Here’s the (Dutch) story on the JAR, the Johnson Automatic Rifle.
In 1940 the Army Commander in the Dutch East Indies was ordered to check the world market for semi-automatic rifles.
The possibilities were limited.
Only three models were in full production at that time.
They were the model R75 and R80 made by the Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company and the M1 Garand.
Then there was the Peterson rifle, but this rifle only existed on paper.
Last but not least the Johnson rifle of which only a few were produced.
Drawing of a JAR
Both the Colts were to heavy and the American war Dept wouldn’t sell a single Garand to the Dutch.
So…the new KNIL semi-automatic rifle for the KNIL units became the JAR.
Production started from scratch.
Between November 1941 and February 1942 4025 rifles were sent to the Dutch East Indies.
In total 1999 rifles reached the Dutch East Indies on time.
By buying these rifles, the KNIL army(together with the US Army) was among the first armies to issue a semi-automatic rifle to their troops.
It didn’t help much though.
The KNIL army surrendered to the Japanese on March 8th 1942.
Picture of right and left side of a JAR with a R(otary) magazine as used by the KNIL.
Some technical info on the JAR:
- Caliber: 30-06
- Length: 1.165 meter (about 46")
- Barrel length: 0.558 meter (about 22")
- Weight: 4.4 kg (a little less then 10Lb)
- Magazine type: Rotary or Box magazine
KNIL army was issued with the Rotary magazine.
- Magazine capacity: 10 rds
Picture of two KNIL soldiers.
The soldier on the left side of the picture carries a JAR.
Just a story on a less well known rifle I wanted to share.
The only time I saw such a rifle was in the KNIL museum in Arnhem.
BTW, KNIL stands for "Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch leger" or in good English "Royal Dutch East Indies army".
Met vriendelijke groet,
Martin
SW
