RainDownmyBlues
Member
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2006
- Messages
- 115
Even after the 5 years of active airborne infantry duty I served(Afghanistan), I never really understood the military designations for weapons.
Take the M-16 for example, we all know it as the rifle most of us carried since the sixties. Different varients of course, my SDM rifle was an accurized, 20" barrel, semi auto-only M16a4 with some pretty glass. But in WWII M-16 was a half track. And there are different things, M9 was a sub gun, and during my service was the side arm I was issued.
So obviously M stands for military, what about the numeral? Is it war specific, introduction? use? I see no logical way they are designating these weapons :banghead:
Someone enlighten me please.
Take the M-16 for example, we all know it as the rifle most of us carried since the sixties. Different varients of course, my SDM rifle was an accurized, 20" barrel, semi auto-only M16a4 with some pretty glass. But in WWII M-16 was a half track. And there are different things, M9 was a sub gun, and during my service was the side arm I was issued.
So obviously M stands for military, what about the numeral? Is it war specific, introduction? use? I see no logical way they are designating these weapons :banghead:
Someone enlighten me please.