Το βρετανικό Τυφέκιο L129A1

Στρατιώτης επιδεικνύει το τυφέκιο L129A1 (Φωτογραφία: mod.uk)

To L129A1 έχει χαρακτηριστεί ως όπλο “τυφεκιοφόρου – σκοπευτή” (Designated Marksman Rifle – DMR) το οποίο κατατάσσεται μεταξύ ενός τυφεκίου εφόδου και ενός ειδικού τυφεκίου ελευθέρου σκοπευτή. Ως εκ τούτου , ο σκοπευτής τυφεκιοφόρος έχει οριστεί να προσφέρει τα εγγενή πλεονεκτήματα και των δύο τύπων μαχητών, του ελευθέρου σκοπευτή και του τυφεκιοφόρου – να τροφοδοτείται μόνος του με πυρομαχικά και να εκτελεί επαναλαμβανόμενα πυρά ακριβείας στο εχθρό, σε αποστάσεις οι οποίες ξεπερνούν τις δυνατότητες των συνηθισμένων τυφεκίων. Ο τυφεκιοφόρος – σκοπευτής, δεν έχει εκπαιδευτεί στις λεπτομέρειες του ελεύθερους σκοπευτή και αντί αυτού διαθέτει ικανότητες που μοιάζουν περισσότερο με τις τακτικές μάχης ενός απλού στρατιώτη.

Στη φωτογραφία τo μεγάλης εμβέλειας (800 μέτρα), διαμετρήματος 7.62x51mm, ημιαυτόματο τυφέκιο L129A1 (Φωτογραφία: Wikipedia)

Οι Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες της Αμερικής (ΗΠΑ) δημιούργησαν το δικό τους στοιχείο τυφεκιοφόρου - σκοπευτή, ως αποτέλεσμα της εμπειρίας στα θέατρα των επιχειρήσεων του Αφγανιστάν και του Ιράκ και ήταν σε θέση να αναπτύξουν σωστά το συνοδευτικό οπλισμό δια μέσου καθιερωμένων προγραμμάτων και εγκαταστάσεων για τον στρατό και τους πεζοναύτες.

Όταν ο Βρετανικός Στρατός προσπάθησε να ακολουθήσει το παράδειγμα των ΗΠΑ, συνειδητοποίησε ότι δεν είχε το κατάλληλο οπλισμό για την συγκεκριμένη ειδικότητα, τα μικρού διαμετρήματος τυφέκια εφόδου L85 δεν ήταν κατάλληλα για την αποστολή, ιδιαίτερα στην αντιμετώπιση εχθρικών δυνάμεων σε μεγάλες αποστάσεις – ή τις κατάλληλες εγκαταστάσεις για να κατασκευάσει το τυφέκιο.

Είχε, ωστόσο, αποφασιστεί ότι ένα νέο σύστημα τυφεκίου εξοπλισμένο με διαμέτρημα μεγαλύτερο από 7,62 χιλιοστά έπρεπε να αποκτηθεί. Ένα τυφέκιο το οποίο θα μπορεί να εκπληρώνει τις απαιτήσεις που έθετε το Βρετανικό Υπουργείο Άμυνας (ΒΥΑΜ) συμπεριλαμβανομένων της εύκολης συντήρησης, ευκολίας χειρισμού – που για τον χειρισμό του να απαιτείται μόνο η βασική εκπαίδευση τυφεκιοφόρου – μικρό μέγεθος για εύκολη μεταφορά και ευκολία μεταφοράς σε αναγνωριστικές επιχειρήσεις και – φυσικά – να έχει επαναλαμβανόμενη ακρίβεια σε απομακρυσμένους στόχους με ύψος ανθρώπου.

Βρετανός στρατιώτης στο Αφγανιστάν κρατώντας το τυφέκιο L129A1 (Φωτογραφία:arms-cool)

To ΒΥΑΜ ξεκίνησε ένα εσωτερικό πρόγραμμα τυφεκιοφόρου – σκοπευτή για το οποίο η εταιρεία Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT) κατέθεσε μία τυποποιημένη έκδοση του εξαιρετικού τυφεκίου των 7,62 χιλ. LM308MWS, μετά από μία εκτενή διαδικασία αξιολόγησης, επιλέχθηκε για περαιτέρω δοκιμές το L129A1 καθώς κατάφερε να χτυπήσει, σε διαδοχικές βολές, “στόχο” κάτι που προανήγγειλε θετικές εξελίξεις για το τυφέκιο.

Επιπλέον, η LMT διέθετε ιδιόκτητες πιστοποιημένες εγκαταστάσεις κατασκευής, κάτι το οποίο βοήθησε την πρόταση της. To LM308MWS είχε να συναγωνιστεί κορυφαία τυφέκια, το Γερμανικού Hecker & Koch HK417 και το Βελγικού Fabrique-National SCAR-17. To τελικό αποτέλεσμα έδειξε νικητή το LM308 το οποίο έγινε αποδεκτό ως το νεώτερο όπλο, εδώ και δεκαετίες, στο Βρετανικό Στρατό με την κωδική ονομασία L129A1 και διαμορφώθηκε για τις δύσκολες συνθήκες της μάχης.

Εξωτερικά, το L129A1 έχει συμβατική διάταξη. Η κατασκευή του χρησιμοποιεί βαριά μεταλλικά εξαρτήματα όπως επίσης και χαμηλού βάρους πολυμερή εξαρτήματα ανθεκτικά στη σκουριά . Ο κορμός διαθέτει όλες τις απαιτούμενες εξωτερικές λειτουργίες όπως επίσης και τους εξωτερικούς μοχλούς βολής και στις δύο πλευρές (κοντά στην πιστολοειδή λαβή) που ευνοεί των αμφιδέξιο χειρισμό. Έχει δύο επιλογές βολής “ασφάλεια” και “ημιαυτόματο” που συμβολίζονται με ένα κόκκινο και λευκό αυτοκόλλητο στη θέση του επιλογέα.

Βρετανοί πεζοναύτες στο Αφγανιστάν (Φωτογραφία: mod.uk)

Ο μοχλός όπλισης και η θύρα απόρριψης καλύκων βρίσκεται στη δεξιά πλευρά του κυρίως κορμού, και ευνοεί τους δεξιόχειρες χειριστές, αλλά, επίσης κράτα τους απορριπτόμενους κάλυκες μακρυά από το πρόσωπο του χειριστή.

Στη διαδικασία βολής εμπλέκεται το δοκιμασμένο σύστημα τροφοδοσίας φυσιγγίων με την επ’ενέργεια των αερίων, κοινό στα τουφέκια της ίδιας κατηγορίας.

Η πιστολοειδής λαβή και ο μηχανισμός της σκανδάλης έχει παρόμοια σχεδίαση με το Μ16, η λαβή έχει την σωστή γωνία προς τα πίσω και είναι εργονομικά σχεδιασμένη για σταθερό κράτημα.

Ο 20 φυσιγγίων, αποσπώμενος, ελατηριώτος γεμιστήρας που τροφοδοτεί φυσίγγια, βρίσκεται μπροστά από τον μηχανισμό της σκανδάλης.

Η πάνω πλευρά του κυρίως κορμού διαθέτει ράγες Picatinny όπου μπορούν να προσαρμοστούν διάφοροι τύποι οπτικών. Ο συνηθισμένος τύπος διόπτρας για το Βρετανικό Στρατό, σε ότι αφορά, το L129A1 είναι η διόπτρα Advance Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG) με νηματόσταυρο BDC (οι περισσότερες διόπτρες ACOG δεν χρησιμοποιούν μπαταρίες για το φωτισμό του νηματόσταυρου, έχουν ενσωματωμένο φωσφόριζε φωτισμό ο οποίος παρέχεται από τη ραδιενεργό διάσπαση του τριτίου.)

Επιπρόσθετες βοηθητικές ράγες υπάρχουν κατά μήκος των πλευρών και της κάτω πλευράς του χειροφυλακτήρα της κάννης στο τελευταίο τμήμα είναι δυνατή η τοποθέτηση ενός αναδιπλωμένου μοχλού για πιο σταθερό χειρισμό. Το κοντάκιο τύπου SOPMOD υποστηρίζεται από μία σωληνωτή βάση και εκτείνεται για να διαμορφωθεί πλήρως στο ώμο του χειριστή – το κοντάκιο ειναι ρυθμιζόμενο σε έξι προκαθορισμένες θέσεις.

Τυφέκιo L129A1 (Φωτογραφία: world.guns)

Η 16 ιντσών (40,64 χιλιοστά) ανοξείδωτου ατσαλιού, Free-floating κάννη προεξέχει από το διάτρητο χειροφυλακτήρα της κάννης και καλύπτεται από ένα φλογοκρύπτη (κάννη Free-floating είναι ειδικού σχεδιασμού τεχνολογία που χρησιμοποιείται από τα τυφέκια υψηλής ακριβείας, συγκεκριμένα τα αγωνιστικά τυφέκια, για να αυξηθεί η ακρίβεια του όπλου. Στα κανονικά τυφέκια η κάννη εδράζεται στο κοντάκιο. Η κάννη Free-floating είναι αυτή που έχει σχεδιαστεί ώστε να μην έρχεται σε επαφή με κανένα σημείο του κυρίως κοντακίου.)

Το ΒΥΑΜ έχει επιλέξει το L129A1 για να αντικαταστήσει το bolt-action τυφέκιο της σειράς Accuracy International, L96. Καθώς το τυφέκιο L96 δεν μπορεί να εκπληρώσει τις απαιτήσεις της αποστολής του DMR. Μέχρι σήμερα το ΒΥΑΜ έχει παραγγείλει (και πιθανόν να έχει παραλάβει) περίπου 440 τυφέκια L129A1.

Η κάννη είναι πλήρως αποσπώμενη και μπορεί να αλλαχτεί όποτε χρειαστεί.

Πηγή

WWII Special Forces – Long Range Desert Group

Ralph Bagnold formed the Special Forces Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) during WWII.  This elite group, combined with the British Special Air Service, made significant contributions, not only to World War II, but to the new direction the military would begin to explore – Special Forces.

 The LRDG Is Established

After Bagnold received approval to organize a specialized group, he received 150 volunteers from New Zealand – most with a farming background.  He felt their background would be an asset, making them more adept should vehicle maintenance and repair become necessary in the challenging environments of North Africa.

He broke the group of 150 into three smaller units.  Each unit received various armaments – including machine guns, anti-tank rifles, anti-aircraft guns, Bren guns and Thompson machine guns.  They were given wireless headsets for maintaining communication with base.  The Long Range Desert Group chose the Chevrolet 30-cwt truck for transportation and the commander for each unit was permitted to modify his vehicle if he felt it beneficial.  Each truck was capable of carrying a three week supply of food and water and had a range of 1,100 miles.

 Roles of the LRDG

One of the roles assigned to the Long Range Desert Group during the war took them to North Africa.  Here, the group was to position themselves behind enemy lines so they could scout and gather intelligence information to relay back to British military headquarters.  Their success warranted expansion and Bagnold acquired an additional 150 men from three armies – British, Indian and Rhodesian.  This World War II Special Forces group began targeting oases being held by the enemy, slipping in quickly and disappearing equally as fast, confusing the Italian commanders.

 The WWII Special Forces – Long Range Desert Group – disbanded in August of 1945, but not before leaving its mark on military history.

Source

 

British and Italian hostages murdered by captors in special forces rescue bid in Nigeria

David Cameron named the man as Chris McManus who was killed with fellow hostage Italian Franco Lamolinara.

It is understood a Special Boat Service operation to free them from al-Qaeda aligned kidnappers failed.

The effort to free Mr McManus, from the North West of England, and an Italian hostage was launched by Nigerian forces with the assistance of the UK.

The Prime Minister said the pair appeared to have died at the hands of their captors, either before or during the course of the rescue bid.

Mr Cameron said: "The effort to free Chris McManus from the north west of England, and an Italian hostage was launched by Nigerian forces with the assistance of the UK.

"Chris McManus, a British citizen, was taken hostage by terrorists in Northern Nigeria in May 2011. He was taken hostage with his colleague, an Italian national, Franco Lamolinara.

"Since then, we have been working closely with the Nigerian authorities to try to find Chris and Franco, and to secure their release.

"The terrorists holding the two hostages made very clear threats to take their lives, including in a video that was posted on the internet.

"After months of not knowing where they were being held, we received credible information about their location.

"A window of opportunity arose to secure their release.

"We also had reason to believe that their lives were under imminent and growing danger.

"Preparations were made to mount an operation to attempt to rescue Chris and Franco. Together with the Nigerian Government, today I authorised it to go ahead, with UK support.

"It is with great regret that I have to say that both Chris and Franco have lost their lives. We are still awaiting confirmation of the details, but the early indications are clear that both men were murdered by their captors, before they could be rescued.

"Our immediate thoughts must be with Chris and Franco's families, and we offer them our sincerest condolences.

"Both families have endured a terrible ordeal, and this is a devastating moment for all of them.

"The Foreign Office have been in regular contact with the McManus family since Chris's capture. I spoke to them just before Christmas and I have spoken to them again with the news this afternoon.

Mr Cameron thanked President Jonathan of Nigeria for their work and paid tribute to the UK forces who worked to bring them home.

He added: "Terrorism and appalling crimes such as these are a scourge on our world. No-one should be in any doubt about our determination to fight and to defeat them."

It was launched after the UK received credible information about their whereabouts and that their lives were under increasing threat, a spokeswoman said.

A statement issued on behalf of the McManus family, said: "As a family, we are of course devastated by the news of Chris’ death which we received earlier today.

"During this ordeal we have relied heavily on the support of our family and friends which has never waned and has enabled us to get through the most difficult of times.

"We are also aware of the many people who were working to try and have Chris returned to our family, and his girlfriend. We would like to thank all of them for their efforts.

"We knew Chris was in an extremely dangerous situation. However we knew that everything that could be done was being done.

"Our thoughts are also of course with the loved ones of Chris’ colleague, Franco Lamolinara, who are also coming to terms with this truly sad news.

"We now need time to grieve and come to terms with our loss."

Prime Minister Mario Monti was informed of the conclusion to the hostage situation by British PM Cameron in personal telehone call.

It is understood between 16 and 20 SBS commandos were involved in the Nigerian-lead operation. All British forces are safe.

The two men, who were working for an Italian building firm, were taken from a compound in Bernin Kebbi in the north of Nigeria in May 2011.

In August a Nigerian group calling itself 'Al Qaeda in the land beyond the Sahil' announced it had captured a British man.

It released a hostage video to a Mauritanian news agency. It showed a blindfolded and bearded man in an red shirt, alongside three men in dark clothing armed with Kalashnikov rifles and a machete.

The man asked the British Government to answer the demands of the group to save his life. He called on the British people to pressurise the Government into acting, so that he could return to his family, according to Shura al Mujahideen fee Junubu Afarika, a South African Islamist website.

One of the kidnappers said it would be the "last message" issued to Mr Cameron about the hostage. The speaker said the British government had failed to answer their demands and it was given two weeks to "take the correct decision."

Πηγή

SAS Jungle Rescue

Future wars may be waged with mind-controlled weaponry, Royal Society warns

Neuroscience has ramifications for future warfare, and the scientific community must be more aware. So says a report published today by the Royal Society titledNeuroscience, conflict and security, which cites interest in neuroscience from the military community, and identifies particular technologies that may arise. Among them is the potential for "neural interface systems" (NIS) to bring about weapons controllable by the human mind, though the reports also discusses more benign military applications of neuroscience, such as fostering a revolution in prosthetic limbs.

Brain-controlled technology

The report distinguishes between two types of neural interface: those that "input into" the brain's neural systems, and those that monitor neural activity to predict "motor intentions" - outcomes of thought processes, essentially. Specific NIS technologies mentioned by the report include both EEG and electronic implants, citing the success of BrainGate in allowing paralyzed patients to control the motion of an on-screen cursor by "simply imagining this motion."

"NIS such as BrainGate could also be used to allow long-range control of motion," the report finds. "Electrode arrays implanted in the nervous system could provide a connection between the nervous system of an able-bodied individual and a specific hardware or software system. Since the human brain can process images, such as targets, much faster than the subject is consciously aware of, a neurally interfaced weapons systems could provide significant advantages over other system control methods in terms of speed and accuracy."

Sensing the battlefield

The report also discusses the sensory potential of NIS technology. Infrared or sonar sensors connected to magnetic implants on the human body could allow combatants and law enforcers to effectively feel the heat or proximity of an object. On these points and others, the report highlights not only technological possibilities, but also that ethical and legal questions that surround them.

Military interest

The report highlights a wealth of current search and available funding from various US and UK government agencies into neuroscience applications. DARPA is funding programs seeking to enhance human performance under stress, and neural-controlled prosthetics. The US Air Force 711th Human Performance Wing invites research into alertness management, as well as the identification of "human-borne threats" and individuals resistant to "stressors and countermeasures on cognitive performance and physiological stamina." Meanwhile the UK Ministry of Defence has launched a national PhD which includes bio-electronics integration, synthetic synaesthesia and exploiting the subconscious.

By identifying active military research into neuroscience, the Royal Society paints a future of warfare influenced by neuroscience applications as a very real possibility. As well as neuroscience's massive potential for benign medical applications, the Royal Society is seeking to raise awareness among the scientific community of "hostile" applications.

Recommendations

"Studies suggest that the great majority of scientists have little to no knowledge of their obligations under these treaties, nor a wide awareness of the potential malign applications of their research," the report concludes, before recommending that the UK government should strengthen communications with industry and academia to "scope for significant future trends and threats posed by the applications of neuroscience."

The full report and its set of recommendations is available from the Royal Society website. Report chair, Professor Rod Flower FRS, summarizes the report in the following video.

Source: Royal Society via the Guardian

Gizmag

Last veteran of Special Air Service Regiment 'originals' passes away at the age of 92

THE last veteran of the original SAS unit who ­parachuted deep behind enemy lines to battle Hitler has died at the age of 92.

Jimmy Storie was one of just 65 men recruited by Scottish war hero David Stirling for his crack Special Air Service regiment during the deadly desert campaign in North Africa.

Jimmy died at his home in Aberdeenshire last Sunday.

His funeral will be held in Aberdeen on Thursday, where a collection will be taken for the SAS Hereford Military Charity.

A family tribute said: “Forever in our hearts, a brave soldier and a wonderful family man.”

A spokesman for the SAS Regimental Association said: “It is a very sad day for the whole SAS regiment.

“We are deeply saddened that Mr Storie has passed away.

“He was the last surviving member of L Detachment, which was formed by Sir David Stirling in 1941.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Storie several times at functions and he was a very warm, friendly and unassuming man.

“He never boasted of his exploits, was very modest and a great family man. We have lost a piece of history and a link with the regiment’s past.”

Jimmy – a sergeant during World War II – was a central part of the SAS’s first mission on November 17, 1941, when he parachuted behind German lines in North Africa before meeting up with a crack Army raiding unit, the Long Range Desert Group.

Stirling led Jimmy and 64 othermen as they parachuted into a fierce storm. Their equipment, weapons and explosives were lost before a massive rainstorm swept the desert. Only 22 men survived.

Jimmy also saw active service in Sicily, behind the lines in France before D-Day and in the final push through Germany.

His exploits featured in a £975 book detailing the history of the SAS throughout World War II.

The 600-page tome was authorised to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Who Dares Wins regiment.

The book features rare photos, top secret orders and reports of missions, including a daring raid to capture one of Hitler’s top generals – Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox.

Πηγή

Armed, ready and waiting

Action stations: The Metropolitan Police and Royal Marines in offshore landing craft, rigid inflatable boats (RIBs), a Lynx helicopter and other craft speed along the river Thames near Woolwich during a safety and security planning exercise for the London 2012 Olympic Games

Britain's elite military and police teams joined forces in a combined exercise to give a glimpse of the sheer scale of the country's biggest peacetime security operation yesterday.

Operation Woolwich Arsenal Pier saw the Royal Marines and Scotland Yard take command of the River Thames in a determined show of strength as part of a security exercise for the London Olympics.

The British muscle on show was designed to test the water for the joint operation, and to illustrate the country's readiness against terrorism.

Elite force: British security teams take to the River Thames in London as part of a massive security rehearsal to foil terror disaster at the Olympics

Around 100 marines and 50 officers rehearsed a string of high-speed drills amid fears attackers could use the waterways to launch onslaughts on London landmarks.

About 50 marine police officers in rigid inflatables and fast response boats were joined by up to 100 military personnel and a Royal Navy Lynx helicopter for the exercises.

Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison, head of the force’s security operation for the Games, said a Mumbai-style terror attack was one of a host of potential threats to the games

Armed and dangerous: A Royal Marine participates in a security exercise along the River Thames in London, England. The exercise including around 44 police officers, 94 military personnel, 15 boats and a Royal Navy Lynx helicopter was conducted by both the Metropolitan Police and the Royal Marines and designed to test their joint capability ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The line of resistance: The Royal Marines and Met Police form a line across the River Thames as part of the security operation. The costs of security for the 2012 London Olympic Games is estimated to reach more than 1 billion euros, it has been reported.

Speaking on the shores of the Thames, he said: 'There is no specific threat from the river but we would be failing in our duty to ignore it at games time.

'What you have seen today is the sort of things we can do.'

Despite a heavy military presence on show today, Mr Allison insisted the sporting event would remain a 'blue games'.

The Thames runs directly past the O2 Arena, which will be known as the North Greenwich Arena for the purpose of the Games, when it will host events including gymnastics. The river will also be used to transport tourists between venues via water buses and a new cable car.

Typhoon jets and HMS Ocean, the largest ship in the Royal Navy’s fleet, will eventually be deployed to protect the London 2012 Games along with up to 13,500 military personnel.

On patrol: The Met police in London take part in the security run-through. It is thought that the cost of the security operation for the event will top a billion euros.

Terror attack: Looking like something from a Hollywood blockbuster, the Royal Marines simulated a dramatic high-speed boarding of a clipper Hydrofoil via two speedboats

'If we need the military support, it is there,' he added.

'All of our planning is designed to mitigate against potential risks during the summer of 2012, and this is an example of where we will be using specialist military capability to support us.

'This exercise is not in response to any specific threat, but is part of our planning to pre-deploy certain specialist assets to bolster our operation.

'This will be a summer like no other in London. The Thames runs through the very heart of our capital and will be a popular place for people who want to be part of the Olympic spirit. 

'his is all part of our planning to ensure this summer’s events take place safely and securely.'

Source

Goose Green

U.K. Special Forces To Use Wildcat Variant

Britain's special forces will use a new version of the Wildcat light reconnaissance and attack helicopters being developed for the British Army and Royal Navy, according to sources familiar with the plan.

The scheme to replace the Lynx rotorcraft used on special forces operations includes acquiring an additional four Wildcats and switching a further four machines from an existing order to create an eight-strong light assault helicopter force.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman declined to confirm the plan, saying the department doesn't comment on matters involving special forces.

Defence procurement minister Peter Luff confirmed in response to a Parliamentary question that his department is planning to extend the number of AgustaWestland Wildcats to be delivered to British forces from 62 to 66.

The additional rotorcraft, along with four other machines originally destined for battlefield reconnaissance and other duties, will be configured as light assault helicopters, he said in a response to a member of Parliament.

Luff didn't specify who would operate the light assault helicopters, but the sources said the variant would replace existing Mk7 and other Lynx types currently used for special forces operations.

News of the existence of a light assault Wildcat version emerged in the small print of a late-November National Audit Office (NAO) report into the procurement performance of major defense projects.

The report by the government-spending watchdog contained no mention of who would use the new helicopter type.

The MoD's signing of a deal with AgustaWestland in 2006 to deliver and support 62 Wildcats - a next-generation version of the Lynx family - was one of the programs looked at by the NAO.

The change in the order will see Army Wildcat reconnaissance numbers slip to 30 from 34, with a further eight rotorcraft forming a light assault capability. A further 28 similar machines destined for the Royal Navy for use in a maritime attack role remains unchanged.

Luff said the "costs of conversion are still under consideration."

AgustaWestland said it wouldn't comment on the potential additional order.

Deliveries of Army Wildcats from the Italian-owned company's Yeovil plant in southwest England will commence next year. Navy deliveries are scheduled to start in 2013. The timing of assault role rotorcraft deliveries is not known.

News the MoD is increasing its Wildcat numbers comes just days after the last of 22 Lynx Mk9As upgraded in a 92 million-pound ($144 million U.S.) deal with the Ministry of Defence was handed over by AgustaWestland.

The extensive upgrade included incorporation of the same engine being used on the Wildcat to enable the Mk9A to cope with the hot and high conditions of Afghanistan; a new surveillance sensor suite; secure communications; and a 0.50 cal heavy machine gun for escort and other duties in theater.

Πηγή

Μarine weapons

Our War: The Invisible Enemy

As a former U.S. Marine currently serving in the U.S. Army, I found this doc to be an eye opener.

Chronicling the exploits of the Grenadier Guards, 1st Royal Irish, and the infamous Coldstream Guards as captured by the Soldiers themselves, the footage shot by these men was only recently declassified by the MoD. It has since been compiled to tell their story via a BBC documentary series titled "Our War".

Watch. Reel. Learn. Dedicated to us, the International Security Assistance Force, and those who did not make it home.

SAS Heroes: Last Stand In Oman

Nine soldiers, part of a secret SAS operation, are stationed deep in enemy territory in the Persian Gulf. They are looking forward to returning home after four months of fighting. What they don't know is that 300 enemy troops are about to launch a devastating attack.

The stakes are high: the enemy want to kill them and then foment revolution throughout the Gulf. If Dhofar fell the communists would have a stranglehold on the supplies to the Western world.

This is the story of a battle fought against colossal odds, in which two men make the greatest sacrifice of all.

Πηγή

Our War: Ambushed

As a former U.S. Marine currently serving in the U.S. Army, I found this doc to be an eye opener.

Chronicling the exploits of the British 1st Battalion Royal Anglian as captured by the Soldiers themselves, the footage shot by these men was only recently declassified by the MoD. It has since been compiled to tell their story via a BBC documentary series titled "Our War".

Watch. Reel. Learn. Dedicated to the 1st Battalion Royal Anglian, the International Security Assistance Force, and those who did not make it home.


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Operation Devon (1943)

Operation Devon was thecodeword given to a British Commando raid during theSecond World War. The operation an amphibious landing at Termoli on the Adriatic coast of Italy was carried out on 3 October 1943 by elements of the 2nd Special Service Brigade, No. 2 Commando and No. 40 (Royal Marine) Commando.

In the early hours of 3 October 1943, Nos 2 and 40 (Royal Marine) Commandos elements of the Special Raiding Squadronlanded behind the German lines under cover of darkness at Termoli, a seaport town on the Adriatic coast, north of theBifurno River, 40 Commando penetrated well into the town before the Germans were alerted and brisk close-quarter fighting with German parachute troops ensued. By 08:00 hours, 40 Commando had captured the town and controlled the approaches. So complete was the surprise that German vehicles and motor cyclists still drove into a Commando ambush position until noon.

 The Germans counter attacked in strength and 2 Commando with 40 Commando, the Special Raiding Squadron and some reinforcements from the 78th Division, held off repeated and heavy infantry and armoured counter-attacks by the26th Panzer Division until eventually the 8th Army linked up with them on 6 October. The operation was an outstanding success. 

They had overcome all attempts, by a force vastly superior in numbers and armament, to dislodge them and in so doing, won a valuable harbour; they caused the enemy to withdraw from the natural defence line on the Bifurno and denied them the use of the important lateral road from Naples, thereby forcing them to retreat further northwards.

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Who Are The British Special Forces?

The United Kingdom special forces are comprised of the SAS or Special Air Service, the SFSG or Special Forces Support Group, the SRR or Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the SBS or Special Boat Service. 

The SAS or Special Air Services, a division of the British Army and is one of the most widely known and respected special forces groups in the world. The SAS has been used as a model for special forces by other countries seeking to emulate this elite squad of the best of the best of the British Army. 

Their History 

The SAS was formed in 1941, after the British had been under attack during WWII, although never occupied. They were re-formed after the war as they are today. They originally began as a combat force behind the lines and now cover many roles. They have been involved in numerous engagements since the Second World War, both on the domestic front as well as globally. 

How To Become A Member Of SAS 

All of the members of the UK military undergo a special process and are asked to sign non-disclosure statements. This is due to the popularity of the SAS throughout history and the books that have been written about this elite squad. The SAS, being a special operations unit, does not want to give away their operations secrets as it can compromise the security of the team. Those who wish to become members of the SAS must undergo extreme training. Most of those in the SAS are officers. 

SAS Training 

Training consists of air troop training, climbing, ice climbing, parachuting, survival skills, rigorous physical and psychological tests as well as exams. The training period for this elite team consists of 18 months, although most of those in the SAS are cross trained in different troop units. 


What Are They Best At? 


Counter revolutionary warfare, counter terrorism both inside and outside UK territory, training soldiers of other nations, capture of special interest persons, intelligence gathering, sabotage, offensive raids and rescue missions. 


Weapons Of SAS 


The British Government likes to keep as much of the information about the SAS covert as possible, until their actual missions. 


They are considered one of the best special service forces in the world and have a full arsenal of state of the art weaponry at their disposal. Known Missions Some of the more well known missions include WWII, Malayan Emergency, Northern Ireland, Falklands War, Iraq War and the Afghanistan War.


 Units 


Units consist of the 22 SAS that has five squadrons, the 21 SAS that has four squadrons and the 23 SAS that has four squadrons. 


Are They Professional Soldiers? 


Yes. They are highly trained professional soldiers, most of whom are officers and most of whom stay in the service until retirement. 


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Where Have All The SAS Recruits Gone

 Britain is running into problems recruiting commandos for the SAS (Special Air Service) force. This has become an issue for several reasons. First, the SAS decided, seven years ago, to expand its strength by twenty percent. That attracted a lot of the new recruits the SAS would have taken later on. That's because the SAS recruits from people already in the army (usually infantry). Then another obstacle developed. Since 2003, Britain has been sending more combat troops overseas (first to Iraq, now Afghanistan and some new hot spots). Britain does not have a large army, and this meant that most potential SAS recruits were too busy being overseas, or getting ready to go overseas (or recovering from being overseas) to train for the arduous SAS entrance exam. There are few options here. The U.S. Army Special Forces ran into a similar problem a few years back, and tried to recruit directly from the civilian population. That brought in a few good people, but not enough. The best recruits, as always, are those already in the army.

Then there's another problem. The British infantry force is shrinking, for several reasons. Four years ago, the British Army revealed that it was short about 3,000 infantry. The situation has not improved much since then. There are only 51 infantry battalions in the British army, and only 37 are active duty units. That's about 26,000 infantrymen, if the battalions are at full strength. But for the past eight years, troops have been heavily involved in Iraq and Afghanistan. The latest crisis is the accumulation of injuries from repeated deployments that has left 20 percent of active duty infantry unfit for duty in a combat zone. The main reasons are medical, including combat fatigue, and battle wounds, as well as all the exotic diseases one can pick up in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the many accidents (especially vehicular). Since 2001, over 1,500 British troops have been killed or wounded in Afghanistan (there were far fewer casualties in Iraq).

While the British military has been all-volunteer for over half a century, the current shortages were partly driven by the job offers from private security firms, especially for the best people. British troops in elite infantry units (paratroopers, marines, SAS), are particularly attractive to the private firms, and vice versa. Noting the American success with reenlistment bonuses, the British began offering bonuses of about $10,000, for troops who decide to sign up for more time in uniform, or return after having been a civilian for a while. Some of the troops who have gone off to work for the private security companies, have found the work not to their liking, and came back to the army. This bonus system encouraged more such returns.

In addition, Britain has been reducing its infantry force. Battalions are going to be disbanded. It's also been noted that about eight percent of the infantry are tied down in ceremonial functions, a distraction that has largely gone unnoticed. Many infantry get out because of the constant trips to Iraq and Afghanistan. While some young Brits are attracted to the prospect of combat, for others, a taste is enough. Another problem is that not all who join the infantry, have what it takes. The British have high standards, and not everyone can make it through the training.

Finally, a unique problem with infantry battalion shortages is that each regiment (of one or more battalions) does its own recruiting. The regiments are local, except for the five Guards battalions (two of which are always performing ceremonial duties). Some regiments have an easier time attracting recruits than others. But these days, most infantry battalions are going off to Afghanistan shorthanded.

The SAS itself is the model for all modern commando units. The SAS evolved during World War II , from the original commando units (which were more similar to current Royal Marine Commandos and U.S. Army Rangers). SAS developed the concept of elite infantry operating in small groups (as few as 3-4 men) for special operations. Britain has only some 460 men in the SAS, and four 80 man "Sabre Squadrons" form the deployable combat units of the organization. SAS commandos are often sent around the world in groups of less than a dozen men for missions.

The SAS has to recruit and train 20 or more new commandos a year just to maintain its current strength. Several thousand British troops apply to join the SAS each year, but the SAS is very selective in who it takes. Some SAS members felt that expanding to 480 troops would dilute the quality. This is not necessarily so, but the debate over the issue continues within the SAS. Another ongoing dispute has to do with how the SAS is sometimes used. There have been several actions in the last decade where an entire Sabre Squadron was used in one action. As one SAS officer observed, an infantry company would have been more suitable for these operations. But other SAS officers believe that only SAS men could have gotten to scene of the action and launched these attacks in time. Regular infantry may have been able to do the fighting effectively, but the SAS are the best trained force for getting to difficult locations, scouting them out adequately and then quickly coming up with an effective attack plan.

The SAS does not like to speak openly about tactics or internal matters in general. But the current debate over recruiting and tactics have been so vehement that some of it has gotten out to the press. Another problem that does not get as much attention is the frequent inability of senior commanders and planners to recognize situations where the SAS would be the best solution. This is one reason why SAS likes working with the American SOCOM (Special Operations Command) and special international commando task forces for hunting terrorists. The Americans have done more work on developing missions for commandos within larger military operations. The Americans have also ordered SOCOM to take the lead in the war on terror and the hunt for terrorists.

In peacetime, most SAS missions are at the request of the Foreign Ministry, and are usually to solve some problem overseas that does not require a lot of muscle, but must be done quietly. In these situations, the SAS will spend a lot of their time operating as spies, even though all they are doing is reconnaissance for some mission. In peacetime, the SAS rarely operates in groups of more than a dozen men. But the war in Afghanistan found British military planners realizing that the troops that could be moved to that isolated country most quickly were the SAS. For a while in Afghanistan, the only British combat troops available there were SAS. So anything that British commanders wanted to do had to be done by SAS. In effect, the SAS were victims of their own success in being able to get anywhere, anytime, in a hurry.

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British, German and American soldiers take to the skies together

The week-long Exercise Pegasus Reply, hosted by Woodbridge-based 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers, has seen British, German and American soldiers join forces for two parachute jumps to share experiences and working practices.

Members of 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) parachute onto the Stanford Training Area with their American and German counterparts
[Picture: Stuart Bingham, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

The training was the third in a series of similar multinational exercises, with Luftlandepionerkompanie 270 (Lpk 270) hosting the previous two at their base in Seedorf, northern Germany. American soldiers from 321 Special Tactics Squadron (321 STS), based at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, also took part.


The troops dropped onto the STANTA training area in Norfolk, with soldiers jumping from a British C-130J Hercules aircraft using British parachutes on Wednesday of last week and from an American MC-130H Combat Talon II using American parachutes on Thursday.


By doing the jumps, 9 Parachute Squadron and Lpk 270 soldiers earned their American parachute wings, and the German and American soldiers earned their British parachute wings.


German and American troops were also given familiarisation training on British Army weaponry and engineering equipment, and briefings on 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault)'s diving team and counter-IED practices, and visited the Imperial War Museum Duxford.
Major John Clark, Officer Commanding 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers, said:

"The multinational aspect is very important to military operations nowadays and we have strong links to our US, German and French counterparts. We have done a number of similar exercises, which are designed to develop co-operation, share our skills and experiences and build the bonds of friendship.

Airborne Royal Engineers and their German counterparts take part in a parachute jump from a US C-130 aircraft over RAF Sculthorpe's drop zone near Fakenham in Norfolk
[Picture: Graham Harrison, Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

"For my squadron, which is just back from six months in Afghanistan, this is about refreshing our parachute skills as 16 Air Assault Brigade moves back to the contingency role. Our junior sappers will go away with a renewed sense of confidence and will feel better trained and prepared, as well as having experience of how different countries' armies operate and some fun."

Oberleutnant Jan Gulden, from Lpk 270, said:

"We are here to strengthen the partnership that has grown between our units. This exercise is a great chance to share information and a great experience to earn each other's parachute wings.
"My company's role is exactly the same as 9 Parachute Squadron, but we all have different ways of doing the same job and it is worthwhile to learn each other's methods."

Lieutenant Colonel Rex Saukkonen, from 321 STS, said:

"This is a fantastic opportunity to bring forces together in training, in the way that we are working together on operations in Afghanistan. It's about sharing and building on the airborne spirit we all have - we're all ready to go anywhere, anytime and by any means."

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