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The Ia Drang battle in Vietnam (1965) was it's first large combat test. See film: "We Were Soldiers..." Ia Drang was an experimental engagement involving "Airmobile" units, the new "UH-1 Iroquois" helicopter (commonly referred to as the "Huey"), and the new M-16 Assault Rifle (commonly referred to as the "Mattel" toy by GIs). Boys growing up in the 1950's and 1960's grew up with Mattel toy guns...television commercials in the 50's/60's were always full of guns, beer, cigarettes, westerns, and War Movies. Popular toy guns were the "Fanner Fifty" (from the Gunsmoke TV series), "Johnny Reb" cannon; "Wanted Dead or Alive" bounty hunter gun, a cut off lever action carbine, etc. So by the time those boys were old enough to get drafted, they went to Vietnam and saw the "new toy plastic gun" the M-16 rifle; and called it a "Mattel." Prior to Ia Drang, the US Army was using M14 service rifles, the CH21 Shawnee and CH34 Choctaw Helicopter, and "Airborne" Divisions already existed (those were created in WWII), while "AIRMOBILE" Divisions were only being tested in Vietnam.

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14y ago
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13y ago

Numbers started to be issued in 1960, when the rifle was first fielded. Standardisation of the M16 across the entire US Military commenced in 1975. It may be possible to find M16A1 rifles in some Marine Corps Reserve units today, although it is somewhat doubtful.

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13y ago

in 1962 for the Vietnam War against the NVA

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12y ago

Colt was manufacturing it since 1986, and a handful of select units received them. The US Army "officially" adopted it and gave it the nomenclature of M4 in 1994.

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Q: When did USMC issue M16A1 rifle?
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What is the maximum range of m16A1 rifle?

550 meters


What branches or special operation forces in the US Military use the M16a1 or the M16a3?

The M16A1 is no longer used by any branches or special operation forces in the US Military. The M16A3, however, is used by some units in the US Air Force, particularly security forces. It is not the standard-issue rifle for any branch or special forces.


Year of manufacturer Colt M16A1 Rifle with serial number 9539897?

Type your answer here... 1985


Who invented the M16A1?

The M16A1 is the U.S. military designation for the AR-15 rifle built by Colt. The AR-15 itself was invented in 1957 by Eugene Stoner (1922-1997) while at ArmaLite.


Which models of fire does the M16A1 have?

The M16A1 assault rifle has two modes of fire: semi-automatic and fully automatic. As long as the trigger is held down, the weapon will continue to fire until the magazine is empty.


How can you get m16a1 rifle in Mafia Wars?

its a loot item in rob the armenians which ever job tier its in cant remember


What do they use guns in the military?

Depends on which military. US uses the M16A1 rifle, or the M4 carbine version of the same.


Who discovered the m16 riffle?

The M-16 RIFLE was developed by Colt for the US service and deployed in 1964 as the M16A1. No one discovered it.


How many usmc recruits qualified with perfect score on rifle range?

None


Which modes of fire does the M16a1 have?

Being an assault rifle, the M16A1 has two modes of select fire. It can either be fired in semi-automatic, or fully automatic. The M16A3 shares the same trigger group, while the M16A2 and M16A4 have semi-automatic and three-round burst modes.


Is the M16A1 rifle with underslung 39mm smoothbore grenade launcher the best gun?

Well, it is a 40 mm grenade launcher if you mean the real rifle and the M203 launcher- but there is NO ONE BEST. The M16 is a good rifle- but it will not be a 1000 meter rifle. And it may not be the rifle of choice in close quarters, or where greater penetration is needed.


M16a1 full auto or 3 round burst?

The M16A1 is fully automatic.