F1 submachine gun

F1
Type	Submachine gun
Place of origin	Australia
Service history
In service	1963–1991
Used by	See Users
Wars	Vietnam War Rhodesia, Operation Agila
Production history
Designed	1962
Manufacturer	Lithgow Small Arms Factory
Produced	July 1963
No. built	25,136
Specifications
Weight	3.7 kg (Empty) 4.30 kg (Loaded)
Length	714 mm
Barrel length	198 mm
Cartridge	9×19mm Parabellum
Caliber	9 mm
Action	Blowback, Open bolt
Rate of fire	600–640 rounds/min
Effective firing range	150 m
Maximum firing range	100–200 m
Feed system	34-round Sterling SMG compatible box magazine
Sights	Offset iron sights

The 9×19mm Parabellum F1 was a standard Australian submachine gun manufactured by the Lithgow Small Arms Factory. First issued to Australian troops in July 1963, it replaced the Owen machine carbine.

Like the Owen, the F1 had a distinctive top mounted magazine. It had a robust and simple design, but "never gained popularity with those using it" and in Vietnam it was later largely replaced by the American 5.56mm M16A1 rifle. The F1 was retired in the early 1990s and replaced by the F88C Austeyr, an Australian-built version of the Steyr AUG rifle.

Some 25,000 were produced by Lithgow from 1962–73. Malaysia bought a small number of the F1 but this only totaled 28 in number. A shipment of F1s was also donated to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary by Australia.

The F1 is a simple blowback design firing from an open bolt with a fixed firing pin. It was designated the X3 while under development.

It shares many design features with the British Sterling submachine gun. Unlike both the Sterling and its predecessor, the Owen, the F1 has a removable wooden butt and pistol grip. A curved, detachable 34-round box magazine is inserted in a magazine housing on top of the barrel, similar to the earlier Owen gun. It used the same magazine as the Sterling. The top-mounted magazine is unobtrusive for carry and when lying prone. Lightning fast magazine changes can be made;, it has the added advantage of only needing a light spring being no harder to load than a .22 magazine not requiring special mag fillers like its contemporaries and to be less likely to jam than a bottom mounted magazine. The ejection port is directly under the magazine and provides a trap for the unwary user; should the user's hand stray back to the port, the bolt moving forwards will 'bite' the web of the hand. The butt-plate and pistol-grip are identical to those on the L1A1 SLR as well as the capability of adapting SLR bayonets. However, it was mostly used with a detachable spike bayonet fitted on the right side of the barrel jacket.

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