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Vektor Rifle R1

1960 COLD WAR MODERN

History of the R1 Vector Rifle

In need of a modern service automatic rifle, the South African government tested the American AR-10 rifle, the West German G3 rifle and the Belgian FN FAL battle rifle and determined that the FN FAL would best suit the needs of the South African Defence Force. Thus, in the mid-1950s a local Manufacturing facility to produce licensed Belgian products. As a result (with British support) Lyttleton Engineering Works (now Denel Land Systems) was established and the manufacture of the FN FAL began under the designation "Rifle R1".

The rifle was officially adopted in 1960.

The R1 is essentially a South African copy of the Belgian battle rifle design, including overall dimensions, construction methods and performance specifications. It proved to be a formidable weapon in the jungle warfare it called for, and was just as reliable and popular as its foreign counterparts.

After the FN FAL to the tee, the R1 is also equipped with a large and powerful 7.62x51mm NATO standard cartridge, giving it good accuracy and range penetration. The firing action remains the widely accepted pneumatic, oblique destruction system, and the R1, like the FN FAL, is fired from a 20-round straight, detachable magazine. Aiming is carried out with an aperture sight and a 600 yard front post sight.

About 30,000 South African R1 rifles were also shipped to Rhodesia.

Over time, the production and operational use of the R1 expanded significantly to the point that the rifle lineup included a variety of other useful camouflages. While the line already included the basic R1 service rifle, the "R2" was soon introduced with a folding stock for a more compact offering.

It was followed by the "R3" with its semi-automatic pure fire mode (for law enforcement and security forces), the "R1HB" with its heavy barrel and bipod for class firefighting roles, and the "R1 Sniper" with its precise company Firearm system, and the "R1 Para Carbine" with integrated infrared sight, shortened barrel and more compact length.

The 1975 "R4", while using the same naming pattern as the previous R1, was based on the Israeli Galil assault rifle, and the "R5" was a shortened carbine version of the model.