New Zealand Weapons

[Bernard Woolley]

With thanks to Mark Bailey and James1978.

New Zealand Weapons


Armoured Vehicles

Artillery, mortars, and air defence

Anti-Tank Weapons

Small Arms
- Service Rifles
- Precision Rifles
- Sub-machine guns and sidearms
- Machine guns and grenade launchers
- Combat Shotguns

[Bernard Woolley]

Armoured Vehicles

FV101 Scorpion
The New Zealand Army acquired twenty-six Scorpions in August 1982. Twelve remained in day-to-day service with the 1st Armoured Regiment’s A (Light) Squadron in 2005, with the remainder in reserve. The Scorpion proved to be unreliable in New Zealand service, one of the reasons they were withdrawn into storage. When returned to service, they were given the same life-extension upgrade as the British CVR(T), including the replacement of the Jaguar 4.2-litre petrol engine with a Cummins BTA 5.9 diesel engine. New Zealand Scorpions would also be fitted with the Battle Group Thermal Imager (BGTI). While the vehicles were generally used to train New Zealand soldiers to work with tanks, they did have a potential operational role.


M60 Sherman and M24 Super Chaffee
In seeking sufficiently lightweight tanks for Pacific Islands Forum use, the Australians acquired the stored and remnant Chilean M4, M24, M50, M51 and M60 fleet as well as their 24 M24 ‘Super Chaffee’ fitted with 60mm High-Velocity Medium Support (HVMS) Gun. No bridges and few wharves in the Pacific exceeded a 40-ton capability and most were far below that, making modern vehicles exceptionally difficult to use in-theatre.
The PIFS nations found, while expanding their small armies, that they needed small numbers of simple, cheap, easy-to-maintain light tanks for infantry support. They had to mass below 35 tons at full combat weight. The solution was found in these elderly AFV. These were acquired from Chile (and some numbers from other sources over time) and updated to a common standard in M51 (ex-Israeli ‘Super Sherman’ with the F91 gun) and M60 (60mm HVMS). Heavy truck engines and other commercial material was used so that the very shallow Fijian, PNG and Timorese commercial support bases could maintain them, the Japanese and Korean Governments assisted Australia and New Zealand in this project. The NZDF obtained 65 M60 and all 24 M24, specifically for use as independent troops to support operations where NZ Reserve formations would be deployed to Pacific Islands.


Centurion Mk.13 (NZ)
As the New Zealand Army had committed to providing a troop to the Australian Ambrose Squadron in East Timor, it made sense to acquire a small number of Centurions for training purposes. Four tanks were acquired, two of which were examples that had been preserved in New Zealand. Initially, the only upgrade they received was a new Continental diesel engine, plus some ballast to simulate the extra weight of ammunition and improved armour. However, as the situation in East Timor deteriorated and relations with Indonesia grew worse, it was decided that the 1st Armoured Squadron should be expanded into a small regiment, with the Centurions being operated by B (Heavy) Squadron. Sixteen additional Centurions were acquired from the UK (which still had approximately 570 in storage) along with a pair of FV4006 ARV Mk.II and a single FV4002 Centurion Mk 5 Bridgelayer. These tanks were given a similar upgrade to the Australian Mk.13s, although the New Zealand tanks did have a few minor differences, such as different radios. In 2005 New Zealand was considering further purchases of Centurions from the UK. Apart from the initial four tanks, all New Zealand tanks had the L7 105mm, rather than the 20-pounder.


Leopard 1A6
Operated by the 18th Armoured Regiment, part of 4th (New Zealand) Brigade, the primary New Zealand Army contingent sent to Europe. The tanks came from a number of sources in Western Europe, including West Germany and Belgium. While the individual tanks started off as a number of different marks, they were all upgraded to A6 standard with additional armour and the L44 120mm gun. The regiment also operated four Bergepanzer 2 Armoured Recovery Vehicles.


FV4201 Chieftain Mark 14
Fifty-eight Chieftain Mark 14 were used by the 20th Armoured Regiment. The upgraded Chieftains came directly from British stocks, differing only in that they were fitted with radios compatible with those used by the New Zealand Army. The regiment would also be equipped with four FV4204 Chieftain ARRV Mk.7.


Biber AVLB
The Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridge variant of the Leopard 1. In New Zealand service two of these vehicles, crewed by Corps of Royal New Zealand Engineers personnel, were attached to the 18th Armoured Regiment.


FV4205 Chieftain AVLB Mk6
Supplied by the UK alongside the Chieftain Mark 14, four of these vehicles, again crewed by RNZE personnel, were attached to the 20th Armoured Regiment.


M113
By 2005 the New Zealand Army’s M113 fleet had been replaced by the NZLAV but had been placed in storage pending disposal. That was a fortunate decision, as there was a shortage of NZLAV to equip the expanded New Zealand Army once conscription was introduced. Most New Zealand vehicles were given the M113AS3 and M113AS4 upgrade, while some ex-Australian Army M113A1 Medium Reconnaissance Vehicles became the M113AS3 MRV after the same upgrade.


NZLAV
A New Zealand variant of the Canadian LAV III; enough were in service by 2005 to equip two of the regular battalions of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles. Additional NZLAV were procured in the lead up to war, the New Zealand Army also modified some of its vehicles to act in the engineering, command, Observation Post, and anti-tank roles. The anti-tank variant was a basic modification of the standard NZLAV, fitted with a pintle mount on the top of the turret to allow a Javelin ATGW firing unit to be fitted. It was also possible to use a Javelin firing unit from the troop hatches.


Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle
Designated the Special Operations Vehicle-Protected Heavy (SOV-PH), the Bushmaster was mainly used by the NZSAS. Although, additional Bushmasters were procured from Australian stocks for use by regular and Territorial units posted to East Timor.


Churchill and Valentine
The handful of these vehicles returned to service as tank familiarisation vehicles at the infantry training school are not considered to be operational assets.

[Bernard Woolley]

Artillery, mortars, and air defence

M109A3
Obtained from Dutch Army stocks and used by 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery when it deployed to Europe. The regiment’s SPH would be upgraded, as the situation allowed, to something close to A6 standard.


L119 Light Gun
Prior to 2005 the L119, which were Australian built ‘Hamel Gun’ variants, was the mainstay of the Royal New Zealand Artillery. Initially, only enough howitzers were in service to equip the 16th Regiment, although Territorial gunners were trained on it. Increased defence spending after ‘Second Tol’ saw enough additional howitzers procured to equip one battery in each Territorial artillery regiment. Plans were made to obtain surplus L119 to equip at least two further batteries, but that was overtaken by events. On the outbreak of war, New Zealand sought to obtain more L119s and was able to procure some from Australia.


Ordnance QF 25-pounder
While the 25-pounder had been replaced by the L119 in operational service, seven were retained for ceremonial roles. Including the saluting battery at by the ceremonial saluting battery at Point Jerningham, Wellington, and as the official funeral gun carriage. Additional guns were obtained from a number of sources, including from Indian stocks, museums, regimental memorials etc. and used as illumination batteries to support the navy’s MCM force. Famously, two 25pdrs were sent to guard Waitangi in the Chatham Islands, after the Soviet raid. These were manned by members of the revived New Zealand Home Guard, recruited locally. A number of these guns were also hastily converted to naval mounts as extempore armament for the larger auxiliary minesweepers.


105 mm M101A1 howitzer
Used as illumination batteries to support the navy’s MCM force. After the raid on Waitangi, these batteries were issued H.E ammunition.


BL 6-inch (relined 8-inch) gun Mk VII (Designated 8(6)x25.5 MkVII* Illumination Gun in NZDF service)
The rearmed Auckland (North Head and Mt Victoria) forts had two truly ancient 1880s-vintage Mk VII 8-inch guns, complete with mounts and in reasonable to excellent condition. A third was at the re-activated Fort Jervois on Ripapa Island off Christchurch. All were on hydraulic disappearing mounts. All could be and were refurbished, mostly by soldiers at the forts themselves, and local industry helped with much enthusiasm. Modern hydraulics made them far more reliable and efficient than they had ever been. Even the guns themselves were so light (just 12 tons) as to be easily removed for refurbishment and relined down to 155mm to enable use of common illumination rounds.
Despite their age and utter obsolescence, all provided good service in this simple, mundane but useful and occasionally life-saving role. Their low elevation was improvable and their slow rate of fire in their archaic disappearing mounts was no disadvantage in an illumination role.


L16A2 81mm mortar
A British designed mortar that in New Zealand service was concentrated in firing batteries of Territorial artillery that did not have the L119. Although, it was also to be found in the mortar platoons of the regular battalions of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.


L9A1 51 mm light mortar
Another British designed mortar, which was used at platoon level.


M6 Mortar
An Austrian built mortar used by the NZSAS, although it was being considered as a possible replacement for the 51mm.


Mistral MANPADS
Twelve launchers and twenty-four missiles were procured in 1997, equipping a single battery of 16th Regiment, RNZA. Reflecting a general neglect of air defence, even after the significant increase in defence spending after ‘Second Tol’, no additional Mistral were procured. Indeed, for a period during the ‘Second Confrontation’, the system was placed in storage and the gunners re-trained to operate the L119. Reactivated by 2004, Mistral would be taken to war by New Zealand gunners. During the expansion after conscription, the New Zealand Army considered acquiring surplus Australian RBS-70, which had been replaced by Starstreak.


Bofors 40mm L/60
While most Bofors guns in New Zealand service would be used aboard warships by the RNZN, a small number of guns acquired from a variety of sources (museums, memorials etc.) would be pressed into service after the attack on Canberra.

[Bernard Woolley]

Anti-Tank Weapons

66mm Short Ranged Anti-Armour Weapon
The New Zealand designation for the M72 LAW, over 3,000 of which were held in stock in 2005. It proved a very useful weapon in East Timor but was inadequate against modern Soviet armour. Therefore, it was supplemented by the AT-4 when New Zealand troops were deployed to West Germany.


L14A1 Carl Gustav Medium Direct Fire Support Weapon
Used at company level in regular battalions and by the anti-tank platoons of Territorial battalions. The New Zealand Army had the Carl Gustav in service long enough for it to pass through the period when it was considered obsolete and come back into favour once more modern ammunition was developed.


Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile
The New Zealand Army used a variant of the Javelin similar to that used by the British Army. Which included a tripod mount, to make it easier to fire. An initial order for twenty-four Command Launch Units and one hundred and twenty missiles was soon supplemented by a follow-up order for another one hundred and seventy missiles. Despite the often close jungle terrain, soldiers found the Javelin to be a useful weapon in East Timor and further batches of CLU and missiles were ordered. While the Javelin was primarily to be found in the anti-tank platoons of regular battalions, Territorial battalions usually had at least two CLU and dummy missiles for training purposes.


M40 recoilless rifle
Acquired in the early 1960s to replace the 6-pounder anti-tank gun, the New Zealand Army used the M40 both from a wheeled ground mount and mounted on an open top Land Rover. The M40 remained in service until the early 1990s, being placed in storage after that. Some consideration was given to issuing it to troops in East Timor, to be used in the anti-personnel role firing flechette rounds. Although controversy regarding that type of round meant that no M40s made it to Timor, although New Zealand manned tanks and artillery did employ cannister rounds. During the Third World War, some M40s were issued to Home Defence troops and the Home Guard but were not sent overseas.

[Bernard Woolley]

Small Arms


Service Rifles


Lee-Enfield
The New Zealand Army used both the SMLE Mk.III/No.1 Mk.III and No.4 variants of the rifle. When it was replaced by the L1A1 SLR in the 1960s, surplus Lee Enfields were sold off, with many being converted into Enfield Sporter .303 models. However, a significant number of No.4 rifles were retained in storage. These rifles would be issued primarily to the Home Guard, where they served alongside civilian owned weapons.


L1A1 Self Loading Rifle
Like other members of the Commonwealth, New Zealand used the ‘inch pattern’ FAL, first developed in the UK. The NZDF used the L1A1 successfully in a variety of conflicts, including the ‘Confrontation’ in Borneo and Vietnam. In the latter conflict, a lot of soldiers preferred the SLR over the American M16. As they felt that the 7.62mm round it fired was more likely to kill an enemy, and that the rifle was more robust. Some L1A1 were unofficially converted to full-automatic, by using the lower receiver of the L2A1. The British SUIT (Sight Unit Infantry Trilux) optical sight was issued to some users in infantry units. Lithgow also produced a shortened variant of the SLR – the L1A1-F1. That was intended to be issued to soldiers of shorter stature. While the rifle was replaced by the F88, it remained in service with Territorial battalions well into the 1990s. In 2005 it would be issued to training units and some NZDF personnel engaged on Home Defence duties. It would also be issued to the Home Guard, although initially in limited numbers.


M16A1
Many New Zealand troops serving in South Vietnam, especially scouts and members of the NZSAS were issued with the M16A1, often with the M203 fitted, later in the conflict. Those rifles that remained serviceable were brought back to New Zealand and continued to be used by the NZSAS until replaced by more modern rifles. Some M16s were issued during the emergency expansion, but most were disposed of, as they were very worn.


F88 IW Steyr
The standard rifle of the New Zealand Defence Force. Used by all regular units and most reserve formations. Based on the Austrian Steyr AUG, the main variant in NZDF service is the F88A1, although the carbine length F88C and F88GLA, a variant fitted with the M203 grenade launcher, are also common. The regular army is in the process of issuing the F88SA1 and F88SA1C, which are fitted with a Picatinny rail. That variant was the one in production at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory in 2005. The NZDF would seek to acquire additional F88s from Australia after conscription was introduced. Additional supplies of F88s would initially be limited, and the RNZAF and RNZN would supply the army with some of their rifles in return for older weapons, such as the SLR and Sterling SMG.


M4A1
The carbine variant of the M16, primarily used by the NZSAS. It was also used by Close Protection teams of the Royal New Zealand Military Police.



Precision Rifles


Lee-Enfield No.4 (T)
Used by New Zealand troops posted to Europe during the Second World War and adopted post-war as a replacement for No.1 based sniper rifles. Was replaced in the 1970s and most were sold off. However, a quantity was found in storage and issued to the Home Guard, where they were used alongside similar rifles that had been in private hands.


Parker Hale M82
Introduced in the early 1970s as a replacement for the No.4 (T), the M82 would serve with regular and Territorial formations until around the turn of the century. While it had been replaced in regular service by more modern rifles, it was still to be found in Territorial units.


L96A1
Procured in the late 1990s to replace the M82, the Precision Marksman rifle was the primary sniper rifle in regular NZDF service. Although, by 2004, procurement had switched to the more modern Arctic Warfare variant, similar to the SR98 version used by Australia.


L115A1
The Arctic Warfare Magnum rifle in .388 Lapua Magnum was used by a few New Zealand Army units in East Timor and the NZSAS. Who also used the Arctic Warfare Magnum Folding Stock. It was planned that the L115A1 would become the standard New Zealand sniper rifle, replacing the L96A1.


AW50F
The largest-bore variant of the Arctic Warfare series of rifles. It was officially used in the ‘anti-material’ role with the .50 BMG Raufoss Mk.211 HEIAP by NZDF EOD personnel and was issued to RNZN mine warfare vessels for the disposal of floating mines. It was also stated to be part of the armoury of the NZSAS who likely used it in the ‘anti-personnel’ role. New Zealand rifles were a mix of British manufactured weapons and those made under licence in Australia.


L2A2 DMR
Operations in East Timor identified that there was a need for a semi-automatic precision rifle that sat between standard service weapons and sniper rifles. While a permanent solution was sought, some L2A1 LMG were taken from storage and rebuilt as ‘Designated Marksman Rifles’, gaining optical sights and a new, improved bipod forward. It proved to be a popular weapon and remained in service in 2005 with both regular and Territorial units.


Barrett M82
A semi-automatic sniper and anti-material rifle, officially used in the latter role in the NZDF (although see the comment in the AW50F entry). As well as the army, the M82 is issued to EOD personnel and the RNZN MCM forces disposal of floating mines.




Sub-machine guns and sidearms


Enfield No.2 Mark 1*/1**
The standard New Zealand sidearm during the Second World War. While many were sold off post-war and after the introduction of the L9A1, a surprising number of these revolvers were discovered in storage in 2005. Most of those issued were to the Home Guard.


Webley Mk IV
As RSAF Enfield was not able to produce enough No.2 revolvers during the Second World War, the similar Webley Mk.IV (essentially a scaled down Mk.VI) was also issued to British Empire and Commonwealth forces. Like the No.2, the NZDF disposed of most of its Mk IV, but a number were rediscovered during mobilisation and were issued in lieu of anything better.


L9A1
The Browning Hi-Power was getting long in the tooth by 2005 but remained the standard issue sidearm of the NZDF. The pistol was well regarded and considered to be robust and rugged but were due for replacement. Many of them had become quite worn by 2005. New Zealand also had some stocks of the similar Canadian wartime variant built by Inglis, the Pistol No.2 Mk.1*.


P226
Procured as an urgent operational requirement after ‘Second Tol’, a batch of two hundred P226 and P226R (designated P226AL in New Zealand service) was mainly used by the NZSAS and RNZMP, but some were also to be found in service with other units.


Sterling Sub-Machine Gun
Was the standard SMG in NZDF service used alongside the SLR until the F88 rifle entered service, replacing both. The L2A3 and L34A1 suppressed variants were used by New Zealand. It was retained in service with Territorial units until the turn of the century and some weapons were used in East Timor. During the Third World War it was issued to Home Defence units of the army, the Home Guard, RNZN, and RNZAF.


H&K MP5
Like most other Western nations, New Zealand used the iconic West German submachine gun. Primarily used by the NZSAS and RNZMP, the NZDF employed the MP5K, MP5KA1, MP5A3 and MP5SD3 variants of the weapon. Regarded as a robust, well-built, and accurate weapon, a combination unusual for a submachine gun.



Machine guns and grenade launchers


Bren light machine gun
Once the standard light machine gun of the New Zealand Army. Was used during the Second World War, Korea, and during the ‘First Confrontation’. By the time of Vietnam, it had been replaced by the L2A1 LMG, but the L4A4, the variant chambered in 7.62mm, remained in limited service, with the Bren being very sought after as an alternative to its replacement. Variants in .303 and 7.62mm were placed in storage once they were replaced. During the expansion period, many of these weapons were re-issued and, interestingly, many of the .303 variants were converted to L4A4 standard at that time. The .303 variant was issued to the Home Guard. It was also used as a secondary weapon by the small ships of the RNZN.


M1919A4
These weapons came supplied with US vehicles and aircraft during the Second World War. Enough survived in storage to the turn of the 21st Century to be installed on RNZN minesweepers.


FN MAG 58
New Zealand initially used the British made variant, the L7A2, which it first purchased in 1976. In more recent years, Belgian made MAG 58 have been procured, a process started when the NZLAV entered service. During the expansion period, MAG from various sources were hurriedly procured, including additional L7A2, Belgian MAG 58 and American M240B. The MAG is a popular and well-liked weapon, known for its reliability and robust construction. It has performed well in even the harshest of conditions.


L2A1
The heavy-barrel variant of the FAL, fitted with a combined bipod-handguard. It replaced the Bren in service, despite being inferior to the older weapon in many ways. However, many New Zealand Army units went to great length to retain L4A4 as an alternative. Many L2A1 donated their lower receivers to unofficial automatic conversions of L1A1 rifles. Home Defence units of the New Zealand Army and the Home Guard would be issued with the L2A1.


C9 Minimi
In many ways the C9 was the spiritual successor to the Bren gun, certainly in the way that it was used as the main source of an infantry section’s firepower, with each section having two LMGs. It proved to be an effective and popular weapon, offering significant firepower support from a (relatively) lightweight platform.


M2HB-QCB
The NZDF used the Quick-Change Barrel of the Browning Heavy Machine Gun. Like the MAG 58, the M2 is used by all branches of the NZDF, from infantry battalions of the army, warships of the navy and helicopters of the air force. There were no plans to replace this veteran weapon.


Vickers Medium Machine Gun Mark 1
Possibly the most unexpected survivor from earlier wars to be reissued during the Third World War. While declared obsolete by the 1970s, many Vickers remained in the armouries of Territorial formations well into the 1980s. No actual orders were issued to dispose of the MMGs, so they remained, largely forgotten until mobilisation. Vickers MMG were only issued to units based in New Zealand (mainly the Home Guard) and were generally used to protect static Key Points.


Heckler & Koch GMG
An automatic grenade-launcher, generally used as a vehicle mounted weapon. Some were also used as the armament on small boats used by the NZSAS and RNZN. Only a relatively small number of GMG were in New Zealand service at the start of 2005.


M79
A small number of M79 were acquired from Australian forces during the Vietnam War and brought back to New Zealand post-conflict. The NZDF retained the weapons, and they were reissued in 2005; was especially favoured by the NZSAS, as it had a greater range than the M203.


M203
The NZDF used two versions of this grenade launcher – the M203PI, which attached to the F88 rifle, and the M203A1, which attached to the M4A5 carbine.



Combat Shotguns


Remington Model 870/870P
Procured as an urgent requirement for issue to troops deploying to East Timor in 1999. It was primarily by the NZSAS and military police personnel. However, it was issued to some infantry units for specific purposes. Lead scouts operating in the jungles of East Timor were often issued 870Ps. A variety of older shotguns were also found in NZDF armouries. Having been acquired for a variety of purposes over the years.


Benelli M3
One hundred of these dual-mode (pump-action and semi-automatic) shotguns were procured after ‘Second Tol’. They were largely issued to the NZSAS and other units carrying out ‘Claret’ type operations. In early 2005 the NZDF chose the M3 as its future standard-issue shotgun, replacing older weapons.

[Jotun]

Wait. Re-reading this right now. Deployment to Europe? Wow…

[Matt Wiser]

The Kiwi Chieftains I noticed as well. Those guys in the KTO?

[Bernard Woolley]

No, West Germany.

[Eaglenine2]

So New Zealand sends 4th (New Zealand) Brigade which has 18th Armoured Regiment with Leopard and 20th Armoured with Chieftain Mark 14 along with other supporting units?

[Bernard Woolley]

That would be spoilers!