The M16 rifle is one of the world's most famous firearms, iconic as the American weapon of the Vietnam War-and, indeed, as the U.S. military's standard service rifle until only a few years ago. But the story of the M16 in Vietnam is anything but a success story. In the early years of the war, the U.S. military had a problem: its primary infantry rifle, the M14, couldn't stand up to the enemy's AK-47s. The search was on for a replacement that was lighter weight, more durable, and more lethal than the M14. After tests (some ...
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The M16 rifle is one of the world's most famous firearms, iconic as the American weapon of the Vietnam War-and, indeed, as the U.S. military's standard service rifle until only a few years ago. But the story of the M16 in Vietnam is anything but a success story. In the early years of the war, the U.S. military had a problem: its primary infantry rifle, the M14, couldn't stand up to the enemy's AK-47s. The search was on for a replacement that was lighter weight, more durable, and more lethal than the M14. After tests (some of which the new rifle had failed) and debates (more than a few rooted in the army brass's resistance to change), Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara ordered the adoption of the M16, which was rushed through production and rushed to Vietnam, reaching troops' hands in early 1965. Problems appeared immediately. Soldiers were not adequately trained to maintain the new rifle -billed as self-cleaning-nor were they given cleaning supplies or instructions. The jungle humidity corroded the rifle's inner components (the manufacturer had decided against chrome-plating); the cheap gunpowder in the rounds fouled the chamber. The M16 often failed to eject spent cartridges, often jammed, making the rifle "about as effective as a muzzleloader," in the words of one officer. Men began to be killed in combat because they couldn't return fire or because they had paused to fix their rifles. Congress investigated, and the rifle and its ammunition were modified, greatly improving its reliability by 1967-68. But the damage to its reputation had been done, and many soldiers remained deeply skeptical of their rifle through the war's end. Misfire combines insider knowledge of U.S. Army weapons development with firsthand combat experience in Vietnam to tell the story of the M16 in Vietnam. Even as it details the behind-the-scenes development, tests, and debates that brought this rifle into service, the book also describes men and M16s in action on the battlefield, never losing sight of the soldiers who carried M16s in the jungles of Vietnam and all too often suffered the consequences of decisions they had nothing to do with.
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Add this copy of Misfire: the Tragic Failure of the M16 in Vietnam to cart. $7.00, good condition, Sold by oblivion books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from seattle, WA, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by Stackpole Books.
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Good reading copy of an Ex-Library edition with the usual stamps and stickers. Officially withdrawn from the library and stamped "no longer property of library, " purchased at a charity even for the library system Otherwise, a clean text--NO writing, NO highlighting to text. A useful reading copy.
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New. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. With dust jacket. 268 p. Contains: Unspecified, Halftones, black & white, Tables. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
Add this copy of Misfire: the M16 Rifle in Vietnam Format: Hardcover to cart. $26.02, new condition, Sold by indoo rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Avenel, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2019 by Stackpole Books.
