EXO from Exoconcept is a surface watercraft designed to assist swimmers. Exoconcept advertises “No Emission + No Noise + No Smoke + No Maintenance.” Sounds like it might be useful for certain surface swimmer or rescue applications. If not, it looks like one hell of a lot of fun.
Available in various models, the EXO is made from ABS plastic or carbon fiber and powered by a 3.5, 4.5, or 7 kw electric motor connected to a water jet drive.
The new title from Osprey Publishing, “Special Operations Patrol Vehicles Afghanistan and Iraq” (New Vanguard 179) is a great companion to author Leigh Neville’s other Osprey titles focusing on Coalition SOF in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The work does a good job of covering almost all of the vehicles used by SOF in the modern era. Unfortunately, it’s only in the text and not with photos. However, the book gives a great basic overview of the vehicles and serves to help the reader understand why there is a requirement for a purpose built SOF Ground Vehicle the so-called Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1. Additionally, the artwork by Richard Chasemore is fantastic and should be sold as prints to men in the units who use these vehicles. They are very detailed and very accurate.
Now, if they’d just start bringing them into the US.
At Outdoor Retailer, Misty Mountain showed me their new Cadillac Tactical Climbing Harness but it was still a few weeks from release. But now, it’s fully available.
Misty Mountain is well known within the relatively small cadre of military mountaineers. They reached out to these customers before beginning work on the Cadillac and asked what these professionals were looking for. According to Misty Mountain, they were repeatedly told, “strength, durability, comfort, and abrasion resistance, plus ease of use while wearing gloves, and strong connection points for easier, safer transitions. Make it easy to adjust, lightweight, and super burly so it can stand up to the nastiest environments.” Taking this guidance they set out to create the Cadillac Tactical sit harness.
They’ve used the latest materials to create this harness. Misty Mountain’s description is more than adequate:
The new Cadillac Tactical features a monochromatic color scheme, four quick adjust buckles for ease of fit, four strong, integrated nylon gear loops with TRELLEBORG high abrasion reinforced Kevlar fabric. TWEAVE DURASTRETCH High Tenacity Nylon inner layer is durable and abrasion resistant. Removeable leg loops feature auto-block loops for easy rappel back-up, adjust for dorsal rise and offer quick release option. Wide, layered comfort comes from tough 1000 Denier CORDURA nylon laminate sublayer to spread forces over a wider surface area of closed cell, cross-linked .25″ EVAZOTE foam padding. Soft foam edges roll for comfort, and black anodized 6061 T-6 Aluminum 2 piece quick adjust buckles work smoothly but lock as needed with 1″ tubular Climbspec nylon webbing.
Cadillac Tactical harness strength rated to 16 kN (3,600 lbs), gear loops and rear haul loop rated to 10 kN (2,250 lbs).
The Cadillac is a sized harness offered in XSmall – XXXLarge. Berry compliant and available in Coyote or Black, if you’re at Modern Day Marine next week, stop by the Extreme Outfitters booth and check out Misty Mountain.
This is a follow up on our pre-OR post on the skis from H2O Gear (H2OG). Former Eagle Industries owner John Carver teamed up with renowned Ski Guide Dean Cummings to create H2OG. Most of their offerings are aimed at the recreational ski market, albeit, a small niche of more discerning customers. However, they’ve taken Dean’s vast guide experience and John’s passion for the military to produce of dedicated military skis based on a design for back country use.
Their H2O Gear ATG (access the goods) ski line is handmade in the USA with custom designs including details from Dean’s years of experience used to identify light lumber to construct the skis. Their tapered sidewalls are heat fused to wood cores to protect the skis from edge damage while also keeping the ski durable, damp, and impact resistant. Additionally, their skis are fully protected by oversized, 4001 thick edges that wrap 360 degrees around the ski.
The military model is a super damped “hybrid ski†made from Ash and Aspen and features a reverse side cut which may seem counter intuitive to most but makes it easier to feather. It’s a shorter ski and designed to traverse junk, or icy snow.
Here are a few photos:
These aren’t a stock item offered to the general public but can be had by those who need them. Contact www.h2ooutdoorgear.com
LE blog, the BOLO Report published an interesting article yesterday on the Tweel, a new tire concept. An integrated Tire and Wheel concept (hence the portmanteau name), lacks an air valve, or air, for that matter.
Check out the full details at boloreport.wordpress.com.
We told you it was coming, and here it is. USASOC has released a combined sources sought announcement and industry day announcement for the Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV) 1.1 requirement. To refresh your memory a little, check out the PEO SOF Warrior Briefing on Ground Mobility Systems. Basically, it’s a replacement for the current HMMWV-based GMV which finds its roots in the Desert Vehicle Mobility System (DMVS) developed by modifying HMMWVs and trailers by 5th Group’s B500 at Fort Bliss in the mid-1980s.
Offerors have been working on their vehicles for some time, with many saying that the long-time contender, the Flyer, remaining a favorite. We have already written about several vehicles and there are many more out there vying for a spot. Specifically, they are looking for:
“a Modified-Government off-the shelf (M-GOTS) vehicle with Special Operations Forces (SOF) peculiar modifications. This vehicle will be a highly mobile, CH-47 transportable platform with associated manuals, life cycle spare parts, mechanical/operator training, and a Government furnished C4ISR suite.”
Notice what is missing in that requirement; V22 compatibility.
Furthermore, the public notice explains USASOC’s proposed acquisition strategy and invites industry comment.
“a two phase approach wherein Phase I would include written proposal and certified test data provided at contractor’s expense, with an award of up to two contracts for further Test and Evaluation (T&E). Phase II would include Government purchases of approximately two prototypes for Engineering/Developmental Testing (DT)/Operational Testing (OT) from each vendor, with down select to single vendor and exercise of the production option.”
In order to gain access to specific info on the sources sought and industry day, potential offerors will be required to be registered with Central Contractor Registration (CCR) under NAICS code 336992. The sources sought closes at Sep 13, 2011 11:59 pm Eastern.
Photo - SSG Brandon Little, 32nd AAMDC PAO
They quoted ADS employee Brad Daum who recently retired from the Army as a Patriot fire control enhanced operator/maintainer, “This truck is a mobile tool truck and basically we bring it to the motor pools and provide tools to the Soldiers,†said Daum, driver and tool truck representative for the Maintenance, Repair and Operations for ADS, Inc. “We have warranties and door-to-door service. And if it’s something we don’t have, we’ll go out of our way to get it for you.â€
SSG Rosa M. Moncada, supply NCOIC for HHB, 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command went on to explain, “Ordering certain components [the basic way] can take up to a month.†With the MRO solutions truck, units request a tool, receive it immediately, and pay for it with a GPC. This is the way most civilian maintenance facilities work.
