The History Channel presents “Sniper: Inside the Crosshairs” tonight at 9PM Eastern. Portions of the show were filmed at Tier 1 Group’s facility near Memphis, Tennessee and this two-hour special will feature a discussion by EOTAC’s Fernando Coelho of ballistic gelatin and its use in wound profiles for various rounds.
The BBC has reported on the new Multi-Terrain Pattern meant to replace the Woodland pattern found on No. 8 DPM uniform in service for the past 40 years. However, the No.5 Desert Combat Dress will remain in service. As we reported earlier, Crye Precision developed the pattern for the exclusive use of the UK Ministry of Defence.
In the BBC video Lieutenant Colonel Toby Evans identified as “a military advisor with the Government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory,” speaks quite a bit about the importance of the camo pattern as a “corporate image” and how it represented the “British Army brand.” In effect, the British Army has adopted a new woodland pattern that is more relevant in a wide variety of environments than the previous pattern which was more developed for use in Northern Europe. They will retain their desert pattern for specialist use so they will continue to have a two pattern system but with one of the patterns being more universal in nature rather than tuned specifically for verdant areas. Finally, in addition to uniforms in the CS95 cut, the British Soldier will receive armor and helmet covers, packs and webbing in MTP. However, this will happen over time while the new uniforms as soon as this Spring.
One of our readers clued us in on these new targets featuring zombie silhouettes. Billed as “The only target that will eat your brain”, many will find these entertaining and a nice diversion from standard targets. In addition to the four different black and white figures offered by the manufacturer, Law Enforcement Targets has six different color versions including the dreaded Frans – Nazi Zombie. Each target is 25″ x 35″ and printed on 60 lbs paper. Competition-style target zones are included on the torso and brain but cannot be seen from a distance.
They are available, aptly enough, from www.zombietargets.net.
We have been receiving reports regularly from our readers that the New Zealand Army is updating its individual equipment but the Army itself issued a great poster detailing the features of the new Soldier Survivability Gear.
According to Chief of the Army MAJ GEN Rhys Jones, “There are currently 790 New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed on 14 operations, UN missions and defence exercises in 10 countries around the world.†The NZ Army began issuing the equipment to these troops in October and much of it would be familiar to Soldier Systems Daily readers. In addition to the SOCOM issued BAE RBAV and BPG Serpa holster, the Kiwis are also receiving the Camelbak Trizip based on a Mystery Ranch design. Additionally, they are being issued Camelbak gloves, Streamlight Sidewinder lights, ESS ballistic glasses, Revision ballistic goggles, Garmin GPS. The only item that you would have trouble finding here in the US is the Rabintex helmet.
•The new advanced combat helmet is 0.5kg lighter than its predecessor, has an internal mounting system that makes it more comfortable to wear and allows greater functionality with ballistic glasses or communications equipment.
•The improved body armour (IBA) provides enhanced ballistic and fragmentation protection and is now sized to the individual rather than one-size-fits-all. The IBA also includes side, groin and bicep protection should it be required by the wearer and has a modular webbing system so soldiers can customise the pouches they attach directly to their webbing.
•The IBA is fully modular and also has a quick release system to enable the user or another person to discard the vest quickly if the user is injured or submerged in water.
•The improved patrol pack is ergonomic in design, has an adjustable, removable back comforter and is adjustable for height.
•The Revision Desert Locust ballistic goggles were selected as they offered the greatest durability and functionality. These protect the wearer against blast fragmentation and other non-ballistic threats whilst also protecting the eyes from wind, sand, dirt and snow.
•New individual general purpose torch: The Sidewinder stood out as the individual torch choice as it is small, light-weight and has excellent functionality. It provides four types of light: red, blue, white and Infra-red. It has four levels of brightness on each including a strobe function. The torch also comes with a helmet mount so that it allows a hands-free operation. With the IR function it significantly improves the local area illumination when used with an night vision goggles.
•Improved individual GPS: The Garmin 60cX GPS is a unit that provides a cheap but very functional GPS. The Garmin provides colour mapping and new maps can be downloaded via the internet as required. The users found it easy to operate and accurate as an individual navigation aid for tactical commanders.
Soldier Systems Daily has received verification from Crye Precision that they developed the new Multi-Terrain Pattern exclusively for use by the UK’s Ministry of Defence. A Crye representative related to us that, “MultiCam® won all their trials so they wanted us to develop a pattern for them that performed like MultiCam® but had a distinctly British identity. UK-MTP is the result.”
Earlier today, unattributed information found its way to a popular military message board detailing plans to begin issuing this new pattern initially to troops on Op Herrick early next Spring and ultimately in 2011 to the entire military. As you can see from the photo, the unique MultiCam® color palette has been adapted to a pattern reminiscent of Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) a pattern in use by the British military for 40 years.
As posted on StrikeHold! the UK’s Special Forces Support Group has been wearing combat uniforms in MultiCam® for some time.
The adoption of MTP seems to put to rest the limited use of Hybrid DPM which has seen limited use in Afghanistan on “Battle Bags” and assault packs.
Several leaders in the Personal Protective Equipment industry have banded together to launch the Warrior Protection & Readiness Coalition (WPRC), an industry-led effort to ensure that US fighting forces are properly equipped and funded to execute their missions. For the first time, the manufacturers of individual equipment and protective clothing are combining their efforts to advocate for the resources needed to properly equip the US Warfighter. By advocating for fully funding an integrated set of clothing and equipment used by Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, the WPRC will work to make certain that American Warfighters are supplied with superior gear and equipment.
The WPRC will work to ensure that there continues to be a robust domestic industrial base in place to support the permanent battlefield superiority of the US Warfighter. The coalition will focus on the legislative and policy development process, including advocating for adequate research and development of and full funding for superior Personal Protective Equipment for US Warfighters, as well as supporting policy initiatives that affect domestic manufacturers. Members of the WPRC are committed to working closely with the Program Managers of the Department of Defense to support their efforts to increase Warfighter effectiveness, survivability, mobility, sustainability and situational awareness and will advocate for integrated programs like Soldier-As-A-System.
The founding members of the WPRC include ADS Tactical, Darn Tough, Insight Technology, Integrated Wave Technologies, London Bridge Trading, New Balance, Otis, Pelican, Sperian, Surefire, Wiley X and W. L. Gore. Expect additional leaders in the Personal Protective Equipment industry to join as this effort gains momentum.
For more information on the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition go to www.warriorprotection.net.
FAILZERO has been gaining a lot of momentum on the net lately and for good reason. I first ran into them almost a year ago at SHOT Show in Orlando. They displayed several pistols that had been treated but in the meantime they developed an M16/M4 kit (There is also an AR-15 kit available). The key to FAILZERO is their EXO Technology, a surface technology that provides permanent dry lubricity which eliminates the need to apply oil or grease to treated parts for the life of the weapon. Plus it makes clean up a snap.
FAILZERO developed a completely assembled, ready to install, M16/4 Bolt and Carrier System. The kit includes six critical parts that are treated with EXO Technology, . Additionally, EXO Technology is 40% more wear resistant than Chrome with a very Low Coefficient of Friction.
The kit includes:
• *Case Hardened, Shot Peened and MPI Bolt (Magnetic Particle Inspected)
• *Bolt Carrier
• *Chrome Lined Gas Key hardened and staked to Mil-Spec
• *Hammer
• *Extractor
• *Cam Pin
• Mil-Spec Gas Rings
• Grade 8 Hardened Fasteners
• Blue Extractor Insert
• Firing Pin and Retainer
* Parts treated with EXO Technology
The kit is available from Extreme Outfitters.
Note: (It is the buyer’s responsibility to observe all firearm laws)
Yes, a camo house; urban camo, naturally. Ok, so it’s supposed to be UCP, but their colors are a bit off.
The website “Apartment Therapy” recently featured this find in Austin, Texas. I wonder if UCP would blend in.
Thanks to StrikeHold! for the find.
