ANZAC Weapons
These are some but not all of the weapons used only by ANZAC forces in Vietnam. The ANZAC also used many US weapons like the M16 and the M1911A1
| Factions | Weapon | Icon | Classes | Ammo | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | Headshot | |||||
 ANZAC |
 L1A1 |
 |
 Assault |
20+1 / 60 | 44 | 107 |
ANZAC |
 L1A1 SASR |
 |
Assault |
30+1 / 90 | 44 | 107 |
ANZAC |
 L2A1 |
 |
 Gunner |
30+1 / 90 | 44 | 107 |
ANZAC |
 F1 |
 |
 Medic Engineer Radioman |
34 / 102 | 35 | 84 |
ANZAC |
 Owen Gun |
 |
Medic Engineer Radioman |
32 / 96 | 35 | 84 |
ANZAC |
 Sterling L2A3 |
 |
Medic Engineer Radioman |
34 / 102 | 36 | 86 |
ANZAC |
 L34A1 SASR |
 |
Medic Engineer Radioman |
34 / 102 | 34 | 81 |
ANZAC |
 Browning Hi-Power |
 |
Everyone Except Sniper |
13+1 / 13 | 28 | 72 |
ANZAC |
 Dual Browning Hi-Power |
|
Gun Game |
26 / 52 | 28 | 72 |
ANZAC weapons are the small arms and infantry support weapons issued to Australian and New Zealand forces that served together in Vietnam, including combined units such as 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC). They were typically a mix of Commonwealth-pattern rifles and machine guns alongside selected U.S.-pattern weapons and munitions used in theater. In practice, these weapons were chosen to support jungle patrol fighting, ambushes, and base defense, where reliability, portability, and short-to-mid range effectiveness mattered.
DEFINITION & CHARACTERISTICS
“ANZAC weapons” on the MCV wiki refers to the typical infantry weapons carried by Australian and New Zealand soldiers during the Vietnam War period. In Vietnam this commonly meant a Commonwealth core (notably the 7.62mm L1A1 SLR and associated support weapons) supplemented by U.S. items that filled specific roles (for example, lighter rifles in some contexts and 40mm grenade launchers for organic explosive fire support).
- Common traits
- Role: Infantry patrol and base defense weapons for Australian/New Zealand forces; focused on practical combat effectiveness in dense terrain.
- Typical cartridges: 7.62×51mm NATO (rifles/machine guns), 5.56×45mm (selected rifles), 9×19mm (submachine guns), 40×46mm (grenade launchers), plus standard hand grenades.
- Typical fire modes: Commonly semi-automatic rifles and automatic support weapons; select-fire rifles/submachine guns appear depending on issue and role.
- Typical feeding: Detachable box magazines for rifles/SMGs; belt-fed (or belt/bag) for general-purpose machine guns; single-shot breech-loading for many 40mm launchers.
- Common engagement ranges: Often centered on short-to-mid range engagements typical of patrol contacts and ambushes, with supporting fire to cover movement and withdrawal.
- Notable tradeoffs: Full-power 7.62mm weapons offer range and penetration but increase recoil and carried load; lighter 5.56mm rifles reduce weight and improve handling, while 40mm launchers add explosive utility at the cost of slower rate of fire and limited carried ammunition.
HISTORY
Australian and New Zealand forces served in Vietnam in a variety of roles and formations, including integrated units such as 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC). A key infantry weapon associated with ANZAC forces in Vietnam was the 7.62mm L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR), described in official collection material as the standard personal weapon for Australian (and also New Zealand) soldiers in Vietnam. The F1 submachine gun also appears in Australian service in Vietnam-era imagery, with Australian War Memorial captions noting its issue to Australian troops by 1966.
Operational use in Vietnam shows ANZAC troops employing a mix of rifles, machine guns, and grenade launchers. Australian War Memorial collection captions from the Battle of Long Tan describe weapons in use including 7.62mm L1A1 rifles, 7.62mm M60 general purpose machine guns, and 5.56mm M16A1 rifles, while also noting the practical challenges of mud and weather on equipment. In addition, ANZAC units used 40mm grenade launchers such as the M79; Vietnam-era AWM imagery specifically shows a member of 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) armed with an M79 during operations in 1968.
Sources
- https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1207059 A 7.62 mm L1A1 self-loading rifle (SLR) (standard Australian Army infantry weapon used during the Vietnam War) | Australian War Memorial
- https://vietnamwar.govt.nz/photo/l1a1-self-loading-rifle L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (standard weapon for New Zealand and Australian soldiers in Vietnam) | VietnamWar.govt.nz (New Zealand Government)
- https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C175620 Australian soldier carrying an F1 submachine gun (issued to Australian troops by 1966) | Australian War Memorial
- https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1193285 A variety of Australian weapons used during the Battle of Long Tan (mentions M60, L1A1, M16A1) | Australian War Memorial
- https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C320552 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) soldier armed with an M79 grenade launcher (1968) | Australian War Memorial