The Fabrique Nationale Fusil Automatique Leger (Light Automatic Rifle), commonly known as the FN FAL, has a storied history.
It all started in 1946 when FN and Great Britain created a piston-operated prototype rifle that utilized the German intermediate 7.92x33mm cartridge. This new round was the first attempt at a cartridge that could do the job of both the short-range submachine gun and the longer-range rifle. Proof of this came from the world’s first true assault rifle, the Sturmgewehr 44, which was used to great effect during the closing months of World War II.
Despite the potential, though, both FN and the British decided to go with an indigenous creation based on the 7.92 called the 7x33mm, or .280 caliber intermediate round. This round remained within the realm of the assault rifle cartridge. Numerous rifle prototypes were created and, just as with the German round, testing showed great promise, and all predicted it would be adopted.
That is, until the Americans got involved and wielded their influence.
The Influence of NATO and the US
In the late 1940s, NATO’s push for standardization centered on finding a common cartridge rather than a rifle design. Advances in gunpowder led Colonel Rene Studler of the US Army to propose a shortened .30-06 case firing the same bullet as the original. This new round, the 7.62x51mm or .308 Winchester, was intended for full-power use and was a key component of the new US weapon prototype, the T25.
In 1950, the T25 was tested against the prototype FAL and a British EM-2 bullpup design, both using the .280 caliber round. The US insisted on converting both weapons to the new .30 caliber round. FN complied and even offered the US a royalty-free deal to build the FAL with Studler’s cartridge. The British, however, continued with the EM-2 in .280 caliber.
A conversation between President Harry Truman and Prime Minister Winston Churchill reportedly influenced the final decision. The US promised to adopt the FAL if the British accepted the 7.62x51mm round. Britain agreed, adopting both the round and the FAL. The US, however, continued to develop the T25, eventually producing it as the M-14 in 1959. By then, the FAL had been in production for five years and was gaining popularity worldwide.
Global Impact and Variants
Britain was among the first to produce the FAL, designating it the L1A1 self-loading rifle. Many NATO countries followed, creating inch and metric variants. The FAL quickly proved its worth, especially during the British campaign against communist insurgents in Malaysia in the late 1950s. Its US counterpart, the M-14, soon faced competition from the newer M-16.
Throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, the FAL became a symbol of freedom, countering the Soviet AK-47 in numerous proxy wars. It even saw action on both sides during the 1982 Falklands War, equipping both British and Argentine forces. At its peak, the FAL was used by over 90 countries.
The FN FAL evolved to meet various demands, with variants featuring folding stocks for paratroopers, heavy barrels for squad automatic weapons, and short barrels for commando roles. Its 20-round magazine and accuracy gave it an edge over the AK-47, particularly in longer-range engagements.
Brazilian troops armed with FN FAL rifles. (Wikimedia Commons)
Decline and Legacy
By the 1990s, the trend shifted towards smaller 5.56mm rounds, leading to the decline of the FN FAL. Great Britain, one of its staunchest supporters, phased it out in 1986. Attempts to convert the FAL to .223 caliber, known as the CAL, were unsuccessful. Today, only a few countries, primarily in the developing world, still use the FN FAL.
Affectionately known as ‘The Right Arm of the Free World,’ the FN FAL holds a place of honor as one of the greatest battle rifles of the Cold War era. While not an assault rifle, it marked the end of the great battle rifles, continuing a lineage that spans centuries. The FN FAL’s impact on military history remains significant, showcasing the innovation and adaptability of its time.
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