L2A1 Heavy Barrel Automatic Rifle
Lithgow Small Arms Factory · Battle Rifle · Out Of Production · 1962
Also known as: L2A1, Heavy Barrel FAL, FN FALO Inch Pattern, Australian SAW FAL
Overview
The L2A1 Heavy Barrel Automatic Rifle was the Commonwealth's heavy-barrel, full-automatic FAL variant intended to serve as a squad automatic weapon (SAW) alongside the semi-auto L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle. Distinguished by a 21-inch heavy profile barrel, a unique folding bipod that doubled as wooden-paneled handguards, a tangent rear sight (Canadian-derived), and a 30-round box magazine, the L2A1 was issued at the section level in Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian (as C2A1) infantry units throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In practice the design suffered from chronic reliability issues - most notably a tendency to fail-to-feed after the first two rounds in full-auto from a full magazine, plus rapid barrel overheating - that prevented it from credibly competing with the belt-fed M60 or FN MAG that ultimately replaced it in the SAW role.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 6280 g (221.5 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 7000 g (246.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1143 mm (45.00") |
| Barrel Length | 533 mm (20.98") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 823 m/s (2700 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3215 J (2371 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 3000 m (3281 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 700 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 305 mm (12.01") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 7.62x51mm NATO · primary · 7.62x51mm NATO — also known as .308 Winchester, 7.62mm NATO, 7.62x51mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Select Fire Lever
- Features: Heavy Barrel, Folding Bipod Handguard, Wooden Panel Handguards, Select Fire, Tangent Rear Sight, Squared Front Sight, No Bolt Hold Open, 30 Round Magazine
Variants
- C2A1 (Canadian Light Machine Gun) — Licensed Production
- FN FAL 50.41 FALO — Metric Heavy Barrel
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Australian Army · adopted 1962 · as L2A1
- New Zealand Army · as L2A1
- Canadian Armed Forces · adopted 1958 · as C2A1
- Indian Armed Forces
- Singapore Armed Forces
Conflicts
- Vietnam War (1962-1973)
- Borneo Confrontation (1963-1966)
Production
Estimated total produced: 9,557 · Production years: 1962-1972
Approximately 9,557 produced at Lithgow Australia. Smaller batches built in Canada (C2A1) and the United Kingdom.
Origin
Country of origin: Australia
Designer: Dieudonné Saive
Discontinued: 1985
Notes
Lithgow produced approximately 9,557 L2A1 rifles. Lacks the automatic bolt hold-open of the FN FALO 50.41, a deliberate choice to keep the action closed against contamination. Doctrinally used in semi-auto most of the time; the heavy barrel and bipod allowed greater sustained fire than the standard L1A1.
Background
The L2A1's distinctive bipod-handguards earned it the nickname 'wooden ironclad' among Australian troops; the design was a clever space-saving idea that kept the bipod permanently mounted yet protected the shooter's hands - but the trade-off was a wood furniture assembly that charred in extended firing schools and had to be replaced regularly.