Rifle malfunction in death of 15 troopers blamed on weather, dirt

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 16): Rifle malfunction in death of 15 troopers blamed on weather, dirt

The Philippine Army has reiterated that the main cause of the reported malfunction of the R4A3 carbine rifles during an encounter of Army forces with the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) last August 29 that left 15 soldiers dead can be attributed to environmental and operational factors.

 

 “Most of the rifles inspected by our firearms experts were full of dirt,” said Col. Benjamin L. Hao, the Army spokesperson.

 

“After applying proper maintenance procedures, all rifles functioned well except for one M-14 rifle that has a destroyed barrel part.”

 

 Hao said the Philippine Army sent a team of rifle experts to check the veracity of the alleged stoppages of the R4A3 carbine rifles, a K3 squad automatic weapon, and an M-14 rifle during the actual encounter of the 35th Infantry Battalion with the Abu Sayyaf  in Patikul, Sulu where 15 soldiers died and 12 others were wounded.

 

 The team gathered the eight R4A3s, a squad automatic rifle (K3), and an M-14 rifle which allegedly malfunctioned as reported by the using unit during the encounter.

 

 Hao said initial test made by the team showed that the rifles did not function when used as is. However, after proper maintenance procedures were applied, all rifles functioned well.

 

“Our conclusion is that the problem is not about the rifles,” Hao said. “The prevailing weather and sustained ongoing operations against the ASG partly affected the proper maintenance and care of the soldiers’ rifles.”

 

 There was also an alleged problem on old ammunitions used for R4A3 which is also the same ammunition size used for an M-16 rifle.

 

 When presented to the firearms experts, the said old ammunition all fired using the cleaned rifles.

 

 The Philippine Army decided to issue new ammunitions to the operating troops. The Army also reminded all its troops to turnover firearms with destroyed parts to replace them with new parts that were already sent to the frontlines.

 

 “We have already directed our operating troops to follow strictly the maintenance procedures of all our firearms and ammunitions,” explained Hao.

 

“Even the best war fighting equipment needs proper maintenance, too,” he added.

http://www.mb.com.ph/rifle-malfunction-in-death-of-15-troopers-blamed-on-weather-dirt/