Website: www.combatandsurvival.com Editor: Bob Morrison Designer: Emily Bedford Senior Correspondents: Carl Schulze & Yves Debay (R.I.P) Far East Correspondent: Gordon Arthur Firearms Tester: Greg Roberts Survival Specialist: Jason Polley Gear Tester: Mike Gormley Security Consultant: Robert Shaw Webmaster: Daryl Crowther Advertisement Sales Director: Moira Spencer Tel: 01484 435011 Email: moira@maionline.co.uk Distributed by Warners Group Publications PLC The Maltings, West Street, Bourne PE10 9PH Print by Acorn Colourprint Ltd: Loscoe Close, Normanton, WF6 1TW
P16 British Elite 1 DAWN ASSAULT
P16
Subscriptions and Back Issue Orders to: COMBAT & SURVIVAL Magazine which is published by:MAI Publications, Revenue Chambers, St. Peter’s Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1DL Tel: (01484) 435011 Fax: (01484) 422177 ISSN: 0955-9841
P22
To Subscribe or order a digital edition visit www.combatandsurvival.com
PO Sean Clee photographs Alpha Company 40 Commando on validation exercise in Scotland
P18 British Elite 2 AIRFIELD SECURITY
Bob Morrison photographs Delta Company 40 Commando securing the main air point of entry
P22 Elite Forces 1 WARLORDS & DESTROYERS
Carl Schulze joins the US Marines participating on Exercise COLD RESPONSE in Norway
Advertising: moira@maionline.co.uk Editorial: combatandsurvival@hotmail.com
P29 Elite Forces 2 BELGIAN COMMANDOS
©Copyright here and abroad of all material is held by the publishers. No reproduction is permitted whatsoever without prior consent in writing.
Bob Morrison meets up with 2nd Commando Regiment of Belgium’s Immediate Reaction Cell
P34 Kit & Camo 1 BELGIAN IRC
Bob Morrison focuses on the near 60 year old Jigsaw camouflage pattern worn by Commandos
P29
P38 Peace Keeping SECTOR 2
ARTICLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS will be welcomed and considered for publication. Submission of such shall be considered a warranty that they are original and do not infringe on the copyright of others. Unsuitable material can only be returned if you include a S.A.E. Loss or damage is not the responsibility of COMBAT & SURVIVAL.
Bob Morrison joins Royal Engineers in Blue Berets on the UNFICYP Green Line through Nicosia
P44 Kit & Camo 2 UNFICYP UNIFORMS
Bob Morrison continues the mini-series with a look at British Blue Berets
IMPORTANT: All individual combat and personal survival activities involve risk of injury to oneself and others and great care must be taken carrying out any such activities. Expert guidance should be sought and equipment checked for reliability before any activities described here in are carried out. The publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any injury, death, loss or damage which may result.
P44
P49 Firearms ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL
Greg Roberts concludes his two-part mini-series on the AT, AX & AMX sniper rifle family
DISCLAIMER: The publishers make no representations, endorsements, guarantees or warranties concerning the products and/or services advertised within this magazine. We expressly disclaim any and all liability relating to or arising from the sale, manufacture, distribution, use or misuse of such.
P64 Outdoor TRIED & TESTED Mike Gormley trials a T-shirt, jackets, shirt, hat, sandals and travel lotions & potions
P49
P68 Security MILITARY OR CIVILIAN
Robert Shaw ponders on which, if either, type of management style is better
P64 P70 Rations MARCHING AMMO Pt.20
P70
Bob Morrison tucks into the Dutch ration pack issued to Korps Mariniers on recent exercises P05: Comms P50: Reviews P60: Working Knives
July 14 Cover Image: © Sean Clee © M.A.I. Publications 2014
Combat & Survival
03
Part of the Normandy battlefield Living History display at the 2013 War & Peace Revival in Kent
W&PR displays are not limited to WWII these are SAS Desert Patrol Vehicles from Gulf War One
I am penning this column just a few days short of the 70th Anniversary of Operation OVERLORD, the D-Day amphibious and airborne invasion of Normandy, and according to news feeds the first of the veterans are already in-theatre. In the past I have acted as a tour guide for parties from the Normandy Veterans Association, taking in both the 50th and 60th Anniversaries as well as several others plus following up later in the year with Arnhem too, so I not only know what these courageous former soldiers, sailors and airmen put themselves through but am also well aware of how their numbers are fast dwindling as Father Time picks them off and reunites them with those of their colleagues who did not survive the landings and the subsequent push through France and Germany to Berlin.
A
lthough I cannot be there this time, on 6th of June my thoughts will very much be with the veterans and I will be taking a few minutes out that morning to cast my mind back to both the sandy beaches and bocage country stretching from Merville to Quinéville and those old soldiers I had the privilege meeting between 1994 and 2004 who have now gone to join their comrades who gave their lives for freedom and justice
on that longest day. This year will also be a poignant one for me as my father who, like Mike Gormley’s late father, served in the Far East in WWII won’t be around to subtly question on his wartime experiences. We owe such a debt to these men, and to their fathers who went to war thirty years before them to preserve a way of life we hold so dear. This summer, with all the media coverage being generated by the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and the 100th Anniversary of the start of World War One in July, it is a fair bet that there will be increased interest from the general public in Britain’s annual Living History shows. The five-day War & Peace Revival, which relocated last year to Folkstone Racecourse near Hythe in Kent, kicks off less than a fortnight before the 100th Anniversary and although in the past this multi-period event has been most noted for its WWII theme it will also be commemorating the start of what at the time was known as The Great War. Revival Organiser Rex Cadman has commissioned a nine foot tall statue of a foot soldier from the East Kent Regiment, the Buffs, advancing through the trenches as a tribute to those who served and on 10th May this was unveiled by the High Sheriff of Kent at the racecourse, where it will be a permanent reminder. For more on the show see thewarandpeacerevival.co.uk. Hopefully we will see you there. Moving forward a century, it looks
There are not many places these days that you can see authentic WWII mortar team drills like its time for me to get back on my hobby horse and start raising the profile of EyePro, eye protection, once more. Over the last year or so I have noticed less and less British military personnel wearing ballistic eye protection when on exercise. When I challenged one officer recently about why soldiers under his command, who had all been issued with personal EyePro, were not wearing this he responded: “It’s only an exercise and they are not live firing”. Clearly the message that ‘EyePro protects for ever, not just for Afghan’ is not getting through. The politicians might feel that the war in far off lands is over, but the risk of damage to a soldier’s eyesight is not and, just like in any other hazardous workplace, the wearing of protective eyewear should be second nature whenever and wherever a soldier is out in the field. It’s only common sense and, even though you may well be the hardest and most fashion-conscious guy in your unit, your not wearing spex to guard your eyes from injury on exercise is neither big nor clever. Having lost a career path through accidental eye injury when in my teens, I speak from experience. - BM
Combat & Survival
05
For the Norwegian armoured infantry the Royal Marines with their Javelin Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapons (LFATGW) became a game changer - the fire-and-forget, top-attack weapon was more than a match for their CV9030N armoured infantry fighting vehicles [CS]
British Forces
Combat & Survival
09
British Forces
Early each year Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade conduct Cold Weather Warfare Training in northern Norway. This year, as previously, after finishing this training the British Commandos also took part in the biannual invitational Exercise COLD RESPONSE. Conducted between the 7th and 21st of March 2014 this year’s exercise was aimed at training high intensity war fighting operations under winter conditions and saw the participation of troops from 16 nations including land, air, naval and special forces. While covering the exercise Combat & Survival also paid the British Commandos a visit.
10
Combat & Survival
1
6th of March 2014, Northern Norway, Road 87 between Bardufoss and Rundhaug. Stars gleam in the clear skies. The fields and woods are covered deeply in snow. Despite the fact that the sun has gone down hours ago it is not dark, as the bright moonlight is reflected by the snow. From their positions on a ridge on the west bank of the Kirkeselva river Royal Marines from 42 Commando RM carefully monitor the valley bellow. Wearing white camouflage suits over their Multi Terrain Pattern camouflage combats, the troops blend perfectly into the surroundings. The muffled noise of engines indicates that enemy armour is close by; probably just moving into position in order to launch an attack to capture the small but important bridge over the river, just a couple of hundred metres away from the Marines’ positions. The bridge is situated within open fields which, after
Main Image: From a position dug into deep snow Royal Marines of K Company 42 Commando engage dismounted Norwegian infantry. Both are armed with 5.56mm SA80A2 assault rifles fitted with the Raytheon ELCAN Optical Technologies SPECTER OS4 lightweight 4x magnification optical day sight [CS]
about a kilometre, are framed by forest on each side. The Royal Marines are deployed forward and fight a delaying battle in order to allow the remainder of the Blue Forces to move into proper defensive positions. Currently their mission is to prevent the bridge from falling into enemy hands intact and to slow down the enemy advance as long as possible. Suddenly the engine noise gets louder, developing a kind of a screaming note. Then on the opposite bank huge shadows can be seen emerging from different points in the woods. Within seconds CV9030N armoured infantry fighting vehicles of the Panserbataljon head for the bridge at full speed, their tracks throwing the snow up high into the air as they thunder over the fields. The unit belongs to the Norwegian Brigade North which is playing the
1
2
Red Forces during Exercise COLD RESPONSE 2014. All along the ridge flares are suddenly fired into the air, each marking the launch of a Javelin Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (LFATGW) missile. The massive employment of the fire-and-forget, top-attack weapons causes a severe blow to the advancing armour and umpires monitoring the scene soon decide that the attack has been beaten off with heavy losses. With their positions compromised, the Royal Marines are already stealthily withdrawing; soon they will be in new positions at another delaying line further to the rear, waiting for the enemy to become their prey again. “For us the Royal Marines with their Javelin LFATGW missiles have become a real game changer,” explained a
1: One of the Javelin LFATGW positions on the ridge above the west bank of the Kirkeselva river was occupied by the Royal Marines during the fighting on the night of 16th March [CS] 2: Royal Marines of K Company 42 Commando armed with a 7.62mm L7A2 GPMG are ready to open fire on advancing Red Forces - they wear white camouflage suits over their MTP combats [CS]
Norwegian AIFV commander to C&S the next day. He then added: “We were not able to deploy our infantry close to the enemy positions and support their fight with the main armament of the vehicles, instead we had to send the infantry forward to clear the terrain from enemy anti-tank teams before the AIFVs could follow. That takes time, especially under these conditions, with the terrain covered deeply in snow.”
COMPOSITE CONTINGENT The Royal Marines battlegroup that took part in exercise COLD RESPONSE 2014 numbered 309 troops. Its HQ was provided by 42 Commando Royal Marines. Deployed under its command were C Company from 40 Commando RM and K Company from 42 Commando RM. Logistic support was provided by an element of the Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines (CLR).
Combat & Survival
11
3
4
In contrast to previous COLD RESPONSE exercises the Royal Marines were not used in their amphibious role but as light infantry. Mobility for the Commandos was provided by a number of British Bv 206 All Terrain vehicles (ATV) as well as vehicles of the same kind borrowed from the Norwegian Army.
Right: During a reconnaissance patrol a Royal Marine advances through snow covered trees in the vicinity of Bardufoss – a partial thaw during the exercise made conditions difficult [CM]
The first half of the exercise saw the Marines operating in wooded and mountainous terrain, providing a link between the two major axes Blue was attacking along. For the British troops this was no picnic, as in the first days unseasonal warm temperatures around zero and heavy rain made their lives miserable, while at the same time forcing them to take all necessary precautions not to get hypothermia, trench foot or other cold weather injuries.
3: From their position on the ridge to the west of the bridge over the Kirkeselva river the Royal Marines had a perfect field of fire which allowed them to stop the Norwegians in their tracks [CS]
The rainy weather was followed by two days of heavy snow and as a result of this the avalanche risk
12
Combat & Survival
4: After securing a key road bridge before it could be blown by the enemy the Royal Marines remove explosive charges [CM]
in many parts of the area they were operating in became quite serious. For the Royal Marines this meant that they had to put to practice what they had learned earlier on when they were initially deployed to northern Norway in late January and early February 2014.
COLD WEATHER WARFARE COURSE For the Royal Marines the participation in Exercise COLD RESPONSE 2014 was only the grand finale of their annual cold weather warfare training and marked the
end of their deployment to northern Norway. Prior to participating in the exercise they had been put through the Cold Weather Warfare Course (CWWC), known to Commandos as Exercise CETUS. During this course they were trained by Royal Marine Mountain Leaders in every aspect of surviving and fighting in extreme winter conditions. The training included everything from skiing and basic winter survival skills such as making fire to ice breaking drills and building snow caves. The course also contained a live fire
package during which break contact drills on skis were trained among other topics.
5
COMMANDING OFFICER’S VIEW In an interview about the CWWC and Exercise COLD RESPONSE published by the Royal Navy, Lieutenant Colonel Cantrill RM, Commanding Officer 40 Commando RM, said that the essential values of the training were to test individual skills, exercise at unit level in a large scale, free play environment and to work alongside allies. He also stated that northern Norway is a particular demanding environment in which his troops must learn or re-learn to survive, move and fight.
6
Main Image: Once the bridge was secure in British hands it had to be held against the Red Forces counter-attack in which they used their Javelins against enemy armour [CM] 5: While making way for oncoming traffic on a narrow road a Royal Marines MAN Support Vehicle Heavy Cargo (Winterised and Waterproofed) slipped - the RM padre was riding in the passenger seat [CS] 6: During Cold Response 2014 mobility for the Royal Marines was provided by a number of British Bv 206 All Terrain vehicles (ATV) as well as similar vehicles borrowed from the Norwegian Army [CS]
Combat & Survival
13
British Forces
The SA80A2 assault rifles used by the Royal Marines were all fitted with the new Raytheon ELCAN Optical Technologies SPECTER OS4 lightweight optical day sight instead of SUSAT or ACOG sights [CM] Images © Carl Schulze & MSgt Chad McMeen
14
Combat & Survival
British Elite
In the early hours of Monday 31st March Royal Marines from Britain’s 3 Commando Brigade, supported by Dutch Marines from 1 Marine Combat Group of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps, launched an amphibious landing on the shores of Luce Bay in South-west Scotland. As Alpha Company from 40 Commando and 1 MCG came ashore by LCVP (Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel) and LCU (Landing Craft Utility) with their Viking all-terrain armoured vehicles their colleagues from Delta Company flew inland by helicopter to seize the airfield at Castle Kennedy from the control of armed militia and secure it as an airhead for follow-on operations. While C&S was meeting up with the Marines on the landing beach (see last month), our old friend and current holder of the Peregrine Trophy, Royal Navy Petty Officer [Phot] Sean Clee of 30 Commando IX Group RM, was inland with his cameras on the restricted access objective on private land to capture Delta Company winkling out the insurgents (wearing DPM &/or black clothing) from positions in the woods and agricultural buildings around the airfield. The accompanying photos were taken over a two hour period once there was sufficient daylight to capture the closing stages of the dawn assault.
16
Combat & Survival
Images Crown Copyright: SEAN CLEE
Combat & Survival
17
British Elite
JOINT WARRIOR is a triservice multinational exercise series conducted in the UK during the spring and the autumn of each year, focussed on providing quality coordinated training at tactical level for all three UK Armed Services and numerous visiting units from invited allied nations. It aims are to generate UK Defence contingent capability within a contemporary operating environment. This spring during JW14-1, enabled by maritime and air forces, both of the UK’s High Readiness Brigade Headquarters - 3 Commando and 16 Air Assault - and their respective units conducted theatre entry and contingency operations training required for their annual validation.
F
irst 3 Commando Brigade executed an amphibious landing on the west coast of Scotland, led by 40 Commando Royal Marines and a Dutch and Belgium Marine Commando Group, then 16 Air Assault Brigade performed an airborne insertion of 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment in North East Scotland. UK Support and Attack Helicopters supported this training and a variety of other UK
18
Combat & Survival
1: The Royal 1 Marines from 40 Commando, seen here on the afternoon following the initial overnight amphibious landing, were undergoing their annual evaluation hence them wearing laser simulation vests and helmet sensors and having lasers fitted to their weapons as they secured the perimeter of the airfield which would notionally be used as the and Allied land forces conducted Core point of entry for follow-on forces; in Military Training and Mission Specific Training in Scotland and Northern Engreality the aviation land, utilising Defence Training Estate assets would use range areas, commercial ranges, Highthe research land Agency and private land areas. The base airfield at exercise scenario also enabled Forward neighbouring West Air Control training for UK units, as well Freugh as for US, German and Dutch Marine FACs, plus Rapier fire units from 16 Regiment Royal Artillery conducted air defence training and Land/Air/Maritime integration throughout the period. As the majority of the exercise on land took place on closed areas to which the specialist media were not granted
any access (these days Whitehall prefers to contract in simulated press, or SimPress, instead of allowing in real press) and as the promised overall scenario briefing for the amphibious phase never materialised for the few of us who were allowed limited access to some areas for a brief period, our coverage of what UK MoD claimed was “the largest live, tactically focused exercise held in Europe this year� is regrettably limited to photographic content. The images on these pages are predominantly of Alpha Company from 40 Commando who pushed inland to secure the perimeter of Castle Kennedy airfield.
2
3
Above: A neutral ‘white fleet’ Land Rover negotiates Alpha Company’s improvised VCP (vehicle check point) barricade under the watchful gaze of wary Marines
2: Although 40 Commando wore MTP uniforms their belt order was mostly in the older DPM camo
Above: As 40 Commando secured the airfield the logistic tail came ashore on the Luce Bay beachhead - these are unarmoured BV 206 all-terrain vehicles
3: Note the MILES (Multiple Integrated Laser Equipment System) transmitter on the barrel of this L110A1 Minimi
4
5
4: Most of 40 Commando were wearing boots in the new brown shade - these are Alt-Bergs 5: SA80A2 rifle with SPECTER OS4 sight, LLM01 laser light module beneath barrel and MILES laser transmitter above
Above: Here a winterised and waterproofed Defender wades ashore - note the AWES-MILES detectors on the roof bar which register simulated anti-vehicle and artillery strikes
6
6: Westland Apache AH1 attack helicopters incessantly prowled the skies over the beachhead and airfield
Combat & Survival
19
Elite Forces
18th March 2014, Reisfjorden, northern Norway. Slowly the sun is rising over the snow covered mountain tops. The temperature is well below zero and a stiff breeze is blowing. On high ground along a road US Marines have taken up positions in the deep snow. A fire team armed with 5.56mm M16A4 assault rifles, a 5.56mm M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) and a 7.62mm M240B machinegun covers the road in order to prevent any enemy forces from using it to attack the recently established beachhead. C&S bumped into the Leathernecks, as the US Marines are traditionally nicknamed, while covering Exercise COLD RESPONSE 2014 in March. Around 440 of the American amphibious specialists participated on this multinational invitational exercise hosted by the Norwegians.
22
Combat & Survival
T
he United States Marine Corps is the primary crisis response force within the US Armed Forces. US Marines can be deployed at short notice anywhere in the world and under any possible climatic condition within a couple of hours in order to enforce US foreign policy. The Marines are trained and equipped to conduct operations across the full military mission spectrum, ranging from humanitarian and disaster relief to stabilisation operations and full scale war-fighting. A core capability of the USMC is to conduct amphibious operations; for example in the role as an early entry force to pave the way for follow-on forces of the US Army. However, in recent years the Corps have mainly been employed in contingency operations, fighting insurgents in the deserts and mountains of Iraq and Afghanistan. With the involvement in both countries being finished or soon coming to an
1
1: US Marines of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment deploy forward in order to extend their beachhead after conducting an amphibious landing in the vicinity of Sorreisa on 18th April
end, currently the USMC is refocusing on its Crisis Response Force mission and its amphibious capabilities. While in the recent past fighting in arid deserts was the main role of the USMC, nowadays training is again focused more and more on making the US Marines fit for the fight in diverse climates such as under tropical or Arctic conditions. Exercise COLD RESPONSE 2014 therefore provided those US Marines deployed on it with a
2
LAV-25 A2 light armoured reconnaissance vehicles of the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion are brought ashore from the HNLMS Rotterdam by a Dutch Landing Craft Utility (LCU)
3
good opportunity to train in amphibious operations within a multinational framework and under Arctic conditions.
2ND MARINE DIVISION The bulk of the personnel of the 440strong USMC contingent that took part on COLD RESPONSE 2014 were provided by the 2nd Marine Division, based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Additional personnel were provided by USMC Forces Europe and Africa. The US Marines formed a reinforced company-size task force that, together with Dutch and British Marines, provided an amphibious capability for the Multinational Brigade of the Blue exercise forces. The core of the USMC task force was provided by Golf Company, 2nd ‘Warlords’ Battalion of the 2nd Marine Regiment. The company was structured in an HQ element, three infantry platoons and a weapons platoon that, among other elements, included a mortar section.
2: A US Marine uses a pair of binoculars to scan the outskirts of Sorreisa for signs of enemy activity 3: The standard USMC general purpose machinegun is the 7.62mm M240B the weapon is fitted with the recently fielded Trijicon ACOG 6 x 48 sight referred to as Machinegun Day Optic (MDO)
Mobility for the unit was provided by Bv 206 tracked over-snow and allterrain vehicles, supplied with drivers by the Norwegian Host Nation Support Battalion. Reconnaissance support for the company was provided by an element of the 2nd ‘Destroyers’ Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, equipped with four LAV-25 A2 light armoured reconnaissance vehicles, one LAV-C2 A2 command and control vehicle and one
LAV-R A2 recovery vehicle. The USMC contingent also included a logistic package provided by the 2nd Supply Battalion of Combat Logistic Regiment 25 of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group that operated, among other equipment, a fleet of different types of Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) 7-ton trucks. This was the first time since 1999 that an element of the
Combat & Survival
23
Elite Forces US Marine armed with the rather new Heckler & Koch M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle replacement for the 5.56mm M249 SAW light machinegun - initial fielding started in December 2010
2nd Marine Logistics Group was deployed to Norway to conduct a reception, staging, onwardmovement and integration mission under Arctic conditions in support of a USMC combat force.
PREPARATION TIME In January and February 2014, prior to being deployed to northern Norway, the US Marines were put through a comprehensive mountain and Arctic warfare training package conducted at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California. This training establishment is the premier site of the USMC when it comes to preparing Marines for service in mountainous regions, cold climate zones and high altitude theatres. While at Bridgeport the Marines received classes in cold weather survival techniques and mountain hazards. Practical training included marches with snow shoes and skiing lessons. Skijoring behind over-snow vehicles was also part of the training. After their arrival in Norway the Marines then spent three days in the field, training together with troops of the Norwegian Host Nation Support Battalion. In addition to familiarisation training with the Bv 206 tracked over-snow and allterrain vehicle, specialist avalanche awareness and winter survival training was conducted. This training
24
Combat & Survival
4: Mobility for the US Marines of Golf Company was provided by Bv 206 tracked oversnow and all-terrain vehicles borrowed, along with drivers, from the Norwegian Army 5: US Marine armed with a 5.56mm M16A4 assault rifle provides cover from the top of a Bv 206 tracked oversnow and all-terrain vehicle while his comrades advance along a road in northern Norway 6: Over their combat uniforms and rucksacks US Marines wore Disruptive Snow Camouflage/ Overwhite Garments consisting of a parka and trousers in the disruptive digitised snow camouflage print
4
5
also included a live fire package and some US Marines were trained in the art of driving snow-mobiles so that they could operate them for reconnaissance purposes. At the same time the troops also were given a chance to acquaint themselves with the way the Norwegian Army does things; quite important when taking
6
Marines of Golf Company are landed by Dutch LCU with Bv 206 tracked oversnow all-terrain vehicles in the vicinity of Sorreisa deep behind the enemy’s forward line seriously hampering their attack
into account that the USMC would have to cooperate closely with the Norwegians during the exercise.
FROM THE CAVES The bulk of the heavy equipment employed by the US Marines during COLD RESPONSE was drawn from Marine Corps Prepositioning Program – Norway (MCPP-N) depots situated in-country. These MCPP-N depots were established back in the times of the Cold War in order to allow a faster build-up of forces in case of a Soviet attack on NATO and on its northern flank in particular. Situated in caves in central Norway the MCPP-N depots hold everything needed by US Marines to conduct combat operations in the Arctic, ranging from Meals Ready to Eat (MRE), tents, generators and other camp equipment through to Humvees (HMMWV) and MVTR 7-ton trucks, as well as combat vehicles such as the LAV-25 A2. When the Cold War ended the depots were retained and today they serve the purpose of assisting USMC Crisis Response and Humanitarian Assistance operations around the world, though in particular in the European and African regions. Under guidance of the personnel of the 2nd Supply Battalion, the US Marines drew some 350 major items from the MCPP-N depots. The Marines also conducted some 4,000
7: The LAV-25 A2 light armoured reconnaissance vehicle is the main weapon system of the USMC 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion - it has a crew of three and can carry six ground scouts
7
8: Exercising in northern Norway during the winter month means not only fighting the enemy but also the environment work hours on preventive maintenance - here an LAV-25 A2 and annual maintenance work on equipment stored in the caves. is recovered after slipping off an icy road DEPLOYING NORTH during a snowstorm 9: The element of 2nd LARB that took part in Exercise COLD RESPONSE fielded four LAV-25 A2 reconnaissance, one LAV-C2 A2 command & control and one LAV-R A2 recovery vehicles Images © CARL SCHULZE
From central Norway the reinforced company-size USMC task force, complete with its equipment, was deployed northwards on a roll-on roll off ferry to Bogen, situated in the exercise area. Severe weather meant this move was delayed, so in the end the US Marines entered the fight two days later than initially expected.
8
9
After being unloaded in Bogen the Marines deployed to the Brostadboth area by a road move, where they were awaited by the 3rd Battalion of The Royal 22e Régiment, the elite ‘Van Doos’ who
Combat & Survival
25
Elite Forces
we featured last month. The Canadians were preparing to attack Sorreisa using Route 84, situated inland, as the axis of advance. The Marines were given the task of mounting a feint further west along the coast in order to force the enemy to divide their forces and by doing so weaken their defences. The 14th of March saw the US troops executing this task with the element of the 2nd ‘Destroyers’ Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and its LAV25 A2 light armoured reconnaissance vehicles in the lead. During the day the Marines not only had to fight against small parties of enemy troops they encountered but also against the weather. Heavy rain made the icy roads even more slippery and the troops had to take great care not to get drenched by the rain, which ultimately would have resulted in hypothermia.
AMPHIBIOUS OPERATION With the first task accomplished the US Marines were then taken out of the fight again and they boarded the Landing Platform Dock (LPD) HNLMS Rotterdam of the Royal Netherlands Navy, together with their kit. Aboard the ship the Marines again were put through familiarisation training; this time mainly focused on the Dutch Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) and the Landing Craft Utility (LCU), as well as on the Dutch way of handling amphibious operations. With the training completed the Marines then conducted their last preparations for an amphibious landing deep behind the enemy’s FLOT (forward line of own troops). In the meantime on land the
26
Combat & Survival
Main image: This ground 10 scout of a LAV-24 A2 of the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion is armed with a 5.56mm M16A4 assault rifle with 40mm M203 underslung grenade launcher 10: The LAV-25 A2 light armoured reconnaissance vehicle is fitted with a 25mm M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon, a coaxial 7.62mm M240 machine gun and a turret roof mounted second M240 MG 11: After the end of the tactical phase of the exercise the troops of the 2nd LARB conducted a live fire exercise with their LAV 25-A2 vehicles on the training area north of Olsborg 12: US Marines of the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion prepare 25mm M793 TP–T (Target Practice – Tracer) ammunition for the M242 Bushmaster automatic cannon of their LAV-25 A2s
11
tide had changed, the Blue attack had been 12 finally stopped by Red and they enemy had already launched a massive counter-attack driving the Blue Forces back quickly. Blue’s plan was to stop the enemy attack on a line between Sjovegan and Setermoen. In addition it was planned to force the enemy to weaken their attack by diverting some of their combat power to counter an amphibious landing in the Reisfjorden in the vicinity of Sorreisa. At first light on the 18th, the last day of the combat phase of Exercise COLD RESPONSE 2014, the US Marines were brought ashore for this purpose. The first two waves of the landing saw the deployment of Golf Company from 2nd ‘Warlords’ Battalion of the 2nd Marine Regiment. After coming ashore the US Marines quickly secured the beachhead, meeting only minor resistance.
TRAINING BENEFITS
Following the infantry in the next wave was the element of the 2nd ‘Destroyers’ Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. After coming ashore the LAV-25 A2s of the unit immediately pushed out from the beachhead and moved on to Sorreisa, where they secured a bridge that was of great importance for the further advance of Blue Forces.
Despite the fact that the US Marines saw only limited combat during COLD RESPONSE, the participation in it was good training, allowing them not only to hone their edge in the fields of winter warfare and amphibious operations but also to train within a multinational environment, getting used to their NATO allies and the techniques and procedures used by them.
Elite Forces
1 THE BELGIAN INFANTRY WHO PARTICIPATED ON THE AMPHIBIOUS PHASE OF EXERCISE JOINT WARRIOR 14-1, HELD IN SCOTLAND AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL, WERE FROM THE 2ND COMMANDO BATTALION WHICH IS PART OF THEIR COUNTRY’S LIGHT BRIGADE. ESTABLISHED IN 2010, BELGIUM’S LIGHT BRIGADE COMPRISES A BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS, ONE LIGHT INFANTRY LINE BATTALION, ONE COMMANDO BATTALION, ONE PARATROOP BATTALION AND A SPECIAL FORCES GROUP; COMMANDOS AND PARAS BEING GROUPED TOGETHER IN THE RAPID RESPONSE ROLE AS THE NATION’S IMMEDIATE REACTION CELL. FOR THIS EXERCISE, THE BELGIAN CONTINGENT FORMED PART OF THE DUTCH MARINES BATTLEGROUP ABOARD THE ASSAULT SHIP HNLMS JOHAN DE WITT.
Main image: Belgian Commandos who have just arrived in Scotland from the Dutch assault ship HNLMS Johan de Witt - just visible on the horizon through the mist behind the section commander on the right - dump their bergens as colleagues set up a VCP on the main road approaching the beachhead 1: Underneath this two-man tent covering the approach road there is a .50cal heavy machinegun - its blank firing attachment is just visible
D
uring World War Two a companysized formation of one hundred soldiers and about half a dozen officers from the Free Belgian Forces was brought together by the British as No. 4 Troop of 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando, which consisted primarily
of Belgian, Dutch, French, Norwegian and Polish troops who had escaped the Nazis as they swept through Europe. After the war 4 Troop formed the nucleus of the Belgian Commando Regiment and in the early 1950s they were teamed up with the descendants of 5th (Belgian)
Combat & Survival
29
Elite Forces
2
Top left: Standard Para-Commando firearm is the 5.56mm Fabrique Nationale FNC - Fusil Nouveau Carabine - folding stock assault rifle SAS, who became 1st (Belgium) Parachute Battalion, and 3rd (Belgium) Parachute Battalion to form the elite Para-Commando Regiment. In 1991, as part of the ‘peace dividend’ following the falling of the Iron Curtain and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, the Para-Commando Regiment was downsized to a Brigade. Twelve years later the Para-Commando Brigade was disbanded but its three component battalions were formed into the Immediate Reaction Cell and its support arms were reassigned to more conventional army formations. The 1st
30
Combat & Survival
and 3rd Para-Commando Battalions wore the maroon Airborne beret to mark their history and traditions, while the 2nd Battalion wore the green Commando beret, but by now all three battalions were actually trained to undertake both roles and to be operationally interchangeable. In 2011 the 1st Battalion was disbanded, with most of its personnel being distributed amongst the 2nd and 3rd Battalions and some going to the Special Forces Group which today maintains the traditions of 5th (Belgian) SAS and its successor 1st (Belgium) Parachute Battalion.
2: The section support weapon is the 5.56mm Minimi which is also made by Belgian manufacturer Fabrique Nationale 3: The section’s sharpshooter was armed with an Accuracy International 7.62mm AW rifle Images © Bob Morrison
3
Belgium’s Commando battalion has seen a fair bit of action over the last sixty or so years. In the late 1950s the Commandos played a major part in keeping the lid on the Belgian Congo as it bubbled towards independence and in 1959 it was deployed to the capital Leopoldville, birthplace of our former Senior Correspondent Yves Debay who was assassinated in Syria last year, which today is known as Kinshasa and back then was being torn apart by riots. Five years later, as the Communistbacked Simba rebellion and a civil war flared up in the Congo, a company from 2 Commando formed part of the
4
450-strong Para-Commando force which parachuted from US military transport aircraft into Stanleyville (today Kisangani) to mount Operation DRAGON ROUGE, one of the classic Non-combatant Evacuation Operations of all time. On 19th May 1978, in response to the capture of Kolwezi in the southern part of what was then known as Zaire by the rebel Front for the National Liberation of the Congo and the subsequent taking of European (and African) hostages, a force of French Foreign Paras from Deuxième REP were parachuted in under fire to try to recapture the city. The following day, with the airfield now secured by the French Legionnaires, who had parachuted reinforcements in at first light, Belgium’s 2 Commando from the Para-Commando Regiment undertook what today would be called a Rapid Air Land (RAL) and commenced another successful Non-combatant Evacuation Operation
Main image: Setting up two-man tents in the lee of a dry stone wall before predicted bad weather set in - camouflage is Belgian ‘Jigsaw’ pattern
5
4: ParaCommandos are issued with olive green Berghaus Crusader bergens 5: Both olive green and ‘Jigsaw’ pattern Arktis design chest rigs were worn
Combat & Survival
31
Elite Forces
6
(NEO) suffering just one fatality from enemy fire. On the recent Exercise JOINT WARRIOR 14-1 the Belgian Commandos we photographed on the second morning had just come ashore from the Dutch amphibious landing ship HNLMS Johan de Witt to take over security of the beachhead perimeter from Royal Netherlands Marine Corps personnel of 14 Combat Support Squadron. It was from this part of the beach that the Royal Navy and Commandos from 539 Assault Squadron Royal Marines conducted a evacuation of UK and European non-combatants put at risk by fighting between the forces of the Government of Pastonia (GOP) and the breakaway Peoples Republic of Pastonia (PRP). The accompanying images show a section of Belgian Commandos, shortly after they came ashore, first establishing a VCP (vehicle checkpoint) covering one of the roads leading to the beachhead then setting up their two-man tents out of sight but close by where those not on guard could sleep and eat.
32
Combat & Survival
Main image: The section’s primary armament was a .50cal (12.7mm) heavy machinegun - seen here before a two-man tent was dropped over it for camouflage
7
6: Two-man tent has an outer ‘lobby’ for storing gear and to keep the elements out 7: Note the different types of smock worn and the amount of firepower available to the section 8: In addition to assault and sniper rifles plus .50cal and 5.56mm Minimi this section also has a 7.62mm FN MAG machinegun
8
Kit & Camo Special
34
Combat & Survival
Combat & Survival
35
Kit & Camo Special
The current camouflage pattern worn by personnel serving with Belgium’s elite Immediate Reaction Cell, the successors to the ParaCommando Regiment, is almost universally known as Belgian Jigsaw Pattern as the original M1956 design conveyed the impression of interlocking jigsaw pieces. Issued only to elite formations, the pattern was revised slightly after about twenty years, essentially by being stretched horizontally, then in 1999 a third version was introduced where the pattern was compressed vertically but all three patterns are clearly just variations rather than redesigns and garments made from the different patterns are visually compatible and are colour-matching.
T
he Belgian Commando who posed for this article is wearing an issue combat smock, trousers and chest rig (Arktis) in the M1999 version of Belgian Jigsaw. The three main colours are mustard, bottle
36
Combat & Survival
green and reddish brown in almost identical proportions with coal black as the fourth colour in lesser proportions. At a quick glance it appears that some of the colours have been printed out of register as thin slivers of white can be seen at the edges but this is actually intentional use of a light edging to attempt to introduce three-dimensionality to a two-dimensional pattern and confuse the eye. I have photographed Belgian Paras and Commandos on exercises over the last twenty-something years, from Scandinavia and the Baltic down to the Iberian Peninsula and I have never once thought that either the second or third Jigsaw patterns looked to be particularly effective in photographs against any rural or urban backdrop. However the eye often sees things very differently from the camera lens and out in the field the 3D effect of Belgian Jigsaw comes into its own at infantry engagement distances of a few hundred metres and troops begin to blend in much better against foliage backdrops.
The soldier pictured here is from the 2nd Commando Battalion and wears the traditional green Commando beret; troops from sister unit 3rd Paratroop Battalion wear the maroon Airborne beret. The 1st Paratroop Battalion, which upheld the traditions of the wartime SAS, was disbanded in 2011 with its personnel redistributed among the 2nd and 3rd Battalions.
Belgian Jigsaw is essentially a national identifier, with few other nations using this pattern, and the country’s elite
Images Š Bob Morrison Military Scene
troops who are issued with it are also issued with personal equipment, ranging from pouches and webbing through to genuine BUFF headgear and even two-man tents printed in this distinctive five-colour camo. Some former Belgian colonies have issued Jigsaw, mostly the earlier patterns, to their elite units but the only other NATO country to use this camo is neighbouring Luxembourg which issues it to those members of its small army participating in peacekeeping missions or serving with Eurocorps under Belgian command. During the Cold War conventional units of the Belgian Army mostly wore plain olive green combat uniforms while elite units were issued camo but these days, with the Land Component force reduced in size to around 12,000 personnel and having only five active infantry battalions in addition to the Paras and Commandos, the Jigsaw pattern (3rd type) sees near universal use. For a while the Belgian Air Force used a distinctive variation of German Flecktarn, but that has now been phased out. Belgian troops assigned to ISAF over the last decade have worn a three-colour derivative of Jigsaw pattern in very muted dusty colours.
Peace Keeping
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF ISSUES WE HAVE LOOKED AT THE WORK OF THE CONTRIBUTING NATIONS TO UNFICYP, THE UNITED NATIONS FORCE IN CYPRUS, WHICH CELEBRATED ITS FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY THIS MARCH AND HAS BEEN SUPPORTED SINCE ITS INCEPTION WITH MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM. IN OUR MAY ISSUE WE COVERED THE BRITISH-LED MOBILE FORCE RESERVE (MFR) WHICH IS MANNED BY A PLATOON OF RESERVISTS FROM THE 3RD BATTALION OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES’S ROYAL REGIMENT INTEGRATED WITH TROOPS FROM ARGENTINA, HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA TO FORM A RAPID RESPONSE INFANTRY COMPANY. THIS MONTH WE FOCUS ON THE LARGER BRITISH ARMY CONTINGENT RESPONSIBLE FOR SECTOR 2 OF THE BUFFER ZONE.
T
he current Buffer Zone across the breadth of Cyprus, often referred to as the Green Line, was established in 1974 when ceasefire lines were agreed between warring Greek and Turkish sides following Turkey’s intervention in response to attempts to bring the
38
Combat & Survival
Main image: A two-man Royal Engineers foot patrol out on the Green Line through Nicosia, to their right is the Turkish Cypriot front line and to their left is the Greek-Cypriot line - behind them can be seen an unmanned position with firing slots and rusting concrete filled oil drums 1: The windows of this building are still filled with forty year old sandbags but troops have been pulled back to keep tensions to a minimum note the timber props holding up the deteriorating building façade next door Images © BOB MORRISON
2
3
Brand new 40year old Toyota cars stuck in a basement garage on the Green Line independent island state under total Greek control. At first the neutral zone between the two opposing forces’ post-ceasefire front lines, which stretches approximately 183 kilometres (excluding the uncontested British territory of the Eastern Sovereign Base Area), was broken down into four sectors but when Canada withdrew its contingent in 1993 the sectors were redrawn and British Contingent (BRITCON) in Sector 3 took over the stretch running through the city of Nicosia from their Commonwealth cousins and the combined sectors were re-designated Sector 2. This 30 kilometre long BRITCON sector, which takes in both the city of Nicosia and more rural stretches to the east and west of the capital, as well as the outskirts of villages at both ends, is very different in nature to the
Main image - Both foot and vehicle patrols have to fly the UN flag when moving on the Green Line - firefighting equipment is carried on the vehicles due to the potential for spontaneous fire outbreaks
4
2: Negotiating one of the narrowest parts of the Buffer Zone 3: By mutual consent some of the more architecturally important building façades are now being restored under BRITCON supervision 4: View from the left seat during a Green Line vehicle patrol Combat & Survival
39
Peace Keeping
almost completely rural Sectors 2 and 4 and it presents different challenges to those tasked with patrolling it to maintain peace and stability. In the centre of the sector, where the Buffer Zone runs east-west through the very heart of the walled capital city, at one point it measures just 3.3 metres (10 feet) wide with Opposing Forces personnel manning positions just behind their respective front lines. A patrol track for UN vehicles runs through most of this narrow zone, but foot and bicycle patrols are also regularly and randomly carried out to ensure the Blue Beret UN troops are closely attuned to anything going on behind the crumbling building façades Operation TOSCA, as the UK mission is codenamed, is the British Army’s longest running operational deployment and at present the BRITCON complement tasked to Sector 2 (the British MFR contribution is part of Op TOSCA but is operationally separate from Sector 2) numbers 183 at full strength. At the time of our visit these troops were provided by 28 Engineer Regiment RE who were undertaking their last ever operational deployment as their formation is a victim of both downsizing of the British Army and the return of standing UK Forces from Germany. 28 Engineer Regiment has long been based in Hameln (Hamelin)
40
Combat & Survival
Mother Nature is slowly repossessing the central divider through Nicosia and vegetation is forcing its way through everywhere meaning more and more building façades are having to be propped up - inside some buildings which are still occupied by their civilian owners false walls have been constructed as they cannot get into the Buffer Zone to undertake repairs and routine maintenance. Even the UN Observation Posts, which once had to be manned by armed Blue Berets to prevent violence flaring, are now slowly deteriorating under the relentless attack of the elements
5
6
7
5: The original blue tractor abandoned 8 under fire in 1974 at this key location has now rusted away and been removed but someone with a sense of humour replaced it with this toy 6: We bumped into this other BRITCON foot patrol of Royal Engineers while we were out in the Buffer Zone - note they are both wearing different model MoD issue brown combat boots
in Germany and is possibly most noted for its Amphibious Squadron, which uses the M3 ABV (amphibious bridging vehicle) to create tankcarrying ferries or 100 metre long floating bridges, but it also had more conventional Field and Field Support Squadrons. Many of the regiment’s remaining personnel are being transferred to other specialist regiments, with its Field Support Squadron moving to the former RAF base at Kinloss in Scotland as part of 39 Engineer Regiment, and its M3 rigs are being transferred to a UKbased unit. On our visit to Sector 2 of the Buffer
7: Grizzly Corner got its name after a Canadian APC part-demolished the corrugated iron around this fighting position after its occupants surreptitiously expanded it into the Buffer Zone overnight 8: Today all may be quiet in the Buffer Zone with only birdsong spoiling the silence but we must never forget that only forty years ago this Mediterranean holiday island was ripped apart by civil war
Zone we went out on a Green Line patrol with 28 Regiment through the very heart of Nicosia, mostly using a white 4-door Isuzu pick-up truck in UN markings but also from time to time walking sections with the truck following a short distance behind to allow us to better listen and observe. In the past the many UN watchtowers between the ceasefire lines (CFL) were manned, but these days as tensions are low and as both sides have mutually agreed to pull their troops back and not to man many of the frontline positions, only a gentle
background murmur of activity from the two communities either side of the deserted corridor through the World’s last divided capital city could be heard behind the birdsong that seemed to follow us everywhere. It is twenty-one years since I first walked the Nicosia Green Line and the changes over this period have been subtle but nonetheless welcome with the two sides clearly now striving for some return to normality. Long may this continue.
Combat & Survival
41
Tel:
JUST IN! ARMY METAL JERRY CANS (22 ltr) Grade 1 vgc £24.95 each
www.stringtownsupplies.com Stringtown Supplies, 29 High Street, Polegate, East Sussex BN26 5AB 01323 488844 email: stringtownsupplies@btinternet.com stores.ebay.co.uk/jimsmilitary
ARKTIS WINDPROOF & WATERPROOF SMOCKS All Brand New WINDPROOF: BLACK M - L £145
SAS OR ARCTIC WINDPROOF SMOCKS: All Brand New SAS - Plain Hood - DPM M - L - XL SALE! £69.95 ARCTIC - Wire Hood - DPM M - L - XL £89.95 DESERT - DPM M - L - XL SALE! £29.95
GERMAN FLECKTARN CAMO PARKA, SHIRT & TROUSERS - SALE! Parka: Sizes S.M.L £25.00 Shirt: Sizes S.M.L £5.00 Trousers: Sizes 28” to 42” waist £20.00 Flecktarn Cap £3.00
DESERT KIT
UK DESERT DPM JACKETS & SMOCKS - All Brand New - Ripstop 2000 Patt. Jacket M - L - XL - XXL SALE! £19.95 TEMPERATE (‘94 PATT.) JACKET S - M SALE! £10.00 SAS SMOCK, DESERT DPM M - L - XL SALE! £29.95
UK DESERT DPM SHIRTS & TROUSERS SHIRTS: M - L - XL - XXL Grade 1 £3.00 New £5.00 TROUSERS: Grade I Sizes 26” to 34” Waist (i.e. 72/76/80/84 Waist) SALE! £10.00 Supergrade/NEW Sizes 36” to 42” Waist (i.e.88/92/96/100/ 108) N.B. These bigger sizes are rare now £19.95
ARKTIS & WYVERN WEBBING All brand new pieces. BIG SALE on all Wyvern & Arktis Webbing & Chest Rigs. Also some PLCE pieces (e.g. NBC pouches, shovel pouches, bayonet pouches etc.) Please ring, write or e-mail with your requirments
BUFFALO SPECIAL & SHIRT N.A.T.O Green or Black £100.00 46”/48” Chest sizes. Hood £15.00
Also available ON SALE: Montane Extreme C/W jacket, similar to Buffalo, with removable hood. Olive or black S/M/L/XL £190.95
SNUGPACK SLEEKA JACKET C/W Stuffsack - pertex lining. Olive Green or Black SALE £49.00 S, M, L
Partex 6
UK ARMY GREENS ‘LIGHTWEIGHTS’ Sizes (26” to 32”) 72/76/80/84 Grade I SALE! £5 per pair or Brand New £10 per pair Big Sizes: 88/92/100/108 (34” upwards) Brand New only £20 per pair
DOG TAG SET 2 Tags on chain. New, unused Silver, Black or Brass SALE! £2.50 per set Rubber Silencers £1.00 per set of 2
S2000 DPM SHIRTS / TROPICAL SHIRTS SALE! Tropical - Brand New M.L.XL £4.00 S2000 Grade I- M.L.XL £4.00 or New - M.L.XL £10.00
DPM CAMO JACKETS 94 PATT JACKETS SALE! Brand New, original, half-lined. N.A.T.O. sizes S.M.L.XL.XXL £19.95 S95/2000 JACKETS SALE! Grade I 0 M.L.XL £10.00 New M.L.XL £19.95 19.95
NEW ‘UNIVERSAL’ DPM SMOCK (WITH HOOD) Latest issue, Supergrade S.M.L £19.95 Para smock shown - Grade I S 95 S.M.L £39 £39.95
GENUINE POLICE GORETEX JACKET ZIP/POPPER BLOUSON WITH ELASTICATED CUFFS & S -S S S, £ WAIST SIZES S,M £29.95 QUILT LINER (ZIP IN) S,M £9.95
NBC NBC SUITS New, All sealed DPM Olive or Desert DPM (Jacket & Trousers) £35 per Suit NBC Boots £15.00 NBC Gloves £8.00 GENUINE ‘58 PATTERN SLEEPING BAG (as issued) Filter (Unsealed) £5.00, Sealed £25.00 Grade I. filled, nylon outer, full length zip-up, rubberised base, olive, Normal Size (up to 5’11”). 2.5kg. -5°C rating OLIVE £39.95 GENUINE Q.R. SLEEPER (GRADE I) Doubles up as a parka with base zip & tie up bottom, rubberised. thermal quilt-lined stud & zip up front OLIVE 3KG £49.95
LI LIFESYSTEMS 1ST AID KITS SA SALE! Waterproof Mountain 1s 1st Aid Kit £15.00 M Mountain 1st Aid Kit £19.95 M Mountain Leaders 1st Aid Kit £3 £35.00 St Sterile Kit £15.00 Th The Nomad 1st Aid Kit £1 £10.00
U.S AIRCREW TYPE SURVIVAL KNIFE Heavy hammer head pommel, sawback black 5” blade plus wood handle. Light tan leather sheath with sharpening stone £18.95 US AIRCREW SUITS GRADE 1 SALE! U.S. 34” - 38” chest £15.00 U.S. 40” - 42” chest £29.95
S10 RESPIRATORS V.G.C. Grade I as issued. Sizes 1(XL) 2(L) 3(M) or 4(S) includes filter F.O.C. £55.00 each Supergrade £95.00 each
BERETS Compton Webb - Brand New, fully-lined, badge attachment points. SALE PRICE £10.00 each S-M-L-XL-XXL SAS (beige) Para (Maroon) or R. Marine (Green)
FREE! Genuine Container (£2.95 to order) & Bandana with every order! Minimum Order £10.00
Established 27 Years Mail Order Opening Hours 9.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Saturday inclusive. Sunday opening 10:30am - 2:30pm (please ring)
www.stringtownsupplies.com
Tel: (01323) 488844
e-mail: stringtownsupplies@btinternet.com *weapons sales to over 18s only. Signed age declaration required
If you would like our mini catalogues please mail, e-mail or phone (01323) 488844 SECURE ONLINE Catalogues free with all orders ORDERING Prices correct at time of going to press
SWISS CAMO TROUSERS Supergrade Small/ Medium sizes only SALE £17.50 JACKET (Small/Medium only) £17.50
‘58 WEBBING & BOTTLES BIG SALE Backpacks £3, Kidney Pouches, P.L.C.E BERGENS Poncho Rolls & yokes all SALE As Issued only £2 each. Belts & Grade l Olive or DPM £45 Ammo Pouches are £8 Pockets not included each (due to scarcity!) Brand New, DPM Only All pieces are Brand £65.00 Pockets not included New/Supergrade (Belts Grade l Pockets are Grade I) ‘58 Bottle Camo or Olive set of 2 plus Black Plastic, full size, as issued. SALE £5 yoke £35.00 (Bottle only)
All Prices include Postage & Packaging - But for urgent deliveries by courier 48hrs £6.95 24hrs £8.95
TYPE 4 NATO COMPASS Olive Lanyard. As issued. Brand New, Boxed SALE £14.95
RLD
WO FLAFGLASGS CUP
5’x3’ £5.00
FREE
HEADWRAPS 100% Cotton Cap, p, with tail & ties at rear.r.r One Size. Plain Black/Plain k/Plain Olive/Rebel/England and St. George/Pale DPM M Camouflage SALE! £2.95 each ach Or 2 for £5.00
MINI CATALOGUES AVAILABLE- PLUS LISTS Ring or mail for your copies
We also stock Security Clothing, De-act guns, Metal Detectors, Archery and Crossbows, Knives, Paintball, Airguns & Accessories etc
BADGES SALE! - LOADS OF BADGES AVAILABLE!
M.F.Mike Force (Vietnam) £5.00 Stars & Stripes Cloth Patch 2”x3“ £1.80 or 5”x3“ £5.00 Metal Para Wings Car Badge £10.00 Para Wings (subdued) £2.50 RAF Badge Flat £1.50 Padded £3.95 Many more in stock. Please ring or write/e-mail for badge lists/leaflets.
FLAGS - National Flags available also Ensigns, Army, RAF etc. & Flags of all kinds. Please ring or write/e-mail for free full flag list. Flagpoles £25.00 Hand Flags, Table Flags, Flag sizes: 8’x5’, (5’x3’ standard) or 3’x2’.
BANDANAS 2ft Square, Cotton, New SALE PRICE £1.95 each or 2 for £3.00 *Stars & Stripes/Union Jack/Skull & Crossbones
GENUINE BRITISH ARMY GS MK6 HELMET (Grade 1) Kevlar with padded leather liner and adjustable chin strap. (Helmet cover not included) S/M or L/XL Size £39.95
HOW TO ORDER: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ORDER ANY OF THE ITEMS SHOWN PLEASE USE A SEPARATE LETTER OR TEL: (01323) 488844, E-MAIL OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE. PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES & POSTAL ORDERS PAYABLE TO STRINGTOWN SUPPLIES
Kit & Camo
44
Combat & Survival
Combat & Survival
45
Kit & Camo
Our recent assignment in Cyprus, covering the main contingents serving with UNFICYP on its 50th Birthday, gave us an unique opportunity to photograph several different camouflage uniforms in a similar format. In May we started presenting each one individually, commencing with an Argentinian NCO. Hopefully our images and notes will be of use to our uniform / camo collector readers and to badge collectors, and possibly to Living History re-enactors too. Each soldier has been photographed in the same way kneeling, front, left, back and right - plus there are close-ups of both camo pattern and badges worn.
T
he British Contingent, or BRITCON, deployed on UN duties under what UK MoD calls Operation TOSCA wear uniforms in the now standard British Multi-Terrain Pattern or MTP camouflage. A licensed derivative of Crye Precision’s patented MultiCam, MTP was introduced specifically for active operations in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand Province where conditions varied from arid desert to verdant sub-tropical in the ‘green zone’ around the
46
Combat & Survival
Helmand River but this unique blend of MultiCam and Disruptive Pattern Material is proving to be very effective in other environments and it works well in the Cypriot countryside (see our report on the Mobile Force Reserve in the May issue) as well as not being too out of place in the urban and semi-rural surrounding of Sector 2 of the UN Buffer Zone through Nicosia and its suburbs. As most readers will be familiar with British MTP from our past coverage we don’t intend to delve much further into it but will instead let the images do the talking. The photographs on the lead double page spread are of a lance corporal from the 3rd Battalion of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, the ‘Tigers’, serving with the multinational Mobile Force Reserve; 3PWRR is a Reservist Light Infantry battalion recruiting predominantly from London and Southeast England below the Thames. On his upper right sleeve he wears the yellow on blue tiger badge, inherited from the former Royal Hampshire Regiment, above the white on UN blue MFR patch. On the upper left he wears the white on blue circular UN globe emblem above which is the Union Flag. The MTP-clad soldier on this page is a Royal Engineers diver, serving in Sector 2,
It’s a tradition in the military that when a soldier has their photo published in newspapers or magazines they get ‘crated’ - i.e. have to buy a crate of beer for their mates. The complete opposite is true for C&S and when a soldier represents his or her nation or unit in Kit & Camo or on the front cover their mates are expected to buy THEM the beers. Images ©
BOB MORRISON Military Scene
who wears the SW (Shallow Water) trade patch beneath the maroon and navy blue tactical recognition flash of his corps; his left upper sleeve badging is identical to that of his colleague serving with the MFR. Both soldiers sport the UN blue beret with gold and white UN cap badge and wear their combat shirts outside their trousers, unbuttoned at the neck and collar pressed flat. As a member of the MFR the ‘Tiger’ patrols the Buffer Zone in belt order and armed; with an SA80A2 to which a SUSAT, down-grip and P-MAG are fitted. The sapper diver, on the other hand, patrols his sector unarmed on foot carrying a daysack and not wearing webbing; while out in the Buffer Zone he would also display a UN flag.
Firearms
The latest in a long and distinguished line of combat proven sniper rifles, the AT and AX series comprises: the multi-calibre AXMC, a .338 Lapua Magnum which can be reconfigured to .300 Winchester Magnum or .308 Winchester in minutes simply by changing the barrel, bolt and magazine/insert; and the stand-alone AX308 in .308 Winchester calibre. Series features include:BUTT PAD: Friction locking mechanism for quick and tool less pad height and angle adjustment. Pull length can be adjusted by 40mm without tools and further adjustment is possible with the addition of 10 and 20mm spacers. CHEEK PIECE: Lateral/height adjustment and also stores a 4mm hex key for barrel removal and refit and repositioning of accessory rails. FOLDING STOCK: Folds to the right over the bolt handle for a narrow profile, which allows the assembled rifle to be carried in a day pack. This reduces the length of the rifle by 250mm (10”). PISTOL GRIP: User configurable in minutes with replaceable pistol grip back straps. TRIGGER: Battle-proven two stage design with an adjustable trigger shoe. SAFETY: The thee positional safety is
Main image: Accuracy International use a fully equipped machine shop with Computer Numerically Controlled machine centres to produce the component parts of their rifles
1
1: The trigger pulls of every rifle are checked before they are dispatched to the customer 2: Measurement and gauging of all of the component parts ensures that Accuracy International rifles comply with the company’s quality standards Images © Greg Roberts and Accuracy International
based on the design of the battle proven Accuracy International Arctic Warfare rifle system, which has seen widespread combat use with UK Forces. MAGAZINE: The 10-round magazine is corrosion resistant steel with a low friction coating for complete reliability. QUICK LOC BARREL RELEASE: Patent pending system for barrel removal and refit including calibre / length change in less than one minute (using the 4mm hex key stored in the cheek piece). This makes a smaller, less obtrusive package for transportation. Calibre conversion kits are available separately. ACTION RAIL: Full length NATO STANAG 4694/Mil Std 1913 rail for mounting optics and thermal night vision imaging equipment. This is machined from aerospace grade aluminium, with a corrosion resistant protective coating. Inclined to a 20Minute of Angle (MOA)
2
Combat & Survival
49
Firearms
slope for .308 Winchester calibre and 30MOA for magnum and other calibres. FORE-END MOUNTING SYSTEM: A stiff octagonal tube with AI’s patent pending keyhole slots machined into it to mount accessory rails, bipods and sling. Easily removed for transportation or maintenance in less than 30 seconds with the 4mm hex key stored in the butt cheek piece. ACCESSORY RAILS: With the (patent pending) keyhole slot system, sections of STANAG 4694/ Mil-Std 1913 accessory rail can be attached anywhere on the fore-end, so rail mountable equipment can be positioned with complete flexibility. The top accessory rail is matched to the angle on the action rail. BIPOD: Accuracy International and other manufacturers’ bipods and adaptors are available. MUZZLE BRAKE: Recoil reducing double chamber muzzle brake fitted to the muzzle of the barrel as standard. A tactical threaded version to take an Accuracy International Suppressor is available as an upgrade. Form following function is a concept just as applicable to product design as it is to architecture. At Accuracy International they pride themselves upon understanding the necessary function of their products by staying in constant contact with the community that uses them and using the knowledge they gain as the starting point for their design process. Some
50
Combat & Survival
Main image: AI test fire every rifle on their test range to ensure both accuracy requirements and functional reliability
3
3: Once fabricated each magazine is checked for functional reliability before being attached to a customer’s rifle 4: One of the range of accessories that are available for the AXMC rifle is a set of back-up iron sights that can be quickly attached to the rifle 5: Each AI rifle is also provided with a comprehensive cleaning kit
4
things are fundamental; given the nature of their use sniper rifles must be highly accurate, rugged and reliable. Consequently these characteristics are incorporated into every product AI makes. Recognising that operational requirements differ and each user has individual needs, their products are easily configured to accommodate this using simple rugged features and controls. When an Accuracy International
5
rifle is selected, it’s because consistent, reliable, high performance is critical to the task in hand. To achieve these goals requires the deployment of advanced tools and methodologies. Accuracy International
employ world class computer aided design (CAD) and analysis tools to optimise function and durability. By combining this with advanced prototyping technology on site, they can rapidly assess a large number of design options and iterate towards the optimum design concept. Their prototype development processes are enhanced by the use of high speed video cameras that allows their engineers to analyse the behaviour of the products in exquisite detail, whether it be visualising the gas flow through a muzzle brake, seeing how the rifle chassis flexes when dropped, or capturing the movement of the firing mechanism. Only by understanding the performance of the rifle to this degree can they take our product designs to the next level.
AT .308 WINCHESTER RIFLE SYSTEM Developed from the combat proven Arctic Warfare 308 Winchester rifle, this model takes the AW to new levels. The standard model has a fixed stock with a 24 inch long quick change plain barrel. There are options for coloured stocks, folding stock, barrels and suppressors and many accessories, which can be added. The AT is ideal for Law Enforcement use and also for target shooters and other civilian users. The butt pad consists of a large, recoil absorbing, cushioning for increased comfort and is user adjustable for length of pull using the included spacers. A target butt pad with height and rotation
adjustment is available as an accessory. A butt spike is also available as an accessory. The Adjustable Cheek Piece is both height and laterally adjustable to obtain the perfect eye position. The sling points are of the flush cup style; with two rear, two above the pistol grip and two forward of the pistol grip. The folding stock options reduce the overall length of the rifle for transportation and storage. The unique hinge design locks up solidly and latches in the folded position. Ergonomically advanced pistol grip is standard with traditional thumb-hole stock sides available as an accessory. The three-position safety is based on the battle proven Arctic Warfare AI model. The two stage trigger mechanism makes the rifle safer for rough handling with an adjustable trigger blade; adjustable trigger pull weights are 1.5-2.0 kg (3.34.4lb). The trigger is easily removable by means of two socket head screws for cleaning. The steel flat bottomed action is bolted and bonded to the full length aluminium chassis for rigidity. The action is fitted with a barrel release screw to allow the user to change the barrel in less than one minute using a 4mm hex key. The 20mm diameter close fitting bolt has six locking lugs and the proven AI one-piece extractor. To minimise hand movement, the short throw (60°) handle
Main image: Designed to withstand constant military deployment, the AX50 anti-materiel rifle in .50 BMG calibre is intended to destroy vital pieces of enemy equipment with accurate long range fire 6: The .50 BMG calibre AX rifle is based on the company’s battle proven AI AW50 rifle 7: The UK Forces used the Accuracy International rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum calibre extensively in combat in Afghanistan
lies close to the side of the stock just above the trigger. The magazine is corrosion resistant, low friction holding ten rounds. A night vision mount with a NATO STANAG 4694/Mil Std 1913 specification rail is available as an accessory. Accessory rails are available as options in various lengths and use AI’s patent pending keyhole slot attachment system. The barrel is available in 20”, 24” or 26”
Combat & Survival
51
UK Forces News
match grade lengths. Free floating, the barrel is screwed into the action with a large 27mm diameter thread. The muzzle brake is double chamber, with or without a fitting for a sound suppressor, is standard for the 26 inch barrels and is an option / accessory for the 20 and 24 inch barrels.
8
ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL WORLD CLASS MANUFACTURING The foundation of AI’s approach to manufacturing is a culture of continuous improvement and employee involvement based upon the teachings of W. Edwards Deming, who transformed Japanese manufacturing processes in Japan after WWII. Deming’s philosophy is built around key principles ultimately aimed at bringing value to the customer. They include building quality into the product at the design stage and focusing on it throughout the production process, identifying all of the steps in the process chain, making the processes flow efficiently and striving for perfection by continually identifying and eliminating waste. To achieve this, AI deploys quality and statistical tools based on the Six Sigma methods developed by Motorola in 1986 and strict compliance with the ISO 9001 quality management system. Application of these methods is complemented by a continuing investment in tooling and machinery to make the best use of the latest technologies to enhance product quality and productivity. To have total control of the quality of their product, they also partner with key suppliers to assist them with developing
52
Combat & Survival
Main image: The .338 9 Lapua Magnum calibre rifles are used by the Joint Rapid Deployment Force spearhead units and issued at platoon level to the unit’s best shots 8: The AXMC rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum processes for component manufacture and to gain their expertise in improving calibre will reach their own internal processes. out further and hit harder than the .308 Winchester calibre AX50 .50 BMG CAL RIFLE cartridge and has less SYSTEM Designed to withstand constant military recoil, muzzle flash and noise than the .50 deployment, the AX50 long range antimateriel rifle from Accuracy International BMG calibre rifle 9: The lighter and shorter .338 Lapua Magnum AXMC rifle has more manoeuvrability than a 12.7mm (.50cal) BMG
is based on the DNA of the battle proven AW50. Inheriting the toughness, reliability and ease of maintenance of its powerful predecessor, the .50 BMG calibre AX50 exhibits all the features necessary to ensure superb accuracy and consistent cold shot performance in the harshest conditions.
AICS - ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL CHASSIS SYSTEM Another combat proven feature of all their sniper rifles is the polymer and alloy chassis (not merely a stock), which provides the rigidity, strength and durability necessary to provide a stable, rugged platform for the barrelled action in all weather and any terrain. Accuracy International Chassis Systems bring the ergonomic and functional benefits of their latest advanced AX and AT sniper rifle systems to the Remington 700 platform. Far superior chassis systems suitable for all environments and any mission the ATAICS, and in particular, the AXAICS, provide degrees of modularity and configurability that cannot be achieved with any traditional stock. Quick and easy to install, requiring no specialised gunsmithing, both chassis systems are available for short and long Remington 700 actions in .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum families of cartridges.
AI has provided a range of carry bag and packs to assist snipers with carrying equipment in the field
Today’s snipers need to rule the battlefield day and night. AI Chassis Systems add vital support.
ACCESSORIES A range of parts and accessories is available which includes: Scopes & Mounts, Mirage Band, Stock Sides, Hand Stops, Iron Sights, Barrels, Butt Pads, Accessory Rails, Muzzle Brakes, Cleaning Kits, Bipods, Suppressors, Magazine, Flush Cup
Combat & Survival
53
Firearms
Slings, Ax50 Slings and Transit Cases. A full list of accessories complete with product descriptions and part numbers is available on the Accuracy International web site: accuracyinternational.com
.338 LAPUA MAGNUM CALIBRE The .338 Lapua Magnum (LM) cartridge was designed as a long range sniping system with a performance to ‘fit between’ the .308 Winchester and .50 Browning Machine Gun (BMG). The .338 LM (8.6mm diameter bullet x 70mm long cartridge case) will reach out further and hit harder than the .308 Winchester and has less recoil, muzzle flash and noise, and rifle weight than the .50 BMG. The .338 LM has less energy than the .50 BMG, but will equal it in trajectory, wind resistance and penetration. Different types of factory ammunition are available. The standard load is a 250 grain FMJ bullet with a muzzle velocity of 3000 fps. A 27-inch fluted barrel is fitted to this rifle and gives the best combination of velocity and accuracy when compared to weight and length. In 1996 the Finnish ammunition company, Lapua co-developed the .338 LM from the .338/.416 Rigby Wildcat round, in conjunction with Accuracy International. The term ‘wildcat’ is a name given by shooters to a calibre developed from experimentation by fellow shooters as opposed by a commercial ammunition manufacturing company. Note than most present day ammunition calibres in widespread use were originally developed by experimentation by target shooters and hunters. The request for the .338 LM came from the US Navy SEALs, who wanted a round for a sniper rifle with more hitting power than the .308 Win and
54
Combat & Survival
more manoeuvrability than a .50 BMG rifle for long range sniping. The original .416 Rigby round was developed as a calibre for use against dangerous game; Cape buffalo, lion, elephant etc. The original brass cartridge case was not robust enough to handle the pressures generated by the new loads developed by Lapua, so a new cartridge case was also developed. With the new loads AI modified the receiver of the AW to allow for the longer length of the .338 Lapua Magnum. The first military sales of the .338 Lapua Magnum calibre AWM was to the Dutch Armed Forces. UK Forces realised they had a requirement for a large calibre man portable rifle. Several manufacturers submitted their version of a Long Range Large Calibre Rifle (LRLCR) for trial and evaluation. AI submitted their AWM in .338 LM calibre. Also submitted were the French Hecate and the American Barrett, both in .50 BMG calibre. A team from the Infantry Trials and Development Unit (ITDU) spent nearly a year testing the submissions in various climatic conditions that would mirror the conditions found in any operational deployment. A decision was made to select the AI AWM in .338 LM calibre. Some 100 rifles were purchased and given the military nomenclature L115A1. These rifles were used by the Joint Rapid Deployment Force (JRDF) spearhead units and were issued at platoon level to the units’ best shots. This was a major asset to any platoon commander, enabling him to engage targets that were well beyond the range of the SA80 rifle and light support weapon (LSW), especially if he was without mortar or artillery support. It would have also enabled the ability to tackle dug in targets beyond the penetration capabilities of 5.56 mm NATO ammunition.
10
Main image: As well as use by military organisations AI rifles see widespread use by law enforcement organisations
11
10: The AXMC rifle in .308 Winchester calibre will see widespread 12 adoption by law enforcement agencies worldwide as this is the most popular calibre used by their teams 11: Law enforcement sniper teams can deploy the AXMC rifle in armed operations 12: The Remington 700 action is very popular worldwide - the ATAICS and the AXAICS chassis systems are available for short and long Remington 700 actions in three different calibres
During the ITDU trial soldiers used a battle range of 800 metres, engaged man-sized targets out to 1200 metres and vehicles out to 1500 metres. Ammunition types available included FMJ, armour piercing and armour piercing incendiary. The AWM L115A1 was fitted with the Schmidt and Bender 3–12 magnification x50mm objective lens PM II telescopic sight for day use and a Simrad 200 series infra-red sight for night use.
Firearms Accessories
Designed to house a collapsible stock M4 5.56mm NATO calibre carbine and necessary accessories while remaining inconspicuous, the 5.11 Tactical COVRT M4 covert gun bag provides good tactical utility in a broad range of operational environments, such as stakeout or VIP protection.
T
he ideal choice for missions that require high mobility and a low profile, this full featured bag features the unique 5.11 R.A.C. (Roll-down Assault Compartment) for immediate and unrestricted access to a tactical firearm. Internal foam padding at the top and sides, a padded muzzle cup, and integrated weapon retention straps ensure safe, stable and secure carry at all times. The ambidextrous shoulder strap design includes a QuickTact accessory strap for enhanced functionality and two external compartments provide plenty of space for additional magazines, ammunition, optics, or accessories. This case can be used to keep a M4 carbine close to hand in something which does not shout “there is a gun in here!” In this role, it excels. To transport the M4 to the range most people have a bigger case which can hold one or two rifles plus more accessories. That said you can use it for trips to the range if you are only taking the one rifle with you. This gun bag does fulfil the mission
56
Combat & Survival
Main image: Designed to inconspicuously house an M4 carbine and accessories the 5.11 Tactical COVRT M4 covert gun bag provides tactical utility
1
1: The COVRT M4 rifle bag can be carried inconspicuously in a range of operational environments 2: The carry strap can be adjusted to allow the bag to be carried on either left or right shoulder Images ©
GREG ROBERTS
of providing a stealthy way to carry an M4 sized carbine, or to keep one in your vehicle. It is good looking and also does not look ‘tactical’ and it is well enough put together for general carrying in civilian areas. The colours are in line with other casual camping or hiking gear and to the ‘not tactically minded’ it looks like a form of daysack or pack. It is also comfortable to wear and supports the weight of a carbine, with four loaded 30-round M16 magazines and a few accessories and associated sundries, without strain. The cross mounted shoulder strap is easy to get in and out of, and the side carry handle is functional. The two external pockets could be slightly better designed, specifically to
2
carrying gear for a firearm. I put spare magazines in the bottom pocket which is the larger of the two, but there are no magazine restraining loops so they just collect in the bottom of the pocket when the case is carried vertically, and if you were running, anything in that pocket would just rattle around in there. I would suggest buying smaller soft containers that will fit in that pocket to organize
4
3
6
5
your gear in. The upper pocket has loops for MOLLE straps. There is sufficient room crosswise to snugly accommodate an inserted 30 round magazine in the M4 and a mounted scope. I do not think this case will deceive the ‘tactically minded’ about what’s in it, and it might even excite curiosity about what’s in it from a purposeful thief, but most people are simply not that observant. If your purpose is simply to not alarm people or to not draw too much attention to yourself while actually carrying a bagged carbine, then this pack will fulfil that purpose well and if your primary transportation is a motorcycle then this pack would be a very good way to transport your weapon. If you want to keep a carbine length long gun in the boot of your car or on the back-seat floor in something that doesn’t look like a gun bag. A word of advice; when changing the shoulder strap from the default side to the other side be aware that the ‘cross body stabilising strap’ is connected to the bag with a C-clip. Once you realise this then the switch over will work perfectly. Many companies currently make ‘discreet’ rifle bags that do a fairly decent job of protecting expensive gear while looking inconspicuous, but these bags have become more
and more common and have now become a rather recognised standard. In short, these bags can look like discreet rifle bags. The 5.11 Tactical COVRT M4 Rifle Bag allows you to carry a M4 in an environment while on duty without alarming people. There are times when it is best to go unnoticed, especially when transporting a long gun and accompanying gear. Currently available in grey with black trim or grey with blue trim, the COVRT M4 is a rifle bag at heart but takes the discreet concept to the next level. At the bottom of the rifle compartment is a heavy duty pocket that secures the muzzle and protects the zipper and seams from getting torn by 7 the flash hider. At the top of the rifle compartment is a removable Velcro strap for securing the rifle’s stock so that it doesn’t flop around while in transport. On the outside of the bag, there is a large secondary storage compartment that’s nearly two feet long. This is suitable for hearing protection,
3: When positioned in the bag the M4 is restrained at both the collapsible butt and the muzzle 4: The bag has two outside pockets that will hold a range of associated accessories. 5: The larger pocket on the outside will easily accommodate additional magazines and ammunition etc 6: The smaller pocket on the outside will also accommodate additional magazines and ammunition 7: The carry strap allows the 5.11 COVRT rifle bag to be carried over your shoulder
cleaning equipment or even a light rain proof jacket. At the top of the bag is another small compartment that is sized for carrying a couple of 30-round M16 magazines and a few boxes of ammunition. The COVRT uses one large cross body strap but also has two carrying handles for ease of transport. The bag is constructed of heavy duty nylon and YKK zippers for durability. The large main compartment is padded to help protect the rifle from bumps and dings. As already mentioned the 5.11 COVRT M4 takes the covert rifle bag to a new level and does a good job of looking more like a sports bag rather than a rifle bag. Now you can pack for the range or deployment without drawing undue attention to yourself. For further information check out 511tactical.com and to source 5.11 products in the UK go to nightgear. co.uk
SPECIFICATIONS
• Nylon construction • Water and weather resistant • Dual zip 180 degree access on front and main compartments • Durable DuraFlex™ hardware • YKK® self-healing zippers throughout • Moulded grip pulls on all zippers
Combat & Survival
57
UK Forces News
K IN JULY 2012 THE NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE FORCE ANNOUNCED THE FORTHCOMING INTRODUCTION OF AN UPDATED UNIFORM FOR THE NEW ZEALAND ARMY WHICH WOULD BE PRODUCED IN A NEW CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN AS A REPLACEMENT FOR BOTH DISRUPTIVE PATTERN MATERIAL AND DESERT DPM FABRICS EVOLVED FROM BRITISH DPM. ON 20TH JUNE 2013 MORE DETAIL WAS UNVEILED IN AN OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE, ALONG WITH THE ACCOMPANYING PHOTO ON THE RIGHT, AND IT WAS STATED THAT “ALL NZ ARMY REGULAR FORCE MEMBERS WILL HAVE THE NEW UNIFORMS BY NOVEMBER [2013] WHILE THE RESERVE FORCES WILL HAVE THE NEW CLOTHING SYSTEM BY OCTOBER 2014”.
58
Combat & Survival
nown as Multi-Terrain Camouflage Uniform, or MCU, the new garments are produced in a camouflage pattern designed by Hyperstealth Technologies, whose inventors were heavily involved in the design of the CADPAT and MARPAT digital camo patterns used by both Canadian and US military forces, but rather than being of conventional digital design the NZ MCU pattern blends macro and micro patterns to both disrupt body shape and introduce depth. The sample at the top right of this page (a photo of the back of a waterproof smock) has had the contrasts adjusted to better show the actual pattern. One of the MCU Project Managers, Captain Ian Leabourne, stated last June: “We have traditionally had our two patterns of uniform, one for the jungle and one for the desert.
However, with the operational environments we face today, we can be operating in a variety of terrains within one area. We needed something which would do the job in whatever environment we deploy to. This uniform, with its unique NZ Defence Force pattern, solves this issue.” The overall cost of the project has been given as $13.6 million over two years, which includes the complete uniform fit out for current Army personnel from the Regular and Reserve Forces, though Air Force personnel will continue to wear DPM. The soldier photographed here is a Staff Sergeant on attachment to Britain’s 3 Commando Brigade. Spotted during JOINT WARRIOR 14-1 in Scotland this April he is wearing a waterproof smock over combat shirt and trousers in MCU.
Working Knives
The Benchmade Knife Company located to Clackamas, Oregon, in 1990 after originally being founded in California two years before. Their initial products primarily consisted of BaliSong knives, which were made using a combination of outside vendors and inside processing to build finished products. Like many companies, starting out meant big plans but scarce money and using secondhand equipment with limited resources.
S
oon a passion to make the best knives in the world led to significant growth. As the Benchmade product line grew so did their in-house capabilities. They began to acquire new multi-axis machine centres and technologies, including laser technology, making Benchmade the first knife manufacturer to use such equipment in-house. Open minds and positive attitudes led to several more industry firsts over the course of several years. This was only the beginning of Benchmade breaking new ground in the manufactured knife market by using non traditional materials and modern manufacturing methods to build better knives.
BONE COLLECTOR Benchmade’s Bone Collector line of knives is designed for field use by the
60
Combat & Survival
1
Main image: The Bone Collector knife offers optimum performance from the field to the larder 1 & 2: The company broke new ground in the manufactured knife market by using non-traditional materials and modern manufacturing methods to build better knives 3: The leather sheath protects both the knife and the user and means that it can be carried safely on your belt Images ©
GREG ROBERTS
2
hunter; those who have true passion for being out in the woods and hills and for whom the hunting of game is a way of life. Designed in collaboration with Michael Waddell, the Bone Collector knives are built for performance in the field. I have been using a Benchmade Bone Collector fixed blade knife in the field while deer hunting; this fixed blade style is suitable for the gutting and cleaning of fish, fowl or game. The Blade Steel used in the Bone Collector knife is D2 hardened tool steel, which offers good corrosion resistance and wear resistance for hard use applications. Benchmade have developed a technique for heat treating their blade steels. This process maximises the steel’s molecular structure for toughness and performance. The blade is four inches (102 mm) long and 0.125 inches (3.17 mm) thick at its widest point. Its style is a modified clip
3
point. This tool steel has a Rockwell Hardness of 60–62 RHC. Overall length is eight inches (203 mm) and the weight is 3.46 oz (98.5 g). Also included with the knife is a leather sheath to both protect the knife and the user.
Walnut is used for the wooden handle and veneers are impregnated with dyes and resins. The wooden sheets are layered and compressed together at high temperature and pressure to adhere the veneers for a durable real wood handle. A version with a handle made from G10 composite material is also available.
4
4: Benchmade use several custom knife-makers’ knowledge and combine this with their in-house manufacturing expertise to offer innovations to knife users globally
I found this knife kept a keen edge and gave excellent performance when used in the field and larder. I carried the knife in its sheath on my belt and found its keen edge would easily cut through skin and sinew.
527 PRESIDIO ULTRA KNIFE A knife needs to be easy to actuate, be opened with one hand and be ambidextrous. These are all essential considerations when it comes to both knife mechanics and knife selection. Benchmade use several opening mechanisms, from the patented exclusive AXIS to more traditional lock back designs. It all comes down to your desired level of function. The Benchmade 527 Presidio weights 3.10 oz (88g) and has a plain blade 2.97” (75.4mm) long and 0.115” (2.9mm) thick made from 440C stainless steel, with a 58–60 HRC. The blade style is hollow ground drop point. The pocket clip is reversible for left or right pocket carry. With a Noryl GTX handle thickness of 0.5” (12.7mm), the 527 Presidio has an overall length of 7.12” (180mm) and the closed length is 4.15” (105.4mm). The blade is
Main image: The fixed blade Bone Collector easily slices through skin to bleed this deer after it was shot
locked open using the Benchmade AXIS Lock. AXIS Locking Mechanism: The AXIS blade locking mechanism is a patented Benchmade exclusive. An ambidextrous design, the AXIS gets its function from a small, hardened steel bar which rides forward and back in a slot machined into both steel liners. The bar extends to both sides of the knife, spanning the liners, and is positioned over the rear of the blade. It engages a ramped tang portion of the knife blade when it is opened. Two omega style springs, one on each liner, give the locking bar its inertia to engage the knife tang. As a result, the tang is wedged solidly between a sizeable stop pin and the AXIS bar itself. This mechanism is available in manual,
5: The Benchmade 527 Presidio weights 3.10 oz and has a plain blade 2.97” long and 0.115” thick 6: The Presidio pocket clip is reversible for left or right pocket carry.
5
6
assist or automatic configurations. Pocket Clip Carry: The carry-clip has been installed on the right side (or nonBenchmade logo side of blade) for right side pocket carry. If you prefer to clip carry the knife in the left side pocket, it is important that you remount the carry clip on the other side of the knife handle. This is recommended for ideal access and optimum user safety. The Benchmade Knife Company manufactures knives for a loyal and growing following of knife users around the globe. Their commitment to quality embodied in their motto ‘It’s Not Just a Knife. It’s a Benchmade’. For further information go to benchmade. com or in the UK see mindyourfingers.co.uk
Combat & Survival
61
PLUS Save 10% off cover price
BINDERS
From only £7.99! inc p+p Protect your copies of C&S in a tough, silver embossed binder
PLUS Free delivery to your door*
UK: £7.99 (Recorded) Europe: £11.99 (Airmail) Worldwide: £13.99 (Airmail)
Sub rates: 12 Issues UK: £42.66 Europe (Airmail): £49.95
How to subscribe...
Worldwide (Surface Mail): £49.95
Online at combatandsurvival.com Telephone: call 01484 435011 Post: return the form below
Worldwide (Airmail): £55.95 To receive your Turboflame Lighter just add the following for postage and packing: UK - Free of charge Europe: £8.10 Worldwide - £8.60
COMBAT & SURVIVAL - LOW PRICE SUBSCRIPTION OFFER (1 YEAR ONLY + FREE GIFT) YES! Please start my low-price subscription to Combat & Survival for 12 issues and send me my free Turboflame Lighter. Starting my subscription from issue: __________ YES! Please send me _____ C&S Binders. UK £7.99
Europe £11.99 (Air) Europe (Air) £49.95
World (Sur) £49.95
..........................................................................................
World (Air) £55.95
Please include P&P UK - FOC Europe - £8.10 Worldwide - £8.60 1 I enclose a cheque/PO made payable to MAI Publications Or Please charge my:
Visa
Mastercard
Credit Card Number: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Expiry Date: _ _ / _ _ Card Security Code: _ _ _ Issue No: _ _ Signed: ___________________________
Date: _____________
Surname: .......................................................................... Address: ............................................................................
World (Air) £13.99
Cheque/PO or credit card payment - 1 Year (12 Issues). UK £42.66
Forname: ..........................................................................
...............................................
Postcode: .......................
Tel:....................................................................................
Please indicate here if you do not wish to receive special offers from companies other than MAI Publications or if you are under 18 years of age. All gifts subject to availability. We reserve the right to substitute a gift of a similar value. Please allow 28 days for delivery.
Return your completed subscription to: MAI Publications, Revenue Chambers, St. Peter’s Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1DL ALL PAYMENT IN £ STERLING ONLY, THIS OFFER SUPERCEDES ALL PREVIOUS OFFERS
Personal Survival I have to say that cotton T-shirts tend to stay in the bottom of the drawer these days with many more modern fabrics available and far better-suited to outdoor and more active use. So it was with interest I gave this one a go. I have to say I am suitably impressed.
I
f you sweat in a standard cotton Tee it is not long before your mates forsake you. Well to really try this out I kept wearing this TAC Charged T-shirt for several days, when not only this but I was ‘busy’ and hot as well yet after several days it was still ‘sociable’. I also took it away on a hot climate trip and again it proved its worth. If this T-shirt was supplied in a tin I am sure what it said on the outside would be right.
This T-shirt from Under Armour is cotton rather than one of their more ‘technical’ fabrics but it is impressive
64
Combat & Survival
Product - UK Contact: Under Armour/Top of the Range Telephone/Web: 01937 830 500/top-of-the-range.co.uk
Spiro/Spiro 01206 798 131/spiroactivewear.com
Rogue/Kendrick Imports 08454 751 281/kendrickimports.com
1
For this review I have done something a bit different albeit, as it turned out, a very full-on test of the Nero’s capability.
I
have been involved with the Dartmoor Ten Tors event for many years, but this year was different for me. Our team had two entries into the Jubilee Challenge for the disabled and I was asked to help with this.
Connor set out on his manual wheelchair in reasonable early morning weather, but it was not too long before a series of punctures put an end to his chances. So after a period of high physical activity he had to sit and wait. As we all know, this is the time you can quickly get chill. More so if you are not able to walk about and keep the circulation going.
As luck would have it we were trialling a prototype tracked electric mobility vehicle (ETV) under development by Our final pre-event training day on Dartmoor was abysmal. Wind and rain, not Supacat Ltd. With rapid response nice. Connor did not have a suitable jacket from the British Army support team, we effected a swap and set off on and the Spiro Nero seemed ideal, so for the challenge once again. This done, the event and after, that was what he was the weather further deteriorated. The wearing. As it turned out, the event day challenge was truly on. was in even worse weather conditions; squally showers, driving rain, hail and With the powered chair now doing the wind. Typical of Dartmoor when it really wants to show why it has its reputation as work Connor had only to drive it and put up with the appalling weather. The a tough place. Certainly those who took Nero is aimed at exactly this type of use, part in the 2014 Ten Tors were tested. being waterproof, highly windproof and 3 breathable. All aspects of this were truly tested and Connor, hood up, remained dry and free from condensation throughout the Jubilee Challenge and for the rest of the day. A successful day all round.
2
1: Connor Dua-Harper at the start of the Ten Tors Jubilee Challenge in his manual chair wearing his Spiro Nero Jacket 2: Negotiating the ford as the rains set in - now on the Supacat ETV, still wearing the Spiro Nero 3: The Nero now doing its work in the incessant driving rain of Dartmoor
I have long been a fan of Rogue hats, who now have a wide and varied range. It could be the South African origin or the fit, perhaps the look, but certainly the practicality.
I
have been holding back this one, the Buffalo Breezy, for an appropriate trip; hot and sunny. At last I was off and able to give it some appropriate use. The Buffalo leather used on this hat is really nice, feels good and smells great. It is certainly durable. The ‘breezy’ is as it says really. A cotton mesh section in the hat allows for good air flow through it and over the head so in hot conditions you do not get too ‘hot headed’. It works well, as I was wearing this hat on quite hot days and it proved to be very comfortable indeed, keeping the sun off my eyes and also protecting the back of my neck.
Left: Rogue Buffalo Breezy and Matopos Shirt in appropriate climate and conditions Images © or via Mike Gormley
Just hope the UK summer will give me some good reason to wear it in the UK rather than have to wait for further appropriate overseas trips. Whichever, it will be on my kit list for a long time to come. It is a long time since I was in the Matopos Hills in Zimbabwe, a World Heritage site. So having this shirt from Rogue brings back good memories. The Matopos short sleeve shirt is a 100% cotton shirt made in South Africa for bush conditions, so is tough and will last. It has a comfortable fit, well suited to hot and dusty outdoor use. As with the Rogue Breezy hat, I had to wait for the right conditions in which to try this and it did what it should on hot long days travelling about. It looks smart (I think!) and feels good. Another good product from the Rogue range.
Combat & Survival
65
Product - UK Contact: Snugpak/Snugpak Telephone/Web: 01535 654 479/snugpak.com
Lizard/Anatom 08000 323 505/anatom.co.uk
Care Plus/Keeble Care 01284 763 152/keeblecare.co.uk
5
7
Personal Survival
6
8
We are often in need of something a bit warm to keep off the chill and waterproof enough to keep any showers at bay but do not want a load of bulk and weight to carry with us in the ’just in case’ role. On my recent trip away, I took the Vapour Active Jacket from Snugpak (I mourn the demise of the Vapour Active Smock, now no longer in the Snugpak inventory and one of my favourites!).
Above: The Snugpak Vapour Active Jacket in conditions not associated with chill and rain but where in fact it comes in very handy at times
I
5: The Lizards – aptly named – showing the simple but grippy soles and secure footbeds
n these days of budget airlines and trying to carry all you need in ‘hand baggage’, light and compact is essential and this jacket is perfect. It tucks away at the base of my SqueezyJet-approved size rucksack and acts as a safety buffer for my cameras etc but is there ready to come out if it rains or gets chill. On my last trip, I did get a bit caught out as it was cooler than expected of an evening and of course at some point we have to come home to Blighty and there is every chance of a significant temperature drop and rain as we leave the airport. Aside from travels, this is a very handy jacket to have around and highly capable at keeping out rain. My Smock version never ceases to amaze me just how waterproof it is for a non-waterproof garment. A really useful jacket that will perform above it’s apparent weight and specification. Made in UK, it is available in civvy and military colours.
66
Combat & Survival
4: The collar has a foldaway hood which is perfectly adequate for this type of jacket.
6: The soles of the Lizards have good cushioning and raised sides to make them secure and offer some protection - the straps enable a good fit according to circumstances 7: The Care Plus Travel set is a really handy pack of useful items 8: Foot Protector Stick is a convenient size to carry for times away for home
I like to wear sandals but I do like a pair that offer comfort and reasonable protection and can be adjusted not only to get them to fit but also to suit what you are doing at the time. Loose to allow for sand and stones to drop out, or tight if rock-hopping and you need them to be secure. I also, perhaps most important, need the soles to grip and especially if on smooth, wet surfaces.
I
am pleased to report that these Lizards have ticked all the boxes during my trip away, when they were my prime item of footwear. The foot unit is leather-covered for comfort and also shaped to hold the foot, being raised around the edges to offer some protection. Three of the four straps adjust and they are well padded for comfort. Although I did not ‘hike’ in these sandals I did spend a lot of time wearing them and would certainly use them for long walks in appropriate conditions.
4
The traveller often does not want, or need, a huge container of lotions and potions to carry along and it is often difficult if not impossible to decant such products. So I think this is a really handy idea from Care Plus / Keeble Care. If out for the day, or just on a short trip away, these can easily be taken with you for those times you might need them.
I
know from past experience that Care Plus products work and on my last trip, I had need for the Bite Relief – it was effective in seconds and I only required one application. The Foot Protector Stick I also made good use of, and again it worked to leave my feet feeling good while they were exposed to all as I wore sandals or had bare feet for most of a week. All worth a look in my view.
T
here has been a recent plethora of books written by Regular and Reserve officers from both sides of the Atlantic on how to lead and manage, especially once they had gained some operational experience in Afghanistan, but before all the corporate entities stand to attention and march their staff up and down the square in some Monty Pythonesque parody, to ensure staff are more productive and motivated, let’s take a little peek at reality. One thing managers and leaders of both civilian organisations and the military do is communicate the organisation’s mission or vision throughout. In every unit and corporate corridor, personnel will be able to see what the leaders think the company does. Heads of armed forces and directors of companies are now more visible than ever to all of their staff and regularly brief them on what changes are occurring. Top to bottom communications or an ‘all informed net’ are essential to stop a situation occurring where ‘in the absence of information, people form opinions-and they are never good ones’. A difference between the two is that the military vision or mission doesn’t
mention making profit, which is the very reason commercial organisations exist. Yet despite this difference the perpetual lack of money and resources are an issue for both. Any commercial organisation grows by investing profit in new staff and during a growth period everyone is working at maximum capacity until there is enough money to hire more. Military personnel suffer the same pain as under-manning is an issue. The gaps in this case are due to lack of recruitment and retention. The military’s size has been dictated by political will and the nature and size of our enemies and yet now, despite the political rhetoric that this is still the case, the structure of the military post 2020 is driven very much by what the government can afford. Something the military do right is that they train their managers at all levels in management skills as well as the technical skills
required for their post. In the civilian world, people are usually in managerial positions because they are skilled at the job required. People become head of an engineering department because they are good engineers, not because they are good managers. That said, there are good and bad managers in both the military and outside as being taught management is one thing, but
MILITARY OR CIVILIAN STYLE MANAGEMENT Is One Really Better Than the Other? - By Robert Shaw
68
Combat & Survival
IMAGE © BOB MORRISON : MILITARY SCENE
An article in a daily paper this month brought out an interesting point about military leadership. The author pointed out that the way military lead their personnel and conduct meetings of senior staff was different to the way in which commercial organisations manage theirs and that civilians should learn from the military way of doing things (such as holding meetings on top of a mountain in Scotland)!
ROBERT SHAW OF OPTIMAL RISK MANAGEMENT LTD. (OPTIMALRISK.COM) IS A FORMER BRITISH ARMY ATO AND IEDD/ WIS OPERATOR TURNED EOD THREAT AND COUNTER-IED TRAINER AND CONSULTANT.
Security Industry whether you learn it is another. Another aspect is that, good or bad, military leaders lead by authority; whatever they say goes, whereas the civilian manager has to negotiate and influence as civilian organisational structures tend to be flatter and less hierarchical. Although the military and civilian organisations have personnel that are motivated in very different ways, one thing does unite all people and that is it’s not just about earning enough to bring home the bacon, but being able to eat it in dignity too! As long as people feel they are valued and that their managers are looking out for them they stay and support the organisation. If they don’t, people leave. Gone are the days when the Armed Forces could hold onto people because they were caught in the ‘pension trap’. Now that government pension plans are at their lowest value many military personnel are leaving early, especially as operations draw to a close (one of the main motivators for professional soldiers is that they will have the opportunity to go on operations). Teams tend to be smaller in civilian organisations and yet there are issues that seem to be common to all, such as people being promoted just to move them away from a department as they are ineffective or promotion being dependent on whether the manager who writes your evaluation likes you and wants you to get promoted. It would seem that we all like to surround ourselves with people who are similar to ourselves and agree with our views and biases. As a new commander or director takes over his post, he will bring staff in with him that he knows and trusts and will remove those he doesn’t like. So the perception that there is a difference between military and civilian management is just that, a perception. It all really boils down to human beings and their nature, complex networks of relationships, likes, dislikes, needs and biases.
Book Review
1
There can be few readers of this magazine who have not owned or read the handy little SOLDIER’S POCKET BOOK, which has been around for almost as long as C&S has been a monthly magazine and I suspect quite a few of our sniper and sharpshooter readers will have read the more recent SNIPER’S POCKET BOOK from the same publisher too. The PERSONAL SECURITY POCKET BOOK is the latest in this series and by the time you read this review it will be on sale in both print and App formats from the Military Pocket Books Ltd team.
A
imed primarily at those heading overseas for work, be they civilian or military, this 232-page pocket sized publication also offers loads of sage advice applicable to adventurers, independent travellers, backpackers, gap year students and ordinary tourists too. Indeed, as one who has authored sections on travel security in a number of AngloAmerican Survival books I would suggest that anyone heading off for foreign parts for the first time, or leaving the beaten track on holiday, should read this one. Broken down into 18 self-contained and well thought out chapters, covering everything from general Travel Tips to Risks to Personal Security to Pre-Planning to Kidnap & Ransom, it is further broken down into bite-sized chunks which can be absorbed in isolation when you have
Main Image: Melissa browsing our advance copy of the Personal Security Pocket Book on a recent flight down to Andalucia 1: Produced by the Military Pocket Books team it was written with input from HASP Training who are Hostile Environment Speciaslists 2: The PSPB is small enough to slip into handbag or jeans pocket and formatted for both quick reference or reading when you have a few spare minutes Model:
MELISSA TONGUE
a spare minute or two. The closing chapter is literally a Who, What & Where of what to pack for emergencies and who to contact before leaving for training and advice. Very handy indeed.
2
Published by John Harris, PSPB is written and illustrated by Rupert Godesen of HASP Training Ltd., the Hostile Environment Specialists, but Dr. Sarita Robinson, a psychologist who has worked for the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the Health Protection Agency, and the Norwegian Defence Intelligence and Security School has made a major contribution on the K&R (kidnap & ransom) side. The PERSONAL SECURITY POCKET BOOK is available through any UK bookshop but can also be purchased online through milpkbk. co.uk and if you buy the book direct you get the App for free as a bonus.
Combat & Survival
69
Rations
It has been said a million times before, and it is very doubtful that Napoleon Bonaparte was the first to say it, but an army really does march on its stomach. On the modern battlefield there is even less chance of living off the land in the way that Napoleon’s troop’s opponents were often expected to do, so the individual combat ration pack is an essential part of the kit carried by almost every frontline soldier today, be that in or on his vehicle or in his pack and webbing.
W
hen we commenced this occasional series on ration packs back in the December 2008 issue one of the two we covered was the Dutch GEVECHTS RANTSOEN ONTBIJT & LUNCH VOOR 24 UUR (or Combat Ration Breakfast & Lunch For 24 Hours) which consisted of a cardboard carton plus a separate tinned Main Meal; expiry date was November 2008 suggesting it was probably 2007 vintage. The current Handelsgebruikelijke ontbijt / lunch componenten (which I translate as Commercial Components Breakfast / Lunch) pack, issued recently to Dutch Marines on JOINT WARRIOR 14-1 in
70
Combat & Survival
Main Image: This Dutch exercise ration was issued to troops on JOINT WARRIOR 14-1 as a simple cardboard carton accompanied by two main courses in retort pouches
1
1: The upended contents with the crackers, which took up nearly half of the carton volume, on their side behind everything else 2 :Spreads consisted of two tubs of jam, two of cheese, one of pâté, one of vegetarian spread and one of peanut butter 3: The two waffles are individually wrapped and inside the box there are three cellophane packs each containing four crackers
2
3
Scotland, is very similar but the heavy main course tins have been replaced by more modern foil retort pouches. When this carton, produced in December 2013 with an expiry date of June 2014, was issued to troops in March the temperature was still very low and a higher daily calorie intake was desirable which possibly explains why two main course retort pouches were issued per man. The 400g pouches I was given were Spinazie met vleesballetjes and Hachee met Parijse aardappelen (Spinach with Meatballs and Stew with Parisian Potatoes). Both were commercially produced in The Netherlands (by Kingsfood of Voorthuizen), could be eaten either hot or cold, required 7 to 8 minutes immersion in boiling water if heated, and were of high quality. Almost half of the volume of the carton was taken up by a commercial box of twelve BAKKERS CRACKERS, packed in fours and wrapped in cellophane, for which various jams and spreads in foil topped tubs were included in the main carton. There were also two individually wrapped caramel waffles included along with a block of very good quality high calorie chocolate. Our Dutch friends must have a sweet tooth or two apiece, as the drinks powders supplied included two of cocoa in addition to two
Main Image: One sachet of energy drink powder, two sticks of dextrose tablets, a stick of soft mints and a pack of dental chewing gum cater for the sweet-toothed
4
4: Hot drink powders include two sachets of coffee and two of creamer, two of cocoa, one of beef stock, one of vegetable stock and two teabags 5: One seal-able plastic bag contains a box of matches while the other holds a bar of chocolate, four sachets of sugar, two of salt and two toothpicks - there is also a pack of tissues 6: The main courses are supplied in conventional silver retort pouches which are in turn packed in cellophane outers with ingredients and instructions labelling
coffee sachets, two tea bags, two stock sachets and a fruit energy drink sachet. Continuing with the sweet tooth theme, there were also a stick of soft mints, two sticks of hard dextrose tablets and a pack of mint tooth-cleaning chewing gum. Other accessories included a pack of tissues, a box of matches, toothpicks, sugar, salt and creamer for the coffee.
5
6
Just like the Dutch ration pack we covered back in 2008, I would say that the best feature about the Handelsgebruikelijke ontbijt / lunch componenten is that it is ideal for snacking if you are constantly on the move, though the contents might get a bit repetitious.
Combat & Survival
71
Book Review
Over the last couple of months I seem to have spent afair bit of time sitting on trains and hanging around airport Departures lounges so I have been using the opportunity to catch up on my reading. This near 900-page novel has attracted a massive amount of media hype since publication in hardback last year, so when a few weeks back I spotted the more recently released paperback version on sale at half price on my local High Street I just put my hand in my pocket and bought it rather than asking the publisher to send a freebie for review. At time of writing I am still only two thirds of the way through this epic, but I have read (and absorbed) so much that I don’t see any need to wait until I finish it to recommend it to you. Not only is this one, which tells the tales of an investigator and a terrorist as fate slowly draws them together, an easy read but some of the issues it raises are quite thought-provoking and very topical indeed. However I won’t give the
game away by delving into the plot; safe to say that it skilfully weaves together the murder of a woman in New York, the public beheading of a father in the Arab world, the gruesome demise of a state torturer in a country now torn asunder by civil war, the horrendous deaths of decent people kidnapped in Afghanistan and what may well be the ultimate 21st Century ‘weapon of mass destruction’ cobbled together in a makeshift laboratory. Like my favourite novel writer Lee Child, whose 19th Jack Reacher novel is due out at the end of August, Terry Hayes was born in England but now lives in the United States. After emigrating to Australia as a child Hayes trained and worked as a journalist before changing career and becoming a major screenwriter in Los Angeles. In this his first novel it looks like his journalism training and notable Hollywood career have provided a superb foundation and it is little wonder he has received such praise for this great tale. Published by Corgi, the paperback version has a very low cover price of £7.99 but if you are fast you could pick up a copy for just half this. Even at full price, this novel is worth every penny. Highly Recommended.
Whenever I have downtime abroad I tend not to be one of those people who just fries in the sun by the hotel pool or loafs around on the beach, preferring to take in a little bit of local culture wherever possible, and visiting historic castles and ruins seems to come quite high on my list. Indeed while in Cyprus and Jordan recently I spent more than the odd hour or two looking at Ottoman and Crusader fortifications and only last week I even spent a couple of nights in a restored Moorish castle in the de la Frontera region of Spain. I cannot profess to be an expert on the Templar era (1119 to 1312) so when the paperback version of this novel landed on my mat just before I headed off to Cyprus, an island sold to the Knights Templar military order by King Richard I, it seemed logical to take it with me for light reading and I am glad that I did as although it is a fictional work its author has tried to be as accurate to history as possible. It certainly is an interesting read and I have made a note to self to try to pick up one of his many previous Templar themed novels. Cover price for this 550-page paperback from Simon & Schuster is £7.99
72
Combat & Survival
Definitely not my usual period of interest, but once I started browsing through this one I felt I had to read it right through to the end as it speedily blew away many of my misconceptions about the ‘redskins’ which a boyhood diet of Hollywood cowboy films had instilled in me. Published by The Robson Press, this 414-page hardback has a UK cover price of £20 which possibly puts it outside the focus of many of our readers but if the Wild West is your field of interest it should be well worth the investment.
74
Combat & Survival