M16 Assault Rifle Adoption In 1960s
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Adoption of the M16 Assault Rifle in the 1960s
Overview
In the 1960s, as the Vietnam War intensified, Defense Secretary Robert McNamara pushed for the adoption of the M16 rifle across all military services. This decision came despite reports highlighting several issues with the rifle, such as its lack of a chrome-lined bore, problems with projectile stability in cold conditions, and insufficient availability of 5.56 mm ammunition.
Key Issues and Developments
The M16 faced scrutiny due to missing features that were present in other rifles like the AR-10, which included a chrome-lined chamber to prevent corrosion. The military advocated for a forward assist mechanism to push the bolt into battery if a cartridge didn’t seat properly due to jamming or corrosion. This feature was later integrated into updated versions of the rifle.
Colt, the manufacturer, argued that the M16 required minimal maintenance due to its self-cleaning design. They, along with designer Eugene Stoner and the U.S. Air Force, believed that adding a forward assist was unnecessary and costly, adding about $4.50 to the rifle’s production cost.
Modifications and Orders
The M16's design was split into two variants: the Air Force's M16 without the forward assist and the XM16E1 with it for other services. In November 1964, the Army ordered 85,000 XM16E1s for testing, while the Air Force requested 19,000 of their variant. Simultaneously, the Army explored a separate project, the Small Arms Weapons System (SAWS), to address future infantry needs.
Despite the ongoing evaluation, the Army strongly advocated for the immediate adoption of the M16, which eventually led to the Air Force officially accepting it as their standard rifle by the end of the year.
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