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People, it is NOT the weapon system and it is NOT the ammunition.
What this comes down to is extremely poor or nonexistent Fire Discipline! Pure and simple.
It also comes down to a lack of Command & Control by fireteam or squad leaders.
From the early introduction of fully automatic submachine guns, American soldiers have fired off whole mags with their weapon on automatic, hoping in
hell to kill whoever they aimed at.
It does not work like that.
We all laugh out loud at some jundie or other in let's say Iraq or Somalia blazing away with his AK on full auto, whilst holding it over a
wall.
Well, IMHO, firing a weapon on full auto is exactly the same! A couple of rounds on target and the rest of the ammo is converted from live rounds to
empty cases!
Or how about firing a pistol - one handed, whilst holding it sideways. Another Hollywood favourite on the moment which conveniently forgets that with
each round fired, the pistol points closer and closer to the flkoor or ground!
When we Brits got hold of our first fully automatic L85A1, we used to burn through barrels like there was no tomorrow.
Then the School of Infantry let it be known that fully automatic fire was only to be used when a Banzai charge was about to engulf your trench
or foxhole; you were clearing an enemy trench or you were room clearing during OBUA.
What people fail to realise is that ammo burned unnecessarily in the heat of the moment is ammo needed for the next engagement.
We Brits perfer to double tap (or at least I did) but then again and without wishing to incur any wrath from PaddyInf, I did use a proper rifle, the
FN SLR - 7.62mm. 'Nuff said!
If our American cousins had a half decent assault rifle like the L85A2 and learnt to shoot like we Brits do, then they would have few (if any)
problems.
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