List of Cold War weapons and land equipment of France
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This is a list of weapons of the French Army during the Cold War. During the early period of the Cold War France was fighting colonial wars such as the First Indochina War and the Algerian War the same as other colonial powers of the time like Britain and the Netherlands. Despite France withdrawing from NATO in 1966 it did still cooperate with NATO and made plans to reinforce NATO with French Army units against a Soviet invasion as can be seen from the formation of the Rapid Action Force which was intended to reinforce NATO troops in the event of a conflict.
Rifles
- MAS-36 rifle- Used in World War II by France equipped second line units.
- MAS-49 rifle- Semiauto rifle and main French service rifle of Cold War.
- FAMAS-Automatic bullpup Replaced MAS 49 and MAT 49 in 1978.
Sniper rifles
- MAS-49/56- Introduced in 1936, both the MAS-49 and MAS-49/56 would serve France until 1967 being replaced by the FR F1 sniper. It replaced the MAS-36 in the sniper role.
- FR F1 sniper rifle- Introduced in 1966, the rifle was in use with the French Armed Forces until 1989. Replaced the MAS-49/56.
- FR F2 sniper rifle- Replaced FR F1 near the end of the Cold War in 1986.
Sidearms
- Pistolet automatique modèle 1935A[1]-Standard French sidearm of World War II.
- Pistolet automatique modèle 1935S- French WWII era sidearm.
- MAC Mle 1950- Main French sidearm of the Cold War.
Machine guns
- FM 24/29 light machine gun- Standard French light machine gun of World War II.
- AA-52 machine gun- Standard French machine gun during Cold War.
Submachine guns
Anti-tank weapons
- Super Bazooka
- 73mm LRAC-Entered service in 1950s until being replaced by the LRAC F1.
- LRAC F1-Replaced Super Bazooka in the 1970s.
- MILAN