The US Forces – Afghanistan Safety Office published a Safety Bulletin last monthdue to a mishap involving an M2, an M93 Gun Mount, and a loose .50 round. The results are tragic.
“WHILE MOUNTING THE M2 MACHINE GUN ONTO THE TURRET SYSTEM OF HIS MATV DURING PRE-COMBAT CHECKS, THIS SOLDIER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY INSERTING THE LOCKING PIN ON THE MOD 93 MACHINE GUN MOUNT. THE SOLDIER THEN ATTEMPTED TO FORCE THE LOCKING PIN INTO PLACE WITH A ROCK. AFTER THIS FAILED, HE THEN SECURED A LOOSE .50 CAL ROUND, USING IT TO HAMMER AT THE LOCKING PIN, ATTEMPTING TO FORCE THE LOCKING PIN INTO PLACE. AFTER SEVERAL HITS WITH THE .50 CAL ROUND, THE PRIMER ACTIVATED, SETTING THE ROUND OFF IN THE SOLDIER’S HAND. THE INJURIES SUFFERED TO HIS RIGHT HAND, MIDDLE, RING AND PINKIE FINGERS ON HIS RIGHT HAND ARE SHOWN BELOW TO THE RIGHT.”
The actual Safety Bulletin is after the jump. We have to warn you that the associated photo of the injury is quite gruesome. It is imperative that Soldiers pay attention to what they are doing. War is a dangerous business but it is a tragedy when a Soldier is taken out of the fight because of an accident that could have been prevented.
Could the recent Sources Sought Notice from Natick for Camouflage Patterns, Concepts and Design/Analysis Tools be in support of the Army’s fabled Phase IV of their camouflage plan? We hear that so far only a few companies have ponied up and this has prompted Natick’s Multifunctional Materials Team, Warfighter Science, Technology and Research Directorate to extend the deadline from May 28th until June 18th. Interested parties should check out the Sources Sought Notice and respond if you have something of interest. Now is the time to stand up and be counted.
Apparently, whatever the final plan is for Phase IV it is supposed to be on the Chief of Staff of the Army’s desk by 14 November and word has it that the Army-wide adoption of MultiCam will be one of the courses of action. At this point, it is the path of least resistance since to do nothing and retain UCP would meet a great deal of operational resistance based on several rounds of testing. Additionally, industry is beginning to energize a supply chain for MultiCam that can be further ramped up to meet increased demand. We fully support the continued development of more advanced patterns but MultiCam increases capability immediately. What’s more we would like to see the Air Force adopt MultiCam at least for deployed forces.
Tags: Natick Posted in Camo, Contracts, Multicam | Comments Off on Camouflage Patterns, Concepts and Design/Analysis Tools
In a deal that closed last week, Remington Arms-led Freedom Group Incorporated has purchased outdoor brand Mountain Khakis. No details on the deal have been released.
Bulldog Equipment’s sister company Venom Industries has just launched their new web site. Not only does it feature their new line of concealment bags but they also offer Bulldog products previously unavailable outside of the military.
Talk about fast turnaround times! Hot on the heels of the Digital Concealment Systems press release, Blue Force Gear just announced that they have their most popular Vickers Combat Applications Sling (VCAS) variants available for immediate shipment in ATACS camouflage pattern. These are available to dealers/distributors as well as direct sales. Keep a close eye on Blue Force Gear in the coming weeks and months because they will soon have all of their most popular nylon items available in A-TACS camouflage as well.
Additionally, here are some recent comments from the House Armed Services Committee:
Ground combat uniform research and development Section 352 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (Public Law 111–84) established, as a policy of the United States, that the design and fielding of all future ground combat and camouflage utility uniforms of the armed forces may uniquely reflect the identity of the individual military services, provided that the ground combat and camouflage utility uniforms, to the maximum extent practicable:
(1) provide members of every military service an equivalent level of performance, functionality, and protection commensurate with their respective assigned combat missions;
(2) minimize risk to the individual soldier, sailor, airman, or marine operating in the joint battlespace; and
(3) provide interoperability with other components of individual war fighter systems, including body armor and other individual protective systems.
The committee notes that part of the rationale for section 352 of Public Law 111–84 was to reduce the multiple research, design, development, and fielding efforts for military ground combat uniforms being undertaken by the military departments and to improve the overall combat capability of those assigned to ground combat missions.
In an interim response to section 352 of Public Law 111–84, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found no performance standards for specific combat environments, no criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of camouflage patterns, and no requirements for the services to test interoperability between their uniforms and other protective gear. Furthermore, while GAO found some examples of uniform technology being shared across the services, the committee emphasizes the importance of sharing new technologies, advanced materials, and other advances in ground combat uniform design and development between the military services. The committee notes that some of the military departments have used the Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center during development of their ground combat uniforms to test the effectiveness of the camouflage, and, in some cases, camouflage effectiveness of ground combat uniforms and protective gear. The committee believes, however, that Natick’s resources could be better utilized for joint research and development. Because of its expertise, the committee urges the services to consider expanding their use of the Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center as a center of excellence for uniform research and development to guide their development of camouflage effectiveness and performance criteria and testing.
Additionally, the committee encourages the Secretary of Defense to consider designating an executive agent (EA) to oversee Department of Defense activities related to research and development of ground combat and camouflage utility uniforms. The committee envisions that such an EA would be similar to the functions performed by the executive agent for operation of the Department of Defense Combat Feeding Research and Engineering Program.
Overall, not a whole lot of shocking news here but lots of good costing data has been provided. However, check out the second bullet on slide 33 of the GAO document. A bit of a surprise there. Also, of interest is slide 45 which shows the new Navy Type II and III camo based on the AOR patterns.
Posted in Camo, Congress | Comments Off on Update on the Congressional Fascination with Camo
The 2nd Annual Naval Special Warfare Foundation Charity Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, June 12th at the Kiskiack Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia. Tidewater Tactical is once again organizing the event and it will feature golfing, prizes and lots of cold beer. There is still room for foursomes and they are still seeking sponsors for two holes. Interested parties should contact www.tidewatertactical.com. The Naval Special Warfare Foundation provides scholarships to the survivors of fallen NSW Operators.
This is very exciting news for large businesses as well as the Do-It-Yourselfer. After many months of stage two development on A-TACS and further enhancement of the printing technology behind the pattern, Digital Concealment Systems has announced that Berry compliant A-TACS Nylon Cordura, Nylon webbing, and Hook and Loop is now available for purchase.
In an exclusive partnership, A-TACS Nylon Cordura is now available for worldwide distribution through LC Industries. As a result of this distribution deal, production-ready fabrics can be purchased in quantities as low as 5 yards which will enable a wide range of specialized gear manufacturers to begin producing product without the need to carry heavy fabric inventory.
Fabric will be available in 330D, 500D and 1,000D weights with urethane backing and DWR treated face. For additional information, pricing or to place an order, please call Julie Kammerer or Susan Fields with LCI / TAG at 1-888-890-1199.
A-TACS nylon webbing and bindings are now available exclusively hrough Texcel, Inc. in a variety of specifications ranging from three-quarter inch to three inch widths. For ordering information and pricing, please contact John Pinkos at 401-727-2113.
To complete the A-TACS total concealment system, DCS in conjunction with Aplix, Inc. is proud to announce the release of A-TACS hook and printed loop. For ordering information and pricing, please contact James Bishop at 800-438-0424.
For all other inquiries regarding A-TACS Nylons, please contact Steve Hanks with Digital Concealment Systems at 334-448-5442.
