Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 28

Thread: Need help writing paper on the M-16s early "teething" problems

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    PNW
    Posts
    1,196
    Feedback Score
    17 (100%)

    Need help writing paper on the M-16s early "teething" problems

    So I need help writing a paper for my college US History class. We were allowed to pick a subject given a few broad topics and I thought I'd write something about the M-16s initial problems when it was rushed into service into Vietnam. I just read "The Gun" by C.J. Chivers about the development and history of the AK and it has quite a bit about the early M-16 failures, so I thought it would be an interesting subject to cover in this class. Anyway, I'm looking for other books I can use for research and it's bibliography as it seems the professor cares more about citations than content. I need 7 sources to reference, but 2 can be online. I've already got two, "The Gun" and "The Black Rifle" by Stevens and Ezell, so can you guys help me out with the other 5? What books have you Guys read that covered this subject, maybe even a little. Is the "M16/AR15 Rifle (A Shooter's and Collector's Guide)" any good? How about historical websites? I just found out today that our bibliography is due on this Wednesday (FML) so I'm kinda scrambling right now.
    Thanks in advance!
    PRAISE THE FALLEN
    SSG Kevin Roberts KIA 7-May-08
    1Lt Nick Dewhirst KIA 20-July-08
    Cpl Charles Gaffney KIA 24-Dec-08
    Spc Peter Courcy KIA 10-Feb-09
    PFC Jason Watson KIA 10-Feb-09

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Culpeper, VA
    Posts
    6,313
    Feedback Score
    26 (100%)
    Relevant to technological history (or any kind of history for that matter) is you're trying to show what something is the same or different from what came before. If you can show its "pivotal" nature, you're showing how it's different from what came before.

    What you might want to consider is some level of comparing and contrasting with the development of other long arms employed by the US military as individual case studies and how the M-16 was either the same or different. For instance I think the trapdoor springfield had a lot of problems associated with its use in the field but moving forward comparing the M-16 to the 1903, M1 Garand and the reasons why it replaced the M-14 are valid perspectives from a technological history perspective.

    Your university should also give you access to research databases like Lexis-Nexis and especially JSTOR which are reprints of scholarly journals like "The Journal of Military History". There should be plenty of information there.
    It is bad policy to fear the resentment of an enemy. -Ethan Allen

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    PNW
    Posts
    1,196
    Feedback Score
    17 (100%)
    I'd like to focus on why and how the M16 was rushed into combat and issues that surfaced while there (stuck cases due to non-chrome lined chambers and incorrect propellant, rust issues, lack of cleaning kits), as well as training issues (training up on the M14 then being issued M16 when in theatre). I'd also like to cover how many of the problems were largely ignored for a time before they were fixed with the M16A1. I was planning on explaining it's initial development of course especially in regards to the technological aspect, going from the M14 which is basically 1930's technology to the M16 which was space age for the time.

    Thanks for bringing up the Trapdoor Springfield, that would be an interesting addition to the paper.

    I'm actually at a Community College, so it's more like 13th grade than a university, so we lack a lot of those resources.
    Last edited by kaltesherz; 02-07-11 at 19:53.
    PRAISE THE FALLEN
    SSG Kevin Roberts KIA 7-May-08
    1Lt Nick Dewhirst KIA 20-July-08
    Cpl Charles Gaffney KIA 24-Dec-08
    Spc Peter Courcy KIA 10-Feb-09
    PFC Jason Watson KIA 10-Feb-09

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    484
    Feedback Score
    0
    The M16 was initially touted as being a rifle that did not need cleaning or maintenance, while that proved to be wrong, the rifle's poor performance in Vietnam was not so much due to the rifle itself or flaws with the rifle directly, but rather the propellent used in the military's issued ammunition. It was worse than today's Wolf powder. Couple that with the wrongly touted maintenance free claim, and you had a bad situation made worse.

    "We left with 72 men in our platoon and came back with 19, Believe it or not, you know what killed most of us? Our own rifle. Practically every one of our dead was found with his [M16] torn down next to him where he had been trying to fix it."
    - Marine Corps Rifleman, Vietnam.
    http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...843858,00.html

    This is one of the most influential statements about the M16 to this day that at some level or another relates to the reliability concerns surrounding the platform.

    This article lead to a congressional investigation which found that the rifle itself was not so much the problem but more so was the ammunition used in the. Dupont could not meet the demands by DoD for ammunition. So the another manufacturer was able to produce the round meeting all requirements. However, it increased the cyclic rate from 850 to around 1000 RPM. This made the rifles more dirty much faster. Resulting in more frequent jams, etc.
    http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...899755,00.html

    It was resolved by using a different buffer system. Thereby slowing it down to 650 to 850 rounds. Also I think this is when they began using Chrome lined barrels and began issuing cleaning kits with those comic like PMS manuals. Somebody keep me honest here.

    Hope that helps

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    209
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)
    I also attend a community college and if you go to your library and speak with someone they should be able to show you how to access the databases that John spoke of. They will give you a user name and password to access them. It is a bit of a pain at first, but after you figure out how to navigate the searches it becomes much easier to locate good information. My college has them but they are not something that are a well known resource initially.

    I'm not sure about the required length of the paper but as John recommended, a paragraph or two on the failures (or not) of the predecessors to the original m16, and a few paragraphs on the more recent updates such as the M4 and other specialty variants would help to add volume as well as depth to your paper(run on sentence).

    Something like the following is what I would probably do:

    -Catchy introduction
    -Events/history leading up to the issue or testing of the m16
    -Issue and problems of m16
    -Action taken to remedy problem areas
    -Service life of m16 and variants as m16
    -Modern M4/specialty variants
    -Closing paragraph


    Just throwing out some ideas as I know how it is to write a paper!
    Best of luck and if you'd be comfortable share it with us when you are done!

    EDIT: I just read that you wanted to focus on the initial failures.
    Last edited by 556mp; 02-07-11 at 19:39.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    484
    Feedback Score
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by kaltesherz View Post
    I'd like to focus on why and how the M16 was rushed into combat and issued that surfaced while there (stuck cases due to non-chrome lines chambers and incorrect propellant, rust issues, lack of cleaning kits), as well as training issues (training up on the M14 then being issued M16 when in theatre). I'd also like to cover how many of the problems were largely ignored for a time before they fixed them with the M16A1. I was planning on explaining it's initial development of course especially in regards to the technological aspect, going from the M14 which is basically 1930's technology to the M16 which was space age for the time.

    Thanks for bringing up the Trapdoor Springfield, that would be an interesting addition to the paper.

    I'm actually at a Community College, so it's more like 13th grade than a university, so we lack a lot of those resources.
    As I understand it, there were conflicting reports on the performance of the weapon in theater. It wasn't until the Times article came out that there was an investigation. Prior to that, McNamara having reviewed various reports, none of which detailed many issues, etc surrounding the platform, approved the order for some 80,000 M16 rifle (XM16E1) and they were then rushed into battle. Also keep in mind that the war itself was very political and controversial. So things were not always done with the best interest of the war fighter.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Culpeper, VA
    Posts
    6,313
    Feedback Score
    26 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by kaltesherz View Post
    I'd like to focus on why and how the M16 was rushed into combat and issued that surfaced while there (stuck cases due to non-chrome lines chambers and incorrect propellant, rust issues, lack of cleaning kits), as well as training issues (training up on the M14 then being issued M16 when in theatre). I'd also like to cover how many of the problems were largely ignored for a time before they fixed them with the M16A1. I was planning on explaining it's initial development of course especially in regards to the technological aspect, going from the M14 which is basically 1930's technology to the M16 which was space age for the time.

    Thanks for bringing up the Trapdoor Springfield, that would be an interesting addition to the paper.
    From a historians perspective it's hard to establish that one piece of technology was "rushed into combat" without establishing a baseline as to how other pieces were developed.

    The trapdoor springfield is certainly instructive as to how problem weapons are dealt with, but a hundred or so years of intervening history will have to be addressed so the Garand might be another case you'd want to explore, especially given its revolutionary nature.

    I'm actually at a Community College, so it's more like 13th grade than a university, so we lack a lot of those resources.
    Don't knock CC, it's a great way to get some college under your belt before moving higher up the chain.

    Your public library should have those resources. Additionally a state school or other local university should allow you to use their resources if you're at a CC.
    It is bad policy to fear the resentment of an enemy. -Ethan Allen

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    484
    Feedback Score
    0
    Joh nis correct. If you have a State University near you, you have a right to use the university library as it is publicly funded and basically, a public library, much like you local city or county library.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Posts
    4
    Feedback Score
    4 (100%)
    I don't know if it would be of any help to you at all but the NRA published a booklet some years back, mid 1980's, that was entitled 'M16 AR-15, assembly, history, ballistics and reloading data for the U.S. Service rifle and commercial model'. In it are several articles that addressed quality control, the effects of ball powder on the rifle, and other topics. Possibly if you could find that reprint it would aid you in your assignment.

    Pav

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    NorthWest USA
    Posts
    704
    Feedback Score
    0
    Looks like you got good advice. The only thing I'll add is as a grammar Nazi - consistently use the terms M16 and AR-15 (note hyphens). I remember getting dinged on inconsistencies like that in my college papers.
    Last edited by Quentin; 02-07-11 at 21:53.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •