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FN FALO


Commonwealth: L2A1


Overview

FN FALO 50.41

Right side view of FN FALO 50.41 light machine gun with bipod in stowed position.
Source: Unknown author - © Copyright lies with original owner

Origin
Belgium
Type
Light machine gun
Entered service
Mid 1950's
Status
Limited service
Development
Early 1950's
Developer
Belgium - Fabrique Nationale
Dieudonné Saive & Ernest Vervier
Production
1950's - ?
Producer
Belgium - Fabrique Nationale
Australia - Lithgow
Canada - Canadian Arsenals Limited
Designations
FALO / Fusil Automatic Lourde
French for "heavy automatic rifle"
Fusil Automatico Pesado / FAP
C2 (Canadian FALO designation)
Makleon (Israeli FALO nickname)

Description

Introduction

The FALO is an early Cold War era light machine gun of Belgian origin. The role of the FALO is to provide a squad with automatic rifle fire capability, while being more portable than a medium machine gun. Whereas the regular FAL battle rifle was designated a lightweight automatic rifle, the FALO was the heavyweight counterpart.

Design

The FALO is similar to the FAL battle rifle, but has a heavier barrel and comes equipped with a bipod. It retains the short stroke gas operated firing mechanism. The Belgian model comes with shorter handguard for improved cooling. The Commonwealth model has no handguard, but wooden strips on the bipod act as handguard when the bipod is in stowed position. Since the FALO has a heavy barrel and is equipped with a bipod several nations used it as the basis for a marksman rifle. FALO with good groupings would be selected for modification to accept magnified optics.

Firepower

The FALO fires the 7.62x51mm round from the same 20 round magazines as used with the FAL. In Commonwealth nations the FALO was often issued with 30 round magazines instead of 20 round ones. The FALO has a cyclic rate of fire of about 700 rpm. In Commonwealth service the FALO was found to be less capable than the older Bren it replaced. While more portable, the FALO proved less controllable and less reliable.

Users

The FALO was adopted by many nations that have adopted the FAL battle rifle or its Commonwealth L1A1 counterpart. Many Commonwealth nations issued semi-automatic variants of the FAL to moderate ammunition consumption, with the FALO being the only automatic rifle in the squad. However, some nations found its ability as a machine gun lacking, and opted to issue the heavier and far more capable FN MAG instead.

Variants

Canadian C2

Canadian soldier with C2 light machine gun. Note the exposed barrel and bipod with wooden grips.
Source: US Army - © Public domain

FALO 50.41
Variant of the FALO with fixed synthetic stock, while the short handguard is still made of wood.
FALO 50.42
Variant of the FALO with fixed wooden stock. The wooden stock is heavier than the version with synthetic stock. This makes this variant less portable, but more controllable in automatic fire.
L2A1
Commonwealth modified production model of the FALO. Issued with 30 round magazines and heavier bipod. Wooden panels on the bipod act as forearm when the bipod is stowed. Otherwise, the full length of the barrel is exposed to improved cooling. About 10.000 produced.

Details

Facts FALO 50.41 FALO 50.42 L2A1
General
Origin
Belgium
Type
Light machine gun
Caliber
Caliber
7.62x51mm NATO
Feed system
20 round detachable box magazine
30 round magazine available
Barrel length
533 mm
Rifling
4 grooves, right hand twist
Muzzle velocity
840 m/s
Operation
Action
Gas operated, short stroke gas piston
Locking
Tilting bolt
Fire selector
0 - 1 - F
Rate of fire
650 - 700 rpm
Dimensions
Stock type
Fixed synthetic stock
Length
1.125 mm
Weight
5.10 kg
Sights
Mechanical
Iron sights, post front and aperture rear
Range adjustment
200 - 600 m with 100 m increments
Sight radius
553 mm
Accessories
Bipod
Yes, fixed foldable bipod

Media

Related articles

FN FAL

The FALO is a light machine gun variant of the FAL. Both weapons are very similar, with the FALO having a heavier barrel and bipod.

Read more about FN FAL