Page 394 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

392 ASSAULT RIFLES

GE 1945–PRESENT After World War II, there was a demand for infantrymen to be

equipped with fully automatic rifles, but the full-powered rifle cartridge
was too powerful for accurate automatic fire. The solution lay in the
intermediate cartridge that had been pioneered in the German StG44,
a development followed by the widespread reduction in caliber sizes
that led to the NATO 5.56 × 45mm cartridge replacing the heavier
7.62 × 51mm equivalent. The resulting weapon—the assault rifle—

“bullpup” design in which the trigger group was fitted forward of
butt stock
the magazine, making the rifle more compact.
A was further adapted to incorporate other new ideas, among them the Sling swivel In-line plastic
THE NUCLEAR ▲ FN FAL PROTOTYPE The FAL was originally developed Rear sight ▲ M16A1 ASSAULT RIFLE

Muzzle brake

Date 1967
Origin US
Weight 8lb (3.64kg)
Date 1950
intermediate cartridge, although
Origin Belgium
it went on to become a major
Caliber 5.56 × 45mm
1
Weight 9 ⁄4lb (4.2kg) with the German 7.92 × 33mm Fire selector Barrel 20in (50.8cm)
export success (the basis for the
Barrel 23 ⁄2in (60cm) British SLR) when rechambered Introduced in the Vietnam War,
1
for the 7.62 × 51mm NATO round. the M16 series has developed into
Caliber .280 one of the world’s key small arms.
Rear sight This example is fitted with an
M203 grenade launcher.

30-round
detachable
magazine

▲ AK47 TYPE 56S The most famous assault rifle in
Date 1957 the world, the AK47 has under-
gone a number of changes over
Origin China
the years and has been widely
1
Weight 11 ⁄4lb (5.13kg) copied. This Type 56S civilian Stamped
Barrel 16 ⁄4in (41.4cm) variant was made in China. steel body
1
Caliber 7.62 × 39mm Shrouded
rear sight
30-round detachable
box magazine

▲ STONER 63 Designed as a modular
Date 1963 firearm, the Stoner 63 can Butt stock
be assembled to produce
Origin US
different variants that include
3
Weight 7 ⁄4lb (3.52kg) a carbine, assault rifle (shown
Barrel 20in (50.8cm) here), and several machine- 30-round
gun configurations. detachable Cocking handle
Caliber 5.56 × 45mm
box magazine
▶ GALIL The Galil is based on the
Date 1972 Finnish Valmet M62, itself
derived from the AK47. The
Origin Israel Galil comes in a number of
Weight 8 ⁄4lb (3.95kg) variants that include a standard 35-round
3
Barrel 18in (46cm) assault rifle, light machine- Tubular butt stock detachable magazine
gun, and sharpshooter rifle.
Caliber 5.56 × 45mm folds to the right