Best service rifle

4

4V50 Gary

Staff
OK, we've got the M16A2 and its smaller sibling, the M4. The Brits have the L85, the French the FAMAS, Swiss the Stgw 90 (Sig 550/551), and so on and so forth. As the General Officer in Command of "your" nation, what arm would you choose and why?
 
If I could equip an army with whatever I wanted (cost not being the big issue) I would go with the m-16/m203, with full auto instead of the 3 round burst (better trigger pull) for the infantry squad. Durable optics, with keeping the iron sights handy. FN minimi (m249) for the light machine gun (interchangable mags). FN Mag for the medium machine gun. Old reliable Browning M2HB .50 for the heavy. For rear echelon, I would use a variation of the M-4, but instead of the standard collapsable stock, I would have it equiped with a folder & short gas system, like on the Z-M light rifle. (shorter that way). Handgun, USP .45, the tactical version. Good all around, takes a suppresor, smaller than the SOCOM. SEP Dard anti tank rockets, & Mk 19 model 0 40mm about rounds it out. Oh yea, Armalite Ar10 T or Barret light .50 for the snipers, and a few ssk .300 whisper ar-15's for special purposes. Man, that was kind of fun.
 
I'd equip my army with the Canadian C7 and C8. Full auto (I'd train my soldiers to use it not depend on a mechanical device)and the tougher A1 type sights. I don't see any need for the average rifleman to have the A2 sight.

For squad automatics I'd use the M249. the original version, before the American Army "improved" it. The one with the skeletonized stock the adjustable gas regulator and no handguard. The only "improvement" I'd keep would be the fold down carry handle.

At platoon level it woulld be the FN MAG 58 with the FN tripod and dial sight to allow plunging fire. My machine gunners would be trained to use the MG to it's full capabilities, not just as a heavy automatic rifle.

There would be a company level heavy weapons platoon that would have two MK 19s and two M2 .50 caliber MGs with the FN fixed headspace modification. Three M252 81mm mortars and four Javelin Anti Armor teams and one Stinger Team.

Jeff
 
For the troops M-16 A2 with full auto, squad auto MG-82 or MG-3, or if possible a BAR in 7.62nato with a quick change barrel provision. For the heavy stuff Browning .50 cal. and Barrett rifle. Sub gun, Thompson M1 with synthetic furniture or Uzi. Side arm, .45 auto or Browning Hi-Power. Reasons, because its my country and I said so. No really, these are all proven guns and I think reliable and don't believe there are any better. I would also match the calibers of sub gun to side arm.
 
One of my favorite topics!!! ...and I thought I was the only one concerned with theoretical TO&Es.

The backbone of my Army would be infantry, of course, who are trained in:
-M-16A2
-
...in basic

-M-14
-M203
-FN-MAG/M-240G
-M249 SAW
-AT-4 LAW
-Claymore mines
...in follow-on training
-M2 .50
-Mark 19 40mm
-M-40A1/A2/A3 sniper rifle
-SMAW
-Stinger missile
-Javelin
-TOW
-Arty/Air direction
...in specialist training

and familiarization training with just about anything the grunt may run into on the battlefield, such as Klatchs, Mausers, handguns, land mines, Bradley IFV 25mm, etc.

I think my army would be small, expensive, and very professional. Something like 7 year minimum enlistments like Commonwealth militarys. Live fire training OFTEN. The infantry would be multi-task capable, such as heliborne, mechanized, or foot assault, and individual weapons would be configured depending on the mission, such as:

8 man Rifle squad, mechanized, MOUT:
-2 x M-16/M-203
-1 x SMAW
-1 x M-240G
-2 x M-16 (assistant MG and SMAW men)
-2 x M-14
...all in some APC which doesn't exist yet, like a super-Bradley with a semi-auto 120mm mortar for busting buildings.
 
Edmund,
Why the M14s in your squad configured for MOUT? Greater penetration of the 7.62x51?
And do you think one man is enough for the M240G?

These aren't flames, I'm just curious as to your reasoning. I've always found 2 men to be a light crew for a medium machine gun.
Jeff
 
Jeff White:

Yes, I was thinking penetration through hard cover with the M-14s.

I agree 2 men can't carry much ammo for the 240G if its a really hostile day, (Somalia?) but hopefully extra ammo would be in the APC.

This is all theoretical of course. Best thing might be train all the grunts in my visionary army in all the available small arms I list, then let them pick what they want for the mission.

I read about a 17-man SAS patrol in the Falklands that had like 8-10 FN MAGs. For a brief while they could really open a can of
whup*ss on any Argies they ran into.

Edmund
 
OK. Now some thoughts from armchair general.

I'd suggest M14 simply because it is tough and has no obvious weak spots. Equip most rifles with a bipod and a low-magnification scope, with iron sights visible under it.

However, it would be awkward in close-range fighting...guess we are back to a .223 inteded to bridge the rifle/subgun gap...no ideas here. AUG looks good, but not sure how that works in real combat, having never shot a bullpup...

[This message has been edited by cornered rat (edited 02-01-99).]
 
As Chief of My Country... I would choose:

For Regular Infantry:
HK G-36 Weapon System. This gives you the options of changing the barrel lengths and set up as you need it.
Pistols - and every one would get one - USPs.

For Fire Support: HK OIWC. This is basicaly the G-36 inder a 20MM smart gun - the Marines are going to be buying them up to replace the M-203 system - I would too!
Snipers would get SR-25s, Rem-700s in 300 WINMAG and Barret light 50s.

For Armour Crewmen:
HK UMP .45
Isreali Merkava MBT
BMP-3 APC
MLRS indirect fire support systems

For Air Teams:
French Rafale, Russian SU-27s Mig-33s & 29s,
J-Stars... all that stuff.
I would also like to get them X-WINGS, B-WINGS and a couple IMPERIAL SUPER STAR DESTROYERS for serious fire support.
And all my General Staff would look like Salma Hyak and Jennifer Lopez :)

------------------
Kodiac
Kenetic Defense Institute
"Sir Heckler"
 
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