Videos tagged with Algeria

The FNAB-43 is a unique Italian submachine gun from late WWII, featuring a compact design with a folding magazine well and a delayed blowback action. It utilizes a closed-bolt system with separate selectors for safe/fire and semi/full-auto modes. While not widely adopted, its innovative mechanisms offer insight into firearm development during the era.

This lecture, "Global Soldiers: Making Southern African Liberation Armies," presented by Professor Jocelyn Alexander, delves into the international training received by soldiers of southern African liberation movements during the Cold War. Drawing on veteran oral histories, the talk explores the unique military cultures that emerged from global exchanges, with soldiers training in diverse locations like Algeria, the USSR, Cuba, and North Korea. It highlights the influence of political ideas, military doctrines, and the concept of soldiery on movements such as ZPRA, ZANLA, FRELIMO, MPLA, FAPLA, and SWAPO, focusing on the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army and the often-overlooked conflicts of the 'hot' Cold War.

The FUSTAN was a rare .22 LR competition variant of the French MAS-36 rifle, developed in the early 1940s and revived for North African shooting societies in 1947. Unlike military trainers, it was a dedicated single-shot rimfire rifle with precision features like an adjustable aperture sight, a specialized two-prong firing pin, and a heavy barrel with adjustable balance. Production was limited to around 200 units, yet these rifles achieved significant success in junior championships.

The MAT 49 is a robust French submachine gun, heavily influenced by the M3 Grease Gun, chambered in 9mm Parabellum. It features stamped sheet metal construction, a folding magazine well, and a unique grip safety that locks the bolt. Renowned for its durability, it saw extensive use in post-WWII conflicts and was eventually replaced by the FAMAS.