List of hand weapons of the SADF

Service flag of the SADF

This list presents the hand weapons of the South African Defense Force up to its conversion to the SANDF in 1994. The names of the weapons under which they were carried at the SADF are used. The order is based on the year of introduction, recognizable here are the South African in-house designs since the beginning of the 1980s that have become necessary due to the embargo ( Resolution 418 of the UN Security Council ).

Pistols

designation	image	Country of origin	caliber	comment
Star B		Spain	9 × 19 mm	Spanish version of the Colt M1911 in 9 mm Para.
LIW Z88		Italy / South Africa	9 × 19 mm	Licensed version of the Beretta 92. Built by Lyttelton Ingenieurswerke (LIW), Pretoria. Replacement for the Star B.
LIW SP1		South Africa	9 × 19 mm	In-house construction. Built by Lyttelton Ingenieurswerke (LIW), Pretoria. Replacement for the Star B.

Submachine guns

designation	image	Country of origin	caliber	comment
IMI Uzi		Israel	9 × 19 mm	Manufactured by Israel Military Industries (IMI)
Milkor BXP		South Africa	9 × 19 mm	Own construction by Milkor. In the SADF portfolio since 1984.

Rifles

designation	image	Country of origin	caliber	comment
Lee-Enfield		Great Britain	.303 British	Was used by the Staatspresidentswag (Guard Battalion of the President) for ceremonial tasks until 1994
FN R1		Belgium / South Africa	7.62 × 51 mm NATO	License version of the FN FAL . Version R2 with folding stock and version R3 only single fire. Built by Lyttelton Ingenieurswerke (LIW), Pretoria.
LIW R4		Israel / South Africa	5.56 × 45 mm NATO	Licensed version of IMI Galil . Shortened version as R5. Built by Lyttelton Ingenieurswerke (LIW), Pretoria.

Machine guns

designation	image	Country of origin	caliber	comment
Vickers Gun		Great Britain	7.62 × 51 mm NATO	Original weapon in caliber .303 British. Converted from LIW to caliber 7.62. In use until the 1990s.
Bren Gun		Great Britain	7.62 × 51 mm NATO	Original weapon in caliber .303 British. Converted from LIW to caliber 7.62. Used with the straight magazine of the FN FAL.
Browning M2		United States	12.7 × 99 mm NATO
Browning MG4		United States	7.62 × 51 mm NATO	Original weapon in caliber .30-06 Springfield . Converted from LIW to caliber 7.62. Mainly as a turret weapon on vehicles.
FN MAG		Belgium	7.62 × 51 mm NATO	Substitute for burning.
LIW SS-77 and Mini-SS		South Africa	7.62 × 51 mm NATO and 5.56 × 45 mm NATO	Supplement to the FN MAG, as this could not be delivered due to the arms embargo. Mini-SS: conversion kit for the SS-77 in caliber 5.56.

Anti-tank weapons

designation	image	Country of origin	caliber	comment
M40 recoilless rifle		United States	105 mm
Denel FT5		South Africa
RPG-7		USSR		Captured in large numbers in the South African Border War and put into service.

literature

• Wollert / Lidschun / Copenhagen: Rifle weapons today, volumes 1 + 2. , Brandenburgisches Verlagshaus, 1993
• Chas Lotter: FIREARMS: Developed and Manufactured in Southern Africa 1949-2000, Pretoria Wapen En Ammunisievereniging, 2017

Web links

• Suid Afrikaanse Weermag - South African Defense Force

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Star Firearms: B-Series Pistols. Accessed August 17, 2017 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d} Chas Lotter: FIREARMS: Developed and Manufactured in Southern Africa 1949–2000 , Pretoria Wapen En Ammunisievereniging, 2017
3. ↑ ^{a b c} Wollert / Lidschun / Copenhagen: Rifle weapons today, Volume 1 + 2. , Brandenburgisches Verlagshaus, 1993
4. ↑ H.-R. Heitman: South African war machine. , Bison Books, 1985