Ground Weapons Used in the Vietnam War
by: Chris Giroux and Justin Griffith
M-60 Assault Rifle
http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/2119/Rifles/M16.html
The M-60 assault rifle was very in the Vietnam War. The M-60 was fully automatic, belt fed, gas operated, and air cooled. The M-60 could be fired very quickly; 120 rpm (automatic), 40 rpm (single shots). The M-60 shot 7.62 mm cartridges between 350-400 yards. The length of the gun is 91.4 cm long, the barrel taking up 42 cm of it. The magazine capacity of the gun is 30 rounds. The muzzle velocity is 719 meters per second. However, there is some draw backs to the M-60 such as, weighing 24 lbs, having a tendency to over height, and having an awkward carrying handle.
M-16 Assault Rifle
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/sfd/m16.htm
The M-16 assault rifle was invented by Eugene M. Stoner. The M-16 was the gun that replaced the M-14 due to its lightness and compact form. (about 2 lbs lighter and 5 inches shorter.) The M-16 could be fired fully automatic, or shot one at a time with the same accuracy as a M-14, which was 500 yards. Although it had the same accuracy it fired smaller, lighter 5.56 mm cartridges. Although the M-16 sounds like the perfect gun, it did have some problems. One problem was the rifles spring loaded magazine corroded quickly in the Bandoliers that were almost always wet. The M-16 was not all that much better than the M-14. The M-14's ruggedness made it well suited for the wet, immoderate Vietnamese climate.
M-79 Grenade Launcher
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~bocaj/raygun/firearms/grenade/m79.html
The M-79 grenade launcher was first used in the Vietnam War by the United States. The M-79 was a shotgun type weapon that fired a 40 mm grenade cartridge. Most soldiers could fire seven rounds in about one minute. The grenades could be fired approximately 375 yards, killing soldiers in a five yard radius. The M-79 also could fire high explosive devices and smoke rounds, up to about 150 yards.
AK-47 Assault Rifle
http://members.tripod.com/sa93/ak47.html
Throughout the 1940's and 1950's many models of the AK-47 were produced from its original designer, Mikhail T. Kalashnikov. With all of the designs there are similarities between each of them, like its machine steel stampings that were riveted together. The AK-47 and its variants (AKM) can be very reliable if kept clean. In the 1950's they came out with newer models that came with a chrome bore, which aids in cleaning and extends barrel life. The AK-47 weights about 10.47 lbs with a loaded magazine attached. It is 34.25 inches long, with the barrel taking up 16.33 inches of that. The AK-47 shoots a 7.62 mm cartridge. The AK-47 can shoot 400 rounds per minute (automatic) and 90 to 100 rounds (single shot). The muzzle velocity is 700 meters per second. The AK-47 was a killing machine in the Vietnam War.
Goldstein, M, Donald. The Vietnam War: The Story and Photograph. Brassey's. 1997, pg. 51- 67.
Summers, G, Harry. The Vietnam War Almanac. Presidio. 1985, pg. 223-234.