One of the most iconic firearm of the 20th century is the M-16. It was used first in Vietnam, since 1965, and then in every American military operations from Granada to Panama and Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf. In 1969, the M16A1 replaced the M14 rifle to become the U.S. military’s standard service rifle and has been several times updated and improved and today the M4 carbine is a shortened variant of the M-16 rifle. When the M-16 was first introduced, it revolutionized firearm design with its use of composite materials, intermediate caliber ammunition, and space-age appearance. The M-16 family of weapon systems provides troops with a lightweight, reliable firearm that allows selective fire of a highly-capable intermediate round. During the Cold War M-16 and AK-47 became the symbol of the two Super Powers and their allies.
Here a short history of M-16, however should you want to know more about the history of assault rifles read this article about the Sturmgewehr 44 or StG-44, the grandfather of all modern assault rifles.
