Why was M16 so unreliable?

The original M-16 fielded in Vietnam was unreliable because cost cutting measures were used which required stringent maintenance in the field that soldiers either weren’t doing or not doing sufficiently. The rifle is manufactured to very tight tolerances.

What sniper rifle was used in Vietnam?

The sergeant primarily waged war in Vietnam with one of the new M40 sniper rifles, a modified version of the Model 700 Remington 7.62mm bolt-action rifle that was first introduced in 1966.

What does the M in M60 stand for?

The M stands for Model. The M1903 rifles were named after the cartridge they used. i.e. M1900 = Model 1900 cartridge.

What was the main gun used in Vietnam?

Among the most famous firearms used by ground troops in the Vietnam War was the M1911 . 45 caliber automatic pistol. Already more than 50 years old by the time U.S. personnel arrived in Indochina, the legendary seven-shot sidearm was issued to grunts and officers alike, as well as vehicle crews and pilots.

What weapons did the Vietnamese use?

On the other side, American forces in Vietnam employed a vast array of handguns, a range of rifles, anti-tank weapons, rocket launchers, grenade launchers, machine guns, sub machine guns, handguns, mortars, howitzers, jet fighters, helicopters, gun ships, bombs and tanks.

What guns were used in Vietnam?

One of the most common infantry weapons used by U.S. troops in Vietnam was the M-60 machine gun, which could also be used as an artillery weapon when mounted or operated from a helicopter or tank.

What sniper rifles were in the Vietnam War?

The M21 Sniper Weapons System was a version of the M14, but tooled for accuracy, and it was the primary semi-automatic rifle for the war in Vietnam. The M1 Garand sniper variants were used by the Marines and some elements of the Army, but it was replaced by the M21 around 1968.