my Viet Nam Veteran Combat Masterpiece Model 15-2

[Rhino1]

Thanks to my comrades in arms. Intra service rivalries are fun but bottom line is less than 1% of population ever served. Thanks for your service, no matter whether an 11B or a clerk typist

 

[tommypotatoes]

Hey, Bat Guano...

Ubon security? 8th Air Police, Ubon RTAB, 1965-1966... Did I pass you coming in when I was going out?

 

[Rhino1]

No, I was a lot later. Were you there with Blackman and Robin? (Chappie James and Robin Olds)

 

[Wolfiesden]

View attachment 69216


I hope this worked, I've never tried an attachment on this forum before.

In any case this obviously isn't a Smith but it is what I carried as an Infantryman in VN. I don't remembar being angy but it was fired a lot more than it should have been because our rifles were so unreliable.

I didn't ask permission to take it and there were no enforcers where I was, so no problem.

If I am not mistaken it wasn't entirely the M16's fault. From what I have heard and read it was a change in the type of powder in the ammo due to funding cuts. Insufficient testing of the changed powder in the M16 resulted in ejection problems as well as increased fowling. They also changed the chrome lining in the barrels of some VN era M16s, also due to funding issues. These, coupled with improper or infrequent cleaning in the field caused most of the problems. Not weapon design.

If I take a Ruger 10/22 and feed it improperly designed ammo, this renound weapon will also have reliability issues.

So I don't think you can blame the M16 entirely for the reliability issues when you feed it ammo that contains powder that was never (or at least only very lightly) tested in it and that it was not designed for. Blame the ammo. Blame the bureaucrats that cut corners. Blame the politics that made it happen.

Your car is designed for a certain octane gas. Do you blame it for running rough if you put cheap **** fuel in it thats far below that rated octane?

Well thats essentially what happened to the early M16s. They loaded ammo with a different powder with a completely different burn profile and expected it to "just work".

Unfortunately, a lot of our young men had to die because of it, and THAT is the tragedy. And I thank God it got rectified before it turned into a complete disaster and I pray they take the lesson to heart for future engagements. None of our guys should die because their equipment is not properly designed and expendables correctly produced for them.

 

[tommypotatoes]

No, I was a lot later. Were you there with Blackman and Robin? (Chappie James and Robin Olds)

Absolutely! I was there with the 633 combat support group in mid 1965, before Robin Olds and the 8th TFW arrived, in 1966. I humped the ramps, bomb dump and base perimeter. I was part of a small Air Police detachment that was then absorbed by the 8th Air Police Squadron, and then became the 8th SPS.

Interesting times...