CAR-15: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{For multi|the semi-automatic rifle|Colt AR-15||AR-15 (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox weapon

| name = CAR-15 XM177 Commando

| image = File:USAF GAU-5A.jpg

| caption = GAU-5/A, USAF version of the XM177

| origin = United States

| type = [[Assault rifle]] [[Carbine]]

| is_ranged = yes

| service = * 1966–1998 (US Service)

* 1966–present (other countries)

| used_by =

| wars =

| designer =

| design_date =

| manufacturer = [[Colt's Manufacturing Company|Colt Defense]]

| unit_cost =

| production_date =

| number =

| variants = XM177 (R610 in US Army service)

XM177E1 (R609 in US Army service)

XM177E2 (R629 in US Army service)

GAU-5/A (R609 in US Air Force service)

GAU-5A/A (R649 in US Air Force service)

| spec_label =

| weight = {{convert|5.35|lbs|kg|abbr=on}}

| length = {{convert|31|in|mm|abbr=on}} (XM177E1, stock extended)

{{convert|28.3|in|mm|abbr=on}} (XM177E1, stock retracted)

{{convert|32.5|in|mm|abbr=on}} (XM177E2, stock extended)

{{convert|29.8|in|mm|abbr=on}} (XM177E2, stock retracted)

| part_length = {{convert|10|in|mm|abbr=on}} (XM177E1)

{{convert|11.5|in|mm|abbr=on}} (XM177E2)

| cartridge = [[5.56×45mm NATO]], [[.223 Remington]]

| cartridge_weight =

| caliber =

| barrels =

| action = [[Gas-operated]], [[rotating bolt]] ([[Direct impingement]])

| rate =

| velocity = {{convert|2650|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}} (XM177E1)

{{convert|2750|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}} (XM177E2)

| range = {{convert|400|m|yd|abbr=on}}

| max_range =

| feed = 30-round [[box magazine]] or other [[STANAG magazine]]s.

| sights = [[Iron sights]] or various optics

}}

[[File:SEAL Colt Commando v2.jpg|thumb|300px|U.S. Navy SEAL with Colt Commando. Note: large flash suppressor]]

The '''Colt Automatic Rifle-15''' or '''CAR-15''' is a family of [[M16 rifle]]–based firearms marketed by [[Colt's Manufacturing Company|Colt]] in the 1960s and early 1970s. However, the term "~~'''~~CAR-15~~'''~~" is most commonly associated with the '''Colt Commando''' (AKA: '''XM177'''); these [[select-fire]] carbines have ultrashort {{convert|10.5|in|adj=on}} and {{convert|11.5|in|adj=on}} barrels with over-sized flash suppressors.

The CAR-15 name was an attempt to re-associate the AR-15 name with Colt, since the AR initially stood for [[ArmaLite]], the original manufacturer of the [[ArmaLite AR-15]]. Colt later abandoned the CAR-15 concept, but continued to make carbine variations, using the "~~'''~~[[M16 rifle|M16]]~~'''~~" brand for [[select-fire]] models and the "~~'''~~[[Colt AR-15]]~~'''~~" brand for [[semi-automatic rifle|semi-automatic]] models. However, in present usage, "~~'''~~CAR-15~~'''~~" is the generic name for all [[carbine|carbine-length]] variants made before the [[M4 carbine]].

==History==

[[File:US Army Rangers field excercise.jpg|thumb|The U.S. Army Ranger in the foreground is armed with an M-416 A1 carbine (Model 653).]]

Starting in 1965, Colt attempted to market the [[M16 rifle]] as a [[Modular Weapon System]]. By using various upper assemblies, [[buttstock]]s, and [[pistol grip]]s, the weapon could be configured as [[assault rifle]]s, [[carbine]]s, [[submachine gun]]s, [[open-bolt]] [[squad automatic weapon]]s and a survival rifle version. Belt-fed [[light machine gun]]s were also developed under the CAR-15 banner, although they have little in common with the M16 rifle. However, the U.S. military only made significant purchases of the Rifle and Commando versions, so Colt abandoned the CAR-15 family concept. The "CAR-15 Rifle" was already identified by most users as the M16 rifle, and "CAR-15" was similarly associated with the short-barreled Colt Submachine Gun and Commando models. Because of that, the term "CAR-15" has been used to describe any M16-based carbine, even if the particular weapon is not officially named this.▼

{{details|topic=CAR-15 variants|List of Colt AR-15 & M16 rifle variants}}

▲Starting in 1965, Colt attempted to market the [[M16 rifle]] as a [[~~Modular~~modular ~~Weapon~~weapon ~~System~~system]]. By using various upper assemblies, [[buttstock]]s, and [[pistol grip]]s, the weapon could be configured as [[assault rifle]]s, [[carbine]]s, [[submachine gun]]s, [[open-bolt]] [[squad automatic weapon]]s and a survival rifle version. Belt-fed [[light machine gun]]s were also developed under the CAR-15 banner, although they have little in common with the M16 rifle. However, the U.S. military only made significant purchases of the Rifle and Commando versions, so Colt abandoned the CAR-15 family concept. The "CAR-15 Rifle" was already identified by most users as the M16 rifle, and "CAR-15" was similarly associated with the short-barreled Colt Submachine Gun and Commando models. Because of that, the term "CAR-15" has been used to describe any M16-based carbine, even if the particular weapon is not officially named this.

==Colt Automatic Rifle-15 family==

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[[File:M16A1 brimob.jpg|thumb|M16A1 rifle]]

The ''Model 603'' CAR-15 Rifle, adopted initially by the [[United States Army]] as the XM16E1 and then later as the M16A1, and the ''Model 604'' CAR-15 Rifle, adopted by the [[United States Air Force]] as the M16, formed the core of the CAR-15 family. However, the United States military had already committed to purchases before Colt created the concept of the CAR-15 weapons system. The principal difference between the ''Model 603'' and ''Model 604'' is that the former has a [[forward assist]], allowing a user to manually close a stuck [[~~bolt~~Bolt (~~firearm~~firearms)|bolt]].

===CAR-15 Heavy Assault Rifle M1===

The CAR-15 Heavy Assault Rifle M1 was a heavy-barreled version of the standard ARCAR-15 with a bipod attachment, intended for use as a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). It was designed to feed from 30-round box magazines.

===CAR-15 Heavy Assault Rifle M2===

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===Colt Commando (AKA: CAR-15, XM177 & GAU-5)===

[[File:CCTwithGAU-5.jpg|thumb|A USAF Combat Control Team member with a GAU-5A/A carbine and flash suppressor.]]▼

~~{{main|CAR-15 XM177}}~~

▲[[File:CCTwithGAU-5.jpg|thumb|A USAF Combat Control Team member with a GAU-5A/A carbine and flash suppressor.]]

The Colt Commando was not initially part of the CAR-15 Military Weapons System, but was added in 1966 in response to the US military's desire for a shorter M16 and without the ''Model 607'' SMG's inadequacies. Colt engineer Rob Roy designed a simpler two-position telescoping tubular aluminum buttstock to replace the complicated extending triangular version. The fragile and ad hoc triangular handguards were replaced by reinforced round handguards. Each half of the round handguard is identical, simplifying logistics by not requiring a top/bottom or left/right pair. The ''Model 609'' Commando has a forward assist, while the ''Model 610'' Commando does not. A ''Model 610B'' with a four-position selector was available, but not used by the U.S. military. All versions are equipped with the {{convert|4.25|in|adj=on}} long moderator.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moderator Flash Hiders - CAR-15 / XM177E1 / XM177E2 / Colt Commando (1963-1974) |url=https://retrorifles.com/moderator-flash-hiders-car-15-xm177e1-xm177e2-colt-commando-1963-1974/ |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=Retro Rifles |language=en}}</ref>

The XM177 uses a unique flash suppressor sometimes called a flash or sound moderator for its {{convert|10|in|adj=on}} barrel. This device is {{convert|4.2|in}} long and was designed primarily as a counterbalance measure as the shorter barrel makes the weapon unwieldy.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rottman|first1=Gordon|last2=Lyles|first2=Kevin|title=Green Beret in Vietnam: 1957-73|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3HrhEN4gqVwC&pg=PA42|access-date=6 June 2013|year=2002|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-85532-568-5|page=42}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This device reduces flash signature greatly and sound signature slightly, making the normally louder short barreled carbine sound like a longer barreled M16A1.<ref name="RottmanM16">{{cite book|last=Rottman|first=Gordon |title=The M16|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oRhIaYrN3sYC&pg=PA32|access-date=6 June 2013|year=2011|publisher=Osprey Publishing|isbn=978-1-84908-690-5|page=32}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Although it has no internal baffles and does not completely reduce the sound signature to subsonic levels, because it alters the sound level of the weapon, the US Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives has declared this muzzle device to be a sound suppressor and regulates its civilian purchase in the United States.<ref name="RottmanM16"/>

The ''Model 610'' was classified as the ''XM177''<ref name="Ezell1">Ezell, 1988. p. 401</ref> but adopted by the Air Force as the ''GAU-5/A'' Submachine Gun (GA denoting an automatic gun and U a complete unit rather than a parts kit: the popular "gun aircraft unit" and "gun automatic unit" explanations are [[backronym]]s<ref>''The M16'', Gordon L. Rottman, Osprey Publishing, p. 17</ref>). The Army purchased 2,815 ''Model 609'' CAR-15 Commandos on June 28, 1966, which were officially designated Submachine Gun, 5.56 mm, ''XM177E1''.<ref name="Ezell1"/> As part of the contract, Colt was supposed to supply each XM177E1s with seven 30-round magazines, but Colt was unable to build a reliable 30-round curved magazine that would fit in the M16 magazine well, so most XM177E1s were shipped with 20-round magazines. The exception was [[5th Special Forces Group]], who received a total of four early 30-round magazines. Colt completed delivery of the purchased XM177E1s in March 1967.

In 1967, in response to field testing, Colt lengthened the Commando's barrel from {{convert|10|to|11.5|in|0}}. The increased length reduced noise and muzzle flash, and allowed fitting of the Colt [[XM148 grenade launcher]]. A metal boss was added to the moderator for mounting of the XM148 and [[rifle grenade]]s.<ref>Dockery, 1997. pg. 143</ref> The chambers were chrome-plated. The Commandos with the longer barrels were called the ''Model 629'' and ''Model 649''. The ''Model 629'' Commando has a forward assist; the ''Model 649'' Commando does not.

In April 1967, the Army purchased 510 ''Model 629'' Commandos for use by troops assigned to the [[Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group]] (MACV-SOG), and designated them ''XM177E2''.<ref name="Ezell1"/> Delivery was completed by the end of September 1967. The Air Force adopted a similar model without the forward assist feature as the ''GAU-5A/A''. Sources debate whether or not this was a Colt ''Model 630'' or ''Model 649''.<ref name="Ezell1"/> According to [[John Plaster]] and other sources, the lack of 30-round magazines continued to be problematic and SOG operators resorted to pooling their personal resources and purchasing the larger capacity magazines on the civilian U.S. market.<ref>Plaster, 2004. p. 216</ref> Problems with range, accuracy, barrel fouling, and usage of tracer bullets continued to plague the XM177 series, but Colt estimated that it would take a six-month $400,000 program to do a complete ballistic and kinematic study. There were also recommendations for a 29-month $635,000 research and development program. Both recommendations were declined by the U.S. military as American ground force involvement in the Vietnam War was gradually winding down. Production of the CAR-15 Commando ended in 1970.

===CAR-15 Survival Rifle===

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[[File:M4A1 ACOG.png|thumb|Colt M4A1 Carbine with ACOG optic and a [[vertical forward grip]]]]

In the early 1980s, at the request of the United States Marine Corps,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dockery |first1=Kevin |title=Future Weapons |date=4 December 2007 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-425-21750-4 |page=74 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8RxJxY7wQn0C&pg=PA74 |language=en}}</ref> Colt upgraded the M16A1 rifle, resulting in the M16A2 rifle. Among the major changes were a reinforced lower receiver, a case deflector, a birdcage flash suppressor redesigned to be a muzzle brake, and a barrel with a faster 1-in-7 twist. The faster barrel was necessitated by the switch from the 55-grain M193 bullet to the 62-grain M855 bullet. The M16A2 rifle's barrel was also thicker for the portion in front of the handguard. Colt incorporated these changes into its carbines, which it called M16A2 carbines. The ''Model 723'' M16A2 carbine used the iron sights of the M16A1, but had a case deflector. The barrel had a 1-in-7 twist, but the thinner profile of the older M16A1 carbine's barrel. As with the Model 653, the United States military made small purchases of the Model 723 for its special operation forces.<ref>Dockery, 1997. p. 165</ref> It was notably used by [[Delta Force]] operators from the late 1980s to the early 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://soldiersystems.net/2013/11/19/bcm-gunfighter-history-vol-1-the-scud-hunter-carbine/|title=BCM Gunfighter History - Vol 1: The SCUD Hunter Carbine - Soldier Systems Daily|date=19 November 2013 }}</ref>

In 1983, [[Diemaco]] developed a carbine similar to the Model 723, the ''[[Colt Canada C7#C8|C8 carbine]]'' for use by the [[Canadian Forces]]. The original C8s were built by Colt as the ''Model 725''. In 1984, the U.S. government asked Colt to develop a carbine with maximum commonality with the issue M16A2. Colt named the carbine as the ''XM4''. The project would eventually culminate in the development and official adoption of the [[M4 carbine]] in 1994.

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====GAU-5A Aircrew Self Defense Weapon====

In 2019, a solution to give a personal firepower upgrade over the traditional sidearm for US aircrews in ACES [[ejection seat]]–equipped aircraft was to use commercially available AR-15 rifle parts including a special [[Takedown gun|short quick-release barrel]], collapsible stock, folding pistol-grip, and four magazines to fit inside the survival kit pan of the ejection seat. Major Gibson, an Air Force spokesperson, said, “This has driven the dimension of 16 x 14 x 3.5 inches.” The Aircrew Self Defense Weapon is to be included in survival kits for A-10, B-1, B-2, B-52, F-15C, F-15E, F-16, and F-22 aircraft. The rifle is being built at U.S. Air Force Gunsmith Shop at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. 2,137 GAU-5A ASDWs are planned.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/off-duty/gearscout/irons/2019/05/31/aircrews-are-carrying-more-emergency-firepower/|title = Aircrews are carrying more emergency firepower|date = 31 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/gau-5a-you-can-now-own-clone-air-force%E2%80%99s-micro-ar-style-rifle-103167|title = The National Interest: Blog}}</ref>

== Gallery ==

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==External links==

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070712003822/http://www.warboats.org/mst2Bremmer/Stoner_ord_notes/stonerhtml/XM_177.htm "Colt XM177 5.56mm Submachine Gun" – Warboats.org]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929094634/http://www.rediscov.com/spring/VFPCGI.exe?IDCFile=%2Fspring%2FDETAILS.IDC%2CSPECIFIC%3D1590%2CDATABASE%3D77615124%2C U.S. SUBMACHINE GUN XM177 – Springfield Armory Collection]

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[[Category:Assault rifles of the United States]]

[[Category:Carbines]]

[[Category:5.56 mm ~~firearms~~assault rifles]]

[[Category:5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles]]

[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1960s]]

[[Category:ArmaLite AR-10 derivatives]]