The Aftermath of M14 Rifles After the Vietnam War
In the late 1980s, I carried the M14 rifle in the US Navy. While they are now in limited service, these powerful rifles have a long and complex history following their use during the Vietnam War. This article explores the fate of the M14 rifles, from their retirement to their current status.
Retirement and Disposal
After the Vietnam War, many M14 rifles were turned in at the end of basic training and during the soldier's departure from Vietnam. In the mid-2010s, reports indicated that around 66,000 M14 rifles remained in US inventory. These rifles have been slowly scrapped, sold off, or given to other countries over the past 50 years. Interestingly, some M14 rifles have been found in the hands of Ukrainian forces during the modern conflict in Eastern Europe, despite not originating from US stockpiles.
Current Status and Usage
Today, a select few M14 rifles are still in active service, often issued to squad-level marksmen. Some have even found their way into surplus, with possibilities of being sold to other nations. While there are no concrete plans to make them available to civilians through the civilian marksmanship program, a good number of M14 rifles were donated to NRA marksmanship training programs. Some were destroyed, some were sold to the public as surplus, and others were used for ceremonial purposes by Honor Guards.
Examples of Redistribution
One notable example of the M14's redistribution is in the Baltic states, such as Estonia and Lithuania, where in the 1990s, these countries were left with a severe shortage of military equipment. Unlike many former Soviet states, the majority of Soviet units and their equipment were withdrawn back to the Russian Federation. As a result, these countries turned to NATO and the US for assistance, receiving large quantities of old Western weapons, including M14 rifles and M16A1s. Over 30 years later, some of these rifles have been given to Ukraine, adding an interesting layer to the rifle's global history.
Conclusion
The M14 rifle, once a symbol of American power and prowess, has undergone significant changes since the Vietnam War. From its active service in the late 1980s to its current limited use and redistribution, the M14 story is a testament to the complex nature of military equipment and its evolution over time. Whether in active duty, surplus, or ceremonial roles, the M14 continues to hold a special place in military history.