F1 submachine gun
Submachine gun / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The F1 is a 9x19mm Australian submachine gun manufactured by the Lithgow Small Arms Factory.[2] First issued to Australian troops in July 1963, it replaced the Owen machine carbine.
F1 | |
---|---|
Type | Submachine gun |
Place of origin | Australia |
Service history | |
In service | 1963–1991 |
Used by | See Users |
Wars | Vietnam War Sino-Vietnamese War[1] |
Production history | |
Designed | 1962 |
Manufacturer | Lithgow Small Arms Factory |
Produced | 1963–1973 |
No. built | 25,136 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 3.7 kg (Empty) 4.30 kg (Loaded) |
Length | 714 mm |
Barrel length | 198 mm |
Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum |
Caliber | 9 mm |
Action | Blowback, Open bolt |
Rate of fire | 600–640 rounds/min |
Effective firing range | 150 m |
Maximum firing range | 100–200 m |
Feed system | 34-round Sterling SMG compatible box magazine |
Sights | Offset iron sights |
Like the Owen, the F1 had a distinctive top mounted magazine. It had a robust and simple design, but "never gained popularity with those using it"[3] and in Vietnam it was later largely replaced by the American 5.56mm M16A1 rifle. The F1 was retired in the early 1990s and replaced by the F88C Austeyr, an Australian-built version of the Steyr AUG rifle.
Some 25,000 were produced by Lithgow from 1962–73. While the F1 is no longer used by Australia, a shipment of F1s was also donated to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary by Australia.[4]