Soldier of Fortune has a post that links to a recent video montage of French forces in Afghanistan. The country’s forces have all since left the country but the video shows an interesting portrayal of how the 1970s technology FAMAS has entered the 21st century [Read More…]
In discussions about the suitability of the M4 rifle for combat, the Battle of Wanat comes up quite a lot. To some, Wanat represents the continuation of past mistakes; more dead soldiers with jammed rifles, of course of the faulty AR-15 pattern. Does Wanat really [Read More…]
Is the M16A4 worth the extra weight and length it brings? Howard of LooseRounds has weighed in with an article relating some of his experiences with the rifle. His conclusion is as follows: I have often told people that the M4 is a jack of all trade, but master of [Read More…]
WeaponsMan has begun a project that I personally find very interesting: Recreating a SOCOM M4A1 from the initial 2002 Afghanistan campaign. Hognose’s goal is to recreate with as high a fidelity as possible the weapon he served with during that period, using a [Read More…]
I think the Afghan SOF solider in the foreground of the above photo has been playing to much Call of Duty. His M4 pistol grip and M203 grenade launcher have been modified with a metallic red finish. I like it. Thanks to Nic for the photo.
Back in 2009 I reported that South Korea’s K11 OICW-style weapon was to be the first of its class to be deployed. Since then I had heard nothing about it and seen no evidence that the deployment went though until two articles that appeared last week on Korean news [Read More…]
I received an email from a solider who is currently deployed to Afghanistan. He found this broken revolver at a local bazaar. Neither him nor I can identify it. Can you identify it or identify what design it was copied from? The only markings are an “H” on [Read More…]
Later this week the first class of Afghan students will graduate from the NATO basic armorer course. SSgt Rachel Martinez writes … The NATO basic armorer course is a six-week course designed to familiarize soldiers and teach them basic maintenance on the variety [Read More…]
New Zealand blogger WhaleOil emailed me a link to these photos of New Zealand SAS taken after a firefight in Kabul, Afghanistan. What is odd about the photos is that the elite SAS troops appear to have tied their magazines to the trigger guard with cord … ?!?! The [Read More…]
These photos of Marine snipers were taken earlier this month during Operation Moshtarak (Helmand province, Afghanistan). Kit Up has published a post discussing the photos.
During a firefight in Afghanistan in 2007, British soldier Pte Cole’s SA80 rifle was hit three times by 7.62x39mm bullets! It continued to function and he continued to return fire, despite the fact that the scope, bodywork and pistol grip was ripped off the gun. [Read More…]
CombatDriver writes at HighRoad.us … I discovered this light machine gun last month at a SF team house here in Afghanistan. Its an old post WWI French Mdle 1922 light machine gun in 7.92mm Mauser. There were two models one that fed from a box magazine on top and [Read More…]
South Korea looks to be the first country to deploy a next-gen airburst grenade / assault rifle weapon in combat. Korea Times reports … South Korean troops to be deployed in Afghanistan will be armed with the latest K-11 airburst assault rifles for self-defense, [Read More…]
This photo, which is purported to be real, shows a Ranger using the 7.62x51mm FN SCAR-H ( MK 17 Mod 0 ). The semi-automatic civilian model is called the FN SCAR 17S and will be on sale early next year. Thanks to jdun1911 and SaysUncle for the link. Hat Tip: AR-15.com
With the poor condition that captured AK-47s are found, you could be forgiven for thinking the Afghans do not pay much attention to their rifles. Apparently they are very much into the “latest” gear and AK-74 are very much in demand, despite that they cost [Read More…]
After waiting three days on a roof top with his spotter, Corporal Christopher Reynolds fired on a Taliban drug lord. The 1,500 meter shot is the longest recorded kill in Afghanistan. But Cpl Reynolds, of Dalgety Bay, in Fife, together with his spotter Lance Corporal [Read More…]
James found this photos of a pair of homemade pistols that appear to be chambered in .303 British! Apparently they, along with the cartridges, were confiscated from some students. Can you imagine the blast of burning power that must shoot out of these! I found the [Read More…]
…. literally Post at MP.net Okay, so we were out on a mission yesterday to provide security/overwatch for a team to do an audit/inspection of a civilian demining company clearing land mines in the Stan. We get there and are in our vehicles covering the roads for [Read More…]
The US troops deployed in Afghanistan have to carry a serious load on high altitude rugged terrain and it is taking its toll. The Washington Post reports: Army leaders and experts say the injuries — linked to the stress of bearing heavy loads during repeated 12- [Read More…]
StrategyPage has a article about the resurgence of Lee-Enfield rifles in Afghanistan and use against NATO troops: Afghan traditionalists are changing the way the Taliban fight. This can be seen by the increase in the use of sniping by the Taliban. In the last year, NATO [Read More…]
“0497” spotted these photos at defense.gov.au. The rifles pictured appear to be the Blaser Tactical 2. The photos are of the Australian Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) in Oruzgan Province, Afghanistan. Click to expand: The Tactical 2 is available [Read More…]
Defense Industry daily reports that the Marines have procured 7750 LAWs (M72A7) from Nammo Talley Defense for a total of $15.5 million (which works out to be $2000/unit). Nammo Talley Defense, Inc. in Mesa, AZ received a $15.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for 7,750 [Read More…]
Human Events has an interesting article about the use of Chinese armor-piercing bullets in Iraq and Afghanistan by insurgents. China’s robust arms industry has been able to duplicate U.S.-made, armor-piercing rounds, and the bullets are being found with the enemy [Read More…]
KABUL, Afghanistan: Afghan national security forces will receive a huge capability and mobility boost throughout the next year with more than 6,000 up-armored vehicles and more than 75,000 M-16 rifles from Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan. … [Read More…]
Gun Pundit has some good shots of the German Bundeswehr troops in Afghanistan sporting the G36 rifle. Lots of photos here.
The NY Times (emphasis mine): But to arm the Afghan forces that it hopes will lead this fight, the American military has relied since early last year on a fledgling company led by a 22-year-old man whose vice president was a licensed masseur. With the award last January [Read More…]
It seems the Afghans are moving to the AR platform, along with the Georgians. After a frustratingly long three-year wait, the fledging Afghan National Army finally has a new weapon in its arsenal: the Canadian C7 rifle. Some 42 boxes of surplus weapons arrived at the [Read More…]
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