Combat & Survival 2017-05

May 2017 Vol 29 Issue 02

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PULLOUT POSTER SA80A2 IN ACTION

BRITISH FORCES

LIGHT DRAGOONS A SQUADRON, ACMT, WATHGILL RANGES

QUEEN’S ROYAL HUSSARS

ARMOUR FOCUS

THALES BUSHMASTER

FOOTWEAR FOOT WEAR

MAGNUM’S NEW OPUS ASSAULT TACTICAL

FOREIGN FORCES

UAE ‘17 IDEX DEMO

COMBINED

URBAN OPS 1PWRR & EESTI SCOUTS

Volume 29 Issue 02 £4.25

ALLIANCE FORCES

COMBATANDSURVIVAL.COM

HO HONING THE EDGE ON BER BERGEN-HOHNE

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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

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PAGE 09: British Forces 1 - LIGHT DRAGOONS

Bob Morrison reports from Yorkshire as A Squadron undertakes their combat marksmanship tests

PAGE 17: British Forces 2 - QUEEN’S ROYAL HUSSARS

Carl Schulze reports from Germany as Challenger 2 tank crews live-ɯre on Bergen-Hohne ranges

PAGE 24: Alliance Forces - URBAN OPERATIONS

Carl Schulze reports on British and Estonian troops urban training side by side on Sennelager

PAGE 31: Armour Focus - THALES BUSHMASTER

Gordon Arthur reports from Down Under on Australia’s operationally proven homegrown 4x4 PMV

PAGE 38: Pull-out Poster - SA80A2

It is not often that one sees anyone other than the British ɯring this bullpup assault riɰe in battle

PAGE 48: Kit & Camo LIGHT DRAGOON

Bob Morrison photographs an NCO we w wearing ear arin ng new VIRTUS kit on Wathgill ɯring ranges ges s

PAGE 53: Foreign Forces IDEX 2017 Bob Morrison photographs the opening dynamic display in Abu Dhabi as the enemy attacks

PAGE 60: Special Operations ns FTHS BUMP HELMET Bob Morrison spots and photographs hs s Revision’s new scalable bump helmet ett for SpecOps Forces

PAGE 64: Outdoor Gear TRIED & TESTED

[Cover Image : © Carl Schulze]

Mike Gormley ɯeld trials Salopettes, rechargeable head torch, ɰexible battery, ter ery, y ns boots, gaiters and freeze-dried rations

PAGE 70: Footwear MAGNUM OPUS

Bob Morrison photographs the brand dn new ew w OPUS Assault Tactical boot with BOA OA A closure clo osu sure sure e system

PAGE 05: Comms PAGE 41 & 72: Reviews PAGE 68: 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, Hudders´eld, 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 permitted whatsoever reprod rep rod od duct uc ion on n iss p without prior consent in writing. w wit hou out ut p rio rior or c o IMPORTANT: All IMPORT IMP M ORT ORTANT AN : A ANT Al individual combat and personal per rson sonal all survival a surrviv va activities involve risk oneself of injury in ury to ones inj o on nes and others and great care must c ca car em ust st be be ta ttaken k carrying out any such activities. Expert guidance should suc ch acti a cti t vit itties ess. E sought and equipment checked be sou ught htt an nd e for reliability o re relia lia abil bi ity ty y before any activities described here in are carried out. d cri des cribed bed ed h The cannot accept any h publishers publi pu blils responsibility for any injury, death, respon res pon o sib ib b loss which may result. loss or or damage da ARTICLES AND PHOTOGRAPHS ART A RTICL C CL will w l be wil be welcomed and considered for Submission fo publication. pu off such suc c shall be considered a warranty that they are wa original and do not infringe or g ori on the t copyright of others. Unsuitable material can only U Un be e returned if you include a S.A.E. Loss or damage is S not n the responsibility of COMBAT & SURVIVAL. C DISCLAIMER: The D publishers make no pu pu representations, endorsements, rep pre re guarantees or warranties gu gua uara ra ra concerning the products and/ c ce con c services advertised within orr sser o err this magazine. We expressly thi hsm disclaim d dis scla cla any and all liability rrelating rel atti ati atin t n to or arising from the sale, manufacture, distribution, sa ssal a e, e m misuse of such. use se e or o m

COMBAT CO C OMB MB & SURVIVAL | 03

comms

Comms I n this column last month I stated that C&S would do its level best to cover both the UK contribution to the NATO eFP (enhanced Forward Presence) operation and the UK Forces units leading NATO’s VJTF (Very High Readiness Task Force) during 2017. This is not easy for us to do, as we are not one of the many UK Governmentfunded military / defence magazines and our budget is consequently very small indeed, but as Senior Contributor Carl Schulze and myself are not exactly ‘Monday-to-Friday / Nine-to-Five’ types and we do our job because, quite simply, we love it and enjoy working with troops and armies, we muddle through. Consequently, in this issue we have features on: A Squadron of the Light Dragoons, who have now deployed to Orzysz in Poland close to the Kaliningrad and Belarus border regions to enhance the NATO Alliance’s Forward Presence in the Baltic Region; The Queen’s Royal Hussars who, in addition to being on readiness with the VJTF, have deployed a Troop of tanks under French control as part

of the British-led eFP deployment to Estonia; and Soldiers from 1 PWRR, also on VJTF standby, training alongside Estonia’s Eesti Scouts in combined urban operation drills on the Sennelager training area in Germany. We also have photographs, supplied by the US DoD, of A Squadron of the Light Dragoons on the recent VALEX (validation exercise) with the US Second Calvary in Bavaria, under whose command they will operate in Poland. As we go to press with this issue, the 5 RIFLES battlegroup has just arrived in Estonia on the Operation CABRIT eFP deployment and A Squadron LD has just set off on their 1,000km route march from the 2CR base in Vilseck in Germany to their new eFP forward base near Orzysz. As older readers may remember, from 1960 through to 2002, NATO’s vulnerable µanks were protected by a similar multinational quick reaction formation known as ACE (as in Allied Command Europe) Mobile Force [Land] or AMF[L]. The recently formed four battalion eFP force in neighbouring Baltic

21st March: British soldiers from the Light Dragoons in Bavaria prepare a Supacat COYOTE HMT to be deployed to Poland [NATO image]

Light Dragoons in Bavaria mount their steeds for the 1000km route march to Orzysz [US Army: Spc. Emily Houdershieldt] nations is intended to present a similar multinational deterrent to any attempt at further Russian expansionism. The old AMF[L] unof´cial motto was: Count The Flags, Not the Barrels. This motto also rather succinctly sums up the eFP message: Any attack on one NATO nation would be considered an attack on them ALL. Count the µags of those nations now deployed to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to see the One For All And All For One principle in action. The C&S team will attempt to provide readers with more eFP and VJTF coverage in future issues. BM

A British Challenger 2 MBT arriving in Estonia on eFP deployment [© Estonian Defence Ministry]

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 05

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01: A Light Dragoon Àring from the kneeling supported position - as reconnaissance troops the regiment often operates forward of the infantry

british forces

LIGHT DRAGOONS A SQUADRON, ACMT, WATHGILL RANGES

Report & Images by

Images © Bob Morrison

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BOB MORRISON

In late January, Headquarters 4th Infantry Brigade, the new Adaptable Force formation based in Yorkshire, arranged for C&S to visit the Light Dragoons in training. Unfortunately, the peak of A ‘The Empire’ Squadron’s training cycle coincided with both IDEX in Abu Dhabi and VJTF training on Sennelager so neither Carl nor myself were able to cover it, but I did manage a quick range visit the week before.

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he Light Dragoons, nicknamed England’s Northern Cavalry, undertake the role of Light Cavalry and are part of the Adaptive Force under the ARMY 2020 restructuring. The Regiment originated

as light cavalrymen mounted on fast horses, allowing them to move quickly across the battle´eld, but today they are mounted on agile 4x4 JACKAL 2 High Mobility Weapons Platforms, logistically supported by the 6x6 COYOTE variant.

When we visited A Squadron in February they, along with supporting personnel such as medics and gunners, were undertaking their Annual Combat Marksmanship Test (ACMT) in North Yorkshire and this trip to Wathgill Ranges gave us our ´rst opportunity to

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 09

British forces

“THE MAJORITY OF PERSONNEL WE SAW ON WATHGILL RANGES WERE USING THE ELCAN SPECTEROS X4 SIGHT, FITTED WITH A SHIELD CQB ATOP”

Images © Bob Morrison

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work with a unit live ´ring while wearing the latest VIRTUS Load Carriage & Integrated Personal Protection System (see page 48). Delivered in late 2015 and issued from early 2016 to troops in the Committed/Contingency Year of the 36-month A-FORM cycle, the VIRTUS system is intended to lighten the load for the dismounted soldier without reducing protection levels. First, however, let’s take a brief look at the history of The Light Dragoons (LD) whose role and equipment are geared to ensuring they are able to deploy anywhere in the world at very

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short notice to provide a highly mobile light reconnaissance formation giving battlegroup and brigade commanders eyes and ears on the ground. Originally, each British Cavalry Regiment had one lightly equipped Troop mounted on very

fast horses, but around the middle of the 18th Century larger regiments consisting only of light cavalry began to be formed with 15th Light Dragoons being the ´rst; throughout the remainder of the century and the next one Light Dragoons were

02: Before commencing the Practices each cavalryman zeroed their riÁe - note adjustment tool on ground 03: The squatting position is a useful alternative to the kneeling position and can be adopted more quickly 04: The prone, i.e. lying, position both provides the most stable platform and reduces a soldier’s silhouette

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05: The standing position, especially when unsupported, is the least stable and gives maximum silhouette 06: The ACMT also requires the soldier to engage targets from a Àxed depth prepared trench position 07: Another Practice requires the Àrers to start from Àve metres behind the Àring point then advance 08: During the advance the target is only exposed for a few seconds but rushing can affect the aim

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09: Like infantrymen, cavalrymen usually undertake ACMT wearing Assault Order With Torso Protection

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10: Having advanced to the Àring point the soldier drops to kneeling or squatting position to engage target

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British forces

“SHOOTERS HAVE TO ENGAGE BOTH GALLERY AND MOVING TARGETS AT SPECIFIED DISTANCES AS WELL AS ENGAGING MOVING TARGETS AND SHOOTING IN PAIRS.” at the forefront of every major British military operation, but by late World War One the tank was taking over from the horse.

Images © Bob Morrison

After every major war there is an inevitable drawdown and WWI was no different, with many cavalry regiments of Dragoons and Hussars being amalgamated in 1922 to reduce personnel numbers and equipment. Seventy years later, after the fall of the Iron Curtain, in 1992 the amalgamated 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary’s Own) and the 15th/19th King’s Royal Hussars were further amalgamated and the new regiment was formed in Germany as The Light Dragoons. Currently the Light Dragoons are in their Committed/Contingency Year of the 36-month training cycle and, as those who keep a close eye on combatandsurvival.com will know, last November the Prime Minister announced they would be committed to NATO’s eFP (enhanced Forward Presence) operations in Poland. British

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Army soldiers, and Royal Marines and RAF Regiment troopers too, have to undertake an Annual Combat Marksmanship Test (ACMT) to ensure the skills they learned in basic training have not gone rusty, so prior to deploying, all A Squadron LD personnel spent time on the ranges achieving their annual quali´cation. Technically, the requirements of the ACMT are classi´ed so we cannot delve into too much detail on these pages, save to say that they involve a series of Practices on different types of ranges where the shooters have to engage both gallery and moving targets at speci´ed distances as well as engaging moving targets and shooting in pairs. Everything you see on these pages, with the exception of zeroing of weapons, formed part of the initial Practices undertaken on 100, 200 and 300 metre Firing Points on a standard British Army 600-metre Gallery Range. The weapon used by all Light Dragoons, plus RAMC and RA supporting

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11: ACMT is usually carried out on a 600metre Gallery Range with pop-up targets which drop when hit 12: A timber post is dropped into a socket at the Àring point to provide support when standing or kneeling 13: Loading an EMAG with 30 rounds soldier is wearing a VIRTUS load vest giving torso protection 14: The standard Assault Order load is four 30-round magazines but experienced troops often carry six

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15: During zeroing an NCO checks fall of shot using a SpecterOS - note detail of soldier’s VIRTUS vest 16: In the prone position the VIRTUS Revision COBRA+ helmet is said to be better than its predecessor 17: All troops used the SA80A2 - cavalrymen used SpecterOS sights but medics used SUSAT as here

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18: A Squadron of the Light Dragoons is historically nicknamed ‘The Empire’ - this is the squadron T-shirt

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18 fore-end and a downgrip / bipod.

personnel, during the ACMT was the standard issue L85A2 / SA80A2 5.56mm assault riµe ´tted with the 30round MAGPUL polymer EMAG (Export MAGazine). The majority of personnel we saw on Wathgill Ranges were using

the Elcan SpecterOS x4 sight, ´tted with a Shield CQB (Close Quarters Battlesight) atop, but the medics used the older SUSAT optical sight, and all weapons were ´tted with the modular aluminium MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail

Towards the end of the last decade the ACMT (Annual Combat Marksmanship Test) replaced the old APWT (Army Personal Weapons Test) and today Regular Army soldiers usually ´rst undertake the test in Week 11 of their 14-week CMS (Common Military

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 13

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British forces 19

19: RAMC medics undertook their ACMT without Torso Protection - note the VIRTUS chassis belt yoke 20: Front view of VIRTUS torso protection vest and chassis belt - see Kit & Camo on page 48 for more 21: Having successfully completed range Practices Light Dragoons and attached troops head off for the next challenge

a number of set Practices against electronically controlled pop-up falling targets programmed to expose for just a few seconds (see video clip on the combatandsurvival.com website) with a predetermined number of rounds in their magazine. Syllabus) basic training period then, as the name suggests, most normally retest every twelve months or so. Why a marksmanship test for ordinary soldiers? Despite what many armchair generals say about Britain’s SA80A2 assault riµe, the simple fact is that the version of the weapon used since around the start of this century is so accurate that almost every trained soldier can achieve marksman standard of accuracy with

the weapon which troops in some other major armies can only dream about. Without going into detail, the groups of soldiers from A Squadron who we followed through the ´rst few ACMT Practices started off by zeroing their weapons on the 100-metre ´ring points of Six November Alpha or Six November Bravo ranges. The troops, mostly in serials of around eight, then undertook

Shooting positions varied between standing, kneeling, sitting and prone, at times making use of prepared trenches, and both supported and unsupported stances were speci´ed. In this opening stage of the ACMT, a process which took place on different ranges on different days, distance from target increased from 100 to 300 metres. Results we witnessed were very impressive.

Images © Bob Morrison

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“BRITAIN’S SA80A2 ASSAULT RIFLE...IS SO ACCURATE THAT ALMOST EVERY TRAINED SOLDIER CAN ACHIEVE MARKSMAN STANDARD.” 14 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

Report & Images by

british forces

CARL SCHULZE

01: The cap badge of the Queen’s Royal Hussars combines an Angel Harp originating from the 8th Hussars and the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars with the regimental cypher of the Queen’s Own Hussars

HONING THE EDGE The Queen’s Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish) are the armoured regiment of the Germany-based 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade. This year (2017) is the brigade’s Contingency / Committed Year under the Formation Operational Readiness Mechanism (FORM) and as such the brigade took over the lead of the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (Land) or VJTF(L), on 1st of January 2017.

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n addition to leading the land component of the enhanced NATO Response Force (eNRF), from April 2017 onwards the brigade will also provide the bulk of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Multinational Battalion

in Estonia. For both formations, the QRH are providing an armoured component equipped with Challenger 2 main battle tanks. In late February/early March C&S visited the armoured regiment on the Bergen-Hohne Training Area, where its squadrons conducted live ´re training.

28th February 2017, Range 7B, Bergen Hohne Training Area: With their engines idling the four Challenger 2 main battle tanks of C ‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s’ Squadron, The Queen’s Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish) stand at the base end of

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Images © Carl Schulze

QUEEN’S ROYAL HUSSARS ON BERGEN-HOHNE

British forces

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Images © Carl Schulze

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the lanes leading down the range. The turrets of the tanks are turning slightly left and right, as are the commander’s panoramic sights on top, indicating that the gunners and vehicle commanders are carefully monitoring the arc of the range their MBT was assigned, by their Troop Leader, for any sign of enemy activity. Suddenly, a couple of black objects pop up some 1,000 metres away, portraying enemy armoured infantry ´ghting vehicles. It takes the crews in

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the tanks only seconds, then the 120mm L30A1 riµed tank guns of the vehicles are loaded with 120mm Tank L32A6 Practice Squash Head ammunition and are laid onto the targets. In the meantime the Troop Leader has given the order to engage the enemy. Almost immediately bright µashes light up the grey winter’s day, followed by a succession of amazingly loud bangs. The ´rst series of µashes and bangs is followed by a second and third. One by one the targets disappear, hit one after

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the other by the 120mm Tk L32A6 SH PRAC projectiles. But the engagement is not yet over and now groups of infantry targets show up about 300 metres distant. Coordinated again by the Troop Leader, via radio, the tank crews react right away, engaging targets with the coaxial 7.62mm L94A1 Chain Guns of their MBTs. Streams of red tracers can be seen going down range. The Challenger 2 tanks now begin to advance down the range at high speed. They have just moved out of

“WITH THE TANKS STILL ON THE MOVE, THE TARGETS ARE ENGAGED WITH HIGH PRECISION BY THE GUNNERS, UTILISING THE FULL CAPABILITIES OF THE MBT’S STABILISATION AND FIRE CONTROL SYSTEMS.”

02: A tank troop of C ‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s’ Squadron, The Queen’s Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish) moves out of its staging area for a live Àre battle run

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03: The trade mark of D Squadron is the Black Pig’ which, as a logo, is proudly displayed on the Challenger 2 MBTs of the squadron 04: In 2016 C Squadron won most of the internal regimental competitions which entitles it to bear the name The Duke of Edinburgh’s’ Squadron in 2017 after their Colonel in Chief and to wear this special version of the Regimental Tactical Recognition Flash 05: An L18A1 Discarding Sabot Practice charge is handed down into the turret of a Challenger 2 - up to 49 projectiles and charges for the 120mm gun can be stored in the MBT 06: Boresighting – a tank crew member checks the alignment of the Gunner Auxiliary Sight with the 120mm L30A1 riÁed tank gun 07: The armament of the Challenger 2 MBT includes a 55-calibre 120mm L30A1 riÁed tank gun, a coaxial 7.62mm L94A1 Chain Gun and a loader’s hatch 7.62mm L7A2 GPMG

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08: Tankers routine - After a live Àre exercise crew members of a Challenger 2 of C Squadron clean the barrel of the 120mm L30A1 riÁed tank gun of their MBT 09: The Challenger 2 MBT is the main weapon system of the armoured regiments of the British Army. It has a combat weight of 63,000kg, including ammunition, fuel and crew personal kit

their original positions when another group of targets appear; this time they portray enemy tanks. Again the MBT crews react quickly. With the tanks still on the move, the targets are engaged with high precision by the gunners, utilising the full capabilities of the MBT’s stabilisation and ´re control systems. This time 120mm L29A1 Discarding Sabot Practice projectiles are ´red from the 120mm L30A1 riµed tank guns, the ammunition of choice for this type of target.

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These three engagements are just the beginning of a longer live ´re battle run that serves to test and demonstrate the tank troops’ ´re and control capabilities.

REFINING SKILLS

February and March 2017 saw The Queen’s Royal Hussars deploying for a three week period to the ranges of the Bergen Hohne Training Area. The main

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aim of the deployment was to put the tank crews of the regiments through their Annual Crew Test, as well as to conduct live ´re training up to Troop level in order to allow the tankers to keep their edge. During the live ´re period the crews of C ‘The Duke of Edinburgh’s’ Squadron, The Queen’s Royal Hussars alone ´red about 1,650 120mm Tank L32A6 Practice Squash Head and 120mm L29A1 Discarding Sabot Practice projectiles as well as 42,000 cartridges of 7.62mm machine gun ammunition. Similar amounts of

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10: A Challenger 2 of C Squadron is bombed up by its crew - 120mm L29A1 Discarding Sabot Practice projectiles are being handed down to the loader in the turret

British forces

11: 120mm Tank HESH Practice L3A2 Charges are handed down into the turret while a Challenger 2 is bombed up with ammunition for the next live Àre session 12: Range routine - prior to a live Àre session projectiles and charges are unpacked at the ammunition point - here a tanker unpacks a 120mm Tank L32A6 Practice Squash Head projectile

“THE LIVE FIRING WAS ALREADY THE SECOND MAJOR TRAINING EVENT FOR THE TANKERS OF THE QRH IN 2017.”

13: During the three weeks of live Àring at the Bergen Hohne Training Area C Squadron alone Àred about 1,650 120mm Tank L32A6 Practice Squash Head and L29A1 Discarding Sabot Practice projectiles

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14: All NCO Challenger 2 commanders of the QRH wear a New Zealand Fern Leaf cloth badge beneath the Regimental TRF in commemoration of the association of The 3rd Hussars with the 2nd New Zealand Division at the Battle of El Alamein 15: A Challenger 2 MBT of D ‘Black Pig’ Squadron, The Queen’s Royal Hussars engages a target during the Live Fire Exercise 8 Annual Crew Test (LFX8 – ACT)

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Images © Carl Schulze

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13 ammunition were also spent by the other tank squadrons of the regiment. The live ´ring was already the second major training event for the tankers of the QRH in 2017. Earlier in the year they spent two weeks at the Command And Staff Trainer (CAST) and the Combined

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16: Prior to taking over their VJTF (L) role the tankers of the Queen’s Royal Hussars were issued the new VIRTUS Soldier System personal equipment including the Scalable Tactical Vest (STV)

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17: A Challenger 2 MBT of C Squadron engages a target with 120mm Tank L32A6 Practice Squash Head ammunition 18: Prior to a live Àre session projectiles and charges are unpacked at the ammunition point - here a tanker unpacks an L18A1 charge for a 120mm L29A1 Discarding Sabot Practice projectile

Arms Tactical Trainer (CATT) situated at Normandy Barracks in Sennelager, being put through 24 hour battle simulations. With the quick succession of training events, 2017 started as 2016 ended for the QRH. Last year was the Training

year of the regiment under the Formation Operational Readiness Mechanism (FORM) of the new ARMY 2020 structure and it saw the regiment, among other training events, deploying to the British Army Training Unit Suf´eld (BATUS) in Canada, taking part in the PRAIRIE STORM

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the Squadron Headquarters, four Tank Troops and a Fitter Section, in total about 120 troops.

exercises. The regiment also played a major role in Exercise VENERABLE GAUNTLET, held at the Sennelager Training Area in Germany and aimed at testing the readiness of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (Land) of the enhanced NATO Response Force (eNRF).

2017 COMMITMENTS

With C Squadron, the QRH have provided the armoured element for the 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment Battle Group of the VJTF(L) since the 1st January 2017. The squadron is basically structured into

Each Tank Troop can ´eld four Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks, while the Squadron Headquarters can ´eld another two, giving the squadron a combat strength of 18 MBTs. Among other vehicles, the Fitter Section can ´eld two Challenger Armoured Repair and Recovery Vehicles (CRARRV) and two Warrior-based FV512 Mechanised Combat Repair Vehicles (MCRV). While assigned to the VJTF(L) the Squadron keeps a high state of readiness, being able to deploy within

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19: Daily routine - prior to Àring up the engine of their Challenger 2 members of a tank crew of C Squadron QRH conduct checks to ensure all systems are in working order

British forces

two to ´ve days after noti´cation. Missions of the VJTF(L), and therefore of C Squadron of the QRH, after being activated and deployed can be to provide an immediate collective defence response capability prior to the arrival of other forces or to conduct crisis management and peace support operations. The VJTF(L) is also capable of conducting disaster relief operations or can be deployed for the protection of critical infrastructure.

Images © Carl Schulze

20: Maintenance – Members of the REME Light Aid Detachment supporting C Squadron have removed the Auxiliary Power Unit from a Challenger 2 using the crane of their FV512 MCRV

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From April onwards D ‘Black Pig’ Squadron, The Queen’s Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish) will provide the armoured element for the NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Multinational Battalion in Estonia, of which the lead nation is the United Kingdom. The armoured element will be a Tank Troop consisting of four Challenger 2 MBTs and it will also have a small support element including, among other vehicles, a CRARRV.

Falling under command of the 5th Battalion, The Riµes Battle Group the QRH Tank Troop will be based in Tapa in Estonia. The NATO enhanced Forward Presence Multinational Battalion in Estonia will also include French and Danish troops. Up to the end of 2017, the Tank Troops of D Squadron will take turns in deploying to Estonia, with the troops staying in the Baltic nation for about four months at a time.

Images © Carl Schulze

alliance forces

COMBINED URBA I

n mid-February 2017, soldiers from A Company of 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (1 PWRR) of the British Army and from the Scoutspataljon of the Estonian Land Forces, both allocated to NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (Land) or VJTF(L), took part in a Combined Urban Operations Week in order to practice Urban Operations. C&S followed them training on the Sennelager Training Area. UDTA (Urban Dry Training Area), STA (Sennelager Training Area), Germany, 16th February, 2017: The strike operation has gone as planned. Covering each others’ approach, the British and Estonian infantry sections reached their objective without dif´culties. Arresting the shopkeeper, who was suspected of selling weapons in addition to fruit and candy, was

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According to a NATO doctrine document, Urban Operations are military activities in areas that are characterised by the presence of man-made physical structures, associated urban infrastructures and a non-combatant population. The urban environment is complex and diverse. In order to ɯght, survive and accomplish their mission troops employed in an urban environment require special skills and tactics. also no big deal, despite the fact that it involved a little bit of wrestling. It is only when the infantrymen of the two nations start to extract from the scene of the arrest that all hell breaks loose.

beginning of the attack the British troops return ´re with their 5.56mm L85 A2 (SA80 A2) assault riµes. Then smoke grenades are thrown to obstruct the enemy’s view.

From a building close by and a second one further down the road, they are suddenly engaged with small arms and machine gun ´re. As the Brits provided outer security while the Estonians performed the arrest, they are now also the ´rst to respond to the sudden attack. Within a split second from the

With a thick smokescreen in place, several things now happen simultaneously. Together with their captive the Estonians begin to extract from the scene, heading towards a helicopter landing site for the extraction of the captive. At the same time some of the British troops assault the nearest

“BRITISH TROOPS ASSAULT THE NEAREST BUILDING HELD BY THE ENEMY IN ORDER TO NEUTRALISE THE MOST IMMINENT THREAT.”

01: During the Ànal strike mission of the Combined Urban Operations Week soldiers of 1 PWRR provided security while Estonian troops arrested a suspected arms dealing shopkeeper

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02: Estonian troops Àght their way through the Urban Dry Training Area (UDTA) on the Sennelager Training Area (STA) in Germany 03: While an Estonian soldier provides cover a British NCO gives orders to his soldiers - during the Combined Urban Operations Week the Estonians used British assault riÁes. 04: Estonian soldiers of the Scoutspataljon rush forward to storm a building – Estonia’s Scout Battalion is an all-volunteer professional formation

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05: A British and an Estonian NCO discuss the Ànals for their move through the Urban Dry Training Area (UDTA) on Sennelager Training Area (STA)

04

AN OPERATIONS BRITISH & ESTONIAN TROOPS IN TRAINING 02

Report & Images by

CARL SCHULZE

05 building held by the enemy in order to neutralise the most imminent threat. On reaching the entrance door of the building they quickly take up their positions. Then the door is kicked open and the troops rush inside, weapons at the ready. Using room clearance techniques, the troops now make their way through the building.

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 25

“THE COMBINED URBAN OPERATIONS WEEK WAS HELD TO ALLOW SELECTED BRITISH AND ESTONIAN TROOPS TO PRACTISE URBAN OPERATIONS TACTICS...”

alliance forces

06 07

Images © Carl Schulze

08

The strike operation exercise served as the grand ´nale of the Combined Urban Operations Week involving soldiers of Scoutspataljon of the Estonian Land Forces who were hosted by the 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (1 PWRR) of the British Army based in Sennelager in Germany.

LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER

Run between the 13th and 17th February 2017, by 1 PWRR, the Combined Urban Operations Week was held to allow selected British and Estonian troops to practise Urban Operations Tactics and

26 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

06: British troops of 1 PWRR taking part in the Combined Urban Operations Week were equipped with the new VIRTUS Soldier System personal equipment 07: Estonian soldiers provide overwatch while British troops attack the next building - 1 PWRR and the Eesti Scouts have been training together for some time 08: Mission planning British and Estonian NCOs plan the strike operation that formed the grand Ànale of the Combined Urban Operations Week 09: During Urban Operations training on STA the Estonian troops were issued with British 5.56mm L85 A2 (SA80 A2) assault riÁes

09

11 10: Badge of the Scoutspataljon of the Estonian Land Forces - based in Paldiski the battalion belongs to the 1. Jalaväebrigaad and is Estonia’s rapid reaction unit 11: Under cover of their comrades infantrymen of the 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment cross a street while advancing through urban terrain.

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12: British and Estonian troops Àght back after they come under attack in an urban environment - the STA urban facility is a disused military housing estate

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13: The urban environment is complex and diverse - an enemy can hide everywhere and Àghting can take place on several levels - note that these soldiers observe all arcs 14: Utilising as much cover as possible, British troops provide cover while Estonian soldiers rush forward to storm a building

compare their own with the ones used by the other nation. In fact the mission statement of the week was “To learn from each other.”

Armoured Infantry Battle Groups of the VJTF(L), which is led by the British 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade. A Mechanised Infantry Company of the Scoutspataljon of the Estonian Land Forces, the Eesti Scouts, is assigned to the 1 PWRR VJTF(L) armoured infantry battalion.

The training event was conducted under the umbrella of 1 PWRR’s VJTF(L) assignment; the battalion took over its VJTF(L) role on the 1st of January, 2017. Also known as the Armoured Tigers, the unit provides one of the

In 2016, during the preparation for the VJTF(L) assignment, the British and Estonian troops had already trained together a couple of times, for example during Exercise VENERABLE GAUNTLET, also held at the Sennelager

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 27

alliance forces

15 Training Area in September 2016, reaching quite a high level of interoperability. In 2017 events such as the Combined Urban Operations Week are now conducted in order to maintain the previously achieved level of cooperation as well as to further improve it.

FROM ROOM CLEARING TO BUILDING ENTRY TACTICS

Images © Carl Schulze

Aimed at an audience consisting of non-commissioned of´cers and private soldiers, the Combined Urban Operations Week was mainly focused on basic tactics, ranging from room clearing to how to move along streets and alleyways under different types of threat levels. Also trained for were the clearing of occupied and derelict buildings, the clearance of compounds and different types of building entry tactics, including the use of different methods and types of breaching equipment. The NCOs also had to conduct operation planning tasks for operations conducted in an urban environment, including a strike operation aimed at arresting an arms dealer. All in all, the Combined Urban Operations Week was a good learning experience for all participants and certainly will bene´t any operation of integrated nature if or when it might arrive.

28 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

15: During the strike mission Estonian troops of the Scoutspataljon close in on the shop to arrest the arms dealer - note the soldier in the background covering windows in the Àrst Áoor 16: There are different types of tactics that can be used to advance to the next building - here Estonian troops can be seen using the ‘train’ formation 17: With the Estonian troops having deployed as cover force British troops are readying themselves to attack the Àrst building

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18: After the combined force of Brits and Estonians has been attacked while conducting the strike mission one of the attackers has been neutralised

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B R N AN EW D

Clothing range out now 18.95

£

19.95

£

12.95

£

31.95

£

www.combatandsurvival.com/shop * Colour & designs subject to change. All items correct at time of going to press. Visit website for up-to-date merchandise

Report & Images by

Images © Gordon Arthur [unless otherwise noted]

GORDON ARTHUR

armour focus

01

AUSTRALIA’S 4X4 PROTECTED MOBILITY VEHICLE

Australia currently has a single domestically developed and manufactured armoured vehicle in military service, the Bushmaster, although it will soon be joined by another, the Hawkei. Both are 4x4 protected vehicles from Thales Australia. The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) is widely employed by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), with 1,052 units ordered. In addition, it is used by six other nations: Fiji, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, the Netherlands and UK.

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hales is known to have produced eight Bushmaster PMV variants at its facility in Bendigo, Victoria. These are as follows:„ Protected Mobility Troop Vehicle „ Protected Mobility Command Vehicle „ Protected Mobility Mortar Vehicle „ Protected Mobility Assault Pioneer Vehicle „ Protected Mobility Direct Fire Support Weapon Vehicle „ Protected Mobility Direct Air Defence Vehicle

01: In Australian Army service, the Bushmaster PMV is a chunky vehicle coated in an AusCam paint scheme of black, tan and olive drab colours 02: This Troop Vehicle of the 7th Brigade was photographed at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in central Queensland during Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 2015 03: The Bushmaster can tackle 457mmhigh vertical obstacles - the 200kg sparewheel assembly on the right side of the hull at the rear considerably extends the Bushmaster’s overall length

„ „

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Protected Mobility Ambulance Vehicle Protected Mobility Electronic Warfare Vehicle.

The breakdown of each version acquired by the ADF is as follows: Troop x601; Command x197; Assault Pioneer x37; Mortar x40; Direct Fire Support Weapon x94; Ambulance x63; and Air Defence x20. In addition to usage by the Australian Army, three air´eld defence squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) Security Force use Troop Vehicles to defend airbases.

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 31

armour focus

Images © Gordon Arthur [unless otherwise noted]

“THE BUSHMASTER FORGED AN ENVIABLE REPUTATION FOR RUGGEDNESS AND SURVIVABILITY.”

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05 The newest Bushmaster variant in ADF service is an Electronic Warfare (EW) Vehicle, with one exhibited at the Land Forces exhibition in Adelaide in September 2016. This variant enables the Australian Army “to perform a number of different operations in a modern complex operating environment,” according to a defence spokesperson. It has an upgraded auxiliary power unit and additional environmental control unit. It also has a telescopic mast mounted at the rear and enhanced workstations and racks. It is not known how many of these will be obtained, but the number will be low.

32 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

ORIGINS

The Bushmaster was the brainchild of Perry Engineering in the mid-1990s. In 1997, ADI Limited (now Thales Australia) acquired the design. The Bushmaster entered the Project Bushranger trials in February 1998 as the ADF sought a protected vehicle. It was duly named as preferred tenderer on 10th March 1999 and a contract with ADI was signed on 1st June 1999 for 370 vehicles, though this was renegotiated down to 299 in 2002. Series production kicked off in 2004 with ´rst delivery in August.

07 Further ADF contracts ensued. In December 2006, 143 Bushmasters were ordered, followed by 253 more in August 2007. A further order for 41 vehicles was lodged in October 2008, and another 101 vehicles was approved in May 2011. The most recent contract for 214 vehicles was announced in June 2012. The Bushmaster, commonly referred to as the ‘Bushie’ by Australian troops, was principally deployed in motorised infantry units. However, because of restructuring under Plan Beersheba, Bushmasters were handed in by infantry

05

04: A column of Bushmasters belonging to the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment of the 7th Brigade - the lead vehicle is Àtted with dummy Duke RCIED antennas, which soldiers call ‘goalposts’ 05: A regular troop-carrying ‘Bushie’ from Charlie Company of 8/9 RAR during Exercise TALISMAN SABRE is being refuelled in the early morning from a Mack R-Series tanker 06: The array of rooftop antennas gives away the fact that this is a Bushmaster Command Vehicle - it belongs to the 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Regiment 07: Another Command Vehicle, this time from the 7th Brigade - in July 2011 the brigade began receiving refurbished CVs with terminals for the Elbit Systems TORC2H digital battleÀeld management system 08: Note the AN/ULQ-35 Counter Remote-controlled IED (RCIED) Electronic Warfare or CREW system Àtted to this Bushmaster - vehicle ground clearance is 430mm 09: This Command Vehicle belongs to the Townsvillebased 3rd Brigade - a circled ‘15’ on the nose represents the Bushmaster’s military load classiÀcation of 15 tonnes 10: A Bushmaster of the 3rd Brigade comes ashore from an Army LCM-8 landing craft at Freshwater Beach in central Queensland - the Bushmaster can ford water up to 1.2m deep 11: A series of storage boxes with a usable volume of 2.5 cubic metres lines both sides outside the blast-protected hull but packs are still stowed on the sides of the hull 12: The ambulance variant is easily identiÀed by Red Cross markings and a larger rear door - it can carry two stretcher cases, or one stretcher plus four seated patients

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DESCRIPTION

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The standard Bushmaster was designed to carry a complement of ten soldiers, plus provisions, for three days. Its raison d’être is to provide high mineblast resistance thanks to a V-shaped monocoque hull. The driver and vehicle commander sit in the front two seats, while the rear compartment has eight seats along the two sidewalls. The ADF speci´ed that the Bushmaster should have no doors in the front cab area, so egress is via the rear door or three roof hatches. Fuel and hydraulic µuid tanks are positioned outside the crew compartment for safety reasons.

units and redistributed to combat service support units. They are also widely used by other specialist units such as artillery. Australian Bushmasters were heavily used overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan by infantry and special forces. Indeed,

it was in these theatres that the Bushmaster forged an enviable reputation for ruggedness and survivability. The platform performed well in these dangerous environments, achieving a formidable record of not one soldier killed despite numerous improvised explosive device (IED) strikes.

A novel 270-litre water tank is installed under the crew compartment µoor, giving the crew a supply of drinking water. Most Bushmaster variants differ only in terms of internal storage and seating con´guration. A W&E Platt MR555 ring mount is ´tted by the circular roof hatch. Typically this

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 33

armour focus

13 14

accommodates a 5.56mm or 7.62mm machine gun, although service in Afghanistan saw a 12.7mm M2HB-QCB and 40mm Mk19 Mod 3 automatic grenade launcher used too. A later development beginning in 2007 was the installation of a remote-controlled weapon station (RWS) in the shape of an Electro Optic Systems (EOS) R-400 mounting either an M2HB-QCB or 7.62mm MAG 58.

PERFORMANCE The Bushmaster is powered by a 6-cylinder, 7.2-litre Caterpillar 3126E

15

ATAAC turbo-diesel engine that produces 300hp at 2,200rpm. Its speed is electronically governed to 100km/h, and this engine gives a power-to-weight ratio of 20hp/tonne. The automatic ZF 7HP502 transmission (six forward gears and one reverse) is connected to a TC170 single-speed transfer box. Full time four-wheel drive with selectable front, centre and rear differential locks ensures excellent cross-country mobility. A central tyre inµation system (CTIS) has four settings (road, sand, mud/snow and emergency) available. The Bushmaster can be carried inside C-130J Hercules and C-17 Globemaster

Images © Gordon Arthur [unless otherwise noted]

16

13: The Ambulance has a wider rear door than other variants, plus there is a stretcher hoist to the right of the door and a long storage box on the roof 14: Typically one RWS is Àtted per platoon of Bushmasters - the R-400 RWS weighs 186kg without any weapon or ammunition Àtted and its elevation range is from -20º to +60º 15: The EOS R-400 RWS, here Àtted with a 7.62mm MAG 58, features a colour CCD daylight camera, cooled thermal imager and laser rangeÀnder 16: Note the roof-mounted and stabilised R-400 RWS from EOS that allows the operator to remain under armoured protection inside the vehicle 17: Note the SPARK mine-roller mounted on the front of this Assault Pioneer Vehicle - this route clearance system was a vital capability for deployments in Afghanistan where IEDs were rife 18: Here is another view of a Bushmaster employing the SPARK mine-roller made by Pearson Engineering – it is being used to prove a main supply route during a large exercise in Australia

17

III transport aircraft i f off the h R RAAF. A A Sepson self-recovery winch, offering a maximum pull of 105kN, is mounted on the left side of the hull on approximately 50% of vehicles procured. Under Project NINGAUI, approved in December 2011, two Bushmasters ´tted with Self-Protection Adaptive Roller Kit (SPARK) mine-clearing rollers and electronic counter-IED devices were acquired for use overseas.

EXPORTS

The Bushmaster’s ´rst export success was to the Netherlands. In July 2006 the country decided to urgently purchase 25 vehicles for troops ´ghting in Afghanistan. This batch was delivered direct from Australian Army stocks by September that year. The Dutch later ordered a further ten Bushmasters in November 2007, 13 in June 2008, nine in January 2009 (´tted with a grappler arm), 14 in June 2009 and 14 in August 2009. An additional twelve were ordered in June 2015 for use by the

34 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

18

Royal Dutch Marines, bringing the Dutch µeet to 98 Bushmasters. The second export customer was the UK, which purchased 24 Bushmasters in May 2008. These were used by the British Army, according to published sources, speci´cally by Special Forces, in Iraq and Afghanistan. These vehicles are rarely photographed, although it is believed they were ´nished in sand camouµage paint and ´tted with additional armour, electronic counterIED devices, and a Kongsberg Protector RWS. Thales displayed a Bushmaster demonstrator at the Avalon Air Show near Melbourne in March 2017; this particular example is aimed at the British Army’s Multi-Role Vehicle Protected (MRV-P) programme. The demonstrator will be despatched to the UK to take part in upcoming evaluations. Painted in a green scheme and featuring Dutch-style appliqué armour, it is the ´rst Bushmaster ever to feature front

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 35

19

armour focus

cab doors. The MRV-P unit has six seats in the troop compartment, plus the rear door is wider. Next to join the Bushmaster club was Indonesia, which received just three vehicles in February 2014 as part of a government-togovernment sale. They are used by

Indonesian Kopassus Special Forces. Jamaica followed when it ordered twelve vehicles for the Jamaican Defence Force in December 2013. The Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) ordered four Bushmasters in April 2014, speci´cally for overseas

Images © Gordon Arthur [unless otherwise noted]

20

19: A Dutch Bushmaster operating in Afghanistan at the height of combat operations there. Note the different appliqué armour, windows, antenna mounts and Thales SWARM RWS [© Richard Frigge: NL MinDef] 20: The newest Australian Army variant is designed for electronic warfare - note the array of antennas plus the extended telescopic mast mounted on the rear of the hull 21: Displayed at the 2017 Avalon Air Show, this demonstrator is aimed at the British Army’s MRV-P (Multi-Role Vehicle - Protected) Group 2 programme - note the front cab doors 22: Japan repainted its four Bushmasters in the JGSDF olive drab colour scheme - they are deployed in the JGSDF’s Central Readiness Regiment [© Masayuki Kikuchi 2015]

36 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

21 contingencies where Japanese evacuees might need to be transported in highthreat situations. Deliveries concluded by late 2014, and they are deployed in the JGSDF’s Central Readiness Regiment.

22

It was announced in February 2017 that Australia was conducting a government sale of ten second-hand Bushmasters to Fiji. The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are using seven whitepainted vehicles for a United Nations peacekeeping mission on the Golan Heights, while three stay in Fiji for pre-deployment training. The ADF will continue using the Bushmaster until 2030, so future modi´cations are to be expected on this rugged vehicle. As well as conversion to an EW variant, the Australian Army is also creating a new General Maintenance variant based on the Assault Pioneer variant.

Images © Carl Schulze

COMBAT +SURVIVAL

38 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

L85A2 / S A 8 0 A 2 ESTONIAN SCOUT SENNELAGER, FEBRUARY 2017

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 39

01: The Raccoon Mk.2 is a 20-litre twocompartment daysack made from Cordura 500D - hydration tube is not included

Images © Bob Morrison

01

kit review

2

FROM HELIKON-TEX OF POLAND

The C&S editorial team, by the very nature of our work, have to do a fair bit of travelling and as ours is not a Government funded publication we have to run on quite a restricted budget. As transportation costs mostly come out of our own pockets, we consequently travel light and our airline carryŭon luggage usually has to double as our laptop and camera daysack once in the ɯeld.

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 41

kit review

05

02

03

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F

Images © Bob Morrison

or more than ´ve years I have used a SOURCE ASSAULT 10 daysack, slightly modi´ed, for the majority of my military photo assignments but, unfortunately, it is now beginning to reµect both its age and the rigours I have subjected it to. As a result, I have been keeping an eye out for a replacement which will not only give the same versatility but also possibly offer even more. Each trip I go on is slightly different, both as far as carry-on luggage weights & dimensions go and the amount of gear I have to ´t in when µying, as the last thing I need is to go into action at the other end with my hold luggage still at a UK airport with some crucial piece of kit inside. Last month I had to cram everything I needed for a two-day trip up to Yorkshire - including netbook, cameras, clean shirt & smalls, and toiletries – into one 10kg gross weight daysack. The Särmä Assault Pack Mk.III from Varusteleka (reviewed in the April issue) was just right for that particular trip, but when a couple of days after my return I departed for a ´ve-day round trip to the UAE, airline regulations stipulated I could only take 7kg aboard with me as hand baggage. To reduce weight I opted to take the Helikon-Tex RACCOON Mk. 2 Daysack this time and pared my carry-on kit down to the bare essentials, with all non-essential

42 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

ancillaries and a couple of backup lenses being consigned to hold luggage. The RACCOON Mk.2 is a relatively conventional 20-litre capacity two compartment daysack with contoured padded shoulder straps and vented padded back panel plus a detachable waist strap. About 20% lighter than the Mk.1 version, the new model has been carefully redesigned to bring empty weight down and upper PALS tapes, which most serious users probably consider spurious, have been removed. Inside the main compartment there is a hydration bladder / laptop pocket with drawcord adjuster at the top and

06

RACOON MK.2 DAYSACK 02: Front compartment has an organiser panel with two nylon pockets, a mesh pocket, pen sleeves and a keyring hook 03: There is a hydration bladder / laptop pocket with drawcord adjuster inside the main compartment - bladder not included 04: On the outer face there are six rows of PALS tapes with velcro-type patch above - shock cord is for external stowage 05: The Raccoon Mk.2 is currently available from Military1st in (as here) Coyote, Olive Green or A-TACS AU camo 06: Both the back panel and the shoulder straps are well padded - upper compression straps have quick release buckles 07: There is an elasticated sternum strap linking the shoulder straps which have quick release buckles for ease of dofÀng 08: A rudimentary waist strap is included - this easily is removable for those wearing belt order 09: Top grab handle is sturdy - note also the concealed port for a hydration tube between handle and back 10: In use as my camera & laptop bag at IDEX in Abu Dhabi - external MultiCam pouches carry ancillaries and a 75-200 lens 11: There are three rows of PALS tapes at the bottom of each side and a compression strap gives added stability 12: Both compartments have drainage eyelets in the base - bottom straps can be used for compression or to carry a kip mat

concealed drinking tube port above. On the µap side of this main compartment there is a roughly half-depth and full-width zipped mesh pocket for small items. The smaller, front, compartment has an organiser panel giving two nylon pockets, one mesh pocket, two pen sleeves and a keyring hook on a tape. Externally, there are six rows of PALS (MOLLE) tape on the the face of the pack and three rows at the bottom of each side. There are upper and lower compression straps each side, with the former having quick release buckles, and there are two compression straps on the base which are long enough to be used for carrying a kip mat etc. There is also an shock cord for attachment of waterproofs etc. and above the main PALS tapes there is a large panel for attaching name and unit patches etc. However, the feature I really value is the quick release buckle at the end of each shoulder strap, which makes dof´ng in a hurry much easier.

07

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Since returning from Abu Dhabi I have used this daysack as my camera bag more than once, which is a good indication of its functionality. Our review sample was supplied by military1st.com

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12 COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 43

Report by

Images © Sgt Devon Bistarkey

BOB MORRISON

alliance forces

UK & US VALEX LIGHT DRAGOONS eFP PREPARATIONS

I

n mid-March British Army personnel from A Squadron of the Light Dragoons, attached to 4th Squadron of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment of the US Army, participated in a Validation Exercise (VALEX) to test leader pro´ciency, communication interoperability and coordination with adjacent units. These manoeuvres were held at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) Hohenfels in Germany as part of the validation process for the British

contingent deploying to North-East Poland as part of the US-led battalion battlegroup which forms part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP). The Vilseck-based 4th Squadron of 2nd Cavalry Regiment, formed more than 180 years ago as the 2nd Regiment of Dragoons and still nicknamed the Second Dragoons, has the 8x8 STRYKER IAV as its primary transport. Based in Catterick the Light Dragoons, nicknamed the Northern

Cavalry, function in the Light Cavalry role as part of the British Army’s new Adaptable Force. They operate primarily with highly mobile JACKAL 4x4 recce vehicles and COYOTE 6x6 logistic support vehicles, recently refurbished and repainted NATO Green for eFP duties, plus PANTHER 4x4 command and liaison vehicles. The accompanying photographs of the Light Dragoons on the VALEX were supplied by US Army Europe.

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 45

interview

THE VOID Images © Lionsgate UK

Former Canadian Armed Forces member and British Army Reservist, Daniel Fathers, can be seen in the new ɯlm from Signature Entertainment, The Void. C&S recently spoke to him about his career as an actor and military man. aniel Fathers has built quite a reputation for himself in the acting world, delivering several memorable performances predominantly as a military or exmilitary character. His career has seen him work with the likes of Ellen Page, Demi Lovato, and The Jonas Brothers.

D

into his roles, and how that helps him acting-wise; “I love doing anything to do with the military, and I would say 85% of my career as an actor has been military or ex-military roles, primarily because of my experience and knowing the protocols of how to march, ´ring movement, taking cover and handling weapons etc.”

Speaking on his background and what really got him involved in acting, Daniel stated; “I was born in London, actually right in the West End, right around the corner from the London Palladium. My dad was a scenic designer - so he designed sets for plays and theatres and my mother was primarily a theatre actress, so I kind of grew up in the industry to be honest. I was a child actor - I did stage and theatre, and some television as well so it was kind of a family business.”

Daniel has an illustrious athletic background, having competed in rugby and bull riding at professional levels in the past, experiences iences that have also helped mould the sorts of roles he will typically be cast st for. “I have never played a cellist, or somebody who plays a µute because se I don’t have those skills - mostt of my roles are either military or ex-military. I do all my own stunts,, so any of the sword ´ghting or actual combat you’ve seen me doing, oing, I have done it myself and I love it.”

Although he has strong links to his acting background, Daniel “didn’t want to be an actor speci´cally”, and would have preferred to do “something active” along the lines of becoming a soldier or getting involved in professional sports. Having been a part of the Canadian Armed Forces as a Militia Soldier, and currently serving as a Type B Commissioned Of´cer for the British Army, Daniel has also gathered a wealth of military experience, something he acknowledges is a major factor in the roles he plays. Daniel shed some light on what sort of experience he brings

46 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

One of the most exciting projects ojects in Daniel’s career reer is the upcoming ng highly anticicipated horror/ or/ drama The Void, d directed by y Steven Kostanski stanski and Jeremy y Gillespie. The movie promises to put a modern twist on the e features that made old horror movies classics. ssics.

Daniel highlighted what moviegoers can expect from The Void, and what his involvement will add to it; “I think a lot of movies answer all the questions for you, but what you’ll ´nd in The Void is that not all the questions are answered. It’s not wrapped up in a bow and presented to you, there’s going to be a lot of questions the audience will be asking after the movie, that creates dialogue and gets people talking about the movie, which in itself is entertainment.” He added; “The other thing is there is hardly any CGI - all of the ‘monsters’ or practical effects as we call them are real, so that sort of goes back to 1970s or ‘80s horror. However, it’s using today’s technology of making those practical effects as real as possible. There’s a few times where I have to attack or defend myself against these monsters that are in the movie, and it’s so much easier to do when I’m not doing it on a green do screen, and I’m actually actual in the ´ght.” Daniel will be playing the t role of Vincent in The Void. “Vincent’s back story is that he’s an ex-US Special Specia Forces soldier so he has those skills skil and can handle himself, therefore he’s that ‘go get h ‘em’ type of guy and an a defender of the t e people. I didn’t audition for the th role, they (the directors) had seen direc my previous work and they liked the rough-and-tumble type rough-a military roles I had done r in the past, so they p contacted my agent conta and said we’d like Daniel Dan to read this script, so I read it and scr was wa interested so it was wa great.” CJ The Th Void is showing in UK cinemas from 31st 31s March and will be out on Digital 7th April Ap and DVD & Bluray 24th April.

kit + camo

british army

virtus

CORPORAL, LIGHT DRAGOONS, 2017 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

While C&S was on the ɯring ranges in North Yorkshire with the Light Dragoons, over a couple of very cold midFebruary days, one of A Squadron’s NCOs volunteered to be the subject of this month’s Kit & Camo feature. He was wearing the newly issued VIRTUS Assault Order With Torso Protection, which all troops on their Committed/Contingency Year of the 36-month A-FORM cycle should now be issued with.

C

&S has covered the new UK Forces VIRTUS Personal Protection and Load Carriage System several times before, and indeed it was us who broke the news of the contract award on our website on 25th January 2015, but until we joined A Squadron on the ranges we had not been able to witness it being used by soldiers live-´ring. It is only when you see soldiers actually shooting while wearing new kit, and listen to

what they think of it while they have it on for several hours, that one can independently assess if the of´cial claims stand up to scrutiny. In addition to the VIRTUS Scalable Tactical Vest (STV) in basic plate carrier con´guration, and the standard VIRTUS Chassis/MOLLE Belt with a set of magazine, water bottle and utility pouches, the corporal overleaf wears the Revision Batlskin COBRA+ ballistic helmet, which is also part of the

VIRTUS package. As the contoured and reinforced hip belt, which is supported by a yoke underneath the STV, has three rows of PALS (Pouch Attachment Ladder System) tapes for most of its length a wide range of both issue and private purchase accessory / utility pouches can be added to suit the wearer’s precise role and requirements. As all VIRTUS components are manufactured from UK MoD MTP (Multi-Terrain Pattern) camouµage pattern fabrics, we are not focusing on this particular aspect, save to say that the accompanying images give a good impression of how this camo works. For the record, all troops we chatted to were generally pleased with VIRTUS on the ranges.

The Light Dragoons corporal wears the black Jerboa badge of 4th Infantry Brigade beneath the Union Flag on his left upper arm and on his right arm he wears the black and white vertically split square diamond TRF of his regiment. He also wears a low visibility Union Flag on the right side of his helmet, a black Jerboa patch on the left and his corporal’s chevrons plus national Áag on his chest. The boots he wears are issue BATES Boots Patrol; as he had just returned from a Àeld exercise in South-West Scotland his Boots Combat High Liability were being given a break and a good clean.

50 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

vehicle news

Images © Bob Morrison

HMT 400 DESERT

UAE PRESIDENTIAL GUARD SPEC On 16th February, Supacat, part of Devon-based SC Group, informed C&S it would be unveiling the HMT 400 Desert, a new variant of its acclaimed JACKAL Special Operations Vehicle, on the IGG stand at IDEX 2017 in the United Arab Emirates. Three days later we snapped these images of it.

A

ccording to the company communiqué: “The HMT 400 Desert has been adapted to enhance performance in the desert’s harsh environment and climatic conditions. It has no armour and the lighter gross vehicle mass improves the power-to-weight ratio and increases mobility over deep desert sand. Further desert features include cooling, a central tyre inµation system and lightweight

52 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

in service with numerous elite Special Forces worldwide”.

bead locks to enable the vehicle to be operated at the lowest tyre pressures.

“Supacat is committed to supporting the region and in the event that HMT 400 Desert is selected by the UAE Presidential Guard a large element of the production and subsequent support programmes will be conducted in UAE”, said Phil Applegarth, Head of Supacat.

“The vehicle has been con´gured to fully comply with the UAE Presidential Guard’s requirements for a new Special Operations Vehicle, including tactical CH-47 internal loading, and has undergone successful tactical trials and testing by UAE forces over the summer. The HMT series, widely known as JACKAL, has been battle proven

“The µexibility of the HMT series has been recently demonstrated by Supacat in developing additional variants and conversions to meet wider and emerging requirements. These include HMT in the Recovery, Logistic Support and Gun Towing roles as well as a unique 4x4 to 6x6 convertible feature, which were announced in September at DVD in the UK.”

foreign forces

02: The Abu Dhabi Police Marching Band approach the grandstand at the start of the IDEX 2017 opening Ceremony in Abu Dhabi 03: Troops from Russia’s Presidential Regiment, also known as the Kremlin Regiment, performed a marching and riÁe display next

IDEX 2017 01

02

IDEX, the International Defence Exhibition and Conference, is by far the largest military expo in the Middle East, attracting both exhibitors from around the world and buyers from across the region. In past years this biennial show, which runs alongside the naval and maritime security themed NAVDEX, has clashed with other commitments meaning C&S has been unable to cover it, but this year our ducks lined up.

ABU DHABI UAE FORCES CAPABILITY DISPLAY [PART 01] 03

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 53

Images © Bob Morrison

01: An OpFor Toyota 79-series pick-up, believed to be a Minerva SPV conversion, crewed by ‘Little Grey Men’ patrols in the vicinity of the station

foreign forces “THE SCENARIO COVERED THIS MONTH, AND NEXT, ALTHOUGH PERFORMED MOSTLY BY SOLDIERS WAS HEAVILY CHOREOGRAPHED...”

05

Images © Bob Morrison

04

M

ilitary expos like IDEX, and DSEi in London, Eurosatory in Paris and SOFEX in Jordan, etc., primarily give us a chance to look at forthcoming and sometimes recently purchased hardware and allow us to talk direct to knowledgeable manufacturer representatives to increase our information database. Much of what we see gets archived - Carl’s personal archive of military catalogues and photographs is massive, putting mine in the shade - to allow us to refer back

54 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

07

IDEX 2017

08

04: As a train carrying food and medical aid approaches the road crossing near Mount Papakura station a group of civilians try to storm it 05: Civilians Áee as the train comes under Àre from insurgents – on the ground warzone TV crews are in close recording the action for the big screens

09

06: Panicking civilians jump aboard any available vehicles to escape the chaos - they have already spotted Little Grey Men advancing 07: The Private Military Contractors guarding the train head for the station, defending themselves with pistols, as a cameraman gets in close 08: UDF Military Police ofÀcers arrive and try to protect the aid train which the insurgents appear to be intent on capturing

06

when writing, hopefully, authoritative magazine features and books, so it could be many months or years before we have reason to use the info we glean at these shows. Often, our photographs of armament, equipment and vehicles taken at these events are used purely for reference and con´rmation, as snapping on cramped and weirdly lit internal trade stands seldom makes for high quality, publishable, uncluttered images, but from time-to-time these

09: The approaching insurgents, the Little Grey Men, are clearly well-equipped and well-disciplined troops - they outnumber the small MP squad

10

10: UDF medical assets, marked with the Red Crescent, are called in to pick up injured civilians and contractors near the train and station

snaps can be incredibly useful as a record of what ´rst appeared where or which speci´c item of military gear a particular country uses. One area, however, at some military expos where we can take outdoor photos of vehicles and sometimes troops is the Opening Ceremony

and the associated Capability Display or Dynamic Demonstration. IDEX is one of the better ones, as the organisers ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre) and the Union Defence Force have both a decent chunk of real estate to run it on and the funding to do things well; indeed, for IDEX 2017, held from 19th to 23rd February, they

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 55

foreign forces “FOR IDEX 2017, HELD FROM 19TH TO 23RD FEBRUARY, THEY REALLY PULLED OUT THE STOPS TO MAKE THE DEMONSTRATION AS AUTHENTIC AS POSSIBLE”

11 12

Images © Bob Morrison

13

56 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

really pulled out the stops to make the demonstration as authentic as possible for a choreographed display conducted outside the Emirate’s equivalent of London’s ExCel or Birmingham’s NEC. At this point I must emphasise that the scenario covered this month, and next, although performed mostly by soldiers was heavily choreographed and weapons were not ´red; a very well

timed music and sound effects track ran for the duration of the dynamic display, along with a multimedia presentation on two massive screens facing the audience seated in the 250-metre long grandstand. Apart from anything else, as the watching VVIPs and VIPs included royalty and very senior regional politicians, it

IDEX 2017 11: Insurgent troops continue to Áood down from the hills paying no attention to the medical crew’s neutrality and the ambulances start to bug out 12: After the medics pull out it appears that squads of insurgents are now everywhere here they are attacking the station building

15

13: Another insurgent squad moves in to seize a chemical storage facility near the docks - they wear black face masks to terrorise civilians 14: Having knocked out troops in a security post overlooking the docks a squad of insurgents takes it over to provide top cover for colleagues 15: Here the Little Grey Men have taken control of a tramp steamer in the docks and are starting to carry off drums of dangerous chemicals

16

16: In the port, guarded by colleagues, a couple of insurgents load chemicals from the dockside into a small boat to spirit them away

14

17: Another of the many Toyota gunships used by the insurgents on patrol near the captured station building - normally these vehicles are sand coloured

17 was not really feasible to have live riµes in use just ´fty metres away (remember the fate of Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat in 1981?). The scenario, which included helicopter and fast jet support over the arena plus concurrent naval activities a couple of hundred metres distant (behind the ‘mountain’ backdrop) at NAVDEX, was set in a ´ctional country which was rapidly descending into anarchy. Rebel forces, backed by a militia from a neighbouring state,

were both disrupting humanitarian aid and attempting to seize control of the faltering country, and the UAE’s Union Defence Forces (UDF) had been called in as part of an international coalition to try to defeat the insurgency, restore peace, and ensure humanitarian assistance could be provided to the starving population. The UDF has over a quarter of a century of experience in working as part of a coalition, as it participates in the GCC (Gulf

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 57

foreign forces “A SIZEABLE NUMBER OF UDF TROOPS FOUGHT ON THE RIGHT FLANK OF THE MULTINATIONAL FORCE WHICH PUSHED SADDAM OUT OF KUWAIT”

18: A patrol of UDF mechanised infantry approaches to try to discover precisely what is going on at the port and railhead 19: As the UAE patrol approaches from the West, an insurgent tracked armoured personnel carrier breaks cover by punching through a wooden shack 20: Clearly the insurgents have armoured support, in the shape of BMP-3 personnel carriers, but the UAE has an armoured battlegroup on the way...

19 20

Images © Bob Morrison

18 Cooperative Council) Peninsula Shield Force which exists primarily to deter military aggression against any of the member countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE itself. In 1991 a sizeable number of UDF troops fought on the right µank of the multinational force which pushed Saddam out of Kuwait, and indeed it was Peninsula Shield troops who liberated Kuwait City while others nations in the coalition made the long

58 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

sweeping advance to the West. Twelve years later UDF troops were part of the 10,000-strong Peninsula Shield deployment into Kuwait to protect the country from Saddam as the predominantly US and UK force invaded Iraq to topple the Arab dictator. In 2011, at the request of the Bahrain Government, UDF troops working alongside Saudi allies deployed to the island state to help quell an insurgency.

From 2007 the UAE deployed a company-strength formation to the Tarinkot region of Afghanistan’s Uruzgan Province as part of ISAF, and since 2015 it has played a major part in the Saudi-led Operations DECISIVE STORM and RESTORING HOPE which aim to restore the legitimate government of Yemen overthrown by Houthi rebels. In September 2015, as a result of a rebel rocket attack on a military base, 45 soldiers from the UAE were killed. In this ´rst feature we see how the insurgents use force to take over the infrastructure of the ´ctional Mount Papakura, including its port and railway station, as a small UDF force of military police and medics attempts to assist the civilian population. To be continued...

+++STOP PRESS+++ 21ST MARCH 2017: REVISION ANNOUNCE THE AWARD OF THE US ARMY COMBAT HELMET CONTRACT WORTH UP TO $98 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

special operations 01

01: New helmet is heavily padded and has Revision’s wellliked adjustable head/ chin strap system 02: Helmet with both lightweight ballistic panels Àtted and restrained by hook & loop tape 03: Rear view of upturned helmet ballistic panels have matching felt pads for accessory attachment 04: The new Revision FTHS bump Helmet submission with ballistic panels and Desert Locust goggles 05: Ballistic panels removed leaving the basic lightweight bump helmet – note black hook & loop pads 06: Detail of side accessory rails - note that mannequin head is rather small and helmet sit is higher

Images © Bob Morrison

US SOCOM NEXT GENERATION HELMET REVISION’S FTHS BUMP HELMET SUBMIISSION Readers should be aware of the Revision Military brand, as not only has the company been supplying protective eyewear to UK Forces for several years, but their BATLSKIN COBRA+ ballistic helmet is in service with British Army and Royal Marines personnel issued with VIRTUS during the Committed / Contingency Year of their 36month readiness cycle. Now the company has entered the SpecOps arena.

W

e ´rst became aware of Revision’s serious foray into the highly specialist SpecOps ‘Bump’ helmet ´eld when they issued a press release early last October announcing they had been awarded a development contract by the US Department of Defense for their next-generation FTHS (Family of Tactical Headborne Systems) helmet platform programme. This contract

60 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

was actually awarded last July, and by the time the press release was issued Revision had already delivered several hundred samples for testing in ful´lment of their development contract. The privately owned company, which today develops and delivers purposebuilt protective soldier equipment for military use worldwide, started out in the protective eyewear ´eld but has now expanded into the face, head and

02

03

REPORT & IMAGES BY

BOB MORRISON torso protecti protection ´eld as well energy storage and as the energ management power ma military sector. operational Its op head headquarters is in Ver Vermont in the United States, Uni but it also has of´ces in Montreal, in Canada, Bristol Ca in the UK and Luxembourg. In Luxe 2015 it bought out the American MSA ballistic helmet helm business and manufacturing facilities. facilit

04

Revision was wa one of only three companies awarded a compa SOCOM FTHS development contract and their submission also includes a headborne PSM (Personal (Persona Signature Management) package, blunt/ p ballistic mandibles, mandible daytime visors, an NVG splash spla shield, and their new multilayer liner line comfort system with removable ´t band and concave shell design to support NVG s use. The unique multi-purpose helmet multi-pu suite consists of Coastal Marine,

05

06 Riverine, Ground Ballistic, and Ground Bump systems plus specially-designed accessories to enhance the multi-use helmet systems for specialist HALO/ HAHO, Boat, Vehicle, Mountain, Riverine and Direct Action operations. We spotted one of their carbon SOCOM Bump helmets, said to be the ´rst in the industry which can be ballistically enabled with appliqué armour for blunt force and ballistic protection during

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 61

special operations 07

Special Operations, when visiting their stand at IDEX. After being shown how the scalable protection works, we were allowed to take the helmet outside to take it apart for photographs in natural light. According to the company, their “novel operational approach reduces the neck load burden during highly dynamic operations while still providing the protection required to accomplish the mission. This, coupled with the skeletonisation of all system components, has signi´cantly reduced the overall weight compared to helmets on the market today”. Any soldier who has worn Revision’s in-service COBRA+ helmet will be well aware of just how light these are in comparison with earlier issue helmets, yet protection levels

07: Special Operations Forces helmets are cut higher at the side to accommodate bulky comms systems 08: When Revision unveiled their Batlskin Cobra helmet at DVD 2010 there was a fair bit of derision 09: By DSEi 2011 we had spotted that the basic Batlskin Cobra was a likely contender for UK VIRTUS

08 10

10: By Ex. ANAKONDA ‘16 not only was Revision’s helmet on issue but so was their mandible guard

09

Images © Bob Morrison

are equal or superior to their predecessors. C&S has seen some speci´cation details of Revision’s new FTHS Bump helmet, plus we have donned it with armour plates attached to verify for ourselves that it really is as light as they say, but at this moment in time we

62 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

are unable to publish facts and ´gures. Later this year a commercial model, which has already been named, will be available for the Special Operations and Special Forces community to procure. Watch future COMMS pages for more detail.

Magazine Save Token It’s been brought to our attention that some readers are having trouble getting hold of their regular issues. Naturally, we can’t have anyone missing out on their regular dosage of military know-how. If C&S doesn’t have pride of place at your local news-agent, simply hand over the slip displayed here [or a photocopy]to the person behind the counter. They should be able to order it for you and your missing issues shouldn’t be an issue anymore! Of course, C&S also has a subscription service, with each issue delivered straight to your door... C&S - Don’t miss out

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comfort & Survival

OUTDOOR GEAR BY MIKE GORMLEY

Images © Mike Gormley unless noted

01

KEELA MUNRO SALOPETTES

02

03

These have been on my radar for a long time and there are many days I have had ‘out on the hill’ where life would have been a whole lot more comfortable had I been wearing them. For example, one very long snowy day in Scotland. My son Bruce has had these Salopettes, and the Keela Munro jacket, for many years and they have been to some pretty harsh places. However, my ´rst time out with these was a particularly wet and windy weekend on Dartmoor, so we are off to a good start. Salopettes are pretty full on and not really a garment you want to be taking on and off with every passing shower. This said, they are very comfortable, protect against wind and the general dirt or abrasion of being ‘out there’ as well as being very breathable and temperature controlled with Keela’s own SDP (System Dual Protection) which also keep the wet out. These garments are perhaps more associated with skiing

64 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

and extreme mountaineers, but are used in many activities in which the wearer needs really good protection against the weather, snow and water. Of real importance, they overcome that

potentially very uncomfortable gap between top and trousers. These are ‘bib & brace’ so stay up and in place, giving good protection to the torso as well as the legs. The legs are fully zipped with Velcro storm µaps so they can be

06

COLEMAN CXS+ RECHARGEABLE LED HEADTORCH

Regular readers will recall I covered the Coleman 250 a short time back, so this is the next up from the same manufacturer. Both power up to 300 Lumens and the principal difference is that is it a rechargeable unit.

04 ´tted with boots in place. At the bottom of each leg is an internal snow gaiter. On the front is a zip µy and a good sized zipped and storm-µapped pouch pocket. The inner legs and knees and backside are suitably protected with abrasion-resistant material. The knees are articulated for ease of movement. All-in-all these are high spec Salopettes. With these and the likes of the Keela Munro or, as I have, the Cumulus Pro jacket you’ll relish getting out there in bad weather as you know you will be well protected.

01: My son Bruce wearing his Munro Salopettes on top of Ama Dablam with Mt. Everest behind 02: Each lower leg has a snow gaiter which is elasticated to give a good seal 03: This photo shows the dual layering of material on high stress areas 04: The Keela Munro Salopettes showing all their key features 05: These Keela Salopettes have full length leg zips for easy donning and dofÀng

These lights have some rather interesting features, in that you can completely disconnect the battery over and above the on/off switch. This is to protect from any current loss over time and also to prevent inadvertent switching on in your pack - not good if you are trying to be covert. This function is achieved by pulling the front body away from the main body so a red line shows. Very positive. Various light powers (x4) are available from Red On ´rst, again good for those who need to be tactical. These are activated by the top push switch. Another very different feature is the hand sensitive switching as well as the push button. Once the light is ‘on’ you can move through the power settings just by passing your hand in front of the beam. Pretty nifty and makes life easy with gloves and cold wet hands etc... I have found a bit of a problem here as, if working up close to a subject, it is quite easy to cause the light to switch - this is in a range of about 6 inches (150mm) and is quite precise. I must say, I do like rechargeable technology. In these days of the LED, batteries last for ages and, in this case, time is quoted from 55 hours at Low to 2.5 hours on Max, which is not bad. With a suitable recharging system you are sorted for a long time with no extra batteries required. Money saved and pollution lowered.

06: This head torch has a very adaptable soft feel head band so can be worn on its own or with hats and helmets 07: The Coleman 300 is rechargeable by whatever means you have - like this TexEnergy battery pack

07

08

TEXENERGY TEX FLEX BATTERY

You may have seen my previous item on TexEnergy. Since then, they have launched the TexFlex µexible battery. As well as being µexible in that it has three elements and can fold up, it is also water proof to one metre, so perfectly rain proof and very durable. Jerry of TexEnergy demonstrated this to me in graphic form by banging hard on a table when I met with him at the Outdoor Trade Show; he is a former Royal Marine so clearly has a good understanding of what is required of a product for use in the great outdoors and at a high level. The µexible side of this new product is designed so the user can keep it in a pocket or small pack and, as it is thin and µexible, it is not a lump on your side... or pain on the bum. The TexFlex can be used to re-power the likes of mobile phones, GPS, torches and so on, and is good for about two recharges. I used it to keep my comms going for two wet days on Dartmoor with no bother at all. It can, of course, be recharged from the grid, but also from solar or TexEnergy’s own In´nite Orbit hand-powered generator [previously reviewed on these pages]. Connectivity is via a waterproofed multiplug with LEDs to show charge level. All very neat and usable. There is a larger version on the way, as is the wind-powered charger, and I hope to bring these both to you in due course.

08: Recharging the Tex Flex using the TexEnergy InÀnite Orbit hand powered generator to give power self-sufÀciency come rain or shine 09: Re-powering my phone in camp while I got on with my personal admin

09

05 COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 65

comfort & Survival

Images © Mike Gormley unless noted

“I RATHER LIKE THESE BOOTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO MY NEXT TRIP OUT ON THE MOOR WITH THEM.” 13

10

11

12

ZAMBERLAN HUNTER PRO GTX RR

out on moorland areas where you will encounter soft wet boggy conditions and need to cross streams and walk in water (not on water Ed, as even these are not that good) and perhaps snow. They protect you well from all sorts including rock and rough scrub as well as offering good physical support.

The new kids on the block are these Hunter Pros. Interesting, as they’re perhaps not really on the normal radar and and a bit deep into the Zamberlan website as well as being less likely to be found on the shelf at normal suppliers.

The insulated uppers are Hydrobloc full grain waxed leather. There is a µex area at the ankle to ease stress in this area while on the move. The soles are good for rugged use with angled grips for both uphill and downhill and have lugs on the instep if you end up on an edge. As a long leg boot they are very easy to put on, to the point when I ´rst put them on it is like putting on my favourite best-´tting gloves.

I have a few items of footwear from Zamberlan - I have used them for some years, and I still do. Far from the ‘tried, reviewed and put on the shelf’ group, these get abused on a regular basis.

I have to say Zamberlan do have a huge range to choose from and even in this area there are a good few to pick from. As for these Hunter Pros, these are high leg military style boots. I call them my ‘Dartmoor Boots,’ as they are the obvious choice if you’re going

66 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

These are available in half sizes and they are made on a wide last, which for me

14 helps for added comfort. I wore these a few times round the house, a bit OTT I know, and then out on Dartmoor on a particularly nasty weekend. I have to say I was a bit smug as we waded around in the water and wet boggy conditions. Warm, dry and comfortable all weekend. Not to be outdone, a friend has ordered a pair in time for our next trip to the moor in a couple of weeks. As you may gather, I rather like these boots and look forward to my next trip out on the moor with them.

10 : New and unused but not for long - check out the comprehensive Vibram tread pattern 11: Zamberlan’s distinctive logo 12: Hunter Pro detail - note the Flex System which provides good comfort when walking 13: These Hunter Pro boots have a good high leg so are very protective in many ways 14: Zamberlans in conditions they were made for

17

15

VAUDE MONTE ROSA GAITER 2

For me, gaiters are a very underrated garment and often the forgotten addon. However, when plodding across wet soggy moorland or in snow, they are close to essential to keep you separated from the cold wet stuff outside your boots and legs. Vaude, as you may expect, have some pretty good ones. So far these have proved to be robust and they have a toughened area on the inside leg where they will invariably get scuffed. They also have a robust under-boot neoprene adjustable strap with a good keeper. They are elasticated for a close boot ´t and have a good strong lace hook to keep the gaiter forward on your boot. There is a draw cord at the top to stop stuff going down inside. These gaiters only have a Velcro fastening but some other models have zips; perhaps contentious for some. This fastener is at the front for ease of use, though some may prefer the back and some will prefer a zip as well, but I ´nd the Velcro strong enough. All in all these work and look like they will last a good few hard trips.

15: Monte Rossa gaiters certainly do the job 16: Close Àtting over the boot and held in place by the keeper strap and metal lace hook - note reinforced material

16

REAL TURMAT FREEZE DRIED FOOD

When I see outdoor products come from Scandinavia I am pretty sure it will be good. Turmat come from Tromsø in Northern Norway (I was there last year). When you come from the far North you fully recognise the need to have good, nutritious and tasty food when outdoors. On a wet weekend on Dartmoor I was sustained by REAL Turmat when out on the moor. For me this included a Pasta Bolognaise and Chocolate Muesli for dinner and a Fruit Muesli for breakfast. I have to say all of these were both satisfying and very tasty indeed. Preparation is easy enough. Tear off the packet top at the marked place, open, and pour in boiling water to the mark on the outside of the container; so a bit of care required here. Give it a good mix and reseal using the press ´xing then leave for the required time as shown on the packet - eight minutes for the main and about two for the others. The heat is kept in for this time so your revived and tasty food is hot and ready as you open up. A long spoon is advisable for the deep pouches. The pouches are designed to open up at the base to make them able to stand up and be stable while

PRODUCT Coleman Keela REAL Turmat TexEnergy Vaude Zamberlan

UK CONTACT Coleman UK Keela Drytech TexEnergy Vaude Zamberlan

18

TELEPHONE 01275 845 024 01592 777 000 +47 77600 300 07860 653 570 01665 510660 01665 510660

you wait for them to rehydrate. There is a good range on the menu including some rather Scandinavian ones, such as Reindeer Stew. I would be very happy to spend a few days out on these meals. (The Norwegian Armed Forces, as well as armies of some other nationalities, use Drytech REAL Turmat pouches in their Arctic ration packs, Ed.)

17: My evening meal and breakfast sorted welcome simplicity of food prep on a nasty Dartmoor night, and tasty too! 18: Ready to go in a few minutes after the hot water is poured in - my evening pasta meal WEB coleman.eu/uk/ keela.co.uk drytech.no/produkter/ texenergy.co.uk vaude.com zamberlan.com

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 67

security industry

TERRORIST OR POLITICIAN?

THE LATE MARTIN MCGUINNESS

T

he recent death of Martin McGuinness has highlighted the ongoing peace process and politics of Northern Ireland and his role in them. Hailed by his supporters and some politicians as a ‘peacemaker’ of Sinn Féin who sold the Good Friday Agreement to the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) and allowed political reconciliation to move forward he was also well known as a dedicated terrorist who allegedly murdered innocent people.

Image © Bob Morrison: Military Scene

Described as a “great family man” by Jeremy Corbyn and “a formidable foe” by Tony Blair, the power sharing he helped create for Northern Ireland has allowed terrorists on both the Republican and Loyalist side to have their jail sentences reduced and be immune to prosecution, whilst soldiers of the British Army who were there to help maintain security for the Province’s citizens (of all faiths) are now being brought to court on charges and have no immunity thanks to Tony Blair. So why is opinion of him so divided? The Martin McGuinness we see now was, until recently, the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland working alongside the Reverend Ian Paisley. He had been Sinn Fein’s chief negotiator during the peace talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement and, as a member of the Provisional Irish Republican Army’s (PIRA) ruling council, held back their terrorist operations to allow the peace process to proceed. It is this de´ning role in the latter part of his life which has seen him described as a peacemaker. Whilst it cannot be denied that the peace process would not have been as successful without him, and that his role as a British politician at the end of his life could be seen as more important than his beginnings, we must remember how he started this journey and why Sinn Féin came to the negotiating table in the ´rst place. Martin was born in Londonderry in the

68 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

1950s. He was one of seven children and, having failed the 11 plus exams, went to work in a butchers shop. As the Catholic majority used civil rights marches as a form of legal protest against legitimate civil injustices, Martin joined PIRA and used the innocent civilians on the marches as a screen to allegedly ´re at British Security Forces, trying to incite a disproportional and inappropriate response. By 1971 he was a senior terrorist commander (known as the Butcher of Bogside) and his organisation brought daily destruction, kidnappings, torture, punishment beatings, criminal fund raising activity and death in Northern Ireland and, from 1973, mainland Britain - killing 1,800 people including children. One notable death it is alleged Martin was responsible for was Patsy Gillespie, whose family was held hostage whilst Patsy was ordered to drive a vehicleborne improvised explosive device (VBIED) to a local Army Barracks which was remotely detonated as it reached its destination in the manner of a ‘proxy bomb’. However, despite all the death and destruction it caused, the PIRA knew it could never win by violence alone. Most terrorist campaigns tend to have a religious or political end state that they work towards to give themselves some form of legitimacy (otherwise their activities would just be murder for the sake of it) and, in that sense PIRA are no different from AQ, ISIS or the Taliban - they all have a ‘mission statement’ or end goal. The idea of the twopronged approach is so that the terrorists can bomb and

“WHILST IT CANNOT BE DENIED THAT THE PEACE PROCESS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT HIM...WE MUST REMEMBER HOW HE STARTED THIS JOURNEY...” kill their way to the negotiating table and force the government to pander to their needs (normally meaning the senior individuals want some form of power) rather than use a legitimate form of protest or political change by majority consent. Martin knew that PIRA had to have a political arm (Sinn Féin) and engage with the British government as his organisation had been beaten militarily by the increasingly effective surveillance, ambush activity and arrests by Security Forces and the increasing number of covert sources that provided human intelligence from inside the organisation, plus the lack of support from the public which had grown disenchanted with the amount of innocent civilians killed (as seen in the reaction to the Omagh bombing). The PIRA had been so successfully penetrated that they had to create an internal counter-intelligence branch (called the Internal Security Unit or ‘nutting squad’) that would conduct internal investigations into failed operations, debrief members of PIRA who had been arrested by the police and torture suspected informers then, once a confession had been extracted, execute them in a similar manner to the Taliban and ISIS today. Since both Martin and his colleague Gerry Adams knew that the PIRA were beaten, and that Martin himself was facing arrest and prosecution for murder, they had to engage politically to acquire immunity from prosecution. In my opinion that’s the real Martin McGuinness and why he became a ‘peacemaker’. 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.

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01

footwear

Report & Images by

BOB MORRISON

Images © Bob Morrison

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03

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MAGNUM OPUS ASSA

There were quite a few footwear manufacturers displaying at the IDEX military expo held in Abu Dhabi in February but, with the exception of a handful of worldwide brands, as unfortunately these companies mostly only sell direct to government agencies and as their boots were primarily aimed at Arab and Asian markets, few if any will make it into the European / UK / US shops. The OPUS Assault Tactical from MAGNUM, however, is one boot that will as pre-orders are already being accepted.

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lthough primarily intended as a black training and patrol boot, display samples produced in other colours were on show at the expo and it was the Sage Green version that caught my eye. European military forces are gradually moving away from black combat boots to brown, but elsewhere in the world green boots are sometimes deemed more appropriate, particularly where sage is a major colour in the uniform camouµage. The US Air Force, which is almost four times the size of

70 | COMBAT & SURVIVAL

the British Army, also authorises the wearing of sage green boots with ‘Tiger Stripe’ ABU and most of the US military boot manufacturers have made footwear in this colour. Ignoring the eye-catching colourway, which on this factory fresh display sample is possibly a little too green, the OPUS Assault Tactical has a couple of very interesting other features, not least of which is the construction. According to publicity blurb, the uppers are constructed by heat pressing and bonding polyurethane with a substrate

(in material technology, a covering that is applied to the surface of an object) material. We can con´rm the resultant innovative high performance Kurim Protection upper is indeed super lightweight, and the manufacturer claims the breathable net mesh construction offers high abrasion resistance and has limited water retention. Magnum also say that the innovative construction ensures the boot remains lightweight and µexible, while offering maximum upper durability.

01: The OPUS Assault Tactical from Magnum is an ultra-light fabric, mesh and leather training and patrol boot 02: The high performance Kurim Protection upper and composite sole construction gives an ultra- lightweight boot 03: Other than the sage green colour the most striking thing about this boot is the use of the BOA closure system 04: Most of these boots, which will also be available in shorter height, will be in black and used by blue light services 05: In this shot the BOA wheel has been popped to disengage and the steel laces have been slightly loosened 06: The interesting tread pattern is intended for use over variable surfaces and to give superior traction on slippery terrain 07: Here the BOA ratchet wheel is engaged and the steel lace is tightened to give a snug Àt on the foot 08: This diagram shows how the BOA wheel is released to loosen the lace and engaged to tighten again

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AULT TACTICAL WITH BOA LACING SYSTEM 06

As for the sole, which has a very interesting tread pattern which we think should work well on smooth wet surfaces, this incorporates proprietary Magnum RECOIL midsole technology for cushioning and good rebound and the decoupled outsole heel is said to isolate the initial strike zone during walking to improve shock absorption. Of the outsole, which is made from durable carbon rubber, the company claims the multi-directional lugs deliver superior traction, grip and support on slippery terrain. Of course we have not yet had an opportunity to wear these ultra-new boots, so we cannot verify the company claims.

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which in recent years has become very popular on ski boots and is now creeping into the sports shoe market. This patented system, which gives the boot a very close ´t, uses a steel lace, nylon guides and a mechanical ratchet reel. My only concern would be, is it squaddie-proof and easy to ´x in the ´eld?

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In my mind, however, the most interesting thing about these boots is the use of the BOA closure system,

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 71

movie review

SWISS ARMY MAN STARRING DANIEL RADCLIFFE & PAUL DANO

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am very fortunate in not having had a child who went through their primary school years and/ or early teens between 2001 and 2011, so I was not forced to endure the period of bedlam associated with the release of the eight ´lms in the Harry Potter franchise. Consequently, and only having had seen short snatches of some of the ´lms on television, before watching this movie I had no major preconceptions of Daniel Radcliffe, who played the title role on the big screen. Swiss Army Man has no military theme and only touches on the survival topic p in a minor way, though in some senses Paul Dano’s character (Hank) ank) is a bit of a ‘Robinson Crusoe’ so maybe it does more than touch it, but don’t let that put you off. Billed as a comedy drama, the story starts with th Hank marooned on a small desert ert island, close to the end of his resources ources having constructed a series of miniature niature boats and despatched them with h messages of help but all to no avail. He is just about to hang himself when he spots Manny (Radcliffe) washed up on the shore, and from that point on he has a purpose in life again. At ´rst Manny’s corpse appears ppears to be of little or no use to Hank... until he realises he can harness the body’s µatulence as a propulsion device. I won’t give the game away ay further, save to say that ´rst the pair go on an

COMBAT & SURVIVAL | 72

“The movie is about a farting corpse, but we wanted to take that and make it the most beautiful thing we could and make it the most heartfelt thing we could...” - Daniel Scheinert, Co-writer & Co-director. adventure and eventually Hank teaches the corpse to move and speak. This may seem a triµe bizarre, but excellent acting from Radcliffe makes the whole premise believable. Yes there are lots of farts and a few boners in there, but the plot of this buddy movie is a quantum leap ahead of the likes of the Inbetweeners movie and its sequel or the later movies in the American Pie franchise, as µatulence and erections are not just thrown in for cheap laughs. Other than Hank and Manny, nobody else makes an

appearance throughout this 90+ minute movie until the woman of Hank’s dreams, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (John Mclane’s daughter Lucy in the last two Diehard movies), enters the story a little over ten minutes from the end, to be joined by a small number of supporting actors for the last few scenes. It is only now that what appeared to be a silly movie, at ´rst ap which then seamlessly morphed into a weird one, really begins make sense - only to leave to m the intelligent viewer thinking i deeper deep about what has actually been happening. Watch this one right to the end... and then reµect. that desert island actually exist Did tha anywhere other than inside Hank’s anywher head? Released in the UK by Lionsgate Releas Swiss Army Man will be available DVD and Blu-Ray from Friday on D 10th April, the day after this magazine hits the newsstands. mag I think you will probably enjoy that for its humour, for its it, be th deeper story, or just for the superb of Radcliffe and Dano; not to acting o mention the quality of the non-CGI and effects plus the incredibly stunts an corpse models. BM realistic co

COMBAT +SURVIVAL

next issue

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ext month: Carl Schulze will look at today’s German Airborne Forces in the form of the restructured Schnelle Kräfte and Luftlandebrigade; Bob Morrison plans to cover both the armour and vehicles of the UAE Union Defence Forces, paying particular

attention to the home-grown NIMR (TIGER) range of wheeled vehicles, plus focussing on the newly issued four-colour UDF pixellated uniform camouµage pattern; and, if we can ´nd space, Richard Brown will bring us a feature on the new and radical CMP SMG from UAE ´rearms manufacturer Caracal. We also have a couple of

interesting prospective features in the of´ng, but as at time of writing we do not yet have photography ´nalised we are not tempting fate by announcing them in advance. Plus: Product Reviews, Rations, Kit & Camo etc. Contents may change subject to operational developments!

June '17 Issue On Sale 11th May

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