What weapon system was the most effective/efficient during your combat service? Why?

CPL Jeff Sutton — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:01:52 -0400

Response by Cpl Christopher Kirkpatrick made Oct 12 at 2016 2:11 PM

Cpl Christopher Kirkpatrick — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:11:45 -0400

Depends, do we consider the LAV itself a Weapon system or only the components on top of it?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 2:15 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:15:16 -0400

This is a no brainer. Ye 'ol M4. Unlike all the other weapon systems we have used in combat for the last 15 years, the M4 is the least changed. The M203 was completely replaced, the M249 has had the stock, barrel, and bipods replaced by multiple generations of upgrades, and the M240B has been redesigned and replaced by the M240L. Only the standard issue M4MWS (the standard M4 issued with a rail system and detachable iron sight that was fielded before the war) has stood the test of time longer than all other basic weapon systems except the M9 and the MK19. Only in the last two years has the Army moved forward with an upgrade program to convert the M4MWS to the M4A1 that has more than 80 design improvements. The M9 is a sidearm and the MK19 is a crew served weapon that has a lot of restrictions or limitations, and while an effective weapon system, is considered to be poorly designed with no viable alternative.

Response by SSG Steven Mangus made Oct 12 at 2016 2:35 PM

SSG Steven Mangus — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:35:51 -0400

A platform would be the better question. Given that, the Kiowa Warrior. She may not carry as much as others however she was always there doing what the Cav does, enters the fight no matter the odds..

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 2:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:42:06 -0400

this guy right here , provided a heinous amount of fire power and saved us in a few occasions

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Oct 12 at 2016 2:46 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:46:36 -0400

The absolutely best most reliable in my case was the .45 Colt pistol I was issued as a side arm when I was a grenadier in Vietnam,early in the war the shotgun rounds for the M 79 were not very effective in close combat and we were not issued a large amount,later on when I traded off the "Thumper I was able to hold on to the .45 good thing as the M16 s at the time were constantly jamming,but I guess if you ever read any of my previous posts on this subject I'm probably boring the hell out of you,I really don't know if I actually hit anyone with all the rounds I fired with .45 but if I did he would have had some large holes in him!

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Oct 12 at 2016 2:48 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:48:30 -0400

Easy, the weapon system I flew, F-111s, all versions. From flying at 540 knots at 400' off the deck to perfecting "tank plinking" during the first Gulf War it proved itself in a wide variety of roles and missions (ask Libya).

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 12 at 2016 2:51 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:51:03 -0400

MK19. 40mm of pure F-You. Engaging far ambushes and complex attacks.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 2:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:53:48 -0400

In the Korengal, it's ranged from a M203 to 155mm M777. Needed all of them. But the AT-4 was always a good time.

Rangers Lead The Way

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Oct 12 at 2016 3:43 PM

SGT Bryon Sergent — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:43:02 -0400

I wold have to say my MA deuce! As long as she was dripping oil she never seized! Then again their is the PIG! m-60 was a beast. fired with it full of mud and rocked all night! not to much heavier than the 240 I dont think!

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 3:55 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:55:31 -0400

CPL Jeff Sutton In Vietnam, I carried a radio, and my sidearm was a .45. I also carried a M16. When I was on night Rat Patrol (two jeeps with each jeep having a Driver, Radio Operator and two men manning a M60 Machine gun). As radio operators, we carried a M79 grenade launcher, which I thought that I was pretty good with. In the bush, it was nice being able to call in for artillery or air support. In our area of operations, many of our casualties were from bobby traps and snipers.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 4:27 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 16:27:10 -0400

Not a direct action guy but, have had to have our gun trucks engage many times, and would say 240B, was good to go, the M2, if head space was off would screw up, but is still good to go. We went in with Marines during the ground invasion move to Baghdad, and at the time our Force NCF was going through a refit of some weapons systems, we were changing over from M60E3 and phasing into 240B, so we didn't have enough 240's for the number of Battalions we had, and so we outfitted from NSW with the MK43. The MK43 was good to go, also as we used on Defense getting probed from time to time, and then mounted on our Gun trucks for security convoys.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 4:27 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 16:27:44 -0400

The tourniquet

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Oct 12 at 2016 5:43 PM

CPT Andrew Wright — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:43:33 -0400

M2 .50 Machine Gun. Great range, penetration, and if you start shooting at someone with it they will want to be somewhere else real fast.

Response by SPC James Harsh made Oct 12 at 2016 6:49 PM

SPC James Harsh — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 18:49:23 -0400

When I covered for a saw (m249) gunner on leave because you know being trained on every weapon system helps, it was what I felt at the time the right weapon for the job being on foot.

I will admit something that I did that was unprofessional though, I was in the turret and instead of stopping traffic for frequent stops we had a staggered formation and tried to get traffic to slow down, usually they respond to it. Well not the 'expletive' buses, one bus sped through and the second behind it wasn't slowing down either and I got so mad I pulled my pistol out at the driver and I even saw a squatter to his right as if to say yeah just goo. Anyhow that was uncalled for on my part and I would have the pistol ready if my driver ever opened his door to talk to someone I could peek over.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Oct 12 at 2016 7:00 PM

SN Greg Wright — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:00:45 -0400

The most effective was, and continues to be to this day, boomers. The fact that we're here having this discussion at all can be directly attributed to the presence of those silent continent-busters.

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 12 at 2016 9:52 PM

SFC George Smith — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 21:52:47 -0400

M-2 and Mk-19... in Hand M203

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2016 1:04 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 01:04:41 -0400

I would have to say the 50 with SABO rounds

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Oct 13 at 2016 3:01 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 03:01:07 -0400

A selection of small arms including the M16, M60, the S&W, Combat Masterpiece .38 cal revolver, Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun, not shown the old M12 shotguns, the M79 also the XM148 40 MM grenade launcher attached to the bottom M16 in the picture. the all of which I had qualified with. Also used the 50 Cal (not shown) take Your pick ! I used every one of these while in Viet Nam in 1968 and 1969.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Oct 13 at 2016 3:37 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 03:37:58 -0400

One I appreciated that saved us a lot of grief was the AC47 "Spooky" Gunship shown here firing its mini Guns. The 9th Special Operations Squadron that flew these aircraft were stationed a Da Nang Air Base where i worked Base perimeter in 1968-69. Response time was good, all they had to do was take off and open up on the area We needed them. I had a front row seat with the 366th SPS, a few times seeing how well they worked.

Response by SCPO Jason McLaughlin made Oct 13 at 2016 6:08 AM

SCPO Jason McLaughlin — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 06:08:15 -0400

Awesome!

Response by TSgt Lars Eilenfeld made Oct 13 at 2016 3:01 PM

TSgt Lars Eilenfeld — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 15:01:24 -0400

Sling Shot. Politicians and Contractors couldn't screw them up.

Response by Lt Col Harry Clawson made Oct 18 at 2016 7:23 PM

Lt Col Harry Clawson — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 19:23:49 -0400

I am a little prejudiced Here (as a high time pilot of this system) but I think the AC130 is the greatest aviation asset of the post 911 world. In 15 years starting on the 15 of Oct 2001 the AC130 fought in all the active US battlefields in their entirety. My squadron, the 4 SOS covered the entire Operation Iraqi Freedom. It is the only squadron size element, I believe that can say that, in any branch of service. (And I actually mean 4 sos aircraft flying missions even before the official start of the war in mar 2003 all the way until the last combat troop was withdrawn in dec 2011). The 3 squadrons that covered the 15 years (for the majority of time it was 2 as the older H models had a few years of overlap with the modified mc130 that became the AC130W) and less than 30 total aircraft in the US force have, in my calculation, conducted 5000 engagements over the 15 year of OEF, OIF and the other conflicts. The only asset that has a similar per capita # of good guys protected and bad guys disposed, IMO, is the various forms of army and marine rotary gunships -- which are also great. I definitely give kudos and greatly love the A10, but the AC130 is 2nd only to our beloved and superb fighting ground forces of all 4 branches. They are #1 weapon system - God bless them all, and I think the AC130 is their best friend.

Response by SSG Brian MacBain made Oct 18 at 2016 10:09 PM

SSG Brian MacBain — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 22:09:31 -0400

For me, I never used it in combat, but many Vietnam Vets did and when you hear it, scares them off. It is the M-60 machine gun that fired the 7.62mm.

Response by SSgt Michael Cox made Oct 19 at 2016 11:13 AM

SSgt Michael Cox — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 11:13:48 -0400

The MH-53M Pave Low IV. Led the attack in the Gulf War, rescued the downed pilot behind enemy lines in Vietnam, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Its also the my profile picture and what I worked on for most of my 14 years in the Air Force.

Response by MAJ James Woods made Oct 19 at 2016 4:24 PM

MAJ James Woods — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 16:24:09 -0400

My M1A1 proven just fine for me compared to all the armored platforms I TC'd.