Weapon of Choice by Matthew Ford

Author:Matthew Ford
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9780190623869
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2017-02-15T07:00:00+00:00

Part 2: Standardisation as an exercise of power

By the mid-1970s, the preconditions that had previously been identified as being necessary for delivering standardisation—conditions associated with standardising NATO tactics—were starting to fall in place. British and American armoured infantry doctrine was taking on recognisably similar forms to that already adopted by the Bundeswehr. By the estimation of those trying to bring about standardisation, this was a good indicator that future agreement on a NATO ammunition standard would be possible in the comparative trials scheduled for the late 1970s. Having similar processes for how a technology would be used did not, however, necessarily equate to agreement over standard weapons. On the contrary, as the NATO powers assembled in Bavaria for the year-long military and technical trials, six countries (Belgium, France, the Netherlands, West Germany, the UK and the United States) submitted eight different types of ammunition and six completely new weapons for evaluation.40 Selection between these systems, after they had been examined by technical experts, including engineers, statisticians, wound ballisticians, shooters and armourers from various NATO countries, would require detailed agreement on ammunition and weapon performance, agreements that had to be orchestrated well in advance of the eventual test.

Table 3: A History of NATO Non-Standardisation.

Rounds Used in Various NATO Rifles, 1960 to 1974, Compared with the Rounds and Weapons Submitted for the 1979–80 NATO Standardisation Trials

Country 1960 1974 1979–80Trials

SAA SAA New Ammunition Weapon submitted Rifle/LMG

UK 7.62mm 7.62mm 4.85mm cased ball, tracer, blank Enfield Weapon System

United States 7.62mm 5.56mm XM777 ball SM778 tracer 5.56mm M16A1(2)

France 7.5mm 7.5mm/ 5.56mm French 5.56mm cased: ball (brass & steel), tracer (brass & steel) 5.56 MAS

Federal Republic of Germany 7.62mm 7.62mm 4.75mm caseless: ball, tracer, blank 4.75mm MK-101 7.62mm MG-3

Belgium 7.62mm 7.62mm 5.56mm improved: ball, tracer, blank, API 5.56mm FN Minimi

Italy 7.62mm 7.62mm

Netherlands 7.62mm 7.62mm 5.56mm MN1

Denmark .30 .30/5.56mm

Norway 7.62mm 7.62mm

Greece .30 .30

Turkey

Portugal .30

7.62mm .30/7.62mm

7.62mm

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