Gunsights

[Eddie]

Aimpoints have been around since the Son Tay Raid during Vietnam. Those early ones were 100mph taped to the carrying handles of the M16s/CAR-15s, but they worked. After that adapters started popping up.

As for regular Army Infantry in the mid-80s, optics weren't widespread as stated, but they were in existence. Thus, it could be argued that an Operational Needs Statement was submitted for the Player Character's unit to purchase optics for their Soldiers.

((Aside: Haven't we already discussed this here? Or am I remembering from the now-defunct 93 Games forums?))

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Eddie

((Aside: Haven't we already discussed this here? Or am I remembering from the now-defunct 93 Games forums?))[/I]

We have indeed. In fact, you've posted before almost word for word what you've just posted here. That's no criticism on my part though. You're still right

[Eddie]

Originally Posted by Targan

We have indeed.

Sorry, my bad. Work eats up my conscience thoughts so much anymore that I remember saying/writing stuff, I just don't remember when or where.

[cavtroop]

You can do a Google Image Search for 'M16A2 optics' to see how the optics are mounted to the top of the carrying handle (which I imagine would stink for ergonomic purposes), or see some custom mounts that put the optics in front of the handle. But again, excepting in rare circumstances as mentioned by Eddie, the average grunt in the late 80's had nothing but iron sights.

This is my personal favorite:

http://www.schelin.org/ikonboard/smilies/whatm16.jpg

[95th Rifleman]

So it was just the British army that had combat optics as standard issue?

[Eddie]

I'm not knowledgeable enough about other militaries in that timeframe, but I know the US didn't. The only "widely-issued" US rifle optic in those days was the AN/PVS-4. Notice the quotations around widely-issued...

[weswood]

In '92 when I was in the reserves, one of our STA platoon guys had a small scope mounted to his M16. I've seen mounts that fit in the groove of the carry handle and had a screw for the hole in the handle. The mount had a hole in it so you could use thw iron sights as well as the scope.