ss77In the late 1970s, South Africa was involved in an international controversy over apartheid and the South African Border War in Angola. As a result, it was subject to an international arms embargo and had to, out of necessity, desn and manufacture its own weapons. The SS-77 was developed to replace the FN MAG. It was desned in 1977 by Col. Richard Joseph Boer Smith and Lazlo Soregi. The SS in its name stands for Smith and Soregi, and 77 for 1977, the yea…A more compact version of the SS-77 intended for patrolling elements was introduced under the applicable desnation of SS77 Compact. This version featured a telescoping buttstock as well as a relocated bipod