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Archive for July, 2008

Offduty Part 3 – The Nerf Gun

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

Three words: Tactical Accessory Rail. Those three words make the new line of Nerf N-Strike guns the coolest toys ever. And what can be more fun than shooting “harmless” foam darts at one another? We realize they are intended for kids, but the ability to tailor the Nerf gun, reconfiguring it into different configurations with accessories make it almost as much fun as using a real carbine. In fact, there is a growing community of folks who modify their N-Strikes.

Base guns all feature the 1913-esque rail mount and Nerf produces several accessories like the weapon light and extra magazines. The editor purchased the Longshot CS-6 for his four year old last Christmas and his teenagers have yet to forgive him. Can you say intimidation?

Nerf N-Strike Vulcan EBF-25

And joining the lineup soon, a tripod mounted, box-fed machine gun; the N-STRIKE VULCAN EBF-25. Available this fall and retailing for $59.99, the belt-fed EBF-25 fires 25 rounds of screaming fury. That’s right, the mini darts make noise when fired in order to psych your opponents out. Spare belts will also be available.

Nerf N-Strike Vulcan EBF-25 Belt

The entire office has agreed to spend the “curse” jar money for one. Too bad the summer interns won’t be around to feel the wrath of the Vulcan.

And we won’t even go into the new Rocket Launchers for the Iron Man and Hulk movies.

Available from toy stores and discount retailers everywhere.

Contacting Soldier Systems Blog

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

We often get queries from aspiring writers wondering if we accept guest authors. We do. Contact the Editor with your article idea. However, as this is a non-wealth generating pursuit there will be no payment.

Interested parties can contact Soldier Systems Blog at admin@soldiersystems.net.

The admin stuff:

Inclusion of products or information on Soldier Systems Blog is for informational purposes only and in no way construed as an endorsement unless otherwise stated.

All content is copyright 2008 Soldier Systems Blog unless otherwise credited. Further use of content is prohibited unless specific permission is provided by Soldier Systems Blog. Corporate logos for companies featured on Soldier Systems Blog are the property of their respective owners and are used solely for illustrative purposes.

A Website for the Do-It-Yourselfer: Warfighter Solutions

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

We ran across this website while doing some research for an upcoming article on non-military uses for military battery. It looks like the guy running the site works for Exponent, a very reputable tech “think-tank”.

Check it out: Warfighter Solutions

Note: The link to the website is for informational purposes only and Soldier Systems Blog in no way endorses the modification techniques published Warfighter Solutions. Warfighter Solutions has a similar disclaimer.

BAE ECLiPSE Modular Vest Program

Saturday, July 5th, 2008

ECLiPSE

Many already know that BAE’s Specialty Defense division won the USSOCOM contract for the SPEAR BALCS armor carrier. Their offering is called RBAV for Releasable Body Armor Vest and is designed to accommodate BALCS sut soft armor as well as front and rear plates. What most people don’t know is that it is now available commercially as the Releasable Body Armor Vest – Special Forces and that it but one product in an entire family of body armor carriers.

BAE ECLiPSE RBAV-SF

In addition, BAE is also offering the vests:

The Releasable Body Armor Vest – Homeland Security is intended for the Law Enforcement role. Similar to the SOCOM issue model but it also features Velcro on the chest and upper back to accommodate removable “Police” patches.

The Mounted Crewman Protective Vest is still under development but the concept unique to the ECLiPSE line. Resembling a slimmed down cross between a plate carrier and concealable armor package, the MCPV was designed with the tight spaces armor crewman have to contend with in mind.

The Tactical Body Armor Vest was designed for those who do not require a cut-away system.

The Enhanced Concealable Military Protective Vest is a low profile carrier which incorporates side pockets for magazines.

BAE offers their vests in Coyote, Khaki, Ranger Green, Black and Universal Camo but some products may not be available in all colors.

The ECLiPSE line is available from BAE.

All photos are property of BAE.

Mountain Boots

Friday, July 4th, 2008

The history of dedicated footwear for mountain warfare traces its way back to WWII. A square toed, brown, smooth leather boot with tongue and groove on the sole for ski bindings was issued to the 10th Mountain and First Special Service Force. Mountain boots would remain a Special Forces standard issue item up until today.

WWII Mountain Boot

Although members of 10th SFG(A) stationed in Bad Toelz, Germany privately purchased mountain boots from local cobblers in the 50s and 60s, the issue Mountain Boot remained relatively unchanged. The infamous “Chips” or Chippewa Mountain Boots were a Special forces staple up until the late 80s. They were also issued to the 10th Mountain Division during their initial stand up. Featuring bright steel speed lace hooks, thick felt insoles that never dried out, and a sole with a tongue and groove to fit the old issue “suicide stick” skis, the design had barely changed from WWII. Wearing them was like walking around with bricks strapped to your feet but no self-respecting member of 10th Group would be caught without them.

Chippewa Ski Moutain Boot

But as the 90s wore on the US was without an issue Mountain Boot. Influenced by 1/10th SF’s experience at Bad Toelz and later in Stuttgart, over time SOF units issued boots from Koflach, Raichle, Lowa and eventually La Sportiva who manufactured a special black version of the ever popular Lhotse for US forces operating in Afghanistan. Ironically, the brown leather Lhotse was better suited to military operations than the black model. But the major weakness that all of these highly specialized European brands was just that; they were European. The Berry Amendment requires that US forces must use US textiles. Unfortunately, at the time there was no US manufacturer of hard core Mountaineering Boots.

La Sportiva Lhotse in Black

As an interim, both the Marine Corps and Army are issuing Danner Mountain Boots although they are different models. Danner has developed a dedicated boot for mountain operations for the Marine Corps that was unveiled earlier this year. The Mountain Cold Weather Boot is brown and features an abrasion resistant toe and heel cap as well as a Gore-tex lining. Each pair comes with a new sock system for cold weather.

USMC Danner Mountain Cold Weather Boot

The Army on the other hand has chosen to issue a commercially available Danner to members of the 173d and 101st. Combining leather with nylon fabric panels, the Army’s boot stops just above the ankle resembling a hiking more than a combat boot. PEO-Soldier officials have been very clear that these are an interim solution and in no way intended to replace the current issue boot. For that, the Army is hedging their bets on a new modular boot system set to debut in 2009.

Danner Combat Hiker

Both the Army and Marine Corps solutions are really more trekking boots than actual Mountain Boots. To fill this void in the US military’s family of footwear, they have turned to Bates Footwear and their new Tora Bora model which they are touting as the Tora Bora Alpine Combat Boot. Originally a SOCOM requirement, the user community for the Tora Bora but it is expected to eventually include both the Marine Corps and Army.

Bates Tora Bora Alpine Combat Boot

For more information on the Danner Combat Hiker contact Danner.

For more information on the new Tora Bora, go to Bates.

EOTAC Denim Discreet Pants

Friday, July 4th, 2008

After the sneak peak we posted last week, we have gotten several inquiries for more info on the Denim Pants. They feature the same pocket layout as the original Discreet Pants developed by the EOTAC team meaning no large cargo pockets on the legs. Instead hidden, zippered pockets are located on the outside of the seams.

EOTAC Denim Discreet Pant

Available soon from EOTAC.

Air Force Reconsiders Black Boots

Thursday, July 3rd, 2008

One of the major issues brought to the attention of the latest Air Force Uniform Board is the susceptibility of suede boots to the grease and other lubricants often encountered by maintainers. The new sage green boot has been singled out as looking particularly natty after just a few days on the flight line. Although many Airmen maintain that the tan suede boots currently issued for wear in the CENTCOM AOR are less likely to show stains.

Still to be determined is who will be allowed to wear black boots and under what circumstances. What has been made very clear is that the sage boot is here to stay but the material may change to something more robust or the suede may receive a stain resistant treatment.

Nike Reenters the Tactical Market

Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

Nike

We say “reenters” because Nike has dipped their toe into the pool a couple of times in the past, most recently developing a line of tactical watches based on their Oregon series. Initially produced in Black they transitioned to Coyote and eventually a digital print was offered. But now Nike has come back with their most ambitious project yet; the Special Field Boot.

Nike Special Field Boot

Nike’s co-founder, Bill Bowerman served as a Major in the Army’s 10th Mountain Division during WWII. As a track coach he applied lessons learned on the battlefield to shoe design, making them lighter while maintaining stability and strength. As Nike researched the SFB they realized a fact that most of us have always known, that America’s Warriors are athletes and deserve the same consideration in their equipment as their contemporaries who take to the playing field rather than the battle field.

Nike Special Field Boot Construction

This isn’t some cheap knock off boot, it is seriously engineered footwear. Looking like someone mated a pair of desert boots with the natural motion of Nike Free running shoes, the Nike Special Field Boot is the brainchild of Nike’s Innovation Kitchen. Although Nike has integrated their latest technology into the SFB, they kept the requirements of AR 670-1 in mind so that it would be accepted for wear by military personnel. But please don’t feel that the SFB is intended solely for the military. Public service professionals, whether Law Enforcement or Fire/Rescue will appreciate the design as well. The boot has been in development since 2004 and undergone intensive testing by US Special Operations Forces. Weighing in at only 15.9 oz (size 10), the SFB is available in both Desert Tan and Black.

Available to qualified US purchasers exclusively from Niketown.

All images are property of Nike.