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FN FAL
The FN FAL is a Belgian combat rifle developed by Fabrique Nationale (FN) in the early 1950s and became one of the most widely used small arms of the 20th century. It uses a powerful 7.62×51 mm NATO cartridge, which provides high accuracy and an effective firing range of up to 600 meters. The FN FAL operates on the basis of short-stroke exhaust automation, which makes it reliable in various operating conditions. The rifle is equipped with a 20-round magazine and has the ability to conduct both single and automatic fire (although in some versions there is no automatic mode). Due to its modular design, the FN FAL was available in various versions: with a fixed or folding stock, different barrel lengths and versions for specific army requirements. She received the nickname "The Right Arm of the Free World", as she was in service with more than 90 countries, including the United Kingdom (under the name L1A1), Canada, Australia and many countries in Latin America and Africa. The FN FAL has been actively used in numerous conflicts, including the Suez crisis, the Falklands War, and the civil wars in Africa, demonstrating high reliability even in harsh conditions. The rifle features a sturdy construction with a wooden or plastic butt, as well as comfortable ergonomics, which has made it popular among soldiers. Despite the gradual replacement with more modern designs for smaller caliber cartridges (for example, 5.56×45 mm), the FN FAL is still used in some countries and is appreciated by collectors.
Photos of the constructors:
Main Features:
Caliber: 7.62×51 mm NATO
Barrel length: 533 mm
Total length: 1090 mm
Weight (without cartridges): 4.25–4.45 kg
Magazine capacity: 20 or 30 rounds
Rate of fire: 650-700 rounds/min
Aiming range: 600 m (effective)
Muzzle velocity: 840 m/s
Type of automation: Discharge of powder gases, misalignment of the shutter
Fire modes: Single/Automatic (for modifications)
Other features:
Powerful cartridge: the use of 7.62×51 mm NATO ensured high penetration, efficiency at medium ranges, as well as compatibility with NATO machine guns
Modular design: Adjustable gas piston and the possibility of installing optics, an under-barrel grenade launcher, bipods
Variants:
Para – folding stock for paratroopers
Heavy Barrel – reinforced barrel for support
G1/L1A1 – semi-automatic versions
Produced: more than 7-8 million copies. If we take into account all licensed copies and "clones" (like Indian INSAS), the figure may be close to 10 million.
Advantages:
High accuracy and power of the 7.62×51 mm cartridge.
Versatility (suitable for both infantry and sniper shooting).
Due to licensed production (for example, British L1A1, German G1, Canadian C1), ammunition and spare parts are available in many countries.
Long service life and maintainability.
Disadvantages:
High mass compared to other rifles under 5.56×45 mm NATO.
Although the FN FAL is reliable, it is inferior to the AK-47 in survivability in extreme conditions (for example, the Vietnamese jungle).
In automatic mode, recoil is difficult to control (due to the powerful cartridge).
Some versions (especially those with a fixed fire mode) are less flexible in combat.
Interesting facts:
The FN FAL was developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s as a response to the Soviet AK-47. However, unlike the AK, it used a more powerful 7.62×51 mm NATO cartridge, which made it more accurate but more difficult to control when firing automatically.
In South Africa, the R1 Sniper with an optical sight was created on the basis of the FAL, which was used until the 1990s
. During the Falklands War in 1982, the British with a semi-automatic L1A1 faced the Argentines, who had an automatic FAL. Despite this, the British won thanks to their better training.
The FAL did not like dirt and moisture – in Vietnam and Africa, it often jammed, unlike the "unkillable" AK-47.
Despite the transition of NATO to 5.56×45 mm (M16, FN SCAR), the FAL is still used in Brazil, Africa and Latin America.
Photo:
Eastern Caribbean peacekeepers armed with FN FAL in Grenada
Australians with FN FAL in Vietnam, 1966
Nigerian c FN FAL peacekeepers in Somalia, 1993
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