CAR-15 XM177

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CAR-15 XM177 Commando
USAF GAU-5A.jpg
GAU-5/A, USAF version of the XM177
Type Assault rifle
Carbine
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service
  • 1966–1998 (US Service)
  • 1966–present (other countries)
Production history
Manufacturer Colt Defense
VariantsXM177 (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)
Specifications
Mass5.35 lb (2.43 kg)
Length31 in (790 mm) (XM177E1, stock extended)

28.3 in (720 mm) (XM177E1, stock retracted)
32.5 in (830 mm) (XM177E2, stock extended)

29.8

Contents

 in (760 mm) (XM177E2, stock retracted)
Barrel  length10 in (250 mm) (XM177E1)
11.5 in (290 mm) (XM177E2)
Cartridge 5.56×45mm NATO, .223 Remington
Action Gas-operated, rotating bolt (Direct impingement)
Muzzle velocity 2,650 ft/s (810 m/s) (XM177E1)
2,750 ft/s (840 m/s) (XM177E2)
Effective firing range400 m (440 yd)
Feed system30-round box magazine or other STANAG magazines.
Sights Iron sights or various optics

The CAR-15 XM177 [1] or CAR-15 Commando [1] was a part of the CAR-15 Military Weapons System designed in 1966 in response to the US military's desire for a compact M16 variant to improve on the inadequacies of earlier shortened M16 types.

Development history

A CAR-15 XM177 submachine gun on display at the Springfield Armory Museum. SMG XM177 COMMANDO 2.jpg
A CAR-15 XM177 submachine gun on display at the Springfield Armory Museum.

Although the United States had already tested the CAR-15 Model 607 submachine gun in Vietnam, it had a number of shortcomings, including overwhelming muzzle blast and an overly complicated, unreliable collapsible stock. Colt came up with the XM177, which featured a number of improvements, to address the shortcomings.

The triangular collapsible stock was replaced with a simpler two-position telescoping tubular aluminum buttstock, while the fragile improvised handguards of the Model 607 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 4.25-inch (108 mm) long moderator.

Colt announced in 2016 that a semi-auto version of the CAR-15 would be produced and marketed. [2]

Clones

Clones based on the XM177 have been made by Brownells, [3] Troy Industries [4] [5] and Windham Weaponry. [6]

Features

The XM177 uses a unique flash hider, sometimes called a flash or sound moderator, for its 10-inch (250 mm) barrel. This device is 4.2 inches (110 mm) long and was designed to reduce—that is, to moderate—the muzzle flash and report of a short-barreled weapon down to something more comparable to the sound and flash produced by the 20-inch barreled M16 and M16A1, while simultaneously increasing gas pressure at the gas port and improving dwell time to improve the reliability of a weapon with such a short length of barrel past the gas port (this latter function being similar to the muzzle devices used on the Soviet AKS-74U "carbine" and later Russian AK-102, -104, and -105 carbines and therefore the later American copies of these designs, such as the Noveske Rifleworks KX3 and KX5 family of muzzle devices).

The Model 610 was classified as the XM177 [7] but adopted by the Air Force as the GAU-5/A Submachine Gun (GAU = Gun, Automatic Unit). The Army purchased 2,815 Model 609 CAR-15 Commandos on June 28, 1966, which were officially designated Submachine Gun, 5.56 mm, XM177E1. [7] As part of the contract, Colt was supposed to supply each XM177E1 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 10 to 11.5 inches (254 to 292 mm). 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 grenades. [8] 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 Colt 629 Commandos for use by troops assigned to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), and designated them XM177E2. [7] 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 649. [7] 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. [9] 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.

The People's Army of Vietnam's M-18 was designed based on M-16 rifles captured in the Vietnam War with some notable feature of the XM177E2 like adjustable stock, 10.5 inch barrel and muzzle device. [10] [11] They were first seen in public in 2010, [12] made by Z111 Factory. [13]

Derivatives

GAU-5/P

GAU-5/P
GUU-5P Carbine (7414627680).jpg
GAU-5/P carbine
TypeCarbine
Place of originUnited States
Specifications
Rate of fire 700–1000 RPM
Muzzle velocity 2,611 ft/s (796 m/s)

The United States Air Force has made ad hoc upgrades to its GAU-5/As and GAU-5A/As. The barrels and moderators were replaced with the longer 14.5-inch (370 mm) barrel with a 1-in-12 twist, but the weapons retained their original designations. With the change to M855 cartridges, they received either a new barrel with a 1:7 twist ratio or complete upper receiver assembly replacements. The GAU-5/A or GAU-5A/A markings were removed and the weapons redesignated GUU-5/P. They also retain automatic fire instead of burst.

The new designation more accurately reflected the weapon's place in the U.S. Air Force Aeronautical Equipment Type Designation System (AETDS). [14] The weapons had initially been designated in the same format as aircraft guns, being placed in the GA category (GA designating an aircraft gun, with U meaning unit, representing a complete system and not part of a kit), followed by the /A suffix meaning the system was for aircraft. GUU is the "guns, miscellaneous personal equipment" category, and the /P suffix indicating personal equipment. [15]

These carbines are used by US Air Force Security Police. [16]

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References

  1. 1 2 "CAR-15: The Colt Commando Rifle". SOFREP. 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  2. ↑ Nathaniel F (May 30, 2016). "Colt Introduces New Reproduction Vietnam-Era AR-15s at NRA 2016". The Firearm Blog. Archived from the original on May 30, 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "An Official Journal Of The NRA | Review: Brownells XBRN-177E2 Retro AR-15". An Official Journal Of The NRA. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  4. ↑ "Troy Introduces XM177E2 Replica at NRA 2016 -". The Firearm Blog. 2016-05-21. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  5. ↑ "Troy My Service Rifle XM177E2". Frag Out! Magazine. 2018-03-05. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  6. ↑ "[SHOT 2023] New XM177 From Windham Weaponry -". The Firearm Blog. 2023-01-30. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Ezell, 1988. p. 401
  8. ↑ Dockery, 1997. pg. 143
  9. ↑ Plaster, 2004. p. 216
  10. ↑ "Việt Nam sản xuất "phiên bản Việt" của súng tiểu liên Mỹ?" . Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  11. ↑ VCCorp.vn. "Việt Nam sản xuất "phiên bản Việt" của súng tiểu liên Mỹ?".
  12. ↑ Giaobao.com. "Điều ít biết về khẩu M18 do Việt Nam sản xuất". tin tức Giaobao.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-21. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  13. ↑ "Bất ngờ dàn vũ khí tham gia diễu binh 30/4 (1)". 23 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "XM177/E1/E2 5.56mm Submachine Gun". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  15. ↑ "Designations Of U.S. Aeronautical and Support Equipment". www.designation-systems.net. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  16. ↑ "'Mixmaster': The U.S. Air Force's GUU-5/P – Small Arms Defense Journal" . Retrieved 2023-12-14.
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