Table of Contents. Small arms weapons systems that have been
used by the U.S. Army are:
Notes:
1. A green arrow
indicates a photo or line drawing that
can be viewed and downloaded.
2. A date in parentheses is the initial
date of production or type classification, if known. A second date, separated by
a hyphen, is the final date of final production, if known. Production may have
been continuous, or broken, and by one or more manufacuturers.
3. A
number in parentheses, following descriptive data, is the total production
quantify, if known.
4. Older model weapons, and even cartridges, were
designated by model year, e.g.: M1903A4 rifle, M1911A1 pistol, Cartridge, cal.
.30-06 (model year M1906). Succeeding modifications were designated by the
letter "A", and an Arabic numeral.
BLANK FIRING ATTACHMENTS.
Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES). The
MILES is a training system that provides a realistic battlefield environment for
soldiers involved in training exercises. MILES required the sound of a blank
cartridge to discharge a laser transmitter that sends simulated laser "bullet"
to kill or wound opposing forces (OPForces) during training exercises. The MILES
fires coded laser beams at laser detectors attached to soldiers or vehicles.
When the laser bear hits a detector, the laser detector records a kill or near
miss. The detectors are sensitive to the source of fire. For example, the laser
beam for a soldier simulating the firing an M16 rifle will not register on a
detector mounted on an armored vehicle. Blank firing attachments (BFAs) were
developed to promote realism by enabling soldiers to simulate firing their
weapons as they are actually used on the battlefield. Go to
AH-1P
Cobra for photos of a MILES system mounted on an AH-1P Cobra attack
helicopter.
M16 rifle with MILES
laser transmitter and M17 BFA. Soldier has laser detectors on his helmet and
harness (Copyright The Stackpole Co.).
M19 Blank Firing Attachment for the M2 Machine Gun
(1980). The M19 BFA, standardized in January 1980, was developed for use
with the M2 .50 Cal heavy machine gun.
M19 and M20 Blank
Firing Attachments (BFAs) (Copyright The Stackpole Co.).
CARBINES.
Carbine, Cal. .30, M1/M2/M3 . The M1 Carbine was
developed to provide better protection to service troops than standard issue
pistols, when caught under surprise attack during envelopment movements by enemy
forces. The Carbine filled a need for a weapon heavier than a pistol, but
lighter than a rifle for issue to company-grade officers and NCOs. The Carbine
proved to be such an effective light weight weapon that it was also carried for
protection by heavy and light weapons teams. All models used a .30 cal. Carbine
cartridge in 15-round and 30-round magazines.
 | M1 could be fired only as a semi-automatic. |
| M1A1 was also a semi-automatic, but featured a folding metal
buttstock, an excellent light weight weapon for use by paratroops. M1/M1A1 .30 Cal.
Carbines. |
| M2 was selectible for either semi- or fully-automatic fire. |
| M3 had a specially modified grooved receiver for mounting an infrared 4X "Snooper Scope" sniperscope. |
MACHINE GUNS
Machine Gun, Cal. .30, M1917/M1917A1 (1917). The M1917
water-cooled .30 cal. machine gun was developed by John Browning. The M1971A1
was the Army's standard battalion level machine gun until the mid-1950s. The
M1917A1 .30 cal. machine gun was replaced by the M60 7.62mm machine gun.
| M1917 water-cooled machine gun saw service with the last U.S. troops to enter France near the end of World War I. The M1917 was tripod mounted, but was also used as an aircraft gun. The M1917 had a rate of fire of 450 spm. |
| M1917A1. Following World War I the M1917 was modified and
remanufactured at the Rock Island Arsenal, IL. The modified weapon was
designated M1917A1. Additional modifications were made to new production
machine guns. The M1971A1 was the Army's standard battalion level machine gun.
It saw service in World War II and Korea. The M1917 had a rate of fire of
450-600 spm. Browning
M1917/M1917A1 .30 Cal. machine gun (Copyright The Stackpole Co.). |
| M1919A4 was used as both a company level flexible light machine gun
on the M2 tripod mount and as a fixed machine gun on armored vehicles. The
M1919A4 had a heavier barrel with a ventilated barrel jacket, but developed a
slower rate of fire (400-550 spm) than the water-cooled gun. Browning M1919A4
.30 Cal. machine gun (Copyright The Stackpole Co.). |
| M1919A5 was a modification to the M1919A4 for use as a tank machine gun. |
| M1919A6 was a war time modification to add tactical flexibility by
substitution of a bipod in place of the tripod and addition of a shoulder
stock and carrying handle. The M1919A6 had a lighter barrel than the M1919A4.
It had a rate of 400-500 spm. Browning M1919A6
.30 Cal. machine gun (Copyright The Stackpole Co.). |
Machine Gun, Cal. .30, M37. The M37 was an interim
modification to the M1919A4 .30 cal. machine gun for use as a tank machine gun.
Ammunition could be fed from either side giving the machine gun more flexibility
in tank mountings than either the M1919A4 or M1919A5. The M37 had a rate of fire
of 400-550 spm. The model M37C was used as an aircraft gun on the OH-13 Sioux
and OH-23 Raven on the skid-mounted M1 armament subsystem.
M37 .30 Cal. tank
machine gun (Copyright The Stackpole Co.).
Machine Gun, Cal. .30, M1941, Johnson (1941). The
Johnson model 1941 was a light machine gun used to a limited degree by U.S.
troops during World War II. It was the only new design machine gun introduced
during the war. It had a front blade sight and a rear folding aperture sight.
The model 1941 used .30 cal. cartridges in 20-round magazines. It had a rate of
fire of 400-450 spm.
Johnson
M1941 .30 Cal light machine gun (Copyright The Stackpole Co.).
Machine Gun, 7.62mm, M73 (1959). The M73 was standardized
in 1959 following a lengthy and troublesome development program which was
suspended between 1953 and 1956. The M73 was prone to jamming and experienced
numerous other malfunctions. The M73 was developed specifically as a NATO
caliber fixed tank machine gun. The M73 had a quick-change barrel. Ammunition
could be fed from either side for flexibility in tank mounting. The M73 had a
rate of fire of 450-500 spm. The M73C is an M73 modified for use as a flexible
machine gun by addition of sights and a pistol grip trigger. The M73C was
mounted on the XM132 tripod mount, which was a .30 cal. M2 mount with an adapter
to fix the M73C.
M73 7.62mm tank
machine gun (Copyright The Stackpole Co.).
M73C 7.62mm machine
gun on XM132 tripod mount (Copyright The Stackpole Co.).
Machine Gun, 7.62mm, M219 (1977). To correct the
deficiencies in the M73 machine gun, a product improved M73E1 was developed. One
of the principal improvements was its simplified ejection system. The M73E1 was
standardized and type classified as the M219 machine gun, since its parts were
not interchangable with the M73. Despite continuing efforts to improve the
machine gun, problems encountered by the Israelis during the 1973 Yom Kippur war
caused the Army to seek a replacement. Considerable study and trade-offs led the
Army to adopt the Belgian Fabrique National MAG medium machine gun as the M240
machine gun in 1977.
M219
7.62mm tank machine gun (Copyright The Stackpole Co.).
Machine Gun, Cal. .50, Fixed, M85. Although the M2 .50
cal. machine gun was an excellent weapon, it is too large for many applications
in armored vehicles and did not have a high enough rate of fire for use against
aircraft. Following World War II, there was considerable experimentation with
.50 cal. tank guns. The result was the development of the M85 .50 cal. tank
machine gun. The M85 had a quick-change barrel and a dual rate of fire for use
against aircraft (1000-1100 spm)or ground targets (400-500 spm). The M85 became
the standard tank machine gun for a number of years. The M85C was a adapted for
tripod mounting, for use, at low rate of fire, as a flexible machine
gun. M85 .50 Cal. fixed
tank machine gun (Copyright The Stackpole Co.).
M85C .50 Cal.
flexible machine gun on tripod mount (Copyright The Stackpole Co.).
PISTOLS.
Pistol, Cal. .38, Special. Commercial cal. .38 Special
six-round revolvers that were purchased for use by air crews, general officers
and security personnel were the Colt .32 and .380 automatic pistols, Colt .38
Detective Special Revolvers, Colt .38 Police Positive Revolvers, Colt .38
Special Official Police and Smith & Wesson .38 Military and Police
Revolvers. These pistols all used cal. .38 Special cartridges, with exception of
the Colt .32. The M1917 revolver was issued in 2-inch, 4-inch, or 6-inch barrel
lengths.
Colt Cal. .38
Special Revolver.
General Officer's Pistols. Although commercial pistols were
purchased and issued to General Officers, some standard Army issue pistols were
specially modified for use by General Officers.
Pistol, Cal. .45,
Semi-automatic, M1911A1, General Officer's.
Revolver, Cal.
.38, Smith & Wesson model 10, 2-inch Barrel.
Pistol, Cal. .32,
Automatic, Colt, General Officer's (Standard until 1972).
Pistol, Cal. .32,
Automatic, Colt, General Officer's, with Equipment.
Pistol, .45 Cal., Revolver, M1917 (1917). During World
War I, due to a shortage of M1911 pistols, the Army procured Colt New Service
and Smith & Wesson hand ejector cal. .45 six-round double-action revolvers.
These pistols were standard issue until World War II, when they were only issued
to Military Police and security personnel. Both pistols used the same rimless
.45 cal. cartridge as the M1911/M1911A1 pistol (305,000).
M1917 .45 Cal.
Revolver.
RIFLES.
Rifle, Cal. .30-06, M1903 Series (1903). The Springfield
M1903, a bolt-action rifle, was the standard issue rifle used by the Army from
1903 thru 1936, when it began to be replaced by the new issue M1 Garand.
But it remained in use in many units up until 1943, when the Garand began
arriving in large numbers. The M1903 used the .30-06 standard military cartridge
in five-round magazines. The M1903 was an accurate weapon, and was also used as
a sniper
rifle. It remains in use today as a ceremonial rifle (1,295,000).
| M1903 (1903) initially used the .30-03 cartridge, but was modified to use the new standard model M1906 .30-06 cartridge. |
| M1903A1 (1929), with a straight stock, was the standard Army rifle until it began being replaced by the M1 Garand in 1936, and was in use during the early years of World War II. |
| M1903A2 was a barreled receiver used as a subcaliber rifle with artillery pieces. |
| M1903A3 (1942) was modified to simplify production by making use of
stamped metal parts together with a pistol grip stock. Springfield M1903
series Cal. .30-06 rifle. |
| M1903A4 sniper rifle(1942) was a M1903A3 specially modified for use as a sniper rifle with the addition of a M73 or M73B1 2.2X telescope. The M1903A4 had a full pistol grip stock. |
| M1918 (1917) was selective to fire either semi- or fully-automatic. The M1918 did not have the shoulder support plate or bipod that was characteristic of later models. The M1918 had a blade front sight and a leaf with aperture battle sight with aperture rear sight. |
| M1918A1 (1937) was selective to fire either semi- or fully-automatic. It had a shoulder support plate hinged to the buttstock and a spike type bipod. The M1918A1 had a blade front sight and a leaf with aperture battle sight with aperture rear sight. |
| M1918A2 (1940) was fully-automatic, but selective at either Slow
(300-450 spm) or Fast (500-650 spm) rates of fire. The M1918A2 was originally
issued with a spike based removable stock rest which fitted in a hole in the
buttstock. It had a shorter hinged shoulder support plate and a skid type
bipod. Later modifications included a plastic buttstock and the addition of a
carrying handle. The M1918A2 had a blade front sight and a leaf with aperture
rear sight adjustable for windage. Browning Cal.
.30-06 Automatic Rifle (BAR), M1918 series (Copyright The Stackpole Co.). |
Rifle, Cal. .30-06, M1, Garand (1936). The M1,
designed by John C. Garand, was the standard issue military rifle used by the
U.S. Army from 1936 to 1957, when it was replaced by the lighter M14 rifle. The
M1 was one of the first semi-automatic rifles to see action in combat. It
offered a great improvement in fire power over the bolt-action M1903 series
rifle it replaced. It was rugged, reliable, and tolerant to the abuses of use
in the field. The rifle used .30-06 cal. cartridges in eight-round clips.
Cleaning and
Maintenance of the M1 cal. .30-06 Garand Rifle.
Springfield M1
Garand .30-06 Cal. rifle
Loading eight-round
clip into receiver of M1 rifle (Copyright The Stackpole Co.).
| M14, basically a product improved M1 Garand, performed well as a infantry rifle. The M14 had an effective range of 500 yards (460m). The M14 used a standard NATO 7.62mm cartridge in a 20-round magazine. The M14 was the standard Army infantry rifle, until replaced by the mass fielding of the M16 5.56mm rifle in 1966-1967. Some M14s were equipped with a bipod for use as a squad automatic weapons. However, the M14 displayed an erratic dispersion pattern, excessive recoil, and muzzle climb when fired as an automatic rifle. |
| M14A1. The Army designed the model M14A1 to overcome these
problems, but it was too light to become a truly successful replacement for
the M1918 series BAR, and production was halted in 1963. The M14A1 featured a
full pistol grip and a folding forward hand grip. M14 series
7.62mm rifle (Copyright The Stackpole Co.). |
| M14 National Match (1959) was used in the semi-automatic mode only. The M14NM had special sight parts and barrels selected especially for accuracy. |
Rifle, 5.56mm, M16/M16A1 (1959). General dissatisfaction
with the M14 and numerous studies led the Army to the development of a light
weight weapon capable of firing a burst of small caliber bullets with a
controlled dispersion pattern. Although opposed by the Ordnance Corp, the
Armalite AR-15 was adopted by the Secretary of Defense as the 5.56mm M16 rifle.
The M16 was selectable for full and automatic fire. The M16 was to have had the
same effective range as the M14 rifle it replaced, but it was most effective at
a range of 215 yards (200m) or less. The M16 used a 5.56mm (.223 cal.) cartridge
in 20- or 30-round magazines. There were a number of problems encountered during
initial fielding, but better training, preventive maintenance, and several
design changes, resulted in the weapon that has become the standard issue rifle
of the U.S. Army (3,690,000). The current versions of the rifle are models M16A2 and
M16A4.
M16A1 5.56mm
rifle.
SNIPER WEAPON SYSTEMS
Rifle, Cal. .30-06, Sniper, M1903A4 (1942). The M1903
was an accurate rifle with an effective range of 600 yards (550m). The M1903A4
was used during World War II, playing a part in the Normandy invasion in June
1944, until it was replaced by the M1C and M1D model Garand (below). The
M1904A4 was also used to a very limited extent during the early years of the
Vietnam war. The model M1904A4, developed and produced during World War II, was
a modified M1903A3 specifically designed for use as a sniper rifle. The M1903A4
used a M73 or M73B1 2.2X telescope (26,650).
Springfield M1903A4
Cal. .30-06 sniper rifle.
Rifle, .30 Cal., Sniper, M1C/M1D. The M1C and M1D were
sniper versions of the M1 Garand. The two models differed only in the
telescope mounts. The M1C mounted a model M81 2.5X telescope; the M1D an M82
2.5X telescope. Both models were used as sniper rifles during World War II,
Korea, and during the early years of the Vietnam war. Although considered
obsolete, the M1D remained the official U.S. Army sniper rifle until the
mid-1960s. Both versions used the standard Army .30-06 cartridge loaded
manually, or in eight-round clips.
M1C and M1D Cal.
.30-06 sniper rifles.
Rifle, 7.62mm, Sniper, M21 (1969). The XM21 was developed
jointly by the Army Weapons Command (Rock Island, IL), Combat Development
Command (Ft. Benning, Ga), and the Limited Warfare Agency (Aberdeen, MD). The
XM21 was an accurized M14 National Match (NM) semi-automatic rifle equipped with
a Leatherwood 3X-9X Adjustable Ranging Telescope (ART). The Rock Island Arsenal
converted 1,435 M14NM rifles to XM21 sniper rifles for initial fielding to
Vietnam in 1969. The rifle was initially fielded with a hardwood stock, which
was later replaced with a fiberglass stock. The XM21 was officially type
classified M21 in 1975, though it had been informally called the M21 since
December 1969. It was the primary Army sniper rifle of the Vietnam war and
remained standard until replaced by the bolt-action M24 Sniper Weapon System
beginning in 1988. The M21 was accurate to 750 yards (690m). The rifle used U.S.
match grade M118 NATO 7.62mm cartridges, in five-round or 20-round magazines.
The ART telescope featured a variable magnification power of from 3X to 9X, for
adjustable ranging between 300m and 900m. This adjustable ranging feature
removed much of the guesswork from aiming at the target. The ART was
ballistically matched with U.S. M118 NATO ammunition (1,800).
Sighting the M21
sniper rifle.
M21 sniper rifle
line drawing (right view).
M21
sniper rifle line drawing (left view).
M21 7.62mm sniper
rifle (U.S. Army photo).
Leatherwood 3X-9X Adjustable Ranging Telescope (ART) (Copyright The
Stackpole Co.).
Rifle, 7.62mm, Sniper Weapon System, M24 (1988). The M24
Sniper Weapon System, fielded in 1988, represents a return to bolt-action sniper
rifles by the U.S. Army from the semi-automatic M21. As in the U.S. Marine Corps
M40A1, the M24 uses the Remington 700 receiver group which has been modified to
use the cal. .300 (7.62mm) Winchester Magnum round. The stock is made of a
composite of Kevlar, graphite and fiberglass synthetic stock featuring an
aluminum bedding block and adjustable butt plate. A detachable bipod can be
attached to the stock's fore-end. The M24 is equipped with a 10X fixed Leupold
M3 Ultra telescope.
M24 7.62mm
sniper rifle (U.S. Army photo).
M24 sniper rifle
(U.S. Army photo).
M24
Sniper Weapon System (SWS) (U.S. Army photo).
M24 SWS system
components (U.S. Army photo).
M144 spotting
telescope, Component of End Item (COEI) of M24 SWS (U.S. Army photo).
Machine Gun, Cal. .50, Heavy, M2. The M2 machine gun on
the M3 tripod provided a very stable firing platform. The M2 machine gun has a
bolt latch which allows for single-shot operation and a traversing and elevating
mechanism. With these features the M2 was used to a very limited extent as a
sniper weapon during the Vietnam war at fixed installations such as firebases.
Snipers prefired the weapons at identifiable targets and worked the data into
range cards insuring increased first-round accuracy. The 1st Battalion, 5th
Infantry, 25th Infantry Division constructed 20-30 foot high shooting platforms,
adding steel base plates and posts to further stabilize the M2 on the M3 tripod.
Together with the use of Starlight night vision scopes, the M2 severely
limited enemy movement within 900 yards (1,000m) of the perimeter of a firebase
(Source 2. Inside the
Crosshairs).
M2 .50
Cal. machine gun on M3 tripod mount (U.S. Army photo).
Barrett M82A1 .50 cal. BMG Rifle (1991). The M82A1 is a
semi-automatic, air cooled, box magazine fed rifle chambered for the .50 cal.,
M2 Browning Machine Gun cartridge (.50 cal. BMG or 12.7 x 99mm NATO). This rifle
operates by means of the short recoil principle. The weapon system is comprised
of the rifle (M82A1), two ten-round magazines, self-leveling bipod legs,
carrying handle, and iron or telescoping sights. Though used as a sniper rifle,
this weapon was procured during Operation Desert Shield/Storm primarily for use
by U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units for use as a rifle
disrupter of unexploded ordnance (RIDX). In EOD units, the Barrett M82A1 will be
replaced by a modified Barrett M95 bolt-action rifle, with a projected first
unit equipped date of 1st Qtr CY 02. The Barrett M82A1 has not been type
classified.
Barrett M82A1 .50
cal. BMG Rifle (Copyright Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Co.).
SUBMACHINE GUNS.
Submachine Gun, Cal. .45, M1928A1, Thompson (1928). The
M1928A1 "Tommy Gun", a delayed blowback submachine gun, was issued to armored
and reconnaissance units. It was selective for semi- or fully-automatic fire. It
fired a .45 cal. cartridge in 20- or 30-round magazines, or a 50-round drum. It
had a leaf with aperture notch battle sight. It's rate of fire was 600-725 spm.
The M1928A1 had a removable buttstock. Most had a horizontal fore grip, but some
had a vertical fore grip. The M1928A1 was relatively heavy, and expensive in use
of materials, machine time, and machine tools.
Thompson M1928A1
.45 cal. submachine gun (Copyright The Stackpole Co.).
| M1 Thompson was a redesign of the model M1928A1 to simplify
production. The M1 had a permanently attached buttstock and a spring-loaded
firing pin like the M1928A1. The M1 would not accept the M1928A1 drum type
magazine. The M1 had a simple fixed aperture rear sight. Thompson M1 .45
cal. submachine gun (Copyright The Stackpole Co.). |
| M1A1 differed from the M1 only in having the firing pin machined into the face of the bolt. |
| M3 (1942) was designed specifically to simplify production by making use of stamped metal parts. A number of deficiencies were found during the initial two years of use. These deficiencies were corrected in the model M3A1. |
| M3A1 (1944) had a larger ejection port and a stronger cover spring.
It was also designed so it could fire 9mm Parabellum cartridges by changing
the barrel and bolt and adding an adapter to the magazine. Following World War
II, a curved barrel was made for use with the M3A1. A flash hider was
developed for use with both the M3 and M3A1. M3A1 .45 cal.
submachine gun with flash hider (Copyright The Stackpole Co.). |
Source materials:
For information on current small arms, go to
1. Small Arms of the World, 11th
edition of the W.H.B. Smith Small Arms Manual, The Stackpole Co., Harrisburg,
PA, 1977.
2. Inside the Crosshairs, Snipers in
Vietnam, by Michael L. Lanning, The Ballantine Publishing Group, 1998.
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