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Why I Despise the M14...

SmallArmsSolutions・30 minutes read

The speaker criticizes the U.S. Ordnance Corps for providing troops with faulty weapons and ammunition, highlighting the disadvantages faced by soldiers using the M14 and the 7.62 by 51 millimeter NATO round. Additionally, the speaker discusses the army's resistance to innovative advancements in firearms, resulting in the adoption of outdated equipment and the eventual shift to private contractors for improved weapon systems, ultimately enhancing the quality and reliability of US military weapons.

Insights

  • The U.S. Ordnance Corps' resistance to new concepts and standardization of ammunition and firearms among allies led to soldiers being ill-equipped, highlighting the detrimental impact of bureaucratic inertia on military effectiveness.
  • The army's historical resistance to advanced weapons, like the AR-10 and AR-15, in favor of tradition, resulted in missed opportunities for innovation, emphasizing the importance of adapting to new technologies to ensure soldiers have superior equipment and capabilities in combat situations.

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Recent questions

  • Why was the M14 rifle disliked?

    Issues with weapon and ammunition provided to troops.

  • What influenced the development of an intermediate caliber cartridge?

    German and Soviet advancements in firearms.

  • Why was the AR-10 rifle not embraced by the army?

    Use of aluminum, synthetics, and innovative construction.

  • What led to the introduction of the AR-15 rifle?

    Challenges faced by US troops in Vietnam.

  • How did private contractors improve US military weapons?

    Ensuring better weapon systems for soldiers.

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Summary

00:00

"Disadvantages of M14 Rifle and Ammo"

  • The speaker discusses his dislike for the M14 rifle due to issues with the weapon and ammunition provided to troops.
  • The failure of the U.S. Ordnance Corps to provide proper weapons and ammunition is highlighted.
  • The adoption of the 7.62 by 51 millimeter NATO round is criticized for putting U.S. troops at a disadvantage.
  • The speaker mentions the U.S. Ordnance Corps' resistance to new concepts, leading to soldiers being ill-equipped.
  • The NATO trials in the 1950s aimed to standardize ammunition and firearms among allies.
  • The concept of an intermediate caliber cartridge is introduced, influenced by German and Soviet developments.
  • The Germans' MP44 and the Soviets' 7.62 by 39 cartridge are discussed as examples of intermediate caliber advancements.
  • The British proposed the 280 British cartridge, but the U.S. pushed for the 7.62 by 51 millimeter cartridge.
  • The British eventually adopted the 7.62 by 51 millimeter cartridge due to U.S. influence.
  • The development and shortcomings of the M14 rifle, intended to replace various firearms, are explained.

14:19

US Army's Resistance to Innovative Weaponry

  • The Armalite AR-10, a revolutionary rifle, was not embraced by the army due to its use of aluminum, synthetics, and innovative construction, making it unlike traditional rifles.
  • The AR-10 featured aluminum alloys for better heat dissipation and corrosion resistance, stronger synthetics, and inline construction for improved controllability on fully automatic mode compared to the M14.
  • Despite the AR-10's advancements, the army sabotaged its testing with non-standard ammunition and faced issues like a ruptured barrel, leading to its dismissal in favor of the T-44.
  • The M14, heavy and uncontrollable in fully automatic mode, was ill-suited for close-quarter combat, while the FAL rifle, similar to the T-48, offered controllability and an adjustable gas system ideal for the US military and NATO allies.
  • In 1965, US troops in Vietnam faced challenges with the M14 against the AK-47, leading to the introduction of the AR-15, a scaled-down version of the AR-10, favored by the Green Berets for its lightness, controllability, and effectiveness in jungle warfare.
  • The army's mishandling of the M16 program, including deliberate sabotage and lack of cleaning kits, led to malfunctions in combat, prompting a congressional investigation that revealed criminal negligence by the army and forced improvements to the rifle.
  • The army's historical resistance to advanced weapons, like the Thompson submachine gun and Maxim machine gun, led to missed opportunities, with innovations often coming from private firms rather than the army.
  • The adoption of the M16 halted M14 procurement, marking the end of US military-manufactured weapons as private contractors took over production, ensuring better weapon systems for soldiers.
  • The M14's shortcomings, including heavy recoil, a steel magazine, and complex design, made it less effective than the AR-10 and AR-15, highlighting the army's resistance to change and preference for tradition.
  • The shift to private contractors for weapon manufacturing has improved the quality and reliability of US military weapons, preventing the past damage caused by the army's adherence to tradition and resistance to innovation.

27:24

"Importance of M16 in Combat History"

  • The Battle of Badrang Valley marked the first use of the M16 rifle, which proved crucial due to its lightweight design, controllability, and ability to engage multiple targets quickly in close combat, contrasting with the less accurate and traditional M1 Garand.
  • The speaker criticizes the decision to adopt the M14 over the AR-10 and the 280 British cartridge, believing that tradition clouded judgment, leading to inferior equipment for soldiers and potentially causing unnecessary casualties due to a lack of firepower superiority compared to adversaries.
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