[For information on a special FAL, check out our article on theSpringfield Armory SAR-48.]
By contrast, some of the Argentine troops notably commandos and scouts carried a domestically made SMG.
Some early accounts even misidentified the compact weapon as an Israeli Uzi, which it does resemble.
The Argentine FMK-3 was developed to replace theirM3 Grease Gunclone, called the P.A.M 1. The blowback-operated SMG first saw use in Argentina’s “Dirty War” and later in the Falklands War of 1982.
However, it was in fact the FMK-3, which had only entered service eight years before the conflict.
The firearm was chambered for the same9x19mm Parabellum cartridgeas the Uzi, but was slightly larger and heavier.
The select-fire model also added a grip safety.
The FMK (below) fires the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge, as does the Sterling above it. These weapons faced each other in 1982’s war for the Falkland Islands.
As with the preceding firearms, the PA-3 DM was chambered for the 9x19mm cartridge.
The latter version was designated FMK-3 Mod 2, following the Argentine military nomenclature of the era.
The barrel was 11.4 with six grooves in a right-hand twist.
The FMK-3 charging handle is located on the left side of the firearm. The barrel was designed to allow the attachment of a suppressor or grenade launcher.
If not pressed, the bolt was blocked from closing.
It was fed from double-stack 25-, 32- and 40-round detachable box magazines, and featured flip-up iron sights.
Total production, which began in 1975 and continued until 1993, was around 85,000 units.
While lacking fine craftsmanship, the utilitarian FMK-3 was nevertheless reliable with its stamped steel manufacturing process.
As noted, the FMK-3 was certainly among the weapons employed by Argentine forces during the 10-week-long Falklands War.
The FMK-3 likely also saw use in the civil wars in Guatemala and El Salvador.
As recently as 2010, it had been employed by private security personnel in the latter Central American nation.
The fire selector switch was located on the left side of the FMK-3. It had three positions: safe, semi-automatic and automatic.
Though not a perfect weapon, it is still reliable and is chambered for the popular 9mm cartridge.
But it has also only appeared in a handful of films, mostly low-budget action yarns.
The SMG makes an appearance in the 1995 sequelDetonator II: Night Watchand is likely the same firearm.
The FMK-3 is frequently compared to the Uzi (top), a family of influential Israeli blowback-operated submachine guns.
South American police and military services in Central and South America used the FMK-3. In addition to Argentina, Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Uruguay all used the SMG.
