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This is a list of weapons of the French Army during the Cold War. During the early period of the Cold War France was fighting colonial wars such as the First Indochina War and the Algerian War the same as other colonial powers of the time like Britain and the Netherlands. Despite France withdrawing from NATO in 1966 it did still cooperate with NATO and made plans to reinforce NATO with French Army units against a Soviet invasion as can be seen from the formation of the Rapid Action Force which was intended to reinforce NATO troops in the event of a conflict.
Small arms
Rifles
MAS-36 rifle- Used in World War II by France equipped second line units.
MAS-49 rifle- Semiauto rifle and main French service rifle of Cold War.
FAMAS-Automatic bullpup Replaced MAS 49 and MAT 49 in 1978.
Sniper rifles
MAS-49/56- Introduced in 1936, both the MAS-49 and MAS-49/56 would serve France until 1967 being replaced by the FR F1 sniper. It replaced the MAS-36 in the sniper role.
FR F1 sniper rifle- Introduced in 1966, the rifle was in use with the French Armed Forces until 1989. Replaced the MAS-49/56.
FR F2 sniper rifle- Replaced FR F1 near the end of the Cold War in 1986.
