[Malone LaVeigh]

IIRC, at the time the Beretta was adopted, there was a push to achieve commonality with our allies. During WWII, we used the .30'06 the Brits used the .303, the French were using the 7.5x57. We had the .45 ACP, the Brits had the.455 Webley. It was a quartermasters nightmare, especially when allied troops operated together.
Following the war, when NATO was in it's heyday, an effort was made to have everyone using the same ammo. Most of our allies had adopted the 9mm by this time. The smaller caliber was also easier for most troops to handle. The Beretta was one of the few platforms at the time which offered a pistol that met the criteria for military use.
To be honest, the 1911 was still in service when I served in the Army. The issue 1911's were so old and worn out by that time that I wondered if throwing one at the enemy wouldn't be more effective than shooting one. I wasn't very impressed with them. Years later, I've changed my opinion. I own 3 1911's and would have more if I could. They are the most inherently accurate pistols I shoot, and there's no question about their stopping power. I doubt that the military will ever go back to them, but there are other pistols chambered for the .45 ACP that would serve well. And the .45ACP is such an American cartridge. I think that commonality in this case could be done away with.

[smokingfrog]

The issue 1911's were so old and worn out by that time that I wondered if throwing one at the enemy wouldn't be more effective than shooting one. I wasn't very impressed with them.

Yep. I had the same experience. Not very much accuracy from those old worn-out 1911's. It's almost a wonder that anyone could qualify with one of them.