Combat & Survival 2017-03

Mar 2017 Vol 28 Issue 12

+ FIREARMS FN 5.56mm MINIMI MK3 H+K 7.62mm G27P

ALLIED FORCES

COMBINED SPECIAL OPERATIONS

CAMO EXTRA

HUNGARIAN M1949/82 CAMOUFLAGE

ELITE FORCES

SPECIAL ES RC FO HUNGARY:: SO SOTU POLAND:: J JW K Volume 28 Issue 12 £4.2 £4.25 25

MI-17 HIP & PZL W-3 SOKÓŁ

COMBATANDSURVIVAL.COM C CO OM MB B AT TA AN N DS S UR R VI V VA A L. L . C OM L.C M

HELICOPTER PHOTO FOCUS

GERMAN BUNDESWEHR 23 GEBIRGS JÄGER BRIGADE BRITAIN’S LEADING INDEPENDENT MILITARY MAGAZINE

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COMBAT +SURVIVAL Vicky Lindsay, Magazine Director

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

PAGE 09 Elite Forces - EDELWEISS 2016 Carl Schulze reports from the Austrian Alps on Germany’s 23 Gebirgsjäger Brigade

PAGE 17 Firearms 1 - BUNDESWEHR G27P Carl Schulze reports from Germany on the new in-service 7.62mm Precision Automatic Rie

PAGE 24 Allied Forces - ANAKONDA 2016 Bob Morrison reports from Poland on the multinational Combined Special Operations phase

PAGE 32 Helicopter Focus - PZL W-3 SOKÓ & MI-17 HIP Bob Morrison points his cameras at a pair of helicopters used by the Polish Armed Forces

PAGE 38 Pull-out Poster - GRENADE MACHINE GUN Carl Schulze focuses on a Gebirgsjäger 40mm Granatmaschinenwae Team

PAGE 41 Special Forces - POLISH OLIS OL IS SH JW JWK K Bob Morrison reports on the participants ants an ts s iin n th the he Po P Polish-led olilish sh-l sh h-led ed d multinational SOTU air assault

PAGE 48 Kit & Camo - HUNGARIAN GA ARI R AN AN S SPEC PE P PEC EC OP OPS PS Bob Morrison focuses on a SOTU operator erato ra ato tor ffr from rrom om m 34 ‘Bercsényi’ Battalion

PAGE 52 Firearms 2 - 5.56mm mm MI M MINIMI INI N MI MI MK3 Richard Brown looks at the latest evolution of the popular FN Herstal Light Lig ight htt Machine Gun

PAGE 59 Camo Extra M1949/82 PATTERN Bob Morrison focuses on a combat jacket a k ac ke et an and nd shelter half in the Hungarian national camo ca am mo

PAGE 64 Outdoor Gear TRIED & TESTED

[Cover Image : © Carl Schulze]

Mike Gormley eld trials torches, clothing, thin th i g g,, a Swedish knife and a boot cleaner sponge po ong nge

PAGE 70 Footwear ABOVE & BEYOND Bob Morrison reects on exceptional experiences with Lowa’s Innox Gore-Tex Mid-Height boots

PAGE 05: Comms PAGE 72: Security

Published by Hit Media Ltd Printed & Distributed by Warners Group Publications PLC The Maltings, West Street, Bourne PE10 9PH Subscriptions and Back Issue Orders to: COMBAT & SURVIVAL Magazine which is published by: Hit Media Ltd, 1st Floor Turnbridge Mills, Quay Street, Hudderseld, HD1 6QT Tel: (01484) 437319 ISSN: 0955-9841 To Subscribe or order a digital edition visit www.combatandsurvival.com Advertising: [email protected] Editorial: [email protected] ©Copyright here and abroad of all material is held by the publishers. No reproduction reprod rep rod oduct od u ion uc uct on n is permitted whatsoever without prior withou wit h t prio hou p rio or consent in writing. IMPORTANT: IM IMP M ORT O ANT ANT:: All individual combat and personal activities involve risk per rson sonal a survival al surrv oneself and others and great of injury injury to o on care must c ca car em ust be e taken carrying out any activities. such suc h acti a cti t vitties e Expert guidance should sought and be sou ught ht an nd equipment checked for reliability before reliab rel iabili ility ty bef efo o any activities described here carried out. The publishers here in in are are c cannot any responsibility for c can nott accept ac injury, a in any injur ju death, loss or damage jur which whi ch may result. ARTICLES AND A PHOTOGRAPHS P will be welcomed and w considered for publication. c Submission of such shall S be considered a warranty that tha hat they are original and do h not n infringe on the copyright no off others. Unsuitable material o can c only be returned if you include a S.A.E. Loss or damage is not the responsibility of COMBAT & SURVIVAL. DISCLAIMER: The publishers D make no representations, m mak endorsements, guarantees end n warranties concerning the orr w products and/or services prod pro d advertised within this magazine. adv d We W expressly disclaim any and all alll liability relating to or arising from the sale, manufacture, f fr distribution, use or misuse of d such. s

COMBAT CO C OM & SURVIVAL | 03

The 9mm SIG Sauer P320 has been selected by the US Army in both fullsize and compact versions

Comms I comms

n this issue we bring you the last of our coverage of the ANAKONDA ‘16 exercise phases, concentrating on the closing dynamic demonstration undertaken by a multinational Special Operations force in front of a party of Distinguished Visitors and Observers. This wide-ranging exercise, the largest conducted on NATO territories since STRONG RESOLVE in 2002, was headed by Poland’s Lieutenant General Marek Tomaszycki who has been the Operational Commander of his country’s armed forces since 2013. At almost every exercise event that C&S attended this quietly spoken former Armoured Cavalry ofcer, with experience of both the Iraq and Afghanistan operations, was on hand to talk to the media as well as hosting visiting politicians and high ranking ofcers from other nations. The general’s media handling team for this

exercise were every bit as professional as their boss and, with the exception of one instance where they had to corral us on health & safety grounds due to the amount of fast-moving heavy vehicles in close proximity, made our life as easy as possible as we endeavoured to bring our readership maximum coverage of these massive manoeuvres. Thank you very much. Since 1st January the United Kingdom has been lead nation for NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) and, following the 2016 Warsaw Summit held just after ANAKONDA ‘16 ended, the UK has also been lead nation for the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battalion being based in Estonia. C&S will do its level best to provide readers with coverage of both VJTF ‘17 and British Forces units participating in the eFP mission; hopefully the UK MoD defence communications organisation will

support us in similar fashion to their Polish colleagues. For over a quarter of a century the US Army has been using the Beretta M9 pistol as its standard sidearm but as many of these weapons are fast approaching the end of their life cycle it was decided to seek a replacement. Twelve pistols from eight different manufacturers were entered for the XM17 Modular Handgun System competition in 2016, of which three were down-selected for trials. Just before this issue went to press, it was announced that the 9mm SIG Sauer P320 had been selected in both full-size and compact versions. We will bring you an update in a future issue, but in the meantime to read the company press release go to the combatandsurvival.com website. One of our advertisers, Lionsgate Films, has sent us a check disc of the John Travolta lm Life On The 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. Based on real events, its plot revolves around a race against the clock to x miles of high-wire cable before lightning destroys the power grid and everything in its path. In the credits it is announced that in the thirty months between the inception of the movie and its theatrical release, 112 linesmen had died maintaining the grid. In their memory the Fallen Lineman Foundation Organization was founded - see fallenlinemen.org for more. BM

John Travolta, left, in Life On The Line

Lt Gen Marek Tomaszycki addressing the media during ANAKONDA ‘16 [© Bob Morrison]

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 05

BRITISH ARMY MTP SPECIAL FORCES WEBBING

Almost 50% lighter than standard webbing. Almost 50% smaller than standard webbing (Pack size) Cost almost 50% less than standard webbing. From only £94.95 But still has the same robust quality as the standard webbing. Made in the UK. „ This webbing is ultra lightweight and will pack away in its own stu sack attached to the underside of the belt. „ The belt is padded for comfort and has a 60 mm quick release buckle. „ The yoke has the standard 6 point fasteners and is laser cut to take extra molle pouches. „ It is available in 2 sizes „ Regular to t waist 30” plus, This has 2 utility pouches and 2 double ammo pouches. „ Large to t waist 36” plus, This has 3 utility pouches and 2 double ammo pouches.

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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 his section during a counter-attack against irregular forces after his patrol has been ambushed

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Report & Images by

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EDELWEISS 2016 CARL SCHULZE

Images © Carl Schulze

23 GEBIRGSJÄGERBRIGADE MOUNTAIN TRAINING Fighting in high mountains and over extremely dicult terrain, even in winter and under Arctic conditions, is one of the core tasks of Germany’s Gebirgs jäger 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:

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rom their well-prepared and camouaged positions the mountain infantry troops of C Platoon, 4. Kompanie, Gebirgs jäger bataillon 232 carefully monitor the area between the Mölser Sonnenspitze peak (2,496m above sea level) and the Nördlicher Schober peak (2,448m above sea level). Armed with a 40mm Granat maschinen waffe (grenade machinegun), a MILAN anti-tank missile system, two 7.62mm MG3 machineguns and several 5.56mm G36 assault ries, the roughly 30

soldiers assigned to Red Force have the task of defending the Unbenannte Scharte gap between the Rosskopf peak and the Mölser Sonnenspitze peak in order to prevent enemy troops from taking the high ground above the Lager Lizum camp and launching an attack against the camp from there. It is already the second attempt of Blue to take the Rosskopf peak, but owing to their domination of the high ground Red were able to repulse the rst one This time the situation is different. The Red positions on the Klammspitzen

peaks and the Tantalerköpfe peaks were taken by Blue at rst light, and from the high ground overlooking the whole area Blue now can monitor the Red positions on Rosskopf. Suddenly, the sound of the wind blowing across the snow-covered rocky ground is drowned by explosions caused by ash-bangs the umpires are throwing. “Mortar re, take cover!” the platoon leader shouts, the order being echoed by his section commanders. “Damn!” one of the mountain infantrymen mumbles while he crouches behind a

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 09

Images © Carl Schulze

elite forces

boulder. “They have a Joint Fire Support Team up there, directing the re of their mortars against us with pinpoint accuracy.” The mortar re ceases as suddenly as it began, but now machinegun re can be heard from the direction of the Mölser Sonnenspitze. Simultaneously gures dressed in snow camouage suits can be seen making their way up from the Unbenannte Scharte gap towards the Rosskopf peak. “Fire!” orders the platoon leader. Immediately the soldiers of Red open up on the troops below. But their defensive re cannot stop the advance of Blue, especially as the grenade machinegun and one of the machineguns have been taken out by the mortar re. One after

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“THE BLUE AND RED TROOPS STAYED IN THE MOUNTAINS PERMANENTLY, DEFYING HARSH WEATHER WITH TEMPERATURES WELL BELOW ZERO, FOG, STRONG WINDS AND THE FIRST SNOW OF THE COMING WINTER SEASON.”

the other the Red positions are cleared by the Blue troops.

includes peaks up to 2,800m above sea level.

This attack on Rosskopf Peak was only one of several offensive operations conducted by the Blue Forces over a period of ve days during Exercise EDELWEISS 2016.

All in all the exercise area extended 210km from its western to its Eastern edge and 80km from North to South. It involved some 1,600 German and Austrian troops as well as 200 wheeled and tracked vehicles and several helicopters of the Austrian Armed Forces.

EXERCISE IN NUMBERS

EDELWEISS 2016 was conducted by the Gebirgs jäger brigade 23 mountain infantry brigade between the 10th and 24th of October, 2016. While parts of the training were conducted on public ground, most took place on local training areas in Southern Germany, such as Bodelsberg, Altenstadt, Murnau and Berchtesgaden, plus on the Lizum/ Walchen Training Area in Austria that

PARTICIPATING FORCES Brigadier Alexander Sollfrank, the commander of Gebirgs jäger brigade 23, led the exercise in person. In doing so he was supported by a binational EXCON, including personnel from the HQ of Gebirgs jäger brigade 23 and the Kommando Gebirgskampf (mountain

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03: While ofcially an anti-tank missile, in mountainous terrain MILAN also proves quite effective against fortied positionscrew wear the new Schneetarnanzug winter camouage suit 04: Air transport support for the German and Austrian mountain infantry forces was provided by Agusta Bell 212 light transport helicopters of the Austrian Kommando Luftunterstützung 05: During the rst Phase of the exercise Blue Forces employed Fennek light armoured reconnaissance vehicles from 2. Kompanie, Gebirgs aufklärungs bataillon 230 to gather information on the enemy 06: The Bundeswehr elds the GTK Boxer A1 wheeled armoured personnel carrier in four main variants: section vehicle, ambulance, command post vehicle (as here) and driver training vehicle 07: An Eagle V protected patrol vehicle of Gebirgs aufklärungs bataillon 230 provides cover for the ground control station of a LUNA UAV system - vehicle is tted with the FLW 100 RCWS 08: GTK Boxer A1 wheeled armoured personnel carriers of Gebirgs jäger bataillon 231 patrol on the Murnau Local Training Area 09: Soldiers of Gebirgs aufklärungs bataillon 230 prepare to launch a LUNA (Luftgestützte Unbemannte NahaufklärungsAusstattung) reconnaissance UAV

warfare command) of the Austrian Army. The EXCON served as higher HQ for the two Blue Forces battlegroups and the Red Forces . The Militär kommando Tirol (regional command) of the Austrian Armed Forces assisted the exercising troops in all kinds of administrative tasks. The Blue Forces included two battlegroups, one formed around Gebirgs aufklärungs bataillon 230 (mountain reconnaissance battalion) and the other around Gebirgs jäger bataillon 233 (mountain infantry battalion). A mountain rescue force and most of the umpires were provided by the German Gebirgs jäger bataillon 231.

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The Gebirgs aufklärungs bataillon 230 battlegroup included the battalion’s HQ and HQ & Support Company, plus a purpose-formed ISR company including the Hoch gebirgs spähzug (high altitude mountain reconnaissance platoon), a reconnaissance platoon equipped with Fennek light armoured reconnaissance vehicles, a LUNA (Luftgestützte Unbemannte NahaufklärungsAusstattung) reconnaissance UAV platoon and a human intelligence platoon. The company was reinforced by an infantry platoon from Gebirgs jäger bataillon 231 equipped with GTK Boxer A1 wheeled armoured personnel carriers, an EOD Team of Gebirgs pionier bataillon 8 (mountain engineer battalion) and a pack animal section of the Einsatz- und Ausbildungs zentrum für Tragtierwesen 230 (pack animal centre) of the Bundeswehr. The Gebirgs jäger bataillon 233 battlegroup consisted of the battalion’s 1. Kompanie (Versorgungs-/ Unterstützungs kompanie) HQ and HQ & Support Company, all its three mountain infantry companies (2., 3,

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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.

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The Red Forces included Austrian and German troops and were centred

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elite forces 10

Images © Carl Schulze

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“THE AIM OF THE EXERCISE IS TO TRAIN GEBIRGS JÄGER BRIGADE 23 TO CONDUCT THE ALL-ARMS BATTLE OVER EXTREME TERRAIN, INCLUDING HIGH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.”

around the reinforced German Gebirgs jäger bataillon 232 mountain infantry battalion. The battalion deployed with its HQ, HQ and Support Company, including the Hoch gebirgsjäger zug (high altitude warfare platoon), 4. Kompanie (mountain infantry company) and elements of 5. Kompanie (re support company) such as the mortar platoon and Joint Fire Support Teams (JFST). The battalion was reinforced by a mixed platoon from Gebirgs pionier bataillon 8, including its cable car component. The Austrian troops assigned under command of the German unit included a mountain infantry company of the Jäger bataillon 24, a platoon from the Tragtier zentrum (pack animal centre) and the cable car platoon of Pionier bataillon 2 (engineer battalion). Logistic support for Blue and Red Forces was provided by the Gebirgs versorgungs bataillon 8 (mountain logistic battalion). This unit deployed on the exercise with its HQ and HQ & Support Company and one of its mixed logistic companies, including a transport platoon, a maintenance platoon and a supply platoon. Limited air transport capability was provided for the forces of both sides by Agusta Bell 212 light transport helicopters of the Kommando Luftunterstützung (aviation support command) of the Austrian Armed Forces

12 the same time stabilising the situation inside the country, where Irregular Forces were operating. The exercise was conducted in three, partly overlapping, phases. During Phase I the troops deployed to their starting locations and force integration training was conducted in order to incorporate the assets of the Austrian Armed Forces participating in the exercise into the units of Gebirgs jäger brigade 23.

CONDUCTED IN THREE PHASES

As part of the EDELWEISS 2016 exercise scenario, Blue Forces were deployed to the ctitious country of Obsidia in order to protect its integrity against attacks by the conventional forces of a neighbouring state, while at

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Phase II was a reconnaissance exercise conducted by the Gebirgs aufklärungs bataillon 230 battlegroup up to the 21st of October. During this, the reconnaissance assets gathered vital information about the enemy and his plans. This information formed the basis

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IRS company as a monitoring force with a quite large assigned battlespace, the deployment of a Quick Reaction Force in assistance to reconnaissance assets, and anti-ambush drills. Phase III was the actual combat phase of the exercise. As part of this the Gebirgs jäger bataillon 233 battlegroup launched its attack against the Red positions on the Lizum/Walchen

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10: A platoon from the Tragtier zentrum of the Austrian Army supported the Red Forces - their Hainger horses were used to supply remote positions and to transport heavy weapons into remote zones 11: Supplies are cross loaded from Hainger horses into the cable car of the Pionier bataillon 2 engineer battalion - both of these Austrian Army units participated in the German Army exercise 12 After his position has been outanked a Gebirgs jäger uses the cover of the reverse slope to deploy to an alternative position 13: The cable car platoon of the Austrian Pionier bataillon 2 (engineer battalion) can build cable car systems up to a length of 1,800 and with a payload of up to 3.5 tonnes 14: Equipped with one of the new 7.62mm Gewehr G27P precision ries a Gebirgs jäger provides cover for his comrades who are attacking enemy positions on the Murnau Local Training Area 15: Both the German and the Austrian mountain warfare forces deployed their cable car engineer assets on EDELWEISS 2016 - this picture shows a German cable car 16: Three members of an MG3 machinegun team – middle soldier carries the weapon with bipod deployed and rear soldier carries its sustained re tripod 17: Gebirgs jäger are trained for ghting in high mountains and extremely difcult terrain, even in winter and under Arctic conditions

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for the offensive operations conducted under Phase III.

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This third phase only involved German troops and was only conducted on German soil, as it also served as the nal part of the pre-deployment training of the assets of the Gebirgs jäger brigade 23, who in 2017 will deploy on operation to Mali under EUTEM Mali and MINUSMA. In this phase the training mainly involved the deployment of the

Training Area in Austria. The phase began on the 20th of October and the ghting continued for ve days up to the 24th. During this period Red fought a defensive battle along three different lines and every time skilfully managed to disengage before taking up the next positions. The Blue attack started from the Navis valley, at about 1,500m above sea level, and saw the German Gebirgs jäger rst securing several peaks that dominate the area and then continuing their attack on the Red positions from the North and West. Among the peaks were the Tantalerköpfe with a height of 2,757m above sea level. The Blue and Red troops stayed in the mountains permanently, defying

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18: A machinegun team equipped with a 7.62mm MG3 and sustained re tripod makes their way up to a position on high ground in order to allow them to engage enemy troops operating below 19: The new waterproof Schneetarnanzug winter camouage suit is in the new (M2015) threecolour Winter Flecktarn camouage pattern 20: Rosskopf Peak, 2,449m above sea level - a 7.62mm MG3 machinegun team from C Platoon of 4. Kompanie, Gebirgs jäger bataillon 232 carefully monitors the terrain below

elite forces harsh weather with temperatures well below zero, fog, strong winds and the rst snow of the coming winter season. During movements, the deployed troops carried rucksacks containing over 30kg of kit and carried heavy weapons such as 40mm Granat maschinen waffe (grenade machine guns), MILAN antitank missile. The mules of the pack animal assets delivered 120mm Mörser ‘R’ mortars to their positions and moved up supplies for the Gebirgs jäger . Among other means, Red used two cable car systems set up by German and Austrian engineers to supply its forces in the mountains.

18 Parallel to all three phases the Gebirgs versorgungs bataillon 8 (mountain logistic battalion) exercised its capabilities, providing real-life support as well as executing exercise play related combat service support tasks. Over the two week period of the exercise the unit maintained a Brigade Support Area (BSA), from where it supplied the participating units with food, fuel, water and ammunition. The BSA also served as a maintenance facility, in which damaged equipment was repaired before it was returned to the eld. The BSA was relocated several times, for example it was set up several days each at Bodelsberg, Murnau and Innsbruck.

SYSTEM GEBIRGSJÄGERBRIGADE 23 When asked about the purpose of the exercise rcise Brigadegeneral (i.e.. Brigadier) Alexander er Sollfrank answered:: “The aim of the exercise rcise is it to train Gebirgs jäger brigade 23 to conduct uct the all-arms battle over extreme terrain, including luding high mountainous terrain. errain.

Images © Carl Schulze

“DURING THE EXERCISE THE SYSTEM GEBIRGS JÄGER BRIGADE 23 WAS TRAINED ENTIRELY, WITH EACH OF ITS COMBAT, COMBAT SUPPORT AND COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT ASSETS WORKING HARD...”

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During the exercise my soldiers and military leaders at all levels showed what is needed to be a Gebirgsjäger; this includes looking after your subordinates and comrades, but also comrad determination the de to full your orders, overcome the to over environment and environ beat the enemy. to bea During the exercise System Gebirgs the Sys jäger brigade 23 was trained w entirely, with e each of its combat, c combat c support and sup combat service com support assets working hard in order to do o their bit to the successfully su complete the co given tasks.” g

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Report & Images by

CARL SCHULZE

firearms 01: The G27P comes with an RSA-S reex sight, a 4x30i RD optical sight and a back up iron sight it is also tted with a bipod and a carrying sling 02: Together with a magazine lled with 20 rounds the G27P weighs 5.13kg - with its butt fully extracted it is 985mm long, 82mm wide and 213mm high

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Images © Carl Schulze

New Bundeswehr G27P H&K 7.62MM PRECISION AUTOMATIC RIFLE

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.

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n recent years there has been a growing argument in Germany about the precision and reliability of the 5.56x45mm Gewehr G36 assault rie manufactured by Heckler & Koch, the standard assault rie of the German Armed Forces. Report after report was presented and the subject even reached the state where H&K and the Verteidigungs

ministerium (German Ministry of Defence) met in court to settle the matter; with the manufacturer winning the case.

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In 2015, however, Ursula von der Leyen, Germany’s Defence Minister, declared the days of the 178,000 G36 ries in German service to be numbered and initiated the process for

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 17

firearms

“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...”

Images © Carl Schulze

the procurement of a replacement. On the other hand, a survey among some 200 soldiers who used the G36 during operations in Afghanistan surfaced, which disclosed that they regarded the weapon as reliable, light and easy to handle, while at the same time not having encountered any precision issues ... but the damage was done and it looks like the G36 will be replaced at some time over the next few years. The procurement of the new 7.62mm G27P precision automatic ries has to be viewed against the background of the G36 affair. In fact, the procurement of the weapon was supposed to compensate for alleged precision and reliability issues of the 5.56mm G36 assault rie. The P in the designation G27P stands for Präzisionsautomat, meaning precision automatic weapon in English. However, the new G27P precision automatic rie is not a direct replacement for the 5.56mm G36, as only one or two are issued at section level.

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Quite correctly, our readers might now assume that the weapon serves as a designated marksman rie (DMR), but this is not really true either as the German Armed Forces eld the

7.62x51mm Zielfernrohr gewehr (target telescope rie) G28, also manufactured by Heckler & Koch, as their DMR. Capability-wise, the 7.62mm calibre G27P ts into the weapon mix of the

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03: The Gewehr G27P 7.62x51mm precision automatic rie has an effective combat range of 600m and a theoretical rate of re of 600 rounds per minute

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04: The hand-guard of the G27P features MILSTD-1913 Picatinny rails at the top and bottom as well as at the left and right sides 05: The back-up iron sights feature a drum type rear sight with settings for 100m, 200m, 300m and 400m 06: The G27 is in service with the Bundeswehr both as a precision automatic rie and as an automatic sniper rie with the Special Forces - both are marked G27 on the lower receiver 07: A paratrooper from Fallschirmjäger regiment 26 can be seen here with a G27P during exercise COLIBRI IL held in South-Western France in September 2016 08: The front sight element of the back-up iron sights – seen here raised - can be folded away

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HECKLER & KOCH HK417 FAMILY

07 infantry section between the 5.56mm G36 assault rie and the 7.62mm G28 DMR, being basically an assault rie featuring a more powerful calibre than the standard assault rie and therefore having increased penetration power and offering a higher degree of precision at the receiving end. According to ofcial documents the G27P can be effectively employed against targets out to a range of 600 metres.

The Gewehr G27P 7.62x51mm precision automatic rie is one of two variants of the weapon in service with the Bundeswehr, the other being the Gewehr G27 7.62x51mm automatic sniper rie, tted with a 1.5–6x20 sniper scope. The automatic sniper rie is elded by the Kommando Spezialkräfte, the Special Forces of the Bundeswehr. Both G27 variants are members of the HK417 family of gas operated automatic 7.62mm calibre ries developed by the Heckler & Koch in Oberndorf, Germany. The HK417, in turn, is a further development of the HK416 family of

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firearms

Images © Carl Schulze

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gas operated automatic 5.56x45mm calibre ries that use the Stonerdesigned AR system and feature the short-stroke piston design gas operating system of the 5.56x45mm Gewehr G36 assault rie.

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. The upper receiver, the lower receiver, the extractable butt stock

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“THE FRONT SIGHT OF THE BACK-UP IRON SIGHT, WHICH CAN BE FOLDED DOWN, IS INCORPORATED INTO THE GAS PORT.” 14

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09: The G27P is tted with a Hensoldt Line 4x30i RD optical sight - the reticule can be illuminated 10: The butt of the G27P can be extracted in ve steps out to 80mm – there is a storage compartment behind the rubber butt pad 11: The G27P is a member of the HK417 family and as such utilises the Stonerdesigned AR system - the automatic weapon can be used to re single shots or bursts. 12: The G27P comes with a Harris HBRMS bipod with legs that can be adjusted individually 13: Here the front sight element of the back-up iron sights is folded forwards to avoid obscuring the optical sight

and the hand guard are made of composite materials. The upper and lower receiver are attached to each other by two bolts. When only the rearward bolt is removed, the forward bolt becomes a joint, allowing the lower receiver to be hinged downwards by 45° - for example, for maintenance purpose or when the weapon is stripped. The magazine, that can hold twenty rounds, is manufactured of transparent plastic. The lower receiver incorporates the magazine well, houses the trigger mechanism and is tted with the extractable butt stock that can be

14: A ash eliminator is screwed onto the front of the 406mm long barrel which features four grooves and elds with right twist 15: A hex-wrench for adjusting the gas system of the rie is stored with two spare batteries for the sights behind the butt pad

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extracted in ve steps out to 80mm. The trigger mechanism incorporates the safety catch that features the settings Safe, Single Shot and Burst. It is used to lock the weapon when cocked, as well as to select the ring modes. The upper receiver houses the lock and cocking handle. The 406mm long barrel, that features four grooves and elds, is also mounted in it. The gas port is mounted on the barrel with the gas operating system, which can be set for normal use or when using the weapon with a silencer, situated above it. The front sight of the back-up iron sight, which can be folded down, is incorporated into the gas port. At the receiving end of the barrel a thread is found onto which a ash eliminator is screwed. A MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail is situated on top of the upper receiver; this is used to mount the rear sight of the back-up iron sights and the 4x30i RD optical sight. The forward assist assembly situated at the right rear of the upper receiver allows manual engagement of the lock of the weapon. The hand-guard of the G27P features MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails at the top and bottom as well as at the left and right side. The rails are used to t the weapon with additional sighting equipment such as the Nacht sicht vorsatz NSV 600 night vision attachments and the LLM01 laser light module. It is also used to mount the assault grip and the Harris bipod. Among other items, the accessory pack delivered with the weapon includes eight magazines, an assault grip, a carrying case, and a cleaning kit.

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 21

16: A soldier of Gebirgsjäger brigade 23 armed with the G27P - note that the weapon is tted with an assault grip which is part of the standard accessory kit

firearms

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 17

Gewehr G27P Technical Data Calibre: Weight: Weight empty magazine: Weight magazine with 20 rounds: Overall length (butt fully extracted): Overall width: Height (without sights): Length of barrel: Theoretical rate of re: Initial velocity (V-0): Eective combat range: Sights:

7.62mm x 51 4,450g 160g 680g 985mm 82mm 213mm 406mm (four grooves and elds with right twist) 600 rounds per minute 786 m/s 600m RSA-S reex sight, 4x30i RD optical sight and iron back-up

4X30I RD OPTICAL SIGHT AND RSA-S REFLEX SIGHT

Images © Carl Schulze

As main sight, the G27P is tted with a 4x30i RD optical sight of the Hensoldt Line by Airbus DS Optronics GmbH. This sight is mounted onto the MIL-STD1913 Picatinny rail on top of the upper receiver of the rie. The sight features a x4 magnication and a eld of view of 8°/140m at a range of 1,000m. Due to its large exit pupil, with a diameter of 7.5mm, the sight is well-suited for the use in adverse visibility and twilight. Its reticule can be illuminated, the illumination being powered by a single AA battery.

The sight can be operated together with night vision attachments such as the Nacht sicht vorsatz NSV 600, that is

22 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

already in service with the German Army. The sight is 139mm long, 65mm wide and 76.5mm high. It weighs 600g with battery and mount.

The RSA-S reex sight is positioned on top of the 4x30i RD optical sight. This compact collimator sight also belongs to the product range of the Hensoldt Line, of Airbus DS Optronics GmbH. Featuring a red aiming dot the sight allows the G27P to be used for close quarter combat. It is also used for quick reaction reliable engagement of targets at ranges out to 200m. The RSA-S reex sight is 63.5mm long and weighs 100g. As power supply, the system uses a 3V CR 2032 button cell battery and a solar cell.

allied forces 01

ANAKON COMBINED SPECIAL On Thursday 16th June, ten days after the Opening Ceremony in Warsaw and nine days after multinational Airborne Forces commenced their Joint Forcible Entry operation into Poland from bases in the United States, Germany and Italy, the last two major Exercise ANAKONDA phases took place at the Land Forces Training Centre near Drawsko Pomorskie. At the invitation of the Polish MoD, C&S was on hand to witness both.

24 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

L

ast month we looked back at the impressive multinational Combined Arms Live-F Live-Fire Exercise (LFX) demo demonstration, conducted in front of Distinguished Visitors and O Observers at the Polish Land Forces Training Centre on morning of the penultimate the m of the exercise. Although day o participating battlegroup the pa Polish-led, Albanian, was P American, Bulgarian, Lithuanian, Amer Macedonian, Romanian, and Mace

Swedish units also contributed. After a brief regrouping of the DV party, we were transported from the tank and artillery ring range about seven kilometres through the forest to the 2,000 metre long airstrip at Oleszno where a temporary village had been assembled near the Eastern end of the runway for the afternoon’s brief but dynamic demonstration. All we had been told in advance was that a Polish-led multinational SOTU (Special

“THE ACTION COMMENCED WITH THE COVERT SF TEAM’S SNIPERS TAKING OUT THE AIR DEFENCE RADAR DISHES ON BOTH THE LORAD LAUNCHER AND THE COMMAND POST TRUCK WITH ANTIMATERIEL RIFLES...”

NDA 16 Images © Bob Morrison

OPERATIONS Operations Task Unit) would be conducting an air assault exercise to demonstrate a forced entry mission into an area of a friendly country that had been partially overrun by hostile militia assisted by ‘advisers’ from a neighbouring country. In addition to the helicopters and specialist light utility vehicles used for the assault, a covert Special Forces team had been previously clandestinely inserted to provide intelligence and fast air would be on call to neutralise air defences which might otherwise spoil the SOTU’s day.

01: The Ex ANAKONDA ‘16 Special Operations dynamic display was led by Poland’s JKW Commando Special Forces Group 02: The insurgent militia targets of the SpecOps raid occupied a headquarters complex with barracks block and communications building 03: It was crucial that advanced communications equipment and data records be captured from this command node complex 04: The target was protected by a mobile SA-8 Gecko long range air defence system which posed a major threat to the airmobile assault force 05: Short range air defence was provided by crew-served missiles and heavy machineguns which also needed to be eliminated 06: F-16 Fighting Falcons called in by a clandestinely inserted JKW team took out the long range air defence launchers and their command post 07: As the F-16s struck Special Forces snipers concealed in woods hundreds of metres away took out the short range air defence crews

Report & Images by

BOB MORRISON 02

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COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 25

allied forces From the media pen, about 150 metres distant from the nearest of the enemyheld buildings, we were able to see: a large, white-roofed wooden building with armed militia and uniformed personnel guarding it, which looked like a barracks block; a pair of 40-foot ISO container ofces with satellite dishes and antennae atop, which was clearly a communications hub; and a

08

group of half a dozen ISO containers with vehicles outside, which looked like a logistics base. A few hundred metres to the North of this complex, a 6x6 long range air defence missile (LORAD) launcher could be detected under camouage nets, a short distance away from this was a camouaged short range air defence (SHORAD) position with both portable launchers and a

08: Mil Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunships which ew in at low level strafed the enemy defensive positions – note muzzle ash of starboard machinegun 09: This PZL W-3PL Guszec (Capercaillie) armed version of the W-3 Sokó (Falcon) provided airborne command and control 10: With the air defences neutralised a brace of heavily armed Mil Mi-17 Hip helicopters swooped in with multinational assault teams 11: A SpecOps assault team fast-ropes from the lead Hip – close inspection shows different uniforms but no national insignia is visible

09

12: As another team fast-ropes from the second Mi-17 Hip two JKW breaching and assault teams arrive by vehicle from the blind side 13: Through the fog of battle an assault team covered by a Polaris MRZR-2 machinegunner approaches the communications complex 14: The assault team commences clearing the command node satcom dishes have been disabled and a captured insurgent lies on the ground

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10

twin-barrelled wheeled anti-aircraft gun, and behind them on the treeline could be seen a camouaged command post with a radar truck. The action commenced with the covert SF team’s snipers taking out the air defence radar dishes on both the LORAD launcher and the command post truck with anti-materiel ries and then turning their attention to the SHORAD operators. With these immediate threats neutralised, fast air was then free to completely obliterate (simulated) the

26 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

“THE HELIBORNE ASSAULT TEAMS WERE TRANSPORTED BY TWO MIL MI-17 HIP TRANSPORT HELICOPTERS, EACH ARMED WITH FOUR ROCKET PODS AND TWO TWIN MACHINEGUN PODS...”

positions to allow the heliborne element of the SOTU to swoop in and fast-rope onto the enemy-held command & control and barracks complex, while vehicleborne SF elements raced in from the forest during the initial confusion.

The heliborne assault teams were transported by two Mil Mi-17 Hip transport helicopters, each armed with four rocket pods and two twin machinegun pods (see page 34 for more). As the assault teams went in,

14

Mil Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunships gave top cover for the two Hips while a PZL W-3PL Guszec (see page 32) provided overall airborne command and control. A running commentary was given by a Special Forces command team to the Distinguished Visitors and Observers party, in a stand off to our right, but unfortunately the sound of the helicopters prevented us clearly hearing or recording this so it was not until afterwards that we discovered precisely which operators were involved.

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 27

Images © Bob Morrison

13

allied forces

15

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15: Another assault team works through the complex looking for High Value Targets and any equipment of interest to analysts 16: With the barracks block neutralised the JWK team prepares to withdraw – note the W-3PL Guszec hovering in overwatch 17: The lead Mi-17 Hip swoops back in to recover an assault team – for more on this helicopter turn to page 34 of this issue 18: The assault team leaves the command node – the operator on the extreme left is escorting a captured High Value Target to the landing helicopter 19: The team has captured two High Value Targets who will be interrogated later by intelligence specialists to glean info on the insurgency 20: The Polish JWK team head off on one their HILUX utility vehicles as an MRZR-2 team covers their rapid departure 21: Demolition charges (simulated) destroy equipment and buildings to prevent insurgents making any further use of them

18 19 17 In effect four multiples, each consisting of two four-man teams, plus supporting helicopter and vehicle crews, carried out the simultaneous assault on the three distinct areas of the enemy-held complex. The lead Hip dropped one multiple near the communications buildings, the second Hip dropped another multiple behind the barracks

28 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

building, a third arrived in a pair of Toyota HILUX SUVs carrying breaching charges for the doors and windows, and the forth arrived on a pair of MRZR-2 Light Tactical All Terrain Vehicles to assault the logistics complex. The primary mission of the raid, which according to my camera data was all over in under eight

minutes, was to destroy hi-tech communications equipment, to capture High Value Targets, to seize documentation for analysis, and to demolish logistic assets. Any captured HVTs, for example enemy commanders and foreign military personnel, the latter often referred to as Little Green Men since the Russian annexation of Crimea in which uniformed anonymous troops believed to have been Spetsnaz participated, were to be taken away by the

SOTU along with computer hard drives etc. when they departed on the helicopters that delivered them.

Images © Bob Morrison

“THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE RAID, WHICH ACCORDING TO MY CAMERA DATA WAS ALL OVER IN UNDER EIGHT MINUTES, WAS TO DESTROY HITECH COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, TO CAPTURE HIGH VALUE TARGETS, TO SEIZE DOCUMENTATION FOR ANALYSIS, AND TO DEMOLISH LOGISTIC ASSETS.”

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20

While we were aware that Poland’s JWK was lead unit of the multinational SOTU, from our vantage point it was unclear precisely which nationalities were participating. For a brief few minutes afterwards, however, we had a rare opportunity to photograph them up close. Turn to Page 41 for those images.

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 29

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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.

Images © Bob Morrison

I

n this rst of two brief looks at Polish helicopter types we are focussing on the PZL W-3 Sokó (Falcon) which, with a payload of just over two tonnes and the ability to carry up to a dozen troops, is classed as being mid-sized and multi-purpose. Of home-grown design, originally manufactured by the PZL (Pa stwowe Zakady Lotnicze or State Aviation Factory) plant in ģwidnik near Lublin, which was bought by AgustaWestland and is now part of Leonardo Helicopters, the Sokó sits mid way between the Lynx and Puma.

At the time of the helicopter’s inception, in the 1970s, Poland was part of the Warsaw Pact and under the Soviet yoke. Fortunately, Poland’s three state aviation factories had a reputation

32 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

for quality and the Soviet Union not only allowed the ģwidnik facility to develop its own helicopter design but also agreed to it using proven Russiandesigned engines. It was originally planned that the Sokó would be used to equip other Warsaw Pact nations with both civil and military helicopters, but, by the time that series production commenced in the late 1980s, the Iron Curtain was close to falling - the Czechs, however, subsequently procured military variants and a number of other overseas military customers were found. The Polish Army, Poland’s Navy and Air Force use the type as well, received its rst batch of W-3 Sokós in 1993. These were unarmed transport versions, but the following year the armed W-3W version with twin 23mm cannons on the

02

01

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0901, which I photographed during the SOTU demonstration at Drawsko Pomorskie last June, is a W-3PL Guszec. Another conversion to the W-3WA batch is the W-3AE, with the E 01: Sokol W-3W with tailcode 0616 taking off with Polish air assault troops during a training session on the Wdrzyn Training area in June 2016

Report by

BOB MORRISON

starboard side and four weapons pylons was introduced (the second W in the designation stands for Wielozadaniowy or Multi-purpose). The two-colour aircraft with the tailcode 0616 is one of these but no armament was carried on the pylons when I photographed it at Wedrzyn last June. The aircraft with the tailcode 0905, also in two-tone camo, is from the next production batch and is designated W-3WA.

Approximately ten years ago the rst of eight W-3WA airframes were modernised with a glass cockpit and digital engine controls, plus upgraded navigation equipment and night vision ying capability. Reclassied as the W-3PL Guszec (Capercaillie), these aircraft are intended primarily for Combat Search & Rescue (CSAR) duties and Special Operations Forces support. Although these aircraft still have the four weapons pylons, their twin 23mm cannons have been replaced by a 12.7mm heavy machine gun under the cockpit which one of the two pilots operates. The helicopter with tailcode

standing for Ewakuacja or Evacuation as in MedEvac. A manufacturer’s press release in 2013 stated two aircraft would be upgraded with external lights compatible with night vision goggles, and new racks to carry medical equipment.

04

02: An air assault infantry squad fast-roping from 0616 - this multipurpose helicopter can transport twelve combat troops or two tonnes of cargo 03: One of a pair of specialist W-3AE MedEvac conversions - tailcode 0911 - seen recovering a simulated battleeld casualty during ANAKONDA 16

05

04: Tailcode 0905 is from the W-3WA production batch - note the twin 23mm cannons on the lower starboard side forward of the pylon 05: There are two rails under each weapons pylon capable of carrying rocket pods but it is unusual to see these tted today 06: This is the modernised W-3PL Guszec (Capercaillie) variant seen here supporting the JWK-led SOTU during ANAKONDA ‘16 at Drawsko

06

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 33

Images © Bob Morrison n

aviation focus

The primary troop transport helicopter of the Polish Armed Forces is the Russian-built Mil Mi-17, designated the Hip by NATO, which is an up-engined and upgraded variant of the Mi-8. In addition to a small number of older Mi-8 Hips, with starboard tail rotors, the Army has a squadron of sixteen Mi-17-1V Hips, in three versions, plus two Mi-17AE variants reconfigured for the MedEvac role.

O

n paper the Mi-17-1V eet is all assigned to No.1 Air Squadron of 25 Air Cavalry Brigade (Brygada Kawalerii Powietrznej) but it appears that four of them may be earmarked for Special Forces support. The four oldest of the sixteen airframes (tailcode 601, 602, 603 and 605) date from around 1989 and were originally basic Mi-17 unarmed transport helicopters, but these now appear to have been upgraded to 1V standards with weapons pylons and external cockpit armour. The MedEvac conversions (606 and 607) are from the same batch, but have not been tted with weapons pylons.

34 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

In late 2006 a second batch, factoryproduced to the 1V (i.e. armed) standard, entered service carrying tailcodes in the 6101 to 6107 sequence. Visually these aircraft are very similar to the 1989 batch. Finally, a further batch of ve airframes was procured in 2010, for ISAF duties in Afghanistan. These can be distinguished from the earlier Mi-17-1V batches by their tailcodes, in the 6108 to 6112 sequence, and the starboard side forward troop compartment door; the starboard lower sponson is correspondingly shortened and a new air intake cowl is tted above this door. A twin-engined multi-mission helicopter

capable of transporting 24 troops or a payload of around 3.5 tonnes, the Mi-17-1V Hip is broadly similar in capability to the Westland Sea King HC4 Commando version and originated as the Mi-8 around the same period. The big difference between the two aircraft, however, is the ability to t a pair of triple weapons pylons to which multiple 57mm rocket pods and/or twin 23mm cannon pods can be tted to turn the Russian-built aircraft into a helicopter gunship able of providing re support to its passengers when they dismount or suppressing enemy infantry around an intended landing zone. A door minigun operated by the third crewman or loadmaster, starboard side on 6108 to 6112 and port side on earlier aircraft can be tted for close defence when landing. The aircraft we photographed during the Combined Special Operations dynamic display at Oleszno, 6111 and 6112, were from this last batch with the starboard troop compartment door. The third, 6104, was photographed on

Report & Images by

BOB MORRISON

01: Tailcode 6111 on the ground – two pods each carrying 32x 57mm rockets and a twin 23mm canon pod are tted to the starboard weapons pylons 02: Tailcode 6104 during the Wedrzyn multinational assault – note the mini-gun protruding from the port side door but no weapons pylons are tted

04

03: Seen from the other side, 6104 has no starboard troop compartment door and note the longer side sponson with round air intake 04: There are pylons but no weapon pods on 6112 – note starboard door with mini-gun and armour shield for the gunner/ loadmaster 05: This is 6104 again during the same Wedrzyn demo – the port door mini-gun is obvious as are the mounts for the engine armour plates

05

06: Troops fast-roping from 6104 the next day – as the aircraft cannot y with the curved clamshell doors open they are often removed

01

07: From this angle as 6111 takes off the front and rear appliqué armour plates protecting crucial engine components are quite obvious

06

MIL M-17-1V HIP POLISH ARMY MULTI-MISSION HELICOPTER 02

07

03 consecutive days in Wedrzyn during a demo and then being used for fastrope 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.

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 35

aviation focus

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

36 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

Images © Carl Schulze

COMBAT +SURVIVAL 38 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

GH&EK 40 BMM IRGRGENS 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]

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 39

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Report & Images by

special forces

BOB MORRISON

Images © Bob Morrison

01: A Polish Special Forces operator in the doorway of one of the Mil Mi-17 Hip helicopters used in the display at Drawsko Pomorskie at the end of ANAKONDA ‘16

POLISH JWK & BROTHERS

COMMANDO SPECIAL FORCES GROUP

At the conclusion of the Combined Special p Operations p dynamic display which ich capped o ten days y of multinational training g on Exercise ANAKONDA ‘16, see Page 24 24, the participants gathered brieyfor briey for a team photo photo. C&S S was allowed to go forward and photograph this elite band of brothers, on the understanding that we would preserve their anonymity. As a result we are able to to bring readers some rather rare shots.

T

his year Poland’s Special Forces Command (Dowództwo Wojsk Specjalnych), which is the fourth branch of the

nation’s Armed Forces, celebrates ten years in existence. Its current structure includes ve distinct military units, or Jednostka Wojskowa, plus an Special Operations Aviation Squadron

(7 Eskadra Dziaaę Specjalnych). As far as we can determine, JW Agat would appear to be the Headquarters and Headquarters Group, JW Formoza, JW Grom and JW Komandosów are the

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 41

Images © Bob Morrison

special forces

“OPERATORS TEAMS OF SF/SO PERSONNEL FROM AMERICA, CROATIA, HUNGARY AND ROMANIA WERE ALSO INVOLVED.” 05

03

04 three Sabre Groups, and JW Nil is the Command Support & Security Group. It was JW Komandosów, the battalion-strength Commando Special Forces Group home-based in Lubliniec, who provided the nucleus of the multinational Special Operation Task Unit (SOTU) for the dynamic

42 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

demonstration covered on pages 24 to 29 of this issue, and we are pretty condent that 7 SOAS provided the Mil Mi-17 Hip and W-3PL Guszec helicopters (see pages 32-35). Although not immediately visually obvious from our camera location, about 150 metres from the closest of the action, in addition to JW Komandosów operators

teams of SF/SO personnel from America, Croatia, Hungary and Romania were also involved. According to ofcial documentation we were given after the demo, the mission of JW Komandosów is to: “secure and assist Polish citizens, regardless of their whereabouts and the circumstances

02

02: It was only when this SF team climbed out of the lead Mi-17 that we realised most operators were Croatian – the other is American 03: These Croatian Special Operations Command (OSRH Zapovjedništvo Specijalnih Snaga) operators wear M05 Digital Woodland camo – note sleeve patches 04: Five members of this SF team are Croatian in M05 camo, three are American in mostly MultiCam and the operator with back to camera is JWK in A-TACS 05: Croatian and American Special Forces brothers – close inspection shows the Green Beret wears MultiCam ACU rather than the new Scorpion W2 pattern 06: Other than possibly the sniper these are all Polish JWK operators despite the mix of MultiCam-derivative and A-TACS (left) camouage patterns 07: We believe this sniper team wearing British DPM ghillie suits was from Romania – US SF major wears the new Scorpion W2 horizontal camo pattern

06

08: Polish JWK assault team members arrive on one of their HILUX assault vehicles – note running boards, roof platform and bumper-mounted winch 09: See caption 10 on following page

09 07

08 COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 43

Images © Bob Morrison

12

special forces

13 10

11 they are under.” The unit is structured to undertake the full spectrum of military 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 oldest of Poland’s Special Operations formations, founded in 1961 around the core of a 6th Pomeranian Airborne Division recce company formed in 1957, JWK consists of a Headquarters, three Combat Teams (Zespo Bojowy), an Intelligence Cell and a Logistics Team. ZB Alpha, ZB Bravo and ZB Charlie all wear WWII legacy insignia to honour the traditions of either Polish Resistance formation or, in the case of ZB Bravo, No.10 (InterAllied) Commando whose No.6 Troop was formed mostly of Poles. All JWK operators also wear the bottle green Commando beret.

44 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

14 4

Although we reckon all JKW operators who took part were most likely members of JB Bravo, as we did not spot either Miota (ZB Alpha) or Parasol (ZB Charlie) insignia, it is notable that two different types of camouage uniforms were worn. The majority were clad in MultiCam pattern uniforms and equipment, or possibly from the Polish

copy fabric some call CamoGrom, but it was noticeable that what we think were the clandestine observation team who initiated the assault, were wearing the greener A-TACS pattern and soft hats with face veils. Once we were allowed up close forr a few minutes at the end of the display, ay,

09/10: Two views of a JWK operator from Combat Team (Zespo Bojowy) B wearing A-TACS camouage shirt and trousers produced by Currahee Sp. Ltd

15

11: JWK Combat Team B carries on the traditions of the WWII No.10 (Inter-Allied) 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 MultiCam the rest all wear A-TACS camouage

“ZB ALPHA, ZB BRAVO AND ZB CHARLIE ALL WEAR WWII LEGACY INSIGNIA TO HONOUR THE TRADITIONS OF POLISH RESISTANCE...”

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

just after the Mi-17 M Hip rotors had stopped turnin turning, we were able to many of the operators identify that m fast-roped down from who had fast-r the helicopters were actually members of act th the Croatian Special Forces. These guys F the slightly greener were wearing th four-colour M2005 Digital Woodland Kit & Camo for Pattern (see April 2016 2 more on this) but thei their load carriage vests mostly, though not and pouches were mo M-2005 Desert exclusively, in three-colour three-co Pattern. They mostly sported national

16

tricolour, Croatian Republic and Special Forces winged dagger patches. Also on the two helicopters were a few US Army Green Berets, who were most likely from the forward-deployed 10th Special Forces Group based in Germany. This detachment also had a pair of Polaris MRZR-2 Light Tactical All-Terrain Vehicles, and four operators used these to provide re support to two of the mixed teams who assaulted the enemy complex. The Americans seemed to be wearing mostly MultiCam pattern uniforms, and several wore the SF badge of a sword with three lightning ashes plus Special Forces qualication shoulder tabs.

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 45

17

special forces

Images © Bob Morrison

“JWK IS CAPABLE OF CONDUCTING SUCH MISSIONS EITHER ON THEIR OWN OR AS PART OF NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGNS.”

Two operators who at rst confused me were the sniper team, clad in what appeared to be British DPM ghillie suits. As this pair materialised for the team photo and then quickly vanished without saying anything I could not ask their identity, but as Romania was the only one of nine nations

based at Drawsko Pomorskie during ANAKONDA 16 who use this camo pattern I suspect the team might be from 610 ‘Vultures’ Special Operations Battalion. The last nationality participating in the demo was Hungary, and you can see one of their operators in detail on pages 48-50.

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17: Combat Team B operators ride off on their Toyota HILUX – understandably camerashy, after just eight minutes all the SF teams departed 18: One of the two US Special Forces MRZR-2 LTATVs races off behind the JWK HILUX pair – one of the Americans conrmed this was a 4x2 variant 19: The operator on the right talking to a US Army Green Beret is member of the Hungarian SOTU – see Kit & Camo on Page 48 of this issue

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kit + camo

HUNGARIAN

SPEC OPS 34 ‘BERCSÉNYI’ BATTALION

48 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

Article & Images by

BOB MORRISON

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 49

kit + camo

Images Imag a es e © Bo B Bob b Mo Morrison orrrison o

Once the helicopters had landed and the dust had settled at the end of the Combined Special Operations air assault onto the aireld near Oleszno on the edge of Poland’s Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area it quickly became apparent that the fourth multiple, the one which assaulted the logistics compound supported by US Green Berets with MRZR-2 LTATVs, had primarily comprised Hungarian Special Forces operators.

F

ollowing a hastily arranged group photo the Hungarian operators moved off to be addressed by a brigadier from the Distinguished Visitors party and, afterwards, one of the team kindly agreed to allow us to photograph him for a Kit & Camo feature before they were whipped away. From his insignia it is obvious that he belongs to 34th Special Forces Battalion; some reference sources say Special Operations, but ofcial Hungarian Government documentation gives the unit’s full name in English as being Hungarian Defence Forces 34th ‘László Bercsényi Special Forces Battalion and its Hungarian

50 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

earned a fearsome reputation ghting the Red Army and was reformed as an elite airborne unit during the Cold War. Following the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, free elections in 1990 and the restoration of democracy, the Hungarian Defence Force started to realign with NATO and 34th Bercsényi Battalion began to evolve from a light infantry formation to take on Reconnaissance and Special Operations roles. As part of ISAF, Hungary Provideda Provincial Reconstruction Team from 2006 and in 2008 34th Bercsényi Battalion deployed to Southern Afghanistan. abbreviation as MH 34 BL KMZ (i.e. Különleges MĬveleti Zászlóalj).The combat uniform worn by the Hungarian SF was genuine MultiCam, mostly from Crye Precision’s own specialist range of garments; this was conrmed by the small manufacturer’s tags on the leading edge of the sleeve pockets. These days, even close up, it can be quite difcult to determine whether either genuine MultiCam fabric or one of the many copies is being worn, so it is worth checking for pocket tags even though some wearers cut these off. Hungary’s dedicated SF battalion in its current format is only around a decade old, but its roots go back to an elite World War Two parachute battalion which

The Hungarian SF troops on Exercise ANAKONDA wore some interesting insignia, in addition to their national tricolour shield which was spotted in both full colour and low visibility versions. Special Forces shoulder tabs, in either English or Hungarian (Különleges Erök) were worn by most and some also sported Airborne tabs. The battalion’s badge, consisting of a winged dagger with 34 above and Bercsényi below, was worn by several operators, as was a round HUN SOTU (Hungarian Special Operations Task Unit) patch with the mythical falcon-like Turul national symbol. Most operators also wore identication numbers preceded by a T.

Images © FN Herstal and Bob Morrison

firearms 02

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.

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here are many weapons which will be noted in military history as force multipliers on the battleeld. However, there are few remaining which saw combat in the late 18th Century and are still prevalent in the military arsenal today. Weapons systems come and go as the face of warfare changes, but the soldier-operated portable machine gun has been a major presence in all living memory battleelds and shows no signs of being pensioned off.

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When Richard J. Gatling created his rotary barrel multi-shot magazine-fed weapon it is unlikely he could have conceived that his invention would lead to the blisteringly effective World War II MG42 or the iconic US M60. In the 1870s the Gatling gun was truly a force multiplier. Operated by a hand-cranked lever, the weapon magazine fed .45 or .30 calibre rounds at 200 or 400rpm, crucially discharging at regular intervals allowing for intelligent aimed shot fall by a trained operator. In a world of single action revolvers and bolt action ries

the impact of the Gatling’s ‘wall of lead’ was signicant. The next major change would be the combined utilisation of recoil forces and an improved feed method to allow for greater sustained re capacity. The open battleelds of World War One necessitated such invention and saw the introduction of the Maxim and the Vickers belt feed machine guns. Similar technical creatures, deploying that latest technology on either side of the trenches, the Maxim and Vickers were

01

01: Company photo of the Short Barrel version of the Mk3 Minimi which is is arguably the pinnacle of LMG/ Support Weapon technology today [FN] 02: Elite British Pathnder covering colleagues on the drop zone with a 5.56mm Minimi on Ex. JOINT WARRIOR 13-1 in Scotland – note blank ring attachment [BM] 03: US infantryman range ring the M249 version of the Minimi on a range in Kuwait in August 2016 – 0f note is the sustained re role tripod [US Army: Sgt. Angela Lorden] 04: The current Mk3 Minimi family – Para, Standard and Tactical [FN]

Mk3 BY RICHARD BROWN

03 amongst the earliest belt feed weapons; i.e. stripping rie calibre rounds from a preloaded belt and using discharge recoil forces to automatically cycle the mechanism extremely fast. Both weapons were water-cooled to keep the barrels functional for longer and required only a two-man crew. With a range of out to 600 metres and a capability to re 10,000 rounds per hour they soon gained a fearsome reputation on both sides of the conict. During the inter-war period development accelerated, seeing weapons become more man-portable. World War Two was arguably the rst global conict where the use of the machine gun was an expectation and tactics were built around its deployment. In the UK the Bren became the stable LMG. A reliable box-fed weapon in .303 calibre, but with a weakness as it was fed by a small magazine which prevented truly sustained re. In the 1960s the Bren was replaced by the 7.62mm

belt feed GPMG, originally the Belgian FN MAG, which can still be seen in widespread use with UK Forces today. In the USA, we saw the development of the M1919 in .30 calibre. A hugely successful belt feed machine gun which saw service in WWII, Korea and Vietnam and was even retrotted in .303 calibre to re from Spitres and Lancasters during WWII. The M1919 would eventually be phased out by the US in favour of the M60 or ‘Pig’; a slow re 7.62mm NATO weapon which is still in common service. On the Axis side of WWII we saw the advent of the class-leading MG42. With quick barrel changes and gas assisted ejection the MG42’s 1200rpm earned it the American nickname of the ‘buzz-saw’ due to the distinctive report from its muzzle. Until the 1980s the MG42, GMPG and M60 in their later variants were the prolic LMGs in worldwide use. All that was required by the late 1970s was the creation of one modern

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02 COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 53

M firearms 02

“THE MINIMI MK3 HAS SET A NEW BENCHMARK FOR MACHINE GUNS. ITS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND RETROFITTABLE ENHANCEMENTS HAVE RESULTED IN A CLASS-LEADING WEAPON SYSTEM” modular platform which drew on all that had been learned about machine guns over the previous 100 years. That platform was created by FN Herstal and was called the Mini Mitrailleuse (Mini Machine gun) or MINIMI for short. The Minimi is a 5.56mm NATO belt fed LMG which was developed in the 1970s, but did not really see signicant service until the early 1980s. Today, it is the preeminent Light Machine Gun in service being deployed by over 70 countries in a variety of roles, from Squad Support

to Special Operations, and vehicle mounted for medium range suppressing re. The Minimi is fed from a compact box magazine which contains a belt of typically 200 rounds. It can also be fed from a STANAG M4 5.56mm 30-round magazine - a useful feature which takes its initiative from the Gatling and Bren. In the extreme situation that the belt is expended, or the belt feed mechanism is damaged, it is reasonable to assume that there may still be a ready supply

06

of 30-round magazines which can be deployed in the Minimi to allow for longer range utilisation of the standard 5.56mm NATO round. The weapon is equipped with an optional buffer system in the butt-stock which renders it virtually recoilless – a real asset when punching out well aimed suppressive burst to 700m or further. The weapon comes as standard with capable iron sights, congured from 300m to 1000m, and a full length upper Picatinny rail allows for the tting

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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

Images © FN Herstal and Bob Morrison

10

05: Right side view of Short Barrel variant of the Mk3 Tactical version [FN] 06: Member of 3 Para with 5.56mm Minimi on Ex. HERRICK EAGLE ‘06 prior to deployment to Helmand Province note 200-round box magazine [BM] 07: Classic Mk2 Para Minimi with bipod and butt extended [FN] 08: Mk2 Para Minimi with typical 100-round bag magazine [FN] 09: Front/left view of Short Barrel variant of the Mk3 Tactical version [FN] 10: French soldier with Minimi on Ex. BOAR’S HEAD ‘12 on Otterburn – note 100-round bag magazine, loose ammunition belt and modied cocking lever [BM]

The M Minimi is red from an open bolt and c cycled by a long-stroke piston system. The ejection is delayed to allow system cartridges to cool very slightly and hot ca free tthemselves from the chamber This is critical to ensure 100% wall. T reliable extraction. The weapon’s open reliab bolt ssystem minimises the risk of a cook-off in a super-hot barrel and an cook innovative system forces air into the innov chamber during ring to help cooling. cham Excess gases, which are vented from Exce weapon, are pushed in an upward the w direction to avoid disturbing the direc ground under the platform. This is an grou interesting feature as in the late 1800s inter Gatling operator teams soon found Gatl they became magnets for incoming re and early sniper operations. This is, and a continues to be, one of the primary threats to an LMG user as prim opposing forces attempt to nullify the force multiplying effect he brings. The Minimi is equipped with a twoposition gas valve – Adverse and Normal. As with modern assault ries like the SIG 516 or HK 416, the Adverse setting is used in extreme conditions such as the weapon being badly fouled by carbon or the mechanism is being hindered by poor environmental factors. It is also a useful setting when the quality of the ammunition is suspect and cycling benets from the extra gas push. Arguably the most prolic model is the US M249 SAW. This is the US military designation of the weapon accepted into service in the 1980s. This model has a different heat shield, ash hider, gas regulator and carry handle; all specications added to ensure that the weapon was selected. The M249 Para has a top mounted Picatinny rail and has the emergency magazine feed unit removed to save weight. US Special

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 55

firearms 02

11

12

Operations use a further adapted model designated the Mk46; this weapon has several features removed to again save weight, along with a railed handguard and a lightweight titanium bipod. (See MRZR images on pages 44 and 46, Ed.) There are two principle models of Minimi, the Standard and the Para, with 18.3” and 13.7” barrels respectively. As the name suggests the Para is smaller and lighter and was designed with airborne forces in mind. It has a shorter barrel and a rudimentary collapsible stock. A third

13 56 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

model with telescopic buttstock, the Tactical, was introduced as part of the latest Mk.3 family and either barrel length can be tted. In 2013 FN incorporated a number of specialist user requests into the standard weapon and released the denitive FN Minimi Mk3. This model consolidates 25+ years of Minimi operation into one cohesive platform which offers a real technical edge on the

competition. FN have nally developed a multicalibre platform which can be altered to re between 5.56mm NATO and 7.62mm NATO rounds. The Mk3 Tactical model has a completely redesigned buttstock which has ve positions

and an adjustable cheek plate. The new butt is almost AR platform in appearance which all adds to the familiarity of the user (who will most likely be an AR carrier).

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 redesigned to fully fold away into the forward grip area leaving the user with an ultimately more compact and ergonomic weapon. Smartly, FN have made most of the new features fully retrottable to existing Minimi platforms. Like Heckler & Koch with their MG4, FN have taken note of the increased use of the venerable 7.62mm x 51 round in current operations. The resurgence of 7.62mm LMGs brings us back full

Images © FN Herstal and Bob Morrison

MINIMIMk3

11: Front/right view of Short Barrel variant of the Mk3 Tactical version [FN]

12: British Army Mk2 Para Minimi seen in 2012 with SUSAT tted [BM] 13: New Mk3 folding bipod and railmounted forward handgrip [FN]

14: Rear/left view of Short Barrel variant of the Mk3 Tactical version [FN] 15: Optional heat shield tted to the latest Mk3 Minimi model [FN]

14 circle to the GPMG and M60 era and we shall explore the 7.62mm model of Minimi in the next issue of C&S.

15

The Minimi Mk3 has set a new benchmark for Machine Guns. Its advanced technology and retrottable enhancements have resulted in a

class-leading weapon system which should see service for at least the next 20 years. Where LMG technology will go beyond the Mk3 is hard to speculate, as the weapon is so capable. Good news for current users and those considering switching to the Minimi.

„ Richard Brown is an UK-based independent rearms consultant. He began his career in the Foreign Oce, serving overseas and in London, latterly in a specialist Counter-Proliferation role. After leaving HMG he worked for 10 years at Heckler & Koch and then SIG Sauer. Richard has a number of international small arms qualications and is an active instructor to overseas VIP clients. He is a member of International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors.

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 57

Article & Images by

BOB MORRISON

camo extra

Images © Bob Morrison Model: Victoria

01: This Hungarian People’s Army Border Guard combat jacket in M1949/82 camo, from the Communist era and no longer worn but still considered to be Hungary’s national camouage, was borrowed from The Camo Lounge – see the EW-trading. com website for more rare garments

M1949/82 PATTERN HUNGARY’S NATIONAL CAMO

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his month, in an extra Kit & Camo feature, we are looking at an interesting variation of a World War Two era camouage pattern which was revived post-war under the Communist regime and then updated in the latter stages of the Cold War. The examples we have focused on were loaned by the now permanent Camo Lounge run by East-West Trading.

Back in the middle years of the last decade, Andy and his team from Essex-based East-West Trading had a roped-o area in their sales marquee at the big summer shows like Military Odyssey where they would display rare and interesting uniforms to serious collectors and enthusiasts. Known as the Camo Lounge, this was an informal meeting place and a talking shop for all things kit and camo. COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 59

06

M1949/82 PATTERN

Images © Bob Morrison Model: Victoria

02

camo extra

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08 04

To set the scene: Just before WWII the Hungarian Army introduced a combination shelter half and poncho from reddish tan heavyweight cotton overprinted with hard-edged olive green and terracotta brown shapes to give a three-colour effect. This Hungarian M38 pattern is said by some to have been inspired by Italian M29 camo, but I remain to be convinced. A quite rare

60 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

wartime variation on this theme has softer ‘spattered’ edges, which h might indicate the material was sprayed rather than printed, and the colours are more subdued, but when the now Communist-controlled

Hungary created a new crea camouage ag pattern for shelter halves and a coveralls in 1949 this design was printed de with both spattered edges edg and the brighter colours of the original co M38. M Naturally this new N camo was designated ca M49 M4 pattern and it continued in use, co despite various other camo

05

09 02: Chest pocket zip - note the hard spattered edge to the terracotta brown shapes 03: Tab and button throat fastening over zip fastening at foot of zip is similar 04: Dark olive nylon panel over shoulders feels rubber-coated and is waterproof 05: This camo pattern is sometimes called Swirl - jacket back panel is in two halves 06: Sleeve cuffs are plain and slanted lower pockets can be used as hand-warmers 07: Határrség translates as Border Guard and Magyar Kztársaság is Hungarian Republic 08: Base fabric is reddish khaki - pockets behind zips are of rather crude sack type 09: The 4-section tent pole and pegs - issued one set per pair - comes in a matching pair 10: Epaulette tab on the shoulder is fastened with the standard grey press stud

14

10 patterns seeing limited service for combat uniform garments, until the introduction of another variant in 1982; this pattern, which saw service until the end of the millennium, is usually referred to as M1949/82. Both the combat jacket and shelter half featured on these pages are made from this later pattern, but as the latter has seen a fair bit of service it is both dirty and faded in comparison with the better treated jacket.

11: Grey pressed metal At this point it should be stud detail represents crossed ries surrounded emphasised that despite the by a wreath optical difference between both, 12: Though normally paired, a simple one-man shelter can be made by using a guy cord

11

close inspection shows that the actual colour shapes are 100% identical, though there are minor differences in the boldness of the edge spatter. Both garments are printed on a reddish khaki base fabric, the colour of which reminds me of the workshop coats craftsmen used to wear in the old days, over which the plain edged swirling olive green and spattered edge chocolate brown colours are printed.

plastic front zipper with weather bafe behind and long sleeves. There are simple tabs with grey pressed metal press studs at the top and bottom of the zip, there are simple epaulette straps with similar studs on each shoulder, a fth strap with stud is stowed under the collar for use when it is raised Mandarin-style and a separate (not illustrated) hood can be tted, using hook & loop tapes. The sleeve cuffs are plain.

Starting with the jacket, this is of simple shirt-like design with a full-length, single action,

This garment has four slanted pockets, two on the chest and two on the lower front, each

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13: Rear view when worn as a poncho - the camo print is faded but is identical to jacket 14: Buttoned up as a poncho - temperature was just above freezing hence SnugPak underneath

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 61

15

Images © Bob Morrison Model: Victoria

camo extra

15: Shelter half laid out at with one half folded over - outer face has just two colours overprinted

side fastened with a similar button. Two or more shelter halves can be buttoned together.

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16: There are four twobutton tabs on the inner back face - we have not found out their use 17: Tent pole eyelet, button and buttonhole pairing and single chest button when worn as poncho 18: Reinforced slit for arms seen from inside - it fastens with a single alloy button

fastened by a plastic zipper. On the upper left sleeve there is a sewn patch denoting the wearer belonged to the Border Guard. Internally, the jacket has a deep panel across the shoulder made from an olive green nylon fabric with what feels like a rubber treatment on one surface to keep water out. The shelter half, which can double as a poncho, is similar in concept to the zeltbahn shelter quarter that the Germans used through WWII, and the East Germans continued to use until the Iron Curtain fell at the end of the 1980s, when both halves of the country were reunited. The Hungarian version, which also originates from the WWII era, is larger than its Wermacht equivalent and has two slots for arms rather than one slot for the head. It’s purpose was to either keep the wearer dry on sentry

62 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

duty or, when linked to others, form a small tent. The roughly triangular shape actually has ve edges and forms a half tepee with a tent pole hole at the top. The two long ‘front’ sides, from the apex, measure approximately 1.4m, the rear edge touching the ground measures roughly the same and the two lower front edges are about 1.0m long. There are 18 alloy tent peg eyelets in pairs along the ground edges, seven bright alloy buttons with buttonholes alongside down the front edges, and a single intermediate position alloy button 500mm from the apex on one side with a corresponding buttonhole on the other. This last button can be fastened at the throat when the shelter half is being worn as a poncho and the arms can be slipped out through slits each

18

comfort & Survival

OUTDOOR GEAR BY MIKE GORMLEY

Images © Mike Gormley unless noted

01

velcro-secured storm ap is a good-sized 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. The lower arms of a jacket always get a hammering, especially if you spend time prone, so this is addressed on the SF jacket with tough reinforcement. The garment has a good stowaway hood simply rolled up it becomes part of the collar. It is wired and peaked and has a

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03

KEELA MK1 SF JACKET

A

s the designation suggests, this is Keela’s offering to the Special Forces community. Off the radar somewhat, Keela do a great deal for the armed forces and also listen to what they have to say. I have said before in these pages, if you want to stay dry... wear Keela. I have been using Keela kit for many years now, have sometimes been out in some pretty grim weather when using it, and can honestly say it has never let me down. These include a couple of quite notable outings. The SF Jacket comes

64 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

with a lot of features appropriate to the potential user. It is available in various camo pattern variants including this MultiCam-esque type. Importantly, this jacket has Keela’s System Dual Protection to enable a very good level of moisture control - both yours, on the way out - and ‘sky juice’ trying to get in. I will be concise here SDP works! Four good-sized patch pockets, with protected button closures, are on the front of the jacket, along with a small radio/phone pocket with pen keepers and incorporated rank strap. Inside the

04

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 working feet.

05 captive draw cord to pull it in for a good t and protection. There is a secondary adjustment at the back to adjust the volume. All-in-all a good hood. I think the nearest civvy variant to this in the Keela range is the Munro jacket, which I have worn a lot and always get out if heading for bad weather. My son, Bruce, has an older version of the SF, which I had for a while and passed on he has had this for ages and I know has used it on many mountain expeditions. So we can testify that, in our experience, these jackets work. NOTE: This jacket cannot be bought online from Keela and you will need to either telephone them or email sales@ to place an order.

01: THE KEELA MK1 SF JACKET IS A FULL SPEC, FEATURE-RICH GARMENT WELL-SUITED TO THE JOB 02: BOTH ARMS HAVE ANGLED POCKETS WITH SECURITY TAGS INSIDE AND REMOVABLE PATCHES FOR ID INSIGNIA 03: ALL THREE FRONT UPPER POCKETS ARE FEATURE RICH 04: ONE CHEST POCKET HAS AN ADDITIONAL COMPASS POCKET AND ALL HAVE FASTENINGS FOR SECURITY LANYARDS 05: THE HOOD IS WELL THOUGHT OUT WITH PLENTY OF ADJUSTMENT ALONG WITH WIRED PEAK - IT ROLLS INTO THE COLLAR WHEN NOT IN USE. 06: THERE ARE VENTILATION ZIPS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MK1 SF UNDER THE ARMS

The socks are designed to be Left and Right footed and have vents woven into them for added comfort. Coupled with a design to both protect your feet and offer them a warm and dry environment, you should be able to get on with the hard work with comfortable feet. I have worn these a good bit of late, both out on Dartmoor as well as around home and at work in various types of footwear.

10: MY KEELA EXPEDITION SOCKS HAVE HAD A FAIR BIT OF USE AND I FIND THEM TO BE VERY GOOD

07: THERE IS AN INNER MAP / DOCUMENT / PHONE POCKET BEHIND THE STORM FLAP 08: THE MK1 SF IS COMPATIBLE WITH LOAD CARRYING WITH ALL POCKETS STILL ACCESSIBLE 09: CUFFS ARE ADJUSTABLE - NOTE REINFORCEMENT OF LOWER ARM AND CUFF

06

11

KEELA MERINO L/S TOP

K 08

eela have joined in the move towards using Merino as a material for undergarments and socks. It is no secret I like Merino, for all the well documented reasons - especially when trekking or travelling and not always able to wash garments for extended periods.

The L/S Merino top has a quarter zip to give some ventilation and for ease of use. The zip is thoughtfully protected when fully up so does not annoy your throat. Flatlock seams and close t make for added comfort, especially if load carrying. Generally I am not such a fan of long sleeved base layers as I nd they restrict my arms, but in this case it is ne as it is a well-tting garment.

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11: THE KEELA MERINO L/S TOP IS A GOOD TO WEAR ITEM FOR THE ACTIVE USER

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 65

Images © Mike Gormley unless noted

10

Images © Mike Gormley unless noted

comfort & Survival

15 12

COLEMAN DIVIDE 250 AND 700 LED TORCHES

I

have made good use of these torches since I mentioned them in my heads-up in the issue which came out just before Christmas, and for good reason. Both are good to use and powerful in their own right. As may be obvious, the number designation denotes the power of the light in Lumens which is the rating all lights are now judged by to hopefully give the user a common base for comparison. Coleman have adopted a battery lock, or battery disconnect, facility into their light range. This is simply done

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by turning the torch head against the body until the red section shows. For me this seems to be a great idea. As I mentioned before, we have all, I am sure, had a torch turn on when packed in our bergen or daysack, and so when we get it out to use it the batteries are dead. Not good. This system averts this. It also prevents battery drain over long-term storage, which for a torch in Summer is common practice. I am sure in the past you have had to consign a torch to the bin because the battery has leaked and destroyed the terminals. As I see it, this should solve that issue.

The 250 is, of course, the smaller torch and has a rear push button to activate the light in high and low power modes. When on, you can use the button to ash codes as well. A good size for hand holding and stowing, so a great all-rounder torch, made from aluminium and sealed against water ingress. It is powered by two AA batteries. A signicant size increase takes us to the 700, which looks very similar. This one has a thumb press button on the torch body and also has the two power settings. For ash signals you have to use the battery disconnect, which is actually ne. Made in a similar way to the 250, it is also constructed of aluminium and sealed against water ingress. This model is powered by six AA batteries. These, very sensibly, all

load in the same way, so as to save getting it wrong in the dark. The Divide 700 is quite chunky, so you need to be both a serious torch user and require the added power this offers over the Divide 250 if you have to carry it far. Both torches have short wrist lanyards.

12: THE DIVIDE 700 SHOWING PRESS BUTTON, LANYARD AND LOCK 13: THE LARGER DIVIDE 700 HAS A GOOD BEAM AND IS ROBUST IN HARSH CONDITIONS 14: ALTHOUGH SMALL THE DIVIDE 250 PACKS A GOOD PUNCH FOR ITS SIZE 15: BOTH THE 250 AND 700 LED TORCHES TO COMPARE SIZE. 16: THE 700 HAS SIX AA BATTERIES - ALL FIT THE SAME WAY FOR EASE OF USE.

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22 17

MORAKNIL GARBERG MULTIMOUNT KNIFE

Y

ou get quite a kit of parts when you get one of these knives. As well as the expected belt holster, you also get a robust plastic secondary bracket which can be secured to many things such as MOLLE/PALS systems, or any hard surface (using screws/bolts) so the knife can be positioned ready to use on boats / vehicles / buildings and so on. This is a robust knife and clearly made to be used in many different environments. The knife design is based around a full tang, for good strength throughout, and so gives the user a small hammer on the handle end. The blade is over 3mm thick and is ground for easy sharpening and

to enable the use of a re striker on the back of the blade. This knife sits well in the hand and has a tough plastic handle with a hole for lanyard attachment. It is designed and made in Sweden, a country renowned for ne hunting knives, which must give it good credibility.

17: THE MORAKNIL GARBERG KNIFE HAS A CLIP-POINT 18: THE MAIN ITEMS IN THIS KNIFE KIT FROM MORAKNIL FIXING BRACKET, KNIFE AND SHEATH WITH BELT LOOP 19: YOU GET QUITE A LOT IN THE BOX WHEN YOU BUY ONE OF THESE KNIVES 20: THE TOP OF THE TANG PROTRUDES FROM THE HANDLE WHICH MAKES A USEFUL HAMMER TOOL 21: THE SWEDISH GROUND BLADE IS STAINLESS STEEL

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STORM NON-SCRATCH CLEANER SPONGE

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K cleaner company Storm now has a special non-scratch cleaner sponge for grubby outdoor kit. I have been using it to brush up both day shoes and very grubby boots and, along with the Storm footwear cleaner liquid, this works very well. The sponge is double-sided, with a nonscratch abrasive side for stubborn dirt and a soft sponge side to apply cleaner and wipe off residue. It works well and is so much better than a rag or plain sponge - it works great in conjunction with a scrubbing brush for really dirty footwear.

22: THE NON-SCRATCH CLEANER SPONGE WORKS WELL ON DAY SHOES AS WELL AS BOOTS 23: A BEFORE SHOT OF SOME PRETTY GRUBBY ZAMBERLAN BOOTS 24: THE SAME BOOTS AFTER A GOOD CLEAN WITH STORM PRODUCTS 25: THE STORM NON-SCRATCH CLEANER SPONGE AND FOOTWEAR CLEANER COMBINATION

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20 PRODUCT Coleman Keela Moraknil Storm

UK CONTACT Coleman Keela Moraknil Storm

TELEPHONE 01275 845 024 01592 777 000 +46 250 595 000 01773 521 309

21 WEB coleman.eu/uk keela.co.uk morakniv.se stormcare.co.uk

25 COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 67

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footwear

ABOVE & BEYOND

Images © Bob Morrison

LOWA INNOX GTX MID

In the main, I undertake our initial boot reviews by wearing them, straight out the box and without gently breaking in, for a few weeks of constant testing before passing them on to either our facilitator, ‘Sniper John’, or occasionally his signaller son, nicknamed ‘Little John’ to preserve his anonymity, who will then beast them long term and report back on any issues. However, these days combat boot quality is so good that our tester team seldom encounter real problems out in the eld.

A

s a result of the long term evaluation process by the UK MoD procurement machine to nd suitable candidates for the next ve year UK Forces combat boot contract, many footwear manufacturers were reluctant to publicise the models they were proposing in case they

70 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

By BOB MORRISON

accidentally broke competition guidelines. As an independent publication C&S could have just ignored the public servants and done our own thing, but as we would not like to either hurt our friends in the industry or unduly sway what is supposed to be a fair evaluation process, we voluntarily took a back seat for a year. One of the advantages of our sabbatical was that I had

the chance to run one pair of lightweight boots not in the MoD competition, the LOWA INNOX GTX MID model, pretty much into the ground over an extended period. We received these boots for review in midAugust 2015 and over the next twelve months, until the AKU PILGRIM HL GTX boots in MoD Brown were delivered for review, the INNOX boots stayed on my feet almost every day from before dawn to bedtime.

The lead image shows the condition of the INNOX GTX MID boots today and underneath how they looked when nearly new 17 months before - the shot overleaf was taken in Petra at around 35C

During this extended test period I took these LOWA boots on every assignment including, among others; SOUTHWEST WADER, on the Cornish Coast; TRIDENT JUNCTURE, held on Spain’s Chinchilla and San Gregorio training areas and the beach at Tróia in Portugal; TRACTABLE and GRIFFIN STRIKE, on Salisbury Plain; SHAMAL STORM, WARRIOR COMPETITION and

SOFEX, in Jordan, with a weekend in Petra in between the last two on my second visit; and ANAKONDA, visiting four different Polish training areas over two weeks. Not content with that, I also wore these boots on Dartmoor and on many beach walks in Devon during my down time, in conditions ranging from deep snow to peat bog to sun-baked dunes to wet shingle and even now, 17 months down the line, I still wear them with jeans when down my local or on CAMRA ale survey trips. I think it is safe to say, even though I have reduced the sole tread to next

to nothing by pounding all imaginable surfaces and worn the heels down by driving thousands of miles, I still love these boots. If you did not read our original review, which history shows pretty much hit the nail on the head, you can do so in the Footwear section of the CombatAndSurvival.com website. These unassuming mid-height new generation Gore-Tex Performance Comfort breathable waterproof membrane boots really have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 71

TRIDENT security industry

DO WE NEED IT?

T

he UK Government is currently under a spotlight as there was a misre of a Trident missile in June 2016 that occurred during a routine test, four weeks before Parliament voted to spend almost £40 billion on the renewal of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. When questioned by journalists the Prime Minister, Teresa May, deected the question as to whether she had known about the incident and had purposely failed to mention it to Parliament before the vote.

The Scottish Nationalist Party are now demanding “full disclosure” on what occurred and with both Nicola Sturgeon and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wishing to politically use the incident as an excuse to damage the UK’s military capability by withdrawing the nation’s independent nuclear deterrent, this is a serious threat to our future national security. So why do naive politicians wish to rid the UK of its nuclear umbrella when faced with an uncertain future threat environment?

Image © Bob Morrison: Military Scene

The Trident renewal programme was always going to be controversial as the cost is estimated at £31 billion, which includes the state of the art submarines used as the launch platform. This is a huge cost when conventional military forces are facing cuts, but if we didn’t spend the money on Trident we couldn’t trust a Labour government to spend the money on conventional forces anyway as Mr Corbyn isn’t a fan of any military force. There is also the argument that such a costly system might not be used and is therefore a waste of money, but the deterrent has to be capable (which comes at a cost) of being credible to therefore be a deterrent in the rst place. If you think not using it is expensive, try the cost of cleaning up your country if it’s been attacked by either another state’s nuclear weapons or a terrorist group using a chemical, biological or radiological IED because you couldn’t deter them from doing so.

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Those that claim that we shouldn’t have nuclear weapons on ethical grounds and that the resulting humanitarian catastrophe means we shouldn’t use them even in extreme circumstances (in fact Mr Corbyn has stated he could never push the nuclear button) would rather just hand over our country and its population to any totalitarian aggressor that wanted to force its will on us and deny us our independence and democracy. Since Polaris (the predecessor of Trident) was brought into service there has always been one of four Royal Navy missile submarines on patrol at sea, ready to respond to any nuclear attack on the UK. The reason for using a submarine as a launch platform is that they are harder for our enemies to detect, and therefore neutralise, than other forms of nuclear delivery systems such as aircraft or slow ying cruise missiles. The Trident missiles also have a longer range than other delivery methods and are not easy to target in a rst strike, unlike groundbased missile silos so, even if our enemies managed to negate our known forces in an unexpected rst strike, we would still have the ability to strike back with a highly destructive effect. This is the principle of Mutually Assured Destruction that might deter a hostile state from attacking us in the rst place. Since it is generally understood that future conicts will be fought as part of a joint, inter-agency and multinational force, one could argue that we don’t need an independent nuclear force as we have allies such as the USA that could protect us with theirs. However, an independent force is always seen as more unpredictable and

“WHY DO NAIVE POLITICIANS WISH TO RID THE UK OF ITS NUCLEAR UMBRELLA WHEN FACED WITH AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE THREAT ENVIRONMENT?” is therefore more of a deterrence factor. Another argument is that nuclear weapons aren’t as relevant as a response to some forms of conict, and that argument does have merit but, just as the IED is the weapon system of choice for forces seeking to offset the advantage of strong enemy conventional forces, so is the threat of nuclear weapons against an adversary with huge numbers of conventional weapons systems and a closing technological gap. For example, due to their successful espionage efforts, both China and Russia have their own stealth aircraft programmes and can build larger numbers of these than the UK can purchase. Certain states and terrorists may not have a nuclear capability at the present and therefore the use of nuclear weapons might not be seen as relevant, but there is nothing to say that they won’t acquire them in the future. They can be an unpredictable threat, just look at North Korea. The UK should keep its nuclear deterrent. As former Chancellor George Osborne said: “The new unilateralists of British politics are a threat to our future national security. In a world that’s getting more dangerous it would be disastrous for Britain to throw away the ultimate insurance policy that keeps us free and safe.” By Robert Shaw

ROBERT SHAW of LONGBOW SOLUTIONS is a former British Army ATO and IEDD/WIS Operator who is now a security and intelligence trainer and consultant.

Image © Carl Schulze

next issue April '17 Issue On Sale 09th Mar

COMBAT +SURVIVAL coming up in c&s

N

ext month: Carl Schulze will provide our primary focus by reporting on the role and composition of 11e Brigade Parachutiste, France’s elite Airborne Forces, and Bob Morrison will concentrate on a number of Finnish Defence Force subjects ranging from camouage to armoured vehicles. On the rearms side, Richard Brown will continue on the Minimi theme with a look at the latest 7.62mm Mk3 version which, coincidentally, units from 11e Brigade Parachutiste deployed operationally in Afghanistan. Plus: Product Reviews, Rations, Kit & Camo etc. Contents may change subject to operational developments!

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