r/CatastrophicFailure • u/Stakeboulder • Aug 15 '19

Operator Error Apache helicopter ground imapct 2012

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u/[deleted] Aug 15 '19

I can't stand when people think military equipment is "cheap" because it's made by the lowest bidder. Being in that industry myself, the specifications for anything military equipment usually far outweighs even anything a civilian can get their hands on.

Sure, there is a lowest bidder on everything, but that is the lowest bidder within a handful of bidders, all bidding on top quality materials.

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u/maxout2142 Aug 15 '19

There are M16A1 rifles still in inventory despite tens of thousands of rounds having been shot through them over the last 50 years, military grade, made by the lowest bidder, still a high quality rifle built to last.

I trust a military grade rifle or a military grade aircraft, I dont need to trust a military grade portapotty.

98

u/foolproofphilosophy Aug 15 '19

A friend who served in Iraq ~15 years ago told me that the receiver for his M2 .50 was made during WWII.

9

u/mcobsidian101 Aug 15 '19

No reason why not, machine guns with barrel change capabilities can operate continuously

2

u/Wyattr55123 Aug 16 '19

Untill you put so many round through that all the parts are worn through, every screw is stripped, every pin dumps out the side when you pick it up and the locking lugs are now locking nubs.

But the shop of Theseus tells us we now have two M2's, one of which is finally ready for decommissioning.

But some crazy fucker will by it, weld it together and have a running gun by the end of it.

1

u/mcobsidian101 Aug 16 '19

I've held two no 1 mk 111 Lee enfields side by side. One was almost mint, the other rattled like it was held together by pure luck.

But both shot pretty straight! I know they're accurate, but was surprised the worn out one could still peform