Table of Contents
What did soldiers think of the M16?
The average American infantryman despised the M16. Most of it was plastic, just like a toy. About halfway through the war, enough American soldiers had been killed when their weapons jammed to get the politicians’ notice.
Was the M16 good in Vietnam?
The ammunition that accompanied the rifles sent to Vietnam was incompatible with the M16 and was the principal cause of the failure to extract malfunctions. The result was the M16 often jammed, making the rifle “about as effective as a muzzleloader,” in the words of one officer.
What was the problem with the M16 rifles that soldiers were using?
The Army had declined to chrome plate the chamber and the rifle suffered chamber corrosion problems as a result. The rifle stock had a tendency to crack. Barrel, bolt carrier group, and other steel parts rusted. Brass ammunition casings were too soft, leading to ripped rims during the extraction process.
Why was M16 so unreliable?
The original M-16 fielded in Vietnam was unreliable because cost cutting measures were used which required stringent maintenance in the field that soldiers either weren’t doing or not doing sufficiently. The rifle is manufactured to very tight tolerances.
Why was the M16 used in Vietnam?
The original M16 rifle was a 5.56×45mm automatic rifle with a 20-round magazine. In 1964, the M16 entered US military service and the following year was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War.
How many rounds did a Vietnam era M16 hold?
The original M16 rifle was a 5.56×45mm assault rifle with a 20-round magazine. In 1964, the M16 entered US military service and the following year was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War….M16 rifle.
| Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16 | |
|---|---|
| Designed | 1959 |
Why did the M16 replace the M14?
The M16 was ordered as a replacement for the M14 by direction of Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara in 1964, over the objection of the U.S. Army officers who had backed the M14. (Other factions within the Army research and development community had opposed the M14 and the 7.62×51mm round from the start.)
How bad was the M16 in Vietnam?
They found that the M16 with stick powder had 3.2 malfunctions and . 75 stoppages per 1,000 rounds. The same rifles, loaded with the army’s ball powder, faced 18.5 malfunctions and 5.2 stoppages per 1,000 rounds—a failure rate almost six times as high.