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FN FAL

The FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Léger, English: Light Automatic Rifle) is a battle rifle designed in Belgium in 1953 by Dieudonné Saive and manufactured by FN Herstal.

During the Cold War the FAL was adopted by many countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), with the notable exception of the United States. It is one of the most widely used rifles in history, having been used by more than 90 countries. It received the title "the right arm of the free world" from its adoption by many self-proclaimed free world countries. It is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO, although originally designed for the intermediate .280 British.

A license-built version of the FAL was produced and adopted by the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth as the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle.

History

In 1946, the first FAL prototype was completed. It was designed to fire the intermediate 7.92×33mm Kurz cartridge developed and used by the forces of Germany during World War II with the Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle. After testing this prototype in 1948, the British Army urged FN to build additional prototypes, including one in bullpup configuration, chambered for their new .280 British (7×43mm) caliber intermediate cartridge. After evaluating the single bullpup prototype, FN decided to return instead to their original, conventional design for future production.

In 1950, the United Kingdom presented the redesigned FN rifle and the British EM-2, both in .280 British calibre, to the United States for comparison testing against the favoured United States Army design of the time—Earle Harvey's T25. It was hoped that a common cartridge and rifle could be standardized for issue to the armies of all NATO member countries. After this testing was completed, U.S. Army officials suggested that FN should redesign their rifle to fire the U.S. prototype ".30 Light Rifle" cartridge. FN decided to hedge their bets with the U.S., and in 1951 even made a deal that the U.S. could produce FALs royalty-free, given that the UK appeared to be favouring their own EM-2. This decision appeared to be correct when the British Army decided to adopt the EM-2 (as Rifle No.9 Mk1) and the .280 British cartridge.

This decision was later rescinded after the Labour Party lost the 1951 General Election and Winston Churchill returned as Prime Minister. It is believed that there was a quid pro quo agreement between Churchill and U.S. President Harry Truman in 1952 that the British accept the .30 Light Rifle cartridge as NATO standard in return for the U.S. acceptance of the FN FAL as NATO standard. The .30 Light Rifle cartridge was later standardized as the 7.62 mm NATO. However, the U.S. insisted on continued rifle tests. The FAL chambered for the .30 Light Rifle went up against the redesigned T25 (now redesignated as the T47), and an M1 Garand variant, the T44. Eventually, the T44 won, becoming the M14. However, in the meantime, most other NATO countries were evaluating and selecting the FAL.

Formally introduced by its designer Dieudonné Saive in 1951, and produced two years later, the FAL has been described as the "Right Arm of the Free World". The FAL battle rifle has its Warsaw Pact counterpart in the AKM, each being fielded by dozens of countries and produced in many of them. A few, such as Israel and South Africa, manufactured and issued both designs at various times.

Design details

The FAL operates by means of a gas-operated action very similar to that of the Russian SVT-40. The gas system is driven by a short-stroke, spring-loaded piston housed above the barrel, and the locking mechanism is what is known as a tilting breechblock. To lock, it drops down into a solid shoulder of metal in the heavy receiver much like the bolts of the Russian SKS carbine and French MAS-49 series of semi-automatic rifles. The gas system is fitted with a gas regulator behind the front sight base, allowing adjustment of the gas system in response to environmental conditions. The piston system can be bypassed completely, using the gas plug, to allow for the firing of rifle grenades and manual operation.

The FAL's magazine capacity ranges from five to 30 rounds, with most magazines holding 20 rounds. In fixed stock versions of the FAL, the recoil spring is housed in the stock, while in folding-stock versions it is housed in the receiver cover, necessitating a slightly different receiver cover, recoil spring, and bolt carrier, and a modified lower receiver for the stock.

For field stripping, the FAL can be opened. During opening the rifle rotates around a two-piece pivot lock and pin assembly located between the trigger guard and magazine well to give access to the action and piston system. This opening method causes a suboptimal iron sight line as the rear sight element is mounted on the lower receiver and the front sight element of the sight line is mounted on the upper receiver/barrel and hence are fixed to two different movable subassemblies. The sight radius for the FAL 50.00 and FAL 50.41 models is 553 mm and for the 50.61 and FAL 50.63 models 549 mm.

FAL rifles have also been manufactured in both light and heavy-barrel configurations, with the heavy barrel intended for automatic fire as a section or squad light support weapon. Most heavy barrel FALs are equipped with bipods, although some light barrel models were equipped with bipods, such as the Austrian StG 58 and the German G1, and a bipod was later made available as an accessory.

Among other 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifles at the time, the FAL had relatively light recoil, due to the user-adjustable gas system being able to be tuned via a regulator in fore-end of the rifle, which allowed for excess gas which would simply increase recoil to bleed off. The regulator is an adjustable gas port opening that adjusts the rifle to function reliably with various propellant and projectile specific pressure behavior, making the FAL not ammunition specific. In fully automatic mode, however, the shooter receives considerable abuse from recoil, and the weapon climbs off-target quickly, making automatic fire only of marginal effectiveness. Many military forces using the FAL eventually eliminated full-automatic firearms training in the light-barrel FAL.

FN production variants
Depending on the variant and the country of adoption, the FAL was issued as either semi-automatic only or select-fire (capable of both semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes).

LAR 50.41 & 50.42 (FAL HBAR & FALO)
Also known as FALO as an abbreviation from the French Fusil Automatique Lourd, it had a heavy barrel for sustained fire with a 30-round magazine as a squad automatic weapon; Known in Canada as the C2A1, it was their primary squad automatic weapon until it was phased out during the 1980s in favor of the C9, which has better accuracy and higher ammunition capacity than the C2. In the Australian Army, as the L2A1, it was their primary squad automatic weapon in the 1960s. However it was generally disliked and replaced by the F89 Minimi in the late 1980s. The L2A1 or 'heavy barrel' FAL was used by several Commonwealth nations and was found to frequently experience a failure to feed after firing two rounds from a full magazine when in automatic mode. The 50.41 is fitted with a synthetic buttstock, while the 50.42's buttstock is made from wood.

FAL 50.61 (FAL Type 3 PARA)
Folding-stock, standard 533 mm (21.0 in) barrel length.

FAL 50.62 (FAL Type 3 Para 18)
Folding-stock, shorter 457 mm (18 inch) barrel, paratrooper version.

FAL 50.63 (FAL Type 2 Para 16)
Folding-stock, shorter 440 mm (17.35 inch) barrel, paratrooper version, folding charging handle. This shorter version was requested by Belgian paratroopers. The upper receiver was not cut for a carry handle, the charging handle on the 50.63 was a folding model similar to the L1A1 rifles, which allowed the folded-stock rifle to fit through the doorway of their C-119 Flying Boxcar when worn horizontally across the chest.

FAL 50.64 (FAL Para 3)
Folding-stock, standard 533 mm (21.0 in) barrel length, 'Hiduminium' aluminium alloy lower receiver made it lighter than the 50.61, which was heavier than 50.00.

Early prototypes

 * The FN Universal Carbine (1947) was an early FAL prototype chambered for the 7.92×33mm Kurz round. The 7.92mm Kurz round was used as a placeholder for the future mid-range cartridges being developed by Britain and the United States at the time.
 * FAL .280 Experimental Automatic Carbine, Long Model (1951): A FAL variant chambered for the experimental .280 British (7×43mm) round. It was designed for a competition at Aberdeen Proving Ground in the US. Although the British bullpup design EM-2 rifle did well, American observers protested that the small-bore .280-caliber round lacked the power and range of a medium-bore .30-caliber round. British observers in return claimed the experimental American .30-caliber T65 round (7.62×51mm) was too powerful to control in automatic fire. Britain was forced to abandon the .280 round and adopt the American-designed .30-caliber T65 as the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. The EM-2 couldn't be rechambered for the longer and more powerful cartridge and the Americans didn't yet have a working service rifle of their own. Britain and Canada adopted the Belgian 7.62mm FN FAL instead as the L1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR).
 * FAL .280 Experimental Automatic Carbine, Short Model (1951): A bullpup-frame version of the FAL chambered in .280 British designed to compete with the British EM-1 and EM-2 bullpup rifles. It also was demonstrated at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds tests, but was never put into full production.

Sturmgewehr 58
The Sturmgewehr 58 (StG 58) is a selective fire battle rifle. The first 20,000 were manufactured by FN Herstal Belgium, but later the StG 58 was manufactured under licence by Steyr-Daimler-Puch (now Steyr Mannlicher), and was formerly the standard rifle of the Österreichisches Bundesheer (Austrian Federal Army). It is essentially a user-customized version of the FAL and is still in use, mainly as a drill weapon, or for ceremonial purposes in the Gardebataillon (Guard Battalion) of the Austrian forces. It was selected in a 1958 competition, beating the Spanish CETME and American Armalite AR-10.

Most StG 58s featured a folding bipod, and differ from the FAL by using a plastic stock rather than wood in order to reduce weight in the later production rifles (although some of the early FN-built production rifles did come with wooden stocks). The rifle can be distinguished from its Belgian and Argentine counterparts by its combination flash suppressor and grenade launcher. The foregrip was a two-part steel pressing.

Steyr-built StG 58s had a hammer forged barrel. Some StG 58s had modifications made to the fire mode selector so that the fully automatic option was removed, leaving the selector with only safe and single-shot positions. The StG 58 was replaced by the Steyr AUG (designated StG 77) in 1977, although the StG 58 served with many units as the primary service rifle through the mid-1980s.

Olin-Winchester FAL
A semi-automatic, twin-barrel variant chambered in the 5.56mm "Duplex" round during Project SALVO. This weapon was designed by Stefan Kenneth Janson who previously designed the EM-2 rifle.

DSA SA58 FAL
American company DSA (David Selvaggio Arms) manufactures a copy of the FAL called the FAL DSA SA58 FAL that is made with the same Steyr-Daimler-Puch production line equipment as the StG-58. It comes with a 406 mm (16 in), 457 mm (18 in) or 533 mm (21 in) barrel, an aluminum-alloy lower receiver, and improved Glass-filled Nylon furniture. Civilian clients are limited only to semi-automatic configuration, but military and law enforcement clients can procure select-fire configuration that is capable of firing in full auto with cyclic rate of fire of around 650–750 rounds per minute. The SA58 FAL can use any metric-measurement FAL magazines, which come in 5, 10-, 20-, or 30-round capacities.

 * The SA58 OSW (Operational Specialist Weapon) is an assault-carbine variant of the paratrooper model of the FAL. It has a side-folding Enhanced PARA polymer stock, shorter 279 mm (11 inch) or 330 mm (13 inch) barrel and an optional full-auto setting.
 * The SA58 CTC (Compact Tactical Carbine) is a carbine variant of the paratrooper model of the FAL. It has a side-folding Enhanced PARA polymer stock, shorter 413 mm (16.25 inch) barrel and an optional full-auto setting. Overall Length: 927 mm (36.5 inches) Weight: 3.74 kg (8.25 lbs).
 * The SA58 SPR (Special Purpose Rifle) is a semi-automatic only configured variant that was submitted for the U.S. Army SASS rifle trials. It features a 19-inch fluted barrel, 10-round magazine and an upgraded speed trigger.
 * The SA58 DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) is a semi-automatic only variant that features a 16.25 inch fluted heavy barrel.
 * The SA58 Pistol is a semi-automatic only variant that features an 8-inch barrel, intended for the U.S. civilian market.

Early versions of the DSA FAL included a 4140 billet upper receiver, machined from a 19-pound block of 4140 steel, and a lower receiver milled from a block of 7075 T6 aircraft grade aluminum. The barrels were provided by Badger and were double stress relieved, cryogenically treated, and had an 11 degree target crown. These barrels featured broach cut rifling, were lapped by hand, and made from 4140 carbon steel. Barrel twist was 1:11. Rifles produced during the Federal Assault Weapons Ban from 1994 to 2004 included integrally machined muzzle brakes that served to reduce muzzle rise and recoil. Further more, these muzzle brakes added additional length to barrels to achieve the 16.5 inches that would otherwise have been considered short-barreled rifles under the National Firearms Act. As such, DSA FAL barrels that were effectively ~14 inches, could be legally considered 16.5 inches due to the integral muzzle brakes.

SC-2010 Hi-Power Modular Weapon System
A Peruvian derivative of the FAL designed by the Diseños Casanave Corporation in 2010. Like the FAL, it uses standard 20-round box magazines with the same 7.62×51mm caliber ammo.

Military adoption

The FAL has been used by over 90 countries, and some seven million have been produced. The FAL was originally made by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN) in Liège, Belgium, but it has also been made under license in fifteen countries. As of August 2006, new examples were still being produced by at least four different manufacturers worldwide.

A distinct sub-family was the Commonwealth inch-dimensioned versions that were manufactured in the United Kingdom and Australia (as the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle or SLR), and in Canada as the C1. The standard metric-dimensioned FAL was manufactured in South Africa (where it was known as the R1), Brazil, Israel, Austria and Argentina. Both the SLR and FAL were also produced without license by India.

The Dutch company Armtech built the L1A1 SAS, a carbine variant of the L1A1 with a barrel length of 290 mm (11.4 inches).

Argentina

Argentine FALs saw action during the Falklands War, and in different peacekeeping operations such as in Cyprus and the former Yugoslavia. Argentine FALs are known to have been exported to Bolivia (in 1971), Colombia, Croatia (during the wars in former Yugoslavia during the 1990s), Honduras, Peru, and Uruguay.

Brazil
Along with the IA2, MD-2 and MD-3 assault rifles, Brazil produces the M964A1/Pelopes (Special Operations Platoon), with a 16.5" barrel, 3-point sling and a Picatinny rail with a tactical flashlight and sight.

Brazilian Army officially used the FAP (Fuzil Automático Pesado, or heavy automatic rifle) as its squad automatic weapon until 2013/2014, when the FN Minimi was adopted to replace it. The Marine Corps and Air Force also adopted the Minimi to replace the FAP.

IMBEL also produced a semi-automatic version of the FAL for Springfield Armory, Inc. (not to be confused with the US military Springfield Armory), which was marketed in the US as the SAR-48 (standard model) and SAR-4800 (made after 1989 with some military features removed to comply with new legislation), starting in the mid-1980s. IMBEL-made receivers have been much in demand among American gunsmiths building FALs from "parts kits".

IMBEL in 2014 offered the FAL in 9 versions:

 * M964, the standard length semi-auto and full auto.
 * M964 MD1, short barrel semi-auto and full auto.
 * M964 MD2, standard length semi-auto only.
 * M964 MD3, short barrel semi-auto only.
 * M964A1, folding stock standard barrel semi-auto and full auto.
 * M964A1 MD1, folding stock short barrel semi-auto and full auto.
 * M964A1 MD2, folding stock standard barrel semi-auto only.
 * M964A1 MD3, folding stock short barrel semi-auto only.
 * M964A1/Pelopes, short barrel semi-auto and full auto with Picatinny rail.

Germany

The first German FALs were from an order placed in late 1955 or early 1956, for several thousand FN FAL so-called "Canada" models with wood furniture and the prong flash hider. These weapons were intended for the Bundesgrenzschutz (border guard) and not the newly formed Bundeswehr (army), which at the time used M1 Garands and M1/M2 carbines. In November 1956, however, West Germany ordered 100,000 additional FALs, designated the G1, for the army. FN made the rifles between April 1957 and May 1958. The G1 user modifications included light metal handguards and an integral folding bipod, similarly to the Austrian version. Neither Germany nor Austria adopted the heavy-barreled FAL, instead using the MG3 (the modernized MG42 in 7.62×51mm NATO) as its general purpose machine gun (GPMG).

The Germans were satisfied with the FAL and wished to produce it under license. The Belgians, however, refused. Being subject to two German occupations in the space of two generations (1914–1918 and 1940–1945), the Belgians insisted on the Germans purchasing only FN-made FALs. Under the German occupation during World War II, FN was taken over by the major German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM), its directors arrested, and the assembly lines run by slave labour after only 10% of the Belgian factory workers showed up when ordered to do so.

After the Normandy landings, the Germans stripped the FN factories of everything useful and sent it back to augment German industries, destroying what they couldn't carry. FN tried to recoup its losses immediately after liberation near the end of 1944 by refurbishing Allied weapons and producing cheap, easily produced spare parts such as tank tracks. To make matters worse, the Germans tried to destroy the FN factory with V1 flying bombs, achieving two direct hits. The memories of the Nazi occupation were still far too fresh in 1956.

Based on political and economical considerations, but also national pride, the Germans aimed at a weapon they could produce domestically and turned their sights to the Spanish CETME Modelo 58 rifle. Working with the Germans, the Spanish adopted the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge, and a slightly modified version of the CETME went on to be manufactured in West Germany by Heckler & Koch (H&K) as the G3 rifle, beginning production in 1959. The G3 would become the second most popular battle rifle in the Free World, "used by some 50 nations and license-manufactured in a dozen". Without the G3, the FAL may have completely dominated the militaries of the West during the Cold War.

The G1 featured a pressed metal handguard identical to the ones used on the Austrian Stg. 58, as well as the Dutch and Greek FALs, this being slightly slimmer than the standard wood or plastic handguards, and featuring horizontal lines running almost their entire length. G1s were also fitted with a unique removable prong flash hider, adding another external distinction. Of note is the fact that the G1 was the first FAL variant with the 3 mm lower sights specifically requested by Germany, previous versions having the taller Commonwealth-type sights also seen on Israeli models. The German FAL had access to high quality Hensoldt Optische Werk F-series scopes with Zeiss-equivalent optics; having 4x magnification, with a 24 mm (0.94 in) objective lens.

The majority of the German G1 rifles were sold as surplus to the Turkish Army in the mid-1960's, and some G1s found their way to Rhodesia and Portugal.

Israel

After the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had to overcome several logistics problems which were a result of the wide variety of old firearms that were in service, such as the German Mauser Kar 98k and some British Lee–Enfield rifles. In 1955 the IDF adopted the IMI-produced Uzi submachine gun and the FN FAL in order to standardize their infantry armament; with the FAL being designated Rov've Mitta'enn or Romat (רומ"ט), abbreviation of "Self-Loading Rifle".

The FAL version ordered by the IDF came in two basic variants, both regular and heavy-barrel (squad automatic rifle/ light machine gun), and were chambered in 7.62mm NATO. The Israeli heavy barrel FAL (or FALO) was designated the Makle'a Kal, or Makleon, having a standard handguard improved with a perforated metal sleeve around the heavy barrel, and a wooden handguard with a heat shield. The folding bipod being directly attached to the barrel. The Israeli Makleon was fed by a 20-round magazine.

Analysing the Israeli campaign of 1956 in the Sinai, during the Suez Crisis, Brigadier General SLA Marshall noted of the Makleon:"By Israeli training practice, when the light machine guns are used as fire base to cover the forward movement of the rest of the section, they should not operate at more than two hundred yards' [183m] maximum range from the target. To cut that distance by half is considered better. In the attack, LMGs are rated as highly expendable items and are shoved far front. When the section rushes the enemy position under cover of the LMG fire, one rifleman stays behind to protect the gunners."Marshall also notes the advantage of both rifle and LMG ammunition being interchangeable, with the squad carrying sixty 20-round magazines, with 1,200 rounds in total.

The Israeli FALs were originally produced as selective-fire rifles, though later light-barrel rifle versions were altered to semi-automatic fire only. The first rifles were Belgian-made, with Israel later licence-producing the weapons and its magazines. The Israeli models are recognizable by a distinctive handguard with a forward perforated sheet metal section. Israeli-made magazines were made in the same FN standard of steel, finished with durable black enamel paint, and bearing two Hebrew characters stamped into the metal on one side.

The IDF always emphasized the used of rifle grenades, integrating its usage into their doctrine of night assaults. Approaching enemy positions within rifle-grenade range, initiating the assault with a volley of grenades onto the enemy positions intended to stun and suppress the defenders, while being immediately followed by the infantry assault while the enemy was shaken.

"Israel's infantry prefers the rifle-fired antitank grenade to the bazooka for shock effect on a group or bunker. At night, if the section should run into an ambush, the grenadier fires, and all the others rush straight in, not firing."

Initially, Israel manufactured a copy of the Energa rifle grenade, that would be surpassed by more recent designs still in production. Of particular note is the BT/AT 52, an IMI version of the BT rifle grenade derived from the earlier MA/AT 52 model. It can be fired both from 5.56mm and 7.62mm weapons, which share the same-diameter muzzle device, with a maximum range of 300 m (328yd) from 7.62mm guns. The BT/AT 52 is often seen in photographs with the FAL.

The Israeli FAL first saw action in relatively small quantities during the Suez Crisis of 1956, being the standard-issue rifle in the Six-Day War in June 1967, the War of Attrition of 1967–1970. During the Yom Kippur War of October 1973, the FAL was still in front-line service as the standard Israeli rifle, though increasing criticism eventually led to the phasing-out of the weapon. Israeli forces were primarily mechanized in nature; the long, heavy FAL slowed deployment drills, and proved exceedingly difficult to maneuver within the confines of a vehicle. Additionally, Israeli forces experienced occasional jamming of the FAL due to heavy sand and dust ingress endemic to Middle Eastern desert warfare.

With the soldiers traveling in open-topped halftracks in fast-paced operations, with tank tracks filling the air with clouds of dust filled with fine grit, soldiers would jump from the half-tracks to hit the sand, finding the rifles filthy at the moment of contact. In such lightning-fast mobile warfare, the men would hardly have time to eat, sleep or clean their rifles. Though the IDF evaluated a few modified FAL rifles with 'sand clearance' slots in the bolt carrier and receiver (which were already part of the Commonwealth L1A1/C1A1 design), malfunction rates did not significantly improve. The Israeli FAL was eventually replaced from 1972 onwards by the M16 and in 1974 by the Galil. The FAL remained in production in Israel into the 1980s.

Portugal
During the colonial war in Angola, Guinea and Mozambique (the Ultramar War), the FAL was used by the Portuguese alongside the HK G3 and the AR10. In Portuguese service, the FN FAL was designated Espingarda Automática 7,62 mm FN m/962. Those were Belgian-made FN FAL and German G1 rifles, and they became favoured by special forces units such as the Caçadores Especiais ("Special Hunters/Rangers").

Rhodesia
Like most British dependencies in the postwar era, Southern Rhodesia adopted the Commonwealth pattern L1A1 SLR by the early 1960s. Southern Rhodesia contributed small military contingents to aid British counter-insurgency operations during the Malayan Emergency and the Aden Emergency, and adopted the L1A1 as its standard infantry rifle around that time. As a result of its participation in those conflicts, the Rhodesian Security Forces inherited the British emphasis on long-range marksmanship and the use of riflemen in small units as the primary cornerstone of major counter-insurgency campaigns. The standard small unit of the security forces, which included the Southern Rhodesian Army as well as various paramilitary police and internal security divisions, was the stick; this consisted of four riflemen, each armed with SLRs, and a machine gunner carrying an FN MAG. The United Kingdom continued to export L1A1s to Southern Rhodesia until that country issued a unilateral declaration of independence as Rhodesia in 1965. Rhodesia subsequently became subject to a British arms embargo and the SLRs were largely relegated to reserve army and police units.

During the Rhodesian Bush War, the Rhodesian Security Forces turned to a sympathetic South Africa as a major supplier of arms. South Africa already manufactured a metric-pattern FAL under licence as the R1, and transferred a number of these rifles to Rhodesia. Rhodesia also acquired FAL variants illicitly on the international black market, including original FN rifles from Belgium and G1s from West Germany. Many of the FAL derivatives in Rhodesian service were fitted with custom flash suppressors to reduce recoil on fully automatic fire.

The heavy Rhodesian emphasis on individual marksmanship and the ballistic qualities of the 7.62×51mm round often allowed outnumbered Rhodesian patrols to fight their way through larger groups of insurgents from the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) or Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), both of which were equipped primarily with Kalashnikov-pattern automatic rifles such as the AK-47 and AKM. Rhodesian troops were trained to fire directly into the insurgents' cover whenever an ambush was encountered, shooting their FALs in bursts that were deliberately aimed low and graduating their fire upwards. Their 7.62×51mm ammunition could penetrate thick bush and tree trunks more readily than the 7.62×39mm cartridge used in the AK-47, and was more successful at killing the enemy combatants in cover.

Following general elections in 1980 which brought the former insurgent leadership to power, the country finally achieved internationally recognised independence as Zimbabwe, and the Rhodesian Security Forces were amalgamated with ZANLA and ZIPRA. As the Zimbabwean government had inherited vast stockpiles of 7.62×51mm ammunition from the Rhodesian era, it initially ordered the insurgents' small arms to be placed into reserve storage and confirmed the FAL as the standard service rifle of the new Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF). However, a successful sabotage action carried out against the preexisting stockpiles of 7.62×51mm ammunition, possibly by disgruntled Rhodesian service members or South African special forces, negated this factor. The ZDF responded by bringing the insurgent weapons out of storage to complement the FAL, and gradually phased out the weapon type in favour of Kalashnikov rifles to simplify maintenance and logistics.

South Africa
The FAL was produced under licence in South Africa by Lyttleton Engineering Works, where it is known as the R1. After a competition between the German G3 rifle, the Armalite AR-10, and the FN FAL, the South African Defence Force adopted three main variants of the FAL: a rifle with the designation R1, a "lightweight" variant of the FN FAL 50.64 with folding butt, fabricated locally under the designation R2, and a model designed for police use not capable of automatic fire under the designation R3. 200,000 were destroyed in UN-sponsored "Operation Mouflon" in 2001.

A number of other variants of the R1 were built, the R1 HB, which had a heavy barrel and bipod, the R1 Sniper, which could be fitted with a scope and the R1 Para Carbine, which used a Single Point IR sight and had a shorter barrel. R1 was standard issue in the SADF until the introduction of the R4 in the early 1980s. Still used by the SANDF as a designated marksman rifle. The first South African-produced rifle, serial numbered 200001, was presented to the then Prime Minister, Dr Hendrik Verwoerd, by Armscor and is now on view at the South African National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg.

Syria

Syria adopted the FN FAL in 1956. 12,000 rifles were bought in 1957. The Syrian state produced 7.62×51mm cartridges and is reported to have acquired FALs from other sources. During the Syrian Civil War, FALs from various sources, including Israel, were used by governmental forces, rebels, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Kurdish forces. The Syrian Arab Army and loyalist paramilitary forces used it as a designated marksman rifle. At the end of 2012, the use of .308 Winchester cartridges may have caused these FALs to malfunction, thus reducing the popularity of the weapon.

United States

Following World War II and the establishment of the NATO alliance, there was pressure to adopt a standard rifle, alliance-wide. The FAL was originally designed to handle intermediate cartridges, but in an attempt to secure US favor for the rifle, the FAL was redesigned to use the newly developed 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. The US tested several variants of the FAL to replace the M1 Garand. These rifles were tested against the T44, essentially an updated version of the basic Garand design. Despite the T44 and T48 performing similarly in trials, the T44 was, for several reasons, selected and the US formally adopted the T44 as the M14 service rifle.

During the late 1980s and 1990s, many countries decommissioned the FAL from their armories and sold them en masse to United States importers as surplus. The rifles were imported to the United States as fully automatic guns. Once in the U.S., the FALs were "de-militarized" (upper receiver destroyed) to eliminate the rifles' character as an automatic rifle, as stipulated by the Gun Control Act of 1968. GCA 68 currently prohibits the importation of foreign-made full-automatic rifles prior to the enactment of the Gun Control Act. Semiautomatic versions of the same firearm were legal to import until the Semiautomatic Assault Rifle Ban of 1989.

Thousands of the resulting "parts kits" were sold at generally low prices ($90 – $250) to hobbyists. The hobbyists rebuilt the parts kits to legal and functional semi-automatic rifles on new semi-automatic upper receivers. FAL rifles are still commercially available from a few domestic firms in semi-auto configuration: Enterprise Arms, DSArms, and Century International Arms. Century Arms created a semi-automatic version L1A1 with an IMBEL upper receiver and surplus British Enfield inch-pattern parts, while DSArms used Steyr-style metric-pattern FAL designs. This standard-metric difference means the Century Arms and DSArms firearms are not made from fully interchangeable batches of parts.

Venezuela
Venezuela placed an order for 5,000 FN-made FAL rifles in 1954, in the 7×49.15mm Optimum 2 caliber. This 7×49mm, also known as 7 mm Liviano or 7 mm Venezuelan, is essentially a 7×57mm round shortened to intermediate length and closer to being a true intermediate round than the 7.62×51mm NATO. This unusual caliber was jointly developed by Venezuelan and Belgian engineers motivated by a global move towards intermediate calibers. The Venezuelans, who had been exclusively using the 7×57mm round in their light and medium weapons since the turn of the 20th century, felt it was a perfect platform on which to base a calibre tailored to the particular rigours of the Venezuelan terrain. Eventually the plan was dropped despite having ordered millions of rounds and thousands of weapons on this caliber. As the Cold War escalated, the military command felt it necessary to align with NATO on geopolitical grounds despite not being a member, resulting in the adoption of the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. The 5,000 rifles of the first batch were rebarrelled to 7.62×51mm.

When marching victoriously into Havana in 1959, Fidel Castro was carrying an FN-made Venezuelan FAL in 7 mm Liviano.

Until recently, the FAL was the main service rifle of the Venezuelan army, made under license by CAVIM. Venezuela has bought 100,000 AK-103 assault rifles from Russia in order to replace the old FALs. Although the full shipment arrived by the end of 2006, the FAL will remain in service with the Venezuelan Reserve Forces and the Territorial Guard.

Users

 * 🇦🇴 Angola
 * 🇦🇷 Argentina: Produced under license. It is the regular rifle of the Argentine Armed Forces, and is used by the Army and Air Force, and as a secondary rifle in the Navy. The FAL M5 modernized variant was intended to be widely fielded, though the project stalled; some of the delivered units are in use. The modernization program was restarted and three new variants were designed, all based on components manufactured by american gunmaker DSArms. These are the FAMA (Fusil Argentino Modelo Asalto), a compact version intended mainly for paratrooper use; the FAMCa (Fusil Argentino Modelo Carabina), intended for general use; and the FAMTD (Fusil Argentino Modelo Tirador Destacado), intended for marksmen, and available in a light or heavy barrel configuration. Reportedly, only the FAMCa has seen significant adoption, mainly in special forces units and quick reaction forces, though sources claim delivery of rifles has stopped.
 * 🇧🇭 Bahrain
 * 🇧🇩 Bangladesh: Withdrawn from service. In reserve.
 * 🇧🇧 Barbados
 * 🇧🇿 Belize
 * 🇧🇴 Bolivia
 * 🇧🇷 Brazil: Produced under license between 1959 and 1984. Now being replaced by IMBEL IA2.
 * 🇧🇮 Burundi
 * 🇰🇭 Cambodia
 * 🇨🇲 Cameroon
 * Kurdish YPG Fighter (25551205403).jpg YPG fighter with scoped FAL, 2016.]]🇨🇫 Central African Republic
 * 🇹🇩 Chad
 * 🇨🇴 Colombia
 * 🇰🇲 Comoros
 * Congo-Kinshasa
 * 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
 * 🇨🇾 Cyprus
 * 🇩🇯 Djibouti
 * 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
 * 🇪🇨 Ecuador
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt: FN FALs were used by Unit 777 during the raid on Larnaca International Airport
 * Eswatini
 * 🇬🇲 Gambia
 * 🇬🇭 Ghana
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇬🇾 Guyana
 * 🇭🇹 Haiti
 * 🇭🇳 Honduras
 * 🇮🇳 India: License-produced copy of the UK 7.62 mm L1A1 variant, still in use by some Police Units.
 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia: Used by KKO, now used aboard naval vessels for line throwers.
 * 🇮🇱 Israel: FN-made and locally made under license by Israel Military Industries in FAL and FALO versions. Known locally as the Romat.
 * 🇮🇶 Iraq: Iraqi insurgents
 * 🇮🇪 Ireland: Used as the service rifle of the Irish Defence Forces from 1961 until 1989 when it was replaced by the Steyr AUG. However it remained in use with the Irish reserve forces until the early 2000s. In 2011, the Irish Army re-introduced an upgraded and modified version of the FN FAL as a sniper support weapon. The Irish Naval Service still use the FN FAL for line throwing. In January 2021, the Irish Defence Forces stated they were looking for a replacement sniper support weapon.
 * Ivory Coast
 * 🇰🇪 Kenya
 * 🇰🇼 Kuwait
 * 🇱🇸 Lesotho
 * 🇱🇷 Liberia
 * 🇱🇾 Libya
 * 🇲🇼 Malawi
 * 🇲🇽 Mexico: Produced under license.
 * 🇲🇦 Morocco
 * 🇲🇿 Mozambique
 * 🇲🇲 Myanmar: Used surplus ex-German G1s
 * 🇳🇵 Nepal
 * 🇳🇬 Nigeria: Licensed by DICON (Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria) in Nigeria as the NR-1.
 * 🇳🇪 Niger
 * 🇴🇲 Oman
 * 🇵🇰 Pakistan: Used by the Pakistan Army. In service with small numbers used during the Cold War.
 * 🇵🇦 Panama
 * 🇵🇾 Paraguay
 * 🇵🇪 Peru
 * 🇵🇭 Philippines: A few units of FALs were used by the AFP and Police during the 1970s, went into the hands of the MNLF rebels as seen during the 2013 siege of Zamboanga City.
 * 🇶🇦 Qatar
 * 🇷🇼 Rwanda
 * 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
 * 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
 * 🇸🇴 Somalia
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Syria:
 * 🇸🇷 Suriname
 * 🇹🇿 Tanzania
 * 🇹🇭 Thailand: Used by Royal Thai Police since the 1960s, designated "Rifle Type 05" (1962).
 * 🇹🇬 Togo
 * 🇹🇳 Tunisia: Used by Tunisian National Guard.
 * 🇹🇷 Turkey: Used by Turkish Land Forces as G1 between 1960s – 1980s.
 * 🇺🇬 Uganda
 * 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
 * 🇺🇦: An unknown quantity, seen in the hands of Ukrainian forces during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
 * 🇺🇾 Uruguay
 * 🇻🇪 Venezuela: Produced under license.
 * 🇾🇪 Yemen
 * 🇿🇲 Zambia
 * 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe

Non-state users

 * Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
 * Free Syrian Army
 * ISIL
 * Maute Group
 * Flag of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.svg Moro Islamic Liberation Front
 * Lord's Resistance Army
 * Provisional Irish Republican Army Badge.svg Provisional Irish Republican Army: Used stolen Irish Army FALs and British L1A1 rifles, a number were seized during a raid on the apartment of IRA members in Amsterdam.
 * Vanguarda Armada Revolucionaria Palmares
 * ex-Libyan FALs can be traced to Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Lebanon, Niger, Syria and Tunisia

Former users

 * 🇦🇹 Austria: Produced under license. StG 58 variants used by the Austrian Army from 1958 until 1977. Replaced by Steyr AUG.
 * 🇧🇪 Belgium: Used by the Belgian Army from 1956 until 1995. Replaced by FN FNC.
 * 🇧🇼 Botswana: Being replaced as of 2017 with the SAR 21.
 * 🇨🇦 Canada: The FN FAL was the first semi-automatic rifle adopted by the Canadian Army, seeing service as the FN C1A1 (“C1”) and FN C2A1 (“C2”) (a heavy barrel, selectable semi-/fully- automatic variant with folding, bi-pod forestock), between 1955 and 1990. Canada was the first NATO country to adopt the FN FAL. The C1 and C2 were manufactured in Canada under licence from Fabrique Nationale by Canadian Arsenals Limited (Toronto, Ont.). Between 80,000 and 90,000 were produced, of which 72,470 were contracted to the Canadian Department of National Defence.
 * 🇨🇱 Chile
 * 🇭🇷 Croatia: 70,000 FAL and FALO rifles supplied by Argentina during the Croatian War of Independence, often called "Falovka".
 * 🇨🇺 Cuba: Used during the Bay of Pigs Invasion.
 * Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Used in unknown quantities by Special Operations Unit (Serbia).
 * 🇮🇱 Israel: Produced under license as the 'lightened' ROMAT M1953. Used by the Israeli Army from 1955 until 1972. Officially replaced by IMI Galil and M16.
 * Katanga
 * 🇱🇧 Lebanon: Adopted in 1956 as the standard rifle of the Lebanese army
 * 🇱🇺 Luxembourg: Used Belgian FALs from 1957 to 1996, replaced by Steyr AUG.
 * 🇳🇱 Netherlands: The Royal Netherlands Army adopted the rifle with a bipod and in semi-automatic form, in 1961. In service it was called Het licht automatisch geweer, but usually known as the 'FAL'. The rifles had unique sights (hooded at the front) and the German style sheet metal front handguard. A sniper version, Geweer Lange Afstand, was also used standard with a scope of Dutch origin produced by the Artillerie Inrichtingen, and without the bipod. The scope was designated Kijker Richt Recht AI 62. The heavy-barrel FAL 50.42 version was also adopted later as a squad automatic weapon as the Het zwaar automatisch geweer.
 * 🇵🇹 Portugal: In 1960, the Army issued quantities of light-barrel FN and West German G1 FAL rifles to several of its elite commando forces, including the Companhias de Caçadores Especiais (Special Hunter [Ranger] companies). The latter often expressed a preference for the lighter FAL over the Portuguese-manufactured version of the Heckler & Koch G3 rifle when on ambush or patrol.
 * Rhodesia: Bought as surplus from Germany and South Africa, because of trade embargo in the country in the 1960s and 1970s.
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Used some Belgian-made FN FALs.
 * West Germany: Used initially by the Border Guard as the G1. Also by German Army from 1956 until the early 1960s. Replaced by the Heckler & Koch G3.

Conflicts
In the more than 70 years of use worldwide, the FAL has seen use in conflicts all over the world. During the Falklands War, the FN FAL was used by both sides. The FAL was used by the Argentine armed forces and the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR), a semi-automatic only version of the FAL, was used by the armed forces of the UK and other Commonwealth nations.

1950s

 * Mau Mau rebellion (1952–1960) British FN-made prototypes
 * Cuban Revolution (1953–1959)
 * Calderonista invasion of Costa Rica (1955)
 * Vietnam War (1955–1975)

1960s

 * Rhodesian Bush War (1964–1979)
 * Congo Crisis (1960–1965)
 * Portuguese Colonial War (1961–1974)
 * Eritrean War of Independence (1961–1991)
 * Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961)
 * Araguaia Guerrilla War (1966–1975)
 * South African Border War (1966–1990)
 * Six-Day War (1967)
 * War of Attrition (1967–1970)
 * Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970)
 * Moro conflict (1969–2019)
 * The Troubles

1970s

 * Bangladesh Liberation War (1971)
 * Yom Kippur War (1973)
 * Cyprus Peace Operation (Invasion of Cyprus) (1974)
 * Ethiopian Civil War (1974–1991)
 * Operation Independence (1975–1977)
 * Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990)
 * Western Sahara War (1975–1991)
 * Angolan Civil War (1975–2002)
 * Shaba II (1978)
 * Salvadoran Civil War (1979–1992)

1980s

 * Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988)
 * Falklands War (1982)
 * Bougainville conflict (1988–1998)
 * 1989 attack on La Tablada barracks

1990s

 * Gulf War (1990–1991)
 * Rwandan Civil War (1990–1994)
 * Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995)
 * Burundian Civil War (1993–2005)
 * Cenepa War (1995)
 * First Congo War (1996–1997)

2000s

 * Kivu conflict (2004–present)
 * Insurgency in Paraguay (2005 – present)
 * Mexican Drug War (2006–present)
 * Boko Haram insurgency (2009–present)

2010s

 * Rio de Janeiro security crisis (2010)
 * Militias-Comando Vermelho conflict (2010-Present)
 * Libyan Civil War (2011)
 * Syrian Civil War (2011–present)
 * Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013)
 * South Sudanese Civil War (2013–2020)
 * Yemeni Civil War (2014–present)
 * Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen (2015–present)

2020s

 * Russian invasion of Ukraine.
 * Israel–Hamas war (2023)
 * Sudanese civil war (2023–present)

General and cited references

 * Afonso, Aniceto and Gomes, Carlos de Matos (2000). Guerra Colonial.
 * Chanoff, David; Doan Van Toai. Vietnam, A Portrait of its People at War. London: Taurus & Co, 1996. ISBN 1-86064-076-1.
 * Ezell, Clinton. Small Arms of the World, Stackpole Books, 1983.
 * Hellenic Army General Staff / Army History Directorate (Γενικό Επιτελείο Στρατού / Διεύθυνση Ιστορίας Στρατού) . "The Armament of Greek Army 1868–2000" ("Οπλισμός Ελληνικού Στρατού 1868 2000"), Athens, Greece, 2000.
 * Pikula, Maj. Sam. The Armalite AR-10, 1998.
 * Sazanidis, Christos (1995). Arms of the Greeks (Τα όπλα των Ελλήνων) . Thessaloniki, Greece: Maiandros (Μαίανδρος). ISBN 978-960-90213-0-2.
 * Stevens, R. Blake. The FAL Rifle Classic Edition. Cobourg, Ontario, Canada: Collector Grade Publications, 1993. ISBN 0-88935-168-6.
 * Stevens, R. Blake. More on the Fabled FAL: A Companion to the FAL Rifle. Cobourg, Ontario, Canada: Collector Grade Publications, 2011. ISBN 978-0-88935-534-7.
 * Stevens, R. Blake. The FAL Rifle Classic Edition. Cobourg, Ontario, Canada: Collector Grade Publications, 1993. ISBN 0-88935-168-6.
 * Stevens, R. Blake. More on the Fabled FAL: A Companion to the FAL Rifle. Cobourg, Ontario, Canada: Collector Grade Publications, 2011. ISBN 978-0-88935-534-7.

title: FN FAL


text:
Thunder

Thunder is the sound caused by lightning. Depending upon the distance from and nature of the lightning, it can range from a long, low rumble to a sudden, loud crack. The sudden increase in temperature and hence pressure caused by the lightning produces rapid expansion of the air in the path of a lightning bolt. In turn, this expansion of air creates a sonic shock wave, often referred to as a "thunderclap" or "peal of thunder". The scientific study of thunder is known as brontology and the irrational fear (phobia) of thunder is called brontophobia.

Etymology
The d in Modern English thunder (from earlier Old English þunor) is epenthetic, and is now found as well in Modern Dutch donder (cf. Middle Dutch donre; also Old Norse þorr, Old Frisian þuner, Old High German donar, all ultimately descended from Proto-Germanic *þunraz). In Latin the term was tonare "to thunder". The name of the Nordic god Thor comes from the Old Norse word for thunder.

The shared Proto-Indo-European root is *tón-r̥ or *, also found in Gaulish Taranis.

Cause
The cause of thunder has been the subject of centuries of speculation and scientific inquiry. Early thinking was that it was made by deities, but the ancient Greek philosophers attributed it to natural causes, such as wind striking clouds (Anaximander, Aristotle) and movement of air within clouds (Democritus). The Roman philosopher Lucretius held it was from the sound of hail colliding within clouds. By the mid-19th century, the accepted theory was that lightning produced a vacuum and that the collapse of that vacuum produced what is known as thunder.

Scientists have agreed since the 20th century that thunder must begin with a shock wave in the air due to the sudden thermal expansion of the plasma in the lightning channel. The temperature inside the lightning channel, measured by spectral analysis, varies during its 50 μs existence, rising sharply from an initial temperature of about 20,000 K to about 30,000 K, then dropping away gradually to about 10,000 K. The average is about 20400 K. This heating causes a rapid outward expansion, impacting the surrounding cooler air at a speed faster than sound would otherwise travel. The resultant outward-moving pulse is a shock wave, similar in principle to the shock wave formed by an explosion, or at the front of a supersonic aircraft. Near the source, the sound pressure level of thunder is usually 165 to 180 dB, but can exceed 200 dB in some cases.

Experimental studies of simulated lightning have produced results largely consistent with this model, though there is continued debate about the precise physical mechanisms of the process. Other causes have also been proposed, relying on electrodynamic effects of the enormous current acting on the plasma in the bolt of lightning.

Consequences
The shock wave in thunder is sufficient to cause property damage and injury, such as internal contusion, to individuals nearby Thunder can rupture the eardrums of people nearby, leading to permanently impaired hearing. Even if not, it can lead to temporary deafness.

Types
Vavrek et al. (n.d.) reported that the sounds of thunder fall into categories based on loudness, duration, and pitch. Claps are loud sounds lasting 0.2 to 2 seconds and containing higher pitches. Peals are sounds changing in loudness and pitch. Rolls are irregular mixtures of loudness and pitches. Rumbles are less loud, last for longer (up to more than 30 seconds), and are of low pitch.

Inversion thunder results when lightning strikes between cloud and ground occur during a temperature inversion; the resulting thunder sounds have significantly greater acoustic energy than from the same distance in a non-inversion condition. In an inversion, the air near the ground is cooler than the higher air; inversions often occur when warm moist air passes above a cold front. Within a temperature inversion, the sound energy is prevented from dispersing vertically as it would in a non-inversion and is thus concentrated in the near-ground layer.

Cloud-to-ground lightning (CG) typically consists of two or more return strokes, from ground to cloud. Later return strokes have greater acoustic energy than the first.

Perception
The most noticeable aspect of lightning and thunder is that the lightning is seen before the thunder is heard. This is a consequence of the speed of light being much greater than the speed of sound. The speed of sound in dry air is approximately 343 m/s or 1236 km/h at 20 C.

This translates to approximately 3 s/km; saying "one thousand and one... one thousand and two..." is a useful method of counting the seconds from the perception of a given lightning flash to the perception of its thunder (which can be used to gauge the proximity of lightning for the sake of safety). To estimate the distance from the lightning strike, divide the counted seconds by five for miles, or three for kilometers.

A very bright flash of lightning and an almost simultaneous sharp "crack" of thunder, a thundercrack, therefore indicates that the lightning strike was very near.

Close-in lightning has been described first as a clicking or cloth-tearing sound, then a cannon shot sound or loud crack/snap, followed by continuous rumbling. The early sounds are from the leader parts of lightning, then the near parts of the return stroke, then the distant parts of the return stroke.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Thunder


text:
Talk:Manche

How to edit
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For the Prison Break character? That's just embarrassing. Even if he's the only other "Manche" (and he's not - we could at least have a link to English Channel, among other things, we should create a disambiguation page. john k (talk) 16:02, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

title: Talk:Manche


text:
Colt AR-15

The Colt AR-15 is a lightweight, magazine-fed, gas-operated semi-automatic rifle. It is a semi-automatic version of the M16 rifle sold for the civilian and law enforcement markets in the United States. The AR in AR-15 stands for "ArmaLite Rifle", after the company that developed it in the 1950s. Colt's Manufacturing Company currently owns the AR-15 trademark for its line of semi-automatic AR-15 rifles.

History

Due to financial problems, and limitations in terms of manpower and production capacity, ArmaLite sold the AR-15 design and the AR-15 trademark along with the ArmaLite AR-10 to Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1959. Colt started selling the semi-automatic version of the M16 rifle as the Colt AR-15 in 1964. The first mass production version was the Colt AR-15 Sporter, in .223 Remington, with a 20-inch barrel, issued with 5-round magazines. Colt has since made many different models of AR-15 rifle and carbine models, including the AR-15, AR-15A2, AR-15A3, AR-15A4, and others.

Sale of new AR-15s in the US was banned by the Federal Assault Weapons Ban from 1994 to 2004. Colt and others continued to sell legally compliant versions during that period. On September 20, 2019, Colt announced that it would no longer produce the AR-15 for private use, due to market saturation. It would still produce the AR-15 for police and military units. By May 2020, changed market conditions encouraged Colt to resume production for sales to private users.

Operating mechanism
describes the cycling mechanism used in the original AR-15. The bolt carrier acts as a movable cylinder and the bolt itself acts as a piston. This mechanism is often called "direct gas impingement", although that is now considered to be a misconception. The mechanism is now referred to as an "internal gas piston operating system".

Gas is tapped from the barrel as the bullet moves past a gas port located above the rifle's front sight base. The gas expands into the port and down a gas tube, located above the barrel that runs from the front sight base into the AR-15's upper receiver. Here, the gas tube protrudes into a "gas key" (bolt carrier key), which accepts the gas and funnels it into the bolt carrier.

At this point, the bolt is locked into the barrel extension by locking lugs, so the expanding gas forces the bolt carrier backward a short distance. As the bolt carrier moves toward the butt of the gun, the bolt cam pin, riding in a slot on the bolt carrier, forces the bolt to rotate and thus unlocks it from the barrel extension. Once the bolt is fully unlocked, it begins its rearward movement along with the bolt carrier. The bolt's rearward motion extracts the empty cartridge case from the chamber. As soon as the neck of the case clears the barrel extension, the bolt's spring-loaded ejector forces it out the ejection port in the side of the upper receiver.

Behind the bolt carrier is a plastic or metal buffer, which rests in line with a return spring. The buffer spring begins to push the bolt carrier and bolt back toward the chamber once it is compressed sufficiently. A groove machined into the upper receiver guides the bolt cam pin and prevents it and the bolt from rotating into a closed position. The bolt's locking lugs push a fresh round from the magazine as the bolt moves forward. The round is guided by feed ramps into the chamber. As the bolt's locking lugs move past the barrel extension, the cam pin twists into a pocket milled into the upper receiver. This twisting action follows the groove cut into the carrier and forces the bolt to twist and "lock" into the barrel extension.

Upper receivers
The upper receiver incorporates the hand guard, the charging handle, the forward assist, the gas operating system, the barrel, the bolt and bolt carrier assembly. AR-15s employ a modular design. Thus one upper receiver can quickly and easily be substituted for another. Upper receivers are available with barrels of different weights, lengths, calibers, and rail systems with various sights and accessories. The standard AR-15 rifle uses a 20 in barrel. Although, both shorter 16 in carbine barrels and longer 24 in target barrels are also available.

Early models had barrels with a 1:12 rate of twist for the original .223 Remington, 55 gr bullets. Current models have barrels with a 1:9 or 1:7 twist rate for the 5.56×45mm NATO, 62 gr bullets.

Lower receivers
The lower receiver incorporates the magazine well, the pistol grip, the buttstock, the buffer and the buffer spring. The lower receiver also contains the trigger, disconnector, hammer and fire selector (collectively known as the fire control group). Full-sized rifles use a fixed buttstock, while carbines generally use an adjustable telescoping buttstock.

The early commercial SP-1 AR-15s used a pair of 0.250 in diameter receiver push pins, identical to those found on the military rifles. In 1966 the company replaced the front pin with a paired nut and screw hinge using a 0.315 in pin to prevent shooters from being able to change receivers with military rifles or competitor rifles without the use of an adapter. They resumed production with the smaller and standardized 0.250-inch pin in the mid-1990s.

Sights
The AR-15's most distinctive ergonomic feature is the carrying handle and rear sight assembly on top of the receiver. This is a by-product of the original ArmaLite design, where the carry handle served to protect the charging handle. As the line of sight is 2.5 in over the bore, the AR-15 has an inherent parallax problem. At closer ranges (typically inside 15–20 meters), the shooter must compensate by aiming high to place shots where desired. The standard AR-15 rifle has a 500 mm sight radius. The AR-15 uses an L-type flip, aperture rear sight and it is adjustable with two settings, 0 to 300 meters and 300 to 400 meters. The front sight is a post adjustable for elevation. The rear sight can be adjusted for windage. The sights can be adjusted with a bullet tip or pointed tool. The AR-15 can also mount a scope on the carrying handle. With the advent of the AR-15A2, a new fully adjustable rear sight was added, allowing the rear sight to be dialed in for specific range settings between 300 and 800 meters and to allow windage adjustments without the need of a tool or cartridge. Current versions such as AR-15A4 have a detachable carrying handle and use Picatinny rails, which allows for the use of various scopes and sighting devices.

Muzzle devices
Colt AR-15 rifles most often have a barrel threaded in $1/2$″-28 threads to incorporate the use of a muzzle device such as a flash suppressor, sound suppressor or muzzle brake. The initial design, the "duckbill," had three tines or prongs and was prone to breakage and getting entangled in vegetation. The design was later changed to close the end to avoid this problem. Eventually, on the A2 version of the rifle, the bottom port was closed to reduce muzzle climb and prevent dust from rising when the rifle was fired in the prone position. For these reasons, the US military declared this muzzle device a compensator, but it is more commonly known as the "GI", "A2", or "Birdcage" muzzle device. The standard AR15 muzzle device conforms to the STANAG dimensional requirements for firing 22 mm rifle grenades.

Magazines
The Colt AR-15 uses 20- or 30-round staggered-column detachable box magazines. Low-capacity 5- or 10-round magazines are also available to comply with legal restrictions, for hunting, for benchrest shooting or where a larger magazine can be inconvenient.

Comparison to military versions
The primary distinction between civilian semi-automatic rifles and military models is select fire. Military rifles were produced with firing modes, semi-automatic fire and either fully automatic fire mode or burst fire mode, in which the rifle fires three rounds in succession when the trigger is depressed. Most components are interchangeable between semi-auto and select fire rifles including magazines, sights, upper receiver, barrels and accessories. The military M4 carbine typically uses a 14.5 in barrel. Civilian rifles commonly have 16-inch or longer barrels to comply with the National Firearms Act.

In order to prevent a civilian semi-automatic AR-15 from being readily converted for use with the select fire components, Colt changed a number of features. Parts changed include the lower receiver, bolt carrier, hammer, trigger, disconnector, and safety/mode selector. The semi-automatic bolt carrier has a longer lightening slot to prevent the bolt's engagement with an automatic sear. Due to a decrease in mass the buffer spring is heavier. On the select fire version, the hammer has an extra spur which interacts with the additional auto-sear that holds it back until the bolt carrier group is fully in battery, when automatic fire is selected. Using a portion of the select fire parts in a semi-automatic rifle will not enable a select fire option. As designed by Colt the pins supporting the semi-auto trigger and hammer in the lower receiver are larger than those used in the military rifle to prevent interchangeability between semi-automatic and select fire components.

AR-15 style rifle
After Colt's patents expired in 1977, other manufacturers began to copy the design of the Colt AR-15. The term "AR-15" is a Colt registered trademark which it uses only to refer to its line of semi-automatic rifles. Other manufacturers marketed generic AR-15s under other designations, frequently referred to as AR-15s, as are some rifles and carbines not based on the AR-15 design.

AR-15 style rifles are available in a wide range of configurations and calibers from a large number of manufacturers. These configurations range from standard full-size rifles with 20-inch barrels, to short carbine-length models with 16-inch barrels, adjustable length stocks and optical sights, to long range target models with 24-inch barrels, bipods and high-powered scopes. These rifles may also have short-stroke gas piston system, forgoing the direct gas system standard in AR-15 rifles. These calibers include 5.56×45mm NATO, 5.7×28mm, 6.8mm Remington SPC, .300 Blackout, 9×19mm Parabellum and .458 SOCOM to name a few.

Use in mass shootings
From April 28 to 29, 1996, Martin Bryant killed 35 and injured 23 in the Port Arthur massacre, during which he used a Colt AR-15 and a 7.62 L1A1 SLR. It was the worst mass shooting in modern Australian history and resulted in the 1996 National Firearms Agreement.

Legality
The Colt AR-15 is banned by name in California with a list of additional AR-style and AK-style firearms in the Kasler v. Lockyer Assault Weapons List. This list deems the Colt AR-15, as well as the Armalite AR-15, Bushmaster XM-15, DPMS Panther, and many other AR-pattern rifles as assault weapons by name, thus illegal to own/possess in the state of California.

New Jersey passed its own assault weapon ban in 1990, becoming the second state to ban the firearm by name after California. New Jersey's ban also included any firearm with similar functional or cosmetic features, and many toys and imitations that are aesthetically similar. This legislation is still standing as of March 2023 (with additions to the ban over time).

Connecticut passed its original assault weapon ban in 1993, becoming the third state to ban the firearm by name.

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban was passed by Congress on August 25, 1994, largely mirroring the more restrictive aspects of the legislation found in the three preceding state-level bans. This was a 10-year ban on many firearms by name, including the Colt AR-15. The ban expired on September 13, 2004, in accordance with its sunset clause (which required satisfactory evidence of a positive impact on crime for renewal of the ban).

While the aforementioned federal ban was still active, four states followed suit with assault weapon bans of their own (including Maryland). One state enacted this legislation after the federal ban's expiry. Two states have also enacted restrictions on ownership without specific bans thereof.

Washington, D.C., also has an effective ban on the ownership and possession of the Colt AR-15.

title: Colt AR-15


text:
Talk:Haute-Marne

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Untitled
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title: Talk:Haute-Marne


text:
Talk:Mayenne

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Diocese
The Department of Mayenne is not under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Diocese of Le Mans. Mayenne is coincident with the Diocese of Laval, established in 1855 : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Laval.

200.12.130.226 (talk) 10:35, 25 February 2019 (UTC)
 * Thanks for picking that up. I fixed it. Eric talk 13:22, 25 February 2019 (UTC)

title: Talk:Mayenne


text:
Talk:Meurthe-et-Moselle

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External links modified (January 2018)
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title: Talk:Meurthe-et-Moselle


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Talk:Morbihan

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External links modified (February 2018)
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title: Talk:Morbihan


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Talk:Moselle (department)

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Dukes of Moselle
I'm coming across the Dukes of Moselle in the early genealogies of Charlemagne. Can anyone enlighten me as to their origins? Proberton (talk) 14:20, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Move discussion in progress
There is a move discussion in progress on Talk:Moselle (river) which affects this page. Please participate on that page and not in this talk page section. Thank you. —RMCD bot 17:15, 13 June 2014 (UTC)

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Merged Lachambre to this Article
I suggest that the Lachambre article should be to this article. Besides the fact that it's one of Moselle's departments. 4lepheus B4ron (talk) 13:51, 7 September 2023 (UTC)
 * Oppose; occupied places are usually notable, and it unclear why the case is being made for this one and not the 725 others listed in Category:Communes of Moselle (department). Klbrain (talk) 13:30, 11 October 2023 (UTC)
 * Closing, given the uncontested objection and no support, with stale discussion. Klbrain (talk) 12:31, 9 December 2023 (UTC)

title: Talk:Moselle (department)


text:
Talk:Nièvre

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title: Talk:Nièvre


text:
Bamapana

In Yolngu mythology, Bamapana is a trickster god who causes discord. He is obscene and profane and once committed incest, thus breaking a strict taboo.

title: Bamapana


text:
Talk:Nord (French department)

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Border
Doesn't the Nord department share a border with the Somme? Mjroots (talk) 08:34, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

title: Talk:Nord (French department)


text:
Talk:Oise

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Auvers-sur-Oise
...is not in the Oise département, but in Val-d'Oise. Mats (talk) 12:58, 30 May 2011 (UTC)

Demonym
In the text, there is a question "why" for the name of the inhabitants: "Natives of the department are called Isariens"

Changes made to the text: 1) Call them "inhabitants" 2) Note that the name derives from the Latin name for the river: Isara (Ysera, Isera) 3) Note that the French wiki also says they are called Oisiens ou Isariens — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.174.69.66 (talk) 05:08, 15 April 2018 (UTC)

title: Talk:Oise


text:
Talk:Orne

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title: Talk:Orne


text:
Talk:Pas-de-Calais

[Untitled]
Wondering how to edit this département entry? The WikiProject French departements standards might help. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mav (talk • contribs) 17:31, 28 September 2002 (UTC)

The map on this page is a bit confusing: it seems to only include the eastern part of the area. Shouldn't it include Calais at least? ( 17:24, 31 Aug 2003 (UTC)

I think the problem is that a 2nd map has been uploaded for a different article, but with the same name. ( 17:27, 31 Aug 2003 (UTC)
 * The previous map was for Lens, France. Hemmer 21:54, 3 Sep 2003 (UTC)

Dialects
This article states that by the 15th Century Romance dialects had completely replaced Middle Dutch in the area. However a Dutch dialect is still spoken in the region by a significant minority, so is this untrue or has Dutch returned since the 15th Century? Booshank 21:12, 1 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Untrue, but this pleases people's nationalistic fibre if they consider themselves french, it's a bit like french politicos using the "no breton east of Vannes" trick when it's well known it was still spoken, including in some poor neighbourhoods of Nantes and Rennes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.53.136.141 (talk) 09:19, 16 October 2009 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page or its Wikidata item has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the. —Community Tech bot (talk) 10:45, 2 January 2021 (UTC)
 * Louvre-Lens-night.jpg

title: Talk:Pas-de-Calais


text:
Talk:Puy-de-Dôme

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title: Talk:Puy-de-Dôme


text:
Talk:Hautes-Pyrénées

Untitled
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title: Talk:Hautes-Pyrénées


text:
Bobbi-Bobbi

In myths of the Binbinga people of northern Australia, Bobbi-Bobbi was a supernatural being who lived in the heavens in the Dreamtime. He was a huge snake, similar to the Rainbow Serpent, and was originally benevolent towards humans. From the heavens, he saw that humans needed more than just water to survive, so he created flying foxes for them to catch and eat. When the bats flew too high for the humans to catch them, Bobbi-Bobbi removed one of his own ribs and gave it to humans who used it as the first ever boomerang.

According to the tradition, some humans were not satisfied with these gifts and anxious to see what heaven looked like. Two men pretended they wanted to open a hole in the sky and thank Bobbi-Bobbi personally. They hurled the rib-boomerang and tore a huge hole in the clouds which startled Bobbi-Bobbi so much that he failed to catch the boomerang which fell back to Earth and killed the foolish men. This was the first time that Death had visited the human race, so Bobbi-Bobbi has remained aloof in heaven ever since, making no more attempts to help humans.

title: Bobbi-Bobbi


text:
Talk:Bas-Rhin

How to
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Napoleonic era
According to the French article, for a brief time during the Napoleonic era, the département may have larger than it is right now. Ranma9617 17:52, 2 September 2005 (UTC)
 * Yes, Bas-Rhin also included the district of Landau. Papatt (talk) 22:43, 31 December 2008 (UTC)

First Annexion by France
It might be mentionend that first annexation of this region by France was in political cooperation and coordination with Turkey, i.e. the Osman Empire, when theese troops were invading the Eastern part of Austria and Germany, and Vienna was under siege. --178.10.209.64 (talk) 19:48, 26 September 2015 (UTC)

External links modified
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language
Is the local language actually German? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.147.89.128 (talk) 10:22, 7 August 2020 (UTC)

title: Talk:Bas-Rhin


text:
Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota

Yellow Medicine County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its eastern border is formed by the Minnesota River. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,528. Its county seat is Granite Falls.

The Upper Sioux Indian Reservation, related to the historical Yellow Medicine Agency that was here, is entirely within the county. It was established under the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux in 1851, by which the Dakota ceded much territory in the region to the United States.

History
The county was established by the Minnesota legislature on March 6, 1871, with Granite Falls as the county seat. Its name comes from Yellow Medicine River, which runs through the eastern part of the county to the Minnesota. The river's name derives from the moonseed plant, Menispermum canadense, whose yellow root the native Dakota people used for medicinal purposes.

It was proposed in 1878 to create a new county, taken from the western portions of Yellow Medicine, Lincoln, and Lac qui Parle counties. The state legislature approved the petition (subject to local voter approval), and Governor Pillsbury signed the act on February 27, 1879, but the proposal failed to garner a combined majority of votes in the three counties, and the proposed Canby County did not come into being.

Geography
Yellow Medicine County lies on the west side of Minnesota. Its west border abuts the state of South Dakota. The Minnesota River flows east-southeast along the county's northeast side on its way to discharge into the Mississippi River. The Yellow Medicine River flows northeast through the eastern part of the county, discharging into the Minnesota near the midpoint of the county's eastern border. The Stony Run Creek flows east through the northeast part of the county; the Florida Creek flows northeast through the west end of the county, and the Lac qui Parle River also flows northeast through the west central part of the county. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, carved by drainages. The area is devoted to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the east and slightly to the north; its highest point is on the west border, near its SW corner, at 1,732 ft ASL. The county has an area of 763 sqmi, of which 759 sqmi is land and 4.1 sqmi (0.5%) is water.

Lakes

 * Burton Lake
 * Culver Lake (part)
 * Curtis Lake
 * Highbank Lake
 * Kvistid Lake
 * Lake Louie
 * Lone Tree Lake
 * Miedd Lake
 * Miller Lake
 * Mud Lake
 * Spellman Lake
 * Timm Lake
 * Tyson Lake
 * Wood Lake

Rivers and drainages

 * Florida Creek
 * Lac qui Parle River
 * Minnesota River
 * Spring Creek
 * Stony Run Creek
 * Yellow Medicine River

Major highways

 * [[Image:US 59.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 59
 * [[Image:US 75.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 75
 * [[Image:US 212 (MN).svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 212
 * [[Image:MN-23.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 23
 * [[Image:MN-67.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 67
 * [[Image:MN-68.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 68
 * [[Image:MN-167_wide.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 167
 * [[Image:MN-274.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 274 (decommissioned in 2022)

Adjacent counties

 * Lac qui Parle County - north
 * Chippewa County - northeast
 * Renville County - east
 * Redwood County - southeast
 * Lyon County - south
 * Lincoln County - southwest
 * Deuel County, South Dakota - west

Protected areas

 * Bigrock State Wildlife Management Area
 * Christopherson State Wildlife Management Area
 * Clawson State Wildlife Management Area
 * Flinks State Wildlife Management Area
 * Miller-Richter State Wildlife Management Area
 * Mound Springs Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
 * Omro State Wildlife Management Area
 * Oshkosh State Wildlife Management Area
 * Penthole State Wildlife Management Area
 * Posen State Wildlife Management Area
 * Saint Leo State Wildlife Management Area
 * Sioux Nation State Wildlife Management Area
 * Stokke State Wildlife Management Area
 * Stony Run State Wildlife Management Area
 * Swedes Forest Scientific and Natural Area (part)
 * Upper Sioux Agency State Park

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,080 people, 4,439 households, and 2,974 families in the county. The population density was 14.6 /mi2. There were 4,873 housing units at an average density of 6.42 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 96.09% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 2.04% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 36.5% were of Norwegian and 34.6% German ancestry.

There were 4,439 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 5.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 29.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

The county population contained 25.80% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 24.20% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 20.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,393, and the median income for a family was $42,002. Males had a median income of $27,770 versus $20,870 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,120. About 7.10% of families and 10.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.40% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Canby
 * Clarkfield
 * Echo
 * Granite Falls (county seat; partly in Chippewa County)
 * Hanley Falls
 * Hazel Run
 * Porter
 * St. Leo
 * Wood Lake

Unincorporated communities

 * Burr (original name Stanley)
 * Lorne
 * Normania
 * Spring Creek

Townships

 * Burton Township
 * Echo Township
 * Florida Township
 * Fortier Township
 * Friendship Township
 * Hammer Township
 * Hazel Run Township
 * Lisbon Township
 * Minnesota Falls Township
 * Norman Township
 * Normania Township
 * Omro Township
 * Oshkosh Township
 * Posen Township
 * Sandnes Township
 * Sioux Agency Township
 * Stony Run Township
 * Swede Prairie Township
 * Tyro Township
 * Wergeland Township
 * Wood Lake Township

Government and politics
Yellow Medicine County has recently been a swing county in national elections. Since 1980, the county has selected the Republican Party candidate in 56% of national elections (as of 2020). The county gave a majority to Barack Obama in 2008, but has trended more Republican in recent cycles.

title: Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota


text:
Talk:Haut-Rhin

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Alsace region
Hi, Since the new French reformation of administrative regions has been acted, the administrative region named Alsace does not exist anymore, thus leading to the traditional conception of Alsace that is the 3 districts of Haut Rhin, Bas Rhin and Territoire de Belfort. So now the conception that remains about the territory is about the traditionnal area. The question as been discussed on the French page: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alsace. I guess the contributors on the French article are well aware about this issue. And I would add, that an administrative change does not effect the conception of a HISTORICAL region I am more than happy to contribute about this issue in a civil and polite way, as many ideas could emerge through discussion. But cancelling edits with ironic comments are not very helpful nor constructive.--Gabriel HM (talk) 10:02, 17 June 2016 (UTC)
 * But Territoire de Belfort was only called so after it was detached from Alsace and rattached to France-Comté. Before, it didn't exist as a department or a separate territory, it was simply a part of Haut-Rhin. I don't know you personally but my impression is that you are more familiar with other regions of France than with Alsace. --Edelseider (talk) 10:11, 17 June 2016 (UTC)
 * I am not here to make any personal judgements or attacks, this is not the place, so please refrain to do so. You are indeed making a confusion about the notion of historical and administrative region . But perhaps according to you all the contributors of the Alsace article in the French wiki are not as informed as you are about this issue as well.... TDB was part of the sundgau (see this map from 1648). So if you are talking about the historical Alsace it is 68,67, and TDB. It is not because the area has been administratively detached from Alsace in 1871 because of the treaty of Frankfurt, that it has an impact on a historical region. Finally it looks that I know my region pretty well ;)--Gabriel HM (talk) 10:26, 17 June 2016 (UTC)

 * (after edit conflict) Try to follow. It's not difficult. You wrote that Haut-Rhin is one of the three departments that composed the historical Alsace. In reality, Alsace was always composed of two departements. The third one, Territoire de Belfort, was made into a department after it was detached from Alsace. What you want to say is: the historic territory (not the administrative or political but the geographical entity) once covered these three departments of today. But that doesn't mean the same as saying (as you did) that Alsace was composed of three departments. Because it never was!
 * I promise that I'll never edit any article on the Maurienne territory because I know nothing about it. You should be so humble about Alsace, too. --Edelseider (talk) 10:36, 17 June 2016 (UTC)
 * I do not follow your edits as it seems that you are doing with mine on several wiki since for exemple my edits about maurienne are mostly in French... But as you are a French speaking user regarding my tracking, and the French sources that you gave in the articles where we contribute jointly, let me tell you that what you are doing is called "rétropédalage". Indeed, I have never said that TDB was a department, on the contrary on my edit that you have cancelled scornfully I talked about 2 department and a territory that were forming the historical region as you are well aware that a province is a historical conception, (but maybe that was too "technical" for you). It is you on the contrary that kept making the confusion between the administrative region and the historical one on your edits and comments until I had to show you historical maps and other articles. So please refrain to try to teach me a historical course about Alsace. Maybe you learned that Belfort was part of the Sundgau too :) .And indeed as I wrote in my former edit, there are others departments that are more densely populated. Please next time before cancelling edits with those kind of comments, take the time to discuss, and I don't get the impression that you are so "humble" when I look to your actions on this particular issue. Bonne continuation, .--Gabriel HM (talk) 11:00, 17 June 2016 (UTC)

title: Talk:Haut-Rhin


text:
Wright County, Minnesota

Wright County is a county in the East Central part of the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 141,337. Its county seat is Buffalo. The county was founded in 1855. Wright County is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area. In terms of population, Wright County is the tenth-largest county in Minnesota and the fastest growing.

History
The county was established in 1855, and was named for New York politician Silas Wright. The first county seat was Monticello; in 1868 the county seat was changed to Buffalo. Most of the area's first settlers were of German and Swedish origin. The county's population in 1860 was 3,729; in 1875, it was 13,775.

The 1998 thriller A Simple Plan was set in Wright County, though it does not mention a specific town.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has an area of 714 sqmi, of which 661 sqmi is land and 53 sqmi (7.4%) is water. The terrain is undulating and contains numerous small lakes. The county is bounded on the northeast by the Mississippi River. Wright is one of 17 Minnesota savanna region counties with more savanna soils than either prairie or forest soils, and one of only two Minnesota counties where savanna soils make up more than 75% of the county area (the other is Hennepin County).

Major highways

 * [[Image:I-94.svg|20px]] Interstate 94
 * [[Image:US 12.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 12
 * [[Image:US 52.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 52 (runs hidden with I-94)
 * [[Image:MN-24.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 24
 * [[Image:MN-25.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 25
 * [[Image:MN-55.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 55
 * [[Image:MN-101.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 101
 * [[Image:MN-241.svg|20px]] Minnesota State Highway 241

Adjacent counties

 * Sherburne County - northeast
 * Hennepin County - east
 * Carver County - southeast
 * McLeod County - southwest
 * Meeker County - west
 * Stearns County - northwest
 * Anoka County - northeast

2020 census
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

2010
The ethnic makeup of the county, according to the 2010 United States census, was the following:
 * 95.04% White
 * 1.06% Black
 * 0.34% Native American
 * 1.19% Asian
 * 0.04% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
 * 1.53% Two or more races
 * 0.81% Other races
 * 2.45% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 89,986 people, 31,465 households, and 23,913 families in the county. The population density was 136 PD/sqmi. There were 34,355 housing units at an average density of 52 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 97.85% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.3% were of German, 11.9% Norwegian, 7.4% Swedish and 6.6% Irish ancestry.

There were 31465 households, out of which 42.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.50% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 18.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.26.

The county population contained 31.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 32.60% from 25 to 44, 19.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.80% over age 64. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 101.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $53,945, and the median income for a family was $60,940. Males had a median income of $40,630 versus $28,201 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,844. About 3.60% of families and 4.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.50% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities

 * Albertville
 * Annandale
 * Buffalo (county seat)
 * Clearwater
 * Cokato
 * Dayton (Mostly in Hennepin County)
 * Delano
 * Hanover (Small portion in Hennepin County)
 * Howard Lake
 * Maple Lake
 * Monticello
 * Montrose
 * Otsego
 * Rockford (Partly in Hennepin County)
 * South Haven
 * St. Michael
 * Waverly

Townships

 * Albion
 * Buffalo
 * Chatham
 * Clearwater
 * Cokato
 * Corinna
 * Franklin
 * French Lake
 * Maple Lake
 * Marysville
 * Middleville
 * Monticello
 * Rockford
 * Silver Creek
 * Southside
 * Stockholm
 * Victor
 * Woodland

Census-designated place

 * Silver Creek

Other unincorporated communities

 * Albion Center
 * Albright
 * Enfield
 * French Lake
 * Hasty
 * Highland
 * Knapp
 * Oster
 * Rassat
 * Rice Lake
 * Smith Lake
 * Stockholm
 * West Albion

Ghost town

 * Dickinson

title: Wright County, Minnesota