POTD: Swedish Marines in "Archipelago Endeavor" Exercise

Eric B
by Eric B

Photo Of The Day – and we’re kicking off with a KSP58 Machine Gun in the hands of a Swedish Marine above. This machine gun has been in use by the Swedish Armed Forces since 1958 and is essentially an FN Herstal MAG. The gun is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO.

It’s a fun fact that these pictures of Swedish Marines are taken by a U.S. Marine. This happened in 2018 during the bilateral training exercise called Archipelago Endeavor. This was the first time that U.S. and Swedish Marines trained as an integrated unit on the Swedish Combat Boat 90 (CB-90) to perform a company-level amphibious assault on the outer Stockholm archipelago.

Below: Swedish Marine provides a situation report over the radio during amphibious assault rehearsal

A great picture of the Ak5 with the M203 40mm grenade launcher. Note the Aimpoint Micro on the Spuhr mount for the 40mm (tilted). Note the insignia on the shoulder.

Swedish Marines advance toward a target during amphibious assault rehearsal during Exercise Archipelago Endeavor along with Marines from Marine Rotational Force-Europe in Korso, Sweden, Aug. 30, 2018.

All photos were taken in 2018 by Lance Cpl. Menelik Collins, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa.

For more cool pictures on a similar subject check out the “ PSG-90 (L96A1 AW) in Archipelago Endeavor 2018″ and “ USMC with Norwegian Coastal Ranger Commando during Platinum Ren 19″ articles.

Eric B
Eric B

Ex-Arctic Ranger. Competitive practical shooter and hunter with a European focus. Always ready to increase my collection of modern semi-automatics, optics, thermals and suppressors. TCCC Certified. Occasionaly seen in a 6x6 Bug Out Vehicle, always with a big smile.

More by Eric B

Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 18 comments
  • Sal Fox Sal Fox on Jan 02, 2021

    Swedish Marines? Swedish Naval Infantry? Shouldn’t they be called “Vikings” instead? They were the original Swedish Marines and way cooler. These guys should have like horns on their helmets and axes slung in addition to rifles.

    • Mike Mike on Jan 03, 2021

      @Sal Fox Axes attached to their rifles instead of bayonets.

  • Joshman Joshman on Jan 02, 2021

    If I'm correct, the swedes had a version of the MAG that was chambered in 6.5x55mm.

Next