Submachine gun Halcon M / 943 earlier version, equipped with a wooden butt.
In the 30s Argentine gunsmiths from several organizations have proposed a number of new projects submachine guns, suitable for use in the army, Police and other law enforcement agencies. Some of these products has not received recommendations to the adoption, while others have had limited success and produced relatively small series. The process of creating new weapons continued, and after the start of World War II, Argentina launched the development of the next sub-machine gun. Subsequently, he was named Halcón M / 943.
Before the Second World War, the Argentine command did not see much point in creating or purchase of a large number of submachine guns, giving preference to other classes of weapons. However, such weapons still was in service and has been used by various departments. over time, news from Europe forced the generals to change their minds. Easy automatic weapons under the pistol cartridge well on the battlefields and in practice has proved its worth. After studying the available information about the battles with the participation of European armies, Argentina came to the conclusion that the mass exploitation of submachine guns.
It soon became clear, that in the case of such re-Argentines will have to rely only on themselves. In connection with the declaration of neutrality Argentina was not allowed to join the program Lend-Lease, and friendly countries Axes have not been able to supply the required armaments and equipment. In this situation, the Argentine army could only rely on their own industry.
Technical project on creation of a new Argentine submachine gun appeared in the early 1943 of the year. The military wanted to get an automatic weapon chambered for 9x19 mm "Parabellum", having sufficient firepower at ranges of up to several hundred meters. Special requirements apply to the design complexity: promising sample was different cheapness and ease of mass production. Otherwise, not the richest and most technologically advanced country could face a number of risks.
Fast enough interest in the new program showed police, which also needed a new weapon. By request of law enforcement officers, industry had to develop a submachine gun chambered .45 ACP. Differences between the base of the army and the police version of the weapons were to be found only in ammunition, trunk and automation mechanisms. The rest was necessary to obtain the maximum possible unification.
Partial disassembly of products.
Only a few weeks your perspective submachine gun design proposed a weapons company Fábrica de Armas Halcón (g. Avellaneda), founded in 1941 year. According to some reports, when creating a new weapon, the organization has adopted certain ideas and technical solutions from over an old project of Juan Lenar. Nevertheless, two marked similarity submachine guns could be due to technical features of the job or a limited number of suitable architectures.
Soon submitted samples have been tested and recommended to the adoption. Army and police sub-machine guns got the same name - Halcon M/943 ("Falcon", Countdown. 1943 of the year). This symbol indicates the company-developer, and year of occurrence weapons. Some sources give a different spelling of the index - M-1943. later, adopting the new versions of the existing sub-machine gun, the army and the security forces enter the relevant names similar species.
Project "Alkon" plant offers production of two possible modifications of unified automatic weapons for different pistol cartridges. Both samples should have a simple automatics on the basis of the free lock and trigger mechanism to select fire regime. The overall layout of the weapon and the appearance of some parts without major changes borrowed from an old project Lehnar.
Submachine gun Halcón M / 943 was equipped with a rifled barrel length 292 mm from one of two calibers - 9 mm or 11,43 mm. Dimensions are the same both barrels, however, the relative length of the channels characterized by. A considerable part of the outer surface of the barrel equipped with cooling fins Developed. The diameter of the stem with the ribs increases toward the breech. On the muzzle compensator developed proposed to establish in the form of a cylinder with five slots at the top. With the help of the thickened breech, vmeshtavshey chuck, the trunk was fixed in the receiver.
"Aviation" SMG M / 946.
Automation was placed in the receiver of simple construction, consisting of two major parts. Upper tubular casing intended for installing trunk, and reciprocating shutter mainspring. Left in this casing had a groove for the bolt handle, Right - the window to eject shell casings. Top provided an influx of sight for installation. Installed behind a round cover. The lower part of the box is a rectangular piece, trigger receiving member and having mounts butt. Just joined it with magazine. With incomplete disassembly of weapons of two elements of the receiver disconnects.
The product Halcón M / 943 in both modifications obtained through free automatic shutter. Use a shutter similar configuration, differing from each other and form a mass of mirrors, match the settings compatible cartridge. Besides, army and police samples different characteristics reciprocating mainspring. In both cases, it uses a cylindrical bolt with fixed firing pin, moves inside the top element of the receiver. Cocking of weapons was carried out using the handle on the left side arms. The handle had no rigid connection to the gate and did not move with him during the shooting.
"Falcon" was the trigger mechanism, can fire from the open bolt. There was a translator fire, Allows you to select one of two shooting modes or lock mechanisms. the shooting is controlled by a conventional trigger. To the left of him on the receiver had a check-fuse interpreter fire with three positions.
Sub-machine guns for cartridges of 9x19 mm "Parabellum" and .45 ACP had to use similar stores. For ammunition storage device detachable box offered capacity 17 and 30 rounds. In the basic version of the project Halcón M / 943 offers the easiest store receiver, configured as an average length of shaft, placed under the receiver box. In the future, the device modifies several times. Weapons of the new series could get a simple window or a large reception unit, equipped with lateral plates. This mine could be used as an additional handle for a more comfortable hold weapons.
The product with a metal butt later.
Products of different series and modifications of the family "Alkon" equipped with different types of sights. So, the first sub-machine guns were completed open sights, similar to those used in rifles of the time. With it, one could bombard the target in a wide range of distances. Later relatively complex sight entirely replaced by a simple changeover, calculated at a distance of 150-200 m. At the rear of the muzzle compensator placed unregulated fly.
Initially, submachine guns Halcón M / 943 manned wooden stock rather complex shape. To the rear of the receiver joined pistol grip, integral with the "rifle" butt. In connection with the characteristic design of the receiver back cover its upper casing almost reaches the butt cheeks. Right on the butt had flush antabka. The second end of the strap should be fastened on the side of the barrel ring.
Both versions of weapons, use different ammo, We had similar characteristics. The length of both samples, equipped with wooden furniture, was 850 mm. Weight unloaded weapons - 4,75 kg, with a shop and ammunition - at least 5,5 kg. Through the use of various valves and springs sub-machine guns for the army and police had the same rate - 700 rounds per minute. range characteristics were also similar: Both products can lead efficient fire at ranges up to 150-200 m.
The company Fábrica de Armas Halcón has presented the finished project and some experienced models of weapons under the two cartridges in the same 1943 year. As soon as possible, new products have been tested and have been recommended for use in combat units. At the end of the year there were orders, acceptance Halcón M / 943 by the army and police, as well as orders for the mass production of such weapons.
Submachine gun with a folded "new" butt.
For some time, the Argentine fighters exploited the only two options "Alcona". In the future, there were proposals for new versions of existing weapons with certain differences from baseline samples. So, at 1946 year appeared modification Halcón M / 946, also known as Modelo Aeronautica ("Aviation model"). It has become a regular weapon of self-defense pilots of the Air Force Argentina. Its main difference is in the shortened to 152 mm barrel and folding metal butt. Initially the stock was like a member of the German submachine gun MP 38/40 and formed by turning down. Later adopted a new butt using a bent piece of metal. In the folded position, he was laid on the left side arms.
Due to such processing design weight submachine gun has been reduced to 4 kg. Regardless of the type of the stock, while storing sub-machine gun length can be reduced to 520 mm, that seriously facilitated transport.
Also during normal production fine-tuned and receiving trunk device store. As mentioned, instead of the small size of the receiver short shaft or full-length front handle can be installed. short trunks, designed for the machine pistol arr. 1946 of the year, with a certain amount of time used in the assembly of new modifications of the basic M / 943. The result of this approach has been the emergence of a whole family of small arms. Different samples of its composition had maximum harmonization, but differed in one or other structural elements.
Over time, new high capacity magazines. Such devices are housed box structure 36 or 40 rounds. In the latter case, the body shop had to perform curved. Besides, because of the great length and the lack of rigidity of standard fasteners such a store had to be used only with sub-machine guns, had a receiver in the form of a large handle.
A soldier prepares to fire weapons.
The launch customer for the submachine guns were Halcón Army and police in Argentina. Later, they began to acquire such weapons Gendarmerie and Coast Guard. There is reason to believe, that the appearance of new variants with different configurations was due precisely to the requirements and wishes of new customers. The army wished to obtain a weapon chambered for 9x19 mm "Parabellum", whereas the products used for police ammunition .45 ACP.
Manufacturing machine pistols family "Falcon", According to various sources, It continued until the end of the fifties. Initially they produced only plant in g. Avellaneda, but later attracted to the production of a number of other Argentine plants. FROM 1943 and till the end of the fifties it was collected tens of thousands of submachine guns. Serial weapons are exported only Argentine structures. Foreign countries have not shown any interest in such products and not have to buy them.
Sub-machine guns, "Alkon" entered service a few law enforcement agencies and the armed forces, and quite quickly became the main weapon of its class. appearing in 1943 year, such weapons could get into the fronts of the Second World, however, this has not happened. In connection with certain foreign policy events Argentina for a long time officially remained neutral and strongly refused entry into the war. Officially, she became belligerent only in late March 1945 of the year, but its participation was limited to a search for submarines Germany. Ground troops, armed with sub-machine guns of its own design, not sent to the front.
Subsequently Argentine Army and other structures used weapon family Halcón M / 943 in shooting galleries and preferably at landfills. Nevertheless, for various reasons, these sub-machine guns were used, and in some clashes of the period, caused by political instability in the country.
Shooting of "Alcona".
Serial production of arms of the family Halcón M / 943 started to collapse in the late fifties with the advent of the order on the release of the newer systems. To replace the submachine gun arr. 1943 , the new model has come, put into service in 1957. Soon after the release of older products was stopped, Argentina and weapon industry focused all their efforts on the new weapon.
Over the next few years the army and law enforcement agencies received a new sub-machine guns, performing parallel writing off obsolete weapons. By the mid-sixties, the replacement process has been completed. "Falcons" completely out of operation. A significant part of these weapons can be disposed of as useless, but individual samples could become museum exhibits or get into private collections, so that they could live up to the present day. The remaining samples family Halcón M / 943 products show, as a changed sub-machine gun structure as it develops and the improvements in accordance with the customers wishes.
For various reasons,, Argentine command, previously underestimated submachine guns, aware of the their favor only in the early forties. the development of new weapons of this class has been launched, soon complete success. Army and other organizations obtained their weapons and carried out the necessary upgrading. By itself, and taking into account the available conditions submachine gun Halcón M / 943 has turned out very successful. This allowed it to operate for two decades and get the desired results. Nevertheless, Over time, this weapon is out of date and require replacement.
