Our Community Platform providing Essential Information to Know what is Real
Early Problems with the M16 rifles in Vietnam
The early M16 rifle had some jamming problems, but they sure looked cool for the news media and Bean Counter/Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara saved a few pennies in production cost.
When I arrived in February 1968, they were in a transition between the M16 and the revised M16A1 rifle. The original M16 had been tested and adapted for use but somewhere during the production and distribution runs the weapon that ended up in Vietnam became unreliable. Naturally as a FNG (Fing New Guy) I was issued one of the older M16.
It had a habit of jamming. Usually it was either a failure to load a round or the failure to eject a round after firing. Also because the weapon had been tested and determined to be maintenance free (BS) there were no cleaning kits issued with every rifle. It did not take me long to realize that the weapon could not be trusted to fire every time it was needed, but wars don't stop because of little things like weapon malfunctions. You just have to learn to adapt and overcome.
For that reason, I carried a cleaning rod strapped to my M16 to eject a spent casing if it would not eject. In 1968, I was 132 years removed from the Alamo but the M16 was no better than Davy Crockett's Old Betsy musket if it decided to jam.
One of the ways we could tell the difference between the original M16 and the revised M16A1 was the flash suppressor. The forked suppressor was used on the original (it did a great job of twisting the wire wrapping off a case of C-Rations) the enclosed suppressor was on the revised version. One other problem with the forked version is the tendency to catch vines and small limbs when walking through the thick jungle foliage of Vietnam.
Fortunately, I did not have to carry the weapon for long. We were soon issued the newer model M16A1 which was greatly improved and the ammunition problem was corrected. Here is an explanation of the early problems with the M16.
"The original M16 fared poorly in the jungles of Vietnam and was infamous for reliability problems in the harsh environment. As a result, it became the target of a Congressional investigation. The investigation found that:
The M16 lacked a chromed barrel and chamber, causing a corrosion problem, contributing to case swelling and extraction failures. (This was considered the most severe problem and required extreme measures to clear, such as inserting the cleaning-rod down the barrel and knocking the spent cartridge out.)" Early M16 reliability problems
Here is a young twenty-two year old Bobby Tony with his M16 and the cleaning rod strapped to it. I never gave her a nickname since like many girls I had known, she was unreliable, moody, and would often refuse to dance when I needed to rock and roll. I might have called her the "B!T¢H" word a couple of times though, but never "Betsy". Sorry Davy.
Click on picture for an expanded view of the cleaning rod.
Please excuse the poor quality of the picture. It was taken under less than optimum circumstances.
Go Back
When I arrived in February 1968, they were in a transition between the M16 and the revised M16A1 rifle. The original M16 had been tested and adapted for use but somewhere during the production and distribution runs the weapon that ended up in Vietnam became unreliable. Naturally as a FNG (Fing New Guy) I was issued one of the older M16.
It had a habit of jamming. Usually it was either a failure to load a round or the failure to eject a round after firing. Also because the weapon had been tested and determined to be maintenance free (BS) there were no cleaning kits issued with every rifle. It did not take me long to realize that the weapon could not be trusted to fire every time it was needed, but wars don't stop because of little things like weapon malfunctions. You just have to learn to adapt and overcome.
For that reason, I carried a cleaning rod strapped to my M16 to eject a spent casing if it would not eject. In 1968, I was 132 years removed from the Alamo but the M16 was no better than Davy Crockett's Old Betsy musket if it decided to jam.
One of the ways we could tell the difference between the original M16 and the revised M16A1 was the flash suppressor. The forked suppressor was used on the original (it did a great job of twisting the wire wrapping off a case of C-Rations) the enclosed suppressor was on the revised version. One other problem with the forked version is the tendency to catch vines and small limbs when walking through the thick jungle foliage of Vietnam.
Fortunately, I did not have to carry the weapon for long. We were soon issued the newer model M16A1 which was greatly improved and the ammunition problem was corrected. Here is an explanation of the early problems with the M16.
"The original M16 fared poorly in the jungles of Vietnam and was infamous for reliability problems in the harsh environment. As a result, it became the target of a Congressional investigation. The investigation found that:
- The M16 was billed as self-cleaning (when no weapon is or ever has been).
- The M16 was issued to troops without cleaning kits or instruction on how to clean the rifle.
- The M16 and 5.56×45mm cartridge was tested and approved with the use of a DuPont IMR8208M stick powder, that was switched to Olin Mathieson WC846 ball powder which produced much more fouling, that quickly jammed the action of the M16 (unless the gun was cleaned well and often).
- The M16 lacked a forward assist (rendering the rifle inoperable when it jammed).
Here is a young twenty-two year old Bobby Tony with his M16 and the cleaning rod strapped to it. I never gave her a nickname since like many girls I had known, she was unreliable, moody, and would often refuse to dance when I needed to rock and roll. I might have called her the "B!T¢H" word a couple of times though, but never "Betsy". Sorry Davy.
Please excuse the poor quality of the picture. It was taken under less than optimum circumstances.
Comments
|
Stan, some scars never heal. Your dad saw and experienced too much at the hands of the enemy. Each soldier deals with the demons in various ways. There is nobility in the battle but if often come at a high price, which must be paid in lifelong installments. I sincerely hope that Robert Earle found the peace that was his due, if not on earth, then in the hereafter. May he rest in peace.
|
|
B.T., your uncle was a remarkable man on so many levels.
How many people have a Japanese House Boy? Unlike your gracious uncle, my father, Robert Earle, never forgave the Japanese. I think he just saw too much, knew too much, lost too many "buddies". In the early 1980's, I bought a Nissan Truck. It took the man a while to forgive me for that one. |
|
|
Stan,
My uncle had a Japanese Samurai sword that he acquired in the late 1940's and early 1950's when he was stationed in Japan. He was career Air Force retiring as a Brigadier general. He fell in love with the Japanese culture (his WWII was spent in North Africa and Italy) and had many artifacts from Japan. Shortly before his death, he donated it to the Atlanta Japanese embassy with instructions that it be returned to Japan for display in a place of honor. In most cases, you would expect the sword to be in someone's private collection, but he assured me that was not the way the Japanese thought and it would indeed be returned to Japan per his request. I was the executor of his will after his death, and per his written direction, I contacted the Japanese Embassy to have them review his collection for any religious or cultural artifacts that they felt should be returned to Japan. They selected three items, which by coincidence (???) matched his personal notes to me as having cultural significance. They were donated to the Embassy. He also left a stipend in his estate for his former houseboy who was a Japanese War orphan. Koichi Sato was fifty-five years old at the time of my Uncle's death but was ten years old when Aldo was in Japan. It was yet another of life's lessons learned by me i.e. "forgiveness" and "honor", and I have always believed his assurances were true. |
|
|
Thanks Bobby Tony on the list. I wish they let my father keep his weapon.
I do; however, have a Japanese infantry rifle and a Samurai sword from WW II. |
|
|
Stan, I have not been to a gun show in quite a while and there used to be quite a few there. If you want a shooter M1 just for fun or memories, I think there are still plenty around in various shapes. All parts are interchangeable, so you could construct a good shooting Garand from various manufacture.
I was looking for a collector / investment grade weapon, which means all the parts need to be matched. Just like the antique auto elitists, the weapons crowd can tell an assembled rifle from an original issue. After talking this over with my son who will eventually inherit my collection, all I need is a shooter. He is not into collecting for investment yet. Below is a sample of listing on Guns America of both types. see the first one, $6,195.00 for an investment grade weapon. www.gunsamerica.com |
|
|
Hey B.T., sorry for the delay for everything here, but I have been dividing a big part of my 168 hours a week between the woods and here.
I heard that the M1 Garand could be purchased at shows and was not too expensive. I want one too ... if for no other reason to bring me closer to the memory of my father, and what he did as a WW II patriot. Let me know what you find out. |
|
|
As a collector and not a shooter, I have been looking for a quality M1 for years. I have a WWII Army issue M1 Carbine in the inventory. My 2 years of ROTC in high school and 2 in College were all trained with an M1. Years ago you could pick one up for next to nothing, now a matching part M1 will be over $2000. Here is a site which sells them in various conditions with mixed parts from fair to display quality.
thecmp.org |
|
|
I remember this in the news during the Vietnam War.
My father used the M1 Garand, which he loved, and I wondered why they did not just reissue the M1. Later I learned why: AK47. |
| Dueling Hits - Mickey Newberry Singer and Songwriter | The Old Rooster Crows, Public Vignettes, Visiting Writers, Literature, The Arts | When I Get Time I Know What I Shall Do |
Home
Contact
About
Service Rates
Privacy Policy
Follow on Facebook
Subscribe to Newsletters
Rss Feed
Keywords
Eastern NC Now & ENC NOW © Copyright 1998-2024 All Rights Reserved.
When they handed me the flag from his coffin, I balled like a baby, with that one thought running inexorably through my mind - that know the sweet peace of salvation. Looking back on my father's life, and piecing together what I know of him, and what I heard, he suffered from a form of PTSD.
The japanese were brutal, and I fear, American G.I's learned to give it back in full measure, especially at Okinawa.
Regardless, my father raised me to be a warrior, and let me know that if it was my lot that I called to serve in Vietnam that I would, or he would disown me, and he meant it. I was fortunate enough not to be called, and I am, therefore, forever thankful for you Vietnam War Vets.
You are my heroes.