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T E X T A N D P H O T O S : M I C H A Ł S I TA R S K I
Mk4 Mod0
– A VERY SPECIAL M16
(Almost)
THE M16 RIFLE HAS BECOME AN ICON OF THE VIETNAM
WAR—NEARLY EVERYONE HAS LIKELY SEEN PLATOON,
FULL METAL JACKET, THE DEER HUNTER, THE GREEN
BERETS, OR CASUALTIES OF WAR AND AUTOMATICALLY
ASSOCIATES THE IMAGE OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
IN THE JUNGLE WITH THIS METER-LONG, ALUMINUM
-AND-PLASTIC RIFLE.
T
his is a very accurate as-
sociation, as the M16 and
M16A1 were the primary
rifles used by GI's in Vietnam.
However, during the conflict, se-
veral other versions appeared,
customzied to the specific needs
of users, the most characteristic
and well-known of which were the
XM177E1 and E2 carbines, used
primarily by special operations and
reconnaissance units.
Beyond these, there were several
other models that, in greater or les-
ser numbers, used b US GIs. One
of them is the Mk4 Mod0, a variant
