AMERICAN WEB EQUIPMENT 1967-1991

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Thanks to all that have purchased the book to date!

BAR TO THE CAR, NOT A CAR TO THE BAR

The Browning Automatic Rifle or BAR. Ask a Second World War, Korean War, or Vietnam War veteran how it is pronounced. If you say "bar," they will tell you that is where people go to drink alcohol. The correct pronunciation is, and has always been, "bee-ay-ar" - or simply sounding out each of the letters in the abbreviation of the weapon's name.

The exact same method of pronunciation applies to Colt's CAR-15. It is NOT pronounced "car fifteen" (like an automobile), it is "cee-ay-ar fifteen." I was at a gun show looking a certain dealer's wares. Another person, in their twenties, was at the dealer's table before I arrived. The person was talking to the dealer about modifying this and that on a "car fifteen." I honestly believed the person was referring to something made by Kahr Arms. It was only after I actually started paying attention to the conversation did I realize the person was talking about an AR-15 semi-automatic clone.

The pronunciation of CAR-15 is derived from the pronunciation of, not only the BAR, but the original AR-15, which is pronounced "ay-ar fifteen" (not "ar fifteen"). The CAR-15 has ALWAYS been pronounced "cee-ay-ar fifteen" by Colt and the end user, the United States military. Further, Colt applied the designation CAR-15 to their family of SELECT-FIRE weapons, NOT the semi-automatic ones. Calling a semi-automatic AR-15 (or clone) a "CAR-15" is completely incorrect.

PISTOL, 9 MILLIMETER, AUTOMATIC

[LEFT] Member of the Norwegian Forsvaret armed with a HECKLER & KOCH GMBH (CAGE D2330) MP5A3N (the "N" stands for Norway and assigned the NSN 1005-25-133-7485) and P80 in a Safariland 6004/6005-series SLS Tactical Holster.

The 9x19mm Glock 17 was adopted by the Norwegian Forsvaret as the P80 (officially designated PISTOL, 9 MILLIMETER, AUTOMATIC) and assigned the NSN 1005-25-133-6775. The actual firearms are marked P80, along with the Norwegian military "crest" (property mark), on the left side of the slide (similar to the way the Austrian military P80 pistols are marked).

The NSN, for the P80, shows to have been assigned on 1 January 1984. The Norwegian P80 were obtained from GLOCK GMBH (CAGE S5591).

[RIGHT] The Norwegian Forsvaret MAGAZINE, CARTRIDGE, for the P80, are marked with the Norwegian military "crest" (property mark) at the bottom of the rear of the cartridge magazine. The cartridge magazine is assigned the NSN 1005-25-133-6785.

COLT MODEL 723 (RO723)

With the standardization of the RIFLE, 5.56 MILLIMETER, M16A2 (NSN 1005-01-128-9936), on 30 March 1982, Colt Defense LLC (CAGE 13629) set about to produce a carbine version of the M16A2 as they did for the M16A1 rifle. In early 1985, Colt unveiled the "M16A2 Carbine," which essentially was an improved version of the CARBINE, 5.56 MILLIMETER, M16A1 (NSN 1005-01-029-3866; also known as the model RO653 carbine). The weapon was marketed to both military and law enforcement as "...smaller, more compact versions of the M16A2 Rifle, intended for use wherever lightness and speed of action is required."

The M16A2 carbine's "lightweight" 14.5-inch barrel was upgraded from the M16A1 carbine's 1:12 twist rate to a 1:7 twist rate. This was done to improve performance of the barrel with the NATO STANAG 4172 62 grain SS109 5.56 x 45mm cartridge. The SS109 cartridge would later be standardized, on 10 June 1983, by the United States government as the CARTRIDGE, 5.56 MILLIMETER, M855 (NSN 1305-01-155-5458).

In addition to the new barrel, the following re-designed/improved parts were added to the M16A2 carbine:

(1) a new COMPENSATOR (NSN 1005-01-134-3633), Colt Defense LLC part 64502
(2) a new PLUNGER ASSEMBLY (NSN 1005-01-144-1468), Colt Defense LLC part 64541
(3) a new GRIP, RIFLE (NSN 1005-01-148-4805), Colt Defense LLC part 64576
(4) a new BUTTSTOCK ASSEMBLY (NSN 1005-01-371-1805), Colt Defense LLC part 64679

Colt assigned the model number RO723 to the carbine. By late 1985, the carbine was being equipped with the RECEIVER, CARTRIDGE (NSN 1005-01-248-5858; Colt Defense LLC part 64948) with cartridge case deflector (as found on the M16A2 rifle), but retaining the M16A1 "field sight." The RO723 received the nickname "Abu Dhabi carbine," as in 1987, the "sheikdom" of Abu Dhabi (part of the United Arab Emirates or UAE) ordered 20,000 units of the RO723.

With the adoption of the M16A2 rifle by the United States Army, in 1986, special operations units began looking into replacing their inventory of RO653 carbines with RO723 carbines. The RO723 carbines were purchased Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) and not marked "PROPERTY OF U.S. GOVT." (as the M16A2 rifles were). Further, the RO723 was not considered a Limited Procurement Type item (like the RO653 was), so a National Stock Number was not assigned to the carbine.

[ABOVE] The RO723 as illustrated in the 1985 dated OPERATOR'S MANUAL FOR M16A2 CARBINE, COMMANDO & 9mm SMG (Colt Defense LLC part 94892).

[ABOVE] The RO723 as illustrated in the 1985 dated OPERATOR'S MANUAL FOR M16A2 CARBINE, COMMANDO & 9mm SMG (Colt Defense LLC part 94892) illustrating the round forward assist plunger, new upper receiver with cartridge case deflector and M16A1 "field sight."

The RO723 carbine was utilized by special operation forces (mainly with the United States Army) during many American military operations during the late 1980s through the 1990s. The RO723 was seen in use during Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield/Storm, and Restore Hope. Like the RO653, the RO723 was also called a CAR-15 by the grunts.

[ABOVE] Image dated 11 April 1991 and originally captioned "Security personnel, one armed with a 5.56mm M-4 Colt carbine, escort Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander-in-chief, U.S. Central Command, as he walks toward Kuwait military headquarters after arriving by UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter to visit Kuwaiti dignitaries in the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm. Schwarzkopf will also be presenting awards to military officials who contributed to coalition efforts during the war." The "security personnel" are actually General Schwarzkopf's Personal Security Detail (PSD) and are all Delta operators. Of course, the weapon has been mis-identified. The weapon (carried by the operator at the right) is actually a RO723 carbine fitted with the new profile "notched" (for the M203's barrel mount) BARREL AND FRONT SIGHT ASSEMBLY (NSN 1005-01-233-8529). The barrel, even though standardized on 4 June 1986, has erroneously become known as the "M4 profile barrel." The carbine is further fitted with a CLIP, CARTRIDGE (the USGI designation for the Johnson Firearms REDI-MAG, NSN 1305-01-493-2955) and is slung using a standard SLING, SMALL ARMS (NSN 1005-00-167-4336) and KIT, ADAPTER, TOP SLING (NSN 1005-00-406-1570). The operator is SGM (retired) Michael Vining.

5.56mm KIT, CLEANING

The basic standardized cleaning equipment, for all government issued 5.56mm rifles and carbines, are the following:

On 10 January 1966 the ROD, CLEANING, SMALL ARMS (FSN 1005-999-2035; P/N 11686455) was standardized for use with the 5.56mm rifles in service. This initial cleaning rod was comprised of four "sections" - the handle, swab tip, and two (2) rod section. It was further designated M11E2 (while the separate bore brush was designated M11E1).

ROD, CLEANING, SMALL ARMS (NSN 1005-00-089-3994; P/N 8436777) - five section rod (handle, swab tip, and three (3) rod sections) designated M11E3 and was standardized on 8 June 1967, replacing the M11E2 cleaning rod. Colt Defense LLC Part Number 62702.

The M11E3 small arms cleaning rod can be broken down into the following parts:

(1) HANDLE ASSEMBLY, STEEL (NSN 1005-01-113-0321; P/N 8436776; standardized on 15 May 1981)

DAAA09-90-C-0278[1]	YANKEE HILL MACHINE CO INC	3D540
DLA700-91-M-CC86[2]	YANKEE HILL MACHINE CO INC	3D540
DLA760-91-M-F339[3]	YANKEE HILL MACHINE CO INC	3D540
DLA750-92-C-0232[4]	YANKEE HILL MACHINE CO INC	3D540
DLA750-92-C-0267[5]	JEFFREY ALAN MFG & ENG LLC	3D531

^[1] 7,173 units were produced under this contract
^[2] 393 units were produced under this contract on 14 January 1991
^[3] 140 units were produced under this contract on 4 February 1991
^[4] 421 units were produced under this contract on 16 December 1991
^[5] 241,958 units were produced under this contract on 7 August 1992

(2) ROD SECTION, CLEANING, SMALL ARMS (NSN 1005-00-050-6357; P/N 8436775; standardized on 4 December 1967), and (3) SWAB HOLDER SECTION, SMALL ARMS CLEANING ROD (NSN 1005-00-937-2250; P/N 11686327; standardized on 25 November 1966).

BRUSH, CLEANING, SMALL ARMS (NSN 1005-00-903-1296; P/N 11686340) - bore brush designated M11E1 and standardized on 1 January 1960. Colt Defense LLC Part Number 94144.

DLA700-87-D-0179[1]	THE MILL-ROSE COMPANY	79901
DLA700-89-D-0195[2]	THE MILL-ROSE COMPANY	79901

^[1] 446,235 units were produced under this contract on 15 February 1989
^[2] 3,805,158 units were produced under this contract between 6 October 1989 through 20 December 1993

BRUSH, CLEANING, SMALL ARMS (NSN 1005-00-999-1435; P/N 8432358) - chamber brush; standardized on 2 January 1966. Colt Defense LLC Part Number 94145.

DLA700-89-C-0097[1]	BRUSHES INC	60861
DLA700-89-M-3101[2]	THE MILL-ROSE COMPANY	79901
DLA700-89-M-3425[3]	THE MILL-ROSE COMPANY	79901
DLA700-89-M-3735[4]	THE MILL-ROSE COMPANY	79901
DLA740-91-C-0050[5]	BRUSHES INC	60861
DLA740-91-C-0051[6]	THE MILL-ROSE COMPANY	79901

^[1] 986,700 units were produced under this contract on 3 October 1988 and 986,700 units on 2 March 1989
^[2] 35,000 units were produced under this contract on 27 October 1988
^[3] 35,000 units were produced under this contract on 23 March 1989
^[4] 35,000 units were produced under this contract on 20 December 1988
^[5] 1,288,720 units were produced under this contract between 4 April 1991 through 30 September 1991
^[6] 569,280 units were produced under this contract on 4 April 1991

[ABOVE] Original Colt Defense LLC small arms cleaning rod with label bearing Colt's Part Number 62702.

The complete set of components is later assigned the National Stock Number 1920-01-201-1989 and the nomenclature KIT, CLEANING. Further, Colt Defense LLC assigned its Part Number 94455 to the complete set.

CAGE CODE

Listing of CAGE Codes for GLOCK:

GLOCK INC	0N2S7
GLOCK GMBH	0143N
GLOCK GMBH	S5591
GLOCK AMERICA SA	STT49
GLOCK DO BRASIL SA	00D1K
GLOCK PROFESSIONAL INC	7QHU1

NCB AND THE GLOCK

As stated in a previous post, the National Codification Bureau Code, or NCB, are the two digits after the Federal Supply Class (FSC) within a National (NATO) Stock Number. These fifth and six digits, in a NSN, correspond to an assigned set of two numbers that identify what county the NSN is generated from.

In the Wikipedia entry for "Glock" one finds this erroneous statement (allegedly attributed to author Peter Alan Kasler):

"Shortly thereafter, the Glock 17 was accepted into service with the Norwegian and Swedish armed forces, surpassing all prior NATO durability standards. As a result, the Glock 17 became a standard NATO-classified sidearm and was granted a NATO stock number (1005-25-133-6775)."

Normally Wikipedia entries are taken for what they are, baseless paragraphs of opinions. The issue with this specific quote is that it has been repeated and repeated over the world wide web to the point people seem to think it is the truth. It could not be further from it.

The NSN listed, 1005-25-133-6775, is the NORWEGIAN NSN for the P80 (their armed forces' designation for the Glock 17). The "25" in the listed NSN is, of course, assigned to Norway. By Norway assigning a NSN to the weapon means THEY have accepted it into their armed forces' inventory...not NATO. NATO is assigned the NCB of 11. NATO rarely assigns NSNs as it is not a military organization itself, but instead a conglomeration of militaries. Historically, for NATO to assign a NSN, utilizing their NCB, means that the item has truly been accepted as "standard NATO-classified." Very few items exist that can carry this honor, Glock handguns are NOT one of them.