March 2015 | Soldier Systems Daily Soldier Systems Daily

Archive for March, 2015

Army Curtails M855A1 & M80A1 Ammo Use In Live Fire Shoot Houses

Friday, March 20th, 2015

Early this year, the US Army released guidance curtailing the use of M855A1 and M80A1 enhanced performance ammunition in live fire shoot houses until further notice due to over penetration of ballistic backer materials in the structures.

R 061517Z JAN 15
FM ALARACT RELEASE AUTHORITY WASHINGTON DC
TO ALARACT
BT
UNCLAS
SUBJ/URGENT ALARACT 004/2014 – STOP USE OF M855A1 AND M80A1 EPR AMMUNITION FOR TRAINING IN LIVE FIRE SHOOT HOUSES (LFSH) UNTIL TESTING IS COMPLETED

THIS URGENT ALARACT MESSAGE HAS BEEN TRANSMITTED BY USAITA ON BEHALF OF HQDA ASO//DACS-FS//

1. (U) BACKGROUND. THE EPR 5.56MM M855A1 AND 7.62MM M80A1 ROUNDS BOTH HAVE INCREASED VELOCITY AND IMPROVED PENETRATION CAPABLIITIES OVER CURRENT STANDARD AMMUNITION (5.56 M855 AND 7.62MM M80). THERE ARE SAFETY RELATED CONCERNS THAT THESE NEW ROUNDS MAY POSSIBLY PENETRATE THE EXISTING MATERIALS THAT ARE USED IN CONSTRUCTION OF LFSH (SHOCK ABSORBENT CONCRETE, WALLS FILLED WITH PEA GRAVEL OR SAND, AND 3/8 INCH AND 1/2 INCH AR 500 STEEL).

2. (U) TESTING IS ONGOING TO IDENTIFY WHICH LFSH CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS WILL CONTAIN PROJECTILES. THE M855A1 AND M80A1 EPR AMMUNITION SHOULD NOT BE USED DURING TRAINING IN ANY LFSH UNTIL TESTING OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IS COMPLETED AND ANALYZED.

3. (U) HQDA G-3/5/7 HAS AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING AMMUNITION FOR USE IN LFSH: LIVE BALL-M855, M80; SHORT RANGE TRAINING AMMUNITION (SRTA)-5.56MM M1037 BALL, M862 PLASTIC AND 7.62MM M973/M974 LINKED 4
BALL/1 TRACER; AND CLOSE COMBAT MISSION CAPABILITY KIT (CCMCK) FORCE-ON-FORCE LOW VELOCITY MARKING AMMUNITION.

4. (U) POC: Redacted by me.

5. (U) EXPIRATION DATE IS 22 APRIL 2015.

Posted in Training | 11 Comments »

GLOCK Releases Single Stack 9mm Concealed Carry – The New G43

Friday, March 20th, 2015

SMYRNA, Ga – (Mar. 20, 2015) – Today GLOCK, Inc. announced the release of the new GLOCK single stack slimline 9mm pistol, the GLOCK 43. The G43 is the most highly desired and anticipated pistol release in GLOCKs history. Designed to be the answer to everyday concealed carry needs, the G43 is ultra-concealable, accurate, and comfortable for all shooters, regardless of hand size.

“The G43 is the most exciting product release to date because it addresses a variety of issues that many shooters face with pistols in the concealed carry category,” stated GLOCK, Inc., VP Josh Dorsey. “It will be the pistol of choice for law enforcement and civilians. The G43 sets a new standard for concealed carry pistols.”

A true slimline pistol, the frame width of the G43 is just over one inch and the slide width measures only 0.87 inch. The overall length is 6.26 inches. For those who have smaller hands, the trigger distance is only 2.6 inches, making it ideal for functionality. The single stack magazine holds 6 rounds and is the perfect concealed carry pistol for both duty and civilian use. The G43 is engineered to the same superior standards as all GLOCK pistols and the reliability instills confidence for all lifestyles.

The G43 will debut at the NRA Annual Meeting, April 10-12, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn., at the GLOCK booth (#633). Shipments of the product will begin directly following the convention.

us.glock.com

Posted in weapons | 23 Comments »

PenCott Camouflage Shows Up On ‘House Of Cards’

Friday, March 20th, 2015

Hyde Definition’s PenCott BadLands and GreenZone camouflage patterns are featured in the latest season of ‘House of Cards’. The full release can be read below, and beware, there are some spoilers:

Hyde Definition’s cutting-edge PenCott-BadLands™ and PenCott-GreenZone™ camouflage patterns continue to show up in interesting places – this time they are featured in Season 3 of the award-winning Netflix drama “House of Cards”.

Caution, this announcement carries a SPOILER ALERT…

Seen in a crucial and dramatic segment of Season 3; PenCott™ camouflage patterns are seen in use by ‘Russian’ soldiers taking part in a peacekeeping mission in the Middle East. The Russian soldiers are seen wearing BadLands™ uniforms, whereas GreenZone™ uniforms are worn by the Russian officers and by Russian President Petrov. All of the PenCott camouflage uniforms used are the CPU (Combat Patrol Uniform) model made by Polish company Helikon-Tex.

In the latter part of Chapter 36, US President Underwood and Russian President Petrov hold a secret meeting in the Jordan Valley to try and resolve a crisis concerning the peacekeeping mission there. In the segment President Underwood (played by Emmy Award winning actor Kevin Spacey) wears an OCP/MultiCam ACU, and President Petrov (played by Danish actor Lars Mikkelsen – renowned for his roles in ‘The Killing’ and ‘Sherlock’) wears a GreenZone™ CPU.

As real Russian Army ‘Digital-Flora’ uniforms are hard to come by, the ‘House of Cards’ costume department selected GreenZone™ and BadLands™ pattern uniforms as stand-ins. Together with help from their retail partners, and with MMI Textiles also helping to supply some spare fabric, Hyde Definition and Helikon-Tex were able to rapidly assemble the sizes and quantities of uniforms and caps that were needed and deliver them in time to meet a tight filming schedule.

www.hydedefinition.com

Tags: Hyde Definition, PenCott
Posted in Camo, Media | 11 Comments »

7.62 Design – MOJO-69 Charity Fundraiser T-Shirts

Friday, March 20th, 2015

7.62 Design has partnered up with OAF Nation to produce a t-shirt honoring the eleven Guardsmen and Marines who lost their lives during the March 10th Blackhawk crash off the Florida coast. The design includes the names of the four Guardsmen and seven Marines lost in the crash, along with their unit insignia, and other associated imagery.

100% of the profits from the tribute shirts will be donated to the families of the Servicemen.

The shirts are 100% cotton, and screenprinted with plastisol inks. Available in both men and women sizes SM-2XL. Designed and printed in the USA.

www.7point62design.com/dp/B00UW3FTJM

Tags: 7.62 Designs, MOJO-69
Posted in Charity, Clothing | 5 Comments »

FirstSpear Friday Focus – Beat Up Plate Carrier

Friday, March 20th, 2015

This week we feature a FirstSpear original. The Beat Up is a plate carrier that was one of the first armor platforms produced when the company launched. A government agency overrun has allowed them to close out a limited stock of Medium and Large SAPI cut Beat Ups (Ranger Green only).

This is a great opportunity to grab a full featured carrier or replace an old one at a very low cost. These are not seconds and are fresh off the floor and still come with the FirstSpear lifetime warranty in materials and craftsmanship.

With a name borrowed from the lexicon of the elite Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) of World War II, a “Beat Up” was considered to be a raid, ambush or direct action of the type that group favored and this PC is developed for just that sort of operation. The Beat Up is lightweight and integrated with all appropriate functions that reflect input from Professional Users, the experience of the FirstSpear Design Team and the very best in modern materials technology.

The Beat Up features full comfort padding and ventilation on the front and back body just like the Strandhögg. Includes full cummerbund that accepts 6×6 side plates, Drag handle, fully adjustable shoulder straps, and FirstSpear design and quality craftsmanship you can trust. Fits Hard Armor plates cut to SAPI in the corresponding size, ie. Medium Plate fits a Medium Plate Carrier.

The Beat Up retails at $349.98 now available while supplies last for $149.99 AND they are offering Free Domestic Ground Shipping (APO/FPO/DPO) with purchase of the Beat Up (Ranger Green only).

www.first-spear.com

Tags: FirstSpear
Posted in Armor, Load Carrying, Sales | Comments Off on FirstSpear Friday Focus – Beat Up Plate Carrier

Royal Navy Fields New Action Working Dress

Friday, March 20th, 2015

Almost three years to the day after we first wrote about this subject, the Royal Navy has announced the fielding of their new Royal Navy Personal Clothing System bersion of the No 4 Action Working Dress which has remained essentially unchanged since the Second World War. The first command to receive this update is the HMS Lancaster.

L-R Able Rating Jackson (old uniform) and LT Strachan (new uniform) on board HMS Lancaster

The uniform is dark blue and made from FR materials. While it is certainly a Navy working uniform, its shares some features with the PCS uniform worn by the ~~Royal~~ British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force. For instance, rank is now worn on the chest. However, the Navy Ensign is proudly displayed on the left shoulder and trade badge on the right.

This Royal Navy graphic gives you a look at the differnces between the old and new uniforms and layers that make up the Royal Navy Personal Clothing System which include undergarments, shirt and trousers, fleece and shell.

Tags: Royal Navy
Posted in Clothing | 15 Comments »

SureFire – Off-Set Scout Light Mounts

Friday, March 20th, 2015

SureFire has released two off-set 1913-compatible mounts for Scout Light models, the RM45 and RM45L. Both mounts are made of aerospace aluminum, hard anodized with Mil-Spec Type III finish. The mounts position the light in the off-set positions between the rails of a 1913 forend, decreasing weapon profile and limiting snag factor. The RM45 is designed to accept Scout Light models equipped with a thumbscrew clamp. The RM45L is designed for Scout Light models equipped with the wider footprint Swing-Lever clamp.

Both mounts are available in Black and Tan.

www.surefire.com/parts-accessories/other-accessories/rm45-offset-rail-mount

www.surefire.com/parts-accessories/other-accessories/rm45l

Tags: Surefire
Posted in Lights, weapons | 6 Comments »