M 1 Rifle As A Sniper Rifle example essay topic

The US Rifle M 1 was the first semiautomatic rifle to be the standard small arm of the US Military, and the first semiautomatic rifle to be adopted by a major military power. It was the product of a genius, John Cantus Garand. While the M 1 Rifle was never officially referred to as the Garand, it is known by no other name so widely. First adopted in 1936, the M 1 Rifle served the US in World War II, Korea, a host of 'police actions' and interventions, and, in the hands of allies, in the Vietnam War.

Even there the US Army used the M 1 rifle as a sniper rifle even though the M 1 had by that time been supplanted by the M 14 and later the M 16. The M 1 Garand is a full-blown combat rifle with maximum range of 3,200 meters and maximum effective range of 400 meters. Fully loaded with 8-round en block clip, cleaning kit in butt stock, sling and with stock of dense GI issue wood the M 1 weighed in at 11-1/4 lbs. The M 1 came into production in 1936 using the. 30-06 rifle cartridge. It was the designated service rifle of World War II and the Korean War for the United States Military.

Also was designed for semi-automatic fire using a spring steel clip containing 8 rounds. This is where the term 'clip' originated. All other rifles used a detachable or fixed magazine. There is some discussion on whether this is accurate though. The M 1 Garand was designed for long-range accuracy and was the only rifle that had fully adjustable rear sights, with windage and elevation. Criticisms of the M 1 are its weight, limited ammunition supply, the fact that single rounds could not be pushed in (8 round clip, or nothing).

Also, the spent clip was automatically ejected after the last round was fired, making a distinctive sound, which could be fatal in close quarter or sniper operations. This be true the M 1 proved to be quite accurate, durable, rugged and reliable. The M 1 Rifle was also distributed to several nations under many American military assistance programs and used to date. During The Vietnam War the M 1 served as a training rifle for troops inducted into the U.S. Army and still serves in the training rifle role for the U.S. Navy. The M 1 was the main rifle of many military reserve units until the mid-1970's (for example, the M 1 was seen in the hands of Illinois National Guard troops during confrontations between Guardsmen and demonstrators outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention complex), when it was replaced by the M 16.

To this day, the M 1 also fulfills a ceremonial role with all branches of the military, in color guard and honor guard units. LGE N Patton once said, 'In my opinion, the M 1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised. ' To many the M 1 Rifle has a classic elegance and grace characteristic of a bygone era, when steel was forged in white heat and walnut was carefully shaped for both form and function. There will never be again such a rifle, so brimming with the genius of an individual mind, so well constructed to outlive us all, so sculpted as to ask the hand to caress..