TEST OF ARMALITE RIFLE, AR-15. Field Test Report

The purpose of this test was to determine if the AR-15 Rifle is compatible with the small stature, body configuration and light weight of the Vietnamese Soldier and to evaluate the weapon under actual combat conditions in South Vietnam. At the request of MAAG, Vietnam, the scope of the test was expanded to include a comparison between the AR-15 and the M2 Carbine to determine which is a more suitable replacement for other shoulder weapons in selected units of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces RVNAF. The AR-15 Armalite rifle was subjected to a comprehensive field evaluation under combat conditions in Vietnam. The suitability of the AR-15 as the basic shoulder weapon for the Vietnamese has been established. For the type of conflict now occurring in Vietnam, the weapon was also found by its uses and by MAAG advisors to be superior in virtually all respects to the M-1 rifle, M-1 and M-2 carbines, Thompson sub-machine gun, and Browning automatic rifle.