Photo Of The Day and above we’re looking at a 40 mm “potato” being fired out of an M32 Multiple Grenade Launcher. The photos are taken at the Yausubetsu Training Area in Hokkaido, Japan, during exercise Northern Viper. The soldiers are from U.S. Marines 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment.

Below you can catch a glimpse of the M27 (HK416) set up as a designated marksman rifle. In this configuration, it’s called the M38 DMR, and has a Leupold TS-30A2 Mark 4 MR/T 2.5-8×36 mm Variable Power Scope. Most of it is covered by the tree, but you can see the end of the KAC QDSS Suppressor.

The name “38” comes from the unit that evaluated the rifle: 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines. Guess which unit evaluated the M27?

Northern Viper is a regularly scheduled training exercise that is designed to enhance the collective defense capabilities of the U.S. and Japan Alliance by exposing members of both forces to intense training in an austere environment, allowing them to perfect their skills in any clime and place.

During the exercise, the U.S. Marines also used the M224 60mm Lightweight Mortar.

All photos by U.S. Marine Corps, Lance Cpl. Jackson Dukes.