History: M16 Rifle CAR-15 Vietnam War

History[edit]
Following the adoption of the M16 rifle, carbine variants were also adopted for close quarters
operations. The CAR-15 family of weapons served through the Vietnam War. However, these
rifles had design issues, as "the barrel length was halved" to 10 inches (25 cm), which "upset the
ballistics", reducing its range and accuracy and leading "to considerable muzzle flash and blast,
so that a large flash suppressor had to be fitted". [11] "Nevertheless, as a short-range weapon it is
quite adequate and thus, [despite] its caliber, [the XM177 'Commando'] is classed as a
submachine gun."[11] In 1982, the US Government requested Colt to make a carbine version of
the M16A2. In 1983, the 9th Infantry Division requested a Quick Reaction Program (QRP) for a
5.56mm carbine as early as April 1983. The first model of the prototype M4 was built, and it was
tested by the US Army and the Army's Armament Research and development Center (ARDC) in
June 1983. It is essentially a XM177E2 that fires 5.56x45mm NATO instead of the .223
Remington rounds, improved furniture, and a 1-7" barrel. The ARDC recommended additional
commonality with the M16A2 rifle, as well as lengthening the barrel to 14.5". In January 1984, the
US Army revised the QRP and redesignated the proposed 5.56mm carbine as the XM4 Carbine,
given the name as the successor to the M3 Carbine, as an improved variant of the XM177E2.
The Army formally approved the revised QRP in February 1984.
The second model was tested in May 1985 by the US Army and the USMC. The models had the
XM177E2 receiver with a new A2 pistol grip, and were given a shorter 11.5-inch (290 mm) barrel,
and longer 14.5-inch (370 mm) barrel for the bayonet and the M203 Grenade Launcher. The
USMC preferred the 14.5-inch barrel. Colt also created the "XM4 IPR document" for the USMC
and the US Army. The third model was made as early as May 1986, and it was tested from May
1986 through May 1987; at the time it had an A2 Upper Sight, and it had the M16A2's
1:7 inch rifle twist, to use the heavier 62-grain M855 rounds. The extended barrel improved the
XM4's ballistics, reduced muzzle blast and gave the XM4 the ability to mount a bayonet and
the M203 grenade launcher. The XM4 was also given the cartridge deflector, as well as other
minor refinements.[citation needed] Colt was also focusing on other Colt Carbines, such as the Colt 723
and Colt 727 (M16A2 Government Carbine). In May 1991, the XM4 was renamed to the M4, and
Colt made a manual for the M4. In 1993, the US Navy SEALs tests the M4's in Somalia
alongside with the new M4A1. Colt stop working on improving the other Colt Carbines to do more
work on the M4.
The M4 was officially accepted into service by the U.S. military in 1994, to replace the older
XM177s, Colt Carbines, M16A2 rifle, and the M3 Grease Gun. It first saw action in the hands of
U.S. troops deployed to Kosovo in 1999 in support of the NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force. It
would subsequently be used heavily by U.S. forces during the Global War on Terrorism,
including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the U.S. Army, the M4
had largely replaced M16A2s as the primary weapon of forward deployed personnel by 2005.
[12]
The M4 carbine also replaced most submachine guns and selected handguns in U.S. military
service,[12] as it fires more effective rifle ammunition that offers superior stopping power and is
better able to penetrate modern body armor.[citation needed]
A 10th Special Forces Group soldier with an M4 carbine during an exercise in July 1995.
A U.S. Army 82nd Airborne soldier holds an M4 carbine in Vitina, Kosovo in January 2000 during the
NATO-led KFOR mission, the first operational use of the M4 by U.S. troops.
In 2007, the United States Marine Corps ordered its officers (up to the rank of Lieutenant

Colonel) and staff non-commissioned officers to carry the M4 carbine instead of the M9 handgun.
[13]
This is in keeping with the Marine Corps doctrine, "Every Marine a rifleman". The Marine
Corps, however, chose the full-sized M16A4 over the M4 as its standard infantry rifle. United
States Navy corpsmen E5 and below are also issued M4s instead of the M9.[14] While ordinary
riflemen in the Marine Corps were armed with M16A4s, M4s were fielded by troops in positions
where a full-length rifle would be too bulky, including vehicle operators, and fireteam and squad
leaders. As of 2013, the U.S. Marine Corps had 80,000 M4 carbines in their inventory. [15][16]
By July 2015, major Marine Corps commands were endorsing switching to the M4 over the
M16A4 as the standard infantry rifle, just as the Army had done. This is because of the carbine's
lighter weight, compact length, and ability to address modern combat situations that happen
mostly within close quarters; if a squad needs to engage at longer ranges, the M27 IAR can be
used as a designated marksman rifle. Approval of the change would move the M16 to support
personnel, while armories already had the 17,000 M4s in the inventory needed to outfit all
infantrymen who needed one.[17] In October 2015, Commandant Robert Neller formally approved
of making the M4 carbine the primary weapon for all infantry battalions, security forces, and
supporting schools in the U.S. Marine Corps. The switch was to begin in early 2016 and be
completed by September 2016.[18] In December 2017, the Marine Corps revealed a decision to
equip every Marine in an infantry squad with the M27, replacing the M4 in that part of the service.
[19]
MARSOC will retain the M4, as its shorter barrel is more suited to how they operate in
confined spaces.[20]
Improved M4[edit]
On 1 July 2009, the U.S. Army took complete ownership of the M4 design. [21] This allowed
companies other than Colt to compete with their own M4 designs. The Army planned on fielding
the last of its M4 requirement in 2010.[21] On 30 October 2009, Army weapons officials proposed a
series of changes to the M4 to Congress. Requested changes included an electronic round
counter that records the number of shots fired, a heavier barrel, and possibly replacing
the Stoner expanding gas system with a gas piston system.
The benefits of these changes, however, have come under scrutiny from both the military and
civilian firearms community.[22][23] According to a PDF detailing the M4 Carbine improvement plans
released by PEO Soldier, the direct impingement system would be replaced only after reviews
were done comparing the direct impingement system to commercial gas piston operating system
to find out and use the best available operating system in the U.S. Army's improved M4A1. [24]
In September 2010, the Army announced it would buy 12,000 M4A1s from Colt Firearms by the
end of 2010, and would order 25,000 more M4A1s by early 2011. The service branch planned to
buy 12,000 M4A1 conversion kits in early 2011. In late 2011, the Army bought 65,000 more
conversion kits. From there the Army had to decide if it would upgrade all of its M4s.[25]
On 21 April 2012, the U.S. Army announced to begin purchasing over 120,000 M4A1 carbines to
start reequipping front line units from the original M4 to the new M4A1 version. The first 24,000
were to be made by Remington Arms Company. Remington was to produce the M4A1s from
mid-2013 to mid-2014.[26] After completion of that contract, it was to be between Colt and
Remington to produce over 100,000 more M4A1s for the U.S. Army. Because of efforts from Colt
to sue the Army to force them not to use Remington to produce M4s, the Army reworked the
original solicitation for new M4A1s to avoid legal issues from Colt. [27] On 16 November 2012,
Colt's protest of Remington receiving the M4A1 production contract was dismissed. [28] Instead of
the contract being re-awarded to Remington, the Army awarded the contract for 120,000 M4A1
carbines worth $77 million to FN Herstal on 22 February 2013.[29][30] The order is expected to be
completed by 2018.[31]

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History[edit]

In 2007, the United States Marine Corps ordered its officers (up to the rank of Lieutenant

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