page_title: Lebanese Forces (militia)
section_title: Infantry weapons
hierarchical_section_title: Lebanese Forces (militia) / Weapons and equipment / Infantry weapons
caption_attribution_description: English: Lebanese Forces Infantry Division
context_page_description: The Lebanese Forces – LF or Forces Libanaises in French, was one of the main Christian factions of the Lebanese Civil War. Originally an umbrella organization for different Christian parties, the Lebanese Forces later became a separate organization. It was mainly staffed by Maronite Christians.
  The Lebanese Front was informally organized in January 1976 under the leadership of Pierre Gemayel and Camille Chamoun. It began as a simple coordination or joint command between the predominantly Christian Kataeb Party/Kataeb Regulatory Forces, Tyous Team of Commandos, Ahrar/Tigers Militia, Al-Tanzim, Marada Brigade and Lebanese Renewal Party/Guardians of the Cedars parties and their respective military wings. The main reason behind the formation of the Lebanese Front was to strengthen the Christian side against the challenge presented by the Lebanese National Movement, an umbrella alliance of leftist Muslim parties/militias backed by the Palestine Liberation Organization and Rejectionist Front Palestinian guerrilla factions.
context_section_description: Lebanese Forces's militiamen were provided with a variety of small-arms, comprising M1 Garand (or its Italian-produced copy, the Beretta Model 1952) and SKS semi-automatic rifles, plus MAT-49, Škorpion vz. 61, Carl Gustav m/45 (or its Egyptian-produced version, dubbed the "Port Said"), Walther MPL, Sterling L2A3/Mark 4, Spectre M4, Uzi (MP-2, Mini Uzi and Micro Uzi variants), MAC-10, MAC-11 (sub-compact version of the MAC-10), Heckler & Koch MP5 and Heckler & Koch MP5K (shortened version of the MP5) submachine guns. 
  Several models of assault rifles were employed, such as M16A1, FN FAL (variants included the Israeli-produced 'lightened' ROMAT), Heckler & Koch G3, Vz. 58, AK-47 and AKM (other variants included the Zastava M70, Chinese Type 56, Romanian Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965, Bulgarian AKK/AKKS and former East German MPi-KMS-72 assault rifles). Limited quantities of the AMD-65, CAR-15 and SIG SG 543 carbines, SIG SG 542, FN CAL, Heckler & Koch HK33, Heckler & Koch G41, Heckler & Koch G53 and ArmaLite AR-18 assault rifles were also acquired, being mostly employed by LF elite commando units on special operations. 
  Inevitably, this hodgepodge of different models of assault rifles and carbines in service seriously strained the LF's own supply chain, so the LF Command decided after 1986 to simplify its small-arms inventory by standardizing on the FN FAL, M16A1, and AKM assault rifles for its infantry units, though this still posed logistical problems up to the end of the War. 
  Shotguns consisted of Mossberg 500 12-gauge (20.2mm), Remington Model 870 Police Magnum 12-gauge (20.2mm) and Franchi SPAS-12 semi-automatic models. Sniper rifles were commonly used, and models included the Dragunov SVD-63, Tabuk, M21, Remington Model 700, Savage 10FP/110FP, Enfield L42A1 (military version) and Enforcer (Police version) rifles, and the Heckler & Koch PSG1.
  A wide variety of handguns' models were used, including Smith & Wesson Model 10, Smith & Wesson Model 13, Smith & Wesson Model 14, Smith & Wesson Model 15, Smith & Wesson Model 17 and Smith & Wesson Model 19 revolvers, Mauser M2 semi-automatic handguns, Walther PPK pistols, Heckler & Koch VP 70, Heckler & Koch P7 and Heckler & Koch P9 pistols, SIG P210, SIG-Sauer P220 and SIG-Sauer P225 pistols, Astra A-80, Astra A-90 and Astra A-100 pistols, Llama M82 pistols, Star 30M, and Star A, B, B Super and P pistols, Star Ultrastar, Star Firestar and Star Megastar pistols, Taurus PT92, PT99 and PT100 pistols, Beretta M1951 pistols, MAB PA-15 pistols, Colt M1911A1 Semi-Automatic Pistols, Para-Ordnance P14-45 (Canadian-produced version of the M1911A1 pistol), FN Browning Hi-Power pistols, FN Browning BDM pistols, FN Browning BDA380 pistols, FN Browning HP-DA/BDA9 pistols, Tokarev TT-33 pistols, Makarov PM/PMM pistols, and CZ 52, CZ 75, CZ 82/83 and CZ 85 pistols.
  Squad weapons consisted of Rheinmetall MG 3, Heckler & Koch HK21, AA-52, RPK, RPD, PK/PKM, M60 and FN MAG light machine guns, with heavier Browning M1919A4 .30 Cal, Browning M2HB .50 Cal, SG-43/SGM Goryunov and DShK machine guns being employed as platoon and company weapons.
  Grenade launchers and portable anti-tank weapons were also widely employed, including M203 grenade launchers, CMS B-300 83mm Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapons (SMAW), M72 LAW, RPG-7 and M47 Dragon anti-tank rocket launchers. Anti-tank guided missile systems comprised the MILAN (allegedly obtained via South Africa), the BGM-71 TOW and the AT-3 Sagger. Crew-served and indirect fire weapons included M224 60mm, M29 81mm, Type E1 51mm and 2B14-1 Podnos 82mm light mortars, plus M2 Carl Gustaf 84mm, SPG-9 73mm, B-10 82mm, B-11 107mm and M40A1 106mm recoilless rifles (often mounted on technicals).
caption: Lebanese Forces Infantry Division soldier armed with a RPG-7
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