What do you think, will NATO ever go with .45 caliber as their standard pistol round instead of 9mm?
No, there isn’t much likelihood given the number of entities, terminal ballistics realities, and inter-operability.
I guess they might call it the 11mm.
The logistics of switching any NATO caliber make it difficult. In order to switch, there would have to be a perceived need to switch. In general, the handgun does not decide modern combat. With the proliferation of body armor, I can’t honestly say that the .45 ACP is a game changer compared to the 9mm round for modern military applications.
NATO switch to 45? Nope
Why should they?
-B
As others have stated, handguns are so low on the totem pole for a military, as well as the fact that for decades, Europeans were content to arm their militaries with .32 ACP handguns, and then stepped up to 9mm Para, that there is no reason for them to go to .45 ACP.
Templar has it correct. We’re really the only NATO member with any semi-compelling reason to call for change. The rest of these countries have been quite content to use the 9x19mm, and they generally do not see it as a flawed choice, given (1) their views about the role of handguns in general, and (2) the fact that they are not as actively involved on current fields of conflict.
From the European perspective, .45 ACP is something of a dated offshore solution to a non-existent problem. They like the cartridge just fine, but see no real reason to step backward to go forward – if indeed there is any real reason to abandon the status quo to begin with.
AC
Nope, I think were going to have the 9mm for awhile longer. I believe only Special Forces will be using the 45acp, but Iread somewhere on the net that Special Forces were using the Glock in 40 caliber, but I can remember which forum I read it on, I’m getting old!
You guys are actually wrong…the reason NATO will never adopt .45acp is due to the fact that the only time they have seen its sheer awesomeness was when American servicemen were killing their grandfathers with it.
Dude…
Hell no.
If you’re thinking of one particular unit that was once famous for using custom 1911, then yes, you are somewhat correct. The talent and know how to keep those dinosaurs running has been stretched VERY thin, hence the reason with going with the GLOCK platorm (albeit the WRONG format). You’d be surprised how many SF units within USSOCOM make due with the bog standard M9 eating M882. As far as I know, there is only one branch in the DoD keeping the 1911 in the lime light, e.i. USMC PWS MEUSOC.
I believe the 9mm service cartridge will outlive NATO.
Not gonna happen.
I’m sure the war-hating libs in NATO would consider a .45 ACP “too large” for battle use and thus, it would cause considerably agonizing wound channels. Basically, I think NATO would say it’s too lethal a round…like the .50BMG.
The reason NATO is limited to 9mm pistol cartridges is that many member nations have pistol calibers limited by law to 9mm. There is no anti-American cartridge conspiracy here.
Nope, just logistics… and logistics win wars.
BTW, my father (who was a Navy Recruiter in the 1960’s) used to have a photo on his office wall that had the quote “Logistics… as vital to military success as daily bread is to daily work” (attributed to Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, 1912). Truer words were never spoken.
What’s the saying?
“Amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics.”
By wrong format, do you mean “wrong cartridge” or “wrong size pistol”? ie, G19 vs G21 OR G19 vs G17?
I believe the thread is about the round or caliber, and not the platform.