History M14 rifle

1 history

1.1 development
1.2 infantry board service rifle trials
1.3 production contracts

1.3.1 national match m14


1.4 deployment
1.5 replacement
1.6 post-1970 u.s. military service
1.7 service other nations

history
early development

the m14 developed long line of experimental weapons based upon m1 rifle. although m1 among advanced infantry rifles of late 1930s, not ideal weapon. modifications beginning made basic m1 rifle s design during last months of world war ii. changes included adding automatic firing capability , replacing eight-round en bloc clips detachable box magazine holding 20 rounds. winchester, remington, , springfield armory s own john garand offered different conversions. garand s design, t20, popular, , t20 prototypes served basis number of springfield test rifles 1945 through 1950s.

t25 prototype

in 1945, earle harvey of springfield armory designed different rifle, t25, new t65 .30 light rifle cartridge [7.62×49mm] @ direction of col. rene studler, serving in pentagon. 2 men transferred springfield armory in late 1945, work on t25 continued. t25 designed use t65 service cartridge, frankford arsenal design based upon .30-06 cartridge case used in m1 service rifle, shortened length of .300 savage case. although shorter .30-06, less powder capacity, t65 cartridge retained ballistics , energy of .30-06 due use of developed ball powder made olin industries. after experimenting several bullet designs, t65 finalized adoption 7.62×51mm nato cartridge. olin industries later introduced cartridge on commercial market .308 winchester. after series of revisions earle harvey , other members of .30 light rifle design group following 1950 fort benning tests, t25 renamed t47.

the t44 prototype service rifle not principally designed single engineer @ springfield armory, conventional design developed on shoestring budget alternative t47. minimal funding available, earliest t44 prototypes used t20e2 receivers fitted magazine filler blocks , re-barreled 7.62×51mm nato, long operating rod/piston of m1 replaced t47 s gas cut-off system. lloyd corbett, engineer in harvey s rifle design group, added various refinements t44 design, including straight operating rod , bolt roller reduce friction.

infantry board service rifle trials

experimental t47 rifle

the t44 participated in competitive service rifle competition conducted infantry board @ fort benning, georgia against springfield t47 (a modified t25) , t48, variant of fabrique nationale s fn fal (from fusil automatique leger , french light automatic rifle ). t47, did not have bolt roller , performed worse in dust , cold weather tests both t44 , t48, dropped consideration in 1953. during 1952–53, testing proved t48 , t44 comparable in performance, t48 holding advantage in ease of field stripping , dust resistance, longer product development lead time. newsweek article in july 1953 hinted t48/fal might selected on t44. during winter of 1953–54, both rifles competed in winter rifle trials @ u.s. army facilities in arctic. springfield armory engineers, anxious ensure selection of t44, had been specially preparing , modifying test t44 rifles weeks aid of armory s cold chamber, including redesign of t44 gas regulator , custom modifications magazines , other parts reduce friction , seizing in extreme cold. t48 rifles received no such special preparation, , in continued cold weather testing began experience sluggish gas system functioning, aggravated t48 s close-fitting surfaces between bolt , carrier, , carrier , receiver. fn engineers opened gas ports in attempt improve functioning, caused early/violent extraction , broken parts result of increased pressures. result, t44 ranked superior in cold weather operation t48. arctic test board report made clear t48 needed improvement , u.s. not adopt t48 until had completed round of arctic tests following winter.

in june 1954, funding became available manufacture newly fabricated t44 receivers specially designed shorter t65 cartridge. 1 change t44 design saved pound in rifle weight on of m1 garand. tests @ fort benning t44 , t48 continued through summer , fall of 1956. time, t48/fal rifles had been improved malfunction rates low t44.

the t44 selected on t48/fal due weight (t44 pound lighter), simplicity fewer parts, t44 s self-compensating gas system, , argument t44 manufactured on existing machinery built m1 rifle (this later turned out unworkable). in 1957, u.s. formally adopted t44 u.s. infantry service rifle, designated m14.

production contracts

initial production contracts m14 awarded springfield armory, winchester, , harrington & richardson. thompson-ramo-wooldridge inc. (trw) later awarded production contract rifle well. 1,376,031 m14 service rifles produced 1959 1964.

national match m14

springfield armory produced 6,641 new m14 nm rifles in 1962 , 1963, while trw produced 4,874 new m14 nm rifles in 1964. springfield armory later upgraded 2,094 m14 rifles in 1965 , 2,395 m14 rifles in 1966 national match specifications, while 2,462 m14 rifles rebuilt national match standards in 1967 @ rock island arsenal. total of 11,130 national match rifles delivered springfield armory, rock island arsenal, , trw during 1962–1967.

production m14 rifles made springfield armory , winchester used forged receivers , bolts milled aisi 8620 steel, low-carbon molybdenum-chromium steel. harrington & richardson m14 production used aisi 8620 steel well, except ten receivers milled aisi 1330 low-carbon steel , single receiver made alloy steel high nickel content.

deployment

a u.s. soldier m14 watches supplies dropped in 1967 during vietnam war.

after m14 s adoption, springfield armory began tooling new production line in 1958, delivering first service rifles u.s. army in july 1959. however, long production delays resulted in 101st airborne division being unit in army equipped m14 end of 1961. fleet marine force completed change m1 m14 in late 1962. springfield armory records reflect m14 manufacture ended trw, fulfilling second contract, delivered final production increment in fiscal year 1965 (1 july 1964 – 30 june 1965). springfield archive indicates 1.38 million rifles acquired on $143 million, unit cost of $104.

the rifle served adequately during brief tour of duty in vietnam. though unwieldy in thick brush due length , weight, power of 7.62×51mm nato cartridge allowed penetrate cover quite , reach out extended range, developing 2,560 ft·lbf (3,463 j) of muzzle energy. however, there several drawbacks m14. traditional wood stock of rifle had tendency swell , expand in heavy moisture of jungle, adversely affecting accuracy. fiberglass stocks produced resolve problem, rifle discontinued before many distributed field use. also, because of m14 s powerful 7.62×51mm cartridge, weapon deemed virtually uncontrollable in automatic mode, m14s permanently set semi-automatic fire avoid wasting ammunition in combat.

a rare m14 presentation model, serial no. 0010

the m14 developed replace 7 different weapons—the m1 garand, springfield m1903, enfield m1917, m1 carbine, m3 grease gun, thompson m1928/m1, , m1918 browning automatic rifle (bar). intention simplify logistical requirements of troops limiting types of ammunition , parts needed supplied. however, proved impossible task replace four. m14 deemed inferior world war ii m1 garand in september 1962 report u.s. department of defense comptroller. cartridge powerful submachine gun role , weapon light serve light machine gun replacement bar.

replacement

the m14 remained primary infantry rifle in vietnam until replaced m16 in 1966–67, though combat engineer units kept them several years longer. further procurement of m14 abruptly halted in late 1963 due u.s. department of defense report had stated ar-15 (soon m16) superior m14. (the dod did not cancel fy 1963 orders not yet delivered.) after report, series of tests , reports u.s. department of army followed resulted in decision cancel m14. m16 ordered replacement m14 direction of secretary of defense robert mcnamara in 1964, on objection of u.s. army officers had backed m14. (other factions within army research , development community had opposed m14 , 7.62×51mm round start.) though production of m14 officially discontinued, disgruntled troops managed hang on them while deriding model m16 frail , under-powered mattel toy prone jam. in late 1967, u.s. army designated m16 standard rifle, , m14 became limited standard weapon. m14 rifle remained standard rifle u.s. army basic training , troops stationed in europe until 1970.

the u.s. army converted several thousand m14s m21 sniper rifles, remained standard issue purpose until adoption of m24 sws in 1988.

in 1969, tooling m14 sold taiwan , later many rifles exported baltic countries , israel.

post-1970 u.s. military service

an army marksman in fallujah, iraq, using m14 leupold lr/t 10×40 mm m3 scope

in mid-1990s, marine corps chose new rifle designated marksman (sniper) use, m14 modified precision weapons shop in marine corps base quantico called designated marksman rifle (dmr). intended use security teams (srts, fast companies), , marine scout snipers in cases semi-automatic rifle more appropriate standard bolt-action m40a1/a3 rifle. usmc rifle team uses m14 in shooting competitions. although m14 phased out standard-issue rifle 1970, m14 variants still used various branches of u.s. military other armed forces, sniper rifle , designated marksman rifle, due accuracy , effectiveness @ long range. special active units such opfor units of joint readiness training center use m14s. few m14s in use in army until afghanistan , iraq wars. since start of these conflicts, many m14s have been employed designated marksman , sniper rifles. these not m21 rifles, original production m14s. common modifications include scopes, fiberglass stocks, , other accessories. 2009 study conducted u.s. army claimed half of engagements in afghanistan occurred beyond 300 meters (330 yd). america s 5.56×45mm nato service rifles ineffective @ these ranges; has prompted reissue of thousands of m14s.

a usmc designated marksman rifle (dmr) in use



a gunner s mate using m14 rifle fire shot line uss carter hall usns lewis , clark.

the 1st battalion of 3rd united states infantry regiment ( old guard ) in military district of washington sole remaining regular u.s. army combat field unit m14 still issued standard rifle, along chromed bayonet , wooden stock white sling military funerals, parades, , other ceremonies. united states air force honor guard uses version of m14. u.s. navy ceremonial guard , base honor guards use m14 3-volley salutes in military funerals. drill , parade rifle of united states military academy, united states naval academy, united states air force academy, citadel, norwich university, virginia military institute, , north georgia college , state university. u.s. navy ships carry several m14s in armories. issued sailors going on watch out on deck in port, , backup alert forces. m14 used shoot large rubber projectile ship when underway start lines on alongside refueling , replenishment.

a seal operator m14 rifle participating in maritime interdiction enforcement during operation desert storm.

various sniper variants have been used united states navy seals, mistaken m21 in overt literature, 1 of them has received standard name in u.s. military designations system: m25, developed special forces. seals use mk 14 mod 0 enhanced battle rifle (ebr) close-quarters battle , in designated marksman role. delta force units known have used m14 sniper variants. according black hawk down: story of modern war, well-known account of battle of mogadishu, sergeant first class randy shughart, used m14 sniping helicopters provide support fire ground troops.

the u.s. army special forces ( green berets ) have made use of m25 spotter rifle . m25 developed in late 1980s within 10th special forces group, charged support special forces sniper weapons special operations target interdiction course (sotic). m25 first planned replacement old m21, after army adoption of m24 sws standard sniper rifle, m25 intended used spotters of sniper teams, while snipers use bolt-action m24.

the m14 has remained in service longer u.s. infantry rifle surpassing of springfield m1903 rifle, holds distinction of serving standard infantry rifle of u.s. army second shortest span of time other service rifle, surpassed short lived krag–jørgensen rifles , carbines.

service other nations

the philippines issues m14 rifles, m1/m2 carbines, m1 rifles, , m16 rifles, civilian defense forces , various cadet corps service academies. hellenic navy uses m14.

the m14 production springfield tooling , assembly line sold in 1967 republic of china (taiwan), in 1968 began producing type 57 rifle. state arsenal of republic of china produced on 1 million of these rifles 1969 present. other surface finish rifle. used reserves , backup defense weapon, , used airport guards.

in mainland china, norinco has produced m14 variants export, sold in u.s. prior importation ban of 1989 , enactment of violent crime control , law enforcement act of 1994. rifles made poly technologies imported in 1980s banned further import in 1989 first bush administration. being sold in canada, italy , new zealand. have been marketed under m14s , m305 names.