Was There Ever An M15 Rifle?

This article, from the September 1975 issue of The American Rifleman, is correspondence between an NRA member and Dope Bag Contributor Kenneth C. Raynor regarding the existence of an M15 rifle. To subscribe to today's magazine, visit the NRA's membership page.

Q. The last two rifles adopted and used by the U.S. Army were the M14 and M16 models. Was there ever an M15 rifle. If so, what can you tell me about it?

A. Yes, there was an M15 rifle officially designated “Automatic Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm., M15.” During the developmental stages, it was referred to as the T44E5. This rifle was basically the M14, but had a heavier barrel, heavier stock, a bipod, hinged buttplate, and a selector for full automatic fire. (The issue M14 also had the stud for automatic fire but no selector.) Both M14 and M15 rifles were adopted on May 1, 1957.

The original purpose of the M15 was for use in place of the M1918A2 BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) as the infantry squad automatic weapon. The BAR weighed 20.8 lbs. while the M15 weighed only 14.1 lbs. Another advantage was that all members of the squad would be using the same rifle cartridge. However, the M15 was never mass-produced. Soon after adoption of the M14 and M15 rifles, it was decided that other changes could be made to the M14, leaving barrel and action the same, so that it could handle the squad automatic weapons job.

The M14E2 was the finalized automatic rifle version of the M14. Developed by the U.S. Army Infantry Board at Fort Benning, Ga., with the help of Springfield Armory, it was produced for use as the squad automatic weapon. Not widely used in service, this arm was soon supplanted by the M60 machine gun.

—Kenneth C. Raynor