Why is the m16 invented?

Answer 1

Originally the M16 Assault Rifle was purchased by the US Air Force for their security forces. The USAF has ALWAYS been interested in light weight metals, as that is what their aircraft are made of. It seemed only fitting that light weight rifles would be excellent for airmen manning USAF aircraft. Light weight rifles carried lots of ammo, with a fast rate of fire.

Then came Vietnam. US Marines and US Soldiers landed in Vietnam equipped with the standard issue M14 service rifle. A rifle that was similar to the WWII/Korean War M1 Garand; both were semi-automatic (the M14 could be made fully automatic, but required an armorer to set them up for full auto fire), both were built of wood and steel, and both fired the same diameter bullet (.30 caliber/.308), with the .308 being a little bit shorter than the M1's 30-06 cartridge. They even looked similar; the wood went closer to the muzzle on the M1 than it did on the M14, and the M14's (20 round) magazine extended downward, whereas the M1's eight round clip was completely hidden inside the rifle. Other than those differences, they were nearly the same rifle.

Fighting in the jungles of Vietnam, US Soldiers and US Marines tried to pour firepower into the enemy, when ever they were engaged. But big .308 (7.62mm NATO) rounds were heavy to carry and the M14's had a slow rate of fire, because they're big cartridges. Yes, armchair generals (men that have never been in battle) say that the recoil of a rully automatic M14 was too much to handle (they climbed when fired); well, that's why you fire full auto weapons from the hip and walk your bullets into the target. Even from the prone positon (lying on your belly), an experienced riflemen simply places his left hand on top of the forearm and with a strong hand holds it down as he fires (using a rag to keep from being burned, even plastic/fiberglass hand guards heat up!). The real reason M14's were not cherished by the "grunts" was because they were heavy to carry (long marches thru jungles, including UPHILL) and ammo was very heavy when carrying more than 100 rds (in steel magazines).

M16 Assault Rifles were light, and an infantryman could carry 7 bandoliers or more! Each bandolier held 7 magazines with 20 rds per mag. An M14 carrying grunt would be real tired carrying that kind of load. In addition, M14 mags were built of steel; M16 mags were built aluminum.

In or about 1967, the US Army billed the M16 as a "Jungle Rifle" and it was used strictly for "spraying bullets" in Vietnam. No other US troops stationed outside of Vietnam were issued the weapon until around 1970. US troops outside of Vietnam retained the standard M14 service rifle.

People today are wondering why the US Military is experimenting with replacing the M16 cartridge (.223/5.56mm NATO); they complain that the .308 round is better, and that the .223 is not effective enough...well people (both military & civilian alike) have FORGOTTEN that the M16 was, for the US Army/Marines, "originally" designed for fighting in Vietnam; and was actually labeled (in writing by the US Government) as a JUNGLE RIFLE!

Answer 2

Tested as a civilian Armalite (AR) model 15 (AR-15), accepted as a MILITARY MODEL "M" one grade higher "16"; M16.