The M14 In The Vietnam War

The M14 battle rifle is perhaps one of the most iconic weapons not only of the Vietnam War, but also of the United States armed forces in the 20th century. Second only to the M16, the M14 was the standard issue battle rifle during the early stages of the Vietnam War. 

However, delving into the history of the M14 requires us to go back to WW2 and the M14’s predecessor, the M1 Garand. The M1 Garand was a wood stock, semi-automatic rifle chambered in .30-06 Springfield.

While reliable, the weapon would be antiquated due to the growing use of fully-automatic weapons that occurred during the second world war. Further, the US military sought lighter and more accurate weapons due to the increasing use of paratrooper units in WW2. 

This put the US military on a search for the M1 Garands replacement that would eventually culminate in the adoption of the  M14. The Springfield Armory began working on a rifle, dubbed the T20, that would improve upon the Garand. Its second incarnation, the T20E2, featured a 20 round box magazine, a longer receiver, fully-automatic capabilities, a flash suppressor, and an enhanced operating lug that was more durable in hazardous weather (Feng, Para 2). 

Further testing led to the development of the T44 series rifle that used the newly-standardized 7.62mm NATO cartridge. The T44 featured a flash suppressor, grenade launching capabilities, and a bayonet. Further, it had a 20 round box magazine and full-automatic capabilities. In June of 1957, the T44E4 was designated by the US military as the Rifle, 7.62mm, M14 (Feng, Para 2). 

With respect to the Vietnam War, the M14 would see heavy use in the early stages of the conflict. US Marines carried the cherished rifle during the early stages, and many Marines carried it long after the adoption of the M16. US Army soldiers would also carry the rifle. 

In fact, even after the M14 was phased out of standard issue with the adoption of the M16, they can still be seen in some photographs. This is because many bases and armorers held onto old stocks of M14s. Some soldiers, at the cost of added weight and sometimes full-auto capabilities, preferred the M14 due to its heavier cartridge or increased durability. 

For instance, many M60 gunners opted to swap their weapons for M14s as it actually increased their mobility while maintaining the power of 7.62 NATO. Recon and special forces units also heavily relied on the M14 for sniping and long range battles.

Contemporarily, many reenactors prefer to use the M16 due to its versatility in creating accurate impressions, as it was certainly the more common rifle of the mid-late war. However, the weapon still retains a dedicated fan base who swear by its capabilities. 

Sources

https://armyhistory.org/m14-rifle/

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/a-look-back-at-the-m14-rifle/

Memorial Day Events

 This Memorial Day weekend (May 2022), the First Ohio Vietnam Reenactors were honored to have the opportunity to participate in local events. On Sunday, we had the great privilege of attending the ceremony at Western Reserve National Cemetery and assisting with affairs there. On Monday, Memorial Day, we were able to walk in the parade with the 555th Triple Nickel Honors Detachment. We are incredibly thankful for the 555 for allowing us the opportunity to participate, and for the stupendous example they set for us. We with the First Ohio would like to wish everyone a happy Memorial Day, and give our utmost thanks to the brave men and women who died for our freedoms in the United States.

Following are some quotes from members who were able to participate in the events this last weekend, as well as some pictures. 

Quentin writes: "I couldn't think of a better way to spend Memorial Day weekend. It's folks like the veterans who died for our country who are the reason we do what we do."

Dustin writes: "It was a good experience and it was a good way to get to know a lot of the people in the Triple Nickel."

David writes: "It was fantastic to be able to honor the veterans of the Vietnam War and the military at large, including those who died in the line of duty. It was an immense privilege to volunteer alongside the veterans of the 555th and participate in the ceremonies of the weekend."

1911's: Who Had Them?

Sidearms are a bit of a contentious issue among reenactors of the Vietnam War. While many have taken to putting sidearms on their web gear, not every soldier in the war was issued one. The question then remains as to who exactly was issued a sidearm, and how to incorporate them into a kit.

No doubt one of the most iconic weapons in military history is the Colt 1911 which is an iconic part of Vietnams imagery.  The 1911 was a favored pistol among a variety of units in the US armed forces. However, interesting to note is that due to difficulties producing them to meet demands, not every soldier in the US Army was issued one like with primary weapons.

In fact, many infantrymen only had their primary rifles, with .45s being limited to specific MOS's. For instance, M60 gunners were typically issued sidearms, as were officers in infantry units. Medics had the choice of either a rifle or handgun, so you tend to see both. However, medics historically favored rifles due to their larger ammunition capacity. 

It should be noted that officers in the US army were typically issued pistols as well. Some specific MOS's were issued pistols, and many special forces units carried sidearms into combat. 

Up to this point I have been primarily discussing the US Army with respect to pistols. However, it is important to note that many US Marines utilized sidearms as well, and with greater prevalence. In fact, pistols are much more common among Marine infantrymen than they were Army infantrymen.

With all of this in mind, it is important to take into consideration whether or not the unit and role you wish to portray would have been issued a 1911. For our organization that specializes in reenacting the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, you will see us using the pistol a lot more than are other organizations. 

This is because the 11 ACR were issued sidearms at a greater rate than other units during the Vietnam War. Further, many times a 1911 is the only weapon a soldier would carry on their person as to make it easier to get in and out of vehicles.  

Welcome To Our Website

 Welcome to our website! Here, you will find pictures, dates for events, and resources for reenacting. We are always looking for new members, so feel free to contact us if you are interested in joining.