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Archive for the ‘History’ Category

SureFire Announces 40th Anniversary Legacy Video

Tuesday, March 26th, 2019

Fountain Valley, CA—SureFire, LLC, is continuing its milestone 40th anniversary celebration as the leading manufacturer of suppressors, high-performance flashlights, weapon-mounted lights and tactical products by releasing a new video, Legacy.

The goal of the video is to remind the viewer how a legacy isn’t about wealth or status, or about being celebrated in a parade or via a monument. It is chronicled by examples that are set, lessons taught and impressions left. A legacy is seen in the next generation that is living a life of honor, courage and commitment.

“The video was an idea from JD Potynsky of Northern Red,” said Andrew Wright, Public Relations Manager, SureFire, LLC. “We were talking about the global war on terror and how it has been going on for so long that there are now veterans who have sons fighting in the same war they did. This video is a fitting tribute to those warfighters, and it corresponds well with SureFire’s 40th anniversary. SureFire has always been proud to provide tools for heroes from all walks of life, who have created and maintained individual legacies.”

SIG SAUER Honors Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Britt Slabinski with Commemorative MK25 Pistol and Documentary

Tuesday, March 26th, 2019

NEWINGTON, N.H., (March 25, 2019) –In recognition of National Medal of Honor Day, SIG SAUER, Inc. is honored to announce the production and presentation of a commemorative MK25 pistol to Congressional Medal of Honor (CMH) recipient Command Master Chief (CMC) Britt Slabinski, and the release of a short documentary, “For Service As Set Forth: The Story of CMC Britt Slabinski, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient.”

CMH Britt Slabinski, a U.S. Navy SEAL with the rank Command Master Chief, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on May 24, 2018 by President Donald Trump for his actions during the Battle of Takur Ghar in the mountains of Afghanistan. Slabinski is credited with rallying his teammates to rescue a stranded member of his team that had fallen from their helicopter after it was hit by enemy fire.

The unique distinguishing features of the commemorative MK25 pistol crafted by SIG Custom Works are:

• MK25 Pistol: the MK25, a SIG SAUER P226, was carried by the U.S. Navy SEALs throughout the service of Command Master Chief Britt Slabinski. The slide of the commemorative pistol is finished with a high polish to indicate the ceremonial presentation of the pistol, and the frame is a matte black finish, the original standard issue finish, as a nod to the warrior. All pistol engraving is done in 24k gold;

• Right Slide Engraving: the phrase “For Service As Set Forth,” which is the first line of the Congressional Medal of Honor Citation, and CMH Recipient Britt Slabinski;

• Top Slide Engraving: a likeness of the Congressional Medal of Honor is engraved on a raised piece of metal recovered from the World Trade Center, and six stars representing the unit of CMH Britt Slabinski;

• Left Side Engraving: the phrase “No Day Shall Erase You from the Memory of Time” displayed at the World Trade Center Memorial;

• Pistol Grips: traditional presentation custom grips made of American Black Walnut. The right grip features the Red Unit Medallion, CMC Britt Slabiniski’s SEAL Team, and the left grip features the SEAL Trident.

Additionally, SIG SAUER is honored to release the video feature, “For Service As Set Forth: The Story of CMC Britt Slabinski, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient,” to honor CMH Britt Slabinski’s service to our country. This is an in-depth look at CMH Britt Slabinski’s service, and the features of the commemorative MK25 pistol including interviews with CMH Britt “Slab” Slabinski, Retired CMC Steve “Mato” Matulewicz, Ron Cohen, President and CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc., Tim Butler of SIG Custom Works, and retired New York City Police Officer Frank Pinto.

On National Medal of Honor Day on March 25th, and every day, we honor those whom have served and sacrificed for the United States of America in the defense of freedom.

The commemorative MK25 was previously presented to CMH Britt Slabinski in a private ceremony at SIG SAUER Headquarters in Newington, New Hampshire by Cohen, Matulewicz, and Butler.

Download a full series of photos of the Commemorative MK25 pistol here.

www.sigsauer.com

US Army RECONDO School – 1960s At Ft Carson

Sunday, March 24th, 2019

This documentary showcases the US Army RECONDO (Reconnaissance Commando) school. This was a 4th Infantry Division hosted at Fort Carson, Colorado’s Camp Red Devil during the late 1960s and early 70s. Other posts had similar programs based on the course taught in Vietnam to prepare Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol members for their mission.

GEN Patton Wearing The Green Hornet

Saturday, March 23rd, 2019

You’ve probably heard the story that GEN George Patton created a uniform for tankers. As you can imagine, it was never adopted.

Made from Dark Green gaberdine, in order to hide stains, it was dubbed “The Green Hornet” by the press, after a popular radio program at the time. It featured Gold buttons down the side along with pockets on the front of the thighs of the trousers for improved access while seated in a tank. The uniform was topped off with a football helmet said to come from the Washington Redskins.

Unfortunately, only one example was ever crafted, but the Armor Museum had two copies made because the original has sustained extensive UV damage over the years.

1st Air Commando Force Directive on Beards – March 1944

Sunday, March 3rd, 2019

Love the phraseology by the legendary Col Cochran. The 1st ACG was so busy during Operation Thursday, the men didn’t have time to shave.

Above, you can see the “fuzz” on Col Allison (l) and Col Cochran (r). The fellow in the center wearing the pith helmet is Gen Orde Wingate, British commander of the Chindits fighting force. He wore a full beard.

Well Played Aviano, Well Played

Thursday, February 28th, 2019

M231 Firing Port Weapon

Wednesday, February 27th, 2019

The M231 Firing Port Weapon is a rather obscure footnote in US Small Arms history. Thanks to Marty Bordson, owner of Badger Ordnance, I recently got the chance to fire one.

Designed to be shot from the firing ports of the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle (the M2 was the Infantry variant), the M231 was based on the M16A1. As you can see, it featured a short, threaded handguard which was screwed into place in the firing port. Initially, the M231 featured a wire stock, reminiscent of the M3 “Grease Gun” but it was later removed as it was prone to rattle off and become a nuisance in the vehicle. Although, the real reason was probably to dissuade the rifle’s use in place of the standard M16 by dismounted Infantry.

Below, you can see the modified selector lever, peculiar to the M231. It is either SAFE or AUTO and the SOP was to fire Tracer ammo, aimed through a vision block. The M231 was meant to deal with enemy dismounts who might try to engage from the sides and rear of the Bradley.

Marty made a couple of mods to the rifle in order to use it while hunting hogs. He changed out the flash hider so it would accept a Mack Brothers suppressor and fitted a mount and PEQ-15 to the carrying handle. Obviously, that didn’t do me any good during the day. I sighted over the top of the receiver and aimed at the berm.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the M231 is that it fires from the open bolt to help keep it cool. With a cyclic rate of around 1200 rpm, the added suppressor just sped it up, and also exacerbated the gas issues. I also had access to a Magpul D60 PMAG, while those using the M231 in its heyday would have only had USGI 30 rd magazines. My firing hand was covered in carbon when the magazine was finished and I had to stop halfway through, due to the back gas. The video below shows me firing the second half of the magazine. I can only imagine what it was like in the vehicle when there were six firing at once. For a period, there was supposed to be a vent hose for the gas, but the few accounts I’ve heard of these actually being fired from within the vehicle, it didn’t work.

Eventually, the M2 Bradley was upgraded with slab sides designed to accept reactive armor panels which eliminated the side firing ports. However, the M231 is said to soldier on, at least in arms rooms, as the M2 has retained the two firing ports on the rear hatch. As late as the invasion of Iraq, armored troops were spotted using the M231.

MACV-SOG History

Tuesday, February 26th, 2019

FORT BRAGG, N.C., – Today marks the 55th anniversary of the activation of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) was activated, January 24, 1964, to function as a joint special operations task force. Commanded by a U.S. Army Special Forces colonel, MACV-SOG was a subcomponent of MACV. Born from a need to conduct more effective special operations against North Vietnam, many Central Intelligence Agency programs were transferred to SOG, which eventually consisted of personnel from U.S. Army Special Forces, U.S. Navy Sea-Air-Land (SEALs), U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, Force Reconnaissance and CIA personnel. Special operations were conducted in North Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and South Vietnam.

MACV-SOG grew in size and scope over the next eight years. Missions evolved over time, and included strategic reconnaissance, direct action, sabotage, personnel recovery, Psychological Operations (PSYOP), counter-intelligence, and bomb damage assessments. Maritime operations covered the coastal areas of North Vietnam. PSYOP missions included ‘Voice of Freedom’ radio broadcasts into North Vietnam, to publicize the advantages of life in South Vietnam.

The so-called ‘Ho Chi Minh Trail,’ a vital enemy logistical system named for the North Vietnamese communist leader, was a target of many operations. The trail was a well-developed ‘highway’ that ran from North Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia. The communist insurgency was sustained by the trail, as troops, trucks, tanks, weapons and ammunition flowed south into South Vietnam. Aerial reconnaissance of the trail was difficult; SOG teams provided the most reliable ‘boots on the ground’ intelligence.

SOG headquarters remained in Saigon, with subordinate commands and units located in various forward operational bases over the years, with command and control camps, launch sites, training centers, and radio relay sites in all four U.S. Corps Tactical Zones. By late 1967, MACV-SOG had matured and split into three subordinate geographical commands: Command and Control North, Command and Control Central, and Command and Control South. CCN, at Da Nang, was the largest in size and conducted operations in southern Laos and northern Cambodia. CCC, at Kontum, also operated in southern Laos and northern Cambodia. CCS, at Ban Me Thout, was the smallest, and operated in southern Cambodia.

SOG command and control sites operated independently. Each was organized based on the ground tactical situation, but all three had reconnaissance, reaction or exploitation, and company-sized security forces. Each site was about the size of a modern SF battalion. Reaction or exploitation forces were used to extract reconnaissance teams or conduct raids or other assault missions. Reconnaissance teams (RT) consisted of two-to-three Americans and six-to-nine indigenous personnel, normally Vietnamese, Montagnards, Cambodians, or ethnic Chinese. Teams were given a variety of code names (U.S. states, poisonous snakes, weapons, tools, or weather effects). Support troops on site provided logistics, signal, medical, and military intelligence support.

Each mission was unique, but most followed a similar tactical profile: after being alerted of a mission, the reconnaissance team was briefed and conducted detailed planning, rehearsals, inspections, and training, time permitting. Teams were inserted by helicopter into the target area. Team leaders were Americans and designated as One-Zeros (10), with American assistant team leaders, and radio operators serving as One-Ones (11) or One-Twos (12). Indigenous troops were Zero-Ones (01), Zero-Twos (02), and so forth. Teams were given considerable latitude regarding tactics, uniforms and weapons. Captured enemy equipment was often used. Vital communications were maintained with a Forward Air Control fixed-wing aircraft. Such airplanes coordinated for close air support for immediate extraction if a team was compromised, or upon completion of the mission. A mission lasted from three-to-five days. SOG was all-volunteer, and personnel could leave without prejudice.

After 1970, the scope and intensity of SOG operations were affected by the ‘Vietnamization’ of the war, and steady withdrawal of U.S. forces from Southeast Asia. In March 1971, 5th Special Forces Group, the largest source of volunteers for the unit, returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Congressional restrictions prevented U.S. personnel from accompanying operations into Cambodia and Laos. On April 30, 1972, the unit was deactivated. Colonels Clyde R. Russell, Donald D. Blackburn, John K. Singlaub, Stephen E. Cavanaugh, and John F. Sadler served as SOG commanders.

The first true JSOTF organization formed to support a theater campaign, SOG ‘blazed a trail’ for current Army and joint special operations task forces in the war against transnational terrorism. The teams conducted special operations missions, often across international borders, to support the commander’s mission in Vietnam. Nine ARSOF SOG soldiers received the Medal of Honor and the unit was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. Some sources credit the organization with providing upwards of seventy-five percent of intelligence on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. SOG innovative tactics, personal equipment, and lessons learned influence SOF to this day.

By Robert Seals, USASOC History Office

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on 24 January, 2019.