10 of the Longest-Serving U.S. Combat Weapons

[DemolitionMan]

By Shelby Elphick

As far as weapon systems are concerned, having the best available can be key to success on the battlefield.

But with rapid changes in technology, some weapons come and go rather quickly. Other times, weapons are so well designed and so effective, they stay in service for decades.

Here are 10 of the longest-serving weapons ever used by the United States military.

1. M1903 Springfield .30 Cal Rifle
U.S. Marines with M1903 rifles and bayonets in WWI France, 1918. (Imperial War Museum photo)
U.S. Marines with M1903 rifles and bayonets in WWI France, 1918. (Imperial War Museum photo)

The M1903 was one of the first rifles to use the famous .30-06 round and was the standard American infantry rifle during World War I. Although officially replaced by the M1 Garand in 1937, it was still in service due to insufficient numbers of Garands. The Springfield .30 cal was retained as a sniper rifle through the Korean War and even into Vietnam before finally being retired after over 60 years of service.

2. M1911 .45 Cal Pistol
longest-serving weapons
A U.S. Marine with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s maritime raid force fires an M1911 .45 caliber pistol at a range in Jordan during Eager Lion 2013. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

The M1911 is a creation of the legendary gunmaker John Browning, and it endured in service for over 100 years. The pistol became an icon for its strength in battle and by those who used it. The M1911 was phased out in favor of the Beretta M9 9mm pistol in the late 1980s but has stayed in service with Marine Special Operations units and is now designated as the M45.

3. M1919 .30 Cal Machine Gun
Longest-serving weapons
A Navy machine gunner of the Riverine Force in Vietnam using an M1919 being fed by an upside-down M-13 link belt. (DoD photo)

The M1919 was another one of John Browning’s successes. An air-cooled version of the M1917 that served U.S. troops well in World War I, it saw extensive use in World War II and Korea. The M1919 was phased out in favor of the new M60 in the late 1950s. However, the Navy, having a surplus of the weapons, converted many to 7.62 mm and used them on gun boats patrolling the rivers of Vietnam.

https://scout.com/military/warrior/Article/10-of-the-Longest-Serving-US-Combat-Weapons-101456465

[sneakypete]

What? No mention of Ma Deuce?????

How can that be?

[GtHawk]

What? No mention of Ma Deuce?????

How can that be?

@sneakypete
In the full article it is number 4 on the list of 10.
The “Ma Deuce” is a weapon system loved by the troops who use it and feared by those it targeted. The gun was designed near the end of World War I, too late to see service, and entered full production in 1921. Also designed by John Browning, the weapon is so well-built that in 2015 a 94 year old example was found still in service. Though numerous other designs have been proposed, the military has no plans to stop using the M2 anytime soon.

[sneakypete]

@GtHawk

"Though numerous other designs have been proposed, the military has no plans to stop using the M2 anytime soon."

If it ain't broke,you can't fix it.

[RoosGirl]

Numbers 11 - 15

[GtHawk]

Numbers 11 - 15

Unarguably the most adaptable and dangerous in America's arsenal.