The Vietnam-era M16 rifle shows its weaknesses in Iraq combat; may face earlier retirement

The Vietnam-era M16 rifle shows its weaknesses in Iraq combat; may
face earlier retirement

(EXCERPT) By Slobodan Lekic, Associated Press, 11/22/2003 15:45

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) After nearly 40 years of battlefield service around
the globe, the M-16 may be on its way out as the standard Army assault
rifle because of flaws highlighted during the invasion and occupation
of Iraq.

U.S. officers in Iraq say the M-16A2 the latest incarnation of the
5.56 mm firearm is quietly being phased out of front-line service
because it has proven too bulky for use inside the Humvees and armored
vehicles that have emerged as the principal mode of conducting patrols
since the end of major fighting on May 1.

The M-16, at nearly 40 inches, is widely considered too long to aim
quickly within the confines of a vehicle during a firefights, when
reaction time is a matter of life and death.

''It's a little too big for getting in and out of vehicles,'' said
Brig. Gen. Martin Dempsey, commander of the 1st Armored Division,
which controls Baghdad. ''I can tell you that as a result of this
experience, the Army will look very carefully at how it performed.''

Instead of the M-16, which also is prone to jamming in Iraq's dusty
environment, M-4 carbines are now widely issued to American troops.

The M-4 is essentially a shortened M-16A2, with a clipped barrel,
partially retractable stock and a trigger mechanism modified to fire
full-auto instead of three-shots bursts. It was first introd...

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