US Marines set to field M27 IAR

[MT2008]

Originally Posted by Excalibur

Actually a while back the US also fielded an M16 with a heavier barrel before the SAW.

We actually fielded it? I thought it was just tested during the SAW trials? Or am I wrong?

Originally Posted by Nyles

Yeah, that doesn't make a lick of sense to me either. I've heard it suggested that this is a backdoor effort to get new carbines but I don't think I buy it. I've never worked with Marines, so their tactics might be different from ours, but given the emphasis we put on winning the firefight this would definately seem like a step in the wrong direction.

Well, the thing is, right now, it's mostly just supplementing the M249s, not completely replacing them. But I agree that there isn't too much logic behind the IAR. The only people for whom the IAR might make sense are the Recon Marines (since they're basically not supposed to let themselves get shot at, let alone shoot back) who want to minimize what they have to carry.