Armalite Used By N.Z. Troops

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31117, 21 July 1966, Page 1

Armalite Used By N.Z. Troops

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, July 20. New Zealand soldiers in Malaysia and Vietnam have been issued with the United States Army’s Armalite rifle, described as one of the most devastating of small arms.

A statement which “The Press” obtained from the Army last year said the devastating effect of the Armalite rifle was not from the muzzle velocity of the bullet alone but also from the bullet's instability in flight. If the bullet hit a leaf, or even a raindrop, it might tumble end over end. This made the bullet very damaging. The Press Association reports that the rifle is being widely used by the Ist Battalion, R.N.Z.I.R. and tried by New Zealand gunners in Vietnam. The Armalite has also been issued to Australian troops in Vietnam. The Army's QuartermasterGeneral, Brigadier H. A. Pur-

cell, said in Auckland yesterday that development and trials of the weapon were being Closely watched. At the moment it was only being manufactured on a special forces basis, said Brigadier Purcell. New Zealand might be interested if the weapon went into full-scale production, but the present FN .308 was a very fine rifle. The Armalite is lighter and its ammunition was smaller and also lighter. The weapon seemed most suited to jungle warfare conditions, and was producing good reports from troops using it A hit on the hand would break bones all the way up a man's arm.