Happy Independent Day. This is indeed one of my favorite holidays. For all my British brothers out there, I have attached a video for you. There is also a bonus one at the end.
For his actions and the way he led his man during the Revolutionary War, John Paul Jones is considered the father of the U.S. Navy.
John Paul was born in Kirkcudbright, Scotland on July 6, 1747. He joined the British merchant marine at the age of 12 and went to sea for the first time as a cabin boy.
In 1766, he was appointed the first mate on a slaver brigantine, but he quickly abandoned the trade due to dissatisfaction. In 1769, he was appointed master. In Tobago, West Indies, he killed the leader of his mutinous crew in self-defense in 1773. He then went to Virginia to avoid justice and was labeled a fugitive by the British. By adding the surname Jones, he was able to hide his true identity.
Now going by John Paul Jones, he moved to Philadelphia and joined the Continental Navy when the American Revolution broke out in 1775. On the first American flagship, the Alfred, he was commissioned a lieutenant. In 1776, Jones was promoted to captain and assigned command of the sloop Providence. On his first time at sea as a captain, he went north to Nova Scotia, wrecked British fisheries, and seized sixteen British prize ships.
In 1777 and 1778, he commanded the Ranger, and he had two definite objectives in mind for this deployment. He wanted to carry out hit-and-run operations against opposing coastal fleets first. Aside from the apparent harm to local shipping, it would cause civilian terror along the English, Scottish, and Irish coastlines, forcing British war planners to redirect some of their marine resources from protecting American ports to defending their own. Second, he sought to kidnap a high-ranking British official and keep him for ransom until imprisoned Americans were released from British prisons or were released from impressment. For his actions, he was given command of five French and American ships. Jones led his squadron off the Scottish coast to capture seven merchantmen. His most famous battle was on September 23, 1779 against the 44-gun Royal Navy ship, Serapis, and one of the bloodiest naval battles in history. That day, even though his ship was burning and sinking, Jones refused to surrender to the British, saying “I have not yet begun to battle”. Serapis surrendered after more than three hours, and Jones assumed charge.
Even being a sailor, he was very well-dressed, wielded a sword, and behaved in a manner of studied decorum, unlike most merchant seafarers. He spoke with a faint Celtic dialect and had a Scottish brogue. He was a severe military master who was obsessive about his honor and obligations, yet surprisingly pleasant. He was a prolific poet and letter writer, knew some French, and was involved in numerous romances while never marrying. No one, above all, questioned his audacity. His maritime operations against the mother country earned him a reputation as a pirate in Britain.
Jones was named rear admiral in the Russian Navy by Russian Empress Catherine the Great in 1788. He participated in the Liman campaign in the Black Sea. Then, in 1789, he quit the Russian service and relocated to Paris. He was then appointed as the United States Consul in Algiers, but he died before his commission arrived. His body was buried in Paris, but after a long search, his perfectly preserved body was recovered and sent to the United States in 1905. Jones’ remains were reinterred in an elegant mausoleum at the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1913, thanks to President Theodore Roosevelt’s intervention.
Sterling, VA: In celebration of Independence Day, thermoregulation and performance specialists Qore Performance, Inc., released an all-new, short documentary-style video tribute titled “Why We Fly The Betsy Ross Flag.”
“Independence Day is more than fireworks to all of us here at Qore Performance. It represents a turning point in human history where, for the first time, the freedom of the individual became more important than the power of the state,” said Justin Li, Qore Performance Co-Founder and CEO, “we hope that our deeply personal story behind why we love the Betsy Ross Flag serves as a reminder and inspiration for all Americans about the importance of the foundational principles eternally enshrined in the Constitution and that we are stronger united than divided.”
On July 1, 2021, the 123rd anniversary of the epic battle of San Juan Hill, Cuba. FirstSpear pays tribute the Rough Riders and the gallant charge made that day to secure the critical heights. This charge ultimately led to freeing the oppressed peoples of Cuba to pursue their own destiny.
This iconic photo was taken that day after the successful charge. Legendary famous Law Man and Troop CO “Buckey” O’Neil once said, “War is argument, best way to settle it is to kill the other fella.” This emboldened the Rough Riders to continue forward to victory even though he was killed in the assault.
FirstSpear has created an iconic, limited edition commemorative T-shirt with this photo and quote.
The 22 liter 1 Day Assault Pack from LBT Inc is launching in MAS Grey and MultiCam Black tomorrow at Noon EDT.
Features:
• 2 – Zippered front pockets
• 2 – Interior zippered mesh pockets
• 2.5H x 10.5W loop field for ID/morale patch
• (2) 4-way stretch water bottle pockets w/ barrel lock/cinch closure
• Molded air channel back with padded support
• Interior back wall lined with loop for hook pouch attachment
• Hydration port
LBT products are available for unit and agency orders from ADS, Inc.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – June 30, 2021 – Blackhawk®, a leader in law enforcement and military equipment for over 20 years, has partnered with Streamlight® to deliver two tactical weapon lights, the TLR1-HL® and TLR-7A Flex®. Already popular among shooters, both Streamlight models are designed to fit several Blackhawk holsters, most notably the Blackhawk T-Series. In addition, the TLR1-HL is compatible with the Blackhawk Omnivore holster.
With 1,000 lumens and a 928-foot beam at the ready, the TLR1-HL is designed to provide maximum visibility when illuminating a room, alley or other wide space. Meanwhile, the TLR-7A features 500 lumens and a 459-foot beam, but also comes with an ergonomic, ambidextrous on/off switch that can be customized for either a low or high position to match a user’s grip style.
Both lights feature a rail clamp system that securely attaches the light without tools and without a user needing to put their hands in front of the muzzle. The TLR1-HL mounts directly on Glock-style and Picatinny rails, and includes keys for Glock-style, Picatinny, Beretta 90-Two, S&W 99, S&W TSW and SIG P320 setups.
Each Streamlight is designed to withstand the tests of time and field use with anodized machined aluminum and IPX7 waterproof ratings. The TLR1-HL can run up to 1.5 hours on two CR123A lithium batteries and the TLR-7A can run up to 1.5 hours on one CR123A lithium battery. A safe off feature also prevents accidental activation and saves battery life.
The lights feature a black finish and engraved Blackhawk logo, are assembled in the U.S., and feature Streamlight’s limited lifetime warranty. MSRP for the TLR1-HL is $209.95 and MSRP for the TLR-7A is $174.95.
For more information about these tactical lights or compatible holsters, visit blackhawk.com. For more support or customer service, visit streamlight.com.
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After an investigation into the incident, CANSOFCOM just released their statement on the November 5, 2020 unintentional discharge of a holstered SIG P320. The statement concludes that debris in the holster caused the incident and verifies that the holster was not the proper holster for the weapon. However, they go on to say that a properly fit holster would not have prevented the incident. I’m sure holster manufacturers will have something to say about that. Investigation into the incident will apparently continue.
As a reminder, here is our article containing SIG’s statement on the incident after it was disclosed by CBC on February 5, 2021.
June 30, 2021 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The Summary Investigation into the unintended discharge of a holstered pistol during a Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) training event on November 5, 2020 is complete.
The investigation found that the procurement process and execution of the training event were not contributing factors to the incident, and that no technical failure occurred within the pistol. The pistol functioned as per the requirements as demonstrated by the weapons technical experts who trialed thousands of rounds without a reoccurrence. The probability of this same incident reoccurring is assessed to be extremely low.
The investigation concluded the primary probable cause of the incident was due to a partial depression of the trigger by a foreign object combined with simultaneous movement of the slide against the pistol frame that then allowed a round to be fired whilst the pistol was still holstered. The investigation also determined that the previously issued holster employed at the time had not been modified for the new pistol. While the investigation concluded the use of a holster not specifically designed for the new weapon was found to be a contributing factor, it determined the use of any other holster would not necessarily have prevented the incident.
The investigation made several recommendations in the areas of further improvements to the process when procuring leading-edge equipment, fielding improvements and weapon system modification.
Central to the decision on the way forward is ensuring our members’ utmost confidence in the effectiveness and safety of their equipment and weapons. As such, the Command assembled a working group consisting of operators, weapons experts and procurement specialists to develop and assess a number of options.
CANSOFCOM leadership has directed a safety/risk assessment be conducted by a third party before taking a final decision on a way forward. This safety/risk assessment will take a number of months to complete.
