Aculaud 0 Posted June 1, 2002 pretty much all weapon names and a lot of vehicle names in the US military start with an "M" M16, M1, M9, M21, M40, M82, M4, M60, etc. what does that "M" stand for? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USSoldier11B 0 Posted June 1, 2002 how bout Military, Model? Not really sure though.The first weapon to use M nomenclature I believe was the M-1903 bolt action service rifle. Test weapons are given a T nomenclature. Some "M" nomenclatured U.S. Army light infantry weapons. Many more items besides weapons also use "M" nomenclature. M1903 Bolt action M1 Garand M1 Carbine M1911 Pistol M2 Heavy Machine Gun M14 battle rifle M15 Machine Gun (Full auto M-14 with heavy barrel and bipod, was never officially released.) M16A1 Assault Rifle Rifle XM177E2 Assault Rifle (Predates M4) M60 Light Machine Gun ("Pig") M16A2 Assault Rifle M16A4 Assault Rifle M8/M11 Pistol M79 Single Shot Grenade Launcher ("Blooper") XM148 Pump action Grenade Launcher ("China Lake Pump") XM184 underbarrel grenade launcher ("thumper") M203 underbarrel Grenade Launcher M4A1/2/3 Carbine M240B/G Machine Gun M249 Squad Automatic Weapon ("SAW") M21 SWS M24 SWS M25 SWS M82A1 AMR Army weapons using "Mk" nomenclature originate in the Navy. Since the Navy uses "Mk" to designate weapons. i.e. Mk 19 Automatic Grenade Launcher Mk 23 Pistol (not sure why a SOCOM only weapon uses Naval nomenclature.) Mk 23 Stoner (A Vietnam era light machine gun.) Different versions will have a "mod" number after the "Mk" Like my combat knife: Mk3 Mod 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aculaud 0 Posted June 1, 2002 yeah, i thought it stood for military, maybe marine? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John C Flett 0 Posted June 1, 2002 I thought it was M for Model in the Army and the more traditional Mk for the Navy simply since the forces have a history of using different conventions to set themselves apart. Certainly Naval Aviators have a whole different set of terms from there Air Force rivals just because they can. Don't see why the army should be any less contrary in this respect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedStar 0 Posted June 1, 2002 The M stands for Model. The M1903 rifles were named after the cartridge they used. i.e. M1900 = Model 1900 cartridge M1901 = Model 1901 cartridge M1903 = Model 1903 cartridge M1906 = Model 1906 cartridge Only from the M1917 rifle were rifles given the designation themselves and not named after the cartridge ( M1917 used the M1906 cartridge) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pukko 0 Posted June 1, 2002 Messier Objects  I really like the M51! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
