In Action: F1 Submachine Gun
The photograph above shows sailors of the Australian destroyer HMAS Duchess waiting to practice firing their F1 submachine guns, while en route to Singapore in November 1969.
HMAS Duchess had started her career as a Royal Navy destroyer, however, she was loaned to the Royal Australian Navy in April 1964. She spent the rest of her service life with the Australian Navy frequently escorting the troopship Sydney and later serving as a training vessel before decommissioning in 1977.
The F1 was adopted in 1962 to replace the Australian military’s ageing Owen Guns. It bears a passing resemblance to the contemporary British Sterling submachine gun, however, like the Owen it fed from a horizontally mounted magazine. The F1 saw action in Malaya and Vietnam alongside the L1A1. It remained in service into the early 1990s. Having personally handled an F1 the sight layout is unusual with the front sight mounted on the side of the magazine housing. It shares many similar features of the Sterling although it is heavier. than the British weapon, the F1 is, however, lighter than the Owen Gun it replaced.
Read more about the Australian F1 submachine gun here
Sources:
Image Sources: 1 2
If you enjoy the content please consider supporting Historical Firearms through Patreon!