Combat and survival november 2014 by Sudden

Website: www.combatandsurvival.com Editor: Bob Morrison Editor’s Assistant: Jitka Cajova Designer: Ashley Lockwood Senior Correspondent: Carl Schulze 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

P09 Special Forces KAMPFSCHWIMMER

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Carl Schulze photographs Germany’s elite Naval Special Forces on their 50th Anniversary

P18 European Forces MALTESE MILITARY

Bob Morrison photographs the Armed Forces of Malta on their 40th Birthday and the Republic’s 50th Anniversary

P25 Survival IMPORTANCE OF FIRE

Jason Polley discusses the benefits, preparation and lighting of a fire

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Carl Schulze follows a Romanian Armoured Battlegroup on their first major exercise in Germany

P37 Special Operations KING’S CHALLENGE P37

Bob Morrison photographs the AFM’s new British-inspired genuine pattern MultiCam uniform

Bob Morrison reports from Amman on an 71st Counter-Terrorist Battalion demonstration

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. 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.

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Bob Morrison brings us more action photos from the elite 6th WARRIOR COMPETITION

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Bob Morrison visits the warehouse of the Sussex suppliers to military forces at home and abroad

P60 Opinion THE COLONEL COMMENTS P09 The Colonel now out of uniform gives us his views on what is wrong with the British Army

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P63 Outdoor Gear TRIED & TESTED

Mike Gormley trials a mid-layer, a daysack, boots, a watertight phone case and new MultiCam SF jacket & trousers

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P68 Security ISLAMIC STATE Robert Shaw asks: What now? P05 : Comms P44 & 70 : Reviews P58 : Books

November 14 Cover Image: © Carl Schulze © M.A.I. Publications 2014

Combat & Survival

In mid-September 40 Commando undertook an amphibious landing in Albania as part of the COUGAR ‘14 deployment [Crown Copyright: POA(Phot) Sean Clee]

Over the third weekend in September some of B Squadron from the Light Dragoons participated on the multinational Ex. RAPID TRIDENT in Ukraine [Crown Copyright: Cpl Jamie Peters] Hong Kong and the Chinese issue is an unknown quantity at the moment, but gut reaction is that China will probably back off a little on the democracy clampdown as the last thing it needs is any form of Western trade embargo affecting its current commercial growth. Having seen just how fearsome China’s Special Ops guys are one has to wonder if maybe the People’s Liberation Army is just as capable, and if they are things could turn nasty in HK. We will find out more about Chinese Forces next month as our Far East Correspondent, Gordon Arthur, had already submitted a fascinating feature on the PLA before the current protests kicked off.

In late September A Company of 3 Para participated on Ex. ANAKONDA in Poland alongside Polish Paras [Crown Copyright: Cpl Andy Reddy ] The big stories as this issue of C&S goes to print are: the commencement of Operation SHADER, the UK’s strike contribution to the Air War against the insurgency in The Levant which is calling itself Islamic State; there is civil unrest on the streets of Hong Kong as the Chinese authorities try to impose restrictions on forthcoming elections; those given a free vote in Scotland have rejected Independence by a reasonable majority; and, although there are indications that the Ukrainian Government and Russian separatists are beginning to find common ground for negotiation, the Russian Bear is showing little indication of going back into hibernation. We live in

interesting times, but at least the British Army is not going to be further weakened by losing the Scottish Regiments and support formations.

he biggest worry is probably not that the Ruskies will start off World War Three, as sooner or later they will have to work alongside the NATO and Gulf States coalition to prevent fundamentalism further afflicting their nation too. The big fear is that ‘mission creep’ will see British Land Forces being sucked into The Levant (the Eastern Mediterranean region) as the only way to hold ground is to put boots on it, and arming potential future enemies to hold that ground is really not a good idea. Afghanistan and, to some extent Syria, has proved that beyond doubt. My enemy’s enemy is not always my friend.

Finally, as can be seen from the photos on this page, the autumn exercise season is well and truly underway on the European Mainland. Unfortunately, however, the Whitehall spin machine is at work generating propaganda which they wish us to publish for them and access for specialist media to independently cover the events has not been forthcoming. One wonders what they are trying to hide. Could it be low troop numbers participating or could it be lack of suitable equipment? Maybe the clues, such as nobody wearing even basic eye protection and many troops carrying non-matching webbing and bergens etc., lie in the few photos that have been released so far. Incidentally, despite further requests for dates to allow us to cover the much-vaunted Exercise BLACK EAGLE in Poland, two full months down the line the renamed Department of Defence Communications has still not got its act together and communicated! - BM

Combat & Survival

The Kampfschwimmer are the Special Forces of the German Navy, in just the same way that the Special Boat Service (SBS) is the Special Forces unit of the Royal Navy. April 2014 saw the Kampfschwimmer kompanie celebrating its 50th anniversary, while at the same time becoming part of the newly formed Kommando SpezialkrĂ¤fte der Marine (KSM). This anniversary struck us as a good enough reason to bring C&S readers a short update on the German Naval SF, accompanied by images taken this summer, and to brief you on their history.

A two man Kampfschwimmer team armed with 5.56mm G36K A2 carbines goes ashore - they wear desert combats over their diving suits as these provide the best camouflage in the surf zone

Combat & Survival

The H1010 DJ RHIB is powered by two Yanmar 6LY2A-STP engines that together develop 850hp and are connected to two Kamewa Type FF240 waterjets - it can reach a top speed of well above 50 knots

ranslated into English the term Kampfschwimmer just means combat diver, but in reality these operators are much more. They are highly trained Special Forces personnel who, among other skills, are trained in the science of diving and, in addition to conducting missions in the water, they employ this skill as a means of infiltration to reach their objective as well as for exfiltration.

in crisis regions such as in the waters off Lebanon and Somalia. They might also reconnoitre enemy-held harbours and naval installations in support of preparations for an attack or a noncombatant evacuation operation. Strikes against vital harbour infrastructure and command posts can also be carried out by the Kampfschwimmer, as well as attacks on key personnel such as high ranking officers.

Today the Kampfschwimmer have the following main missions:• Conduct special reconnaissance missions in crisis and conflict zones in order to gain key information • Conduct offensive and direct action missions in order to neutralise the threat caused by terrorists and irregular forces • Conduct hostage rescue operations • Conduct covert operations • Conduct force protection missions for own personnel and assets when these are deployed under unusual circumstances • Provide foreign forces with training support in the science of combat diving and small unit amphibious warfare skills • Arrest or neutralise targets with a high tactical and strategic value both in the maritime environment and ashore

OLDEST GERMAN SPECIAL FORCES

Kampfschwimmer are trained to conduct opposed boardings in order to seize ships that are in the hands of conventional enemy forces, pirates or terrorists and can also protect ships of the German Navy from attacks under the surface, for example when serving

Combat & Survival

Within the German Armed Forces the Kampfschwimmer are the Special Forces with the longest history. In 1955 the Bundeswehr was newly established as the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany, which included also a naval branch called Marine. While establishing an amphibious capability within the German Navy it was discovered that there was a requirement for trained Kampfschwimmer. In 1958 work was begun to establish a Kampfschwimmer unit, instructors were trained at the École de Pologée de la Marine diving school of the French Navy in Saint Mandrier sur Mer in southern France. A year later in 1959 the Kampfschwimmerzug, a combat diver platoon, was officially formed as part of the Strandmeister kompanie or beachmaster company based on the island of Borkum. In the same year a first batch of 13 soldiers began their training at the naval base at List on the island of Sylt to become Kampfschwimmer.

Above: With his 9mm P8C Combat Pistol ready a Kampfschwimmer boards a vessel using a boarding ladder - as not coming ashore he does not wear camouflage pattern uniform over his diving suit

The main mission of the Kampfschwimmer back then was to assist in the preparation of amphibious landings, for example by conducting underwater and beach reconnaissance tasks. In 1963 the Kampfschwimmer moved from Borkum to their current base in Eckernförde and in 1964 the platoon was restructured into an independent company designated Kampfschwimmer

kompanie and assigned directly under the command of the Amphibische Gruppe (amphibious forces) of the German Navy.

Bundeswehr in order to test local security arrangements.

Dated 1st April 1964 the formation order Aufstellungsbefehl Nummer 124 for the Kampfschwimmer kompanie listed the following tasks for it: conducting combat diver missions against ships, docks, port infrastructure, sluices and so on; beach reconnaissance; and conducting special operations. In addition to this the company was also tasked with training new Kampfschwimmer and ensuring that combat ready Kampfschwimmer were keeping their operational edge.

As a reaction to the Munich Massacre by Palestinian terrorists of the Black September group during the 1972 Olympic Games the Grenzschutzgruppe 9 counter terrorist unit was formed within the German border police. The newly formed GSG 9 included an amphibious element and the Kampfschwimmer kompanie played a major role in its formation and training. In return the Kampfschwimmer gained an insight into the art of conducting counter-terrorist operations, today this being part of their major missions.

Kampfschwimmer training was now partly conducted at List on the island of Sylt and partly in Eckernförde with the basic diving training taking place at List while open water diving and tactical training was conducted at Eckernförde. During this time the Kampfschwimmer were first also required to pass the parachute course and the Einzelkämpfer irregular warfare, Survival, Escape and Evasion course at the Luftlande- und Lufttransportschule (airborne forces school) of the German Army in Altenstadt during their initial training. The Kampfschwimmer kompanie now had acquired a sea/air/ land capability and regularly practised it during exercises. During Exercise HOP CROC, a shortcut for hopping crocodile, for example a platoon of Kampfschwimmer was inserted at last light by parachute, then infiltrated by foot to the coast and on the third day attacked naval assets in a port using their diving skills. The unit was also regularly employed to simulate attacks on strategically important infrastructure of the

COUNTER TERRORISM AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Today the GSG 9 and the Kampfschwimmer still maintain a close link; annually GSG 9 operators take part in the diving training of the Kampfschwimmer and regularly the units conduct counter-terrorist exercises together in maritime environment. In 1980 even an official document was signed that ratified the cooperation of the Kampfschwimmer and the GSG 9 in the fields of equipment development and training. The 1970s also saw the Kampfschwimmer forging closer links to similar units of other NATO members such as the Special Boat Service (SBS) of the Royal Navy, the Frømandskorps of the Royal Danish Navy and the SEALs of

1: The Dräger LAR 5010 re-breather allows the Kampfschwimmer to conduct tactical diving operations down to a depth of 10m due to its closed circuit it does not produce compromising air bubbles [Bundeswehr: Andrea Bienert] 2: View from above into an H1010 DJ Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) of the Kampfschwimmer kompanie - note the 12.7mm M2QCB heavy machineguns fore and aft Left: Using compressed air the REBS launcher can project a grapnel with an attached lightweight rope ladder for boarding to a height of 20 metres - the grapnel is made of high strength aluminium

the US Navy. Cooperation with the Bad Tölz based 10th Special Forces Group of the US Army was also intensified. The cooperation with the SEALs was highly productive, the Germans helping the SEALs to regain their combat diver skills which they had partly lost during their excessive Vietnam War employment and introduced them to the latest diving technology, such as Dräger LAR rebreather systems, while in turn the Kampfschwimmer learned a lot about striking against land targets from the sea or rivers as well as about riverine warfare. In 1974 the Kampfschwimmer kompanie moved into newly built barracks in Eckernförde. Around the same time it became fully responsible for all parts of the Kampfschwimmer training and a training platoon was established under its command. The personnel of the company was supplemented by a dive doctor and other specialists. On the mission side, it was now planned by the German Navy to employ the Kampfschwimmer more offensively as a means of naval warfare in case the Cold War turned hot. In fact, the employment of the Kampfschwimmer was regarded as a means of force protection for naval shipping and installations as they were to neutralise threats long before these could result in any damage. The Kampfschwimmer kompanie was even assigned high value targets on the territory of the German Democratic

Combat & Survival

Republic, some of them being situated far inland, that would have to be neutralised in case of a conflict. The late 1970s and 1980s saw the combat capabilities of the Kampfschimmer being drastically improved. This was partly achieved by the invention of new equipment such as Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB) and the P11 underwater pistol. The Kampfschwimmer now also regularly trained under different climatic conditions, for example in Tropical or Arctic zones. The opposed boarding of ships and oil rigs was also now part of the standard training conducted by the Kampfschwimmer.

SEEBATAILLON COMMAND AND THE WAFFENTAUCHER GRUPPE From December 1988 onwards the Kampfschwimmer kompanie fell under command of the newly formed Seebataillon, which also included the Strandmeister kompanie (beachmaster company). During the time of the 1991 Gulf War, German Navy ships were deployed to the Mediterranean and later, after the end of hostilities, were sent to clear mines in the Persian Gulf. This deployment is regarded as the first out-of-area operation of the Bundeswehr; for force protection purposes, a large proportion of the personnel of the Kampfschwimmer

Combat & Survival

Above: After hiding their Dräger LAR 5010 re-breathers a Kampfschwimmer team advances to its objective - note the well camouflaged 5.56mm G36K A2 carbine of the Kampfschwimmer in the foreground 3: The smallest tactical Kampfschwimmer asset is a two-man team known as Rotte - here a Rotte can be seen advancing underwater to an objective through the murky waters of a port basin [Bundeswehr: Andrea Bienert] 4: Kampfschwimmer are highly trained Special Forces operators that literally can be employed anywhere in the world for nearly any type of Spec Ops mission

kompanie. On the mission side, the offensive tasks of the Kampfschwimmer were cut back and again reconnaissance and force protection for naval assets became the main focus. A new task was Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), requiring the Kampfschwimmer to be able to search for downed aircraft and rescue their crews at open sea and in coastal areas. Another task given to the company was to conduct Explosive Ordnance Recognition (EOR).

kompanie was embarked on the ships. In October 1991, triggered by the end of the Cold War, the Seebataillon was disbanded as a result of the changes in the German Navy structure. The Kampfschwimmer kompanie together with the Minentaucher kompanie (mine clearance diver company) was now assigned to the newly formed Waffentaucher gruppe (armed divers group) which in turn fell under the command of the Flottille der Minenstreitkräfte (mine warfare flotilla). The Waffentaucher gruppe also included two training and support vessels for mine clearance divers and a newly established Ausbildungs kompanie (training company) that was responsible for the training of new Kampfschwimmer and Minentaucher. Along with this restructuring went a reduction of the strength of the Kampfschwimmer

From 1993 to 1996, the German Navy took part in Operation SHARP GUARD in the Adriatic Sea, the NATO-led blockade off the coast of the former Yugoslavia while a bloody civil war was fought in the country. Aboard the German ships Kampfschwimmer served as boarding teams, over the years conducting some 260 boarding operations, searching suspicious vessels for any sign of arms smuggling. Parallel to the employment of Kampfschwimmer under Operation SHARP GUARD, elements of the Kampfschwimmer kompanie also saw action in Somalia in 1994. They provided security for the extraction of the last German UNOSOM II contingent which boarded ships of the German Navy in the port of Mogadishu. In addition to conducting force protection operations for the involved ships, the Kampfschwimmer also conducted counter-terrorist and counter-sniper operations on land in support of the withdrawing land forces.

SPEZIALISIERTE EINSATZKRÄFTE MARINE (SEK M) In September 1997 the German Army established its own Special Forces unit with the Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK).

Continued on page 14

Continuing from page 12 The KSK was formed as reaction on the Rwanda crisis, during which German hostages had to be freed by Belgian troops due to the fact that that no suitable German forces for the job were thought to be available. The Kampfschwimmer or even the Kommando kompanien commando companies within the airborne brigades of the German Army certainly would have been able to fulfil the task, but let us not get caught in politics. Like the GSG 9 previously, the KSK was also to have an amphibious element and again the Kampfschwimmer assisted in its formation and training. Today both units are still bound by a close relationship, with training conducted jointly and personnel regularly exercising together. In 2003 the Waffentaucher gruppe was transformed into the Spezialisierte Einsatzkräfte Marine (SEK M) or Maritime Special Forces. Under the HQ of the SEK M fell the Kampfschwimmer kompanie, the Minentaucher kompanie, a newly established Boarding Kompanie, the Ausbildungs inspektion (training centre), two utility landing

Combat & Survival

craft, a diver training vessel and a special vessel for the execution of counter-mine diver operations. The restructuring was supposed to join all amphibious, specialist and Special Forces assets of the German Navy under one HQ in order to streamline training, personnel management and so on. In 2005 a joint command for the operational employment of the Special Forces of the Bundeswehr was established with the creation of the Kommando Führung Operationen von Spezialkräften (Kdo FOSK), which was later integrated into the Einsatzführungs kommando der Bundeswehr (armed forces operations command). Under a joint concept for Special Operations introduced at the same time the Kampfschwimmer were given the task of dealing with the seaward proportion of Special Operations, including special surveillance and reconnaissance, direct action and military assistance as well as to conduct non combatant evacuation operations and hostage rescue operations within the maritime environment. The Kampfschwimmer are also tasked to provide support to the KSK of the German Army whenever this is required, for example during the infiltration and exfiltration phase of a Special Forces operation.

Main Image: The H1010 DJ RHIB is 10metres long and 3.5 metres wide with a draught of 610mm - its hull is glass fibre reinforced plastic and it has a payload of 2,182kg with a gross weight of 8,004kg Right: Over their diving suits these Kampfschwimmer wear the Tactical Harness1000 made by Dräger which features a MOLLE system to allow easy fitting of magazine, radio and other types of pouches

ISAF, UNIFIL AND ATALANTA

From 2004 to date Kampfschwimmer have been repeatedly deployed to Afghanistan, serving as part of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM or with the German International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) contingent. Together with

KSK operators they were employed in the land-locked country with very few inland waters to fight Al-Qaeda and to conduct operations against the Taliban in support of the conventional ISAF forces. Simultaneously, from 2006 onwards Kampfschwimmer were deployed on German Navy vessels belonging to the maritime component of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The main mission of the maritime component is to secure the coast of Lebanon and to prevent any arms smuggling. Therefore the Kampfschwimmer were mainly employed to conduct force protection tasks for the deployed German ships as well as to conduct visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations. With the sky-rocketing pirate activity in the waters off Somalia, the EU-led multinational counter-piracy Operation ATALANTA was launched. German Navy ships have been employed off the Somali coast since 2008. Personnel of the Boarding Kompanie and Kampfschwimmer are based aboard the German ships with the former tasked to conduct VBSS operations while the latter are earmarked for opposed boardings, missions to immobilise pirate vessels or to free crews held as hostages by the pirates.

KOMMANDO SPEZIALKRÄFTE DER MARINE (KSM) On 1st April, 2014, exactly 50 years after it was first formed, the Kampfschwimmer kompanie was placed under the newly formed Kommando Spezialkräfte der Marine (KSM). By forming the KSM the German Navy established an independent command for its Special Forces in order to improve their ability to deal with current and future operations. Training, further education, development of new equipment and tactics, service support and so on are now under one umbrella. In addition to the Kampfschwimmer kompanie, the KSM includes an HQ element, a training element responsible for the Kampfschwimmer training, a medical section and a support and maintenance element, all in all approximately 150 personnel, of which some 60 are fully trained, combat ready Kampfschwimmer. The KSM is able to provide Kampfschwimmer assets for two independent Special Forces operations, of which one could be sustained for a longer period of time. These operations can be conducted anywhere worldwide under any type of climate, including Arctic winter weather, Tropical hot and humid weather and arid hot and dry weather. The Kampfschwimmer kompanie today is itself divided into a command

5: During an opposed boarding operation a Kampfschwimmer armed with a 5.56mm G36K A1 carbine emerges from the deep close to the target vessel. 6: Kampfschwimmer use Bio-Fin-Pro split fins made by Apollo Sports Inc. (USA) seen here attached by a carabiner - the 20° angled blades of the fins reduce fatigue while giving maximum swimming speed Images © Carl Schulze unless noted

element, three operational elements called Einsatzteams and the tactical support elements for sea, land and air operations; known as Einsatzgruppe See, Einsatzgruppe Land and Einsatzgruppe Luft. The tactical support elements are manned by specially trained NCOs who are, however, not Kampfschwimmer but specialists who for example operate the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIB) of the Kampfschwimmer kompanie.

KAMPFSCHWIMMER TRAINING The training to become a fully operational Kampfschwimmer takes three years, is very challenging and regarded as one of the toughest within the German Armed Forces. Only NCOs and officers are accepted for service as Kampfschwimmer and have to volunteer to do so. Before being allowed to participate in the physically and psychologically challenging Kampfschwimmer selection course the volunteers have to pass the two month long Schwimmtaucher ausbildung (basic diving training) course at the Einsatz ausbildungs zentrum Schadensabwehr (navy training centre) in Neustadt. Once they have qualified as a naval diver the volunteers then have to master the six week Kampfschwimmer

Combat & Survival

7: After boarding a ship a group of Kampfschwimmer speedily moves upwards to take the bridge under their control 8: It takes three years training to become a fully operational Kampfschwimmer - the course is very challenging and regarded as one of the toughest within the German Armed Forces Below: A Kampfschwimmer during boarding drills training - standard armament is a 5.56mm G36K A1 carbine with 9mm P8C pistol carried as close quarters and back-up weapon

selection, one of the toughest, if not the toughest, within the Bundeswehr. Usually less than 10% of the volunteers pass selection and are allowed to start with the long Kampfschwimmer training. The Kampfschwimmer-specific part of the training is conducted in-house and includes tactics, operational procedures, weapons handling and live firing, close quarter battle training, tactical diving, medical training, opposed boarding training, commandostyle land operations training, infiltration and exfiltration training using different means of transportation such as speedboats and kayaks, underwater infiltration and exfiltration from submarines, team leader training, mission planning training, underwater demolition training and so on. Acquiring the speed boat driving license is also part of the training. During his three years of Kampfschwimmer training the volunteer also attends courses at schools of the German Navy and German Army, such as the irregular warfare EinzelkĂ¤mpferkurs, survival, escape and evasion course, or the Fallschirm springer ausbildung parachute training course at the Luftlande- und Lufttransportschule airborne forces school of the German Army in Altenstadt, an English language course held at the Marine operations schule in Bremerhaven and a driving licence

Combat & Survival

course held at one of the driver training schools of the Bundeswehr. Once a volunteer has successfully completed his Kampfschwimmer training he is awarded the famous Kampfschwimmer badge showing a saw-fish in front of a parachute and an oak leaf crest. But Kampfschwimmer training does not end here, with the qualification as Kampfschwimmer the specialisation training begins. In the next six to twelve months the Kampfschwimmer will now be trained in at least one of the following special skills: HAHO/HALO parachuting, EOD/ IEDD, breacher, tactical exploitation operations, sniper, signaller or Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC). In addition he will be trained to execute Kampfschwimmer missions under different climatic conditions.

UNIQUE FEATURE

With its Kampfschwimmer the German Navy can field highly capable Special Forces that can literally be employed anywhere in the world, for nearly any type of Special Forces mission. Of course other German Special Forces, such as the Kommando SpezialkrĂ¤fte of the German Army, can do this as well and even have an amphibious capability, but the Kampfschwimmer are the only German Special Forces unit that are true experts in the art of tactical combat diving and as such have an unique feature.

Gunner, C (Special Duties) Company, 1 Regiment AFM

Combat & Survival

Malta’s natural harbours were fortified by the Knights of St. John in the 16th Century Part of the British Empire in WWII, the island was awarded the George Cross by the King in 1942 for standing up to the Nazis

harbours but since 1964, when granted independence by Britain, it has been totally self-governing and this year it celebrates its Fortieth anniversary as a Republic. At the end of August C&S was invited to ‘the George Cross island’ in the sun to exclusively photograph her Armed Forces.

The nation of Malta comprises an archipelago of small Mediterranean islands, in total measuring just over 300 square kilometres or 120 square miles, at a strategic point between the continents of Africa and Europe. Since Phoenician times it has been fought over, and occupied, by many major powers intent on securing its sheltered

1: Many of AFM’s traditions originate from the British Army 2: This year AFM adopted MultiCam combat uniform (see Page 46)

alta’s location halfway between the Straits of Gibraltar and The Levant - it is about 175 miles (285km) east of Tunisia and just over 200 miles (325km) north of Libya but just 50 miles (80km) south of Sicily - puts it on the very frontline of today’s unrest between the troubled Arab / Muslim nations and the predominantly Christian, some would say more liberal and most would agree more economically attractive to refugees, European mainland to the north. For more than a decade, but more so since the outbreak of the ‘Arab Spring’ or ‘Jasmine Revolution’ along the southern shores of the Mediterranean in 2011, Malta has been heavily involved in both policing the boatloads of migrants being trafficked northwards from Africa and attempting to prevent fundamentalist terrorists gaining access to Europe under cover of a tide of humanity seeking a better life.

The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) in addition to being an organisation “tasked with primary defence functions and safeguarding national sovereignty Combat & Survival

HQ staff in the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre shortly before a major rescue operation commenced on 28th August 3

and interest, both in peacetime and in crisis” also contributes to international Crises Management Operations. Indeed on the very day C&S arrived on the island AFM’s Special Duties Enhanced Boarding Team (SDEBT), who had just returned from participating on the EU Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation ATALANTA off the Horn of Africa, were receiving their operational medals aboard the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën which had just returned from patrolling off Somalia. Despite Malta only being a tiny nation, with a population of less than half a million and a combined military force of just a few thousand

Combat & Survival

3: HQ personnel Stable Belt carries on the traditions of the Royal Malta Artillery

4: Malta’s official languages, which all troops speak, are Maltese and English Left: Garrison Sergeant Major and a gunner from the HQ Staff on the steps of the Headquarters 5: Regimental Policeman from 1 Regiment - he wears a black pistol belt instead of a stable belt his cap badge is derived from that of the Royal Malta Artillery

personnel, it also plays a major role in Mediterranean Maritime Search & Rescue, monitoring and patrolling a massive area of international waters from Tunisia and Sicily all the way east to Crete. The AFM Operations Centre at their Luqa Headquarters houses the Malta Search and Rescue

The images on this page are of a four-man fire team from ‘C’ (Special Duties) Company of 1 Regiment AFM which is tasked with maintaining Force Elements At Readiness (FEAR) able to deploy on local or foreign operations at short notice. They wear the recently introduced MultiCam combat uniform which is quite closely based on the British Soldier ‘95 design. Primary weapons include AK47 (Modified), H&K MP5K, and H&K MP5SD with Beretta 92FS pistols carried as secondary weapons - we will cover these in a little more detail next month

Coordination Centre for both maritime and aeronautical incidents, which coordinates all SAR missions in the region. On the morning when most of the accompanying photos were taken, the RCC sprang into action to coordinate the rescue of over 250 souls from a foundering vessel by the AFM Maritime Squadron’s Offshore Patrol Vessel P52 and Austal Patrol Vessel P24. The Armed Forces of Malta is a tri-service brigade-sized formation (its current commander is Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi, who was awarded the Cane of Honour at RMA Sandhurst in 1996) which comprises an Headquarters, three battalion-sized land forces Regiments, an Air Wing with both helicopters and fixed wing patrol aircraft, and a Maritime Squadron with patrol boats, plus an Emergency Volunteer Reserve Force. During our brief visit we concentrated on the Regiments, which consist of career Regulars who sign up for 25 years’ service with a full pension at the end. We hope to return to Malta in the future to cover her Air Wing and Maritime Squadron, subject to operational commitments. 1st Regiment AFM is Malta’s Infantry formation and consists of: an Headquarters Company, which provides Combat support

Combat & Survival

including signals, pioneer, motor transport, quartermaster, armoury, and regimental police; A Company, which is primarily responsible for airport security; B Company, which is responsible for internal security patrols, guarding key points and securing government establishments; C (Special Duties) Company, which provides the Quick Reaction Force for high risk operations on Malta and as part of the nation’s EU military commitments plus acts as an infantry training unit; and Air Defence & Fire Support Company, which is equipped for light antiaircraft defence, mortar and heavy machinegun roles. 3rd Regiment AFM consists of: a Headquarters, similarly configured as 1 Regiment; an Engineer Squadron; an Ammunition & Explosives Company, which includes an EOD Platoon; and an Electrical

Combat & Survival

6 & 7: These two gunners serve with ‘A’ Company of 1 Regiment AFM whose primary mission is to secure Malta International Airport including guarding access points and patrolling its perimeter - for routine duties they are armed with Beretta 92FS pistols - note either beret or cap can be worn dependent on location 8, 9 & 10: 3 Regiment AFM comprises Electrical & Mechanical Engineer and Combat Engineer plus Ammunition & Explosives Squadrons - the latter includes an EOD, IED and Divers Platoon which in the main uses British-style techniques, tactics and procedures Images © Bob Morrison : Military Scene

and Mechanical Engineering Squadron. 4th Regiment consists of: an Headquarters Company, similarly configured as 1 Regiment; the AFM Band (which starred at this year’s Edinburgh Tattoo); a Communications & Informations Systems Company; a Revenue Security Company, responsible for cash transit on the islands and VVIP close protection; a Catering Company, providing both kitchen meals and rations; and the AFM Training School. Malta’s land forces traditions originate in the Royal Malta Artillery, hence the ranks of Gunner and Bombardier plus the cap badge and stable belt etc. For more see Kit & Camo on Page 46.

The fuel for your stove runs out, your matches and lighter are lost. Could you still make and light a fire? Imagine you are cold and tired from hours of walking in the rain. Do you know how to quickly get a fire going despite everything being wet? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to learn about fire and its numerous benefits.

In addition to providing warmth and a cooking source, smoky fires can help keep away troublesome diseasecarrying insects

Combat & Survival

BENEFITS

A fire can be used to: • Boil dirty water and making it safe to drink • Cook food that cannot be eaten raw • Make a method of signalling for help • Dry you and your wet clothes • Keep you warm • Scare off wild animals • Keep away insects, as most dislike smoke • Raise morale

A FIRE KIT

Plan ahead, and if having to make a fire is a possibility put together a small Fire Kit consisting of:9 Some waterproof survival matches 9 A steel and flint sparker 9 A hexamine block or a piece of fire-lighter 9 Some ‘magic’ birthday candles that re-light if blown out 9 Cotton wool (it ignites with a spark alone) These items will make fire-lighting that much easier, especially if in a survival situation and fatigued with limited resources. Leave out lighters as they dry out/run out of fuel too inconveniently. Zip fire-lighters are a great aid to fire lighting if you are short of time and energy. Put the lot in a waterproof bag or box and keep in a trouser pocket or on your belt – not in the bottom of a bergen or kit bag, from which you could be all too easily separated.

PREPARATION

Building a fire that stays burning and is easy to light takes a little preparation. Firstly, find a suitable site. If the ground is boggy and wet, lay out some sticks like a mat and initially build your fire on top and off the wet ground. Keep it out of the

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wind and surround it with rocks or logs; this will help to contain it and stop the fire spreading uncontrollably. Next gather all the types of wood required. You need plenty of tinder, the stuff you will initially be trying to light: birch bark, dry grass, wood shavings and any cotton wool you have. You want a big bowl-sized amount. Then collect kindling, this is the pencil-thick to thumb-thick stuff that the tinder ignites. Gather up as much as you can find and ensure it is dry. Splitting everything long-ways will make it easier to burn and expose the drier inside. Lastly, gather the larger material, arm-thick and bigger. This is what the kindling will be trying to burn and is what you will need to cook over. Collect a fair supply and keep the fire topped up so it burns steadily for as long as you want. Only once you have all the materials

1: Carry a sparker - a flint & steel combination set - to light fires 2: A magnifying glass or binocular lens can be used to light a fire by harnessing sunshine 3: In your kit carry ‘magic’ birthday candles that automatically reignite if blown out 4: Split wet wood to get it to burn as the inside will usually be drier

laid out and ready should you attempt to ignite the tinder. There is nothing worse than running out of wood as the fire starts to burn down. Save matches by lighting the ‘magic’ birthday candle to get the tinder and kindling going. Remember to gently blow and fan the base of the fire to oxygenate it and to keep it hot and alive.

METHODS OF LIGHTING

Practise lighting a fire with just one match. Get in close before striking and have masses of dry tinder ready to burn. Try the same again, but this time with just a steel and flint sparker. Practise until it is easy. In a real survival situation, light the ‘magic’ birthday candle first. You can also ignite tinder with a

Silver birch bark makes excellent tinder - pare it gently off the tree

magnifying glass (perhaps the lens from a pair of binoculars). Again, experiment and practise. If you have a nine-volt battery or larger, connect it up and brush the wires together to get a spark. If you have a piece of wire wool, lay it across the two points. It will glow hot enough to ignite your tinder. Various chemicals will produce heat and burn if mixed, but you are unlikely to have access to them in a survival situation. Flares and firearms often produce enough of a flame to ignite tinder. Rubbing sticks together in various ways can work, and we have all seen Ray Mears do it with relative ease. However, it takes considerable practise, the right wood and the right technique. You will burn a great many calories in the process. For these reasons they have been omitted here as practical methods of fire lighting for someone in a Survival situation. Get to know the limitations of

5: Collect all the wood you need before trying to light your fire 6: Make up a small fire kit - a tobacco tin is ideal - to make life easier if things go pearshaped

various methods described, and what is likely to succeed in your particular circumstance. Practise.

FUEL

Strips of silver birch bark burns easily, even if wet, and makes excellent tinder to get the fire going. Collect any you see during the day, in readiness for a fire later on. Same applies to dry grass; stuff handfuls in your pockets for later. Although you will primarily be burning

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wood (preferably dead and dry, not live and green), you can also consider animal droppings in tree-less environments. Flattened and dried camel dung, or the dung of any herbivore, will be largely undigested vegetation and will burn well. Wet wood can be made useful by splitting it open and revealing the drier insides. Cut thicker branches into pieces and put on your fire: it should soon burn hot enough to dry the outer parts. Dry out very wet wood by placing it around the edge of the fire, slowly moving it in and turning it over as it dries.

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Main Image: Fires have many uses, so get good at lighting one - both with and without matches

Different woods burn at different rates. For example, oak will burn slower and hotter than pine. However, in a survival situation, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t waste valuable calories searching for a particular wood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; burn whatever is close to hand.

Left: A battery of 9 volts or more can be used to light a fire through generating sparks

Similarly, different shaped fires burn at different rates. Pyramid-shaped fires burn quickly but are unsuitable for cooking. Flatter fires with branches and logs laid level across the fire burn slower but are ideal for cooking.

Images ÂŠ or via Jason Polley

Try before you die. See you next time when we will discuss shelter-making.

In May and June 2014 the US-led multinational Exercise COMBINED RESOLVE II was conducted at the Joint Multinational Readiness Centre (JMRC) of the US Army Europe (USAREUR) at the Hohenfels Training Area in Germany. Among the 4,314 troops from 15 countries participating in the exercise was a 300-strong armoured battlegroup from Romania; a nation which has now been a full member of NATO for ten years.

he sounds of small arms and cannon fire echo through the wooded area. Somewhere to the left, US and Lithuanian troops have engaged elements of the attacking Romanian forces. On the right flank a platoon of Romanian MLI-84M ‘Jderul’ (Marten)

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armoured infantry fighting vehicles of the Batalionului 300 Infanterie Mecanizata Û ‘Sfântul Andrei’ have not yet met any resistance. Using all available cover the well camouflaged vehicles, which have a rather low silhouette, move through the trees. Their aim is to conduct an outflanking manoeuvre. Suddenly, the first of the AIFVs comes under fire but the Romanians react quickly, the vehicles dashing for cover while the crewmen engage the position from where the fire originated. Split seconds after the vehicles stop, Romanian armoured infantrymen dismount and fan out. Soon the dismounts close in on the enemy positions using well-timed fire and manoeuvre tactics. It does not take long for the Romanian troops armed with, among other weapons, 5.45x39mm

The TR-85 M1 ‘Bizonul’ main battle tank features a 100mm A308 rifled tank gun, a coaxial 7.62mm PK machinegun and a 12.7mm DShK heavy machinegun for anti-aircraft and close protection purposes

Pusca Û Model 1986 assault , Û Automata rifles, to reach their objectives and start to clear them. After a couple of minutes of fierce fighting the defenders have been beaten. Keeping up the momentum of the attack is now crucial. The AIFVs rush forward, stopping only briefly to allow the dismounts to get aboard ,and then continue to advance at high speed.

Elements of the Romanian armoured battlegroup advance to contact during COMBINED RESOLVE II - the well camouflaged vehicle in front is a MLI-84M ‘Jderul’ armoured infantry fighting vehicle

Badge of Batalionul 284 Û Tancuri ‘Cuza Voda’

The TAB-79AR is an amphibious 4x4 armoured vehicle that weighs 9,200kg - in addition to mortar the armament of the vehicle includes a 7.62mm Cugir Mitraliera Model 66 general purpose machinegun

The Romanian mechanised infantry company deployed ten of the MLI-84M ‘Jderul’ AIFVs during Exercise COMBINED RESOLVE II - it is 7,320mm long, 3,300mm wide and 2,942mm high

During Exercise COMBINED RESOLVE II the Romanian battle group provided the Opposing Forces (OPFOR) group, together with US forces of the 1st Battalion of the 4th Infantry Regiment (the ‘Men In Black’ covered last month) to give the multinational Blue Forces a hard time.

BRIGADA 282 MECANIZATÚ ‘UNIREA PRINCIPATELOR’

The bulk of the Romanian forces participating on Exercise COMBINED RESOLVE II belonged to the Brigada 282 Mecanizata Û ‘Unirea Principatelor’, one of the best trained brigades of the Romanian Army. Based in the south-east of Romania, in and around Focsani, the brigade was originally , formed during the Cold War. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain and the disbandment of the Warsaw Pact in 1991, elements of the brigade have served with the NATO-led KFOR in Kosovo, in Iraq under the US led Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and with the NATO-led ISAF in Afghanistan. Today the brigade belongs to the Divizia 2 Infanterie ‘Getica’ (second infantry division) and consists of the following units:• Batalionul 280 Infanterie Mecanizata Valter Û ‘Capitan Û Maracineanu’ based in Galati, - a mechanised infantry battalion ÛÛ

Û tank battalion - the The Romanian tank company was provided by Batalionul 284 Tancuri ‘Cuza Voda’ only tank battalion within the Romanian Army equipped with the TR-85 M1 ‘Bizonul’ MBT

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equipped with MLI-84M â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jderulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; armoured infantry fighting vehicles. â&#x20AC;¢ Batalionul 284 Tancuri â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cuza Vodaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ã&#x203A; based in Galati - a tank battalion and the only unit in the Romanian Army equipped with TR-85 M1 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bizonulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (Bison) main battle tanks. â&#x20AC;¢ Batalionului 300 Infanterie Mecanizata Ã&#x203A; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;SfÃ¢ntul Andreiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; based in Galati â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a mechanised infantry battalion equipped with MLI-84M â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jderulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; armoured infantry fighting vehicles. â&#x20AC;¢ Batalionului 285 Artilerie â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Vlaicu Vodaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ã&#x203A; based in BrailaÃ&#x203A; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an artillery battalion equipped with 152 mm M85 towed howitzers. â&#x20AC;¢ Batalionul 3 Aparare Antiaeriana Ã&#x203A; Ã&#x203A; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Potaissaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; based in Turda â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an antiaircraft artillery battalion equipped with German-made Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. â&#x20AC;¢ Batalionul 469 Sprijin Logistic â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Putnaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; based in FocÃ¼ani â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a logistic battalion equipped with a wide range of transport vehicles and logistic equipment.

BATTLEGROUP STRUCTURE Commanded by Colonel Adrian Popescu, the 300-strong Romanian armoured battlegroup participating in Exercise COMBINED RESOLVE was mainly provided by the Batalionului 300

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Infanterie Mecanizata Ã&#x203A; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;SfÃ¢ntul Andreiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, which supplied the battlegroup HQ, the Headquarters and Support Company and the Mechanised Infantry Company. The Tank Company was provided by the Batalionul 284 Tancuri â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cuza Vodaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Ã&#x203A; Among other assets the Headquarters and Support Company included a Reconnaissance Platoon, a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) Team, a Signal Platoon, a Medical Platoon and a Maintenance Platoon. The Medical Platoon employed MLI-84M Vehicul de Evacuare Medicala Ã&#x203A; ambulances and the Maintenance Platoon an MLI-84M Tractor Pentru Evacuare Tehnica Ã&#x203A; recovery and repair vehicle. The tank company was structured into a Company HQ equipped with one TR-85 M1 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bizonulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; MBT and three Tank Platoons, each equipped with three TR85 M1 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Bizonulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; MBTs. The Mechanised Infantry Company consisted of a Company HQ, three Mechanised Infantry Platoons, each equipped with three MLI84M â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jderulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; armoured infantry fighting vehicles, a Mortar Platoon equipped with three TAB-79AR mortar carriers with M-1983 82mm mortars and a Sniper Section.

Weapons used by the armoured infantry included the 5.45x39mm Pusca Ã&#x203A; Ã&#x203A; Automata Model 1986 assault rifle, the 5.45x39mm Mitraliera Ã&#x203A; Model 1993 light machinegun (Romanian version of the RPK), the 7.62x51mm Cugir Mitraliera Model 66 general purpose machinegun (Romanian version of the PK MG) and the AG-7 shoulder launched anti-tank weapon

(Romanian version of the RPG-7).

EXERCISE DETAILS

The deployment of the Romanian armoured battlegroup for Exercise COMBINED RESOLVE II in Germany was conducted by train, via Hungary and Austria, a 1,700km journey. The train with the Romanian soldiers and their equipment arrived at Hohenfels on the 9th of May, 2014. On arrival at the Hohenfels training area the Romanian weapons and

equipment were kitted out with MILES II battlefield engagement simulation system equipment and the troops were put through the OPFOR Academy, at which they were prepared for their role as Opposing Forces during the exercise. Directly after finishing their OPFOR training the Romanian battlegroup HQ was put in charge of a bi-national OPFOR including, in addition to Romanian troops, US forces from the 1st Battalion of 4th Infantry Regiment, an element from the 364th Sapper Engineers of the US Army Reserve and

This Romanian soldier belongs to the mortar platoon of the mechanised infantry company and fulfils top cover sentry duties on a TAB-79AR mortar carrier 2: This Romanian soldier of the Batalionului 300 Infanterie MecanizataÛ ‘Sfântul Andrei’ is manning the 7.62mm Cugir Mitraliera Model 66 machinegun off a TAB79AR mortar carrier 3: A well camouflaged TR-85 M1 ‘Bizonul’ tank moves through wooded terrain on the Hohenfels training area in Germany - this was the first time Romanian MBTs were deployed abroad since World War II Left: The mortar platoon of the Romanian armoured battle group fielded a couple of TAB-79AR mortar carriers - the vehicle is fitted with an 82mm M-1983 mortar

elements of the 1st Battalion of 160th Infantry Regiment of the California Army National Guard. Following a short period of familiarisation training the Romanian/US OPFOR provided enemy forces for the Situational Training Exercises (STX) phase, during which the multinational Blue Forces under command of 1st Brigade of 1st US Cavalry Division trained to cooperate in different types of offensive and defensive missions. With the STX training finished, the Romanian/US OPFOR entered the force-on-force training phase, under which it first conducted a number of offensive actions and after this finished it changed to conducting defensive operations. At the end of the force-on-force part the Romanian armoured battlegroup moved to the Grafenwöhr training area, some 80km north of the Hohenfels training area. Here the Romanians participated in a large Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX) which saw their TR-85 M1 ‘Bizonul’ MBTs and MLI-84M ‘Jderul’

Combat & Survival

The MLI-84M ‘Jderul’ is a Romanian-built variant of the Russian BMP 1 - its crew consists of driver, vehicle commander and gunner plus eight fully equipped infantrymen can be carried in the rear

AIFVs working closely together with US Army M1A2 SEP (V2) MBTs and M2A3 Bradley AIFVs of the US Army’s European Rotational Force. AH-64D Apache attack helicopters provided close air support while fire support was provided by US Army M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers.

GREAT COOPERATION

One of the main aims of Exercise COMBINED RESOLVE II was to train the interoperability of foreign forces and US forces at all levels. In the case of the US

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and Romanian forces of the OPFOR, this was done par excellence. While the biggest issue sometimes was the different languages, on the doctrine side things went rather well. Here it paid off both that since the 1990s Romania has done a lot to train its forces to NATO standards and also that even before the country became a NATO member its forces deployed alongside NATO forces on operations.

4: Badge of Batalionului 300 Infanterie MecanizataÛ ‘Sfântul Andrei’ 5&6: The MLI-84M Vehicul de Evacuare MedicalaÛ is the ambulance variant of the MLI-84M ‘Jderul’ - it has a crew of two and can transport two wounded soldiers on stretchers and four seated lightly wounded Left: Romanian armoured infantry dismounts from a MLI84M ‘Jderul’ armoured infantry fighting vehicle - the soldier in the foreground is armed with a 5.45x39mm Pusca , Û AutomataÛ Model 1986 assault rifle

ROMANIA IN NATO Romania became a full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) on 29th of March, 2004. In addition to joining NATO, the country also joined the European Union in 2007. The plan to join NATO was established by Romanian politicians soon after the fall of the Ceausescu Regime in 1989 and the disintegration of the Warsaw Pact in 1991. Already by 1994 the country had joined the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme; the accompanying image was taken in Poland by the editor during the PfP exercise STRONG RESOLVE 2002. As for the Romanian Army, from 1996 onwards Romanian engineers served with the IFOR and SFOR forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Between 2000 and 2011 Romanian troops served with KFOR in Kosovo. From 2002 onwards Romanian troops saw service with ISAF in Afghanistan. Not with NATO, but under the US-led Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Romanian forces deployed to Iraq from 2003 to 2009; initially the Romanian OEF contingent included a motorised infantry battalion and an MP detachment. Over the years a total of 8,400 Romanian soldiers served in Iraq. The Romanian Navy also took part in the NATO-led counter-terrorist Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR from 2005 onwards, and in 2011 Romanian Navy assets participated in the NATO-led Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR.

Jordanian Royal Guard sniper, easily identifiable by his distinctive camo, smiles as he finishes his section knowing he has returned a good score for his team - with the exception of the Chinese teams, who told us not to bother, we have pixellated or obscured all identifiable operatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; faces on OpSec grounds

Combat & Survival

IN EARLY MAY C&S WAS INVITED TO COVER THE SIXTH ANNUAL WARRIOR COMPETITION FOR POLICE AND MILITARY SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAMS, WHICH SOME REFER TO AS BEING THE SPEC OPS OLYMPICS. HELD AT KASOTC, THE REMARKABLE KING ABDULLAH II SPECIAL OPERATIONS TRAINING CENTRE IN A VAST DISUSED QUARRY COMPLEX NORTH OF THE JORDANIAN CAPITAL CITY OF AMMAN, THE EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER ALMOST THREE DOZEN SEVEN-MAN TEAMS OF SPECIALIST OPERATORS FROM ACROSS ASIA, EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA WHO LIVED SIDE-BY-SIDE FOR A WEEK AND COMPETED AGAINST EACH OTHER OVER FIVE GRUELLING DAYS UNDER A BAKING DESERT SUN TO BECOME BEST OF THE BEST.

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Main Image: At various stages the three Chinese teams wore different camo pattern uniforms - on the left is pixellated Tiger Stripe and and in the centre Type 05 Pixellated Edge but the remainder wear what we believe is Type 07 Pixellated Right: Palestine’s SPF (Special Police Forces) 194 team wore bluedominant Urban DPM - the NSF (National Security Forces) 77 team wore all-black

or the first three full days of competitive events, commencing 1st May, every team had to compete in three separate events each day, namely: Last Easy Day, Carbine Candy and Trail of Tears; Urban Assault, Commando Selection, and 3-Gun Gauntlet; and Shock n Awe, Molan Labe and High Angle Drive By. Day 4 was dedicated to the King’s Challenge, which was effectively a relay pentathlon held in

five consecutive stages with teams undertaking the event sequentially in groups of five against the clock and each other. The evening before each day’s events the Team Leaders were brought together for an hour before dusk for a detailed briefing but by that stage of the day the mainstream media had long gone and even specialist defence

photographers had been required to leave KASOTC to allow the SpecOps competitors to unwind and prepare in privacy. As a result we did not know in advance precisely what each day’s events held in store for the teams but at the start of Day 4 we were even more in the dark than usual as neither MissionX, who were running the event, nor our Jordanian Army escorts were revealing any detail to ensure maximum secrecy was maintained. I cheekily tried coaxing some info out of the most senior officer I could find by asking some leading questions but to no avail; all he would tell me was that the course took in pretty much all of the terrain covered by the vast training centre and conditions would be extremely tough due to the cloudless sky and the nature of the ground. The Challenge got underway with a nominated runner being led off to one side, the nominated sniper being bussed away

with his weapon, and the three remaining members of the team being led to minibuses which would transport them to their individual start points around a very long course. Unlike on the nine previous events, combat helmets and body armour did not need to be worn and was eye-pro only compulsory if the stage included shooting, but most competitors wore ballistic spectacles with either clear or smoke-coloured lenses. everyone wore combat trousers and combat boots, but generally military teams wore sweat-wicking UBACS (Under Body Armour Combat shirts) and

Main Image: Russia’s Ministry of Internal affairs LYNX team wore the Russianmade copy of MultiCam

Pakistan’s NLI Light Commando Battalion 5th man loads his pistol on Range B

1: A batch of five contestants prepares to race away from the Start line 2: Cased pistol and ammo, with plate targets behind, awaits the next competitor Combat & Survival

Closely supervised by a MissionX umpire a 5th man attempts to down all targets

police teams wore either combat shirts or performance T-shirts. As four of the five stages involved live-firing of sniper rifles, assault rifles or pistols and as seven batches of five men running through 40

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five different stages around the training area were on the loose, all non-participants and media were corralled into comparatively small safe area between the Start/Finish line and the 50-metre range on perfectly understandable safety grounds. This meant we were only able to photograph around the Start/ Finish, where there were no loaded weapons, and from behind pistol shooters on Range B. However this allowed us to watch three or four batches of competitors setting off and to photograph many of the final team members as they took down their targets and then sprinted to the Finish. On that final pistol range section the last member of each five man, who had just raced under a blazing sun for several kilometres, had to find his colour-coded firing point and associated batch of targets, load an empty pistol, drop six saucer-sized targets, then sprint to the Finish. This was all done against the clock

3: Kazakhstanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 5th man fires his last round - the empty case is fishtailing out of the frame 4: Those who missed targets had to sprint 150metres around cones for every miss clocking up precious penalty time Right: Grimacing through the pain barrier one of the Chinese 5th men sprints to the Finish Images ÂŠ Bob Morrison : Military Scene

One of the Dutch MARSOF team camera-phone films his colleague crossing the line

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5: Brunei Special Forces Regiment 5th man gives it his all in the sprint for the Finish Line 6: A colleague helps the wringing wet Palestine Presidential Guard 5th man away from the Finish 7: This fatigued Malaysian Special Forces competitor wears Desert Tiger Camouflage

and those who did not properly compose themselves and their breathing after their long run and subsequently failed to drop one or more plates had to sprint 150 metres around a group of cones for each target missed, then return to his firing point and continue sprinting 300 metres to the finishing line. According to the thermometer carabinered

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on my daysack, the shade temperature was nudging around 40C in the quarry bowl ... but these guys were out in the sun with no water! In addition to being given the chance to see 35 incredibly fit and capable Special Ops teams in action - one of two Iraqi SF teams was withdrawn on operational

grounds as were the two US Marine Corps teams from 22 MEU SOC - the Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Challenge gave us an unparalleled opportunity to photograph a host of seldom seen camouflage uniforms. This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accompanying photos have been picked on that basis. Next month we will concentrate on the winners. To be continued ...

8: Our closing shot is of the Chinese competitor who crossed the line first ... and promptly collapsed through exertion

It had turned into one of these nightmare days. The sun was sinking fast as I locked up the office to head home, shower and change for band night at my local. Old friends Big Norm and Clive, who I’ve known for twenty years, were bringing GOLIATH to town for the first time in ages and I was determined to be there from the first number. But first I had to eat ... and that was when I remembered that the fridge at home was bare and I had forgotten to slip out to the shops before they shut to re-stock!

aving missed lunch due to an unexpected last minute change to the magazine coming in while on the run-up to deadline that evening I could cheerfully have eaten a scabby donkey, hooves and all, but with the chip shop closed and only the kebab shop open (I don’t do kebabs these days since going down with serious food poisoning in Lincoln a few years back after eating one on a sober stomach) it looked like I might be ‘Hank Marvin’ tonight. Then I recalled that I had picked up some samples from Vestey’s BEYOND THE BEATEN TRACK range when visiting the Outdoor Trades Show (OTS) in September. The fridge might be bare, but the cupboard wasn’t. While I was in the shower a retort pouch of BTBT Chilli Con Carne could be bubbling away in the back garden on my BCB Crusader Cooker, powered by that

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newfangled Fire Dragon gel. Result. While browsing through the BTBT range on their stand at OTS in Stoneleigh I realised that the selection of retort pouch meals available looked the same as those found in UK MoD 24 Hour Operational Ration Packs (ORP) and when I asked their Sales Manager if they were indeed the same meals she confirmed that they were as Vestey Foods UK is BTBT’s parent company. Drawing from 120 years of experience in the food business family-owned Vestey, who are sole suppliers of the ORP for the British Armed forces, created BTBT to bring a variety of high quality, nutritional, ambient, long shelf life food products to the civvy outdoor pursuits market. In their EASY OUTDOOR FOOD range, which can now be found widely on UK High Streets, they currently produce four Breakfast, twelve Main Meal and three Dessert retort pouches. Their sister HOT MEAL KIT range currently consists of an All Day Breakfast, eight Mains and three Desserts, mostly the same dishes as in their EASY OUTDOOR FOOD range, but in addition

Main Image: Inside the commercial packaging cellophane outer is a recognisable ‘boil-in-the-bag’ retort pouch similar to those found in UK Forces’ Operational Ration packs

1: Chilli con carne decanted into a bowl for scoffing - if, like us, you appreciate the chilli & rice in the ORP you’ll enjoy this spicy and nourishing dish 2: BTBT also do Hot Meal Kits with Flameless Ration Heater included (left) and boil-in-the-bag puddings which we will cover in a future issue 3: While I was in the shower my meal was heating nicely out in the back garden on my BCB Crusader Cooker running on Fire Dragon gel Images © Bob Morrison

each retort pouch comes with a Flameless Ration Heater Spoon/Fork and and antibacterial wipe; we will hopefully come back to this range next month. When Vestey’s marketing analysts came up with a target audience for the civvy BTBT range of products I very much doubt that they considered a magazine editor who forgot to go to the shops and needed to get some scran speedily down his neck before hitting the ale on band night. They should have done, as that 300g pouch of boil-in-the-bag Chilli Con Carne With Rice was just what was needed. It went down a treat. We will delve a little deeper into these rations when we have a little more time and space. - BM

World Record Holder Designs New Customised IQ Level 2 Award In Personal Self Defence Protection Course HUGE DISCOUNT FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL

Course dates: September, October, November & December Multi Guinness World Record Holder Paddy Doyle has finally put his vast knowledge and experience together to design the UK’s very first customised individual self defence skills course. The course is designed to teach and equip everyone with the practical, basic to advanced knowledge and safety techniques required to stay safe in today’s society. Paddy has many years of experience competing on the martial arts mat and in the boxing ring, achieving numerous official Guinness World Record Titles and he is the only British Endurance Athlete to have had 63 entries in the sports pages of the 1990-2014 Guinness Book of World Records. Paddy has worked within the security sector dealing with threatening situations from site level to VIP Level. Students attending the course will benefit from his mental approach and self defence skills. If you want to improve your mental strength, confidence and self esteem, sign up today for the new IQ Level 2 Award in Personal Self Defence Protection Course. * Also available for ‘Master Class Seminars’.

For more info check out http://www.staminaforlife.co.uk/

Combat & Survival

On 1st August, as part of the on-going modernisation process of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM), Headquarters AFM introduced a new combat uniform to replace the outdated M81 Woodland Camouflage pattern which had been used up to that date. According to the official communiqué, the new combat uniform pattern has been “studied and designed to cope with the increasingly diverse operating environments of a modern army and is specifically designed for dry climates such as those present on the Maltese islands”. The basic camouflage pattern for the new combat uniform is genuine MultiCam designed by Crye Precision of Brooklyn.

he accompanying images, shot exclusively by C&S in late August, show summer uniform garments worn by personnel of the Headquarters and the Regiments of AFM; Malta’s Maritime Squadron personnel are retaining their navy blue uniforms. In addition to the combat shirt, combat trousers, helmet cover, field cap and body armour/

Combat & Survival

load carrier seen here, matching winter clothing and equipment accessories will be introduced in due course; at present, just like UK on current exercises, older pattern Personal Load Carrying Equipment and Bergens (in olive green) remain in use but those too will be replaced over time. The supplier of the new combat uniform garments is British company Survival Aids UK Ltd., a wing of Cadet Direct which supplies in bulk to European, African and Middle East governments and their armed forces. The jacket, which is of two-pocket shirt design, is worn tucked inside the combat trousers and both garments are of a design based closely on the highly practical UK Forces Soldier ‘95 uniform. The fabric is a ripstop 50/50 polycotton produced in genuine MultiCam pattern from one of the Crye-approved factories. Survival Aids have also supplied the field caps (usually worn with a ‘Ranger crush’ to the crown) and the helmet covers,

With the exception of the US-style field cap worn with a crushed crown, the combat uniform worn by AFM troops is quite British in appearance. There is a major drive on to attract more female soldiers into AFM. The female gunner on this page wears the black AFM beret with the cap badge derived from that of the Royal Malta Artillery. British-style olive green PLCE will soon be replaced with a body armour compatible system. Images © Bob Morrison

but not the body armour / load carrier vest. In addition to their new uniform, Maltese military personnel have also been issued with new tan coloured Bates Delta-9 desert combat boots to replace their earlier black leather Bates boots. There are no plans at present to adopt brown.

LAST MONTH WE LOOKED ON AS, ON A WARM BUT HAZY LEVANTINE MORNING, A CELL OF WELL-ARMED TERRORISTS HIJACKED A COACH TRANSPORTING A HIGH VALUE VIP AND A GROUP OF MALE AND FEMALE STAFF AND ASSISTANTS ALONG A QUIET ROAD IN A RELATIVELY REMOTE AREA THEN HOLED UP WITH THEM IN A COMPLEX PROTECTED BY A RING OF INSURGENTS. NEGOTIATORS TRIED TO STRIKE UP A DIALOGUE WITH THE FUNDAMENTALISTS BUT TALKS BROKE DOWN WHEN THE FIRST HOSTAGE WAS BRUTALLY GUNNED DOWN IN FRONT OF THEM. CONTROL OF THE DETERIORATING SITUATION AND RESCUE OF THE HOSTAGES WAS HANDED OVER TO JSOC.

Combat & Survival

ordanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elite Joint Special Operations Command is widely considered to be amongst the very best in its class worldwide, being both well-funded, superbly equipped, highly trained and incredibly motivated. Many, though by no means all, of its personnel are volunteers drawn from the Bedouin tribes of The Levant, who are both fiercely loyal to the ruler of the Hashemite Kingdom and have centuries of warrior blood coursing through their veins. C&S has watched and photographed JSOC teams in action, at demos at SOFEX, at the KASOTC training centre and out in the desert, over the last decade and we always come away thankful that these guys are on our side. Back to the demo. Once the decision had been made to go in and rescue the hostages before any more could be assassinated by the terrorists, whose demands were to wild to even be contemplated, the airborne assets of

Combat & Survival

Images © Bob Morrison : Military Scene support. JSOC’s 5th Prince Hashim Bin Abdulah II Aviation Brigade swung into action. As seen at the end of last month’s article, from out of nowhere an AC-235 airborne light gunship swooped out of the grey skies and took out the ring of machinegun-armed trucks (technicals) protecting the objective in sudden flashes of awesome firepower and then armed MD500F Defender helicopters arrived on the scene to provide close

Combat & Survival

On the ground conventionally equipped troops aboard GMV-SF (Ground Mobility Vehicle – Special Forces) variants of the Hum-vee secured their own outer perimeter around the building complex as overhead UH-60L Black Hawk transport helicopters with MD500F Defender helos providing cover swept in low and fast to flare at the very last moment above the two target buildings [1] & [3] in which the hostages were

being held. Ropes dropped from the doors of the Black Hawks and blackclad assaulters fast-roped onto the rooftops. At the same time two Jankel Stirling armoured vehicles with roof platforms and ladders, an assault team clinging atop each, accompanied by a pair of high powered Chevrolet SUVs with more assaulters hanging onto roof bars and running boards, raced in at ground level

[2]. As the heliborne teams went into the buildings from the roofs the Stirling teams went through first floor windows and the Chevy teams went through the ground floor doors [4]. Meanwhile, overhead the helicopters [5] provided command and control and top cover as more men from the elite CT-71 (Counter-Terrorist Battalion 71) fanned out throughout the complex [6]. For the next few minutes all we could hear was the sound of stun grenades, small

arms fire and a cacophony of shouts and screams as CT-71 cleared from room to room inside the building, then suddenly one of the MD500F Defender helicopters [7] flew almost straight down my lens! Combat & Survival

A sergeant from CT-71 photographed at the close of an amazing demo

In a flurry of movement, a team of operators hustled the rescued VIP [8] out of Building 1 and bundled him into the MD500F [9] which had landed inside a protective ring of Men In Black [11] and as he was being flown out female Spec Ops troopers from CT-71 led away two captured female terrorists [10]. Female members of JSOCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Military Police formation swung into action to deal with the female hostages (although the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is an Arab country, both Muslim and Christian military personnel serve side by side in the same units) and to process them to ensure no terrorists were hiding amongst them [12] & [13] whilst medics from the Civil Defence Directorate handled casualties [14]. Next month we will look at some of the interesting vehicles used in the demo [15]. 54

Combat & Survival

The packing area in early afternoon - a dozen pairs of hands can be working here in the hour before the courier pick-up is scheduled 2

THERE IS NOTHING MORE ANNOYING THAN CONTACTING A SUPPLIER (OR VISITING STORES FOR THAT MATTER) FOR AN URGENTLY REQUIRED ITEM OF KIT WHICH YOU ARE UNDER THE IMPRESSION IS HELD IN STOCK ONLY TO FIND THAT THE RACKS ARE ACTUALLY BARE AND IT WILL TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THE GOODS TO BE DELIVERED. THESE DAYS WHEN I CONTACT A SUPPLIER FOR AN ITEM LISTED IN THEIR CATALOGUE OR SHOWING AS BEING AVAILABLE THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE I ASK THEM THE DIRECT QUESTION: “DO YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR WAREHOUSE AND CAN YOU DESPATCH IT TONIGHT?” THEN I WAIT WITH BAITED BREATH.

Combat & Survival

ll too often these days the supplier’s answer is: “We can get it out to you in a couple of days.” This is, of course, code for: “Once you place the order with us we will ring around stockists for the best price to either get it from them and add our cut then send it out when it arrives here, or we will get them to send it direct to you in plain packaging so you think it is coming from us.” Fortunately, Cadet Direct and Survival Aids UK are one of those suppliers who actually do keep decent

1: Boxes of MultiCam rank slides - they also supply DPM, Desert and stocks of kit. Olive variations plus Regimental, RAF, RN Cadet Direct have also just and Cadet versions 2: Just one of the many aisles of kit-filled racking and shelving Images © Bob Morrison : Military Scene

delivered the new uniform for Armed Forces Malta so when flying out to Valletta from Gatwick (via good ol’ SqueezyJet) to cover the introduction of the new combat uniforms for C&S, it seemed like a good idea to pop into their Sussex operations centre, which is only about twenty miles from the airport, to check out their operation. I

A table of individual client orders awaiting packing 4

was welcomed with open arms by the team, most of whom have TA/ Regular &/or Cadet Force service, and given a tour of the 28,000 sq. ft. warehouse and two-storey office complex from where orders are accepted, processed and despatched.

figures, save to say that annual turnover of the kit ordered through the company’s two websites is over £3million, at any one time around £0.5million of stock is on the shelves, and they have 15 staff across all departments.

It is only when one wanders up and down the floor to ceiling racking and looks into the trays and bins that the scale of the operation hits home. I am not going to bore you with facts and

I have to admit that I presumed the company was primarily focussed on the UK market, but a look at the destinations for some of the orders awaiting despatch was a bit of an eye-opener. Obviously military kit and clothing purchasers

3: Packed orders awaiting the courier and more being bagged 4: The reception area - Cadet Direct and Survival Aids can dress the soldier from head to toe - uniform on these mannequins is the style recently supplied to AFM

in Europe, Africa and the Middle/ Far East have latched onto the Survival Aids UK Ltd side of the group and to their ability to supply both DPM (which is still popular with several armies) and MultiCam kit, not to mention everything else compatible, ranging from boots to rank slides to bush hats and helmet covers. It’s an impressive range and an impressive operation. Combat & Survival

In February 2012 former British Army gunner Paul Conroy slipped clandestinely into the rebel-held Baba Amr suburb of the Syrian city of Homs along with Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin to document the plight of the population under bombardment from Government forces. This was not the first time the pair had worked together in combat zones, but unfortunately it would be their last.

– it’s not all about big name TV presenters broadcasting in helmet and body armour from a hotel rooftop well outside the range of the bombs and guns – and it would be nice to think that maybe this memoir might make it to the top of the Best Sellers listings as it is a story which needs to be told.

Marie Colvin died alongside French photographer Remi Ochlik on February 22nd 2012 as Syrian Government forces bombed the makeshift Media Centre in Baba Amr. The Syrian Government This book basically documents the last trips claimed, following an autopsy on Marie’s body, that she was killed by an Improvised that Paul and Marie made into Syria, but it Explosive Device laid by rebel forces. Paul also relates back to previous assignments Conroy was seriously injured at the same the pair undertook to try to explain what time but was subsequently smuggled out they did, why they did it and what drove to safety by the rebels and lived to give them to take the ultimate gamble. I must this eyewitness account of what actually admit that I found this one a bit hard to happened. In my opinion, seven years read, not through any fault of the author or service with the Royal Artillery qualifies him his writing but because I was constantly reminded of my sadly missed colleague and to tell the difference between an artillery bombardment and an IED strike. friend of 25 years, Yves Debay, who was also assassinated in Syria less than eleven First published in hardback by Quercus months later. last year, this 320-page memoir is now out in paperback and widely available. Cover The author has done a superb job of telling price is £9.99. Please read it, if only so this story, which although it is as much his as Marie’s he has resisted the temptation to you know what those like Marie and Paul make it all about himself. Few of the general (and Remi and Yves) endure to bring out public probably have much of an idea what the stories that need to be heard and the sacrifices serious war correspondents make images that need to be seen.

Sequel to The New Recruit, this novel sees young Liam Scott of 2 RIFLES volunteering to return to Afghanistan on a second tour to make up numbers in a section from 4 RIFLES (successor to McNab’s old battalion 2 RGJ). His task this time is to work alongside and help mentor an Afghan National Army unit working out of a patrol base south of Sangin. An easy read, this one effectively bridges between McNab’s novels aimed at youngsters and his Nick Stone series about a former SAS sergeant, but that does not mean that hardened readers of his work should pass it over as it provides an interesting insight into the changing world of the British soldier in Helmand. Publisher is Doubleday and the largish format paperback has a cover price of £9.99.

Combat & Survival

In the US Army there are twelve different marksmanship badges categorised in eight different levels authorised for wear on the dress uniform as per regulations, however most troops are only familiar with the last level and lowest badges; Marksman, Sharpshooter and Expert. Every US soldier who completes routine qualification during recruit training is entitled to wear one from that point on and through his career and the badge itself can be picked up in any PX (NAAFI equivalent) without questions being asked about the purchaser’s entitlement to wear it. Indeed the Expert badge is so common that one of the author’s fellow military shooting trainers poses the question: “What do you call a Senior NCO wearing only a Marksman or Sharpshooter badge?” The answer is: “Honest!” This 146-page paperback from Paladin Press, written by a US Army shooting instructor with both competitive shooting wins and operational experience, is aimed squarely at the US military shooter but any soldier looking to improve their skills should find it of interest. The author’s aim throughout is to triple the reader’s skill levels above the comparatively basic Expert level. He does so in a logical and easily understandable

way which even a non-expert shooter like myself (my eye injury and eyesight problems are not conducive to accurate shooting) can comprehend. Having over many years seen the vast amount of ammo that some grunts can expend on live-fire exercises without hitting anything much smaller than the proverbial barn door, I can see this book being of great value to anyone taking the time to read it and then put its suggestions into practise.

In conversation with a recently retired colonel friend, who I have known since before he was a sprog lieutenant, I was bemoaning the fact that the Directorate of Defence Communications (I wonder just how much was spent in changing stationery from Media to Defence) appears to be doing its best to keep interested specialist journalists and photographers at arms’ length from the British Army. His response was: “What do you expect? They know that specialist defence media commentators have the ability to peer through the fog of Whitehall bureaucracy and will spot when the emperor in the field is not wearing any clothes.”

I reckon the Colonel, who has spent more time with the British Army in 21st Century combat zones than even our Senior Correspondent Carl, and who started his military career as a foot soldier in Northern Ireland’s ‘bandit country’, has probably hit the nail on the head ... or punched the inner ring out of a Figure 12 target. However I argued with the Colonel that it was not just the likes of C&S commentators who could see that the British Army of today is nothing like the formation that it was when our paths first crossed at the height of the Cold War; he agreed and suggested that I let him comment on how the mainstream media, drawing on official sources, is reflecting the true state of the British Army with final drawdown from Afghanistan just weeks away and with the Russian Bear baring its teeth and claws on NATO’s border. Penned by the Colonel himself, what follows is essentially a recent round-up of ‘what the papers say’ about an institution that both he and C&S would dearly like to see returned to the state it was in prior to the 1998 Strategic Defence Review or, better still, the 1990 Options For Change restructuring. - BM

Combat & Survival

ARMY RESERVES ‘TOP HEAVY’ WITH OFFICERS

he Army Reserves have almost twice the number of ‘allocated officers’ under the Future Army 2020 structure, while almost every unit in the Army Reserve is undermanned. Official figures released by the Ministry of Defence show that the Reserves have 110 officers as opposed to an allocation of 68. The Reserve officers list includes those in the rank of Colonel, Brigadier and Major General, what the Army terms ‘staff officers’, who in the main are found in the rear headquarters and rarely get involved in the action. In contrast, the figures also reveal that the Royal Army Veterinary Corps has just 3% of its required manning level of 342 Reserves. The Army Air Corps, which is seeking new Reserve soldiers to fuel the Apache helicopters, has just 120 personnel when it needs 572. Other short-staffed areas of the Army include the Intelligence Corps, which has just 600 staff of a required 1,403, and the Medical Corps, which also has 600 and needs 1,122. Across the Reserves, the Army Legal Corps has managed to recruit ten of the required twelve positions and the Infantry has managed to reach just 4,750 of a target requirement of 5,993. These revelations come after two major recruiting campaigns to get young men and women to join the Reserves and an initiative within the NHS to encourage nurses to sign up. As the Ministry of Defence now demands that TA/Reserve soldiers be ready to work alongside the Regulars and be prepared to deploy on operations for up to six months every five years, many ‘professionals’ in the TA formations cannot commit to this without fear of losing their civilian job; even those in the public sector have

discovered that employers cannot afford to see them go off to serve with the Army for possibly as long as a year when pre-operations training is included. In the past six months Ministers have approved plans to pay a special ‘sign up’ bonus of £10,000 to Regular soldiers who leave the Army and go straight into the Reserves, but even this has stalled. Now TA recruiting teams at Headquarters are under pressure from Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois who believes that finding 30,000 for the TA/Reserves should not be a problem. But the attractions of joining the TA are now less appealing than 20 years ago. Today travel remember the old ‘Join the Army, See the World’ adverts - is comparatively cheap and these days many young people value their free time more, having a much wider social scene or more after work pursuits than previous generations.

PAC SLAMS FUTURE ARMY 2020 PLAN

The planning and implementation of the UK Ministry of Defence Army 2020 plan for the British Army has been heavily criticised by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee.

The official report states: “The Ministry of Defence (the Department) determined the future size of the Army based on the need to make financial savings while maintaining enough military capability to deliver required defence outputs. However, it did not adequately consult the Army on its plan to reduce the regular Army by around 20,000 and increase the Army Reserve, or fully assess the feasibility of that plan. The Army needs to increase the trained strength of the Army Reserve to 30,000 by 2019, but its strength has remained at around 19,000 for the last two years. The Army tells us that there will be an increased risk of capability gaps emerging in parts of the Army structure until it reaches the 30,000 reserve target. “The Army has some mitigating actions it can take if recruitment performance does not improve, but it has not worked these into a fully developed contingency plan with clearly defined trigger points. The Army’s recruitment contract with Capita was not established on the basis of a clear understanding of the scale of the recruitment challenge and at least £70 million of the planned £267 million savings from the contract have already been lost.”

ARMY WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION LOST

The Ministry of Defence has revealed that 18 firearms and almost 2,000 rounds of ammunition were lost or stolen last year. A former soldier also told one newspaper that Army divers had recently discovered thousands of live rounds in a pond at a Northumberland firearms training area. According to the soldier: “At the end of a range session you have two official ways to dispose of ammunition. Either you’ve fired it so it’s spent, or it has to be accounted for, signed back in and dealt with as fairly high-security stores. There is a third option where you dispose of it some unofficial way, either bung it in a pond or sell it to gangsters.” However, criminals are not the only ones benefiting from lost military firearms. The number of British weapons recorded as lost during the Afghanistan conflict reached double figures, with a spike of 57 automatic weapons lost and never recovered in 2010. While no weapons were earmarked as lost or stolen during the conflict in 2006, that year more than 2,100 rounds of ammunition disappeared.

The plan forms a central part of Army attempts to build up better expertise and links with the world’s hotspots in case troops should need to deploy on operations. Senior commanders believe many of the errors of the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns were made because officers had little understanding or appreciation of the local cultures. French and Arabic are priority languages because they will allow officers to operate in North Africa and the Middle East, but other languages will also be taught. According to a national newspaper, one senior officer stated: “Many of our forebears would have been embarrassed to see how little knowledge we arrived with in Iraq and Afghanistan. In our great grandfathers’ time, when they served in those regions, they spoke the languages and knew the people.” British units are also being paired with some of the world’s troublespots through links with other militaries. Units will be encouraged to go on exercises and help train friendly militaries in the region as well as learning the languages. According to an Army spokeswoman: “Bi-lateral relationships are essential for the Army’s future focus on defence engagement. Officers aiming to be considered for subunit command appointments starting in 2018 will need to demonstrate basic survival level speaking and listening skills in a foreign language.” Army sources said officers would not be expected to be fluent. The training will begin from January 2015 for anyone wanting to become a subunit commander from 2018 and will be taught at Army education centres.

ARMY LEFT WITH LIMITED CAPABILITY

The British Army has only 36 Challenger tanks ready to go into combat, after five years of cuts to frontline forces. As a result of the Future Army

2020 programme, the number of armoured regiments was reduced to three, with the Yeomanry Reserves providing additional manpower. According to one former TA officer (and former Editor of C&S) who was commenting in a national newspaper, instead of one of the three regiments being at readiness with 56 tanks, just 36 are available. In the 1990s the UK had more than 380 Challenger 2 tanks, which supported the British Army on the Rhine and deployed on Gulf War One, then again in the invasion of southern Iraq in 2003. But the last time they were in action was in 2008, when a small number spearheaded an offensive against the Shi’ite militia in the Iraqi city of Basrah. Government ministers have seemingly dismissed the tank as ‘yesterday’s weapon’ while the Army have struggled to secure revenue to train its crews on ‘tank on tank’ warfare. On 2nd August 2014 The Royal Tank Regiment, the oldest tank formation in the world, was amalgamated and downsized to a single battalion-strength formation.

ARMY BRASS ‘DODGE’ FITNESS TESTS

Finally, British Army generals have been dodging mandatory fitness tests, official figures reveal. Ironically the men who set the tests and are responsible for making sure that ‘other ranks’ face disciplinary action if they fail to pass, have given a ‘metaphorical finger’ to the Physical Training Staff. An official report issued by the Ministry of Defence reveals that none of the Army’s 14 Generals or Lieutenant-Generals, the two highest ranks, took the required number of tests, which demand the completion of a set amount of press-ups and sit-ups and a timed run, during the last statistics year.

1: Britain’s Reserve Forces are experiencing a major shortfall of medical personnel [© Bob Morrison] 2: Officers will not be promoted above the rank of Captain unless they have basic foreign language skills [© Bob Morrison] Below: After five years of cuts the British Army may have only 36 Challenger tanks ready to go into combat [© Guy Channing]

In December 2007, the Ministry of Defence revealed the gun used to shoot WPC Rachael Bown in the stomach in Nottingham in 2006 had been stolen from the Army. The Browning 9mm pistol used in the attack had been stolen from a British military base or smuggled by troops from Afghanistan or Iraq and sold to thugs by a soldier.

OFFICERS MUST HAVE SECOND LANGUAGE

Army officers will have to learn a foreign language for promotion under new plans designed to make the Army more culturally aware. From 2018, officers will not be promoted above the rank of Captain unless they have basic foreign language skills, according to the Army’s internal magazine.

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Product - UK Contact: Salomon/Salomon Telephone/Web: 0207 078 3528/salomon.com/uk

The Discovery FZ is close fitting but free moving so ideal for active use - warm enough to take the chill off

To begin with I think Salomon understate this a bit saying it is “mid layer”. For me it goes much further than this.

he micro-fleece used for the Discovery is really soft and is great as a next-toskin item. So much so my Lady pinched it to wear at night on our trip to the Alps. It also works very well as a chill weather top over a T-shirt or similar. So this makes the Discovery a really handy and multifunctional item of gear to have around (a bit like my Land Rover version of the Discovery really), especially when space and weight are limited such as when living out of a pack. Discovery FZ is, as Salomon say, ‘active fit’ but is stretchy to comfortable when active. It has a full zip so can be vented as necessary. There is a chest pocket for a phone but no others (not as the web site states). The collar zips up quite high with the zip being protected so not uncomfortable like some. Another good and useful item from Salomon.

The single chest pocket is just right for a mobile phone or similar - the collar has a comfortable zip so the neck is protected as required.

Combat & Survival

I have come to know this pack pretty well over recent months, having used it as a general rucksack for travels but in particular I used it as my day pack over my two week Tour du Mont Blanc trek. In a nutshell I like this pack.

t is well thought out, comfortable and has enough of the right features but is not overwhelmed by things you will not use. At 45-litre it has a very useful capacity, but has compression straps on the sides so can be drawn in if not used to the full. The main compartment has a side-entry zip, so you can get an item out from within without having to unload the lot. I really like this and it is particularly handy in the rain or snow - as I found out.

Combat & Survival

In the snow high on the TMB â&#x20AC;&#x201C; spot the incoming snow ball - while trying to be serious for photos a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; took this well aimed pot shot which was a hit!

Product - UK Contact: Salomon/Salomon Telephone/Web: 0207 078 3528/salomon.com/uk

On the back is a good size ‘document’ pocket with doubleended zipper. The top cover also has a substantial zipped pocket, with a smaller one on the inside with key hook. Each side of the waistbelt has a useful size-zipped pocket, just right for munchies. A really good feature is the ‘external’ pocket for your hydration system. This slides into its own compartment outside the main sack and behind the back panel. A hanger strap is provided and there is no need to poke the tube from inside to outside, just feed it onto whichever side shoulder strap you prefer; good one. Talking back panel, this looks a bit knobbly and uncomfortable but it is definitely not so. Known as the Airvent Contact System, it has its roots in adventure racing and works well. On each side of the pack are ski

Above: On TMB the Sky 45 was perfect for the task - it is seen here with kip mat in the side pocket which it takes comfortably 1: The Airvent Contact System is very comfortable and the external to pack hydration set-up is well thought out 2: My Sky 45 day pack at rest on TMB 3: The Sky 45 has some good features - here you see the back pocket, side access zip, mesh side pockets, compression and ski straps among others

Anatom/Anatom 08000 323 505/anatomfootwear.co.uk

straps, if you need them, as are two very good sized mesh pockets. Easily large enough to carry a drinks bottle or a wet jacket or both. I used this feature to carry a small kip mat. The outer straps allow for a variety of external items to be carried such as kip mats and tents. Fabrics are tough and doubled on the base to withstand heavy usage. The Sky 45 does not have a rain cover, but I have to say that I carried it through many wet days and never had any issues - although I did use dry bags inside, just in case.

If you are looking for this size of pack, the Sky 45 is well worth checking out. Although mine is ‘non-tac’ red, it also comes in black.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A ‘GENERAL PURPOSE’ BOOT THAT IS LIGHT AND VERY COMFORTABLE THE V2 IS WELL WORTH CONSIDERATION. THESE ARE NOT GNARLY MOUNTAIN BOOTS, HENCE DECIDING NOT TAKING THEM ON MY RECENT TMB TREK AS THEY WOULD WITHOUT DOUBT HAVE GOT WELL BATTERED NOT HAVING MUCH IN THE WAY OF PROTECTION. HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN USING THEM FOR COAST WALKS AND GENERAL USE AND REALLY LIKE THEM.

hey are grippy, with Anatom’s own Hill-Grip 1 sole, soft and easy to wear but supportive. The fit of these boots works well for me with my large feet, being quite wide with ample room in the toe box, so going downhill is not a toe-crushing experience. The lacing system makes them easy to get on and off and adjust as required. The V2 has a waterproof breathable membrane that seems to work well. All in all a nice boot and worth a look.

4: I found the Anatom V2 to be a comfortable everyday walking boot 5: The 2 boots have their own Anatom sole unit which affords a good level of grip in most conditions Images © or via Mike Gormley

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Product - UK Contact: Keela/Keela / Ilasco Telephone/Web: 01592 777 000/ilasco.co.uk

I HAVE OFTEN SAID IF YOU WANT TO STAY DRY, WEAR KEELA. THEIR SYSTEM DUAL PROTECTION (SDP) WORKS. IN THIS CASE IT IS USED ON THEIR NEW AND UPDATED SPECIAL FORCES JACKET AND TROUSERS.

UST Water Tight/Whitby and Co 01539 721 032/whitbyandco.co.uk

In frontline military life much of the time is spent in contact with the ground so durability and effect iveperformance are essential as is good camouflage

When operating on foot clothing must be able to move with you but remain effective and not hinder what you are doing

Driving open-topped vehicles and operating weapons can mean long periods exposed to all weathers while also needing to be active and comfortable

pdated in spec and brought up to date using MultiCam, SDP retains its core benefit and that is to keep the wearer protected and dry both from the outside elements and from the wearer’s own self-produced moisture (okay then – sweat). My first real use of this system was years ago on a particularly miserable outing on Dartmoor when it rained relentlessly all day. I was wearing a Munro Jacket and a Keela T base. We crossed the moor that day and I was the only one to be bone dry at the end. My son Bruce proffed that jacket and still uses it, and in fact it can be seen on the Keela website on the Outwear icon. It’s worth checking out the website for the full info regarding the SDP. It is not just me that recognises that this system works as it is used by SF, Mountain Rescue and Police, to name a few. The Special Forces Jacket has all the expected fixtures and fittings and some, such as four buttoned front pockets, water-resistant zip and storm flap, map pocket, phone pocket, pit zips, adjustable cuffs, foldaway wired hood,

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compass pocket with security D-ring, etc. The Special Forces trousers are equally high spec. In a nutshell these items of kit are built to perform and stand the pace in a rough tough world. Keela is a brand that is not readily found in the more common High Street stores so you will have a search a bit, but I am sure you will find it worth it. Alternatively, Keela’s new ilasco.co.uk website should be up and running by the time you read this.

6: Keela SF clothing is designed to give the freedom of movement so necessary in an active role but to also retain a good shape and convenience, especially if the wearer is vehicle-based Model : Nigel My thanks to: Supacat 7: The UST Water Tight case is aimed and sized for the likes of a smart phone but has many uses

Keeping things dry, safe and protected is a day to day event for most of us that don’t wear suits. This small case is aimed at protecting the likes of a smart phone, wallet and other valuables - or perhaps matches and loo roll, which are equally important to keep dry in the wide outdoors. Lots of uses for this one. It is also a good item for those on or in boats, as it will float, has good and supplied means of tying on, and is in a colour that will show up if all goes wrong. This will probably end up in my canoe kit bag ……..

he IS isn’t as effective as it seems. Although it has taken territory from the Iraqi Army and captured stocks of armoured vehicles, weapons, ammunition and also oil infrastructure allowing funding, this doesn’t make it effective. It beat the Iraqi Army because they were nowhere near as capable as Western political leaders told their public they were when they announced that the insurgents had been beaten and a capable Iraqi force had been left as troops were pulled out in 2007. The US spent $25 Billion on training the Iraqi forces over an eight year period and left a 200,000-strong force that reflected the ethnic and religious diversity of the country, but all of the effort and lives lost have been undermined by the Iraqi government who simply developed a Shia-dominated militia. The latest US-led coalition is

planning to send 1,600 troops (including 475 SF Operators) to create National Guard units of Sunni tribesmen to fight the Sunni fighters of the IS. This will be supported by a range of airpower, including drones and strike aircraft, but airpower can only destroy the insurgents’ vehicles and manpower as it is seen by drones and forward air controllers on the ground. Since insurgencies have a habit of blending into, or using, the local population to hide amongst this will dilute the effects of any combat power provided by air, therefore IS has to be defeated on the ground as well. Yet the numbers of troops are neither enough (or politically allowed) to engage in ground combat so it really does come down to a race of time to see whether IS can take Baghdad before the West can create the Sunni units required that are capable. The question is how effective will they be? The IS has also been successful in Syria as it has fought both Assad’s forces and the Free Syrian Army (FSA), which has enjoyed bankrolling, weapons and training from the West (the CIA has trained 4000 FSA fighters) and other Middle East supporters. The fundamentalist group has shown that it is better equipped, better funded and very adept at marketing. This has attracted significant numbers of Western citizens (some of which are converts) to travel to Turkey, slip across the border and fight

THE ISLAMIC STATE What Now? - By Robert Shaw

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The 15,000 strong force calling itself the Islamic State (IS) has become a concern to the West, with its successful campaign to take territory in Iraq and Syria. There have been numbers of European and other radicalised citizens travelling to Syria to fight and create an Islamic state. In recent weeks IS has massacred thousands of Iraqi and Syrian soldiers and civilians and publicly beheaded several US and a UK citizen. They are now considered a serious threat to the security of the Middle East and Europe and this was discussed at the recent NATO summit. So what is the plan and some of the issues?

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 for them. To avoid detection they go under disguise as aid workers providing support to the victims of conflict. Even women have gone to be Jihadi brides and members of a religious police force in the IS controlled areas. Fortunately, some Western intelligence services (such as the Germans) have been effective at identifying those leaving to fight therefore enabling security of their country in the future when/if the fighters try to return. But this is only one success story as other intelligence services (such as the UK) have no idea who has left the country and therefore has allowed returning fighters to re-enter and possibly pose a risk to the UK. Although there has been a recent lowering of morale amongst some IS fighters, who expressed a desire to return to the UK (wanting to avoid imprisonment for being terrorists) and to engage in a de-radicalisation programme. However, it must be remembered how unsuccessful these types of programmes have been in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia and since IS has imprisoned those who want to return as a deterrent to the other fighters this will not affect their capability greatly. The strategy to defeat IS isn’t actually a new one. The regional Islamist countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey have already been providing military bases, weapons and equipment to the FSA; this effort will simply be increased. What is new is the provision of air strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq, which have the potential to break the force as long as not used in isolation but along with a ground capability. This will take years, hence the talk of it being a generational war. The solution has to have buy-in and serious commitment from the very Middle Eastern countries that have inadvertently created the IS by having a religious ideology (Wahhabi/Salafi) that has mutated into something even more puritanical.

Model: Jitka Images ÂŠ Bob Morrison

DIRECT ACTION is the brand name of a range of quality rucksacks, bags and accessories from Polish company HelikonTex. In addition to plain military 70

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shades such as Ranger Green, Olive Green and Coyote Tan they also produce many of their styles in Polish Woodland, CamoGrom (which is compatible with MultiCam and MTP), and PenCott camouflage patterns. However as they also supply bags in plain black which are suitable for blue light emergency services and low profile travellers, this is the colour we requested for this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s review samples. Next month we will look at a different model in PenCott camo.

he DA Foxtrot Waist Bag is what some would call an Every Day Carry bag which can be both shoulder-slung and strapped around the waist to spread the load if heavy objects are being carried. The shoulder strap, which can either be worn diagonally meaning the bag is slung over the rear left hip or be shortened and worn over the left shoulder to bring the bag more to the front for more regular access, is detachable by way of a couple of sturdy quick release clips.

Jitka is wearing the Foxtrot in my preferred style, more to the front, which allows me speedy access to camera, spare lens and flashgun carried in the well-padded main compartment. I find the secondary front compartment, which has organiser pouches and pockets on the back face, is capacious enough to hold more camera accessories and notebook etc. plus documents can be carried in a zipped pocket on the front face. There is also a small lens-sized pocket with internal mesh pocket and key clip on the leading edge of the bag, an open-topped pouch pocket with retaining strap on the trailing edge, and a zipped mesh pocket under the main compartment lid. The waistbelt, which has zipped pockets in both wings, can be tucked away in the back face padding tunnel if you wish to carry the bag just by the top grab handles. Fabric is hardwearing genuine Cordura and there are laser cut PALS (Pouch Attachment Ladder System) slots on the outer faces.

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THE DIRECT ACTION GHOST IS A THREE-DAY BACKPACK WITH HYDRATION BLADDER COMPARTMENTS. LIKE THE DA FOXTROT, REVIEWED ON THE PREVIOUS PAGES, IT IS MANUFACTURED FROM TOUGH WATER-RESISTANT 500D CORDURA FABRIC AND IT ALSO HAS LASER-CUT PALS SLOTS ON THE OUTSIDE FACE AND BOTH SIDES. IN ADDITION TO A USEFUL 28 LITRE CAPACITY, THIS RUCKSACK HAS A SECONDARY 3.5 LITRE DETACHABLE PACK WHICH CAN BE EITHER SIMPLY CLIPPED TO THE MAIN SACK FOR SPEEDY REMOVAL, USING THE COMPRESSION STRAPS, OR MORE PERMANENTLY ATTACHED BY PALS STRAPS. THERE IS A SECONDARY SHOCK CORD EACH SIDE TO ALLOW HELMET TRANSPORTATION IF SO DESIRED.

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s with the Foxtrot, the Ghost is available in both the plain Ranger / Olive / Coyote colourways plus PenCott, CamoGrom and Polish Woodland camo patterns, but we again opted for the more low profile plain black colour. This backpack has a good padded waistbelt as standard, but if wearing body armour and/or belt order (or the DA Foxtrot Waist Bag) such a belt can be more of a hindrance than a help if it is permanently attached to the pack, but the designers have taken this into consideration and made the waistbelt easily removable if necessary yet sturdy and immovable if needed. It is perfectly feasible to wear both Foxtrot and Ghost together, though it will be more comfortable if the Foxtrot’s shoulder padding is detached. The back panel and the low profile shoulder straps of the Ghost are well padded and there is a deep ventilation channel running the length of the bag over the spine. The bottom of each shoulder

strap has a quick release clip to allow the wearer to speedily dump it if necessary, and there is an elasticated sternum strap to hold the shoulder straps together. As for the mesh padded removable waistbelt, it has (removable) strap and buckle fittings each side for pack sit adjustment, three buckles on the bottom edge for drop straps, and a

Duraflex Lock Monster buckle at the front for quick and easy release. The belt also has laser-cut PALS slots in the front outer faces to allow MOLLE-type pouches to be fitted if required. Behind the stiffened padded back panel is a large zipped compartment for a bladder, complete with hanging strap arrangement; I frequently use this one to carry my full-sized laptop as it allows very easy access. On the rear face of the main compartment is a second, open topped, bladder pouch and above this is a hanging strap plus a port for the drinking tube. On the front inner face of the main compartment is a half depth zipped mesh pocket and on the outer face there is a zipped two-thirds depth document pocket. The detachable pack has inner mesh pockets and organiser panel plus outer zipped document pocket, there is an EyePro pouch at the top of the main pack and on each side of the pack there are two bottle pouches. Other features are probably best covered by the pictures rather than words. Combat & Survival

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