USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

I was flicking through the USA OOB and saw a few units equipped with these. I thought that both of these weapon projects had been dropped, Canceled or discontinued?

AFAIK OICW is dead. OTOH, South Korean XK-11 (or whatever) new assault rifle seems to derive much from the OICW, but changes significantly the concept - from a grenade weapon with possibility of attaching a 5.56mm subcarbine, it is a full scale 5.56mm assault rifle with a manually-operated 20mm grenade launcher using the same programmable ammo as OICW.

I thought that the US had tried the OICW, then decided to split it into the Grenade launcher part and the Rifle, which became the M8. Then it was decided to cancel both parts.

It will be something to clear out of the USA/MC oobs in the winter data check. (The UK LIMAWS have already been removed as cancelled already.)

It will likely be replaced (rifle part) with an accurised M16 rifle similar to the UK SA80 stats, to reflect that add-on sights etc are more common post 2003.

Cheers
Andy

Maybe they might adopt that Bushmaster design or the upgraded SCAR. I read somewhere that the Bushmaster could be made to fire 7.62m or standard NATO rounds. Weren't they also talking about upping the calibre to 6.5mm (Grendel round?) or something?

Here we go, found this on the Bushmaster project. Teaming up with Magpul to produce a weapon named MASADA.

http://www.bushmaster.com/press_release_013108.asp

and

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushmaster_ACR

The adoption dates for the next generation of weapons definitely need to be tweaked if nothing else. I think the M25 grenade launcher is still in the mix, though who can be sure at this rate. The Lightweight/Caseless ammo weapons being designed by AAI might be the next logical step, but those might be out of the game's timeline. USSOCOM is also already fielding elements of the Mk 16/17 SCAR-L/H weapon system manufactured by FN. I think the real problem is running out of weapon slots in the OOB to properly reflect the dynamics at the moment. Renaming the XM8 weapon and replacing the OICW weapon with something else, along with modifying the dates, would probably be sufficient.

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

Ahh the M16A4. I thought the US Army was using mostly M4 Carbines these days?

I heard FRES had changed allot in concept. A vehicle had been selected.
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/De...shArmyfres.htm

I've still not been able to find anything about the ABSV. The Other Question is, will Watch keeper finally get its GSR rating?

And what about the Invisible Cr2's :p

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

Yes and no. There seems to be constantly shifting consensus, and a lot has to do with current deployments in Iraq, where a carbine is seen as more useful in the urban patrol environment than a full length rifle. Safe to say no US service has completely gotten rid of their full length rifles, and even units that transitioned to the M4 could probably have their M16s reissued if necessary.

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

what's the sense of having an m4 gamewise ?:confused:it has the same states as a m16 but shorter range.

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

Accuracy to the reality on the ground, nothing else. It has a shorter effective range, and its becoming a more common weapon among regular troops who find themselves in want of a shorter weapon for the kind of combat we're seeing in Iraq right now primarily. You'll note that the M4A1 got the XM8's acc bonus in V4, no doubt based on some understanding of better optics being more standard.

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

I think that's down to the ACOG sight that is appearing more and more. a couple of years ago in Iraq it appeared that almost every photo had a M16 with ACOG. Now it seems to have switched to mostly M4 carbines.

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

no i never did notice the higher accracy,thank's for pointing that out,now it may be worth useing.

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

IIRC: Weapons with a Sight unit as standard get Acc 6 Vs Acc1 for iron sights.

Now where's the SUIT sight for the SLR's... :)

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

I've seen some ACOGs, but I've also seen a lot of non-magnifying optics (EOTech HOLO sights, M68 CCOs, ITL MARS, etc).

In Iraq things have definitely switched over the M4 as far as the photographic evidence is concerned. I'm not sure whether this has been the case in Afghanistan. As I said, the truth of the matter is that unit arsenals probably still have equal quantities of M16s for reissue if the situation was deemed appropriate.

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

Our C7's and C8's (the Canadian versions of the M16 and M4) had originally just iron sights then were upgraded with an optical sight. I my own experience, as long as the weapon remains zeroed it provides much more accurate firepower. With our C1 and early C7 I varied on the range from 60% to 90% scores in combat shooting. Once I had the Optical Sight, I shot in the 90's all the time. Many at the time noticed a similar outcome. Of course some just can't shoot no how! :re:

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

I can chime in only with experience with an air gun and the dreaded 4.5mm Diabolo round, but even though the classical airgun has serious accuracy limits (due to moving barrel etc.), mounting (and properly zeroing) a scope significantly improved my accuracy.

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

If I may chime in on the M16 / M4 issue.

Currently the M4 with the M68 sight is the standard issue for all combat troops and select service support elements (MPs, HUMINT teams, SIGINT teams, generally anyone who does "outside the wire" missions). Support elements (Supply, cooks, transportation, Battalion/Brigade staff.....) use the M16A4.

What is the difference between a M16A3 and M16A4? cosmetic really. The M16A4 has the picatinny rail system in place of the forward handguards.

For me..I'll take the M4 over a M16 any day.

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

The M16A3 (M16A2E3) is identical to the M16A2, with the exception of a S-1-F instead of S-1-3 trigger group. The M16A4 (M16A2E4) replaces the fixed carry handle upper receiver of the A2/A3 with a "flat top" rail equipped receiver. Also, while the KAC M5 RAS may or may not be standard issue for various units, the M16A4 is not standard with it and not all A4s I've seen in pictures have had it. For a while after its introduction, M16A4s fitted with the RAS were referred to as "M16A4 Modular Weapon System" or M16A4 MWS.

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

[quote=For me..I'll take the M4 over a M16 any day.[/QUOTE]

if i had to chose between the two the m16 is my pick

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

Guess I'm old fashioned.
I'll take an M-14 over any M4/M16 any day.

Re: USA: OICW and M8 Rifle.
 

i would take the m14 over m16/m4 anyday too,m14 has way more range and stoping power then a m16/m4,the ploblem that it has is that it is heavier,longer,and ammo is heavier.