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1967 – A public controversy over the M-16, the basic combat rifle in Vietnam, begins after Representative James J. Howard (D-New Jersey) reads a letter to the House of Representatives in which a Marine in Vietnam claims that almost all Americans killed in the battle for Hill 881 died as a result of their new M-16 rifles jamming.
The Defense Department acknowledged on August 28 that there had been a “serious increase in frequency of malfunctions in the M-16.” The M-16 had become the standard U.S. infantry rifle in Vietnam earlier in 1967, replacing the M-14. Almost two pounds lighter and five inches shorter than the M-14, but with the same effective range of over 500 yards, it fired a smaller, lighter 5.56-mm cartridge. The M-16 could be fired fully automatic (like a machine gun) or one shot at a time.
Because the M-16 was rushed into mass production, early models were plagued by stoppages that caused some units to request a reissue of the M-14. Technical investigation revealed a variety of causes for the defect, in both the weapon and ammunition design, and in care and cleaning in the field. With these deficiencies corrected, the M-16 became a popular infantry rifle that was able to hold its own against the Soviet-made AK-47 assault rifle used by the enemy.
https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/05/23/may-23/
The Defense Department acknowledged on August 28 that there had been a “serious increase in frequency of malfunctions in the M-16.” The M-16 had become the standard U.S. infantry rifle in Vietnam earlier in 1967, replacing the M-14. Almost two pounds lighter and five inches shorter than the M-14, but with the same effective range of over 500 yards, it fired a smaller, lighter 5.56-mm cartridge. The M-16 could be fired fully automatic (like a machine gun) or one shot at a time.
Because the M-16 was rushed into mass production, early models were plagued by stoppages that caused some units to request a reissue of the M-14. Technical investigation revealed a variety of causes for the defect, in both the weapon and ammunition design, and in care and cleaning in the field. With these deficiencies corrected, the M-16 became a popular infantry rifle that was able to hold its own against the Soviet-made AK-47 assault rifle used by the enemy.
https://thisdayinusmilhist.wordpress.com/2014/05/23/may-23/
Firearms and Guns
Military History
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 6
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The venerable, and (now) reliable M16, I still prefer it over the M4 carbine.
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To be fair .. the M-16 jamming / FTF issues malfunctions were mostly resolved with an ammunition change. The initial ammo just didn't have enough "umph" to cleanly cycle the mech when it started to muck up.
All the 11Bs I saw spent about 90% of the first 20 minutes of down time cleaning the little darlings.
When we moved a fire-support base once we found a M-16 in a bunker that had been sitting there for probably 2 weeks. The action was frozen closed and had to have a "boot-assist" to return it to operation. However the sucker operated just fine once fully cleaned.
All the 11Bs I saw spent about 90% of the first 20 minutes of down time cleaning the little darlings.
When we moved a fire-support base once we found a M-16 in a bunker that had been sitting there for probably 2 weeks. The action was frozen closed and had to have a "boot-assist" to return it to operation. However the sucker operated just fine once fully cleaned.
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