1970s - M16A1 Special Low Profile (RO656) sniper rifle

Early 80's Military had 417,488 .45 pistols in service

JAN 1980 - USMC requests product improved M16A1 rifles from Colt.
OCT 1980 - NATO agrees to standardize FN's SS109 5.56x45mm ammunition as 5.56mm
NATO
FN's L110 Tracer is also standardized, 5.56mm magazines are NATO stan
dardized as well
1981 - Joint Service Rifle Product Improvement Program orders 50 M16A1(PIP)
later designated M16A1E1
SEP 1981 - BDU is introduced in M81 Woodland and Desert camouflage patterns (NYC
O twill)
NOV 1981 - Colt delivers fifty M16A1E1 rifles for testing
NOV/DEC
1981 - Twenty Marines and 10 troopers from 197th IB participate in Modified
Operational Test at Quantico. 30 M16A1E1 vs 30 M16A1
1982 - MAJ Dave Lutz (USMC) and Vince De Siena machine a flat top M16A1 with
a weaver rail and Kahles 1.5x optic
DOD expresses interest in M16A1E1 carbine
Army orders 18,850 M231 FPW with option for additional 550
FEB 1982 - M249 SAW is officially adopted, Army plans to procure 49,979, USMC 9,
974
JUN 1982 - Navy solicits KAC, INTERRAND and Qual-A-Tec fro 1,350 M16A1 sound sup
pressors, KAC wins in DEC $353,000 ($261.48/unit)
Mid 1982 - Congress removes funding for M1911A1 ammunition and parts to pressure
US Army ro find 9mm pistol
AUG 1982 - 800 US Marines to Lebanon to serve in Multinational Force. Withdrawn
in SEP 82
SEP 1982 - M16A2 is type classified
SEP 1982 - 1200 US Marines to Lebanon to serve in Multinational Force.
DEC 1982 - Mellonics Systems development at Ft, Benning issues a report finding
fault with every aspect of the M16A2
1983 - OPERATION URGENT FURY,
Marines, PASGT helmets, M81 BDUs, ALICE, M16A1
Rangers jungle fatigues, 82nd Airborne M16A1
1983 - XM9 Trials begin
JAN 1983 - Aberdeen releases a report about M16A1E1 out of 27 criteria 19 met, 5
partial, 3 failed
NOV 1983 - M16A2 type classified as "Standard A." US Marines order 26,028
1984 - XM9 Trials complete
JAN 1984 - First 1500 M16A2 received by USMC Marksmanship Training Unit at Quant
ico for use in matches
JAN 1984 - Canadian military chooses M16A1 over FN FNC
FEB 1984 - Canada orders 79,935 C7 rifles, 1,565 C8 carbines, 470,570 thermold m
ags, and 6,500 C9 Minimis from Diemaco
APR 1984 - Flat-top M16A2 designated M16A2E1
JUN 1984 - USMC orders 50,364 M16A2s from Colt
JUN 1984 - Army orders 28,750 M249 SAWs from FN
SEP 1984 - Colt awarded third contract for 63,188 M16A2s by USMC
SEP 1984 - Colt holds a meeting concerning development of M16A2 carbine that wil
l later become XM4
1985 - US Army orders 50 M16A2E1s for testing of sighting devices - this is
the Army's first order of any A2 pattern rifles. This project is terminated late
r in the year.
1985 - Austrailia adopts Steyr AUG
JAN 1985 - Beretta Model 92-SB-F is adopted as M9 along with Bianchi M12 holster
and M1025 magazine pouch. DOD orders 315,930 M9s to be supplied over the next 5
years.
APR 1985 - Army takes delivery of 50 M16A2E1s, USAIB uses the to conduct Operati
onal Test II
APR 1985 - Diemaco divilers first C7 rifles
JUN 1985 - Picatinny orders 40 XM4 carbines from Colt for testing
JUN 1985 - RSAF recieves first order for 175000 IW and LSW
AUG 1985 - USMC orders 116,722 M16A2s from Colt
AUG 1985 - M249 SAW production suspended pending development of PIP kit by Under
Secretary of the Army. 1,100 XM249E1 already issued remain in service, the remai
ning 7,000+ are to stay in depots
OCT 1985 - British Army begins issuing L85A1 IW and L86A1 LSW
OCT 1985 - Sanchez Enterprises Inc gets $5,042,000 contract for M16 magazines. T
hey will completely suck.
DEC 1985 - XM4 double heat shield foregrip patent is applied for
Win 1986 - L85s are recalledand upgraded over a period of three months in Britai
n
FEB 1986 - Colt delivers 40 XM4s with narrow foregrip
FEB 1986 - Mellonics releases report bashing M16A2 again.
MAR 1986 - US Army orders 100,176 M16A2 rifles from Colt, this is the first US A
rmy order.
APR 1986 - USMC Firepower Division acquires 7 XM4s from Army for evaluation for
SOC units under development. Force Recon compact weapons authorized at the time
are M3A1 SMG (and unofficial XM177E2)
APR 1986 - Colt delivers double heat shield fore grips for XM4s
AUG 1986 - FN begins work on P90 PDW
Fal 1986 - Canada begins development of flat-top C7
NOV 1986 - US Army frontline units begin to receive M16A2s
1987 - OPERATION PRIME CHANCE
APR 1987 - USMC attempts to acquire XM4 but the funds are denied by Congress for
4 consecutive years, meanwhile USMC replaces M3A1s with MP5Ns from the US Navy
JUL 1987 - Canada finalizes design of flat-top C7
SEP 1987 - Civilian model M92SB in service with SEALs suffers slide failure
OCT 1987 - first firing prototypes of FN P90 PDW
1988 - SEALs begin to field Colt RO727 carbine
1988 - OPERATION GOLDEN PHEASANT
1988 - Following Beretta slide failures XM10 trials held, M9 wins again. SEA
Ls begin private purchase of P226
JAN 1988 - Ireland adopts Steyr AUG
JAN 1988 - 2nd Beretta (M9) slide failure reported by NAVSPECWAR
JUN 1988 - G11 begins troop trials in West Germany
FEB 1988 - 3rd Beretta (M9) slide failure reported by NAVSPECWAR
SEP 1988 - DoD orders 266,961 M16A2 rifles from FN Herstal
Late '88 - Brunswicj begins development of RAW
1989 - OPERATION JUST CAUSE - first use of M16A2 in combat
1989 - Hot Weather BDU introduced (100% ripstop cotton), replaces Jungle Fat
igues
MAY 1989 - Beretta awardede second contract for 57,000 M9s after XM10 Trials
SEP 1989 - 4,419 M16A2s ordered from FN
OCT 1989 - DOD begins upgrade program to bring M16A1s up to M16A2 specs
DEC 1989 - OPERATION JUST CAUSE - first use of M16A2 in combat, Reed Knight sees
duct tape and hose clamps used to attatch flashlights to weapons and starts dev
elopment of "LEGO System" (RAS).
7th Inf. Div., 75th Inf. Regt. (combat drops), 82nd Airborne (combat
drop), 193rd Inf. Bde.,
Late '89 - G11 type classified by Bundeswehr
APR 1990 - US Army orders 65 M4 carbines from Bushmaster
AUG 1990 - OPERATION DESERT SHIELD
AUG 1990 - 20,000 M16A2s ordered from FN
1991 - Canada purchases 65,000 ELCAN Wildcat scopes designating them C79
JAN 1991 - OPERATION DESERT STORM
MAR 1991 - US Army requests funding for M4 carbine in FY92 budget
APR 1991 - OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT
SEP 1991 - ELCAN begins delivery of C79 sights to Canadian forces
 1992 - US Navy SEALS begin issuing M16A2E3 (M16A2 with AUTO instead of BURST
)
1992 - SIG P228 is adopted as M11 pistol
1992 - Colt offers commercial flat-top M16A2 and M4 (Colt designation M16A3
and M4A1 - NOT SAME AS MILITARY DESIGNATIONS)
1992 - Canada orders flat-top C7A1 uppers and complete rifles for use with E
LCAN sights.
1992 - L1A2 blank enters UK service
JUN 1992 - M16A2E3 type standardized as M16A3, in use in small numbers by Navy C
B and SEAL units.
OCT 1992 - US Navy orders 8,624 M16A3 from Colt
DEC 1992 - OPERATION RESTORE HOPE
MAY 1993 - Army orders 18,597 M4s from Colt ($462.91/unit)
1994-97 - KAC produces less than 24 M4A1Ks on a contract for USSOCOM heli crews
1994 - FAMAS G2 introduced
FEB 1994 - USSOCOM orders ~6,000 M4A1 from Colt ($440.12/unit)
JUL 1994 - AMCCOM orders ~18,000 M4s from Colt ($458.67/unit)
JUL 1994 - AMCCOM orders ~5,844 M249 from FN ($2198.76/unit)
AUG 1994 - Army officially adopts M4/M4A1. Initial order will have fixed carry h
andle
FEB 1995 - Diemaco completes delivery of Canadian rifle/carbine orders
MAR 1995 - 4,098 M249 SAWs ordered from FN ($2196.12/unit)
MAR 1995 - Dutch Marines begin to recieve first C7/C8s from Diemaco
MAY 1995 - Bundeswehr adopts G36 rifle over Stery AUG
JUL 1996 - 4618 M249s ordered from FN ($2336.31/unit)
AUG 1995 - 88,500 M16A2s ordered from FN
SEP 1995 - 24,144 M16A1 conversion kits ordered from Capco Inc to upgrade USAF/U
SCG M16s
1996 - Enhanced Hot Weather BDU introduced (50/50 ripstop nylon/cotton)
FEB 1996 - 31,700 M16A2s ordered from FN
JUL 1996 - Army orders 9430 M249 Saws from FN
AUG 1996 - Army orders 88,500 M16A2s from FN ($133.80/unit)
SEP 1996 - Bundeswehr units serving in NATO RRF issued G36 family, other units i
ssued as quantities permit
1997 usaf begins to update m16s with m16a2 kits
1990 116722 Colt M16A2 (USMC), 100,176 Colt M16A2 (USA), 271,380 FN M16A2 (DoD)
Active Duty Personnel (1990)
USA USAF USN USMC TOTAL USA+USMC
732,403 535,233 579,417 196,652 2,043,705 929,055
100,176 116,722 488,278
US Combat Jumps 1960-1990
12 FEB 62 FTT1 White Star SF Team, Nam Beng Valley Campaign against Pathet Lao,
Day mas low-level static-line
02 JAN 63 MACV Advisors to RVN Para, Ap Tan Thoi, Day mass low-level static-line
22 FEB 67 173rd Abn. Bde., Katum, Day mass low-level static-line
02 APR 67 5SFG Mike Force A503 A344, Phouc Long, Day mass low-level static-line
05 SEP 67 USMC 1LRRP Oregon 10, Vietnam, ???
05 OCT 67 5SFG Pathfinders, Bu Prang, Day mass low-level static-line
28 NOV 70 SOG RT Florida, Laos, Night HALO
07 MAY 71 SOG RT Alaska, Ashau Valley, Night HALO
22 JUN 71 SOG Team One-Zero, 60 miles SW Da Nang, Night HALO
22 SEP 71 SOG Team Storter, Plei Trap Valley, Night HALO
11 OCT 71 SOG RT Wisconsin, La Drang Valley, Night HALO
25 OCT 83 75th Rangers, 82nd Airborne, OPERATION URGENT FURY, Night HALO (Pathfi
nders)
25 OCT 83 SEAL Team, OPERATION URGENT FURY, Night static-line over water
25 OCT 83 75th Rangers, OPERATION URGENT FURY, Day mass low-level static-line
20 DEC 89 75th Rangers, 82nd Airborne, OPERATION JUST CAUSE, Night mass low-leve
l static-line
Archie Gates 40, Major big mouthed NCO at heart
Horn 45, Colonel
1991 turns 41 end of 6th Term T2K
1987-1991 37-41 - Operational Detatchment Delta
1983-1987 33-37 - Special Forces, CAPT > MAJ (Halo, SF Tab, Master Para)
1979-1983 29-33 - Rangers - 2nd Ranger Battalion, RDF/Grenada 2LT>1LT>CAPT (Rang
er Tab, Senior Para w/ 1 Combat Jump)
1975-1979 25-29 - College - GI Bill, Reserves
1971-1975 21-25 - Airborne - MACV/8th ID/ Vietnam/Germany SSGT > 1SGT (Senior Pa
ra)
1967-1971 17-21 - Airborne - 173rd Airborne, Vietnam SGT > SSGT (Basic Para, CIB
)
Jump School - Fort Benning -
Advanced Infantry Training -
Basic Training -
Graduates High School (Rochester NY) 1967
Born 1950
Grenada - Jungle Fatigues, 173rd AB combat Patch, 2nd Ranger Battalion Scroll/Ra
nger Tab, CIB,