It looks like the Afghan army is going to M-16s. I have my serious doubts about relatively primitive troops in a relatively primative army being able to maintain the weapon.
The Afghan Army is replacing its AK-47s for M-16s. The first 5,000 M-16s arrive in January, and 10,000 a month after that, until 50,000 have arrived. The Afghan army currently has a strength of about 50,000, and this is expected to reach 64,000 in the next 14 months. While the AK-47 is more reliable when dirty, the M-16 is more accurate, a bit lighter and sounds different than the AK-47. That last item is important in combat, as it helps you sort out who is where. Around the world, rebels and irregulars tend to choose the M-16 over AK-47, if they have a choice. This despite all the criticism the M-16 gets. The AK-47 also has its quirks. But since the AK-47 has been so romanticized in the West, those flaws tend to be played down. Not so in the field.
Don’t know what he meant there, as I would say the AK is much more beloved by those in the east as opposed to those in the west. That is largely due to the lack of functional flaws, even when being operated dirty by primitive armies (as you correctly described them). I know many like them here (mostly those that don’t know better or see them in movies), but there they are a mainstay over there because they would rather sacrifice accuracy for reliability. Plus, the gun was developed in the east.
That said, I would not own one. In fact, I feel bad just holding one.
fair trade… they probably shoot straighter than your average Afghan anyway…
(in all seriousness)
I can understand the desire to convert ANA to M-16’s, for many reasons, especialy the aforemention difference in report… what I’m not confident in is the ability of your typical ANA ground-pounder to be able to maintain it properly…
I’ve got a buddy who’s a former SEAL, he currently works Security Escorts for a pvt firm in both Af. and Iraq… I’m gonna bring this up with him and get his opinion as he’s had plenty of contact with the sort of troops that will be using them.
You would have to be literally retarded to not be able to maintain a functioning AR . I don’t by that crap about AK’s being more reliable either. It’s like saying a Glock is more reliable than an HK USP, :rolleyes: You’d be hard pressed to make either fail if you take care of them properly.
I understand what you are saying, and I know you have the field experience to back up most of what you say. I have also heard and read many first hand stories of dirty M16’s/M4’s functioning well while coated with that fine sand. But, that is likely due to it’s operator taking care of it between incidents. And, as I said, I will not own an AK. I have 3 AR’s because I prefer them for several reasons.
However, to say that there is nothing to the statement that AK’s are less likely to fail when dirty as an AR is questionable. By most accounts (and I owned 2 myself years ago) they are easier to maintain, largely because of the overall design and the piston system they incorperate. Also, just because a mechanic can keep an old tank running does not mean that the average “infantryman” who is part of some rag-tag army will break down their AR and clean it as often as needed. Maybe the better trained, more disciplined Afghan army will take better care of their weapons. Of course, there are more AK’s there (and 7.62 ammo) due to the Russians, but that does not mean most would take an M16/M4 if they could. You know the M16 is better, and so do most here, but they don’t necessarily see it that way.
No, not retarded, just lazy and/or undiciplined. And “…if you take care of them properly” is the epitome of the reason that AK’s are better suited to many (but not all) of those that use them.
Sorry to bore you, however the context of the discussion is fine as long as one sticks to facts and not emotions. That is not a reference to Rusted Ace, I just mean in general. This discussion is boring to you because you have seen it many times, as have I. However, there are many out there reading this that are not members here or are new and interested to hear how one might compare to the other.
And it is interesting to know that the Afghan army is buying M-16’s, IMHO. It’s a sign of them becoming more civilized.
I don’t know of anybody “in the east” that prefers AK’s… w/o exception all indig forces I’ve been in contact with REALLY want m4’s/
Most all the top CT teams, former “Warsaw Pact” use m4 varients even when their army uses AK varients.
Weapons maintainance is a unit disipline issue, not cultural. Plenty US support units weapons are completely fubar’d. And, disciplined indig can run an m4 just fine trust me.
Their will be a higher requirement for support with the m16 series. And m4 mags, in use, are not good for the 40+ year service life of the AK’s.
Hopefully they got m4’s & not A2 2x4’s… a little big for a malnutritioned 120lb trooper. And eventually ACOGS for trusted high performers.
Naw, this is simple: US hegemony means US small arms in vassal states.
More profit for Ike’s military/industrial(/banking) complex. You don’t really believe A-stan paid cash, do you? Unless it came from us.gov (who sold Treasury debt to finance it.)
If lumpy is right, the goats may turn out to be more valuable than the dollar.:eek:
I hear the same cries of the end of times every time we are threatened by a recession. It’s important to realize that economics follow cycles. Down trends are always followed by up trends.
Yes, usually. But that is not a given and we should take nothing for granted. There is some serious economic shit going on in this country right now. Massive credit woes, housing prices declining, foreclosures soaring, loans becoming too difficult to get, gas at all time highs…
Don’t be complacent or overconfident, as it could lead to a lack of preparedness.
