Owen Submachine Gun

Caliber: 9mm

Length: 32 in ( 806 mm)

Weight (unloaded): 9 lb 5 oz(4.21kg)

Barrel: 9.75 in (247mm), 7 grooves, right-hand twist

Magazine: 33 round detachable box

Ammunition: 9mm Parabellum, bullet 115 gr, charge 6 gr

Rate of Fire: 700rpm

Muzzle Velocity: 1250 fps

The Owen went into production about mid 1941, with about 50,000 produced by 1945. Although quite large and bulky, the Owen was a first-class gun and very popular with those who used it, for it stood up well to the hard conditions of jungle fighting and stoppages were remarkably rare.

Its two outstanding features were the top mounted magazine -- a feature rarely seen on submachine-guns since the Villar Perosa -- and the provision of a separate bolt compartment inside the receiver so that the bolt was isolated from its retracting handle by a small bulkhead, through which passed the small diameter bolt. This ensured that dirt and mud did not jam the bolt and it was highly successful, although expensive in terms of space.

Two other unusual mechanical features: the ejector is built into the magazine rather than into the gun body, and the barrel is rapidly removable by pulling up on a spring-loaded plunger just ahead of the magazine housing. The latter feature is necessary since, due to the method of assembly and construction, the gun can only be dismantled by removing the barel and then taking out the bolt and return spring in a forward direction.

L1A2

By the late 1950's the Australian Armed Forces decided to adopt a new self loading rifle firing the standard NATO cartridge. After extensive tests it was decided to adopt the Belgium FN rifle, which was already in use by many other countries and this, with a number of modifications became the L1A1.

The Australian version was a self loader only and did not fire bursts, (however an automatic version, the L2A2 was adopted by Australia and was used mainly by the Navy as a section light machine gun, but was often unreliable and prone to stoppages.) The L1A1 was gas operated and capable of thirty or forty well aimed shots per minute and was generally a sound and reliable weapon. Its principle disadvantage was its length especially in close jungle fighting and operating from armoured vehicles.

The SLR is now out of service and has been superceded by the new 5.56mm STEYR Individual Weapon.