Spotted in an Austrian Lake: The FN P90 at Work

The Austrian Army this week released a behind-the-scenes look at a little-known frogman unit in the landlocked country, complete with a cameo by FN.

In a nine-minute German-language video released by the Bundesheer, the country's post-WWII federal army, you get a candid look at a two-man combat swimmer (Kampfschwimmer) team of the service's elite Jagdkommando group.

In terms of size, it is thought that the country only maintains about 50 such divers for use in rivers and lakes in the Alpine country. While Austria hasn't had a coastline since 1918, the nation does have 40 large lakes, including Lake Constance on its Western border with Switzerland and Germany, as well as the immense Danube River system, which runs through the country. With that, Austria's combat divers are highly trained, and its members taking three years to earn their badge.

Besides their Glock 17 pistols – Austria was the first country to adopt the now-iconic handgun as the P80 – and Steyr AUG (StG 77) bullpup rifles, the Kampfschwimmer also field the FN P90 in 5.7 NATO.

Developed in the 1980s as a personal defense weapon by FN, the P90 was introduced in 1990, hence the designation.

P90 FN PDW on a wall — In its original format, the P90 weighs just 5.8 pounds, is only 8 inches high with a 50-round magazine inserted, and is just 19.9 inches long with its standard 10.4-inch barrel. This image was taken when Guns.com visited FN's factory in South Carolina a while back. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

Austria's commandos adopted the P90 about 15 years ago, replacing the Steyr MPi 69 sub-gun as a close-in weapon, and augmenting the B&T TMP.

Austrian Kampfschwimmer combat diver FN P90 webgear — Kampfschwimmer issued the P90 carry three extra mags in their chest rig, giving them 200 rounds when you count the mag on the gun itself. (Photo: Bundesheer)

Austrian Kampfschwimmer combat diver FN P90 — Equipped with a suppressor, they strap neatly to the leg of a diver. (Photo: Bundesheer)

Austrian Kampfschwimmer combat divers with FN P90 — Ready to deploy upon breaking the surface. (Photo: Bundesheer)

Of course, the P90 is tough to get over here (repeal the NFA), but the slightly longer semi-auto PS90 has been around since about 2005. Likewise, the 5.7x28 round, recently adopted by NATO, is slowly becoming more popular with CMMG, Diamondback, Ruger, and even PSA announcing new guns chambered for it.

Maybe "Neptuns Dunklen Söhnen" are on to something.

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