USAF finally phasing out S&W Model 15s.

[funkychinaman]

The USAF is finally retiring the S&W Model 15.

In related new, the S&W Model 15 was still in USAF service.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...i-auto-pistols

[Spartan198]

Considering the AF still maintains and issues these to its security forces, them still using the M15 doesn't surprise me.

[funkychinaman]

In all fairness, that IS a really old photo. The Colt Commando isn't even the more glaringly outdated thing in the photo, it's the woodland BDUs.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...AFSecurity.jpg

[Spartan198]

By 2004, though, the M4 was already so widespread in the military that every serviceman and his grandmother was issued one. And I've heard claims of some SecFor guys still to this day being issued XM16E1s while deployed.

[MT2008]

Originally Posted by funkychinaman

The USAF is finally retiring the S&W Model 15.

In related new, the S&W Model 15 was still in USAF service.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...i-auto-pistols

Jeez. I didn't think it was possible to find a revolver anywhere within the U.S. military anymore.

Originally Posted by Spartan198

By 2004, though, the M4 was already so widespread in the military that every serviceman and his grandmother was issued one. And I've heard claims of some SecFor guys still to this day being issued XM16E1s while deployed.

I wouldn't say that; by 2004, most of the door kickers were carrying M4s, but most rear echelon/non-combat personnel were using the M16A2 and other older ARs. A weapon like that one wouldn't have seemed as out-of-place in 2004 as it would today. So I agree with Funkychinaman that this picture doesn't necessarily represent the state of SecFor armament today.

On another note, I thought that the Air Force never adopted the XM16E1 (because they didn't want to pay the extra $$$$ for the forward assist)?

[Spartan198]

Originally Posted by MT2008

On another note, I thought that the Air Force never adopted the XM16E1 (because they didn't want to pay the extra $$$$ for the forward assist)?

They didn't want to and that was their justification (they did at least agree to accept serrated bolt carriers which prevented the occasional smooth carrier from finding its way in an E1 or A1 and rendering the FA inoperable, though), but it's plausible to think some A1s and a few leftover E1s probably ended up forked off on them as a result of the transition to the A2 in the 80s. After all, those rifles were already paid for and thus not a threat to the F-22 and later F-35 programs. And the units that needed M4s and other more modern rifles likely got them on SOCOM's dime.

Personally, I have a hard time believing that deleting the FA saved any significant amount that wasn't then eaten up by manufacturing a whole separate rifle, but since when has military procurement ever operated on common sense?

[Excalibur]

I read the post thinking "We still use revolvers?" then I remember last year the NYPD actually retiring their last issued service revolvers as well but that's the police

[commando552]

The thing is that they were not still using these revolvers as "sidearms", they were only being used to train working dog as there was no blank fire system for the M9. They were essentially the same as the starter pistols used by other militaries for the same purpose. I believe that part of the contract for the M17/18 was to provide (among other ancillaries) blank fire kits so I imagine this is the reason they are now able to retire them.

[funkychinaman]

Originally Posted by commando552

The thing is that they were not still using these revolvers as "sidearms", they were only being used to train working dog as there was no blank fire system for the M9. They were essentially the same as the starter pistols used by other militaries for the same purpose. I believe that part of the contract for the M17/18 was to provide (among other ancillaries) blank fire kits so I imagine this is the reason they are now able to retire them.

That was the other thing that struck me as odd, the M9 has been in service sine the mid eighties, no one thought to adapt it for blank fire?

[Spartan198]

Originally Posted by funkychinaman

That was the other thing that struck me as odd, the M9 has been in service sine the mid eighties, no one thought to adapt it for blank fire?

Or they just never bothered.