Excellent Article. Sure brought back some memories.
In 1970, IV Corps, Viet Nam, we were "transitioning" the Vietnamese Regional and Popular Forces (RF/PF's) to the new family of weapons (M-16's/M-60's) and away from the M-1, M-1 Carbine, and the BAR. Already been mentioned, but it was funny that it seemed like the "smallest guy in the unit" was the "BAR guy".
The BAR is a finely crafted "battle weapon" but had it's disadvantages when compared to the M-60. First and foremost was the weight (they're heavy suckers). Second, the M-60 was a belt fed weapon, which greatly increased it's "sustained fire". And third, the "quick change" barrel enhanced it's ability to "stay in the fight".
Although my Vietnamese units (I advised 5 RF Companies and 34 PF Platoons) were authorized (by TOE), the M-60's, the normal supply channels were often slow to fill demand. Being the "resourceful operators" that we were, we figured out another way to get M-60's into the hands of our troops. We could trade captured weapons (AK's, SKS's, Chicom rifles, etc) to the "supply guys" at Vinn Long airfield for cases of steaks. Then, we'd take the steaks to the other side of the airfield and trade them to the "aircraft maintenance guys" for M-60's. Pretty good deal when you factor in that the govt. was paying about $860 for each new M-60. My guys didn't really care that the guns they were toting bore "circular aircraft sights" and lacked a bipod. They still put a lot of fire downrange.
