24 July 2017

NATO Rifles

Everybody knows that when the NATO nations standardized on 7.62x51mm; everyone (except the US) picked either the FAL or G3... well mostly.

Belgium, Fabric National (FN) FAL.

Canada, Canadian Aresenals Ltd. C1A1, an inch version of the FAL.

Denmark, H&K Gv M/66 and M/75.  G3A3's made for or leased to, respectively, the Danish Army.

France, Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne MAS-49, in 7.5x55mm because De Gaulle was a staunch advocate of being a NATO member and ensuring equipment interchange, especially ammo... oh wait...

Greece, first the FN FAL, then the H&K G3A3.

Iceland, no army.

Italy, Beretta BM-59, a derivative of the M1 Garand using a detachable 20-round magazine.

Luxembourg, FN FAL.

Netherlands, FN FAL.

Norway, Kongsberg-Våpenfabrikk AG-3.  G3A3's made locally.

Portugal, both!  Fábrica de Braço de Prata m/961, a G3A3; FN m/962, an FAL; and Artillerie Inrichtingen AR-10.

Spain, Centro de Estudios Tecnicos de Materiales Especiales (CETME) Model 58, definitely NOT a G3.  Or designed by Nazis.  No Nazis here.  REALLY!  Why doesn't anyone believe us?  Look in Argentina!

Turkey, FN G1, an FAL; and Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu (MKEK) G3A7 (G3A3 under license).

United Kingdom, Royal Small Arms Factory L1A1, a different inch version of the FAL.

United States, Springfield National Armory M14, a derivative of the M1 Garand using a detachable
20-round magazine (but totally different from the BM-59).

West Germany, they tried to do the FAL (as the G1) and SIG SG 510 (as the G2) but settled on a local design imported from Spain, the H&K G3.

Of the 16 15 14 NATO nations who adopted a 7.62x51mm battle rifle:

8 adopted the FAL and issued it.  1 never issued it.  2 made their own version.  2 later adopted the G3.

6 adopted the G3.

3 developed their own gun altogether; one of which was further developed into the the G3!

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