Since the U.S. Army’s founding on June 14, 1775, its uniforms have evolved to match military tactics and technology – with warfighters constantly equipped with gear that increases survivability, mobility and lethality.
Scroll the interactive display below to see how the uniform has changed over time.
Since the mid-2010s, all carbines issued have been in the M4A1 configuration. Similar to the M4, the M4A1 continues to allow attachments of various types of electronics and weapons, including a laser pointer, flashlight, shotgun and grenade launcher. https://www.defense.gov/Experience/Common-Threads/Common-Threads-Army/#slideshow-head M4 and M4A1 Carbines:
The M4 was a lighter, shortened version of the M16 rifle. First issued in the mid-1990s, it was more prevalent than the M16A2 during the initial years of OEF/OIF. The M4 has a four position adjustable stock and is capable of semiautomatic fire and three-round burst. The improved M4 Carbine incorporated a new rail system to allow attachments of various types such as a laser pointer, flashlight, shotgun and grenade launcher.
In 2010 the Army decided to only issue the M4A1, which has semiautomatic and fully automatic firing modes. Existing M4s were upgraded to M4A1.The M16A2 was the primary weapon used by front-line soldiers. It had a heavier barrel to accommodate a heavier 5.56 mm bullet and used 30-round magazines. The M16A2 had a semi-automatic and three-round burst.The M16 rifle was the most-issued weapon. It has been in Army service since 1965. The gas-operated, semi-automatic rifle in 5.56 mm used a 20-round external box magazine. By the end of the war, the 30-round external box magazine was introduced. It was capable of semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. The M14 rifle also was issued early in the Vietnam War. Like the M16, it was also a gas-operated, semi-automatic rifle using 20-round external box magazines, but fired a more powerful 7.62mm/.308 caliber round. It was much heavier than the M16 to reduce the recoil of the heavier bullet. It was capable of semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. (Not pictured) M1 Garand .30-caliber rifle: This rifle was still widely issued, as were most other WWII weapons. The Thompson submachine gun, however, was replaced by the M2 Carbine. M1 Knife Bayonet: This 10-inch knife blade bayonet replaced the prior 16-inch versions at the end of WWII.
For those interested, the feature goes back to the Revolutionary War and presents, Weapons, Uniforms, footwear of each period CLICK HERE
Disclaimer: Over the years, styles, environments, technology and missions changed. In an attempt to simplify those complex details, we are featuring only enlisted combat uniforms and their regulation equipment.
