History of creation
WW2 showed the advantages of automatic weapons and its end, was marked by the growth of the creation of various types of automatic weapons. In mid-1945, the main armament of British infantry units was the SMLE No.4 Mk.1 non-self-loading magazine rifle, as well as several modifications of the STEN submachine gun. Using the experience of German designers, who managed to develop quite good samples of automatic personal weapons, which were successfully used during WW2, chambered for 7.92x33-mm, British designers began their own development of a single weapon to replace rifles and submachine guns in service. To create such a weapon, an ammunition was needed that had an intermediate power between the ammunition of a rifle and a submachine gun. The cartridge was developed pretty quickly. By the end of 45, the.280 British intermediate ammunition was ready for production. The bullet of the cartridge is made with a pointed caliber of 7 mm, the sleeve had a bottle shape, without rims, 43 mm long.
Tests showed an initial speed of 745 m / s with a bullet weight of 9 grams. Under the ammunition, design work began on the creation of an assault rifle. The rifles under development were named EM-1 and EM-2. Both automatic rifles, as part of the program to create a single weapon, were created at the Royal plant in Anfield Lock. The Canadians and Belgians showed interest in ammunition for the new assault rifle. The Belgians also created several prototypes of the FN automatic rifle chambered for this cartridge. The leadership on the creation of the British AV was carried out by Lieutenant Colonel E. Kent-Lemon, chief designer of the projects S. Jason. The test results are recognized as successful, and the machine gun of the EM-2 project with a new cartridge in 51 was adopted by the British Army. Receives the official name - automatic rifle No. 9 Mk.1 7-mm caliber. But the new government, which led England in 51, almost immediately abandoned its own machine guns and cartridges, in connection with the emerging desire to have weapons under the American patron. This cartridge is now known to everyone as the NATO model cartridge 7.62x51 mm. Due to the high costs of modifying their own automatic rifle # 9 Mk.1 7-mm caliber, the British are adopting the Belgian automatic rifle "FN FAL".
The Belgians were able to easily convert their rifle to the American cartridge. The British copy of "FN FAL" is named "L1 SLR". It took the British almost 30 years to return to the ideas of creating their own machine gun under their own patron. The story of a rather successful model AB ended before it began in 51. Excellent combat characteristics, easy handling, unpretentious use and high ballistic performance of the ammunition were ruined by political decisions, which quite often happens with good examples of any inventions.
The device and principle of operation of the AB caliber 7 mm
Rifle # 9 Mk.1 of the Enfield EM-2 model was created according to the "bullpup" layout. Automation is based on the operation of a gas-operated engine with a long piston stroke. The piston and gas chamber are located above the barrel. The shutter has a cylindrical shape. Locking takes place by spreading 2 symmetrical lugs, made on the sides of the bolt, to the sides, behind the slots in the wall of the barrel box. The locking knot is similar to the knot of the German "Gew.43", or on the contrary, the knot of the domestic DP-27. After the shot is fired, the powder gases squeeze the gas piston into the rear position, thereby compressing the return stroke spring. The shutter is at first in a stationary and locked state, backward movement is produced only by the trigger, or rather its body. Moving back, the body removes the lugs to their original position, back to the bolt, which unlocks the bolt, and it begins its movement back. The firing of a shot begins with a closed bolt. USM - striker type, together with a sear and a combat coil spring are located in the same body inside the bolt. They have reliable protection against contamination. The protrusion of the sear of the trigger type, through the window in the shutter, protrudes downward, and when the shutter is locked, interacts with the release lever, which is associated with the trigger. The bolt handle for cocking is made to the right, on the rod from the gas piston in its head. The safety lock for the manual transfer is made in the head of the trigger guard, the fire translator (single fire / fire in bursts) is made as a transverse button and is located above the pistol grip. The forend with a pistol grip is completely wooden. Aiming devices consist of a telescopic sight, which is mounted on an integral type handle, and redundant folding front sight and rear sight. The sight has a reticle with marks that allow you to make corrections when firing at different distances. The automatic rifle has sling swivels for the belt. The provision of a rifle with a bayonet is not provided.
Main characteristics:
- weight 3.4 kilograms;
- length 89 centimeters;
- barrel length 62.3 cm;
- rate of fire up to 600 rds / min;
- aiming range up to 650 meters;
- ammunition - a box-type magazine for 20 ammunition.
