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Vol 28 Issue 12
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FN 5.56mm
MINIMI MK3
H+K 7.62mm
G27P
ALLIED
FORCES
COMBINED SPECIAL
OPERATIONS
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PHOTO FOCUS
MI-17 HIP & PZL W-3 SOKÓŁ SPECIAL
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GERMAN BUNDESWEHR
AN
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B AT
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
Bob Morrison, Editor
Carl Schulze, Senior Correspondent
Gordon Arthur, Far East Correspondent
Mike Gormley, Gear Tester
Robert Shaw, Security Consultant
Ian Young, Scale Models
Neal Molyneaux, Designer
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT
Moira Spencer, Sales Director
Fran Smith, Admin & Accounts Manager
MARKETING DEPARTMENT
Ciaran Jarosz, Head of Marketing
Daryl Crowther, Marketing Manager
DISCLAIMER:
D The publishers
Bob Morrison reects on exceptional make no representations,
m
mak
experiences with Lowa’s Innox endorsements,
end
n guarantees
Gore-Tex Mid-Height boots warranties concerning the
orr w
products
prod
pro d and/or services
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adv
d within this magazine.
We
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such.
s
COMBAT
CO
COM & SURVIVAL | 03
The 9mm SIG Sauer
P320 has been
selected by the US
Comms
Army in both full-
comms size and compact
versions
I
n this issue we bring you the exercise were every bit as professional
last of our coverage of the as their boss and, with the exception
For over a quarter of a century the
ANAKONDA ‘16 exercise of one instance where they had to
US Army has been using the Beretta
phases, concentrating on the corral us on health & safety grounds
M9 pistol as its standard sidearm but
closing dynamic demonstration due to the amount of fast-moving
as many of these weapons are fast
undertaken by a multinational Special heavy vehicles in close proximity,
approaching the end of their life cycle
Operations force in front of a party of made our life as easy as possible as we
it was decided to seek a replacement.
Distinguished Visitors and Observers. endeavoured to bring our readership
Twelve pistols from eight different
This wide-ranging exercise, the largest maximum coverage of these massive
manufacturers were entered for the
conducted on NATO territories since manoeuvres. Thank you very much.
XM17 Modular Handgun System
STRONG RESOLVE in 2002, was
competition in 2016, of which three
headed by Poland’s Lieutenant General Since 1st January the United Kingdom
were down-selected for trials. Just
Marek Tomaszycki who has been has been lead nation for NATO’s Very
before this issue went to press, it was
the Operational Commander of his High Readiness Joint Task Force
announced that the 9mm SIG Sauer
country’s armed forces since 2013. (VJTF) and, following the 2016 Warsaw
P320 had been selected in both
Summit held just after ANAKONDA
full-size and compact versions. We
At almost every exercise event that ‘16 ended, the UK has also been
will bring you an update in a future
C&S attended this quietly spoken lead nation for the NATO Enhanced
issue, but in the meantime to read
former Armoured Cavalry ofcer, Forward Presence (eFP) battalion
the company press release go to the
with experience of both the Iraq and being based in Estonia. C&S will do
combatandsurvival.com website.
Afghanistan operations, was on hand its level best to provide readers with
to talk to the media as well as hosting coverage of both VJTF ‘17 and British
One of our advertisers, Lionsgate
visiting politicians and high ranking Forces units participating in the eFP
Films, has sent us a check disc of
ofcers from other nations. The mission; hopefully the UK MoD defence
the John Travolta lm Life On The
general’s media handling team for this communications organisation will
Line, which will be available for
digital download in the UK from 20th
February and will go on sale on DVD
one week later. Normally this would not
be my type of lm, as I am more into
documentary-style than action movies,
but as there is a powerful underlying
message about the perils of maintaining
the power grid in the US in the face
of the extreme storms and hurricanes
that regularly hit this massive country, I
decided to give it a go.
Lt Gen Marek Tomaszycki addressing the media during ANAKONDA ‘16 [© Bob Morrison] COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 05
BRITISH ARMY MTP
SPECIAL FORCES
WEBBING
www.militarykit.com
elite forces
01: Recently the units
of Gebirgs jäger
brigade 23 were
issued with new
clothing including a
cold weather jacket
and the waterproof
Schneetarnanzug
winter camouage
suit
02: Using a satellite
picture a platoon
commander from
Gebirgs jäger
bataillon 231 leads
02
his section during
a counter-attack
against irregular
forces after his
patrol has been
ambushed
EDELWEISS 2016
CARL SCHULZE
brigade 23 mountain infantry brigade. The annual EDELWEISS exercises are aimed
at training the units of the brigade in the art of oensive and defensive mountain
warfare operations. At the start of winter, C&S followed Exercise Edelweiss 2016
for a couple of days to report on this elite formation.
10:27, ROSSKOPF PEAK, 2,449 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL, LIZUM/
WALCHEN TRAINING AREA, AUSTRIA, 22ND OCTOBER 2016:
F
rom their well-prepared and soldiers assigned to Red Force have peaks and the Tantalerköpfe peaks were
camouaged positions the the task of defending the Unbenannte taken by Blue at rst light, and from the
mountain infantry troops Scharte gap between the Rosskopf high ground overlooking the whole area
of C Platoon, 4. Kompanie, peak and the Mölser Sonnenspitze Blue now can monitor the Red positions
Gebirgs jäger bataillon peak in order to prevent enemy troops on Rosskopf. Suddenly, the sound of the
232 carefully monitor the area between from taking the high ground above the wind blowing across the snow-covered
the Mölser Sonnenspitze peak (2,496m Lager Lizum camp and launching an rocky ground is drowned by explosions
above sea level) and the Nördlicher attack against the camp from there. It is caused by ash-bangs the umpires are
Schober peak (2,448m above sea level). already the second attempt of Blue to throwing.
take the Rosskopf peak, but owing to
Armed with a 40mm Granat maschinen their domination of the high ground Red “Mortar re, take cover!” the platoon
waffe (grenade machinegun), a MILAN were able to repulse the rst one leader shouts, the order being echoed
anti-tank missile system, two 7.62mm by his section commanders. “Damn!”
MG3 machineguns and several 5.56mm This time the situation is different. The one of the mountain infantrymen
G36 assault ries, the roughly 30 Red positions on the Klammspitzen mumbles while he crouches behind a
boulder. “They have a Joint Fire Support the other the Red positions are cleared includes peaks up to 2,800m above sea
Team up there, directing the re of by the Blue troops. level.
their mortars against us with pinpoint
accuracy.” This attack on Rosskopf Peak was only All in all the exercise area extended
one of several offensive operations 210km from its western to its Eastern
The mortar re ceases as suddenly as it conducted by the Blue Forces over edge and 80km from North to South.
began, but now machinegun re can be a period of ve days during Exercise It involved some 1,600 German and
heard from the direction of the Mölser EDELWEISS 2016. Austrian troops as well as 200 wheeled
Sonnenspitze. Simultaneously gures and tracked vehicles and several
dressed in snow camouage suits can
be seen making their way up from the
Unbenannte Scharte gap towards the
EXERCISE IN NUMBERS
EDELWEISS 2016 was conducted by
helicopters of the Austrian Armed
Forces.
Rosskopf peak.
04
08
and 4. Kompanie) and its 5. Kompanie
(schwere Gebirgs jäger kompanie) re
support company. The battalion was
reinforced by an engineer company
of the Gebirgs pionier bataillon 8
and a platoon of the Einsatz- und
Ausbildungszentrum für Tragtierwesen
230.
THREE PHASES
As part of the EDELWEISS 2016
Phase II was a reconnaissance exercise
conducted by the Gebirgs aufklärungs
exercise scenario, Blue Forces were bataillon 230 battlegroup up to the
deployed to the ctitious country of 21st of October. During this, the
Obsidia in order to protect its integrity reconnaissance assets gathered vital
against attacks by the conventional 13 information about the enemy and his
forces of a neighbouring state, while at plans. This information formed the basis
15
01
By 30th June 2016 the German Armed Forces had received 600 brand new Gewehr
(Rie) G27P 7.62x51mm Precision Automatic Ries manufactured by Heckler & Koch.
Together with additional 5.56x45mm MG4 machineguns, also manufactured by H&K,
these weapons were procured as a supplement to the rearms mix elded by the
German Infantry assets. C&S recently came across the rst G27P precision automatic
ries in the eld and seized the opportunity to brief readers on this weapon.
I
n recent years there has been a ministerium (German Ministry of
growing argument in Germany Defence) met in court to settle the 02
about the precision and reliability matter; with the manufacturer winning
of the 5.56x45mm Gewehr G36 the case.
assault rie manufactured by
Heckler & Koch, the standard assault In 2015, however, Ursula von der
rie of the German Armed Forces. Leyen, Germany’s Defence Minister,
Report after report was presented and declared the days of the 178,000
the subject even reached the state G36 ries in German service to be
where H&K and the Verteidigungs numbered and initiated the process for
“CAPABILITY-WISE, THE
7.62MM CALIBRE G27P
FITS INTO THE WEAPON
MIX OF THE INFANTRY
SECTION BETWEEN THE
5.56MM G36 ASSAULT
RIFLE AND THE 7.62MM
G28 DMR...”
08
03
10 11
Images © Carl Schulze
G27P TECHNOLOGY
The G27P precision automatic rie is
a magazine-fed automatic weapon
that can re single shots and bursts.
According to its Bundeswehr manual,
the gas operated, rotating bolt
weapon consists of the following
main components: The upper receiver
with barrel, back-up iron sight and
add-on parts; the lock; the lower
receiver with add-on parts, including
the trigger mechanism and butt
stock; the cocking handle; the bipod;
the hand guard; the sights (4x30i RD
optical sight and RSA-S reex sight);
the magazine; and the sling.
13
09: The G27P is tted with extracted in ve steps out to 80mm.
12 a Hensoldt Line 4x30i RD The trigger mechanism incorporates the
optical sight - the reticule safety catch that features the settings
can be illuminated Safe, Single Shot and Burst. It is used to
10: The butt of the G27P lock the weapon when cocked, as well
can be extracted in ve as to select the ring modes.
steps out to 80mm – there
is a storage compartment
behind the rubber butt pad The upper receiver houses the lock
and cocking handle. The 406mm long
11: The G27P is a member barrel, that features four grooves and
of the HK417 family and as
such utilises the Stoner- elds, is also mounted in it. The gas port
designed AR system - the is mounted on the barrel with the gas
automatic weapon can be operating system, which can be set for
used to re single shots
or bursts. normal use or when using the weapon
with a silencer, situated above it.
12: The G27P comes with a
Harris HBRMS bipod with
legs that can be adjusted The front sight of the back-up iron
individually sight, which can be folded down, is
incorporated into the gas port. At the
13: Here the front sight receiving end of the barrel a thread is
element of the back-up
iron sights is folded found onto which a ash eliminator is
forwards to avoid screwed. A MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail
obscuring the optical is situated on top of the upper receiver;
sight
this is used to mount the rear sight of
14: A ash eliminator is the back-up iron sights and the 4x30i
screwed onto the front of RD optical sight. The forward assist
the 406mm long barrel
which features four assembly situated at the right rear
grooves and elds with of the upper receiver allows manual
and the hand guard are made of right twist engagement of the lock of the weapon.
composite materials. The upper and 15: A hex-wrench for
lower receiver are attached to each adjusting the gas system The hand-guard of the G27P features
other by two bolts. When only the of the rie is stored with MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails at the
two spare batteries for the
rearward bolt is removed, the forward sights behind the butt pad top and bottom as well as at the
bolt becomes a joint, allowing the lower left and right side. The rails are used
receiver to be hinged downwards by to t the weapon with additional
45° - for example, for maintenance
15 sighting equipment such as the Nacht
purpose or when the weapon is sicht vorsatz NSV 600 night vision
stripped. The magazine, that can hold attachments and the LLM01 laser light
twenty rounds, is manufactured of module. It is also used to mount the
transparent plastic. assault grip and the Harris bipod.
The lower receiver incorporates the Among other items, the accessory pack
magazine well, houses the trigger delivered with the weapon includes
mechanism and is tted with the eight magazines, an assault grip, a
extractable butt stock that can be carrying case, and a cleaning kit.
firearms
- note that the
weapon is tted
with an assault
grip which is part
of the standard
accessory kit
17: The centre
mark of the 4x30i
RD optical sight
reticule is set
on 100m - below
it are marks for
300m to 1200m
distances in
hundred metre
steps
16
ANAKON
COMBINED SPECIAL
L
ast month we Swedish units also contributed.
On Thursday 16th June, ten days looked back at After a brief regrouping of the
after the Opening Ceremony the impressive DV party, we were transported
in Warsaw and nine days after multinational from the tank and artillery ring
multinational Airborne Forces Combined Arms range about seven kilometres
commenced their Joint Forcible Live-F
Live-Fire Exercise (LFX) through the forest to the 2,000
demo
demonstration, conducted in metre long airstrip at Oleszno
Entry operation into Poland from front of Distinguished Visitors where a temporary village
bases in the United States, Germany and O
Observers at the Polish had been assembled near the
and Italy, the last two major Exercise Land Forces Training Centre on Eastern end of the runway
ANAKONDA phases took place at morning of the penultimate
the m for the afternoon’s brief but
the Land Forces Training Centre of the exercise. Although
day o dynamic demonstration.
participating battlegroup
the pa
near Drawsko Pomorskie. At the was PPolish-led, Albanian, All we had been told in
invitation of the Polish MoD, C&S American, Bulgarian, Lithuanian,
Amer advance was that a Polish-led
was on hand to witness both. Macedonian, Romanian, and
Mace multinational SOTU (Special
NDA 16
metres away took out
the short range air
defence crews
12
10
13 14
18
19
17
In effect four multiples, each building, a third arrived in a pair
consisting of two four-man of Toyota HILUX SUVs carrying
teams, plus supporting helicopter breaching charges for the doors
and vehicle crews, carried out and windows, and the forth
the simultaneous assault on arrived on a pair of MRZR-2 Light
the three distinct areas of the Tactical All Terrain Vehicles to
enemy-held complex. The lead assault the logistics complex.
Hip dropped one multiple near
the communications buildings, The primary mission of the raid,
the second Hip dropped another which according to my camera
multiple behind the barracks data was all over in under eight
£
12.95 £
31.95
www.combatandsurvival.com/shop
* Colour & designs subject to change. All items correct at time of going to press. Visit website for up-to-date merchandise
aviation focus
PZL W-3
SOKÓ POLISH ARMY MULTI-PURPOSE HELICOPTER
Following the sudden annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea by the Russian
Federation in 2014 and NATO Alliance nations stepping up their presence in the Baltic
region as an expression of solidarity in case of further Westward expansionism by
the Putin regime, British Army troops have come into increased contact with the
helicopters of their Polish allies, including the W-3 Sokó and Mi-17 Hip.
I
n this rst of two brief looks for quality and the Soviet Union not
at Polish helicopter types we only allowed the ģwidnik facility to
are focussing on the PZL W-3 develop its own helicopter design but
Sokó (Falcon) which, with a also agreed to it using proven Russian-
payload of just over two tonnes designed engines. It was originally
and the ability to carry up to a dozen planned that the Sokó would be used
troops, is classed as being mid-sized to equip other Warsaw Pact nations
and multi-purpose. Of home-grown with both civil and military helicopters,
design, originally manufactured by the but, by the time that series production
PZL (Pa stwowe Zakady Lotnicze commenced in the late 1980s, the Iron
or State Aviation Factory) plant in Curtain was close to falling - the Czechs,
ģwidnik near Lublin, which was bought however, subsequently procured
Images © Bob Morrison
O
n paper the Mi-17-1V In late 2006 a second batch, factory- cannon pods can be tted to turn the
eet is all assigned to produced to the 1V (i.e. armed) Russian-built aircraft into a helicopter
No.1 Air Squadron of standard, entered service carrying gunship able of providing re support
25 Air Cavalry Brigade tailcodes in the 6101 to 6107 sequence. to its passengers when they dismount
(Brygada Kawalerii Visually these aircraft are very similar or suppressing enemy infantry around
Powietrznej) but it appears that four to the 1989 batch. Finally, a further an intended landing zone. A door mini-
of them may be earmarked for Special batch of ve airframes was procured gun operated by the third crewman
Forces support. The four oldest of the in 2010, for ISAF duties in Afghanistan. or loadmaster, starboard side on 6108
sixteen airframes (tailcode 601, 602, These can be distinguished from to 6112 and port side on earlier aircraft
603 and 605) date from around 1989 the earlier Mi-17-1V batches by their can be tted for close defence when
and were originally basic Mi-17 unarmed tailcodes, in the 6108 to 6112 sequence, landing.
transport helicopters, but these now and the starboard side forward troop
appear to have been upgraded to 1V compartment door; the starboard lower The aircraft we photographed during
standards with weapons pylons and sponson is correspondingly shortened the Combined Special Operations
external cockpit armour. The MedEvac and a new air intake cowl is tted above dynamic display at Oleszno, 6111 and
conversions (606 and 607) are from the this door. 6112, were from this last batch with the
same batch, but have not been tted starboard troop compartment door.
with weapons pylons. A twin-engined multi-mission helicopter The third, 6104, was photographed on
03
consecutive days in Wedrzyn during a
demo and then being used for fast-
rope training. All three were tted with
appliqué cockpit armour and the two
later models also had engine protection
armoured plates, but 6104 only had
mounting brackets. The rear clamshell
troop compartment doors were
removed on all three.
Polish and
Canadian air
assault troops
fast-roping from an
Mi-17-1V Hip onto
a rooftop on the
Wedrzyn Training
Area in Poland
during Exercise
ANAKONDA 16
COMBAT
+SURVIVAL
38 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL
GH&EK 40
BMMIRGRGENS J Ä G E R
ADE MACHINE GU
UN
N
German Army 40mm Granatmaschinenwaffe Team from
C Platoon of 4. Kompanie, Gebirgsjägerbataillon 232 on
Exercise EDELWEISS 16 in Austria [© Carl Schulze]
POLISH JWK
& BROTHERS
COMMANDO SPECIAL FORCES GROUP
Images © Bob Morrison
T
his year Poland’s Special nation’s Armed Forces, celebrates ten (7 Eskadra Dziaaę Specjalnych). As far
Forces Command years in existence. Its current structure as we can determine, JW Agat would
(Dowództwo Wojsk includes ve distinct military units, or appear to be the Headquarters and
Specjalnych), which is Jednostka Wojskowa, plus an Special Headquarters Group, JW Formoza, JW
the fourth branch of the Operations Aviation Squadron Grom and JW Komandosów are the
03
04
three Sabre Groups, and JW Nil is the demonstration covered on pages 24 teams of SF/SO personnel from
Command Support & Security Group. to 29 of this issue, and we are pretty America, Croatia, Hungary and Romania
condent that 7 SOAS provided the were also involved.
It was JW Komandosów, the Mil Mi-17 Hip and W-3PL Guszec
battalion-strength Commando helicopters (see pages 32-35). Although According to ofcial documentation we
Special Forces Group home-based in not immediately visually obvious from were given after the demo, the mission
Lubliniec, who provided the nucleus our camera location, about 150 metres of JW Komandosów is to: “secure and
of the multinational Special Operation from the closest of the action, in assist Polish citizens, regardless of their
Task Unit (SOTU) for the dynamic addition to JW Komandosów operators whereabouts and the circumstances
09
07
08
13
10
11
they are under.” The unit is structured to
undertake the full spectrum of military 14
4
activities in the Special Operations realm.
Such operations can be conducted
both on land and on Continental waters,
with the core tasks being Direct Action,
Special Reconnaissance and Military
Assistance with WMD Proliferation
Protection and Hostage Rescue
Operations being secondary tasks. JKW
is capable of conducting such missions
either on their own or as part of national
or international campaigns.
THE TRADITIONS OF
Commando of which 6 Troop
was almost entirely Polish
12: All operators in this shot
are from JWK – other than the
central soldier who wears
POLISH RESISTANCE...”
MultiCam the rest all wear
A-TACS camouage
13: Two US Green Berets
arrive by M249-armed Polaris
MRZR-2 – JWK operator on
left has door breaching tools
on his belt behind his left
forearm
14: One of the US Special
Forces MRZR-2 Light Tactical
All-Terrain Vehicles - for an
in-depth feature on the LTATV
see the November 2015 issue
15: The Kotwica (anchor)
was the symbol of the
Polish Resistance in WWII
- the modern JWK badge
incorporates this and the
Special Forces dagger
16: We cannot forget the
Polish OpFor team – all
members of an Air Defence
unit – who played the part of
insurgent militia during the
SF demo
Two operators who at rst confused me were the based at Drawsko Pomorskie during ANAKONDA
Images © Bob Morrison
sniper team, clad in what appeared to be British 16 who use this camo pattern I suspect the team 19
DPM ghillie suits. As this pair materialised for the might be from 610 ‘Vultures’ Special Operations
team photo and then quickly vanished without Battalion. The last nationality participating in the
saying anything I could not ask their identity, demo was Hungary, and you can see one of their
but as Romania was the only one of nine nations operators in detail on pages 48-50.
18
F
to Southern Afghanistan.
ollowing a hastily arranged abbreviation as MH 34 BL KMZ (i.e. The Hungarian SF troops on Exercise
group photo the Hungarian Különleges MĬveleti Zászlóalj).The ANAKONDA wore some interesting insignia,
operators moved off to be combat uniform worn by the Hungarian in addition to their national tricolour shield
addressed by a brigadier SF was genuine MultiCam, mostly from which was spotted in both full colour and
low visibility versions. Special Forces
from the Distinguished Crye Precision’s own specialist range shoulder tabs, in either English or Hungarian
Visitors party and, afterwards, one of of garments; this was conrmed by the (Különleges Erök) were worn by most and
the team kindly agreed to allow us small manufacturer’s tags on the leading some also sported Airborne tabs. The
to photograph him for a Kit & Camo edge of the sleeve pockets. These days, battalion’s badge, consisting of a winged
feature before they were whipped even close up, it can be quite difcult dagger with 34 above and Bercsényi below,
away. From his insignia it is obvious to determine whether either genuine was worn by several operators, as was a round
HUN SOTU (Hungarian Special Operations Task
that he belongs to 34th Special Forces MultiCam fabric or one of the many Unit) patch with the mythical falcon-like Turul
Battalion; some reference sources copies is being worn, so it is worth national symbol. Most operators also wore
say Special Operations, but ofcial checking for pocket tags even though identication numbers preceded by a T.
Hungarian Government documentation some wearers cut these off. Hungary’s
gives the unit’s full name in English dedicated SF battalion in its current
as being Hungarian Defence Forces format is only around a decade old,
34th ‘László Bercsényi Special but its roots go back to an elite World
Forces Battalion and its Hungarian War Two parachute battalion which
5.56MM
MINIMI M
The FN Minimi Mk3 5.56mm Light Machine Gun is arguably the pinnacle of LMG/
Support Weapon technology today. It is supremely eective at what it does, and
it is hard to see how it can be radically improved on, but to fully appreciate the
battleeld signicance of the Minimi it is important to rst put the machine gun
into some historical context.
T
here are many weapons When Richard J. Gatling created his the impact of the Gatling’s ‘wall of lead’
which will be noted in rotary barrel multi-shot magazine-fed was signicant.
military history as force weapon it is unlikely he could have
multipliers on the battle- conceived that his invention would lead The next major change would be the
eld. However, there are to the blisteringly effective World War combined utilisation of recoil forces
few remaining which saw combat in the II MG42 or the iconic US M60. In the and an improved feed method to allow
late 18th Century and are still prevalent 1870s the Gatling gun was truly a force for greater sustained re capacity. The
in the military arsenal today. Weapons multiplier. Operated by a hand-cranked open battleelds of World War One
systems come and go as the face of lever, the weapon magazine fed .45 or necessitated such invention and saw
warfare changes, but the soldier-oper- .30 calibre rounds at 200 or 400rpm, the introduction of the Maxim and the
ated portable machine gun has been crucially discharging at regular intervals Vickers belt feed machine guns. Similar
a major presence in all living memory allowing for intelligent aimed shot fall by technical creatures, deploying that
battleelds and shows no signs of being a trained operator. In a world of single latest technology on either side of the
pensioned off. action revolvers and bolt action ries trenches, the Maxim and Vickers were
Mk3
BY RICHARD BROWN the machine gun was an expectation MG42’s 1200rpm earned it the American
and tactics were built around its nickname of the ‘buzz-saw’ due to the
deployment. In the UK the Bren distinctive report from its muzzle. Until
became the stable LMG. A reliable the 1980s the MG42, GMPG and M60
box-fed weapon in .303 calibre, but in their later variants were the prolic
with a weakness as it was fed by a LMGs in worldwide use.
small magazine which prevented truly
sustained re. In the 1960s the Bren All that was required by the late
was replaced by the 7.62mm 1970s was the creation of one modern
04
02
06 07
08
09
54 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL
3
05
0
of op
optics. The cyclic rate of re is
between 700 and 850rpm dependent
betw
weapon heat, ammunition and
on we
environmental conditions.
enviro
11 12
Operations use a further adapted model model with telescopic buttstock, the and an adjustable cheek
designated the Mk46; this weapon has Tactical, was introduced as part of the plate. The new butt is
several features removed to again save latest Mk.3 family and either barrel almost AR platform in
weight, along with a railed handguard length can be tted. appearance which all
and a lightweight titanium bipod. In 2013 FN incorporated a adds to the familiarity
(See MRZR images number of specialist user of the user (who will
on pages 44 and requests into the standard most likely be an
46, Ed.) weapon and released the AR carrier).
denitive FN Minimi Mk3.
There are two This model consolidates 25+
principle models of Minimi, the Standard years of Minimi operation
and the Para, with 18.3” and 13.7” barrels into one cohesive platform
respectively. As the name suggests which offers a real
the Para is smaller and lighter and was technical edge
designed with airborne forces on the
in mind. It has a shorter
barrel and a rudimentary
collapsible stock. A third
The feed
mechanism of the new
weapon has been enhanced
with revised pawls to hold the
belt in place while loading and the
cocking lever has been redesigned.
On the exterior the Mk3 benets from
a revised heat shield and a full triple
rail hand guard for the mounting of
tactical accessories. The bipod is also
competition. redesigned to fully fold away into the
FN have nally forward grip area leaving the user
developed a multi- with an ultimately more compact and
calibre platform ergonomic weapon. Smartly, FN have
which can be altered made most of the new features fully
to re between retrottable to existing Minimi platforms.
5.56mm NATO and
7.62mm NATO rounds. Like Heckler & Koch with their MG4, FN
The Mk3 Tactical have taken note of the increased use
model has a completely of the venerable 7.62mm x 51 round
redesigned buttstock in current operations. The resurgence
13 which has ve positions of 7.62mm LMGs brings us back full
11: Front/right
view of Short Barrel
MINIMIMk3
M1949/82 PATTERN
HUNGARY’S NATIONAL CAMO
T
his month, in an extra Kit & Back in the middle years of the last decade, Andy
Camo feature, we are look-
ing at an interesting vari- and his team from Essex-based East-West Trading
ation of a World War Two had a roped-o area in their sales marquee at the
era camouage pattern
which was revived post-war under the
big summer shows like Military Odyssey where they
Communist regime and then updated would display rare and interesting uniforms to serious
in the latter stages of the Cold War. The collectors and enthusiasts. Known as the Camo
examples we have focused on were
loaned by the now permanent Camo Lounge, this was an informal meeting place and a
Lounge run by East-West Trading. talking shop for all things kit and camo.
COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 59
02
camo extra
Images © Bob Morrison Model: Victoria
06
M1949/82 PATTERN
03
07
08
04
Hungary created
crea a new
camouage
ag pattern for shelter
halves and
a coveralls in 1949
this design
de was printed
To set the scene: Just before WWII wartime variation on with both spattered
the Hungarian Army introduced a this theme has softer edges
edg and the brighter
combination shelter half and poncho ‘spattered’ edges, which
h colours
co of the original
from reddish tan heavyweight cotton might indicate the M38.
M
overprinted with hard-edged olive green material was sprayed
and terracotta brown shapes to give rather than printed, Naturally
N this new
a three-colour effect. This Hungarian and the colours camo
ca was designated
M38 pattern is said by some to have are more subdued, M49
M4 pattern and
been inspired by Italian M29 camo, but but when the now it continued
co in use,
I remain to be convinced. A quite rare Communist-controlled despite various other camo
fastened by a plastic zipper. On the duty or, when linked to others, form a
upper left sleeve there is a sewn patch small tent.
denoting the wearer belonged to the
Border Guard. Internally, the jacket has The roughly triangular shape actually
a deep panel across the shoulder made has ve edges and forms a half tepee
from an olive green nylon fabric with with a tent pole hole at the top. The
what feels like a rubber treatment on two long ‘front’ sides, from the apex, 18
one surface to keep water out. measure approximately 1.4m, the rear
edge touching the ground measures
The shelter half, which can double roughly the same and the two lower
as a poncho, is similar in concept to front edges are about 1.0m long.
the zeltbahn shelter quarter that the There are 18 alloy tent peg eyelets in
Germans used through WWII, and the pairs along the ground edges, seven
East Germans continued to use until the bright alloy buttons with buttonholes
Iron Curtain fell at the end of the 1980s, alongside down the front edges, and a
when both halves of the country were single intermediate position alloy button
reunited. The Hungarian version, which 500mm from the apex on one side with
also originates from the WWII era, is a corresponding buttonhole on the
larger than its Wermacht equivalent other. This last button can be fastened
and has two slots for arms rather than at the throat when the shelter half is
one slot for the head. It’s purpose was being worn as a poncho and the arms
to either keep the wearer dry on sentry can be slipped out through slits each
OUTDOOR GEAR
Images © Mike Gormley unless noted BY MIKE GORMLEY
velcro-secured storm ap is a good-sized
01 zipped map pocket. The overall closure
is by velcro storm ap and a chunky YKK
double-ended zip that will close right up
to the neck. Under each arm are storm
apped and zipped side vents. I really
like these for added ventilation when the
going gets warm.
02
03
A
potential user. It is available in various
s the designation suggests, camo pattern variants including this
this is Keela’s offering to the MultiCam-esque type.
Special Forces community.
Off the radar somewhat, Importantly, this jacket has Keela’s
Keela do a great deal for the armed System Dual Protection to enable a very
forces and also listen to what they have good level of moisture control - both
to say. I have said before in these pages, yours, on the way out - and ‘sky juice’
if you want to stay dry... wear Keela. trying to get in. I will be concise here -
SDP works!
I have been using Keela kit for many
years now, have sometimes been out in Four good-sized patch pockets, with
some pretty grim weather when using it, protected button closures, are on the
and can honestly say it has never let me front of the jacket, along with a small
down. These include a couple of quite radio/phone pocket with pen keepers
notable outings. The SF Jacket comes and incorporated rank strap. Inside the
EXPEDITION SOCKS
K
eela have expanded into the very
busy sock market with a very
useful Expedition Sock. These
have some familiar and well respected
names in the list of materials, namely
Merino, Primaloft and Cordura. These
all build a condence that you have
something good looking after your hard
05 working feet.
captive draw cord to pull it in for a good 01: THE KEELA MK1 SF JACKET IS A FULL SPEC, FEATURE-RICH The socks are designed to be Left and
t and protection. There is a secondary GARMENT WELL-SUITED TO THE JOB
Right footed and have vents woven into
adjustment at the back to adjust the 02: BOTH ARMS HAVE ANGLED POCKETS WITH SECURITY TAGS them for added comfort. Coupled with
volume. All-in-all a good hood. INSIDE AND REMOVABLE PATCHES FOR ID INSIGNIA a design to both protect your feet and
03: ALL THREE FRONT UPPER POCKETS ARE FEATURE RICH offer them a warm and dry environment,
I think the nearest civvy variant to this
04: ONE CHEST POCKET HAS AN ADDITIONAL COMPASS POCKET you should be able to get on with the
in the Keela range is the Munro jacket,
AND ALL HAVE FASTENINGS FOR SECURITY LANYARDS hard work with comfortable feet. I have
which I have worn a lot and always get
worn these a good bit of late, both out
out if heading for bad weather. My son, 05: THE HOOD IS WELL THOUGHT OUT WITH PLENTY OF ADJUSTMENT
ALONG WITH WIRED PEAK - IT ROLLS INTO THE COLLAR WHEN NOT on Dartmoor as well as around home and
Bruce, has an older version of the SF,
which I had for a while and passed on - IN USE. at work in various types of footwear.
he has had this for ages and I know has 06: THERE ARE VENTILATION ZIPS ON BOTH SIDES OF 10: MY KEELA EXPEDITION SOCKS HAVE HAD A FAIR BIT OF USE
used it on many mountain expeditions. THE MK1 SF UNDER THE ARMS AND I FIND THEM TO BE VERY GOOD
So we can testify that, in our experience, 07: THERE IS AN INNER MAP / DOCUMENT / PHONE POCKET
these jackets work. BEHIND THE STORM FLAP
NOTE: This jacket cannot be bought 08: THE MK1 SF IS COMPATIBLE WITH LOAD CARRYING WITH ALL
online from Keela and you will need to POCKETS STILL ACCESSIBLE
either telephone them or email sales@ to 09: CUFFS ARE ADJUSTABLE - NOTE REINFORCEMENT
place an order. OF LOWER ARM AND CUFF
06
11
15
12
23
24
20 21
PRODUCT UK CONTACT TELEPHONE WEB
Coleman Coleman 01275 845 024 coleman.eu/uk
Keela Keela 01592 777 000 keela.co.uk
Moraknil Moraknil +46 250 595 000 morakniv.se
Storm Storm 01773 521 309 stormcare.co.uk 25
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footwear
A
of the INNOX
ignored the public servants and INNOX GTX MID model, pretty GTX MID boots
s a result of the long term done our own thing, but as we much into the ground over an today and
evaluation process by the would not like to either hurt our extended period. We received underneath
UK MoD procurement friends in the industry or unduly these boots for review in mid- how they
looked when
machine to nd suitable sway what is supposed to be August 2015 and over the next nearly new 17
candidates for the next a fair evaluation process, we twelve months, until the AKU months before
ve year UK Forces combat boot voluntarily took a back seat for PILGRIM HL GTX boots in MoD - the shot
overleaf was
contract, many footwear manufacturers a year. Brown were delivered for review, taken in Petra
were reluctant to publicise the models the INNOX boots stayed on at around 35C
they were proposing in case they One of the advantages of my feet almost every day from
our sabbatical was that I had before dawn to bedtime.
TRIDENT
security industry WISH TO RID THE UK OF ITS
NUCLEAR UMBRELLA WHEN FACED
WITH AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
THREAT ENVIRONMENT?”
is therefore more of a deterrence
factor.
T
he UK Government is Those that claim that we shouldn’t have response to some forms of conict,
currently under a spotlight nuclear weapons on ethical grounds and that argument does have merit
as there was a misre of and that the resulting humanitarian but, just as the IED is the weapon
a Trident missile in June catastrophe means we shouldn’t use system of choice for forces seeking to
2016 that occurred during them even in extreme circumstances offset the advantage of strong enemy
a routine test, four weeks before (in fact Mr Corbyn has stated he could conventional forces, so is the threat of
Parliament voted to spend almost never push the nuclear button) would nuclear weapons against an adversary
£40 billion on the renewal of the UK’s rather just hand over our country with huge numbers of conventional
nuclear deterrent. When questioned and its population to any totalitarian weapons systems and a closing
by journalists the Prime Minister, aggressor that wanted to force its will technological gap. For example, due to
Teresa May, deected the question on us and deny us our independence their successful espionage efforts, both
as to whether she had known about and democracy. Since Polaris (the China and Russia have their own stealth
the incident and had purposely failed predecessor of Trident) was brought aircraft programmes and can build
to mention it to Parliament before the into service there has always been one larger numbers of these than the UK
vote. of four Royal Navy missile submarines can purchase.
on patrol at sea, ready to respond to
The Scottish Nationalist Party are any nuclear attack on the UK. Certain states and terrorists may not
now demanding “full disclosure” on have a nuclear capability at the present
what occurred and with both Nicola The reason for using a submarine and therefore the use of nuclear
Sturgeon and Labour leader Jeremy as a launch platform is that they are weapons might not be seen
Corbyn wishing to politically use the harder for our enemies to detect, and as relevant, but there is
incident as an excuse to damage the therefore neutralise, than other nothing to say that they
UK’s military capability by withdrawing forms of nuclear delivery won’t acquire them in
the nation’s independent nuclear systems such as aircraft the future. They can be
deterrent, this is a serious threat to or slow ying cruise an unpredictable threat,
our future national security. So why do missiles. The just look at North Korea.
naive politicians wish to rid the UK of Trident missiles
its nuclear umbrella when faced with an also have a The UK should keep
uncertain future threat environment? longer range its nuclear deterrent.
than other delivery As former
The Trident renewal programme was methods and are not Chancellor George
always going to be controversial as the easy to target in a Osborne said: “The
cost is estimated at £31 billion, which rst strike, unlike ground- new unilateralists of
includes the state of the art submarines based missile silos so, even if British politics are a
used as the launch platform. This is a our enemies managed to negate threat to our future
huge cost when conventional military our known forces in an unexpected national security.
forces are facing cuts, but if we didn’t rst strike, we would still have In a world that’s
spend the money on Trident we the ability to strike back with a getting more dangerous it would be
couldn’t trust a Labour government highly destructive effect. This is disastrous for Britain to throw away
to spend the money on conventional the principle of Mutually Assured the ultimate insurance policy that
forces anyway as Mr Corbyn isn’t a fan Destruction that might deter a keeps us free and safe.”
of any military force. hostile state from attacking us in By Robert Shaw
the rst place.
There is also the argument that such a
costly system might not be used and Since it is generally understood
Image © Bob Morrison: Military Scene