- Comms
- Law
- Medic
- News
- Opinion
- Threat Watch
- Training
- Warrior Tools
- Accessories
- Ammo
- Body Armor
- Books
- Clothing
- Commo
- Gear
- Handguns
- Holsters
- Knives
- Long Guns
- ACC
- Accuracy International
- Barrett
- Benelli
- Beretta
- Blaser
- Bushmaster
- Custom
- CZ
- Desert Tactical Arms
- DPMS
- FN
- Forums
- HK
- IWI
- Kel-Tec Long Guns
- LaRue
- LWRC
- McMillan
- Mosin Nagant
- Mossberg
- Para
- Remington
- Rock River Arms
- Ruger Long Guns
- Sabre Defense
- Sako
- SIG Sauer
- SKS
- Smith & Wesson Long Guns
- Springfield
- Styer
- Weatherby
- Wilson Combat
- Winchester
- Magazines
- Maintenance
- Navigation
- Optics
- Sights
- Tech
- Warriors
Posts Tagged US Army
How the U.S. is Fighting the Zeta Cartel
Posted by Gary in News, Threat Watch on 31/Aug/2012 16:44
From: Danger Room
The violence in the Mexican border state of Nuevo Leon began Tuesday morning and continued into Wednesday. By the end, 30 bodies had turned up around the state with bullet wounds or had been dismembered. The cause was attributed to a seemingly never-ending war between the Zeta drug cartel and their rivals. And that may only be a prelude. Miguel Angel Treviño, or “Z-40,” has seized the leadership of the cartel from longtime chief Heriberto Lazcano, according to the Associated Press, which describes the new boss as a “brutal assassin” who favors cooking his enemies inside burning oil drums.
For those unnerving reasons, the Zetas have come to define the violence of the drug war, and have lead the U.S. and Mexican governments scrambling to fight them. Arguably Mexico’s most powerful drug cartel, the Zetas are now estimated to operate in half of the country, if not more, and have expanded into Guatemala. Aside from unleashing violence, extortion and kidnapping across much of their territory, the Zetas are responsible for the February 2011 death of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jaime Zapata.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon deployed 200 Marines to Guatemala in a sign the U.S. is getting more direct in going after the Zetas. The Pentagon stresses that the Marines will play a secondary role to the Guatemalans and are limited to merely tracking drug traffickers. But still, that’s a lot of Marines now operating in territory shared by the cartel. The U.S. also considers the operation to be only one part of a much larger strategy. Here are five aspects of that war.
Eurocopter Awarded Light Helo Contract
From Defense Industry Daily:
In June 2006, a variant of Eurocopter’s EC145 beat AgustaWestland’s AB139, Bell-Textron’s 412EP Twin Huey, and MD Helicopters’ 902 Explorer NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) design.
The win marked EADS’ 1st serious military win in the American market, and their “UH-145†became the “UH-72A Lakota†at an official December 2006 naming ceremony.
M777 Howitzer is Lightweight and Mobile
From Defense Industry Daily:
What is new is the fact that this 9,700 pound howitzer saves over 6,000 pounds of weight by making extensive use of titanium and advanced aluminum alloys, allowing it to be carried by Marine Corps MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft or medium helicopters, and/or airdropped by C-130 aircraft.
Army Orders 1,100 Recon Scout XT ‘Throwbots’
Posted by Gary in News, Warrior Tools on 19/Feb/2012 12:04
From: Defense Media
ReconRobotics, Inc. announced Feb. 15 that it had been awarded a $13.9 million contract from the U.S. Army Contracting Command for 1,100 Recon Scout® XT micro-robot kits on behalf of the U.S. Army Rapid Equipping Force. The largest order in the company’s history, it is also, in terms of the number of units, the largest micro-robot order ever issued by the U.S. Army. The company also announced two Rapid Equipping Force accessory orders totaling nearly $1 million. ReconRobotics plans to deliver the micro-robots and accessories by May 31, 2012.
Military Bureaucracy Killed the XM8
This is a special report from Military Times:
Fielding new boots and long underwear was one thing. replacing the 40-year-old M16 family would prove to be a far tougher fight.
DoD and Army documents obtained by Army Times reveal that conflicts among the Army commands that must sign off on weapons development doomed the XM8 to fail before testers fired a round from the first prototype.
Individuals with intimate knowledge of the failed effort paint a picture of an ambitious crusade against an unbending requirements-and-acquisition system — a behemoth many blame for an atmosphere that places a low priority on what has always been the soldier’s most valued possession — the rifle.
Army Orders New Weapon For the Afghan Theater
Posted by Brian in News, Warrior Tools on 13/Dec/2011 08:08
According to Gear Scout the US Army has ordered new 84mm recoilless rifles from Sweden. These new weapons will allow our forces to engage the enemy at further distances quicker, enhancing their fighting ability.
300BLK Wins USPSA National Multigun
Posted by Brian in Ammo, Matches and Competitions, News on 14/Nov/2011 08:52
From the GearScout blog:
The win for 300BLK is significant because it shows a use for the round outside of clearing rooms in unfriendly nations. 300BLK allows shooting sports competitors to use the lightweight and ubiquitous AR platform to compete effectively against heavier, higher caliber guns.
Eerie Photos and a New Report from Michael Yon
Posted by Gary in News, Threat Watch, Warriors on 12/Sep/2011 23:52
One Night in Zhari
12 September 2011
Note: This rough dispatch was written over many days during slivers of time between prepping gear and going on missions. Different sentences were written at different times. Many operations unfolded and there were more injuries and fatalities in the brigade, and more progress against the enemy in this area. On the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, 4-4 Cav was again in combat, as they are every day.
How Many Donkeys and Solders to Haul a 300 lb Generator?
Posted by Gary in News, Threat Watch, Warriors on 8/Sep/2011 16:18
Our Troops Need Better Pants
Posted by Gary in News, Warrior Tools, Warriors on 5/Sep/2011 21:56
From: Micheal Yon
We Need Better Pants
Rip, rend and slash are all in a day’s work here. Yet I have never seen so many troops with so many pairs of pants that are ready to fall off.
Last week this mortar crew was firing at some people who were trying to kill us. We have plenty of ammo. No complaints there. On the larger bases, the gyms are outstanding. The dining facilities have ice cream. Our troops are supremely outfitted and resourced, and so this missive is specific in nature and not a general resourcing indictment. Generally speaking, we are good to go in Afghanistan, other than never having had enough troops and aviation having been an issue at times and places. But overall, no complaints on the way units are outfitted. Five stars. The outfitting is so good that it’s embarrasing to complain. My tent has airconditioner. The showers have hot water. I live far rougher (other than the bombs and bullets) on some of my vacations. That’s a fact. But since we are talking about pants in combat, it’s worthwhile to say something.
The troops need better pants. For every ripped image here, I’ve seen many others. Usually the troops will duct tape their pants together, or sew when time permits. When your pants rip at midnight and you still have hours to move before sunlight, you might be wearing shorts and sporting bleeding legs before there is a chance to sew. I saw one troop who had sewn his trousers with parachute cord. (Must have used a knife for a needle.)
US soldiers keep guard near a canal in Kandahar province
Posted by Jack Sinclair in News, Threat Watch, Warriors on 23/Aug/2011 18:02
US soldiers keep guard near a canal running thru Highway 1 on the outskirts of Kandalay village in Kandahar province on August 6, as part of a mission to secure southern Afghanistan's strategic roadway against Taliban insurgents' placements of improvised explosive devices (IED). According to Captain Max Ferguson commander of Charlie Co., a Taliban was killed while trying to place IED some 800 meters from the area where soldiers were sealing off the road culvert with iron grids and barb wires. (Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty Images)
Captain Max Ferguson at Kandalay village in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar
Posted by Jack Sinclair in News, Warriors on 21/Aug/2011 17:58
Captain Max Ferguson plays with Afghan children during a joint patrol with Afghan National Army soldiers at Kandalay village in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar on Aug. 8, while US troops launched missile attacks on Taliban targets in nearby Kelawai village killing at least three and capturing two insurgents. US forces push their counterinsurgency efforts to battle for the hearts and minds of the local population. (Romeo Gacad/AFP/Getty Images)
Army Carbine Competition Controversy
Posted by Brian in News, Warrior Tools, Warriors on 18/Jul/2011 16:25
The Military Times reports on the growing controversy surrounding the competition for the army’s next carbine:
The concerns and complaints are various, but largely fall into one of three categories: rights to technical data, quality control during production, and perceived limits on capabilities and calibers.
Perceived limits on capabilities and calibers have also drawn ire. Specifically, the lack of recognition for modular weaponry has left some surprised, and others frustrated.
General Petraeus leaves a still deadly Afghanistan to head CIA
Posted by Jack Sinclair in News, Threat Watch, Warriors on 14/Jul/2011 21:02
“When U.S. General David Petraeus was named supreme commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan one year ago, he had the reputation of something of a military miracle worker.
He was dubbed King David, the man who set unruly Iraq to rights, and lauded as the most influential general of his era, a warrior-scholar and the brilliant mind behind the American military’s new gospel of counterinsurgency.
…Gen. Petraeus had more than double the number of Afghan and foreign soldiers under his command than were available to fight the Taliban just three years ago. They created a new dynamic that critics say made Afghanistan a more violent place and spread the insurgency.”
