Weapons of the US Infantryman
US Armed Forces branches each of specific missions which compliment each other in a unified fighting force and because of their mission differences they use different individual and crew-served weaponry or different models of the same weapon. The following is the beginning of a series that looks at the weaponry of the United States Armed Forces, its history, usage and specifications.
US Army Infantryman: M16/M4
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| From Top: M16A1, M16A2, M4, M16A4 |
The primary standard individual weapon for a US Army soldier is the M16 rifle, the M16A2 variant of the original Colt manufactured “assault rifle”. Armalite Corporation made the original design, but Colt got the contract after rejection by US Army - Colt purchased manufacturing rights and first sold it as a semi-automatic sporting rifle destined to become the standard issue of the US Army.
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| M3 - "Grease Gun" |
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| M4 with M203 |
The M4A1is currently issued to vehicle crew members, like tankers and armored infantry vehicles. Mechanized Infantry was phased in towards the end of the Cold War era and used in the Vietnam War as part of the armored cavalry units. The previous vehicle crew weapon was the M3[Grease Gun] established in WWII in .45 caliber to compliment the Thompson Carbine submachinegun in the same caliber.
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| M9 |
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| M1911 |
The side arm of the infantryman for NCOs, officers and crew-served weapons is the M9, a 9mm double-action semi-automatic pistol produced by Berettathat replaced the ColtM1911single-action semiautomatic as a standard-issue sidearm. As you can see in the following video, the M16 was hindered by politicians and obstinate military leadership that was prejudice against the light infantry weapon and also because the army and development teams did not ensure that the weapon was prepared to be used in Vietnam and troops who first received the rifle were not properly trained to use it.
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| M249 - Light Squad Weapon |
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| M240 Medium MG |
The present support fire weaponry used by the US Infantryman is the light M249[5.56mm] and the medium M240B [7.62mm] machine gun, the latter's design taken from the German WWII M42machine gun; although those who research history of US M240 do not recognize it. Indeed, the US Army Kevlar helmet used today is from the design of the Nazi German helmet of WWII. Hey, if the design is good - use it.
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| M203 - dismounted |
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| M32 MGL |
SPECIFICATIONS
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| M24 |
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| M110 |
US Army Sniper
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| US Army Infantry - 1940s |
The US Army soldier has evolved drastically since the WW2 ...
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| Infantry Close Combat Team - 21st Century |
Infantry Military Occupational Specialty Codes:
11B:
Duties as infantryman, plus ...
19D:
11B:
The infantry is the main land combat force and backbone of the Army. It's equally important in peacetime and in combat. The Infantryman's role is to be ready to defend our country in peacetime and to capture, destroy and repel enemy ground forces during combat. Assists in the performance of reconnaissance operations. Employs, fires, and recovers anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. Locates and neutralizes mines. Operates, mounts/dismounts, zeros, and engages targets using night vision sight. Operates and maintains communications equipment and operates in a radio net. Operates in a NBC contaminated area. Constructs field expedient firing aids for infantry weapons. Performs as a member of a fire team during a movement to contact, reconnaissance, and security, an attack, defense, situational training exercises and all infantry dismounted battle drills. Processes prisoners of war and captured documents. Leads an infantry team in combat operations, providing tactical and technical guidance to subordinates and professional support to both superiors and subordinates in the accomplishment of their duties. Leads, supervises, and trains subordinate personnel. Calls for and adjusts indirect fire. Evaluates terrain and selects weapon emplacement. Controls organic fires. Installs and recovers anti-handing devices on anti-tank mines and electrical and non-electrical demolition charges. Supervises construction of hasty fortifications and re ceipt, storage, and issue of ammunition. Records operational information on maps. Receives and implements combat orders, di rects deployment of personnel in offensive, defensive, and retro grade operations. Requests, observes, and adjusts direct supporting fire. Evaluates terrain and supervises the emplacement of sighting and firing all assigned weapons. Uses maps and map overlays, performs intersection and resection, and determines elevation and grid azimuths. Leads a fire team during a movement to contact, reconnaissance and security, an attack, defense, situational training exercises, and all infantry dismounted battle drills.11C:
Duties as infantryman, plus ...
Employs, fires, and recovers anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. Performs self extraction from a mine field. Locates and neutralizes mines. Navigates from one point on the ground to another. Orients a map. Operates and maintains communications equipment and operates in a radio net. Operates in a NBC (nuclear, chemical, biological) contaminated area. Emplace and recover early warning devises. Constructs and camouflages individual/crew served weapons firing position. Constructs and camouflages a mortar firing position. Maintains mortars and fire control equipment. Performs safety checks on mortars. Performs as a member of a mortar squad providing indirect fire support.11H & 11M:
The fighting vehicle infantryman leads, supervises, and serves as a member of a fighting vehicle unit or activity employing vehicular and dismounted weapons in combat operations.
(1) Skill Level 1. Performs duties as IFV driver, gunner, or fire team member. Operates both mounted and dismounted to close with and destroy the enemy. Employs, operates, and maintains assigued weapons and equipment. Employs proper dismounted movement techniques, cover, concealment, and camouflage as part of dismount team. Performs basic communication functions and operates platoon communications equipment. Constructs individual fighting positions. Assists in the construction of fortification and barriers, including minefields and obstacles. Assist in the breaching of minefields and obstacles. Collects and reports tactical information as member of combat or reconnaissance patrol. Operates IFV over varied terrain in varied visibility. Conducts preventive maintenance checks and serv ices on the IFV and its components. Assists in target detection, identification, and round sensing.
(2) Skill Level 2. Performs duties shown in preceding level of skill. Performs duties as IFV gunner or team leader of dismounted element. Provides technical and tactical guidance to subordinates and professional support to both subordinates and superiors in the performance of their duties. As team leader, leads infantry dismount team in combat operations; processes operational and intelligence data. Receives and implements combat orders. Evaluates terrain; selects weapons placement sites; assigns target engagement areas and fields of fire. Requests, observes, and adjusts direct and indirect supporting fires. Supervises construction of fortifications. Records operational information on maps; reads and interprets maps. Pre pares sector sketch of vehicle or dismount team positions and sec tors. As gunner, detects, acquires, identifies, and engages targets. Maintains the turret and weapon systems of the IFV.
(3) Skill Level 3. Performs duties shown in preceding level of skill. Perform duties as squad leader or section leader in IFV pla toon. Provides technical and tactical guidance to subordinates and professional support to both subordinates and superiors in the per formance of their duties. Receives, issues, and implements orders. Controls vehicular and dismounted weapons fire in mounted and dismounted operations. Coordinates actions of the squad with adja cent and supporting elements. Coordinates organic and supporting firepower. Ensures collection and proper reporting of intelligence data to unit and responsible staff sections.
(4) Skill Level 4. Performs duties shown in preceding level of skill. Performs duties as platoon sergeant or operations sergeant. Provides technical and tactical guidance to subordinates and profes sional support to both subordinates and superiors in the performance of their duties. Receives, issues and implements orders. Assists platoon leader in controlling platoon in mounted and dismounted operations. Assists in dissemination of intelligence information to unit and staff sections. Assists in planning, organizing, directing, supervising, training, coordinating, and reporting activities of subor dinate elements. Performs battle damage assessment. Supervises pla toon maintenance activities. Supervises receipt, storage, and distribution of ammunition, supplies, equipment, and rations to sub ordinate elements. Assists in production and administration of staff journals, files, records, and reports. Assists in coordination and implementation of combat operations, training programs, and admin istrative and communications procedures. Assists in organization and operation of the tactical operations center.
(5) Skill Level 5. Performs duties shown in preceding level of skill. Performs duties as first sergeant or operations sergeant. Provides technical and tactical guidance to subordinates and profes sional support to both subordinates and superiors in the performance of their duties. Serves as principal NCO in a mechanized infantry IFV Company and supervises the processing of operations intelli gence information in an infantry battalion or higher level unit. Plans, coordinates, supervises, and participates in activities pertaining to organization, training and combat operations and intelligence of units at battalion or higher level.
19D:
The Cavalry Scout is the commander's eyes and ears on the battlefield. When information about the enemy is needed, they call on the Scouts. Cavalry Scouts engage the enemy with anti-armor weapons and scout vehicles in the field, track and report enemy movement and activities, and will direct the employment of various weapon systems onto the enemy.
Performs duties as crewmember, operates, and performs operator maintenance on scout vehicles. Armored Airborne Reconnaissance Vehicle, and Cavalry Fighting Vehicle, crew-served weapons, and communications equipment. Loads, clears, and fires individual and crew-served weapons. Operates and performs operator maintenance on wheeled vehicles. Assists in the recovery of wheeled and tracked vehicles. Secures, prepares, and stows ammunition on scout vehicles. Performs mounted and dismounted navigation. Serves as member of observation and listening post. Gathers and reports information on terrain features and enemy strength, disposition and equipment. Applies principles of except and evasion. Collects data for the classification of routes, fords, tunnels, and bridges. Performs dismounted patrols Employs principles of cover and concealment and camouflage. Assists with construction of light field fortifications, laying and removal of mines, and emplacing demolitions. Performs dismounted patrols. Requests and adjusts indirect fire.
Supervises scout vehicle crew, cavalry fighting vehicle crew, and M551A1 crew. Supervises operator maintenance of tracked and wheeled scout vehicles and individual and crew-served weapons. Selects, organizes, and supervises scout vehicle recovery operations. Trains scout vehicle crew. Supervises request, receipt, storage, and issue of ammunition. Leads scout vehicle crew and assists in leading scout squad. Serves as gunner, on CFV, ITV, TOW jeep, HMMWV, and M551A1.
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