firing the American T65 round.

A Stormy Session of the Commons

Newspapers of the day recount how, in response to this request, Mr Churchill, then near 80 years of age, personally fired the FN rifle at a nearby Home Guard range. He was enchanted with the rifle and decided then and there to follow the War Office's advice he had been given. This decision was received very badly indeed by the Opposition in the British House of Commons, and a lively debate there took place on Feb 1, 1954.

I was in London on that day, and thanks to the Belgian Military Attaché I was able to add my piece to the public inquiry.

The English sense of humour lent an air very much more amusing and interesting to these proceedings than that found in our European parlia­ments. The English House of Commons meets in a relatively small rectangular room, with the govern­ment and opposition deputies seated face to face, separated by a long table on which those of the front

Fig 147 The cased, presentation FAL rifle, made by the workers of Fabrique Nat ionale and presented by M. Laloux to retiring British Prime Minister Sir Wins ton Chur­chil l , as a token of gratitude.

rank are allowed to put their feet, if they so desire. The deputies speak from their places and it is very bad manners indeed to interrupt an orator save on a "point of order". The deputies are not addressed by their names but rather by the district or riding they represent. I remember the debate was opened that day by Mr Wyatt, the "Right-Honourable Member for Aston", who proposed the following motion: "That this House deplores the decision of Her Majesty's Government to adopt the Belgian FN rifle for use by the British Army, in place of the new English EM-2 rifle."

Mr Wyatt's argument was that standardization of ammunition alone was important and not stan­dardization of the rifle itself, and that Mr Churchill had reversed the decision of the previous government simply because the EM-2 was unorthodox in ap­pearance. As it happened, as I understood it, the in­ventor of the EM-2, had, to gain a slight advantage, done away with the butt on his design. Events have proved this to be not without pitfalls and the result was an inconvenient design.

Prime Minister Churchill then took the floor and for more than half an hour courageously defended the "Belgian rifle", explaining that he made his decision to adopt it first of all because generally it was the most highly regarded design, and the most likely to be adopted by other western powers. Fur­ther, he went on, the FN had been recommended to him by the highest British military authorities, in par­

ticular by his noble friend Lord Alexander, Minister of Defence. He added that he himself had been im­pressed by the ways in which the FN rifle correspon­ded to his own views of what a military rifle should look like. Fiercely harassed by the Opposition, Mr Churchill ended in a telling fashion by remarking that Mr Wyatt's predeliction had not prevented his turning in a very remarkable score with the FN the previous morning, during a shoot organised for Members of Parliament !

A number of other orators then successively took the floor, alternately for and against the motion. The penultimate speaker was the former Defence Minister, Mr Shinwell, whose decision it had been to adopt the EM-2. He was attentively listened to by Mr Churchill, who, being hard of hearing, made use of his ear-trumpet. Mr Shinwell proposed that Mr Churchill's words of favour for the FN were due simply to his dislike for the previous govern­ment.

Finally, Mr Anthony Head, Secretary of State for War, rose for the last speech. He created a furor amongst the Opposition members by revealing that a message had already been sent to Washington stating that Her Majesty's government was ready to adopt the Belgian rifle firing the American T65 cartridge.

The Opposition motion was defeated in the sub­sequent vote, 266 to 232. The confrontation had been long and arduous: begun at 3:45 p.m. , the new rifle issue was not abandoned until 7 p . m . that evening.

222 T h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m 1954

Fig 148 The Churchil l presentation FAL rifle, in its high-gloss factory blue finish. Described in detail in adjacent text.

One hundred and fifty times, the words, "the Belgian rifle" had been intoned in the venerable chamber of the English parliament.

The next day, the British army confirmed their order to us for 5,000 rifles for troop trials.

At that moment, conscious of the faith placed in our design by the English decision, it was impossible to manifest the joy that was mine, but a year later, hearing that Mr Churchill, who had now reached 80 years of age, was about to step down as Prime Minister, I made formal inquiries at the War Office to see if we could not be authorised to offer him an FN FAL rifle as a token of our gratitude for his having defended it so well. The reply came that Sir Winston would not only accept the gift but wished the presentation to be made by FN !

Never was a more beautiful rifle made in Her-stal. Volunteers were solicited among the machinists to turn out the most beautiful parts possible, using cutters honed to perfection. M. Demey, then chief of the Arms Division, suggested the rifle be gloss blued instead of the usual phosphate-and-paint. Finally, the talents of engravers, used to working on high-class shotguns and not on military rifles, were called to

our aid. It was decided to inscribe and then inlay with gold on the right side of the receiver first a legend outlining the purpose of the gift, and then a phrase that Mr Churchill had used in the House of Commons in description of the Belgian rifle. The in­scription read: "This rifle was made by the workers of Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre and presented to the Right Honourable Sir Winston Churchill, K .G . , O.M. , C H . , P .C . , M.P. , Prime Minister of Great Britain, in token of our respect and admiration — Liège, Belgium 25 March 1955." Below this, Mr Churchill's phrase was placed in quotation marks: "I was pleased to discover that the arm was in harmony with certain important practical and tactical concep­tions that my long experience suggested."

(Sir Winston had been a serving Officer before entering Parliament and had participated in numerous combat missions.) Finally finished, the rifle was placed in a fitted case with its lid ornamen­ted by an escutcheon portraying the coat-of-arms of this celebrated statesman, the design of which Miss Rowbotham, the excellent secretary of our London office, had been successful in obtaining.

On Thursday, 31 March, 1955, at the appointed

Fig 149 The Churchil l family coat-of-arms, engraved and set into the lid of the case of Sir Winston's presen­tation FAL rifle.

hour, that is a little before 4 p.m., fraught with emotion, I presented myself at No 10 Downing Street carrying the presentation case and accompanied by Major General Crawford, (retired), Administrator of FN England, and Major Tothill, Acting Officer of Ordnance for the Director of Infantry.

Mr Churchill's private secretary announced that Sir Winston was just returning from Parliament and would be a few minutes late. We were ushered into a salon. As you know, 10 Downing Street is the Prime Minister's residence. It dates from the Victorian era, and I admired the furnishings with great pleasure.

Twenty minutes later, the same secretary retur­ned with the message that Mr Churchill was very sorry but he was in the middle of his farewell speech to the House and he would be with us as soon as possible.

The secretary soon returned again to direct us into the 'Cabinet Room', where many crucial decisions had been made during the war. A large table, ringed with chairs, filled the room. The Prime Minister himself was waiting for us and, smiling, shook our hands. His dress was that of an English

gentleman. His celebrated polka-dot bow tie framed his rosy face, and, content, he smoked a cigar. In brief, he was absolutely as he was depicted in photographs of the time.

I placed the gun case carefully on the polished table, and opened the lid. I explained to the Prime Minister that we had been so satisfied with the state­ment he had made in Parliament regarding our rifle that we had allowed ourselves the pleasure of reproducing it on the side of this special rifle we had made for him. Mr Churchill traced with his finger each engraved word, reading first his name and titles, then the engraved statement in quotes. Arriving at the end of this, he turned to me and said: "Did I really say that?"

I assured him that the phrase had been extracted directly from Hansard. "Oh!" said Mr Churchill, "if Hansard says I said it, it must be so." Then Mr Chur­chill expressed the desire to handle the rifle, When he had it in his hands, he brandished it and said: "This, gentlemen, will save the lives of many men."

He proceeded to try the action of the rifle ap­preciatively, and as I assisted him a bit of his cigar ash fell on my shirtsleeve. Before me, Mr Churchill saw the little drama. Quickly he introduced two fingers within my sleeve and stretched the material, then brushed the ashes away delicately with the palm of his other hand. I admired the precision of his movements. The ashes were gone, alas; the memory remains with me to this day.

This episode over, I broke the rifle open to show him how easily the soldier could gain access to the mechanism — this seemed to please him very much.

With these introductions, he began a discussion with Major Tothill on the logistical use of the arm in peacetime and asked if it would be different from that of the Lee-Enfield, which the British Army had used for more than 50 years. We were by now gravitating towards the windows. Leaning on a table and surrounded by us, Sir Winston began reminiscing about the war. His delivery of words had always im­pressed me, but to hear him now, in this small room, speaking slowly and emphasizing each phrase, in English, which is more concise than French, was to be really under his spell.

With his lengthy experience of some sixty-odd years with repeating rifles, Mr Churchill wondered aloud about allowing the soldier selective automatic and semi-automatic fire. He felt it would be necessary to control this feature, as it would inevitably lead to a sharp increase in ammunition consumption. The increased firepower now available

224 T h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m 1954

would result in fewer men in the front line, he said; fewer than when he was in Flanders, and conse­quently fewer casualties. But, he added with a smile, this of course would mean more men back with the mules! (This was an allusion to the 1914-18 war, where, as I personally witnessed in the Ypres sector, the British Army made use of large Spanish mules for transporting munitions and food to the front lines.)

For my part, after discreetly reminding the Prime Minister of the gift which FN had given to England — that is the free use of the rights to manu­facture the FAL Rifle without payment of royalties, a gift which England made very good use of, I now revealed that, in order to remove as many obstacles as possible from a clear path to standardization of rifles within the N A T O alliance, we had made the same offer to the United States. Mr Churchill assured me that he very much appreciated our attitude.

But the hour to depart had arrived. In walking past the rifle, resting in its fitted case on the large boardroom table, Mr Churchill inquired if in an emergency it could be used as a club. I assured him that this could be done, and we retired, but not before Mr Churchill thanked us for having offered him this "very nice rifle". I will always remember the illustrious Prime Minister, standing on the board­room threshold, inclined towards us, arms wide apart in a gesture of profound gratitude.

The following Monday, he was received by the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and his role as head of the government of Britain was over.

It is therefore possible that our visit was the last he received in the capacity of Prime Minister. Be that as it may, Fabrique Nationale can be proud to have had so staunch a defender.

The British did not pursue the use of the heavy-barrel FAL, confining their interest to the recorded purchase of only three prototypes on May 18, 1954. The Australians found this configuration more to their liking however, and later produced a most ef­fective series of light support weapons based on their inch-version L1A1 semi-automatic infantry rifle, in calibre 7.62 NATO (Volume Two).

The L1A1 is itself current issue in the UK, Australia and several other Commonwealth nations.

Belgium 1954

Fig 150 The Belgian army issue M1 FAL rifle, adopted in 1954.

Fig 151 Belgian M1 FAL fitted with special cocking han­dle and mount for Philips-Usfa infra-red night sight. The

With the adoption of the 7.62 mm NATO Belgian model 'M1' FAL in 1954, the .30M2 calibre SAFN rifle was gradually superceded. Both these weapons are marked 'ABL'; not to designate a model, but to indicate that the weapon is Belgian army property. The acronym ABL is an ingenious combination of the initials 'A B' for the French Armée Belge, and 'B L' for the Flemish Belgisch Leger, both of which mean 'Belgian Army'.

Belgian orders in 1954 and 1955 totalled 14,100 M1 FAL rifles.

Later, in 1960, a new order was approved, for an additional quantity of an up-to-date 'M2' model. The features which constitute this update of the basic FAL 'Canada ' were initially proposed and or­dered by the German Bundeswehr and are described in the section on Germany.

Certain units of the Belgian armed forces are

'ABL' Belgian army property mark can be seen on the receiver.

226 B e l g i u m 1954

Fig 153 Sixties-issue Belgian M2, fitted with the German ELTRO model B 8-V infra-red night sight, made by Eltro

GMBH of Heidelberg. Issued to Belgian army Infantry, Paras, Commandos and Military Police.

Fig 152 Belgian M1 FAL fitted with the infra-red night sight made by Philips Usfa, NV, of Eindhoven, Holland.

Front grip energises the I/R source when squeezed. Bat­tery pack and cables not shown.

today equipped with the model 'M3', which is a late-model FAL 'paratrooper' or 'Para' folding-stock carbine with a distinguishing short barrel.

Fig 154 Prototype telescope and mount for Belgian army trials. (Note vertical takedown lever on M1 rifle, found to have too high a centre of gravity when firing grenades.)

This type of offset 'side' mount found favour only in the Belgian forces.

Fig 155 Telescope of 3.6x made by Société Belge d'Op­tiques et d'Instruments de Précision (OIP), in flexible-ringed side mount, as adopted by the Belgian Army. Note new horizontal takedown lever on this Belgian M2 FAL.

228 B e l g i u m 1954

Fig 156 Belgian army issue M2 FAL rifle, adopted in 1960.

T h e Belgian M3 is slightly shorter than other carbine versions of the FAL Para, due to the requirement for paratroops to be able to enter (and leave!) their helicopter transports with their weapons gripped securely against their chest packs, in traditional fashion, horizontally in front of them. This version had subsequently been adop­ted by several other countries.

The metalwork on Belgian army issue FAL rifles is finished in a distinctive matte grey colour. (The normal FN factory practice is for the rifle parts to be phosphated, painted with a strong, synthetic black lacquer, and then oven-baked. The same process is followed for the Belgian military rifles except the lacquer is a special-order grey colour.)

Fig 157 Belgian Paratrooper on guard before the Palais Royal in Brussels. The rifle is the folding-stock Belgian M3 'Para ' FAL.

Fig 158 FN FAL 'super-short' barrel Para M 3 , in Para­trooper combat trials at the Belgian army's Bever lo training camp.

Fig 159 Prototype of the latest model M3 Para (FN designation 50-63). Note folding cocking handle, fixed rear sight. No carrying handle fitted.

Fig 160 M3 Para prototype, stock folded. Receiver still cut for carrying handle, but none fitted. Compare with fig 189.

230 V e n e z u e l a 1954

Venezuela, 1954

V e n e z u e l a w a s the only country initially to adopt the FAL rifle in a calibre other than 7.62 NATO, choosing as they did the 7x49.15 mm Optimum 2 round. The designation FAL, or light auto rifle, was translated into Spanish as Fusil Automatico Liviano on the FN manuals, and this led to the rounds later being dubbed the "7 mm Liviano"

It will be remembered that Venezuela had

earlier purchased prototypes No 26 and 49. Their quantity order, for 5,000 rifles, was placed with FN on November 30, 1954. Both regular light rifles and heavy-barrel, bipod-equipped versions were in­cluded in this order. The light rifles were ordered with a unique, three-pronged flash suppressor, and a specially adjustable dial-type rear sight, both of Venezuelan design.

Fig 161 Venezuelan type FAL, presented to Gen Marcos Perez J iminez, September, 1955.

Fig 162 Cover of the Spanish-language manual for the later, NATO-cal ibre Venezuelan FAL.

Fig 163 FN cartridge label, calibre 7 x 49.15 mm (Op­t imum 2), adopted initially by the Venezuelan army.

— A.O. Edwards

Fig 164 The original, 1954-type Venezuelan army Fusil Automatico Liviano. Note the distinctive Venezuelan-design flash hider and rear sight. Cal ibre 7 mm 'Liviano'.

232 V e n e z u e l a 1954

Later, additional FAL rifles (of the type basically described under Germany) were ordered, in 7.62 NATO calibre. A sufficient quantity of new 7.62 barrels was also ordered, and the Venezuelans themselves converted their entire arsenal to the NATO calibre, thus ending the Military use of the FAL in any other calibre than the 7.62 mm NATO.

Fig 165 The unique, three-pronged Venezue lan flash hider.

Fig 166 FN-produced heavy-barrel FALO; in Spanish Fusil Automatico Pesado, or 'FAP ' . Cal ibre 7 x 49.15 mm.

Fig 167 Later Venezuelan FAL rifle, cal ibre 7.62 NATO.

Fig 169 Later Venezuelan markings, cal 7.62 NATO.

Fig 168 Early Venezuelan receiver markings: "Venezue­lan Armed Forces". Cal 7 mm Liviano.

234 V e n e z u e l a 1954

Fig 170 Plain-muzzle version, ordered by the Venezuelan Navy. Cal 7.62 mm NATO.

The Venezuelan National Guard purchased 10,000 of the 'super-short' FN model 50-63 (the 436 mm barrel-length Para FAL), without bolt holdopen or carrying handle, in 1974. (These rifles are further described under Argentina, on page 243.)

Fig 171 Venezuelan Navy FAL-receiver markings.

Israel, 1955

The first Israeli orders were for both light and heavy FAL 'Canada ' models, featuring the earlier rounded 'ribbed' handguard of the American 1952 trials rifles.

Many parts for the Israeli FAL rifle were sub­sequently manufactured by Israel Military In­dustries of Tel-Aviv, and assembled there. Throughout, the change levers and takedown hinge pins are unique; the change lever positions being (clockwise) 'A.S.R' as opposed to the standard 'SRA'. A special key was provided to remove the take­down hinge pin.

Fig 172 First Israeli model FAL. British trials type change lever.

Fig 173 Early markings, featuring Israel Mil i tary,Industries' crest, on Israeli light-barreled FAL.

236 Israe l 1955

Fig 174 Early Israeli model FALO (heavy barrel) automatic rifle.

Fig 175 Markings on the Israeli FALO receiver.

Fig 176 Late-model Israeli light-barrel FAL. Note the distinctive change lever, hinge pin and cocking handle.

Fig 179 Late issue Israeli FAL receiver markings. Note the slotted hinge pin.

Fig 178 Flash hider on the Israeli FALO. Bipods of a special pattern were made in Israel.

Fig 177 Israeli-made forend, wood-and-stamped-metal construction. Distinctive, solid front sight guards.

238 Argent ina 1955

Argentina, 1955

The NATO-ca l i b re FAL was selected in 1955 to

supercede the Argent ine army's 7.65 mm Mauser

1909 rifles. FALs of FN manufacture were ordered

and negotiat ions were undertaken to grant Argen­

t ina l icense to produce the FAL within its own

Direccion General de Fabricaciones Militares

(DGFM) , the state-owned 'General Directorate of

Mil i tary Industries'. The initial lot of FN-made FALs,

and the l icense to produce them in Argent ina, were

not secured until late 1958, due to the overthrow of

General Peron and the unsett led condi t ions which

prevai led in Argent ina at that t ime. The Belg ian

rifles were first issued to elite armoured cava l ry

units, and the D G F M arms factory, Fabrica de Ar­

mas Portables Domingo F. Matheu, located at

Rosar io in the province of Santa Fe, subsequently

began product ion of the Argent ine- l icensed FAL.

(Changes in the FAL design, pioneered on the Ger­

man G1 , had by this t ime become universal ly ac­

cepted, but Argent in ian product ion cont inued the

original design.)

By 1964, most of the Army had been issued the

FAL, as had the Border pol ice (Gendarmeria

Nacional), the Federal Pol ice, the Nava l Prefectura,

(Coast Guard) , the Argent ine Navy, Marine Corps,

Air Force and all provincia l pol ice corps.

Fig 180 FN production, first Argentine model FAL rifle.

Fig 181 Crest on the FN-produced, first-model Argentine army FAL.

Fig 182 First Argentine production model; serial 24501.

Argent ine product ion inc luded the standard

f ixed-stock FN model , (FN designat ion 50-00) the

folding stock Para models (FN 50-61 and 50-63) for

paratroop units, and the FN 50-41 squad automat ic ,

known in Argent ina as the ' FAP ' . This heavy-barrel

automat ic rifle is also used as a f ixed spott ing rifle,

mounted on the D G F M 105 mm 1968 model

recoil less rifle.

Argent ina has also equipped some Ranger bat­

tal ions of the Bol iv ian army with DGFM-made FAL

rifles. Argent ine armed forces have an est imated

150,000 units in service today, 1 5 % of wh ich are

still made at FN in Herstal .

In 1961 the F A L Para model 50-61 (fig 189) was

adopted as standard, and later in 1969 the Para 50-

63 with 'super-short' barrel was added for para­

troop, specia l forces, navy and air force issue.

Fig 183 Receiver markings on early DGFM-produced FAL. Manufactured in Argentina.

240 Argent ina 1955

Fig 184 Later 1960s model, 100% Argentine production. Serial 63607.

Fig 185 Right side receiver markings on the Argentine-made FAL rifle shown in fig 184. Receiver 'type 2' (see fig 292 for receiver type explanations.

Fig 186 Argentine airforce markings on the DGFM-produced FAL rifle.

Fig 187 Argentine-produced heavy-barrel 'FAP' mounted sideways, left side up, as a spotting rifle on top of the DGFM 105 mm recoilless rifle. — Col G. von Rauch

Fig 188 100% Argentine-produced FAP, from a DGFM catalogue.

Fig 189 Above: FAL Para model 50-61, 533 mm (stand­ard) barrel. Below: Current 'super-short' Para 50-63. Made in Belgium for units of the Argentine army.

Fig 190 Argentine-produced FN 'FAL-II '. 100% made in Argentina.

244 Belgian C o n g o 1955

Belgian Congo, 1955

Fig 191 Belgian Congo 1955 issue FAL 'Canada'.

Fig 192 Coat-of-arms on the Belgian Congo FAL - F.P. means "Force Publique". Note the second year of issue, 1956.

Fig 193 A 1959 photograph of Belgian troops enjoying the 'uneasy peace' in what was then Leopoldville, Belgian Congo. — Photo credit: LIFE magazine

Fig 194 After independence, the new government of the Congo ordered more FAL rifles from FN. These are marked on the left side "A.N.C. 1964" (Armée Nationale Congolese). They feature the South African design gas

plug/grenade sight and the FN flash hider/grenade laun­cher. Receiver type 2 (see fig 292 for explanation of receiver types.)

246 Grand Duchy of Luxembourg 1956

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, 1956

Fig 195 Luxembourg army FAL. 1,500 ordered in 1956. US-type folding triggerguard, UK X8-type change lever.

Fig 196 Crest on the Luxembourg FAL - "Armée Luxem­bourgeoise".

Paraguay, 1956

Fig 197 FN-produced Paraguayan FAL. Venezuelan-type rear sight.

The government of Paraguay, in addit ion to con- governments of both Brazi l and Argent ina. They

tracting with FN for F A L rifles, has received quan- also ordered 5,000 of the standard FN-made 'Fusi l

tities of South Amer ican-made FALs from the Automat ico Pesado' - the F A P .

Fig 198 Coat-of-arms of the Republic of Paraguay.

governments of both Brazi l and Argent ina. They

also ordered 5,000 of the standard FN-made 'Fusi l

Au tomat ico Pesado' - the F A P .

The German Gewehr 1 1956 - 1959

The German-contract F A L rifle marks a watershed in the history of the FAL design. (Actual ly , there were two German orders; the first, for the Border guard, specif ied a regular FAL 'Canada ' with suitable German markings). The second order was to rearm the Bundeswehr and was for 100,000 rifles. German speci f icat ions for this order changed the appearance of the F A L for evermore.

The German story began in December , 1954, when a demo was held featuring three spec ia l ly or­dered and ser ial ly-numbered FAL rifles: D E U 1, a standard heavy-barrel ' F A L O ' (the FN designat ion

for the heavy-barrel FAL , combin ing the acronym ' F A L ' with the first two letters of the French word lourd, meaning 'heavy'); D E U 2 was a standard F A L 'Canada ' and D E U 3 was a standard FN ' F A L U S A ' (or T48) with the US-designed, 5-prong f lash hider.

The Germans were impressed with these rifles and invited FN to part ic ipate in further trials, to be held in January, 1955 at the German Wahn test range, 15 km from Co logne. Mm. Laloux, Vervier, V a n V y v e and V a n Rutten attended this important event:

FN Ballistic Laboratory, 24 January, 1955

Demonstration in Germany

Object: This report lists succinctly the results from the

course of fire supervised by Monsieur Van Rutten, on

January 17 and 18 and by Monsieur Van Vyve on

January 20. The firer was Sgt-Maj Delaet.

Before journeying to the Wahn test facility, the

three test rifles were first subjected to an identical

course of fire at FN. The prone position was there

adopted for all the trials.

Course of Fire: 1. Function-firing (FAL no DEU 2): 1 magazine single

shot; 1 magazine in short bursts.

(FAL no DEU 3): 1 magazine single shot; 1

magazine short bursts.

2. Accuracy — 200 metres (results in cm) FAL no DEU 2: two series of 10 shots without bayonet; two series of 10 shots with bayonet.

Results: without bayonet — group 1: 17.5 +

14.5 = 32 cm. Group 2: 26 + 9.5 = 36.5 cm. Group

Average: 33.8 cm

With bayonet, group 1: 15 + 18 = 33 cm. Group 2:18.6 + 10 = 28.6 cm.

Average: 30.8 cm

3. Rapid fire, 20 single shots at 200 m, with FAL no

DEU 3: H + 1 = 55.5 + 44.5 = 100

4. Rapid fire, 60 single shots at 200 m, with FAL no

DEU 2: H + 1 = 50.5 + 49.5 = 100

5. Burst fire at 50 metres. Bursts of 3 or 4 rounds,

total 20 rounds: H + 1 = 17.5 + 105 = 122.5

(The trials thus far were repeated using the

FALO no D E U 1 . )

6. Accuracy at 200 metres (no bayonet provision).

Group 1: 30.2 + 14.3 = 44.5. Group 2: 36.5 + 14.8

= 51.3. Average: 49.7

7. Burst fire at 200 metres, using the bipod — the

majority of the bullets hit the target.

Part Two

250 The German Gewehr 1

Fig 199 The ubiquitous prototype no 47, (as featured in the frontispiece and fig 116), doing double-duty as 'the

specimen' in this early German Border Guard instruction­al sheet.

The Browning machine rifle, converted to cal­ibre 7.62 NATO, was then demonstrated and fired to show the universality of this cartridge.

On Tuesday Jan 18, a demonstration grenade shoot was held, using MECAR grenade projectors fit­ted to both a Mauser rifle and a FAL rifle. The course of fire was as follows:

1. 50-metre precision grenade shooting using inert ENERGA grenades;

2. 100-metre prone precision grenade shooting, sup­porting the rifle on sandbags;

3. 100-metre armour plate penetration grenade trial; 4. 250-metre armour plate penetration grenade trial;

5. demonstration of accuracy firing the ENERGA

grenade from a FAL rifle held at a 45° angle. The

precision was excellent.

Following this, some live grenades were fired, as

follows:

1. ENERGA grenade on 25 cm armour plate fired

from 90° at 50 metres.

2. AP grenade on 25 cm armour, fired from 63° angle

of incidence, thus increasing the armour thickness to

an actual 28 cm.

3. ENERGA grenade on 12 cm armour, angle of in­

cidence 30° , at 50 metres.

A clean and complete penetration was achieved

in each case.

Trials carried out Thursday Jan 20:

1. A one-minute, timed single-shot event, fired at 100

metres with the firer seated with elbows supported on

a table. Number of shots fired: 61; dispersion: 39 +

35 = 72 cm.

2. A one-minute timed shoot, same range and con­

ditions, firing short bursts. Number of shots fired:

100; number of shots on the 1.5-metre square target:

77; dispersion 96 + 66 = 162 cm.

3. Same as no 2 above. Number of shots fired: 110;

no of shots on target: 83; dispersion 120 + 120 =

240 cm.

4. 20 single shots, standing, 100 metres: 90 + 42 =

133 cm.

5. A repeat of no 4 above, after a short rest for the

firer: 20 + 36 = 56.

6. 20 shots in bursts of 2 at 100 metres, standing: 10 shots on target.

7. Nine special small targets, representing the head

and shoulders of a prone enemy, were placed at

various distances from 70 to 100 metres. The firer

was to fire a short burst at each target as rapidly as

possible. Results: 9 bursts, 18 shots; 8 silhouettes

pierced, some by more than one bullet. Total

duration 20 seconds.

Fig 200 German receiver markings on the first Bundes-grenzschutz FAL rifles. Note change lever positions 'DF ' and 'EF' (single shot and auto fire).

8. A 300-metre event, shot f rom the seated posit ion:

44 + 27 = 71 cm.

The 1955 FN German test report ended proudly

with the fo l lowing short statement: "We fired in

total about 2,500 rounds, without the occur rence

of a single s toppage or incident."

On the strength of the Wahn test results, the

German Bundesgrenzschutz or 'Border safety police'

p laced an order with FN for several thousand FAL

'Canada ' rifles, fitted with the US type, 5-prong

f lash hider. The act ions on the rifles were to be

part icular ly 'f ine tuned' with the hammer notch and

sear chrome plated for a crisp, sharp let-off.

The major German order was p laced on Nov­

ember 13, 1956. Under the terms of the post-

W W I I N A T O mutual aid a l l iance, the West German

Army, the Bundeswehr, was a l lowed to reform and

re-arm. A brief ten years had passed since the

defeat of Naz i Germany, and the order to rearm the

Fig 201 Prototype of the Bundeswehr ' low line of sight' Gewehr 1. German-designed stamped handguard and bipod.

252 The German Gewehr 1

German mil i tary giant was received in Herstal with

mixed feel ings.

A request f rom the German purchasing com­

mission ca l led for several innovat ive modif icat ions

to the basic F A L ' C a n a d a ' design.

A l ready, in some models being built for ex­

port, a new improved fir ing pin with a purely

con ica l rear sect ion had replaced the earlier type,

and some cl ients had requested the opt ional two-

piece extractor design wh ich M. Sa ive had perfec­

ted, at Co l Studler's request, in 1953. The German

model , the G (for Gewehr, or rifle) 1, buil t in these

two features as standard for the first t ime. The fore-

end was not to be of wood, as in previous models,

but a new German design of two-piece pressed-

metal with an ingenious built-in b ipod. The Ger­

mans intended no bayonets to be used in the Bun-

deswehr. The plain muzzle-and-bayonet- lug of the

F A L ' C a n a d a ' were kept, however, and several ac­

cessories were designed to fit over it.

The f inal alteration came in a request from the

off icer in charge of the German mission; he wanted

the complete line of sight of the rifle to be lowered

by three mil l imetres. The nonplussed Belgian

designers protested that this would be a fairly

cost ly procedure, and they felt the advantage

gained wou ld not be worth the effort. The German

off icer looked at them and said:

" In the case of a head wound, three

mil l imetres is the di f ference between a wounded

enemy and a dead one."

O n e hundred thousand G1 rifles were ordered

with the new low line of sight, making an instantly

recognisable break in the f low of events, as, after

this order, wh ich was produced at FN from Apri l

1957 to May 1958, the feature was made standard

on all FN models. The German stamped metal hand-

guard and bipod was henceforth offered as an option.

The Germans used their FALs for a short t ime

only, later adopt ing their native G3 design, as

manufactured by Heck ler and K o c h of Oberndorf/

Neckar , in 1959.

Fig 202 The German Bundeswehr Gewehr 1, serial no 1. The total order was for 100,000 rifles. No bayonets were ordered or used with the G1.

Fig 203 The G1 with accessories: grenade launcher; flash hider; BFA.

Fig 205 A closeup of the German Hensoldt 4x Sniper scope, mounted in flexible rings on its special FAL top cover. Rubber lens caps closed.

Fig 204 G1 in a Sniper role with 4x Hensoldt scope at­tached over-the-bore.

Fig 207 Instructional, FN-made G1 rifle, right side.

f i g 206 Instructional cutaway, G1. Note Bundeswehr selector switch markings.

254 The German Gewehr 1

Fig 209 West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer reviewing units of the Bundeswehr armed with FN G1 rifles.

Fig 208 German Bundeswehr troops on Manoeuvres with their G1 rifles, 1960.

256 The German Gewehr 1

Fig 210 German G1, serial no 100,000. Note special markings.

Fig 211 German G1 no 100,000. The special inscription reads as follows: "Last example of the order of over 100,000 FN Automatic rifles model FAL for the German Bundeswehr. Order placed November 13, 1956, and produced in the FN plant in Herstal between April, 1957 and May 1958."

Part Three

The World Takes Over

Qatar, 1956

Fig 212 The Sheikh of Qatar was presented with this 'premium-grade' cased FAL rifle, in 1959.

Fig 213 The FAL as purchased by Qatar for its security forces, many of whom were trained by the Special Air Service and other elite British units.

258 Kuwait 1957

Fig 214 The famous 'Perron', the trademark of Liège, used (in its original form) from 1672 to 1810, and from 1853 to the present, to indicate proof of the breeching system of a shoulder arm. Here it has been redesigned by FN, and includes the word "Liège" in Arabic. This mark served as a promotional FN logo in the Arab world, first for the now-discontinued 'Liège' shotgun and subsequen­tly for all FN products.

Kuwait, 1957

Fig 215 The FAL as adopted by the armed forces of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait. Inset: the Kuwaiti crest.

The Sheikh of Kuwait approached FN in 1958 with a personal request for an ultra-grade FAL rifle, where quality and beauty were to be of prime importance and price no object.

The FN engraving shop, famous around the world for transforming plain steel weapons into exquisite works of art, was founded by a highly talented and original man. Monsieur Felix Funken. His personal creations were high art indeed; masterful, conceptual themes worked flawlessly into priceless display pieces, usually intended to

represent FN at world's fairs, expositions and as presentation pieces to heads of state. Monsieur Funken accepted the 'ultra-FAL' challenge and created for the Sheikh the engraved, gold-encrusted masterpiece shown below and overleaf, whose theme is much more traditional than that of some of M. Funken's other eclectic work.

Fig 216 'Ultra-grade' FAL, engraved and gold encrusted, prepared in 1958 by Monsieur Felix Funken, the founder of the FN engraving shop, for the Sheikh of Kuwait. (See also figs 217 and 218, overleaf.)

260 Kuwait1956

Fig 217 The Sheikh of Kuwait FAL, 1968, by Monsieur Felix Funken. Left hand side.

Fig 218 Sheikh of Kuwait engraved and gold-encrusted FAL, right side.

262 Austria 1958

Austria, 1958

An original quantity of 20,000 FAL rifles of a model known as the Sturmgewehr 58 (StG58) were made by FN to Austrian specifications in 1958. The Austrian firm of Steyr-Daimler-Puch then manufac­tured the complete StG58 in their own Steyr plant under license. The head of the original Austrian purchasing commission was a Major Stoll, who presented his unique concept for a built-in com­bination flash suppressor, grenade launcher and

barbed-wire cutter. This invention was adopted into both FN-made and domestic Austrian models. It is threaded internally for a short length and is designed to fit over the wire, whereupon the rifle is turned slightly to catch the wire in the internal threads, and the trigger pulled to fire a shot and burst the wire. The FAL StG58 is no longer the first-line Austrian military rifle.

Fig 219 StG 58, serial no 56267, for the Austrian army. Unique flash-hider/wire cutter combination; German G1 handguard and bipod.

Fig 220 A later Steyr-made StG 58, shown with bipod removed. — F. Neilsen collection

Fig 221 StG 58, 100% Austrian production.

Fig 223 Steyr-produced StG 58, receiver markings, right side. Note the special Austrian-designed gas plug, show­ing the marking "Gr" (for grenade) and the L-shaped tang affixed to the dismounting button.

Fig 222 Receiver markings on the Steyr-produced StG 58, serial no 32910.

264 Austria1958

Fig 224 FN assembly drawing of the Austrian StG 58, which was initially made at FN in 1958.

Fig 225 Austrian Major Stoll's StG combination flash hider/wirecutter, also capable of firing standard (22 mm tube) STRIM and MECAR grenades. As with the G1, no bayonet was supplied with the StG 58.

Fig 226 Austrian-issue pebble-leather magazine pouch for StG 58 20-round magazines. — F. Neilsen collection

266 Peru 1958

Peru, 1958

Peruvian contract FAL rifles have been made up in the standard model (FN designation 50-00); the lightweight' Para (model 50-64, which features the standard 533 mm ' long' barrel of the 50-61, pictured

in fig 189, with a special 'hiduminium' alloy lower receiver and magazine); the short Para 50-63 (fig 189) and the FAP. Peruvian armed forces contracts have totalled roughly 100,000 units.

Fig 227 Peruvian 'standard' FAL rifle, the FN model 50-00. Serial number 4331.

Fig 228 Peruvian coat-of-arms, as roll-stamped at FN onto this Peruvian army heavy-barrel 'FAP'. Serial number L4331.

Fig 229 Early Peruvian 'FAP', bipod extended and shoulder rest raised.

Fig 232 Peruvian-contract FN FALO (Spanish designa­tion 'FAP'). Bipod and shoulder rest folded.

Fig 230 Flash hider of the early FAP, (fig 229). Fig 231 Flash hider of the later Peruvian FAP (fig 232).

268 Indonesia 1958

Indonesia, 1958

The Republic of Indonesia adopted the FAL rifle in 1958 for three branches of its armed forces. The In­donesian army version bears a crest on the right hand side of the receiver, depicting the Indonesian spread eagle over the letters 'A.B.R.I ' These stand for Angakan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia,

meaning, literally, 'Forces Armed Republic In­donesia'. The Naval version (figs 233 and 234) bears the same crest with an anchor, and the initial 'B ' changed to an V, standing for laut or naval. The air force version logo is A.U.R.I., the 'U' standing for udara or air.

Fig 234 Crest on the Indonesian Naval FAL. "A .L .R. I . " explained in text.

Fig 233 Indonesian Armed Forces version of the FAL, 1958.

Cuba, 1958

The Castro regime in Cuba is on favourable terms with many foreign governments. The Cuban FAL 'standard' and 'FAP' heavy-barrel models were or­dered from FN in 1958, and are marked with the Cuban coat-of-arms. The standard rifles are fitted with the US-type flash hider.

Fig 235 Cuban FALs were fitted with the US-style flash hider and bayonet.

Fig 236 Cuban-contract FN/FAL, 1959.

Fig 237 Cuban-contract 'FAP' heavy barrel automatic rifle.

Fig 238 Coat-of-arms on the Cuban army FAL.

270 South Africa

South Africa, 1960

While still enjoying the freedom of world trade associated with its membership in the Common­wealth, South Africa originally acquired quantities of the FAL from FN in 1960, adopting both the light-barreled, wooden-stocked 'standard' model, with plain muzzle, and the then-current heavy-barreled FALO into the South African armed forces. With the standard rifle, the army also purchased the UK-designed 'prong' bayonet. These rifles were marked on the left side of the receiver with an updated

South African 'U -and-broad-arrow' acceptance mark, featuring the letter 'M' within the capital 'U'. (fig 240) The right side of the receiver bore the coat-of-arms of South Africa (fig 241 ).

A manual issued by Army Headquarters in Pretoria, in 1965, depicts in addition to these early FALs a later 1962 model FN-made rifle, with the FN 22 mm grenade launcher and a special grenade sight mounted on the gas plug (fig 239). The Repub­lic of South Africa, formed in 1961, obtained

Fig 239 FN-made FAL 'standard' as supplied to South Africa in 1960. South African-designed folding grenade sight on gas plug.

Fig 240 South African-contract FAL, marked "M" (Military/Militere) within "U" .

Fig 241 South African coat-of-arms on FN-made con­tract FAL.

license from FN to manufacture a similar rifle, marked and called the R1, at its state-owned arms facility ARMSCOR (fig 242).

A later model, the R3, also 100% South African-made, features a plastic buttstock and the horizontal takedown button; otherwise it re­sembles the R1. It accepts the current FN round-handled blade bayonet.

The South Africa Defence Forces are currently rearming with a licensed version of the 5.56 mm Galil rifle, known as the R4.

Fig 242 South African-made R1 rifle. 100% South African production.

Fig 243 Ceremonial opening of the 1960 South African parliament. Honour guard armed with early FAL rifles of FN manufacture.

272 Chile

Chile, 1960

Fig 244 Chilean contract FN/FAL rifle, 1960.

Fig 245 Coat-of-arms, as roll-stamped on the Chilean army FALs.

Saudi Arabia, 1960

The Saudis adopted the FN-made FAL rifle in 1960. The crest of Saudi Arabia is depicted below in fig 246.

A Saudi request for a spare-no-expense FAL rifle was handled in rather a different way than was the similar request from the Sheikh of Kuwait (see fig 217-218). For the Saudi rifle, French designer

Yves Sainte-Blais was commissioned directly and an off-the-line FAL Para rifle was delivered to him for embellishment. The finished rifle is shown over­leaf, in fig 247. The pistol grip is made from a block of solid gold, as is the engraved plate affixed to the side of the receiver. The receiver, rear sight base and folding stock tubes are gold plated.

Fig 246 The coat-of-arms of the Arab Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia.

274 Ecuador

Fig 247 The special 'ultra' Saudi FAL Para, designed by Yves Sainte Biais. The pistol grip is formed from a block

of solid gold.

Ecuador, 1960

The Armed Forces of Ecuador have purchased over 50,000 FAL rifles since the inception of contracts with FN in 1960. Models in use include the 'stan­dard' 50-00, the FAL Para 'lightweight' long barrel model, the 50-64, and the current short Para 50-63.

Fig 248 Ecuadorian army FAL 'standard' serial no E4321.

Fig 249 Coat-of-arms of Ecuador on the model 50-00 pictured above.

276 Holland

Holland, 1961

The Dutch government tested the FAL as early as 1954. The version finally adopted by the Dutch in 1961 features several interesting innovations: in addition to adopting the German stamped forend-and-bipod combination, the Dutch requested their own version of the 22 mm grenade launching-flash-hider, and a unique 'tunnel' front sight. They were the first to adopt a non-adjustable rear battle sight (now standard on the latest version FAL Para 50-63). A fixed, wire sling swivel was added to the left side of the buttplate, and the female takedown hinge pin features a unique screw slot, (fig 252) Fig 250 Unique Dutch-contract flash hider/grenade

launcher.

Fig 251 Dutch FAL rifle: note the 'tunnel' front sight, fixed rear sight and the rear sling swivel on buttplate. In­ternally, the breech blocks of all Dutch contract FALs are unique. They feature a built-in firing pin retractor in the

form of a small rod, activated by the unlocking cams on the bolt carrier. This rod is pushed rearward as the bolt is unlocked, positively retracting the firing pin. This feature was adopted only by the Dutch.

Fig 252 Dutch coat-of-arms on receiver, right side. Note offset screw slot on hinge pin.

Portugal, 1961

Fig 253 Portuguese-contract FAL 'standard' rifle.

First line Portuguese armed forces units no longer use their FAL rifles, having phased them out in favour of domestically-produced G3's. They are currently running trials on two FN weapons in 5.56 mm calibre -the Minimi and the FNC.

Fig 254 Coat-of-arms of Portugal on receiver, right side.

278 Tha i land

Thailand, 1961

Fig 255 Thailand-contract FAL 'standard', serial number E1795.

Fig 256 Thai crest on receiver, right side.

Brazil, 1964

Beginning with enthusiast ic accep tance of a sam­

ple order in 1954, Brazi l has exhibited a no-

nonsense approach to the FAL . Indeed, the phrase

' i t works for them' can be interpreted today in two

dist inct ly different ways. Troop trials featuring F N -

made FALs were again suppl ied from Belg ium in

1958 and 1962. The rifle was adopted in 1964.

Today , the updated model M964 is in vo lume

product ion at the Braz i l ian government's Fabrica

de Armas de Itajuba, a part of the giant state-owned

I M B E L arms complex, situated in Minas Gerais.

A l though perhaps qual i ty has suffered, Brazi l now

in fact competes with FN in sales of its 1 0 0 % Bra­

z i l ian-made M964 rifles in Latin Amer ica . Produc­

tion, in Braz i l , is est imated at over 200,000 rifles to

date.

Fig 257 FN-made FAL rifle for Brazil, 1964.

Fig 258 Markings on the right side of the FN-made Brazilian-contract FAL.

280 Brazi l 1964

Fig 259 Brazilian-made M964 rifle. 100% Brazilian made.

Fig 260 Logo of Fabrica de Itajuba, and Brazilian coat-of-arms, on Brazilian M964 FAL rifle. Receiver type 3.

Greece, 1965

Fig 261 A presentation FAL rifle given to King Paul of Greece in 1959.

Fig 262 Greek-contract FAL. Plastic stock and pistol grip, G1-type metal handguard and bipod. Greek FALs are stamped with the first and last letters of a word denoting Greek government property.

282 Bol iv ia 1978

Bolivia, 1978

Fig 263 Bolivian government issue current FAL 'stand­ard'. Note plastic handguard, grooved to house folded bipod legs. No carrying handle fitted. Fixed rear sight, plastic handguard and pistol grip. Receiver type 3. (See fig 292 for explanation of receiver types.)

Bol iv ia has adopted the current-issue F A L standard,

model 50-00, and the short Para 50-63. Note the

new plast ic forend, grooved longi tudinal ly to ac ­

cept the fo lded light b ipod, wh ich is still offered as

an accessory. The Bol iv ian standard model is not

fitted with a carry ing handle, (fig 263) and the

cock ing handle is the new FN 50-63 fo ld ing type (a

direct copy of the Canad ian Arsenals C1 design of

1955). The rear sight shown is also standard on the

short Para 50-63 and is a sol id machin ing not ad­

justable for e levat ion. Bol iv ian of f ic ia ls have thus

successfu l ly kept their two FAL models as inter­

changeable as possible, with an absolute min imum

of var iable spare parts.

Fig 264 Bolivian FAL manual. The Bolivian crest (lower left) is stamped on the rifles as well.

Part Four

Prototype and Experimental FALs

The FAL 'Para' (Paratroop Folding-Stock Version)

There are three current-issue F A L Para models: the

regular 533 mm barrel models 50-61, (steel lower

receiver) and 50-64 (light a l loy lower receiver); and

two versions of the 'short' model 50-63, with barrel

lengths of 458 and 436 mm respectively. (The 50-61

and 'super-short ' 50-63 are depicted in f ig 189.) The

Belgian army originated this 'super-short' 436 mm

barrel version as its model M3 (fig 159).

Prototype developments of a fo ld ing stock

carbine, using at first the regular 533 mm barrel,

began in 1960. The stock and recoil mechanism

were ingeniously redesigned so that a new, three-

part recoil spring assembly was housed within the

body cover itself; the bolt carrier being bored out

from the rear to a lmost its ful l length, to accept the

front portion of this spring assembly. The first

prototype, f ig 265 and 266, was completed in Sep­

tember, 1960 and featured a fo ld ing stock

mechanism rotating about the hinge pin.

The second prototype was tested in March,

1961, featuring a padded cheek rest and a shorter,

f ixed rear sight.

Fig 265 First prototype FAL Para, September, 1960.

Fig 266 First Para prototype, stock folded under the rifle.

284 The FAL Para

By November of that year, the third prototype

was ready; the fold-under stock had been aban­

doned and the now-famil iar rigid side-folding

design adopted.

The Para model FAL , especia l ly the most

recently- introduced 'super-short' model 50-63, is en­

joying increasing popular i ty among mil i tary and

law enforcement agencies around the wor ld.

Fig 267 FAL Para prototype no 2, with padded cheek rest. Introduced in March, 1961.

Fig 268 Para prototype no 2, stock folded. Non-adjust­able rear sight.

Fig 271 Current FAL Para model 50-64. 'Standard' (533 mm) barrel.

Fig 270 FAL Para prototype no 3, stock folded. First trial of the intermediate barrel length.

Fig 269 Para, prototype no 3, November, 1961. First trial of the now-familiar side-folding stock, as first made

without the plastic spacer between the arms. Receiver type 2.

286 FAL Compet i t ion Model

The FAL Competition Model

The prototype of a compet i t ion model , shown in f ig

272, was completed on December 12, 1967. I t

featured a Lyman micrometer rear sight, securely

at tached to the receiver itself, and a specia l tunnel

foresight, mounted out on the US-sty le f lash hider

for max imum sight radius. The act ion was made of

standard F A L parts. Later, a trial was made of a

compet i t ion model featuring a spec ia l , one-off

prototype act ion wh ich was copied from the FN 49

and earlier Browning designs. It was felt that this

Browning "hook hammer" arrangement gave the

advantage of more precise let-off, and would

therefore contr ibute to greater accuracy . The

proposal was not adopted however, due to the in­

crease in cost. In both these prototypes, and in the

current Compet i t ion models, the act ion is semi-

auto only. Today, FN offers two models for sporting

use: the FAL 'Compet i t ion ' and the FAL 'USA ' . These

are d iscussed in part six of this book.

Fig 272 Prototype FAL Competition model, with recoil pad and micrometer receiver sight. Semi-auto only.

Fig 273 Lyman micrometer receiver sight featured on the 1967 Competition prototype FAL.

Fig 274 High tunnel foresight, fitted to the flash hider of the Competition prototype to extend sight radius.

Fig 275 Later prototype Browning-type hammer and sear mechanism, proposed for the FAL Competition model. Not adopted due to high manufacture cost. Note square-backed trigger guard and long trigger, designed to enhance trigger pull.

Fig 276 Prototype military-style click-adjustable rear sight with built-in windage and elevation for the Com­petition model. Not adopted.

288 Swedish Experimental FAL, 1960

The Swedish Experimental FAL, 1960 in 6.5 x 55 mm

Over the years, Sweden ordered a number of F A L

rifles for var ious trials. On 23 June 1960, Groupe 74

was made aware than an order had been received

from the Swedish army for four F A L rifles, to be

made up in cal ibre 6.5 x 55 mm. The N A T O case is

only 51 mm long; these Swedish prototypes had to

be made up from scratch with new, longer

receivers; longer in the runout area as wel l in the

magaz ine wel l area, plus longer bolts and bolt

carriers. Serial numbers 1, 2 and 3 of this design

went to Sweden; an unmarked fourth rifle, stil l in

the white, is in the co l lect ion of the FN Test and

Control Department, Defence and Secur i ty

Div is ion, wh ich is under the control of Monsieur

Jean E. V a n Rutten, the co-author of this book.

The rifle is d imensioned as fo l lows:

length 1,120 mm

weight 4.47 kg

barrel standard length

(533 mm)

The length of the sl ide (bolt carrier) was in­

creased from 107 mm for the 7.62 N A T O to 115 mm

for the longer cartr idge.

The 6.5 x 55 mm cartr idge, with a bul let of 9.08

grams and a m u z z l e ve loc i ty of 790m/sec, was test-

fired in this weapon at 700 rpm on ful l -automatic

fire.

Fig 277 FN/FAL prototype in calibre 6.5 x 55 mm Swedish. Only four made for Swedish army trials in 1960. Note elongated receiver and curved, 20-shot magazine.

Fig 278 Swedish 6.5 x 55 mm prototype, right hand side. Note the larger, 'arctic' trigger and trigger guard, favoured by the Swedish. Receiver and barrel left in-the-white on this unmarked example.

— FN Test and Control Laboratory

Fig 279 The longer 6.5 x 55 mm parts, above, compared with standard 7.62 x 51 NATO parts. Only four examples made in this calibre.

290 The B lowback FAL, 1964

The Blowback FAL, 1964

Figure 280 shows the prototype of a mechanism

specia l ly made to fire the novel , reduced-load

plast ic-bul leted cartr idges, made in Germany by

Dynami t Nobel A G , (headstamp D A G ) . The design

for the b lowback F A L was f inal ised in 1964.

The bolt is without a lock ing face and func­

tions as a s imple b lowback. A spring is instal led in

the left front side of the bolt to keep it is posit ion in

the sl ide. A rubber buffer pad is fitted at the rear of

the receiver well to cushion the b lowback act ion.

The plast ic short range cartr idges have a

special reduced diameter brass base, smal ler than

the standard ful l - load N A T O base. The diameter of

the cartr idge seating in the breech b lock face is

correspondingly reduced, thus preventing the entry

of a l ive, ful l - load round. These rifles are in l imited

use with the Belgian and German armies for indoor

target pract ice and training.

Fig 280 Action of the FN Blowback FAL, which shoots reduced-range, plastic-bulleted cartridges made for in­door range training in the German and Belgian armies by Dynamit Nobel (DAG).

The FN FAL .22 Conversion Unit

Fabrique Nat ionale designed and produced a kit,

which when inserted into the barrel and receiver of

a FAL rifle, a l lows the use of inexpensive .22 LR car­

tridges for training or reduced-range target

shooting. The kit was quite expensive to produce

and, having found few buyers, has been made in

very l imited quantit ies only.

Fig 282 Close-up view of the FN .22 conversion kit as it is fitted into the receiver of a late-model FAL. Note the .22 insert in the magazine.

Fig 281 FN-produced FAL .22 LR conversion unit. Not in production.

292 The 3-shot Burst Dev ice

The FAL and the Future: no 1 The 3-shot Burst Device

Fig 283 Monsieur Ernest Vervier's prototype 3-shot burst device, built into the receiver of an old X8 British FAL. One of two designs tried; later refined and currently available as a super-compact, drop-in unit on the FNC 5.56 mm auto rifle.

Monsieur Ernest Vervier, Monsieur Saive's able

successor as Chef de Service of FN's important

Research and Deve lopment department, designed

two successfu l prototypes of a dev ice to limit the

number of rounds capab le of being fired with one

press of the trigger. In the example pictured, he

used an early Brit ish-contract F A L receiver, and in­

deed the idea came to him in the first p lace as the

best compromise possible for any useful fu l l -

automat ic fire capabi l i ty , in a light weapon

shooting the powerful Amer ican 7.62 mm cartr idge.

The FAL and the Future: no 2 The 'Mini FAL' in calibre .223 (5.56 mm)

Project begun January 24, 1964

FN was qu ick to not ice the Amer ican mil i tary .22

cal ibre experiments, begun in 1950, featuring

beefed-up commerc ia l 'varmint ' cartr idges. These

experiments led to the late-fifties accep tance of

the first Armal i te AR-15 rifles in V ie tnam, where

the AR-15 won instant preference over the com­

parat ively cumbersome NATO-ca l ib re M-14.

FN began a number of experiments of its own

with ultra-small cal ibre ammuni t ion. In addit ion,

they undertook to construct a prototype rifle in the

Amer ican Remington '.222 Spec ia l ' cal ibre, dubbed

the .223 in 1959, and of f ic ia l ly named the 5.56 mm

in 1963. The basis for the design of this rifle was to

be the FAL . The lines and the ti l t ing-bolt act ion of

the F A L were to be sca led down but retained; in­

deed, the project was to be completed using as

many standard F A L parts as possible.

Monsieur Vervier submit ted a report of Groupe 74's

progress on this project on February 5, 1965:

FAL cal .223

Purpose of the Study

To construct a lighter weapon, capable of firing

the calibre .223 ammunition, utilising a number of

the standard parts of the 7.62 mm FAL.

This proved a great opportunity to try out some

of the simplifications and improvements suggested

by our experience.

The Base of the Study

The length of the cartridge. The 7.62 is 71.12

mm in total length, the .223 is 57.40 mm, leaving a

difference of 13.72 mm.

Realisation

The length of the slide was reduced 13.7 mm.

The body, or receiver, was reduced by 25 mm. In

theory, we should have been able to gain a full 27.4

mm, (2 x 13.7 mm), but this wasn't possible, as we

Fig 284 The 'Mini-FAL', cal .223 (5.56 mm). One of the two made for trials. Exact, scaled-down FAL tilting-bolt action, with many actual FAL parts utilized.

Fig 285 'Mini-FAL', right hand side. Calibre .223 (5.56 x 45 mm). Weight: 3.5 kg; theoretical rate of fire 700 rpm.

294 The Mini FAL in cal ibre .223

Fig 286 'Mini-FAL' receiver no 2 fitted with FN prototype 40 mm grenade launcher. Note raised grenade sight.

Fig 287 The 40 mm FN grenade launcher propelled the grenade by means of the gases from a regular fired bullet

wanted to keep the existing trigger and hammer

system, and yet ensure the bolt's position relative to

the base of the cartridge before its return to the

locked position by the mechanism.

The following parts are interchangeable with the

regular 7.62 mm FAL:

• complete gas block and front sight

• gas plug, gas piston and gas cylinder

• trigger-sear-hammer mechanism, and change lever

• pistol grip and screw

• hinge pin

• plastic buttstock, (with the assembly designed at

Swedish request which allows interchangeability

with the folding stock).

• sling swivels

• cocking handle (slide shortened 13.7 mm)

• magazine catch

The plastic FAL forend, which had at first been

used for economy, has been replaced by a more effec­

tive model, for aesthetic reasons.

The arm fires 700 rpm on full automatic fire,

with a muzzle velocity of 900 m/sec .

Simplifications and Improvements

The bolt is suspended in the slide, thus ending

the fastidious operation of forming the bolt ways in

the receiver, and allowing a simple broaching operation of the magazine well through the middle of the receiver.

Tempering the rear portion of the receiver bolt way can be omitted as the bolt does not strike this area. Feeding is also more direct.

The system of locking the lower receiver onto the upper one is simplified considerably, as is the rear sight.

The telescoping recoil spring connecting rod locks into the body cover, if the action should hap­pen to be opened with the bolt to the rear.

Test Results .223 7.62 weight, complete, less

magazine 3.5 kg + 4 kg weight of hiduminium maga­

zine, empty 86 gr 115 gr weight of twenty cartridges 230 gr 480 gr weight of the slide 225 gr 290 gr weight of the bolt 125 gr 175 gr overall length 1005mm 1095mm length of barrel 475mm 533mm overall length of the Para

model 765mm 848mm

entering behind the grenade through a hole in the .223 barrel. Not in production.

The reduction in weight of equipment to the in­fantry soldier can be reduced as follows:

rifle .500 kg 6 magazines .17 kg

120 cartridges 1.500 kg Total 2.174 kg or 28% reduction

Conclusion As we have said, we have striven to create a

weapon using a great number of standard FAL parts, and existing tooling, in its construction.

In this arm, we could again lower the line of sight, and reduce the overall height of the trigger group, but this would be costly. We feel the arm is entirely satisfactory as it is.

If we are to fully capitalize on the possible future of marketing such a rifle, we must first begin the study and construction of a FAL rifle made from

stamped metal, with a front-locking, turning bolt. — E. Vervier

Only two 'Mini-FAL' receivers were made up. The second one was fitted with a prototype FN 40 mm grenade launcher (fig 286 - 287). This device propelled the grenade with the gases from a regular cartridge, through a hole in the barrel.

The step-by-step logic of the FN approach to the future can best be seen in the combination of this 'Mini-FAL' project with the project which follows: the FAL in s tamped metal. A 3-shot burst device, redesigned as a small, light unit, also figured in the scheme.

The FAL and the Future: no 3 The Stamped FAL Prototype

(7.62 mm Rotary Bolt)

Fig 288 The rotary-bolt, stamped FAL prototype in 7.62 mm NATO. Many standard FAL parts were used, including the regular 533 mm barrel.

A rifle, as Monsieur Vervier had earlier suggested, with a receiver made of stamped steel and a front-

locking, rotary bolt, was constructed and was reported on in his March 31, 1965 brief:

Fig 289 Stamped FAL, right side. Weight: 4.32 kg; length: 1115 mm.

296 The Stamped FAL Prototype

Here we have created a weapon capable of direct comparison wi th the G 3 . I t is in calibre 7.62 mm

N A T O .

T h e receiver is composed of two stamped shells,

held at one end by the front b lock, and in the middle

by the mounting b lock for the lower receiver.

T h e mechanism consists of a bolt wi th a rotating

head, which locks into the front b lock, wh ich con­

stitutes the barrel extension. In this manner, the

receiver wal ls function s imply as guides for the

mechanism, and not as structural members capable

of withstanding the pressures produced in f ir ing the

N A T O cartridge.

In this version, the folding stock is used and the

recoil spring is inside the receiver.

One could easily fit the arm for the plastic butt-

stock with the recoil spring enclosed in it. T h e weight

of the stamped F A L , without magazine: 4.335 k g ,

or practical ly the same as the standard rifle.

A programme is in effect to combine these two

current projects, and we are now doing a price-

comparison study of the application of this new con­

struction to the .223 cartridge.

— E. Vervier

From the knowledge gained in these three projects,

based on the fundamental correctness of the FAL

system as or iginal ly designed by Monsieur Saive,

came FN's first entry in the .22 cal ibre f ie ld, the

Carabine Automat ique Leger, or C A L . Today a

second generation design, the F N C , still shows its

F A L l ineage. Both feature a removeable, compact ,

3-shot burst limiter.

Part Five

The FAL and the BATF (US Treasury Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms)

The actual "turning point" in the US Government's hitherto

casual attitude towards civilian ownership of automatic weapons

came in the early 1950s when the Treasury Department's Fire­

arms Unit, still basically a one-man office, charged a man with

illegal possession of an unregistered war-souvenir German

submachine gun. The case was thrown out of court because

the gun was missing its magazine, and the judge ruled that in

order for a firearm to be classified as a "machine gun" it had

to be complete in every respect.

It was as a direct result of such cases that the counsel for the

A T F U , Thurmond Shaw, devised the controversial "once-always"

dictum, which states that, barring factory redesign and new

manufacture, a firearm designed to fire full automatic is full

automatic regardless of any subsequent modification.

In 1957, as we have seen, in spite of its many successes else­

where, the F A L lost out to the US-designed M14 as the new

American service rifle. However, the F A L had established a

reputation as a strong, accurate and reliable arm, and had many

civilian admirers in the USA. Consequently, FN was approached

with a request to "redesign" the F A L as a semi-auto rifle to

comply with the A T F U ' s "once-always" requirement. FN

complied by removing the safety sear and installing a semi-

auto ' R ' change lever (fig 363) in an otherwise unaltered

military F A L .

As an illustration of the comparative innocence of that

bygone era the US Treasury Department approved this "semi-

auto" version and, from 1959 to early 1963, approximately

2,000 brand-new FN F A L s of the general German G1 pattern

(metal forend, wood butt and pistol grip, fig 204) but with

standard FN markings and semi-auto ' R ' change levers were

imported into North America from FN and sold to the public

at large as semi-auto rifles by the then-independent Browning

Arms Co of St Louis, Missouri and Montreal, Quebec.

It wasn't long before the A T F U was collecting evidence that

the relatively complex mechanism of the F A L rifle was em­

phatically not rendered irreversibly semi-auto-only by the

simple installation of a different change lever. A potentially

embarrassing situation all round was defused with as much

aplomb as possible on January 10, 1963, when the A F T U

issued an Order reclassifying the F A L as a machine gun, but

specifically exempting those rifles which had been legally

imported during the four-year period of sanction.

In 1974 this Order was amended with a "final revised" F A L

rifle serial number list which included a further 12 specific

F A L rifles legally imported due to "administrative error". The

official wording of the amended Order and its full serial number

list of legal F A L rifles is as follows:

Department of the Treasury Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms

ORDER ATF 0 7540.1 9/11/74

Subject: CLASSIFICATION OF BELGIAN FN LIGHT SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE (FAL) CALIBER 7.62mm

1. P U R P O S E . This order identifies certain FN FAL

7.62mm rifles which are not classified as machine guns and

thereby are excluded from the provisions of the National

Firearms Act.

2. C L A S S I F I C A T I O N . This directive cancels a l l pre­

vious instructions concerning the classification of FAL

rifles.

3. B A C K G R O U N D . From September 5, 1959 to Janu­

ary 10, 1963, the Browning Arms Company, St Louis,

Missouri, imported 1,836 FAL rifles in caliber 7.62mm

from Fabrique Nationale, Herstal, Belgium. Subsequent

to January 10, 1963, the Bureau classified this rifle as

a machine gun. However it was determined that the 1,863

rifles imported by Browning..would be exempt from the

provisions of the National Firearms Act. Additionally,

twelve FN F A L rifles were imported through an adminis­

trative error in 1974. These 12 rifles are also exempt from

the provisions of the National Firearms Act.

4 . E X E M P T E D F A L R I F L E S . Following is the f ina l

revised listing of F A L rifles, calibre 7.62mm, which are

exempt from the provisions of the National Firearms Act:

298 The FAL and the BATF

a. G SERIES Serial Numbers Units Serial Numbers Units

G492 through G494 3 G1035 1 G537 through G540 4 G1041 through G1042 2 G649 through G657 9 G1174 through G1293 120 G662 through G673 12 G1415 through G1524 110 G677 through G693 17 G1570 through G1784 215 G709 through G748 40 G1800 through G1979 180 G752 through G816 65 G1981 through G1995 15 G848 through G1017 170 G3035 through G3134 100

G1021 1 G2247 through G2996 750 G1033 1 1,815

b. GL SERIES STANDARD FAL -Serial Numbers Units Serial Numbers Units

GL749 1 889768 1 GL835 1 889772 through 889777 6

GL1095 through GL1098 4 7 GL1163 through GL1165 3 GL2004 through GL2009 6 GL3135 through GL3140 6

c. PARATROOP MODEL 21

Serial Numbers Units 889800 through 889801 2 889803 1 889805 1 889809 1

5 TOTAL EXEMPTED FAL RIFLES 1,848

5. DESCRIPTION OF MARKINGS. All G Series and GL Series FAL rifles will be marked F.A.L. cal. 7.62 on the left side of the receiver and Fabrique Nationale D Armes De Guerre-Herstal Belgique on the right side of the receiver. The selector positions will be marked "S" for safe, "R" for semiautomatic, and "A" for automatic. The selector lever is designed so that it cannot be rotated to the automatic position.

The Standard and Paratroop Models will have the same markings as above plus "Browning Arms Co. Arnold Mo.

and Montreal P.Q." on the right side of the magazine well. The selector lever can be rotated to the automatic position but the rifle will fire only semiautomatically. 6. ACTION. If a rifle bearing one of the above serial numbers has been converted to fire full automatic, it is classified as a machine gun and is subject to all the pro­visions of the National Firearms Act.

[signed] REX D. DAVIS Director

The further adventures of the FAL and the BATF are discussed in Part Six, beginning on page 307.

Part Six

The FAL Today Countries Adopting the FAL Rifle

Note: * indicates an expanded reference to this Year Country

country. ** indicates manufacture of the F A L un- 1961 H o l l a n d *

der l icense. Por tuga l *

Ireland (Eire)

Year Country Rhodes ia

1953 C a n a d a * * Tha i l and *

1954

1954 U S A (test on l y ) * * 1962 India

U K * * L iber ia

Be lg ium*

V e n e z u e l a * * 1963 Morocco

Burundi

1955 Argen t ina* * Ruwanda

Lyb ia St Luc ia

1956 Luxembourg* 1964 B r a z i l * *

Ge rmany* Niger

Belg ian C o n g o *

Syr ia 1965 G r e e c e *

Lebanon A b u Dhab i

Paraguay*

Qa ta r * 1966 Tanzan ia Madagascar

1957 Kuwa i t * K e n y a

1958 Peru* 1967 Niger ia

Aus t r i a * * Tunis ia

Indones ia* 1968 Mex ico

1959 C u b a * Cameroon

Mozamb ique St V incen t

Sto Domingo Sul tanate de Raas

Sierre Leone

1960 South A f r i c a * *

C h i l e * 1968 Bahrein

Saudi A r a b i a *

Muscat and O m a n 1969 Duba i

C a m b o d i a St Kitts

Ecuado r * Panama

Honduras

300 The FAL Today

Year Country

1971 Lesotho

1974 Malawi

1975 Upper Vo l t a

Shar jah

U m m a l Q iwa in

Year Country 1977 Pakistan

1978 Botswana

Bo l i v ia *

1980 Hait i

Maur i tania

FAL Contract Serial Numbers and Factory Model Designations

F A L contract rifles were serial ly numbered at the

factory fo l lowing the instructions of the cl ient

country. F A L s for internal use at FN general ly had a

number in front of the serial number; E for essai or

trial, D for demonstrat ion, and G for a gift or

presentation. If the arm was made up in heavy-

barrel conf igurat ion the letter L (for lourd, or

heavy), wou ld fo l low the first letter: EL , D L , G L .

Around 1972, the Belg ian authorit ies became

aware that most countr ies, when ordering a series

of rifles, wou ld speci fy the serial numbers to begin

at 1, and consequent ly there were a great many

FALs made up over the years, bearing the same

numbers. The pract ice now is to a l low any series of

numbers, as speci f ied by the ordering cl ient, but to

include on each rifle a separate, consecut ive num­

ber corresponding to the actual number of rifles

made in total.

At Fabr ique Nat ionale, factory designations are ap­

pl ied to each mil i tary model of the FAL as fol lows:

• FAL 'standard'; f ixed stock, 533 mm barrel;

model 50-00

• F A L 'Para ' 533 mm barrel; model 50-61

• F A L 'Para ' 533 mm barrel, 'h idumin ium' al loy

lower receiver and magaz ine; model 50-64

• F A L 'Para ' 458 mm (to accept bipod) or

436 mm ('super-short') barrel, steel lower

receiver. No carrying handle. Folding

cock ing handle; model 50-63

• F A L O heavy-barrel, with nylon (plastic) butt

model 50-41

• F A L O heavy-barrel, with wooden butt;

model 50-42

Fig 290 An FN chamber pressure test apparatus, circa 1960. Note that while it bears no sights and is strictly for laboratory use, the weapon is fully finished. The piezo­electric transducer coupled to the large receiver ring transmits pressure-curve information, through the am­plifier (right) to the oscilloscope, where the entire curve is momentarily displayed. A synchronised Polaroid camera

(far left) can be swung into place to photograph a per­manent record of the curve.

Fig 291 Current FN Para model 50-63 blow-apart drawing, showing the 458 mm barrel. Folding cocking handle, no carrying handle. Receiver type 3.

302 The FAL Today

The Three Basic FAL Receivers

The first product ion-model FAL receiver (fig 292,

bottom) was used, with a cont inuing programme of

minor internal machin ing modi f icat ions, right from

the start of the F A L ' C a n a d a ' models in 1954. Tests

in Sweden in the early sixties, of endurance fire in

F A L O heavy-barreled automat ic rifles, indicated an

area of possible weakness, in extreme situations, in

the rear area of the receiver. FN dec ided to

strengthen this area, as shown in the upper

i l lustration of f ig 292. This conf igurat ion, receiver

type 2, has been in general use since 1962, and is

still used today in the F A L O automat ic rifle.

A new design, receiver type 3, (centre, f ig 292)

was settled upon in 1973. It was the result of the

need to reduce product ion costs, in this case the

number of machin ing operations, in the manufac­

ture of the FAL receiver. The result combines a

reduct ion in machin ing time with a pleasing,

modern appearance, by choosing single, mean-

width planes to replace the earlier stepped f lats.

Fig 293 Enlargement of the Mexican naval crest shown on the centre rifle, opposite. The FAL was adopted by Mexico in 1968.

Fig 292 The three basic FAL receivers. Above: receiver type 2 (introduced 1961-62) strengthened at the rear for sustained full-auto fire.

Centre: receiver type 3, current, introduced in 1973. Produced with and without carrying handle slot.

Below: receiver type 1, the 'original' FAL receiver, 1953-62.

Fig 294 FN blow-apart drawing of a current FAL 'stan­dard' 50-00. Receiver type 3. Note this model was made up with the optional 'sand cuts' on the bolt carrier.

Current Production FAL Models a) Military

Fig 295 The FALO model 50-42 with wood stock and folding shoulder rest.

Fig 296 FALO model 50-41, plastic stock. Receiver type 2. Current production.

The current ly-avai lable F A L models are listed on

page 300. Bas ica l ly , there are three: the standard

rifle, the Para, and the heavy-barrel. Fabr ique

Nat ionale is of course a private company , and if

there is suff ic ient interest in any certain model , FN

wil l make it. The list of special-order factory op­

tions ava i lab le today can theoret ical ly make any

one rifle unique. Var iables include type of f lash

hider and/or grenade launcher, barrel length and

contour, forend material and shape, receiver type,

semi- or fu l l -automat ic fire select ion, type of sights

and/or opt ics, with graduat ions in yards or metres.

cock ing handle type, magaz ine capac i ty and butt-

stock type and material . A d d to this list the cho ice

of presence or absence of bore and/or chamber

chrome plating, 'sand cuts ' in the sl ide, carrying

handle and bolt holdopen ca tch , plus the

avai labi l i ty of some parts in h iduminium al loy, and

it can easi ly be seen that, within the three basic

types, the variety of form the FAL can take today is

v ir tual ly l imit less.

FN currently descr ibes the speci f icat ions of

the mil i tary F A L as fo l lows:

306 Current Product ion FAL Models

Specif icat ion F A L Standard

50.00 F A L Para

50.61-50.64 F A L Para

50.63 F A L O

50.41-50.42

total length (without bayonet)

-wi th stock open

-wi th stock fo lded

weight (w/o magaz ine)

1,090 mm

4.25 kg

1,095 mm

845 mm

3.90 kg

1020mm(458mm bbl)

998mm(436mm bbl)

770mm(458mm bbl)

748mm(436mm bbl)

3.75 kg

1,150 mm

6 kg

magaz ine capac i ty 20 ctg 20 ctg 20 ctg 20 ctg

barrel length 533 mm 533 mm 458 or 436 mm 533 mm

length of sight 553 mm 549 mm 436 mm 550 mm

Rear sight: min imum elevat ion

max imum elevat ion

intermediate graduat ions

200 m

600 m

300,400,500m

150 m

250 m

f ixed at 300 m 260 m

600 m

Type of fire: auto/semi-auto

semi auto only

yes

opt ional

yes

opt ional

yes

opt ional

yes

opt ional

Rate of fire: theoret ical

pract ica l , automat ic

pract ica l , shot by shot

650-700 rpm

120 rpm

60

650-700 rpm

120 rpm

60

650-700 rpm

120 rpm

60

650-700 rpm

120 rpm

60

M u z z l e ve loc i ty

Kinet ic m u z z l e energy

840 m/sec

335 kgm

840 m/sec

335 kgm

810 m/sec

310 kgm

840 m/sec

335 kgm

Carry ing handle

Bolt holdopen ca tch

Cock ing handle

Bipod

Buttstock

yes

yes

f ixed

opt ional

nylon

yes

yes

f ixed

opt ional

fo ld ing metal

no

opt ional

fo ld ing

opt ional

fo ld ing metal

yes

yes

f ixed

standard

nylon (50.41)

wood (50.42)

Current mil i tary standard and Para FALs with

N A T O - b a s e opt ics are pictured in f igs 355 - 358.

Current Production FAL Models b) Competition and Sport

Fig 297 The FAL 'Competition' model circa 1960. US-style flash hider; semi-automatic only. Receiver marked ".308 Match."

Dur ing the comparat ive innocence of the sixties,

the FAL 'Compet i t ion ' model as descr ibed below

was for sale in the United States as wel l as in other

countries. However, the US Treasury Bureau of

A lcoho l , Tobacco and Firearms dec ided in 1968

that the Compet i t ion model , as FN was then of­

fering it, was not suff ic ient ly proof against conver­

sion by the unscrupulous to fu l l -automat ic fire.

Further basic operat ions were to be 'undone' -

that is, not performed on the rifle during its

manufacture in order to comp ly with Amer ican

requirements. (See the next sect ion for details.) The

FAL 'Compet i t ion ' model cont inued to be offered

to sportsmen and mil i tary target shooters in other

countries.

The FAL 'Compet i t ion ' model is pictured in f ig

297 and is descr ibed as a standard FAL type 50-00

rifle, with the fo l lowing four modi f icat ions:

1. the lower portion of the hammer is ground

on a sl ight ly different contour. The hammer

does not possess a superior hammer notch.

(This means the hammer cou ld not be

caught or released by a safety sear.)

The trigger plunger is redesigned and fea­

tures a second col lar towards its bal l end.

This b locks the trigger f rom moving rear­

ward suff ic ient ly to hold the sear below its

point of contact with the inferior hammer

notch.

. The ejector b lock is spec ia l ly manufactured;

the machin ing operations omitting the slot

wh ich accepts the safety sear tail in the left

side of the b lock. This is then more-or-less

permanent ly rivetted into the receiver body.

A safety sear is consequent ly not furnished

with this rifle.

. The selector switch is a specia l type, marked

' R ' , and capab le of rotation only between

the posit ions of 'safe ' and 'semi' . The deep,

'automat ic ' notch in its spindle is moreover

left uncut.

308 Current Product ion FAL Models

Fig 298 A mid-sixties manual produced for the semi-auto only 'sporting' FAL, marketed through the Browning Arms Company in the USA and Canada.

Fig 299 This page of terse prose constituted the only dif­ference between the sporting and military manuals.

Current Production FAL Models c) the Redesigned 'FAL USA'

As mentioned above, the A T F dec ided in 1968-69

that the F A L 'Compet i t ion ' model was not in c o m ­

pl iance with Amer ican law, and cou ld be too easi ly

converted to automat ic fire. In addit ion to the 'un­

done operations 7 a l ready descr ibed above, the A T F

now required the fo l lowing:

Inside the receiver of all models of the F A L

rifle thus far, inc luding the 'Compet i t ion ' type, at its

central core which is bored through hor izontal ly to

accept the hinge pin, there existed a circular,

mi l led recess cut, wh ich permitted the fitting-in of

a safety sear. (Assuming the rivetted ejector b lock

immediately in front of this area was correspon­

dingly slotted to accep t the front tail of the safety

sear. See f ig 334.) The ejector block alone, there­

fore, determined the legali ty or i l legali ty of the re­

ceiver in the U S A . The A T F argued that it was a

comparat ive ly s imple operation to drive out the

rivets securing an unslotted ejector b lock and mod­

ify or replace it, thus creating an i l legal machine

gun. They therefore demanded that at the t ime of

manufacture, the c i rcular safety sear-body recess

be omitted f rom the receivers of ' U S A ' type FALs.

In addit ion, the rear left-hand lug on the sl ide

was to be ground back to the point where contact

would not be possible even if a safety sear was

present.

FN compl ied with these requirements,

bui ld ing this new receiver manufactur ing process

into their ' type 2' receiver. The resulting ' C o m -

Fig 300 Prototype of the redesigned FAL 'USA', 1974. Most of these rifles were made up on receiver type 2, (fig 292). A later quantity of some 2,000 featured receiver type 3.

petit ion model F A L U S A ' qual i f ied dec ided ly for

the term ' redesigned' thus satisfying the letter of

the US Legal Statute in quest ion. The ' F A L U S A ' was

awarded a c lean bill of health by the A T F in 1970.

A l l was wel l until 1974, when there was a

major reorganizat ion at F N . Hencefor th each of

two divis ions. De fence and Secur i ty (BDS) , and the

FN Sport ing arms div is ion, wou ld take an autony-

mous hand in the business of both f irearms and

ammuni t ion sales. The sport ing arms div is ion went

on to acquire the 'Browning' t rademark outright

from the Amer ican Browning Arms C o m p a n y in

1977. At that t ime they offered the FAL ' U S A ' with

its redesigned (type 2) receiver, as a standard rifle

(50-00), and also as the long-barreled Para 50-61

and plast ic-stocked F A L O 50-41. Through a market­

ing arrangement with Steyr -Daimler -Puch of

Amer ica , a sister company of the Austr ian f i rm,

these rifles were sel l ing wel l on the Amer ican

market.

At the t ime of the 1974 reorganizat ion of F N ,

however, the responsibi l i ty for engineering, that is

for actual on-going product re-design and manufac­

ture, was left with the B D S (Defence and Secur i ty

Division). In 1973, as we have seen, (fig 292), in res­

ponse to the need to economise in FAL receiver

manufacture, receiver type 3 was successfu l ly in­

t roduced. There was only one problem. No 'specia l

run' was authorised to omit the central safety sear

recess on new receivers destined to become the

FAL ' U S A ' , as had been the case before. Conse­

quently, all FAL 'USA' type rifles made up on the

type 3 receiver are basically the same as the ones the

ATF refused to accept in 1968-69. Steyr of Amer i ca

estimates that a total of 2,000 rifles of this type

have been sold on the open market. The A T F at this

writ ing (August, 1981) has agreed that these rifles

wil l be judged on an individual basis, and that as

long as no tampering is evident in the ejector b lock

area, the rifles wil l be c lassed as semi-auto only.

Steyr of Amer i ca meanwhi le awaits word from FN

that the type 3 receiver has been redesigned to

conform with Amer ican requirements, before

resuming importat ion of F A L ' U S A ' rifles.

End of Book Two

310 Current FAL Product ion Models

Fig 301 A rather elegant FN drawing of the wood-stocked model 50-00 of the late fifties.

Book 3

The FAL Gazetteer

Part 1 - Illustrated FAL Parts List and Official FN Nomenclature

The arm has been div ided into six basic groups, as

fo l lows:

Barrel Group page 312

Receiver Group (basic) page 314

Mechanism Group page 316

Lower Receiver Group page 318

Butt Group page 320

Magaz ine Group page 321

312 The FAL Gazet teer

Fig 302 Barrel group

Barrel Group

Part no Name Part no Name

1 A B C barrel assembly 14 plate f ix ing foresight 1A barrel body 950 handguard, right and left assembly 1B gas b lock 95 handguard, right 1C pin retaining gas b lock 96 handguard, left 1 D gas cyl inder 96M nut, handguard screw 1E pin retaining gas cyl inder 96P stop, gas regulator 1F gas regulator s leeve 96Q rivet, stop gas regulator 1G bush, gas cyl inder 97 screw, handguard 1 H grenade launcher - f lash hider 98 socket , rear, handguard 4 spring, gas regulator s leeve 102 washer for handguard screw 5 foresight 109 ring securing, screw handguard 6 band, front sl ing swivel 602 spring, retaining, grenade 7 front sl ing swivel 23008 gas plug with sight, grenade launcher 8 gas plug assembly for S T R I M grenades 8A gas plug 8E sight, S T R I M grenade 8B plunger, gas plug 8F pin, grenade sight 8C spring, plunger gas plug 8G spring, pin grenade sight 8D washer, plunger gas plug 8H washer retaining, pin grenade sight 9 screw, front sl ing swivel 8I ca tch , sight axis 10 spring, foresight 8K spring, ca tch 12 piston 8L pin retaining, ca tch 13 spring, piston 2008A gas plug

Fig 303 Special gas plug with folding grenade sight for STRIM grenades.

314 The FAL Gazet teer

Fig 304 Receiver group (basic)

Receiver Group

Part no Name

26015 receiver

21015 A receiver body 15B lock ing shoulder

15C ejector b lock, receiver body

15E pin retaining ejector b lock

1015F ejector

15G pin retaining ejector

16 cock ing handle assembly

16A cock ing handle sl ide

16B lug, sl ide cock ing

16D detent, cock ing handle

16E spring, detent cock ing handle 16F pin retaining lug and detent cock ing

16G knob, cock ing handle 16H stud, cock ing handle

17 holding open dev ice assembly

17A holding open dev ice (with leg) 17D plunger, spring holding open dev ice

17E spring, holding open dev ice

17F thumbpiece, holding open dev ice

17G pin retaining thumbpiece

18 magaz ine ca tch

19 spring, magaz ine ca tch

20 axis pin, magaz ine ca tch and holding

open dev ice 71 safety sear, assembly

71A safety sear

71B spring, safety sear

100 carrying handle assembly

100A axis, carrying handle

100B carrying handle

100C washer, carrying handle

S T A 74 spring, washer

316 The FAL Gazet teer

Fig 305 Mechanism group

Mechanism Group

Part no Name

21 breech b lock

22 extractor

23 spring, extractor, complete

23A spring, extractor

23B buffer, extractor spring

24 fir ing pin

25 spring, f ir ing pin

26 spring, retaining fir ing pin

27 sl ide assembly

27A sl ide

27B sl ide rod

27C spring, sl ide rod

27D plunger, spring sl ide rod

27E axis pin, sl ide rod

28 plunger, extractor

65 cover

318 The FAL Gazet teer

Fig 306 Lower receiver group

Lower Receiver Group

Part no Name 30 trigger housing assembly

30D plate, lock ing, hammer and trigger

axis pin 30L tube, return spring

31 hammer

32 pin, axis, hammer

33 rod, hammer spring

34 spring, hammer

35 housing, hammer spring

36 trigger

37 spring, trigger

38 plunger, trigger

39 sear

40 plunger, sear spring

41 spring sear 42 pin, axis trigger and sear

46 change lever assembly

axis and arm assembly

16A axis, change lever

46D arm, change lever

46E spring, change lever

46F plunger, change lever

46G pin, change lever

51 ca tch , lock ing body

52 spring, lock ing ca tch

53 stay, lock ing ca tch spring

54 pin, retaining lock ing ca tch

55 lever, lock ing ca tch assembly

56 screw, retaining lock ing ca tch lever

57 guard, trigger

58 pistol grip

59 nut, screw, pistol grip

67 return spring, assembly

67A return spring, outer

67B return spring, inner

68 plunger, return spring

73 pin, pivot butt

74 pin, retaining pivot butt

7075 support, backs ight

76 screw, adjust ing backs ight

77 backs ight

78 ca tch , backs ight

79 spring, ca tch backs ight

80 pin retaining backs ight

81 spring retaining screw backs ight

10046 change lever assembly, semi auto

only

320 The FAL Gazet teer

Butt Group

Part no Name

6300 buttstock, complete

85 buttstock, plast ic assembly

rear socket , butt

86 screw, butt (retaining return S P R I N G )

87 washer, screw butt

88 buttplate

107 insert, butt plate

STA881 screw, wood, rear sl ing swivel

STA16 screw butt support

89 screw, butt plate

STA520 rear sl ing swivel assembly

STA082 bracket, rear sl ing swivel

STA295 rear sl ing swivel

STA1084 pin, rear sl ing swivel

Fig 307 Butt group (plastic)

Fig 308 Magazine group, 20-round

Magazine Group

Part no Name

60 magaz ine casing

61 plat form, magaz ine

62 spring, magaz ine plat form

63 bottom plate, magaz ine

322 The FAL Gazet teer

Part 2 - Official Canadian and British Nomenclature

(a) Canadian

Item no Name Item no Name

148 body, backs ight 331 pin, operat ing

191 detent, zero ing screw 362 plug, ca tch

192 d isc, backs ight aperture 364 plunger, ca tch

279 leaf, backs ight 436 spring, ca tch plunger

311 pin, axis, backs ight leaf

396 screw, zero ing

435 spring, backs ight leaf Reference: Plate 'D ' (Volume One page 154)

448 spring, retaining, disc Item no Name

Reference: Plate 'B ' (Volume One , page 152) 202 blade, foresight

222 guard assembly, hand, left

Item no Name 229 guard assembly, hand, right

240 guard, hand, left

21 band, smal l arms, sl ing swivel 241 guard, hand, right

22 barrel 275 insulator, left liner

23, 24 barrel, chrome plated 276 insulator, right liner

135 b lock, gas 301 liner, left hand guard

190 cyl inder, gas 305 liner, right hand guard

194 el iminator, f lash 310 nut, hand guard screw

277 key, retaining, f lash el iminator 325 pin, hinge

323 pin, f ix ing, gas b lock 377 rivet, tubular

324 pin, f ix ing, gas cyl inder 381 screw, locking, hinge pin

332 pin, restricting, gas regulator 390 screw, securing, foresight

333 pin, retaining 423 sleeve, hand guard

372 regulator, gas

373 ring, retaining, gas regulator

447 spring, posit ioning, gas regulator Reference: Plate 'E ' (Volume One page 155)

566 washer, posit ioning Item no Name

Reference: Plate 'C (Volume One , page 153) 174 ca tch , cock ing handle

199 ferrule, front

Item no Name 200 ferrule, rear

258 handle, carrying

149 body, rifle 259 handle, carrying, plast ic

175 ca tch , holding open breechblock 317 pin, cock ing handle

176 ca tch , holding open breechblock 318 pin, cock ing handle stud

179 ca tch , magaz ine 365 plunger, cock ing handle

193 ejector, smal l arms cartr idge 398 sear, safety

215 grip, ca tch 402 shoulder, lock ing

316 pin, ca tch grip 426 sl ide, cock ing handle

319 pin, ejector, lower 443 spring, he l ica l , compression

320 pin, ejector, upper 452 spring, safety sear

Reference: Plate 'A' (Volume One , page 152) Reference: Plate 'C' continued

Reference: Plate 'E ' continued

Item no Name

456 stem, carry ing handle Reference: Plate ' H ' continued 549 stud, cock ing handle

Item no Name

Reference: Plate 'F' (Volume One page 156) 150 bracket, smal l arms sl ing swivel , rear

151 bushing, cover screw Item no Name 153 bushing, pistol grip screw

154 bushing, trigger spring plunger

337 piston, gas 177 ca tch , lock ing, body

363 plug, gas cyl inder 185 cover assembly, pistol grip

367 plunger, plug 216 grip, pistol

374 ring, retaining, hand guards 242 guard, trigger

379 screw, axis, magaz ine ca tch 244 hammer

380 screw, hand guard 269 housing, hammer spring

387 screw, retaining, carry ing handle 270 housing, trigger mechanism

392 screw, smal l arms sl ing swivel 290 lever, change 442 spring, hel ica l , compression 296 lever, lock ing ca tch 445 spring, piston 313 pin, axis, hammer 446 spring, plug plunger 315 pin, axis, trigger and sear

551 swivel , smal l arms sl ing 329 pin, hinge, trigger guard

330 pin, housing b lock

335 pin, retaining, lock ing ca tch

Reference: Plate ' G ' (Volume One , page 157) 336 pin, trap

346 plate, butt, shoulder gun stock

Item no Name 351 plate, f i l ler

352 plate, locking, hammer and trigger axis

133 b lock, breech 354 plate, pistol grip

134 b lock, breech (current issue) 357 plate, smal l arms sl ing swivel bracket

162 carrier, breechblock 368 plunger, return spring

182 cover assembly, body 370 plunger, trigger spring

195 extension, f ir ing pin 375 rivet, axis, lock ing plate

196 extractor, smal l arms cartr idge 385 screw, pistol grip

197 extractor, smal l arms cartr idge 386 screw, pistol grip cover

198 extractor, smal l arms cartr idge 388 screw, retaining, lock ing ca tch lever

314 pin, axis, rod 389 screw, return spring tube

321 pin, f ir ing, 1 pc 391 screw, shoulder gun stock butt plate

322 pin, f ir ing 393 screw, wood 334 pin, retaining, f ir ing pin 394 screw, wood

366 plunger, extractor 395 screw, wood

369 plunger, rod 397 sear

378 rod, compressing, return spring 424 sleeve, pistol grip

438 spring, extractor 425 sleeve, trigger axis pin

440 spring, f ir ing pin 427 spring assembly, hammer

451 spring, rod plunger 437 spring, change lever bal l

441 spring, hammer

443 spring hel ica l , compression

Reference: Plate ' H ' (Volume One page 158) 444 spring, lock ing ca tch

449 spring, return, inner

Item no Name 450 spring, return, outer

453 spring, trap

20 bal l , detent 454 stay, hammer

136 b lock, housing 455 stay, lock ing ca tch spring

324 The FAL Gazet teer

Reference: Plate ' H ' continued

Item no Name Item no Name

541/540 stock, gun, shoulder 713 tool , combinat ion

554 swivel , smal l arms sl ing, rear 716 scraper, carbon, rigid

557 trap, shoulder gun stock butt plate 721 tool , combinat ion

558 trigger 724 arm assembly, screwdriver

564 tube, return spring

565 washer, lock

589 washer, return spring tube screw Reference: Plate 'L ' (Volume One page 161)

Item no Name

Reference: Plate 'J ' (Volume One page 159) 620 bottle, appl icator

Item no Name 621 body, bottle

623 spoon

443 spring, he l ica l , compression 624 stopper

590 adapter, magaz ine charging 625 washer

591 assembly, bayonet 626 bottle, appl icator

597 blade, bayonet 627 bottle

598 blade, bayonet 629 cap

599 crosspiece, bayonet 630 stem

600 pin, retaining 631 washer

601 pommel , bayonet 632 brush, c leaning, smal l arms

602 rivet, pommel 633 brush, right angle

603 ca tch , bayonet 634 brush, straight

604 eyelet, metal l ic 635 brush, c leaning, smal l arms

605 grip, bayonet 636 brush, c leaning, smal l arms

605 grip, bayonet 639 carrier, bayonet, webbing

606 plug, bayonet ca tch 641 carrier, c leaning kit

607 screw, retaining, bayonet ca tch 652 cover, front sight, rifle

609 b lank fir ing at tachment (obsolete) 653 cover, muzz le , rifle

614 blank fir ing at tachment (current) 655 jag

700 scabbard

701 body, scabbard

708 mouthpiece Reference: Plate 'M' (Volume One page 162)

709 screw, machine

710 spring, retaining, bayonet Item no Name

668 case, magaz ine

Reference: Plate 'K ' (Volume One page 160) 672 plate, bottom

674 plate, d is tance

Item no Name 675 plat form, magaz ine

676 spring, platform

656 launcher, grenade L2A1 678 case, magaz ine

691 bal l , bearing 682 plate, bottom

692 hand, rod c leaning 684 plate, d istance

695 nut 685 plate, d istance

696 rod, handle 686 plat form, magaz ine

697 spacer, s leeve 687 spring, platform

698 rod, extension 688 pul l through

699 rod, extension 711 sl ing

712 sl ing, rifle

Reference: Plate 'K ' continued

(b) British

Reference: Plate 'A' (Volume Two page 245) Reference: Plate 'B ' continued

Item no Name Item no Name

2 barrel and gas cyl inder assembly 20 screw, handguard 3 barrel assembly 21 guard, assembly, hand, left 4 barrel, f itted 22 guard, hand, left 5 b lock, gas 23 insulator, guard, left 6 pin, retaining, f lash el iminator 24 liner, guard, left 7 stop, gas regulator 25 rivet, tubular

8 regulator, gas 26 nut, handguard screw 9 ring, retaining, gas regulator 27 guard, assembly, hand, right 10 spring, posit ioning, gas regulator 28 guard, hand, right 11 cyl inder, gas 29 insulator, guard, right 12 pin, f ix ing, gas cyl inder 30 liner, guard, right 13 el iminator, f lash 31 rivet, tubular 14-36 washer, posit ioning 32 nut, handguard screw 37 key, retaining, f lash, el iminator 33 screw, handguard 38 pin, retaining, f lash el iminator key 34 guard, assembly, hand, left 39 spring, piston 35 guard, assembly, hand right 40 piston 36 screw, handguard 41 plug assembly, gas cyl inder 42 plug, gas cyl inder

43 spring, plug plunger Reference: Plate 'C' (Volume Two page 247) 44 plunger, plug 45 band, front sl ing loop Item no Name 46, 47 loop, sl ing, front

48 screw, front sl ing loop 1 body assembly 49 foresight 2 body 50 screw, secur ing, foresight 3 ejector

4 pin, retaining, ejector b lock, lower

5 pin, retaining, ejector b lock, upper Reference: Plate 'B ' (Volume Two page 246) 6 lock ing handle assembly

7 ca tch , cock ing handle Item no Name 8 spring

9 plunger, cock ing handle 1 ring, retaining, hand guards 10 sl ide, cock ing handle 2 - 9 washer, breeching 11 pin, cock ing handle 10 handle, carrying, assembly 12 stud, cock ing handle 11 handle, carry ing (obsolete) 13 pin, cock ing handle stud 12 dowel , wood 14 ca tch , assembly, holding open. 13 ferrule, front breech b lock 14 ferrule, rear 15 body, holding open ca tch 15 stem, carry ing handle 16 plunger 16 handle, carry ing 17 spring, ca tch , plunger 17 screw, retaining, carry ing handle 18 plug, ca tch 18 guard, assembly, hand, left 19, 20 ca tch , magaz ine 19 guard, assembly, hand, right 21 spring, magaz ine ca tch

326 The FAL Gazet teer

Reference: Plate 'C' continued

Item no Name Item no Name

22 screw, axis magaz ine ca tch 9 ca tch , locking, body 23 b lock assembly, breech 10 spring, lock ing ca tch 24 b lock, breech 11 stay, lock ing ca tch spring

25 spring, extractor 12 pin, retaining, lock ing ca tch 26 plunger, extractor 13 ,14 lever, lock ing ca tch 27 extractor 15 screw, retaining, lock ing ca tch lever 28 spring, fir ing pin 16 assembly, return spring 29 pin, f ir ing 17 piston, return

30 extension, f ir ing pin 18 spring, return inner 31 pin, retaining, f ir ing pin 19 spring, return outer 32 carrier, assembly, breech b lock 20 washer, return spring tube screw 33 carrier, breech b lock 21 screw, return spring 34 spring, rod plunger 22 cover, body 35 plunger, rod

36 rod, compressing, return spring

37 pin, axis, rod Reference: Plate 'F ' (Volume Two page 250)

Item no Name Reference: Plate 'D ' (Volume Two page 248)

1 hammer

Item no Name 2 pin, axis, hammer

3 spring, assembly, hammer

1 - 32 shoulder, lock ing 4 housing, hammer spring

33 sear, safety 5 spring, hammer

34 sear, safety, body 6 plunger, hammer spring

35 spring, safety sear 7 trigger

36 pin, hinge 8 spring, sear 37 screw, lock ing, hinge pin 9 sear

38 detent, zeroing 10 sleeve, trigger axis pin

39 backsight , assembly 11 pin, axis, trigger/sear

40 ramp, backs ight 12 lever assembly, change

41 sl ide 13 lever, change 42 spring, leaf 14 spring, detent, change lever

43 bal l , bearing, steel 15 bal l , bearing, steel

44 leaf, backs ight 16 pin, cotter (obsolete)

45 pin, leaf 1 7 - 1 9 , 2 7 grip, pistol

46 pin, stop 20 bush, plunger, trigger

47 screw, zeroing, backs ight 21 bush, grip, pistol

22 bush, guard, trigger

23 spring, plunger, trigger

Reference: Plate 'E ' (Volume Two page 249) 24 plunger, trigger

25 plate, pistol grip

Item no Name 26 screw, wood, slotted, raised csk.hd. .

phosphated

1 assembly, trigger mechanism 28 spring, plunger, trigger

2 housing assembly, trigger mechanism 29 plunger, trigger

3 plate, lock ing 30 plate, pistol grip

4 rivet, axis, lock ing plate 31 screw, wood, slotted, raised csk.hd. .

5 s leeve, pistol grip phosphated

6 b lock, housing 32 washer, pistol grip screw

7 pin, b lock housing upper and lower 33 screw, pistol grip

8 tube, return spring 34 guard, trigger assembly

Reference: Plate 'E ' continued

Reference: Plate 'F ' continued

Item no Name

35 cover, pistol grip

36 guard, trigger

37 pin, hinge, guard, trigger

38 screw, pistol grip lever

39 guard, trigger, assembly

40 cover, pistol grip

41 guard, trigger

42 pin, hinge, guard, trigger

43 screw, pistol grip lever

Reference: Plate ' G ' (Volume Two page 251)

Item no

1

Name

butt, wood, extra long

1, 17, 32, 47 plate, butt assembly

3, 18, 33, 48 screw, wood, slotted, raised csk.hd

phosphated

4,19,34,49 loop, sl ing, rear (obsolete)

5,20,35,50 screw, butt plate

6, 21, 36, 51 screw, wood, slotted, raised csk.hd

phosphated

7,22,37,52 butt, plast ic

8 plate, butt, plast ic, extra long

9,10,24,25,

39,40,54,55 washer, butt cap

11, 26, 41, 56 cap , butt

12, 27, 42, 57 screw, plate, butt

13,28,43,58 loop, sl ing rear

14,29,44,59 screw, f ix ing

15, 30, 45, 60 screw, machine

16 butt, wood, long

23 plate, butt, plast ic, long

31 butt, wood, normal

38 plate, butt, plast ic, normal

46 butt, wood, short

53 plate, butt, plast ic, short

Reference: Plate ' H ' (Volume Two page 252)

Item no Name

1 adapter, magaz ine charging 2, 3 b lade, bayonet 4, 5 bayonet 6 grip, bayonet

7, 8 rivet 9 ca tch , bayonet

10 spring, bayonet ca tch

11 plug, bayonet

Reference: Plate ' H ' continued

Item no Name

12 screw, retaining, bayonet ca tch

13 c leaning tool, f ir ing attachment no 1

14 c leaning tool, f ir ing attachment no 2

15 convers ion kit, sight tri lux

16 foresight, assembly, tri lux

17 blade, foresight

18 lamp, trilux

19, 20 leaf

21, 22 leaf, backs ight rear

23 base, foresight spring

24 spring, posit ioning, foresight

25 launcher, grenade

26 body, launcher 27 sight, grenade

28 spring, posit ioning 29 ca tch , grenade sight

30 washer

31 ca tch , launcher

32 spring, ca tch

33 plug, launcher

34 screw, retaining, launcher ca tch

35 ring, grenade, posit ioning

36 assembly, magaz ine 37 body, magaz ine

38 fol lower assembly, magaz ine

39 plat form

40 spring, platform

41 retainer, bottom plate 42 plate, bottom 43 mount, weapon sight, infra red

Reference: Plate ' J ' (Volume Two page 253)

Item no Name

1 bottle, oil

2 washer

3 can , oil

4 washer, seal ing

5 brush, c leaning, chamber/gas cyl inder

6 brush, c leaning, rifle

7 tool , combinat ion, rifle

8 container, c leaning kit, rifle

9 b lock, housing

10 lanyard

11 grease, tube

12 pul l through

328 The FAL Gazet teer

Reference: Plate continued

Item no Name Item no Name

13 cord 2 breech mechanism assembly

14 weight 3 retaining b lock

15 scabbard , bayonet 4 b lock assembly, breech

16, 20 scabbard , bayonet 5 b lock , breech

17 scabbard , bayonet 6 spring, f ir ing pin

18 cap , scabbard 7 f ir ing pin

19 boss, scabbard 8 col lar, f ir ing assembly

21 scabbard , bayonet 9 f ir ing pin, retaining

22 boss, scabbard 10 rod, return spring

23 spring, mouthpiece 11 spring, return, rod

24, 25 mouthpiece 12,14,16 c i rc l ips

26 screw, mouthpiece 13 bracket, support ing

27 scabbard , bayonet, plast ic 15 spring, b lock retaining

28, 29 sl ing, rifle web 17 extractor

30 sl ing assembly, arct ic 18 barrel assembly

19 magaz ine

20 cartr idge, magaz ine

Reference: Plate 'K ' (Volume Two page 254) 21 spring, cartr idge

22 washer

Item no Name 23 screw, machine

24 case, convers ion kit

1 b lank fir ing at tachment

2 housing, blank fir ing at tachment Note: Plates 'M'and 'N': nomenclature restricted

3 tube, inner

4 ring

5 spring 6 f luted sleeve assembly

7 main spring, f luted sleeve assembly

8 col lar

9 c i rc l ip

Reference: Plate 'L ' (Volume Two page 255)

c) Official UK/Canadian Parts Interchangeability/ List

330 The FAL Gazet teer

Part 3

The FAL Check list

I. Barrel Group

Muzz le type The three basic F A L light rifle m u z z l e types are:

1. the plain m u z z l e F A L ' C a n a d a ' (shown below

in f ig 310);

2. the T48-type Amer ican design 5-prong f lash

hider, (fig 130, shown with bayonet f ixed in f ig 235);

3. the current 22 mm diameter f lash hider and

grenade launcher combination (fig 263). Several off­

shoots of this third model have also appeared on

contract-ordered F A L s , c f . Austr ia and Ho l land .

The heavy-barrel F A L O has the same basic

three m u z z l e types, except the two f lash hiders are

of sl ight ly different conf igurat ion and as a rule do

not accep t a bayonet, (fig 309)

Throughout the fo l lowing check list, c o m ­

ponents are listed in the same assembly order as in

the i l lustrated FAL nomenclature sect ion (pp 312-

321). Part numbers a l located are the same as in f igs

302-308.

Gas Block, Front Sight and Gas System There are f ive models of F A L gas b lock which over

the years have been product ion items:

A1 - high, short; with holes in the front sight guards,

as used on the F A L 'Canada ' ; obsolete.

A2 - high, short; holes as shown above but takes a

different gas plug. (This 'only-one-way-in' de­

sign was very soon adopted to ensure proper

assembly.)

B1 - low, short; takes same gas plug as A1 above;

introduced to refurbish earlier rifles to new

low line of sight.

B2 - low, short; takes gas plug of A2 above; Gewehr

1 type.

C - low, long; takes longer gas plug. Current FAL .

The fo l lowing chart is prepared f rom the of­

f ic ia l FN O R E A (Outil de Reparation et d'Entretien)

Factory Repair Manua l .

It should be consul ted to determine the

degree of interchangeabi l i ty possible among the

var ious F A L gas b locks , front sights, gas plugs, gas

cyl inders, gas cyl inder bushes and gas pistons.

Gas Block

Front Sight

Gas Plug

Gas Cyl in­

der

Gas Cyl in ­

der Bush Piston

A1 A-B A A B C A B C A

A2 A B A B C A B C A

B1 C1-2-3 A A B C A B C A

B2 C1-2-3 B A B C A B C A

C1 C1-2-3 C -D C -D C B

Fig 309 FALO flash hiders. Above: old model, one piece. Centre: old model; front section unscrews for

replacement with BFA. Below: current model.

332 The FAL C h e c k List

Fig 310 Classic plain muzzle; experimental muzzle brake/grenade launcher circa 1960.

Gas Regulator (Sleeve) No 1F (fig 320)

There are three models of gas regulator:

A - capab le of several comple te turns. Used on the

F A L ' C a n a d a ' but now obsolete;

B - complete range of gas regulat ion in one turn;

c - as B but with lug on rear wh ich butts on a pro­

ject ion in the handguard.

A, B, and C are interchangeable except on

rifles fitted with a built-in stop in the metal hand-

guard end. These stops only permit one turn of the

Fig 311 Gas block types Fig 312 Front sights, models A and B (square post), and C

Fig 313 Gas plugs

gas regulator and should be removed if using gas

regulator A.

Fig 315 Variants of front sights model B and C (fig 312)

Handguard (fig 319)

There are several types of handguards, the var iat ions

being in their form, material or in the type of moun­

ting screw and nut used. The three pr incipal types

are:

A - wood; obsolete (type 'Canada' ) ;

B - glass-f ibre reinforced plast ic, with or without

grooves to accep t fo lded bipod legs;

Fig 314 Gas cylinders. Early models can be reclaimed by cutting back to length C. Use with gas cylinder bush C. Removal of gas cylinders model A and B requires un-

breeching of the barrel at least 1/4 turn. Bushes A and B are not interchangeable.

334 The FAL Check List

Fig 319 Handguard, models A, B and C

Fig 316 Gas pistons. Refer to chart on page 331.

C - stamped metal with bipod leg grooves (Gewehr

1). Handguards are all interchangeable, as long as

they are an assembly, complete with the original

mount ing screw.

II. The Upper Receiver

Carrying Handle - light rifle (fig 321) Model A - wood on short rod; rivetted end. FAL

'Canada ' ; obsolete.

Fig 318 Gas piston and spring, model B

Fig 320 Gas regulator, models A, B and C Fig 321 Carrying handles for standard FAL rifles. Models A - D

Fig 317 Gas piston and spring, model A

Fig 322 Body covers. See text below.

Model B - wood on short rod with c i rc l ip at tach­

ment; obsolete.

Model C - plast ic on short rod.

Model D - plast ic on long rod.

A l l are interchangeable.

Body Cover (fig 322) A - standard

B - short 'charger loading'

C - standard - Para

D - special cover to shoot FN 'b lank star' b lanks.

The cr imped end of the 'b lank star' case can be

quite sharp when blown open by fir ing, and

this cover def lects the path of eject ion of the

spent cases downward.

Bolt Carrier (Slide) - (fig 323 and 325) Vo lume Two contains the complete reprint of UK

Co l Kent-Lemon's 'sand cut ' trials and resultant

L1A1 modi f icat ion speci f icat ions. Monsieur V a n

Rutten was in Fayid with the British on this 1955

expedit ion. FN did market the UK-type sand cuts in

the bolt carrier, but did not modify the bolt, or the

receiver, as did the Brit ish.

Austra l ian L1A1 trials, with the ful l U K -

recommended sand cuts in the body of the rifle.

Fig 323 Bolt carrier internal variations. Model A: single locking cam; obsolete.

Model B: double locking cam; current. Model C: Para with double locking cam; current. In­

terchangeable, with proper breech block (see fig 326).

Fig 324 FN 'artificial sandstorm' machine, circa 1955. Sand, poured in hopper at right, was blown across rifle ac­tion during firing.

336 The FAL C h e c k List

reported stretching of the receiver. FN modi f ied a

FAL receiver themselves but left out the centre pair

of cuts in the receiver, and found the arrangement

sat isfactory. The body cuts were subsequent ly of­

fered as an opt ion but not accepted by any or­

dering country.

A specia l 'sand cut ' bolt carrier was developed

by FN and adopted by several countr ies inc luding

Israel.

Bolt (Breech block) - (figs 326 - 327)

There are several models of bolt. Var iat ions occur

in f ir ing pin type, extractor, and sl ide, or bolt

carrier.

Comple te bolt assembl ies (bolt-and-slide) are

interchangeable.

Firing Pin (fig 328)

There are four types of f ir ing pin:

A - eccentr ic head (obsolete) F A L 'Canada ' ;

B - head without lug;

C - head without lug, new tip;

D - head without lug, con ica l tip. Used after 1958 as

standard.

Fig 325 Bolt carrier, external variations. Top right: stan­dard carrier; may be 'internal' model A or B (fig 323). All other carriers are 'internal' model B only.

Centre right: FN-developed sand cuts. Lower right: UK-type sand cuts, used in numerous FN

FAL models. Top left: Para standard. Lower left: Para with UK-type sand cuts.

Fig 326 Breech blocks. Left: single locking cam. Assem­bles with carrier model A (fig 323) and firing pin type A. obsolete.

Right: double locking cam. Used with carrier model B and C (fig 323).

Model A is not interchangeable. Models B, C

and D are interchangeable one for another.

Extractor (fig 329)

There are three models of extractor:

A - single piece design with s imple wire spring (ob­

solete) used on F A L 'Canada ' , T48 and the UK

X8 series. Not interchangeable.

B - two-piece with coi l spring. C a n replace type C.

Fig 327 Breech block types. Above: obsolete single cam/ firing pin type A. One-piece extractor.

Centre: obsolete early double locking cam, one-piece extractor.

Below: current double locking cam type, two-piece extractor.

C - current two-piece with coi l spring. Extractor

c law reinforced. Not interchangeable.

Ejector (figs 330-331)

Model A is f ixed (rivetted) into the upper receiver.

It is obsolete.

Model B can be replaced, by removing its pin.

The two are not interchangeable. B lock A is

removed during FN factory overhaul only and

Fig 329 Extractor types

Fig 330 One-piece ejector block, model A. Rivetted into receiver, obsolete.

Fig 328 Firing pin, types A (top) through D. See text on facing page.

338 T h e F A L C h e c k L i s t

Fig 331 Ejector model B, rep laceable by s imply drift ing out pin. The pin is v is ib le in the side of the receiver, below and sl ight ly ahead of the lock ing shoulder. In f ig 292 al l examples are fitted with rep laceable ejector model B. See f ig 168 for an example of a receiver fitted with the obso­lete, permanent ejector.

Fig 332 Safety sear, models A and B

r e p l a c e d w i t h a n e w b l o c k w h i c h a c c e p t s e j e c t o r

m o d e l B .

S a f e t y S e a r ( f igs 332 - 335)

T h e r e a re t w o m o d e l s :

M o d e l A - w i t h s p r i n g on t he le f t s i d e ( o b s o l e t e ) .

M o d e l B - w i t h s p r i n g on the r igh t s i d e . T h e t w o

t y p e s a re i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e .

Fig 333 Inserting safety sear model A in FN T48.

Fig 334 Safety sear model A inserted correct ly

fig 335 Safety sear model A inserted incorrectly. Its spring wil l bind when the lower receiver is replaced. From the FN 1953 T48 manua l .

Fig 336 Bolt holdopen, model A (left) and model B.

B o l t H o l d o p e n ( f ig 336)

M o d e l A , w i t h t h e s m a l l t h u m b p i e c e , i s o b s o l e t e .

T h e t w o t y p e s a r e i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e .

III. Sights and Optics

Rear I r o n S i g h t s ( f igs 337 - 343)

T h e in te rchangeab i l i t y o f a l l F A L rear s ights d e p e n d s

en t i re l y on the l i ne o f s i gh t . E a r l y , h i g h - s i g h t

m o d e l s ( the F A L C a n a d a , T 4 8 , X 8 se r i es , B e l g i a n

M 1 , e tc ) , w i l l no t s h o o t o n t a r g e t w i t h la ter , l o w

rear s i gh t s . C a n a d i a n , B r i t i sh a n d A u s t r a l i a n

p r o d u c t i o n c o n t i n u e d the h i g h s i g h t l i ne , a n d t h e s e

s igh ts a re a l l i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e o n p r e - G e r m a n -

c o n t r a c t F A L s .

Fig 340 Two-posit ion Para rear sight.

Fig 337 FAL 'Canada ' high rear iron sight.

Fig 341 Para battle sight stripped

Fig 338 Low rear iron sight. G1 and later models.

Fig 339 Current adjustable low rear sight, str ipped.

Fig 342 One-p iece non-adjustable ' type Hol land ' . Current on 50-63 Para.

340 T h e F A L C h e c k L i s t

Fig 343 Rear sights. Left: one-piece 'type Hol land ' . Centre: two-posit ion Para battle sight. Right: Venezue lan-des ign disc (see f ig 161 ).

A u s t r i a n 9 0 ° 'T ra iner ' r e a r s i g h t ( f igs 3 4 4 - 3 4 5 )

Fig 344 Austr ian 9 0 ° 'trainer' rearsight with ang led two-way mirror, c l ipped onto standard backsight .

Fig 345 As the student al igns the sights, the instructor sees this view. An original Austr ian army training aid, made and marketed by F N .

T e l e s c o p i c S i g h t s a n d M o u n t s ( f igs 3 4 6 - 358)

T h e F A L r i f le i s a r g u a b l y t he m o s t r e a d i l y - m o d i f i e d

o f a n y r i f le i n e x i s t e n c e fo r t e l e s c o p e u s e . Its b o d y

c o v e r i s r e l a t i v e l y s t u r d y a n d w e l l - m o u n t e d a n d

l e n d s i tse l f t o a g r e a t v a r i e t y o f s c o p e a t t a c h m e n t s .

N u m e r o u s F A L t e l e s c o p e t y p e s a re d e a l t w i t h

i n t he b o d y o f t he th ree v o l u m e s o f th is se r i es .

S o m e o the r p r o t o t y p e s c o p e s , a n d i n f o r m a t i o n o n

F N r ings a n d b a s e s , a re p r e s e n t e d he re .

Fig 346 Standard over-bore model FAL scope base. Hen-soldt and other scopes, f lexible rings.

Fig 347 Belg ian army side mount. Flexible rings.

Fig 348 Experimental over-bore and Belg ian army side mounts. Rig id rings.

Fig 349 Top: second product ion version of the 3.6x O I P scope in over-bore mount.

Second and third: over-bore mounts of vary ing eye relief.

Bottom: the Belg ian army was the only user of the side mount.

Fig 351 Early prototype dot-projector-type opt ic sight submitted to FN for trial. Manufacturer unknown.

Fig 352 UK Singlepoint Comba t Guns ight mounted on FN FAL body cover. An interesting UK trial compar ing this sight with the 'Hythe ' sights and the A v i m o S U I T sight is reprinted in Vo lume Two.

Fig 350 Two ways of mount ing the FN base, made to fit the built-in lugs now standard on al l N A T O mil i tary scopes.

Fig 353 FN test spec imen of the latest Amer ican automat ic ranging ' A R T I I ' scope, mode by Leatherwood Enterprises. Th is 3-9x var iable scope fits the FAL in a unique 'wraparound' receiver mount. Weight , as pictured, 36 oz .

342 T h e F A L C h e c k L i s t

Fig 355 Current 50-00 mil i tary FAL fitted with the E U R O -A T L A S passive night-vision sight, made by Euroat las G M ­

BH of Bremen, West Germany. FN N A T O standard scope base.

Fig 354 Correct method of at taching the FN f lexible scope rings. This concept originated with the Wor ld War I I German Z F 4 scope, mounted on the K43 rifle.

Fig 356 Current issue mil i tary FAL fitted with German-made FN 4x scope in standard N A T O mount.

Fig 357 FAL Para (458 mm barrel), FN 4x scope in N A T O -standard mount, reversed for min imum eye relief.

Fig 358 Euroat las passive night-vision sight, left side.

344 T h e F A L C h e c k L i s t

IV. The Lower Receiver

H a m m e r a n d S p r i n g G u i d e ( f igs 359 - 361)

T y p e A s p r i n g g u i d e i s o b s o l e t e a n d inter­

c h a n g e a b l e o n l y as a h a m m e r - a n d - s p r i n g - g u i d e

a s s e m b l y .

T y p e B is c u r r e n t . T y p e A h a m m e r s c a n r e c e i v e

t y p e B s p r i n g g u i d e s by r e m o v i n g the a x i s p in

s h o w n .

C h a n g e L e v e r ( f igs 362 - 364)

T h e r e a re t w o b a s i c m o d e l s o f a u t o m a t i c - f i r e

c h a n g e l e v e r s :

A - w i t h r i g h t - a n g l e d a u t o m a t i c - f i r e s lo t ;

B - w i t h o b l i q u e a u t o m a t i c - f i r e s lo t .

V a r i a t i o n s

C I a n d 2 , p e r m i t t i n g s e m i - a u t o m a t i c f i re o n l y . C 1

w i t h r i g h t - a n g l e d s lo t , C 2 w i t h o b l i q u e s lo t .

Fig 359 Hammer , models A and B, explained above.

Fig 360 Obso le te hammer spring guide

Fig 361 Current hammer spring guide

Fig 362 Left: change lever model B. Right: model A.

T y p e D (ea r l y U K a n d I s rae l i m o d e l s o n l y ; o b ­

so le te ) :

D1 - s e m i - a u t o m a t i c o n l y ;

D 2 - s e l e c t i v e f i re ( m a r k e d ' A ' o n bu t ton ) .

T r i g g e r ( f ig 365)

T h e r e a re t w o m o d e l s o f t r i gger :

A - r i g h t - a n g l e d ta i l ( o b s o l e t e ) ;

B - o b l i q u e ta i l .

T h e y a re i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e , a s l o n g a s t h e y g o a s

a se t w i t h the i r r e s p e c t i v e c h a n g e leve r .

T r i g g e r P l u n g e r ( f ig 366)

T h e t w o t y p e s a re c o m p l e t e l y i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e , a s

a re the i r s p r i n g s . T y p e A ( b a l l e n d ) i s o b s o l e t e .

T r i g g e r P l u n g e r B r a c k e t ( f ig 367)

T h e r e a re t w o t y p e s :

A - s t e e l , a f f i x e d to s tee l l o w e r r e c e i v e r s by

w e l d i n g ;

B - a l u m i n u m , f i x e d w i t h t w o r i ve ts , a t t a c h e d to

a l u m i n u m ( ' h i d u m i n i u m ' ) l o w e r r e c e i v e r s .

Fig 363 Semi-auto only change levers, model CI (left) and C 2 .

Fig 364 Change levers type D

Fig 365 Trigger, models A and B

P i s t o l G r i p ( f igs 368 - 370 , a n d 374 - 375)

T h e r e a re t w o b a s i c m o d e l s o f p i s to l g r i p :

A - w o o d ( o b s o l e t e ) ;

B - ( va r i an t ) T 4 8 - t y p e (as a l s o a d o p t e d by L u x e m ­

b o u r g ) f o r f o l d i n g a r c t i c t r i g g e r g u a r d ;

C - p l a s t i c ( e a r l y m o d e l w i t h o u t c l e a n i n g k i t a t ­

t a c h m e n t n o t c h ) ;

C - p l a s t i c ( c u r r e n t m o d e l ; a c c e p t s c l i p - i n p l a s t i c

c l e a n i n g k i t . )

M o d e l s A a n d C a re c o m p l e t e l y i n t e r c h a n g e ­

a b l e .

Fig 368 Pistol grip model A (wood)

Pis to l G r i p S c r e w ( f igs 371 - 373)

T h e r e a re f o u r m o d e l s o f p i s to l g r i p s c r e w :

M o d e l A - s tee l s c r e w r i ve t t ed in to s tee l l o w e r re­

c e i v e r ;

M o d e l B - a l u m i n u m s c r e w r i ve t ted in to a l u m i n u m

l o w e r r e c e i v e r ( o b s o l e t e ) .

Fig 366 Trigger plungers: type A above.

M o d e l C - a l u m i n u m s c r e w a t t a c h e s f r o m b e l o w

in to b l o c k r i ve t ted in to ' h i d u m i n i u m ' l o w e r

r e c e i v e r ( o b s o l e t e ) ;

M o d e l D - a l u m i n u m s c r e w a t t a c h e s f r o m b e l o w in ­

t o l o w e r r e c e i v e r o f c u r r e n t l i g h t w e i g h t a n d

P a r a m o d e l s .

Fig 367 Trigger plunger brackets Fig 369 Pistol grip model B (wood, T48-type)

346 T h e F A L C h e c k L i s t

Fig 371 Pistol grip screw, models A and B Fig 373 Pistol grip screw model D

Fig 370 Plast ic pistol grip, model C. Ear ly model with no notch for c lean ing kit spring retaining loop.

Fig 372 Pistol grip screw model C

Fig 374 Late model type C plast ic pistol grip. Prototype spirit- level mounted in spec ia l p last ic c lean ing kit body. For exact 4 5 ° grenade project ion. Not adopted. Note not­ch inside bottom side of grip to accep t c lean ing kit spring retaining loop.

348 T h e F A L C h e c k L i s t

Fig 375 Current model C plast ic pistol grip, (left), shown with prototype G3- type grip.

B u t t p l a t e ( f i g s 3 7 6 - 3 7 9 )

T h e r e a re s e v e r a l m o d e l s o f b u t t p l a t e f o r t he s t a n ­

d a r d F A L :

M o d e l A - s t a m p e d s tee l w i t h f l a t s tee l t r ap c o v e r

f o r c l e a n i n g e q u i p m e n t ( o b s o l e t e ) . Fo r bu t t -

s t o c k m o d e l A .

M o d e l B - as a b o v e w i t h m o r e r e i n f o r c i n g g r o o v e s

i n m e t a l . N o t i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e w i t h m o d e l s C

a n d D , d u e t o bu t t t r a p c o v e r s p r i n g . Fo r bu t t -

s t o c k m o d e l B .

M o d e l C - as a b o v e ; no bu t t t rap . M a y r e p l a c e

m o d e l B . F o r b u t t s t o c k m o d e l C .

M o d e l D - r u b b e r ; no t i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e . Fo r p l a s t i c

b u t t s t o c k ( m o d e l D ) o n l y .

Fig 376 Buttplate model A. See text above.

Fig 377 Buttplate model B

Fig 378 Buttplate model C

Fig 379 Rubber buttplate model D. For plast ic stock.

B u t t p l a t e F A L O ( f ig 380)

M o d e l A is as p i c t u r e d ; m o d e l B is s i m i l a r w i t h o u t

t he bu t t t r ap c o v e r .

Fig 380 F A L O buttplate model A. For wood ( F A L O 42) buttstock.

Fig 382 W o o d buttstock model B.

50- Fig 383 W o o d buttstock model C

B u t t s t o c k ( f igs 381 - 384)

T h e r e a re m a n y b u t t s t o c k d e s i g n s ; t he b a s i c f o u r

m o d e l s a re a s f o l l o w s :

M o d e l A - w o o d , w i t h f o r w a r d w o o d e n p r o j e c t i o n s ,

w h i c h e n c l o s e t he s t e p p e d rear p o r t i o n o f t he

F A L ' C a n a d a ' l o w e r r e c e i v e r ( o b s o l e t e ) . N o t

i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e .

M o d e l B - w o o d , w i t h o u t w r i s t p r o j e c t i o n s ( o b s o ­

lete) . W i l l r e p l a c e m o d e l s C o r D .

M o d e l C - w o o d , w i t h r e b a t e d w r i s t a n d p r o t e c t i v e

m e t a l f e r r u l e . W i l l r e p l a c e B o r C .

M o d e l D - p l a s t i c . W i l l r e p l a c e B or C.

M o d e l s A , B a n d C a re i n t e r d e p e n d e n t on t y p e

o f b u t t p l a t e . M o d e l s B, C or D w i l l r e p l a c e m o d e l

A , b u t a g a p i s le f t a t t he rear o f the l o w e r r e c e i v e r .

F A L O ( h e a v y b a r r e l ) r i f l es m o d e l 50 -42 a r e e q u i p ­

p e d w i t h b u t t s t o c k s A o r B ( o b s o l e t e ) , o r C . F A L O

m o d e l 50-41 - b u t t s t o c k D.

Fig 381 W o o d buttstock model A. Refer to text above. Fig 384 Ny lon (plastic) buttstock model D

350 T h e F A L C h e c k L i s t

V. Accessories and Ancillaries

B a y o n e t ( f igs 385 - 387 a n d 389)

T h e r e a re t h ree t y p e s o f b a y o n e t s :

M o d e l A - w i t h bu i l t - i n f l a s h h ide r ' p r o n g s ' f o r r i f les

w i t h p l a i n m u z z l e . T h e h a n d l e s a re s e e n i n

b o t h s m o o t h w o o d a n d g r o o v e d p l a s t i c .

M o d e l B - f o r r i f les w i t h U S - t y p e f l a s h h ider .

S t a m p e d m e t a l g r i p s .

M o d e l C - f o r r i f les w i t h c u r r e n t 22 mm f l a s h h ider /

g r e n a d e l a u n c h e r , ( s t a n d a r d f o r N A T O

g r e n a d e s ) . V a r i o u s a r r a n g e m e n t s o f g a s re l ie f

h o l e s a n d s l o t s h a v e b e e n m a r k e t e d i n t he

m o d e l C b a y o n e t t u b u l a r h a n d l e .

T h e b a y o n e t t y p e s a r e no t i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e .

Fig 385 Early prototype FN 49-type 'elast ique' FAL bayonets. For prototype FALs no 28 and later.

Fig 386 Skeleton drawing of the UK-des igned FN 'prong' or 'trident' bayonet. The spring act ion al lows the bayonet to move forward above 10 mm when a shot is f i red, thus reducing the ef fect on normal MPI .

Fig 387 FAL bayonets. From the left: model A with smooth wood grips, (FAL ' C a n a d a ' type); model A with grooved plast ic grips; model B (T48 type); current model C 'tubular'.

S c a b b a r d ( f igs 3 8 7 - 388)

T h e t h ree o b v i o u s d i s t i n c t i o n s a re t o f i t b a y o n e t s A ,

B a n d C . T h e y a re no t i n t e r c h a n g e a b l e . V a r i o u s

m e t h o d s o f m o u n t i n g o f t he s c a b b a r d a re a l s o

a v a i l a b l e :

T y p e A - w i t h k e e p e r t h r o u g h w e b o r l ea the r b e l t

f r o g ;

T y p e B - w i t h w i r e t h r o u g h e y e l e t s o f U S - s t y l e w e b

be l t ;

T y p e C - w i t h b u t t o n t h r o u g h w e b o r l ea the r f r o g ;

T y p e D - w e b e x t e n s i o n l o o p s o v e r b a y o n e t a n d

be l t .

Fig 388 FN FAL bayonet scabbards for current tubular model C Bayonets. Top: plast ic, to fit US-s ty le web belt. Second : steel, for web belt frog. Thi rd: plast ic, for web belt frog. Bottom: plast ic, with f ixed web frog at tached.

352 T h e F A L C h e c k L i s t

Fig 389 Evolut ion of the tubular type (model C) FAL bayonet. Top: sheathless prototype - reverses and fits over f lash hider with b lade towards firer when not in use. Double-ended lock ing system.

Centre and below: first issue model , and current issue model , with plast ic scabbard . Several dif ferent types of gas relief slots or holes have been used s ince the incept ion of this design.

B l a n k F i r i n g A d a p t e r s ( f igs 390 - 391)

Fig 390 FAL Blank Firing Adaptors (BFA) . Top: for FAL 'Canada ' type plain m u z z l e . Second : for US T48-type f lash hider. Thi rd: for early 22 mm grenade- launcher/ f lash hider. Bottom: current type.

Fig 391 Above : B F A for first German-ordered Bundes-grenzschutz FAL. Below: FN experimental B F A to shoot wooden-bul let b lanks. Made to a Swedish order.

F A L O B i p o d ( f ig 392)

Fig 392 Heavy-barre l (FALO) bipods. Above : current type with forged legs.

Centre: early issue with s tamped legs. Bottom: first experimental model .

Fig 393 FAL grenade launchers. First type, with integral, stamped-metal range sighting sca le . For E N E R G A grenades. Top: early T48 type. Second : Gewehr 1. Th i rd : later T48 type. Fourth: for p la in -muzz le FAL 'Canada ' .

G r e n a d e L a u n c h e r s ( f igs 3 9 3 , 3 9 5 , 396)

N u m e r o u s t y p e s o f g r e n a d e l a u n c h e r s w e r e

d e v e l o p e d fo r t he p l a i n m u z z l e a n d the U S - t y p e

f l a s h h ider . T h e c u r r e n t F A L i s f i t t ed w i t h a bu i l t - in

g r e n a d e l a u n c h e r - c u m - f l a s h h ider , w h i c h i s 2 2 m m

i n d i a m e t e r , e x a c t l y r igh t fo r N A T O - s t a n d a r d g r e n ­

a d e s .

Fig 394 (left) Firing a type 28R S T R I M grenade.

354 T h e F A L C h e c k L i s t

Fig 395 FAL grenade launchers with sighting sca le engraved on an inset plast ic window. (Note sample win­dow to right of centre launcher sight bracket.) For S T R I M grenades.

Fig 396 Stamped-metal grenade launcher sights for current FAL, built into gas plug. Left: for E N E R G A gren­ades. Right: for S T R I M grenade type 65AC (anti-tank). See f ig 397.

G r e n a d e s ( f igs 394 , 397)

NUMERICAL DATA

65 mm Anti-tank Grenade Type 28 R.

. Ca l ibre: 65 mm (2.56").

Overal l length: 40 cm (15.74").

Weight of e x p l o s i v e : 0.28 kg (.617 lbs) .

Total weight: 0.68 kg (1.49 lbs).

Penetration of armour plate:

A n g l e of impact 0° in relation to the normal: 280 mm (11.02").

A n g l e of impact 55° in relation to the normal: 80-100 mm (3.1-3.9").

Limit: ang les of impact of over 65°.

Initial ve loc i ty (with the L. A. R.): A p p r o x . 65 metres/sec . (213 f t / sec) .

Effective range :

- Direct fire: up to 150 metres (164 yds ) .

- C u r v e d fire under 45°: A p p r o x . 300 metres (328 yds ) .

A c c u r a c y :

- Direct fire: g r o u p i n g (H + L) of 5 g r e n a d e s is equa l to or less than 1/100th of the firing dis­tance.

- C u r v e d fire: ex treme lateral s p r e a d is equa l to or less than 1/100th of the range,- extreme r a n g e s p r e a d is equa l to or less than l/10th of the range .

Fig 397 (opposite) Current S T R I M grenade types. (Société Technique de Recherches Industrielles et Mécan­iques) made under l icense by F N . AP grenades are anti­personnel, AC types are anti-char (anti-tank).

Anti-personnel and armour-piercing Grenade Type 32 Z

Cal ibre: 40 mm (1.57").

Overal l length: 30 cm (11.8").

Total weight: 0.5 kg (1.1 lbs).

Weight of e x p l o s i v e : 80 g r a m m e s (2.8 ozs).

Initial ve loc i ty (with the L. A. R.): 70 metres /sec (230 ft/sec).

Penetration of armour plate:

A n g l e of impact 0° in relation to the normal: up to 150 mm (5.9").

A n g l e of impact 60° in relation to the normal: 40 mm (1.5").

Effective range :

- Direct fire: up to 200 metres (218 yds) .

- C u r v e d fire: under 45°, approx . 400 metres (437 yds) .

A c c u r a c y :

- Direct fire: g r o u p i n g (H + L) of 5 g r e n a d e s is equal to or less than 1/200th of the firing dist­ance up to about 150 metres = 164 yds ) .

- C u r v e d fire: ex treme lateral s p r e a d is equa l to or less than 1/200th of the r a n g e ; extreme range spread is equa l to or less than 1/50th of the range .

Efficacity or w o u n d i n g power:

- fatal splinters up to 100 metres (109 yds ) of the point of impact .

- more than 100 effective frag­ments per g r e n a d e .

356 T h e F A L C h e c k L i s t

(*) Co = ball istical coefficient a b o v e the speed of sound, calculated by the Bingen-Van V y v e method b a s e d on Dupuis' law of air resistance.

(**) M.V. = fired from 21" barrel (F.N. automatic rifle).

F N 7 .62 m m N A T O A m m u n i t i o n ( f ig 398)

358 The FAL Check List

NUMERICAL FIRING TABLE : AMMUNITION cal . 7.62 mm NATO BULLET : BALL - SS 77 and A-P BULLET P 80

Temperature : 59° F Weight of bullet SS 77 : 144 grains Barometric pressure : 1,000 millibars Weight of bullet P 80 : 150 grains

Range yds

Angle of elevation

mil

Angle of fall mil

Remaining veloci ty

ft/sec

Remaining kinetic

energy of bullet SS 77

ft. lb

Maximum

Height ft

ordinate

Horiz. dist. yds

Time of flight

sec

0 2,755 2,425 100 0.70 0 75 2,545 2,060 0 06 51 0.11 200 1.40 1.60 2,345 1,740 0 20 103 0 23

300 2.28 2 6 6 2,145 1,460 0.55 157 0.36 400 3.29 4.07 1,950 1,215 1.10 213 0 51 500 4 38 5.80 1,765 1,000 2.00 269 0 67

600 5.60 8.12 1,590 810 3 10 328 0.85 700 7.03 11.03 1,430 650 4 56 389 1 05 800 8.65 14.30 1,280 520 6 60 450 1.28

900 10.65 18.78 1,160 420 9.55 516 1.53 1,000 13 07 24.00 1,070 360 13.45 580 1.80 1,100 15.78 30 24 1,005 320 18.35 643 2 0 9

1,200 18.89 37 50 955 285 25.20 706 2.40 1,300 22.18 45.55 910 260 32.60 770 2.72 1,400 25.85 54 45 870 240 41.30 830 3.05

1,500 30.05 63.98 830 220 51.40 891 3.40 1,600 34 58 73.62 790 200 63.10 941 3.76 1,700 39.40 84.10 760 185 77.00 1,008 4.14

1,800 44.56 96.40 730 170 93.40 1,065 4.55 1,900 50 25 109 70 700 155 112.00 1,123 5.00 2,000 57.22 122.60 670 145 133.30 1,180 5.50

Notes : 1) T h e ba l l i s t i c a l coe f f i c i en t s a n d Vo of the SS 77 a n d P 80 bu l l e t s are p r a c t i c a l l y the same. 2) T h e r e m a i n i n g k i n e t i c e n e r g i e s for the P 80 b u l l e t a re v e r y c l o s e to those of the SS 77 bu l l e t , e.g.

2,530 ft. lbs at 0 y a r d a n d 150 ft. lbs at 2,000 ya rds .

Dust Cover (figs 399 - 400)

FN has developed a seal for the FAL's muzzle and

breech opening which has proved very popular in

countries whose lands include desert, where sand

and dust storms can quickly clog almost any mech­

anism.

The stamped breech cover fits over the ejec­

tion port and locks on by a turn of the round screw.

The muzzle cover turns onto the plain FAL muzzle

in a manner reminiscent of the socket bayonet at­

tachment of old. A 'flip-up' muzzle cap is provided,

like some earlier Mauser muzzle dust covers. Fig 3 9 9 FAL two-piece dust cover. Above: breech cover; below: muzzle cover. For FAL 'Canada' type plain muzzle.

Fig 400 The FAL breech dust cover installed. A very popular FN accessory in dusty or desert areas.

Fig 401 Monsieur Ernest Vervier, on the day of his retire­ment from FN, 31 August, 1973, after 48 years of service. His book is yet to be written.

FAL Tools (figs 402-406)

OREA 9 drift 1.7mm OREA 10 drift2.8mm OREA 57 drift 3.2 mm OREA 81 cleaning rod handle OREA 82 cleaning rod sections (3) OREA 83 slotted tip OREA 87 bore brush (bristle) OREA 90 bore brush (bronze) OREA 92 gas cylinder brush OREA 96 broken shell extractor tool OREA 115 extractor removal tool OREA 1104 gas block cleaning tool

OREA 28 screwdriver 7 x 0.8 mm OREA 107 gas regulator and carrying handle

screw removal tool OREA 117 screwdriver 5 x 0.8 mm OREA 131 recoil spring removal tool OREA 150 front sight adjustment tool OREA 165 telescope mounting tool OREA 2094 oil can

360 The FAL Check List

Fig 402 (above) and Fig 403 (right) FN issue FAL tools. Nomenclature on page 359.

362 Metric/Imperial Measurement Converter

Fig 406 Early-issue complete Armourer's tool roll - 25 tools.

Fig 405 An interesting trio of magazines: Cyrenacia (Libya) insisted that their FAL should resemble as much as possible the British L1A1. FN obliged. The top magazine is identical to the L1A1, with large bottom plate and front ' l ip'. Below the standard 20-round magazine is the FN 10-round drill or guard duty magazine.

Fig 404 Basic FAL tool roll - 11 tools

Part 4

Metric/Imperial Measurement Converter

Pressure To convert chamber pressure from Kg/cm 2 to psi, multiply by 14.22340. Example:

7.62 NATO chamber pressure 3600 kg/cm 2

3600 x 14.22340 = 51,204 psi

Pressure To convert chamber pressure from psi to Kg/cm 2 , multiply by 0.07031. Example:

7.62 NATO chamber pressure 51204 psi 51204 x 0.07031 = 3600 kg/cm 2

Weight To convert bullet weight (in grains) to bullet weight (grams) multiply by 0.06480. Example:

138.9 (139 gr) x 0.06480 = 9 grams Bullet weight (in grams) to bullet weight (grains) multiply by 15.4324. Example:

9 grams x 15.4324 = 138.9 (139 grains)

Velocity To convert m/sec to ft/sec multiply by 3.2808. Example:

735 m/sec x 3.2808 = 2411 ft/sec ft/sec to m/sec, multiply by 0.3048. Example:

2411 ft/sec x 0.3048 = 735 m/sec

Energy To convert kinetic energy (muzzle and recoil) from ft/lbs to Kgm multiply by 0.13825. Example:

(9mm cal, V°1225 ft/sec, bullet wt: 115 grains) muzzle energy is 383.3 ft/lbs x 0.13825 = 53 Kgm

Kinetic energy (muzzle and recoil) from Kgm to ft/lbs multiply by 7.23327. Example:

(9mm cal, V°373 m/sec, bullet wt: 7.45 grams) muzzle energy is 53 Kgm x 7.23327 = 383.3 ft/lbs

• Kgm = kilogram/meter • in order to get the value in 'joules' multiply Kgm x

9.80665 • in the above example, 53 Kgm is equal to 520

Joules (53 Kgm x 9.80665 = 519.75)