Ivan has created this video on a local company that does custom load development for shooters.
Read the whole story at kitbadger.com/unknown-munitions-part-2-custom-load-development.
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Kit Badger – Custom Load Development
Sunday, December 13th, 2020SCUBAPRO Sunday – Operation Frankton
Sunday, December 13th, 2020Operation Frankton was a commando raid designed to disrupt the shipping of the German-occupied French port of Bordeaux in southwest France during World War II. The raid was carried out by a small Royal Marines unit known as the Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment (RMBPD), part of Combined Operations, now known as the Special Boat Service. They planned on using six canoes to be taken to the area of the Gironde estuary by submarine. They would then paddle by night to Bordeaux. They would attack the docked cargo ships with limpet mines and then escape overland to Spain on arrival. Twelve men from no.1 section were selected for the raid, including the commanding officer, Herbert ‘Blondie’ Hasler, and with the reserve Marine Colley the total of the team numbered thirteen. One canoe was damaged while being deployed from the submarine, and it and its crew, therefore, could not take part in the mission. Only two of the ten men who launched from the submarine survived the raid: Hasler and his no.2 in the canoe, Bill Sparks. Of the other eight, six were executed by the Germans, while two died from hypothermia.
The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill believed the mission shortened the war by six months. The words of Lord Mountbatten, the Commander of Combined Operations, are carved into a Purbeck stone at Royal Marines Poole (current headquarters of the SBS): “Of the many brave and dashing raids carried out by the men of Combined Operations Command none was more courageous or imaginative than Operation Frankton.” The Royal Marines Boom Patrol Detachment (RMBPD) was formed on 6 July 1942 and is based at Southsea, Portsmouth. The RMBPD was under the command of Royal Marines Major Herbert ‘Blondie’ Hasler, with Captain J. D. Stewart as second in command. The detachment consisted of 34 men and was based at Lumps Fort, and often exercised in the Portsmouth Harbor and patrolled the harbor boom at nights.
The Bay of Biscay port of Bordeaux was a significant destination for goods to support the German war effort. In the 12 months from June 1941 – 1942, vegetable and animal oils, other raw materials, and 25,000 tons of crude rubber had arrived at the port. Hasler submitted a plan of attack on 21 September 1942. The initial plan called for a force of three canoes to be transported to the Gironde estuary by submarine, then paddle by night and hide by day until they reached Bordeaux 60 miles (97 km) from the sea, thus hoping to avoid the 32 mixed Kriegsmarine ships that patrolled or used the port. On arrival, they hoped to sink between six and 12 cargo ships then escape overland to Spain.
Permission for the raid was granted on 13 October 1942, but Admiral Louis Mountbatten, Chief of Combined Operations, increased the number of canoes to be taken to six. Mountbatten had initially ordered that Hasler could not take part in the raid because of his experience as the chief canoeing specialist but changed his mind after Hasler (the only man with experience in small boats) formally submitted his reasons inclusion. The RMBPD started training for the raid on 20 October 1942, which included canoe handling, submarine rehearsals, limpet mine handling, and escape and evasion exercises. The RMBPD practiced for the raid with a simulated attack against Deptford, starting from Margate and canoeing up the Swale.
Mark II canoes, which were given the codename of Cockle, were selected for the raid. The Mark II was a semi-rigid two-man canoe, with the sides made of canvas, a flat bottom, and 15 feet (4.6 m) in length. When collapsed, it had to be capable of negotiating the submarine’s narrow confines to the storage area then, before it was ready to be taken on deck, erected and stored ready to be hauled out via the submarine torpedo hatch. During the raid, each canoe’s load would be two men, eight limpet mines, three sets of paddles, a compass, a depth sounding reel, repair bag, torch, camouflage net, waterproof watch, fishing line, two hand grenades, rations, and water for six days, a spanner to activate the mines and a magnet to hold the canoe against the side of cargo ships. The total safe load for the ‘Cockle’ Mark 2 was 480lbs. The men also carried a .45 ACP pistol and a Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife.
The men selected to go on the raid were divided into two divisions, each having its own targets.
· A Division
· B Division
A thirteenth man was taken as a reserve, Marine Norman Colley.
Mission
On 30 November 1942, the Royal Navy submarine HMS Tuna (N94) sailed from Holy Loch in Scotland with the six canoes and raiders on board. The submarine was supposed to reach the Gironde estuary, and the mission was scheduled to start on 6 December 1942. This was delayed because of bad weather en route and the need to negotiate a minefield. By 7 December 1942, the submarine had reached the Gironde estuary and surfaced some 10 miles (16 km) from the estuary’s mouth. Canoe Cachalot’s hull was damaged while being passed out of the submarine hatch, leaving just five canoes to start the raid. The reserve member of the team, Colley, was not needed, so he remained aboard the submarine with the Cachalot crew Ellery and Fisher.
According to Tuna’s log, the five remaining canoes were launched at 1930 hours on 7 December. The plan was for the crews to paddle and rest for five minutes every hour. The first night, 7/8 December, fighting against strong cross tides and crosswinds, canoe Coalfish had disappeared. The surviving crews encountered 5 feet (1.5 m) high waves, and canoe Conger capsized and was lost. The team consisting of Sheard and Moffatt held on to two of the remaining canoes, which carried them as close to the shore as possible, and had to swim ashore. The teams approached a significant checkpoint in the river and came upon three German frigates carrying on with the raid.
Lying flat on the canoes and paddling silently, they managed to get by without being discovered but became separated from Mackinnon and Conway in canoe Cuttlefish. On the first night, the three remaining canoes, Catfish, Crayfish, and Coalfish, covered 20 miles (32 km) in five hours and landed near St Vivien du Medoc. While they were hiding during the day and unknown to the others, Wallace and Ewart in Coalfish had been captured at daybreak near the Pointe de Grave lighthouse where they had come ashore. By the end of the second night, 8/9 December, the two remaining canoes, Catfish and Crayfish, had paddled a further 22 miles (35 km) in six hours. On the third night, 9/10 December, they paddled 15 miles (24 km), and on the fourth night, 10/11 December, because of the strong ebb tide, they only managed to cover 9 miles (14 km). The original plan had called for the raid to be carried out on 10 December, but Hasler now changed the plan. Because of the ebb tide’s strength, they still had a short distance to paddle, so Hasler ordered them to hide for another day and set off to and reach Bordeaux on the night of 11/12 December.
After a night’s rest, the men spent the day preparing their equipment and limpet mines, which were set to detonate at 21:00 hours. Hasler decided that Catfishwould cover the western side of the docks and Crayfish the eastern side.
The two remaining canoes, Catfish and Crayfish, reached Bordeaux on the fifth night, 11/12 December; the river was flat calm, and there was a clear sky. The attack started at 21:00 hours on 11 December. Hasler and Sparks in Catfishattacking shipping on the western side of the dock placed eight limpet mines on four vessels, including a Sperrbrecher patrol boat. A sentry on the deck of the Sperrbrecher, apparently spotting something, shone his torch down toward the water, but the camouflaged canoe evaded detection in the darkness. They had planted all their mines and left the harbor with the ebb tide at 00:45 hours. At the same time, Laver and Mills in Crayfish had reached the eastern side of the dock without finding any targets, so returned to deal with the ships docked at Bassens. They placed eight limpet mines on two vessels, five on a large cargo ship, and three on a small liner.
On their way downriver, the two canoes met by chance on the Isle de Caseau. They continued downriver together until 06:00 hours when they beached their canoes near St Genes de Blaye and tried to hide them by sinking them. The two crews then set out separately, on foot, for the Spanish border. After two days, Laver and Mills were apprehended at Montlieu-la-Garde by the Gendarmerie and handed over to the Germans. Hasler and Sparks arrived at the French town of Ruffec, 100 miles (160 km) from where they had beached their canoe, on 18 December 1942. They contacted someone from the French Resistance at the Hotel de la Toque Blanche and were then taken to a local farm. They spent the next 18 days there in hiding. They were then guided across the Pyrenees into Spain.
It was not until 23 February 1943 that Combined Operations Headquarters heard via Mary Lindell’s secret message to the War Office that Hasler and Sparks were safe. On 2 April 1943, Hasler arrived back in Britain by air from Gibraltar, having passed through the French Resistance escape organization. Sparks was sent back by sea and arrived much later.
Aftermath
On 10 December, the Germans announced that a sabotage squad had been caught on 8 December near the Gironde’s mouth and “finished off in combat.” It was not until January 1943 that all ten men on the raid were posted missing in the absence of other information until news arrived of two of them. Later it was confirmed that five ships had been damaged in Bordeaux by mysterious explosions. This information remained until new research of 2010 revealed that a sixth ship had been damaged even more extensively than any of the other five reported. This research also revealed that the other five vessels holed were back in service very shortly afterward.
For their part in the raid, Hasler was awarded a Distinguished Service Order and Sparks the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM). Laver and Mills were also recommended for the DSM, which could not be awarded posthumously, so instead, they were mentioned in despatches.
Of the men who never returned, Wallace and Ewart were captured on 8 December at the Pointe de Grave (near Le Verdon) and revealed only certain information during their interrogation, and were executed under the Commando Order, on the night 11 December, in a sandpit in a wood north of Bordeaux and not at Chateau Magnol, Blanquefort. A plaque has been erected on the marked bullet wall at the Chateau, but the authenticity of the details on the plaque has been questioned; indeed, given the evidence of a statement by a German officer who was at the execution, there can be no doubt that the Chateau has no link with Wallace and Ewart. A small memorial can also be seen at the Pointe de Grave, where they were captured. In March 2011, a €100,000 memorial was unveiled at this same spot. After a naval firing squad executed the Royal Marines, the Commander of the Navy Admiral Erich Raeder wrote in the Seekriegsleitung war diary that the executions of the captured Royal Marines were something “new in international law, since the soldiers were wearing uniforms.” The American historian Charles Thomas wrote that Raeder’s remarks about the executions in the Seekriegsleitung war diary seemed to be some ironic comment, which might have reflected a lousy conscience on Raeder’s part.
After having been set ashore, MacKinnon and Conway managed to evade capture for four days, but they were betrayed and arrested by the Gendarmerie and handed over to the Germans at La Reole hospital 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Bordeaux, attempting to make their way to the Spanish border. Mackinnon had been admitted to the hospital for treatment for an infected knee. The exact date of their execution is not known. Evidence shows that Mackinnon, Laver, Mills, and Conway were not executed in Paris in 1942 but possibly in the same location as Wallace and Ewart under the Commando Order.
The attack had been planned for the fourth night, but because they were not far enough up the river, Major Haslar delayed it until the fifth night, deciding to move in closer to the target area. They continued along the river with great caution and found a lay-up position in reeds, only a short distance from two large cargo ships. In their hide position, the men worked out details of the plan of attack. With only CATFISH and CRAYFISH now available, Catfish was to take the shipping on the east bank, and Crayfish the shipping on the west bank.
Nineteen limpet mines with nine-hour fuses were placed, resulting in considerable damage to at least five large ships in the harbor. Adolf Hitler was furious. One of the cockles had been discovered, and he demanded to know how ‘this child’s boat’ could have possibly breached all German defenses and security, traveled over seventy miles at night in very rough seas and against the tide, then attacked and sank his shipping with not one of them being discovered! The answer that Hitler did not want to hear was that these ‘children’s boats’ had been crewed by well-trained, determined, and courageous, Commando raiders of the ROYAL MARINES. Major Hasler received a DSO for his part in organizing and leading the raid and Marine Sparks a DSM. The RMBPD later became The Special Boat Squadron.
The Commandos’ final task was to leave the target area undetected then make their way through France in the hope of finally reaching England. After a few miles, they went and wished each other luck, hid their cockles a quarter of a mile apart by sinking them, and headed inland. The men headed north for Ruffec in the hope of connecting with the Marie-Clare Line that operated in the Ruffec area. Contact was made, and Marie-Clare (Mary Lindell) had the men moved to Lyon while traveling to Switzerland to report their contact. A route was arranged for them to travel to the south of France, cross the Pyrenees, and return to England via Gibraltar.
CATFISH: Major Hasler/Marine Sparks reached the target area destroyed shipping. He returned home via Marie-Clare Escape Line and Gibraltar.
CRAYFISH: Corporal Laver/Marine Mills reached the target area, destroyed shipping. Last seen landing. Captured by Germans. Executed in Paris on 23 March 1943.
CONGER: Corporal Sheard/Marine Moffat capsized in a second tidal race. He was last seen swimming to shore off Point de Grave. Moffat’s body was found later. Sheard’s body was never found, presumed drowned.
CUTTLEFISH: Lieutenant Mackinnon/Marine Conway last seen off The Mole at Le Verdon. He was later captured by Germans, executed in Paris on 23 March 1943.
COALFISH: Sergeant Wallace/Marine Ewart missing near Banc des Olives after the first tidal race. Later captured by Germans and executed near Bordeaux on 12 December 1942.
CACHALOT: Marine Ellery/Marine Fisher – canoe damaged on torpedo hatch of HMS Tuna. They were unable to take part in the raid.
TRADOC Delivers New Doctrine to Equip Unit Leaders
Saturday, December 12th, 2020Training and Doctrine Command’s Combined Arms Center kicked off the new decade prioritizing equipping the Army’s troop-level formations with new doctrine as the Army continues to modernize its formations and the way it fights.
It’s a surge effort to equip unit leaders across warfighting disciplines with the tactics, techniques and procedures to help them lead Soldiers and build lethal, cohesive teams.
The roll-out began in 2019 with an overhaul of all of the Army’s foundational Army Doctrine Publications such as ADP 3-90 (Offense and Defense), ADP 2-0 (Intelligence), ADP 3-19 (Fires), and ADP 4-0 (Sustainment).
The publishing blitz continued through 2020 and is set to carry into 2021 with more publications developed from the outgrowth of its doctrine overhaul. It aims to deliver specific and tailored guidance for the different warfighting disciplines with new Field Manuals, Army Technique Publications, Training Circulars and handbooks.
The Army even updated its doctrine about doctrine, publishing APD 1-01, Doctrine Primer, July, 2019. It says, “doctrine provides a coherent vision of warfare, and provides a common and standardized set of principles, tactics, techniques, procedures, and terms and symbols for the Army.”
“These revisions [to doctrine] make publications relevant to near-term operational environments and ensure Army doctrine is balanced to support Army forces conducting operations across the competition continuum and the range of military operations.”
After establishing its doctrinal foundation with its new ADPs and FMs, TRADOC turned its attention to publishing even more doctrine publications offering practical guidance such as ATPs for Soldiers and leaders operating at the lowest tactical levels.
“ATPs provide Soldiers with ways or methods to accomplish or complete a mission, task, or function.”
The Army’s most fundamental warfighting elements are squads, platoons, companies and battalions. TRADOC aimed much of its focus center mass at platoons to make the most difference.
Many senior leaders see mastery of fundamentals as essential to success on the battlefield. Platoon level publications help junior leaders train their Soldiers to gain that mastery.
Soldiers are considered members of a profession whose common language is doctrine. Leaders and Soldiers in a platoon are tied to together by that common language and framework. That’s why their knowledge of it is deemed so critical.
“The Army has expectations that when you show up to your first job, you have a certain baseline of knowledge. A large part of that comes from doctrine,” said Col. Richard Creed, Director Combined Arms Doctrine Directorate.
“Your Soldiers and NCOs expect you to understand what your role and responsibilities, what the doctrine says for the kind of organization you’re a part of.”
“It gives you a common point of departure. When you have a common baseline of knowledge, you can start at a higher level of learning. It allows you to communicate easier with those above and below you.”
In 2020, TRADOC published numerous ATPs to arm its leaders and units with the latest insight on a myriad and training and operations. Examples include, ATPs covering Infantry Small-Unit Mountain and Cold Weather Operations, Techniques for Multiple Launch Rocket System and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Operations, and Materiel Management-Supply-Field Services Operations.
Training Circulars were also published to guide certification and qualification training for Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery Soldiers and units.
“You need to know which doctrine applies to you. Some of it is branch specific and some job specific,” said Creed.
There are also several publications set to publish beginning in 2021. Medical platoons can expect, ATP 4-02.4 Medical Platoon, Aviation platoons – ATP 3-04.23, Engineer and Air Defense Artillery platoons a new handbook for their operations. Later in the year, units performing Electronic Warfare, Chemical-Bio-Nuclear-Radio-Explosives, and Military Police operations will see updated doctrine as well.
TRADOC’s doctrine push shows no sign of slowing. It stands to be an ongoing process of learning, modernizing, and revising its doctrine to keep Soldiers and leaders equipped with much needed guides to inform their training and support their operations. Commandants at the Army’s Centers of Excellence that represent the Army’s diverse warfighting disciplines are leading efforts to update publications within their purview.
“We revise doctrine continuously and we capture lessons learned. We take lessons learned about operations going on all over the world and we update and revise doctrine to account for those lessons,” said Creed.
Lt. Gen. James Rainey, Combined Arms Center’s Commanding General, took it a step further, saying he wanted feedback from junior leaders using the publications. He said he wants to know if leaders and units have what they need and to provide feedback if anything is missing from the Army’s doctrine catalogue.
TRADOC also reinforced its emphasis on strengthening Soldiers’ tactical and technical expertise with the development of a web-tool, called Army 21. It’s a web-based multimedia interactive learning tool that allows Soldiers to learn about their unit’s formations and their doctrine from an internet browser (CAC login required).
“Army 21 addresses what we see as a knowledge gap for our junior leaders,” said Col. Chris Keller, Director of Center for Army Lessons Learned. “Soldiers must understand how the Army mans, equips, and fights.”
“It delivers a one-stop resource to quickly learn and understand current Army organization and about the unique capabilities of our Brigade Combat Teams across the force.”
You can access the tool at atn.army.mil/getmedia/449fcb0e-3b11-404f-b012-f5c85b429fd0/a21 (CAC login required)
Here’s a video tutorial of Army 21.
By Maj Orlandon Howard, Public Affairs, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Friday Focus – FirstSpear Stratton Flannels In Stock & New Colors
Friday, December 11th, 2020
FirstSpear’s new winter weight Stratton Flannels have arrived early in three new great looking colors black/white multi plaid, black/white/navy multi plaid and navy/white/gold multi plaid. Enter black and white These flannels are 100% American made in heavier 9 ounce weight. Premium construction with oversized breast pockets, exterior hang loop, and two button closure on forearm and cuff. They are machine washable and oversized to accommodate 3% shrinkage after a few cycles in the wash. Please note that the Stratton Flannel is an oversized design, step down one size from your normal T-shirt size for a standard fit.
“I have had this flannel for about a year and it is my go to fall and winter shirt. Quality is excellent. On par or better than Filson. Does run big. I’m 6ft 200lbs with a 34 in waist and generally wear an XL. I bought a large and dried it on hot and it fits well. Probably could get away with a medium for a really fitted look.” —Online Review
“When they say they ship one size larger it ships a size larger. May shrink a little after washing. Great fit for me I’m a little on the tall side so the longer sleeves and broad shoulders is perfect. The 9 oz is great up north in the mountains. Keeps you warm but if there’s a lot of wind get a cheater for it. Otherwise I feel like I can cut down a whole damn forest with this thing on. It’s not your cheap Walmart flannel and worth every penny. Save up and get one.” —Online Review
Interested in seeing more gear from FirstSpear? Check out Episode Three of FSTV’s X-RAY Team:
For more information about FirstSpear, check out www.first-spear.com/technical-apparel/outerwear/stratton-flannel-7385.
Navy Announces Aerial Vehicle Operator Warrant Officer Specialty
Friday, December 11th, 2020The Navy announced a new warrant officer specialty designator whose job will be to operate carrier-based MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial vehicles, which are expected to start appearing in fleet carrier air wings sometime in 2024.
The Navy announced a new warrant officer specialty designator whose job will be to operate carrier-based MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial vehicles, which are expected to start appearing in fleet carrier air wings sometime in 2024.
The establishment of the Aerial Vehicle Operator (AVO) warrant officer specialty became a reality Dec. 9 with Secretary of the Navy Kenneth J. Braithwaite’s approval of the new designator, which was announced in NAVADMIN 315/20.
Over the next 6-10 years, the Navy will recruit, train and send to the fleet, a community of roughly 450 warrants in grades W-1 through W-5.
Those selected for the program will first complete Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. Upon graduation, they will be designated as Warrant Officer One and must complete basic flight training as well as advanced training on the MQ-25 aerial vehicle. Once complete with basic flight training, these officers will earn their own distinctive Navy “wings of gold” warfare device and be assigned the 737X designator.
“AVO’s will start out operating the MQ-25 Stingray, the Navy’s first carrier based unmanned aerial vehicle, which is expected to join the fleet with an initial operating capability in 2024,” said Capt. Christopher Wood, aviation officer community manager at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Millington, Tenn.
The use of warrant officers as the primary operators of unmanned aerial vehicles came about because the expected career path they’ll have as they move up the ranks will be as technical specialists who complete repetitive tours, which fits the Navy’s model on how warrant grades are utilized.
“Unlike traditional Navy Chief Warrant Officer’s, the majority of these officers will be accessed much younger and trained along the lines of current Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers in the unrestricted designators,” Wood said.
“However, Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers require assignments that progress in tactical and leadership scope to be competitive for promotion, while warrant officer AVO’s will be technical specialists and spend their careers as operators.”
Navy Recruiting Command will begin accepting applications for initial AVO accessions in fiscal year 2022. In addition to street-to-fleet warrants, enlisted Sailors will also be able to apply for the program, and potentially earn the 737X warrant officer designator.
“Currently, the plan is to grow the community from the ground up with Warrant Officer AVOs,” Wood said. “However, Naval Aviation will continue to evaluate the requirements of the program as it matures.”
Commanding and executive officers, as well as department heads of MQ-25 squadrons, will be filled by aviators and flight officers administratively screened for those commands.
“During the first 4-5 years of the program, some MQ-25 AVOs will come from other Type/Model/Series as we build up the knowledge base, with the first 3-4 deployments having a mix of existing unrestricted line and new warrants making up the ready room.”
And though right now the community will be focused on the MQ-25, in the future, warrant officer AVOs may also operate the MQ-4C Triton while on shore duty following their initial MQ-25 sea tour. As the Navy’s footprint in unmanned aerial vehicles increases, so could the scope of the AVO community.
USMC Amphibious Combat Vehicle Achieves Major Milestone
Thursday, December 10th, 2020The US Department of Defense announced today:
BAE Systems Land and Armaments L.P., Sterling Heights, Michigan, is awarded an $184,444,865 fixed-price-incentive (firm target) modification to previously awarded contract M67854-16-0006 for amphibious combat vehicles (ACV). This modification provides for the procurement of 36 full rate production ACVs and other associated production costs for the Marine Corps. Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania (60%); Aiken, South Carolina (15%); San Jose, California (15%); Sterling Heights, Michigan (5%); and Stafford, Virginia (5%). Work is expected to be completed in November 2022. Fiscal 2021 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $184,444,865 are being obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-16-C-0006).
Marine Corps’ Program Executive Office Land Systems issues a story about the program:
Marine Corps will begin fielding Amphibious Combat Vehicle
Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.— The Marine Corps’ new Amphibious Combat Vehicle has achieved two new major milestones.
On Nov. 13, the Marine Corps’ Capabilities Development Directorate approved the Initial Operational Capability of the ACV. Marines with 1st Marine Division aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, were the first to receive the vehicle.
The Program Manager Advanced Amphibious Assault program office at Program Executive Officer Land Systems manages the system.
“We’re providing Marines with a modern, armored personnel carrier that offers tremendous capability with respect to survivability,” said Col. Kirk Mullins, program manager for Advanced Amphibious Assault at PEO Land Systems. “The ACV gives the Marine Corps a capable platform operational across the full-range of military operations.”
Then, on Dec. 8, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) James Geurts approved the vehicle for Full-Rate Production. This means the Marine Corps can build and field higher quantities of the ACV at a sustained rate over the next several years.
What is the ACV?
The ACV is a next-generation, eight-wheeled vehicle designed to move Marines from ship to shore. The vehicle will be the primary means of tactical mobility for the Marine infantry battalion at sea and ashore, replacing the Corps’ aging Assault Amphibious Vehicle.
The ACV provides organic, direct fire support to dismounted infantry. The vehicle’s ability to leverage waterways to carry Marines and equipment make it well-suited for various operating environments, including Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations.
It is net-ready, secure, interoperable, operationally effective and built for future growth. In the future, the Corps intends to develop, procure and field three additional variants that specialize in command and control, recovery operations and increased firepower.
“The fielding of the ACV is significant because we’re replacing the AAV, which has been effective for decades but was fielded in 1972,” said Mullins. “We’re providing Marines with a modern, more capable combat vehicle that is more adaptable to today’s battlefield.”
Col. David G. Bardorf, the director of Ground Combat Element Division at the Marine Corps’ Capabilities Development Directorate, said the ACV has progressed significantly since its initial requirements discussions in 2014. Combat Development and Integration was responsible for developing the requirements set that would be needed to replace the older platform.
“Reaching IOC is a testament to those involved in this program and the constant communication between the stakeholders: requirements, program managers, and [the vendor],” said Bardorf. “In the end, the Marine Corps is receiving an upgrade in capability ahead of schedule. We look forward to the program moving forward towards Full Operational Capability.”
Mullins said the vehicle is projected to reach FOC in fiscal year 2028.
Marines excited for new vehicle
In 2019, PEO Land Systems oversaw extensive testing involving the ACV that confirmed the vehicle’s ability to not only take on challenging surf, but also complete a long swim from ship to shore. The testing also indicated that the ACV has greater survivability and mobility than the AAV.
In 2020, Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity performed independent operational testing involving the ACV’s achieved suitability, effectiveness and survivability. Results from the assessments, as well as feedback from Marines trained to employ the vehicle, came back positive.
Mullins believes the ACV achieving IOC and FRP is a significant achievement for the Marine Corps, as Marines will receive an innovative vehicle that further supports their missions in various combat environments for years to come.
“As program manager, I’ve spent a lot of time speaking with Marines who have trained with this vehicle in a variety of test environments,” said Mullins. “The feedback we’ve consistently received has been overwhelmingly positive. Marines seem to really love the vehicle.”
Story by Barb Hamby, PEO Land Systems
Photo by by Ashley Calingo
Mystery Ranch – RFAK & VLAK
Thursday, December 10th, 2020An essential aspect of preparedness is medical supplies and training. The ability to self-stabilize and package yourself, potential patients, or family members will depend on your ability to respond quickly to any situation. MYSTERY RANCH offers two basic medical pouches.
VLAK in use. Photo by: TacGas
The Removable First Aid Kit (RFAK) and Vehicle Litter Aid Kit (VLAK) are two small medical pouches from MYSTERY RANCH built to handle essential medical tasks with expandable-organization in mind. Their application excels with on-person or vehicle-based missions – from the residential, tactical urban, mission-essential or wilderness backcountry environments.
RFAK and VLAK both offer quick, one-handed visual access to your essential medical supplies organized inside – allowing for pressure or stabilization while accessing the necessary medical solution stored inside.
The history of MYSTERY RANCH medical kits:
IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) and VLAK (Vehicle Litter Aid Kit) were initially designed around 2010 in response to an RFP for a SOCOM Tactical Combat Causality Care program. Both pouches were designed with quick one-handed entry, ensuring fast rip-open access to med supplies. This design was based on the previously developed Rip-Zip pockets, turned upside down for this application.
The Ranch was a sub-contractor on the bid, providing nylon that the prime contractor would kit out with the medical supplies. The prime contractor wasn’t awarded the contract, but SOCOM quickly reached out praising the design built by MYSTERY RANCH. Since then, these have been staples of the Ranch’s in-line program.
RFAK – Removable First Aid Kit
The original MYSTERY RANCH IFAK was redesigned in 2016 based on user feedback from those downrange. The primary redesign element was the ability to remove the internal medical kit while the IFAK outer stayed attached. As shown below, the internal component are now removable so that with one hand, a user could pull the entire contents out of the shell in a tight little bundle. This allowed self-administration of aid or the ability to toss the bundle to someone else who needs it. With this design change, we re-named the product RFAK (Removable First Aid Kit). The RFAK is a compact, yet expandable and removable, individual first aid kit. It features a MOLLE attach system and is sized to keep a low profile.
No matter if this is placed on your kit, in your go-bag, or in any of your day-to-day belongings. The RFAK contains enough space for an individual’s essential medical supplies.
VLAK – Vehicle Litter Aid Kit
The VLAK is the next step-up in medical kit size, while maintaining the same single-handed utility and MOLLE attachment as the RFAK. It includes a long, detachable strap connected to the top to sling it over a vehicle headrest, or your shoulder while heading to the X. It can also be attached to an assault vest and body armor.
VLAK is a common acronym for this type of larger IFAK designed to be primarily vehicle based for responders to a mass casualty event. This size adapts to family or crew needs with vehicle mobility in mind. The VLAK is sized to hold two RFAK’s worth of gear, to either refill RFAK’s or triage several patients. The VLAK was designed to address medical resupply storage in vehicles.
The Litter in the name refers to its ability to carry a compressed and ultra-light litter under the two compression straps on the top of the VLAK. As such, it is larger than the RFAK so that it can carry larger and additional medical items along with standard medical gauze, clotting agent, etc.
RFAK and VLAK Manufacturing and Distribution
Both of these medical pouches are currently made in the USA and are Berry Compliant, and available for civilian purchase.
We also manufacture an Asia-sourced version that is supplied to the Norwegian Military, as MYSTERY RANCH is a subcontractor for most of the Nylon on Norway’s current TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) program. Some version of most of our medical packs and pouches are being issued widely there since 2018.
We are pleased to collaborate with our friends at North American Rescue for kitting out our medical packs for these photos and videos. Please contact NARescue customer service to order medical contents as shown.
*Contents not included with MR pack.
Combat Divers Submerge Inside Cheyenne Mountain
Thursday, December 10th, 2020
CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN AIR FORCE STATION, Colo. —
A Special Forces Operations Detachment – Alpha (SFOD-A) with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) put their combat dive skills to use November 5, 2020 where one would least expect: in the heart of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex.
Inside the complex are three reservoirs that hold water for a variety of uses, including cooling the mountain’s generators and expelled exhaust. Because the mountain is designed to function independently, the water systems are vital to the success of the mountain’s operations. Assessing the Structural integrity of the reservoirs and ensuring the water is flowing freely through the cave systems that connect them keeps things running smoothly.
“They originally contracted with a civilian company to get this done,” says the Officer in Charge of the Dive LIfe Support Maintenance Facility at 10th SFG (A). “My brother, an Air Force Logistical Officer tasked to the Space Force, recommended they get in contact with (us) to do it for free.”
The facility manager of the complex and the DLSMF and a chosen combat dive SFOD-A set out to accomplish the mission.
“Dive operations don’t happen very often in special forces,” says the OIC. “This was a good chance for us to go out and showcase our capabilities as a legitimate maritime force within (Special Operations Command) to actually do a real world mission. It’s not infiltrating into enemy country or territory, but it was a chance for us to show everyone that we do have this capability and it’s important to keep the capability within the Special Forces community.”
10th SFG (A) to establish and develop relationships outside of the Army and Special Operations Command. It started a relationship with the Cheyenne Mountain complex to provide future opportunities for real world missions, training and equipment testing. These relationships are essential to interoperability within different branches of the military enhancing our overall capabilities as one united force.
By Sgt Angela Walter, 10th Special Forces Public Affairs
