FM Rosario FAL (FSL Series)

Notes: The Argentines make several models of the FAL under a license from Belgium’s FN to the Argentine company of FMAP in Rosario; they are collectively known as the FSL series (Fusil Semiautomatico Livano), though several of them are in fact automatic weapons. Argentine versions tend to have slightly different parts measurements than Belgian-made FALs due to local manufacturing methods; therefore, most parts of the FSL series are not interchangeable with more standard FALs.

The Fusil Automatico Liviano Modelo IV (FALM IV) is an Argentine-made copy of the Belgian FAL Model 50-00. It is virtually identical to the FAL, but is heavier and has a more substantial muzzle brake. The Fusil Automatico Liviano Modelo Para III (FALMP III) is virtually identical to the FAL 50-64, but again is longer and heavier, with a longer muzzle brake. The FALMP III has also been modified into further versions, one firing 5.56mm NATO ammunition (a weapon that saw only limited production), and a training rifle chambered for .22 Long Rifle ammunition. The Fusil Automatico Pesado Modelo II (FAPM II) is a heavy barreled rifle with a bipod, similar to the FAL 50-41. The Fusil Semiautomatico Liviano (FSL) is a semiautomatic-only FALM IV for police and security use; a 5.56mm NATO version also exists of the police version of the FSL. The FSP (I can’t find out what the "P" stands for in this case) is a sniper version of the FSL; it has a longer, heavier barrel, a mount for optical sights or night vision equipment, and a stock with an adjustable length and cheekpiece. The cost of the FSP includes a scope. The FAL Command is a FALMP III with a cut-down barrel, shorter handguards, and a total length 210mm shorter. It is designed as a heavy close-quarters battle weapon.

Another version of the FALM IV was also built. Confusingly, it was also designated the FSL, but is also known as the FALM IV 5.56mm and FSL 5.56mm. (I have called it by the two versions of the rifle below). This version of the FALM IV was built because while the Argentine Army hoped to quickly replace most of the FSL series with the new 5.56mm NATO-firing FARA-83, but budgetary reasons have delayed the progress of manufacture and issue of the FARA-83 considerably. As a stopgap, FMAP rechambered the FALM IV for 5.56mm. The barrel, bolt, sights, and feed system were modified, and the magazines used are those designed for the FARA-83. Two versions are made, the standard Infantry (Infanteria) version and the Paratroop (Paracudista) versions; both use solid plastic folding stocks, but otherwise look almost identical to a standard FALM IV. The barrel of the Infantry model is 21 inches and is tipped with a FARA-83-type flash suppressor; the barrel of the Paratrooper model is 18.05 inches long and is tipped with a muzzle brake.

Twilight 2000 Notes: At the time of the Twilight War, the FAL series was still the primary rifle of the Argentine military. Of these, the FAML IV was the most common, with the folding-stock FALMP III being second. The training versions of the FALMP III and the FSL (in .22 Long Rifle) were often handed out to civilian militia units hunters hired by the government to kill pests or hunt small game.

Merc 2000 Notes: Due to budgetary problems, the FARA-83 that was intended to replace the FSL series in Argentine service was never acquired by the Argentine military in great numbers. Thus, the FSL series soldiered on.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

FALM IV/FSL (Police)

7.62mm NATO

4.6 kg

20

$1084

FALMP III

7.62mm NATO

4.25 kg

20

$1104

FALMP III

5.56mm NATO

3.81 kg

20

$680

FALMP III

.22 Long Rifle

3.28 kg

20

$340

FAPM II

7.62mm NATO

6.45 kg

20

$1596

FSL (Police)

5.56mm NATO

3.99 kg

20

$660

FSL

.22 Long Rifle

3.45 kg

20

$320

FSL Infanteria

5.56mm NATO

4.35 kg

30

$634

FSL Paracudista

5.56mm NATO

4.2 kg

30

$648

FSP

7.62mm NATO

6.65 kg

20

$1803

FAL Command

7.62mm NAYO

3.93 kg

20

$1041

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

FALM IV

5

4

2-3-Nil

7

3

7

67

FALMP III (7.62mm)

5

4

2-3-Nil

5/7

3

8

67

FALMP III (5.56mm)

5

3

1-Nil

5/7

2

5

60

FALMP III (.22)

5

-1

Nil

5/7

1

1

43

FAPM II

5

4

2-3-Nil

7

3

7

69

(With Bipod)

5

4

2-3-Nil

7

1

3

90

FSL (Police, 7.62mm)

SA

4

2-3-Nil

7

3

Nil

67

FSL (Police, 5.56mm)

SA

3

1-Nil

7

2

Nil

60

FSL (.22)

SA

-1

Nil

7

1

Nil

43

FSL Infanteria

5

3

1-Nil

5/7

2

5

59

FSL Paracudista

5

3

1-Nil

5/6

2

4

48

FSP

SA

4

2-3-Nil

7

3

Nil

70

(With Bipod)

SA

4

2-3-Nil

7

1

Nil

91

FAL Command

5

4

2-3-Nil

4/5

3

8

39

FMA Modele 1891

Notes: The FMA Modele 1891 (Fusil Mauser Argentino) Is basically a Turkish Mauser M-1890 modified for use by Argentine forces. Virtually all of these rifles were not actually built or modified for Argentine use in Argentina; instead, they were made and the modifications done by Loewe of Germany (and to a limited extent, DWM), and then passed on to Argentina.

The changes made include a rotating lock-bolt to better retain the internal magazine, guide ribs added to the bolt-sleeve, and handguard extended forward to the barrel band (in other words, the problems the Turkish troops were complaining about in their rifles were fixed). The rear sight also has a small leaf sight in addition to a large one, for short-range and long-range shooting. The FMA Modele 1891 rifles were also modified to fire pointed "spitzer" type bullets instead of the Turkish round-tipped bullets (along with an alteration in the sights to accommodate the greater effective range with the spitzer bullets). The barrel is 29.15 inches, and under the barrel is a lug for the Modele 1891 sword-type bayonet.

The CMA Modele 1891 (Carabina Mauser Argentina) was introduced in 1893 for use by the cavalry and artillery. It is shorter, with a stock that extends all the way to the muzzle (a so-called "Mannlicher-type" stock). The bolt handle is turned down against the stock to prevent snagging, when used by cavalry. While FMA Mo. 1891s did not have provisions for a sling, CMA Mo. 1891s did. Sights were adjusted to the shorter effective range produced by the shorter 17.65-inch barrel. Though Argentina ordered some 30,000 CMA Mo. 1891s from Loewe, it apparently took many years before deliveries of this cavalry version even began, as the rifle version was given a far greater priority. Originally, the CMA Mo. 1891 had no provision for a bayonet, but this capability was added to most of them in the mid-1920s.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

FMA Mo. 1891

7.65mm Mauser

3.99 kg

5 Internal

$1573

CMA Mo. 1891

7.65mm Mauser

3.29 kg

5 Internal

$1456

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

FMA Mo. 1891

BA

4

2-3-Nil

8

4

Nil

114

CMA Mo. 1891

BA

4

2-3-Nil

6

5

Nil

57

FMA Modele 1909

Notes: The FMA Modele 1909 was basically a German 1898-type Mauser built to Argentine specifications. Differences were minor; the FMA Mo. 1909 used a tangent-leaf sight and a hinged-floor magazine, and the caliber was the standard (for Argentina at the time) 7.65mm Mauser. Barrel length was 29 inches. First deliveries of the FMA Mo. 1909 were accompanied by German-style epee-type bayonets, but these proved to be too fragile, and most of these rifles were fitted with adapters for the Model 1891 sword-type bayonet. The first batch of these rifles were built by Mauser in Germany, but the majority were license-produced in Argentina.

Three further versions were built: the CMA Mo. 1909, a cavalry carbine along the same vein as the CMA Mo. 1891 and using a 21.5-inch barrel; the CMAM Mo. 1909 Mountain Carbine, used by mountain troops and engineers, with a 21.25-inch barrel and continuing in production until 1959; and the SMA Mo. 1909 sniper rifle, which is basically an FMA Mo. 1909 built to more exacting standards and equipped with a 4x telescopic sight and a down-turned bolt handle; most of the telescopic sights for the SMA Mo. 1909 were actually made in Germany.

About 85,000 of all these rifles were built in Argentina alone, plus an unknown number in Germany; they can therefore still be found in Argentina in fair numbers.

Weapon

Ammunition

Weight

Magazines

Price

FMA Mo. 1909

7.65mm Mauser

4.07 kg

5 Clip

$1573

CMA Mo. 1909

7.65mm Mauser

3.86 kg

5 Clip

$1496

CMAM Mo. 1909

7.65mm Mauser

3.8 kg

5 Clip

$1484

SMA Mo. 1909

7.65mm Mauser

4.17 kg

5 Clip

$1780

Weapon

ROF

Damage

Pen

Bulk

SS

Burst

Range

FMA Mo. 1909

BA

4

2-3-Nil

8

4

Nil

114

CMA Mo. 1909

BA

4

2-3-Nil

7

4

Nil

77

CMAM Mo. 1909

BA

4

2-3-Nil

7

4

Nil

71

SMA Mo. 1909

BA

4

2-3-Nil

8

4

Nil

117