The M16 is a family of American military assault rifles adapted from the ArmaLite AR-15 design for United States armed forces use, manufactured principally by Colt's Manufacturing Company and FN Herstal among other contractors, and it entered service in 1964 when the initial XM16E1 variant was issued to American troops. Chambered for the 5.56mm round, the rifle offered a lighter weight and higher rate of controllable automatic fire than the battle rifles it replaced, and it became the standard infantry weapon of the United States military during the Vietnam War. Approximately eight million M16-family rifles have been produced, making it the most-produced firearm of its caliber, and updated variants remain in front-line and reserve service today, giving it the distinction of the longest continuously serving rifle in United States military history. Its direct descendant, the shorter M4 carbine, has become the primary individual weapon of most American ground forces in the twenty-first century.
Facts
Weapon Class Introduced Year Introduced Year Classification
Service Status Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category) Connections
Associated With
Vietnam War, Wars The M16 rifle became the standard American infantry weapon of the Vietnam War after replacing the M14
Operated By
Source Wikipedia: M16 Rifle
Source Wikipedia: M16 Rifle
Used In
Source Wikipedia: M16 Rifle
Source Wikipedia: M16 Rifle
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikidata: M16 Rifle
Wikidata Q170318, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source 2. Wikipedia: M16 Rifle
WikipediaLead section, opening sentence
The M16 rifle (officially designated Rifle, Caliber 5.56mm, M16) is a family of assault rifles adapted from the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle for the United States military.
Lead section, paragraph 2, first sentence
In 1964, the XM16E1 entered US military service as the M16 and in the following year was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War.
service status
Approximately eight million M16-family rifles have been produced, making it the most-produced firearm of its caliber, and updated variants remain in front-line and reserve service today, giving it the distinction of the longest continuously serving rifle in United States military history
Caliber attribute (m16-rifle)
The original M16 rifle was a 5.56×45mm automatic rifle with a 20-round magazine.
Used In: Falklands War, Wikipedia article text
The M16 was also adopted by the British SAS, who used it during the Falklands War.
Used In: Vietnam War, Wikipedia article text
In 1964, the XM16E1 entered US military service as the M16 and in the following year was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War.
Operated By: United States Marine Corps, Wikipedia article text
In 1983, the United States Marine Corps adopted the M16A2 rifle, and the US Army adopted it in 1986.
Operated By: United States Army, Wikipedia article text
In 1983, the United States Marine Corps adopted the M16A2 rifle, and the US Army adopted it in 1986.
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