POTD: Freezing Winds in Finland

by Eric B

Published: December 29th, 2023

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christian Salazar)

Photo Of The Day and today we belong in the freezing winds and snow in Finland. The U.S. Marine Corps provides security for a convoy during offensive and defensive operations in Syndalen, Finland during exercise Freezing Winds 23 in November 2023. Don’t you think these battle rifles look fantastic?

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jason Vicente, a motor vehicle operator assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, provides security for a convoy during offensive and defensive operations in Syndalen, Finland during exercise Freezing Winds 23 (FW23), Nov. 30, 2023. FW23 is a Finnish-led maritime exercise in which United States Marines assigned to Marine Rotational Force- Europe, and U.S. Navy Forces Europe take part; the exercise serves as a venue to increase Finnish Navy readiness, increase U.S., Finland, and NATO partners' interoperability in operational logistics, integrated fires, and amphibious operations within the Baltic Sea littorals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christian Salazar)

Freezing Winds in Finland. Did you ever use your rifle in snow like this? What’s your experience?

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Manjot Johal, a motor vehicle operator assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, provides security for a convoy during offensive and defensive operations in Syndalen, Finland during exercise Freezing Winds 23 (FW23), Nov. 30, 2023. FW23 is a Finnish-led maritime exercise in which United States Marines assigned to Marine Rotational Force- Europe, and U.S. Navy Forces Europe take part; the exercise serves as a venue to increase Finnish Navy readiness, increase U.S., Finland, and NATO partners' interoperability in operational logistics, integrated fires, and amphibious operations within the Baltic Sea littorals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christian Salazar)

(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christian Salazar)

FW23 is a Finnish-led maritime exercise in which United States Marines assigned to Marine Rotational Force- Europe, and U.S. Navy Forces Europe take part; the exercise serves as a venue to increase Finnish Navy readiness, increase U.S., Finland, and NATO partners’ interoperability in operational logistics, integrated fires, and amphibious operations within the Baltic Sea littorals.

A U.S. Marine assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, provides security for a convoy.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Manjot Johal, a motor vehicle operator assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, provides security for a convoy during offensive and defensive operations in Syndalen, Finland during exercise Freezing Winds 23 (FW23), Nov. 30, 2023. FW23 is a Finnish-led maritime exercise in which United States Marines assigned to Marine Rotational Force- Europe, and U.S. Navy Forces Europe take part; the exercise serves as a venue to increase Finnish Navy readiness, increase U.S., Finland, and NATO partners' interoperability in operational logistics, integrated fires, and amphibious operations within the Baltic Sea littorals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christian Salazar)

These uniforms blend in pretty well in the environment.

U.S. Marines assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Combat Logistics Regiment 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, set into defensive positions while conducting as defensive and offensive operations in Syndalen, Finland during exercise Freezing Winds 23 (FW23), Nov. 30, 2023. FW23 is a Finnish-led maritime exercise in which United States Marines assigned to Marine Rotational Force- Europe, and U.S. Navy Forces Europe take part; the exercise serves as a venue to increase Finnish Navy readiness, increase U.S., Finland, and NATO partners' interoperability in operational logistics, integrated fires, and amphibious operations within the Baltic Sea littorals. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Christian Salazar)

Source: U.S. Marine Corps, photos by Lance Cpl. Christian Salazar.

#Finland #U.S.Marines #FreezingWinds

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

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7 comments

H538 on Dec 29, 2023

Interesting that one of them
Has an adjustable stock.

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- See 3 previous
- Lurker on Dec 30, 2023
  
  @H538 I don't believe I've ever seen an A4 in the wild, much less with anything adjustable, but I do believe I had seen one or two people at Bagram Airbase carrying around A2s with waffle stocks. I know the Canadians used the old CAR stocks on some of their C7 rifles. I know it's a thing, just not common.
  
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- SP mclaughlin on Dec 30, 2023
  
  @H538 They show up a bit with thr modern Corps, semiofficial 'M16A5'
  https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
  
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- H538 on Dec 30, 2023
  
  @SP mclaughlin I didn’t know the A5 ever made it into the field. I thought they just decided to buy the M4 instead.
  
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- IOJ on Dec 30, 2023
  
  @H538 It didn't, they never bought it. These are just contraptions made with an M4 lower and an M16A2/A4 upper. They are less reliable than a complete M4 or M16, and that is why the USMC thought of the M16A5, to make something that's as ergonomic as one of these contraptions but as reliable as a complete rifle. The official USMC position on them at the time of the development of the M16A5 was that they were a bad idea, but people didn't care. Hence the "semi-official".
  
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Ron on Dec 30, 2023

The second photo the Marine needs to go to the Armory and get some replacement caps on the turrets. The sight is not weather proof without them.

Like Reply
- Alex on Dec 31, 2023
  
  @Ron Acogs are fine without turret caps and still hold their moisture rating. If this were not the case, I doubt the entirety of the American Military would not have adopted acogs if they were only waterproof with the turret caps on.
  
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POTD: Freezing Winds in Finland

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