Swiss assault rifles (Sturmgewehr)

As we saw in previous articles, Switzerland went directly from bolt-action rifles (Kar.31) to assault rifles (Stgw.57) without adopting semi-automatic rifles.

The use of the StG44 in the German army during World War II had a lasting impact on the world of individual small arms. The USSR very quickly adopted the 7.62x39 Automat Kalashnikov 1947. The Swiss also studied the German StG44, but apparently it was the use of the 7.92x33 (8 mm kurz) intermediate cartridge that posed a problem for them: the performance at 300m was not up to the standard expected in a country where the service weapon is also used for sport shooting... The Swiss developed their own intermediate cartridge, the VGP47, but the results on targets were no better.

Prototype de SIG - AM 55

In the mid-1950s, the Waffenfabrik in Bern and SIG in Neuhausen were developing their own prototypes independently. Bern developed a series of weapons that closely resembled the FG42 used by German paratroopers. SIG, under the direction of Rudolf Amsler, developed the AM55, a weapon chambered in 7.5x55 GP11 and using the roller delay principle, a system discovered by the Germans during World War II. Amsler took up the roller delay and adapted it to the GP11. In fact, SIG did not waste any time developing weapons in the experimental VGP47 intermediate cartridge and kept the GP11, which ultimately proved to be a positive factor in the adoption of the future Stgw.57: the cartridge was still widely available in stock and was also used for machine guns (notably the MG51, a copy of the MG42, which had just been adopted), and above all, its target performance had long been well known.

At the end of 1956, the Swiss army tested the AM55 from SIG, the Stgw.54 from Bern, and the FAL from FN Herstal for comparison. It was the SIG AM55 that was selected as the Sturmgewehr 1957.

Sturmgewehr 1957 in his final version - This Stgw.57 in photo is serial number 3.

The Stgw.57 is an imposing and heavy individual weapon (1100mm - 5,95kg empty) that fires the 7.5x55 GP11 rifle cartridge in semi-automatic or fully automatic mode, which does not really classify the weapon as an assault rifle, but rather as a “battle rifle,” alongside the AR-10, the H&K G3, and the FN FAL.

The Stgw.57 is equipped with a bipod that can be placed at the front or rear of the barrel sleeve for full or semi-automatic firing. The flash suppressor is suitable for firing rifle grenades in training (orange), anti-personnel, anti-tank, and smoke versions. The weapon will later be equipped with a Kern 4x24 scope for precision shooting, but only a few units can be fitted with the mount as not all receivers are compatible.

Stgw.57 “sniper” version, equipped with Kern 4x24

The Fass.57 seems to be the ideal weapon for Switzerland, whose main doctrine is defense against a hypothetical Soviet invasion in the context of the Cold War. The GP11's burst-fire capability allows Swiss infantrymen to deliver high long-range firepower in a short period of time, similar to a machine gun, without being able to maintain sustained fire. In addition, its grenade-firing capability makes it very versatile for target at armored vehicles.

However, despite its qualities in terms of workmanship and target accuracy, the Stgw.57 has one major flaw: it is heavy and bulky. It is obvious that infantrymen spend the vast majority of their time carrying their weapons rather than firing them.

It would take several more decades before Switzerland finally switched to the intermediate caliber of .5,56 (or .5,6 Swiss).

To summarize the story: the US Army adopted the M16 chambered in .223 Remington in the 1960s, which greatly interested the Swiss. However, the American M193 cartridge did not have the desired accuracy and penetration properties. The Swiss then developed the 5.6 Eiger and later the 6.45x48 VGP80.

Once again, W+F in Bern and SIG competed against each other and developed their own weapons in experimental calibers. In the end, neither the 5.6 Eiger nor the 6.45 VGP80 was selected. A 5.56x45 cartridge was adopted instead. In 1980, the 5.56x45 was adopted by NATO with a new bullet, the SS109, which improved accuracy and penetration to a level acceptable to the Swiss. They then developed their own “5.56” (rounded to 5.6) as the 5.6 GP90, and it was this cartridge that was firmly adopted.

The first prototype of SG540 in 1971 - handguard is wood painted in black from a SG530

SIG attempted to adapt the roller delay to the reduced caliber, but without success in its SG530 series, and switched to a more common piston system on the new SG540 series, continuing through to the SG541 in the 1980s.

The SG541 (or future SG550) has a similar operating system to the Soviet AK-47: a piston attached to the moving assembly with a bolt head with two rotating lugs. However, the recoil spring is located at the piston above the barrel and not at the rear of the receiver as on the Russian weapon.

Sturmgewhr 90 with Gw Pat 97 (40 mm grenade launcher)

The Stgw.90 has excellent machining qualities and very good target accuracy, always with a view to performance for off-duty shooting at 300 m. The sniper version is equipped with the same Kern 4x24 scope as the Stgw.57. At the end of the 1990s, SIG developed a 40 mm grenade launcher that fits under the hand guard. The Fass.90/Stgw.90 remains the standard weapon of Swiss infantrymen today. They can keep it at home during their 10 years of service and can purchase it at the end for the modest sum of CHF 100.

SG553, one of the many configurations derived from the SG550. This version is also adopted as the Stgw.07 for Swiss special forces.

All the history, variants, bayonet and accessories will be detailed in upcoming book:

Guardians of Neutrality – Swiss Rifles Through the Ages

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