Fabrique Nationale FN M1930 (BAR)

History

The Browning automatic rifle (BAR) was developed during World War I to replace the French Chauchat and Hotchkiss M1909 Benet-Mercie Light machine guns. Design work began in 1917, and it entered circulation in 1918. The BAR was designed to provide infantrymen with a portable automatic weapon suitable for trench warfare. Around 100,000 BARs were produced by various manufacturers from 1917 to the 1950s, and it saw use in multiple conflicts such as World War II, the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Palestinian civil war of 2006-2011.

The Colt Patent Firearms Mfg Company introduced the BAR to the civilian market as the "Automatic Machine Gun" Model 1919 (AMR M1919) and later released upgraded versions in 1924 and 1925. The 1925 variant served as the basis for the Belgian FN Mle 1930, which incorporated modifications to meet the requirements of the Belgian Army, including an improved magazine case, sturdy barrel assembly, carrying handle, gas cylinder adjuster, ejector cap, and folding bipod. The Belgian version featured a ribbed barrel section to counteract heat build-up during sustained firing.

The FN Mle 1930 primarily used the standard Belgian 7.65mm cartridge but eventually accommodated other rounds as well. It found buyers in countries like China, Poland, and Chile. The Mle 1930 was later modernized as the "Mle Model D" in 1932, featuring a "quick change" barrel and a simplified receiver, before being chambered in the larger 7.92x57mm Belgian Mauser cartridge. Postwar adaptations allowed it to use the .30-06 Springfield and NATO standard 7.62x51mm cartridges.

However, the Mle 1930 retained the limitations of the original 1918 American BAR design, including its relatively expensive production and tactical constraints imposed by its 20-round magazine capacity. By the 1960s and 1970s, more advanced options emerged, leading to the retirement of the Belgian BAR.

Specification

Foundation

• Year of Service: 1930

• Origins: Belgium

• Categories: Light Machine Gun (LMG)

Manufacturer

Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre, Herstal - Belgium

Carrier

Belgium; Chile; China; Poland; Sweden

ROLES

• Auto function: Has mechanical features to automate the firing process.

• Fire Support: Ability to suppress enemy elements at a distance using direct or indirect fire.

Dimensions and Weight

• Overall Length: 1,143 mm

• Barrel length: 508mm

• Cured weight: 19.84 lbs (9.00 kg)

Action

Gas Power: Proposes a pneumatic system that typically consists of a cylinder and a rear drive piston that directs power to the bolt assembly.

Cartridges and Paper Feeds

• Caliber: 7. 65x53mm Belgian Mauser

• Magazine: Detachable 20-round magazine

POWER

• Maximum efficiency: 2,600 feet (792 m | 867 m)

• Rate of fire: 575

• Mile speed: 2,400 ft/s (732 m/s)

Variants

Mle 1930 - Base series name Mle D ("Type D") - Modernized Mle 1930