Posted on 08/09/2002 8:19:02 AM PDT by Stand Watch Listen
WASHINGTON – While most of the Pentagon's procurement efforts focus on exotic, high-tech equipment for future wars, the Marine Corps is conducting an intense study on a replacement for its most basic, but perhaps most important, weapon – its rifle.After six weeks of concentrated testing, a team will give Marine leaders a recommendation on which of two possible weapons should replace the M-16A2, an improved version of the Vietnam-vintage assault rifle.
It is a serious issue for a service that proclaims "every Marine a rifleman."
"The M-16A2 has been around a long time, so we're taking a look at replacing some of those weapons," said Lt. Gen. Emil Bedard, the deputy commandant for plans, policy and operations.
"We've just conducted a fairly extensive series of tests at Camp Lejeune" in North Carolina, Bedard said.
He added that a report will be submitted to the commandant, Gen. James L. Jones, "very shortly."
The two weapons being tested, the M-4 and the M-16A4, are modifications of the current rifle and are not great technological leaps forward in themselves. But they allow the use of a number of high-tech devices that would improve the Marine infantryman's basic weapon.
The M-4 is a shorter and lighter version of the current rifle. It is particularly effective in the constricted conditions of urban fighting and can be modified quickly with a variety of electronic or special optical sights for improved accuracy at night.
The M-16A4 is slightly shorter than the current rifle and can use the same advanced sights as the M-4.
Capt. Chad Walton, a spokesman for the Marine Corps Systems Command at Quantico, Va., said the two weapons were tested on 19 basic infantry training requirements, including in urban and open-country situations.
Bedard said the widespread failures of newly issued British army rifles in Afghanistan demonstrate why "we wanted to do extensive tests before making a recommendation."
It's the 21st century, for crying out loud. They should all be packin a death ray!Hmmmmmmm...FYI...
Microwave Weapons May Be Ready For Iraq
Source: Aviation Week and Space Technology; Published: August 5, 2002;
Author: David A. Fulghum"E-bomb" may see first combat use in Iraq
Source: New Scientist.com; Published: 08 August 02;
Author: David Windle
Oh, and while they're at it, change the caliber to .243.
If what that other poster said was true, and I don't doubt it, the AR-10 failed because of the barrels. Since that's an easy fix, we should be able to issue an AR-10 flattop with an ACOG sight with the BOSS system. I forgot, you and I don't make the decisions.
As an added note, I asked my son if he was still having trouble with the mags, and he said no. Everything is working perfectly. It's nice to see someone hitting a target half the size of a man at 375 yards away, standing up, 80% of the time.
Both candidate rifles would have the modular capability to accept the full range of optics, sensors, designators, flashlights, death rays, pistol grips and such that are currently fielded with the Army Modular Weapons System and the Navy's SOPMOD kits for the M4.
They consist of the Knights Armament Rail Accessory System (RAS) and a host of configurable goodies you can hang all over the gun, from the ACOG NSN and Aimpoint COMP M scopes to IR laser designators, IFF devices, flashlights, night vision gear, etc.
The packages are popular because they are mission tailorable, and you only have to buy the parts you need for the job at hand.
With the reed knight rails as Travis suggests, the flattop and a Ops Inc supresssor (available if needed), M4 and a 203 mounted (low enough to clear the supressor if left on accidently) I'd be darn happy if I was up to my @ss in grenade pins and armed in such a manner.
Change for change sake sucks. Change for improvements sucks money. If it ain't broke, spend some of that coin on ammo for range time. Quality, supervised range time stressing fundamentals of marksmanship developing memory-matic skills that should be second nature for times when the fog of war is upon ya versus the really poor marksmanship training that is just blowing smoke (fog) up the trainiee's @ss by telling em they are "awesome riflemen".....
Stay Safe !
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