Have you ever wanted the pleasure of owning an M79 40mm Grenade Launcher, but didn’t want to deal with all the hassle of actually trying to own an authentic model? Then you might want to take a look at Spike’s Tactical’s ST Thumper. Named after a popular slang name for the M79, the ST Thumper is a full-weighted replica, 9lbs of wood and steel, and chambered for 37mm flares, to avoid classification as a Destructive Device.
www.spikestactical.com/products/thumper?variant=2862994784279
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Corps is upgrading the turret system on one of its longest-serving fighting vehicles–the Light Armored Vehicle-Anti-Tank.
A Light Armored Vehicle Anti-Tank Modernization A2 model sits under an awning aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., June 15. Marine Corps Systems Command’s LAV-Anti-Tank Modernization program team completed its first fielding of four upgraded ATWS in September. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Keith Hayes)
In September, Marine Corps Systems Command’s LAV-AT Modernization program team achieved initial operational capability by completing its first fielding of four upgraded Anti-Tank Weapon Systems to 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion Marines at Camp Pendleton, California.
The ATWS fires tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided, or TOW, missiles. It provides long-range, stand-off anti-armor fire support to maneuvering Light Armored Reconnaissance Companies and platoons, and observation capability in all climates and during periods of limited visibility.
The LAV-ATM program was established in 2012 to enhance the reliability, availability and maintainability of the vehicle’s turret system.
The team’s goal was to get a new turret system on the LAV-AT platform that was easy to maintain, reliable and effective, said Jim Forkin, Program Manager’s Office LAV-ATM team lead.
“Compared to the legacy version, the new turret is unmanned, it fires both wire-guided and radio frequency TOW missiles, and it can acquire targets while on-the-move with an improved thermal sight,” said Forkin.
It also has a Far Target Location system, new commander/gunner video sight displays, and an electric elevation and azimuth drive system, which helps rotate the weapon system onto the target.
“The turret is important because it protects Marines and gives them an enhanced capability that they didn’t have before,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael S. Lovell, Ordinance Vehicle Maintenance officer, PM LAV team. “The new turret on the LAV-AT helps us watch over other vehicles and target enemies with increased vision.”
The LAV-ATM team provides new equipment training to units receiving the ATWS upgrade. It lasts for two weeks, and the first week is focused on operators and the second week is on maintainer training. Continued training on the system can be conducted by the units using the embedded training mode.
A Marine tests the enhanced vision capability–part of an upgrade to the Light Armored Vehicle’s Anti-Tank Weapon System–during new equipment training Sept. 18-29, at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Marine Corps Systems Command completed its first fielding of four upgraded ATWS in September. (Courtesy photo)
Thanks to advances in technology, Marines can initiate a built-in test to conduct a system check of the components that make up the ATWS to help the operator and maintainer diagnose and troubleshoot the system, a feature not previously available on the legacy turret, said Forkin.
The operator can also use an embedded training mode in the ATWS, which is software driven, to support individual and crew training by simulating the firing of the weapon system while viewing targets through the biocular display unit.
“This function is new to the LAV-ATM platform and will enhance sustainment training while in garrison or the field without wasting resources,” said Forkin. “With new technological advances, the overall design and functionality has improved.”
In addition to training in the field, anti-tank gunners and maintainers also train in a classroom setting environment with stations using existing 3D computer simulated technology leveraged by the U.S. Army to train their maintainers. This modernizes how the Corps trains its maintainers to meet the requirements to sustain the new ATWS.
By incorporating a blended training solution, all four existing Tactical Turret Trainers are upgraded with the ATWS and a 3D Diagnostic Turret Trainer, or DTT, is added. The DTT consists of two classrooms with eight student stations and one instructor station each. The Corps’ 3D DTT maintenance training system is unique to the ATWS and will be fielded in November.
“Using the 3D DTT, students will interactively conduct troubleshooting and remove and replace ATWS components in a simulated environment, which will be followed by training on actual hardware on the Tactical Turret Trainer and vehicles,” said Paul Kopjoe, Logistics Management specialist, PM LAV team at Program Manager’s Office LAV.
With a combination of an interactive 3D DTT, which allows the instructor to train multiple students at the same time, the ATWS Tactical Turret Trainer provides the student with the tactile feel of a real ATWS system. Benefits of DTT by other programs include the reduction in student attrition rates and the ability for maintenance tasks to be repeated numerous times, without risk of injury or wear and tear on equipment.
The U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, or ARDEC, is the overarching Army agency used to acquire and develop the 3D DTT training products. The Gaming Interactive Technologies & Multimedia and the Automated Test Systems Directorate are the primary organizations within ARDEC that completed the majority of the work to help make this happen, Kopjoe said.
“Traditionally, training products are procured utilizing industry which can take 18-24 months just to get effort on contract,” said Kopjoe. “We were able to eliminate that time by utilizing existing Army resources, so that our Marines would be properly trained when the ATWS was fielded. This also allowed the ATM Team to meet the training needs of the USMC Ordnance School located at Fort Lee, Virginia.”
Fielding for the ATWS will be completed at the end of 2019.
“Marines who serve as anti-tank gunners will be able to do their job better,” said Lovell. “We’re providing a product that gives Marines an enhanced anti-tank capability improving their forward reconnaissance and combined arms fire power on the battlefield.”
By Kaitlin Kelly, MCSC Office of Public Affairs and Communication | Marine Corps Systems Command
Earlier this year, the French Army selected the 5.56mm Heckler & Koch 416 to replace the FAMAS, issued since the 1970s.
Offered in Standard (14.5” barrel) and Carbine (11” barrel) models, the HK416 F features the latest ambidextrous controls.
However, there are also a few differences on the French version. First, the barrel allows the use of rifle grenades.
Additionally, the French model eliminates the selective gas regulator. The standard 416 is above and the 416 F below.
The French have also chosen the original collapsible but stock rather than the Slimline model used on newer versions of the HK416.
Finally, you may notice that there is an Aimpont Comp M5 mounted to this rifle. The French Army is currently in source selection for a rifle optic and this is only one of the options they are considering.
Arisaka Defense’s Inline Scount Mount is an aftermarket replacement mount for SureFire M600 and M300 Scout series lights, the Arisaka 300 and 600 series lights, and Streamlight’s Protac Rail Mount 1 and 2. It replaces the stock Picatinny rail adpater with a low profile mount designed to interface with a model-specific mounting interface; seen in the imagery is the M-LOK model, although mounts for KeyMod and Troy/VTAC Alpha Handguards are also available.
This mount excels on handguards with 45 degree mounting flats, allowing the user to position the light closer or farther away from the 12 o’clock rail, providing clearance for a front sight, or other accessories. Additionally, the base of this mount with a SureFire Scout Light sits only .20″ above the mounting surface, making it, according to Arisaka, the thinnest inline style mount on the market.
Introducing the PD-18. These will be avaliable on the 22nd on krebscustomak47.com. Six are ready to go and another 10 in a week. These will be priced out at $2,150.
Specs:
Overall Length: 30.75 Inches
Barrel Length: 10.6 Inches
Weight: 7.7lb
Base: Polish AKM
Morrissey and Childers Receiver
WBP Parts
Hammer Forged Barrel
Krebs Custom IMS System
Front Sight Gas Block 4140 steel, 40 Rockwell, Chrome Lined
AR15 Front Sight Post
New Proprietary Handguard Extended ? Inches
Mid Mount Scope Rail 4140 Steel, 40 Rockwell
Rear Sight Housing 7075 Hard Coat
AR15 Rear Dual Peep Sight
Rear Sight Support 4130 Steel, Wedge Lock System
Reinforced Back Plate Top Cover
No Snag Sweep Style Magazine Release
Krebs Custom Enhanced Safety
Reworked ALG Trigger and Tuned with Action
Magpul Grip
Krebs Custom M4 Stock Adapter
Bravo Company Detachable Sling QD Endplate
Fixed Gear Head Works Tube and Tailhook Mod 1
Vickers Guide has just announced that they’ve opened pre-orders for the upcoming Volume 1 of the WWII Germany series. Previous volumes on the M1911A1 and M16 families of small arms have become indispensable elements of my reference library.
With this volume Larry Vickers has teamed up with a number of subject matter experts, including Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons and Tom Whiteman of Legacy Collectibles, to provide additional insight into the wide variety of firearms being showcased.
First Volume of Vickers Guide: WWII Germany specifically covers the small-arms categories of Machine Pistols, Submachine Guns, Bolt Action Service Rifles, Bolt Action Sniper Rifles, Primary Service Handguns, Foreign Service and Occupation Handguns, and a wide selection of the other pistols used by Germany throughout the war. In all, over 60 firearms are shown in incredible detail to give enthusiasts of all levels a new appreciation for this incredibly dynamic time in firearms development.
Oder yours at www.vickersguide.com.
Dubai, November 12, 2017: Arnold Defense, the US St Louis-based international manufacturer and supplier of 2.75-inch rocket launchers, is displaying its new, ultra-light LWL-XII and M260 2.75-inch/70mm Weapon Systems at the Dubai Airshow, United Arab Emirates, November 12-16, 2017.
Apaches heading out on a support mission, equipped with Arnold Defense’s M261 rocket launchers (image courtesy of Arnold Defense)
Arnold Defense is the world’s largest supplier of rocket launchers and the Company has manufactured more than 1.1 million 2.75-inch rocket launchers since 1961 for the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and many NATO customers. The Company designs and manufactures rocket launchers that can be customized for any size, weight, capacity or form factor for platforms in the air, on the ground or at sea.
Arnold Defense’s rocket launchers are designed and built with combat-proven technology and they comply with stringent U.S. airworthiness and safety standards. The Company’s products include the new, ultra-light LWL-XII (on display on stand 1584) that weighs just over 60 pounds (27 kg) empty . Other core products include the 7-round M260 (on display on stand 945, C13)and 19-round M261 commonly used by U.S. Army helicopters; the thermal coated 7-round LAU-68 variants and LAU-61 Digital Rocket Launcher used by the U.S. Navy; and the 7-round LAU-131 and SUU-25 flare dispenser used by the U.S. Air Force.
Traditionally, 2.75-inch rocket systems have been used as an area suppression weapon, ordinarily deployed by aviation assets. The Arnold Defense team is currently developing the FLETCHER smart, laser-guided 4 round launcher, which will be available in 2018. A special forces vehicle mounted FLETCHER prototype, unveiled at DSEI and AUSA this year, utilizes the advancement of laser guided rocket technology to meet the modern demands of air, land and marine-based, mounted and dismounted asymmetric warfare, for special and conventional forces.
Jim Hager, President and CEO of Arnold Defense said “Arnold Defense is exceedingly well established in the air environment with our rocket systems being used on air platforms globally, so we are very excited to have our combat-proven technology on display at the Dubai Airshow”.
“We are inherently committed to manufacturing the world’s most reliable and affordable rocket launchers. Through our innovation, integrity, dedication, technical expertise and customer-first focus, we continue to produce the very best rocket launchers in the world.
“Working together, we protect today’s warfighters, just as we have for the last half-century.”
See Arnold Defense’s rocket launchers on these stands, where Arnold Defense staff will be on hand to explain their systems to visitors and specific briefings/interviews can be facilitated, by appointment:
Arnold Defense M260 LWL is on display on the AAL Group (Airfreight Aviation Limited)/Lima Aviation LLC, stand 945, C13
See the Arnold Defense LWL-XII on the Bin Hilal Enterprises, stand 1584
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. — The Marine Corps is equipping Marines with a new weapon, providing enhanced concealed carry capabilities at an accelerated rate and lower cost to the Corps.
Individual Weapons project officer Gunnery Sgt. Brian Nelson prepares to draw the M007 concealed carry weapon. The M007 offers enhanced concealed carry capabilities, which includes a smaller frame, ambidextrous slide stop lever and flared magazine well. Marine Corps Systems Command recently fielded the M007 to Marine and civilian CID agents and members of Helicopter Squadron One. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Jennifer Napier)
The Glock 19M–called the M007 by the Corps–replaces the M9 service pistol for personnel requiring a weapon that can be easily concealed.
The Marine Corps requires that all accredited Marine Corps Criminal Investigators, both civilian and military, be armed with a concealable pistol when on duty in civilian attire. This concealed weapon capability ensures those performing official duties–such as law enforcement or security personnel–are not readily identified as being armed.
“The M007 has a smaller frame and is easier to conceal, making it a natural selection to meet the Marine Corps’ conceal carry weapon requirement,” said Gunnery Sgt. Brian Nelson, Individual Weapons project officer at Marine Corps Systems Command.
In coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which adopted the weapon in 2016, the Corps fielded the M007 earlier this year to Marines and civilians in the Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division, as well as members of Helicopter Squadron One–also known as Marine One.
Marine Corps Systems Command is equipping Marine and civilian CID agents and members of Helicopter Squadron One with the M007. The M007 offers enhanced concealed carry capabilities, which includes a smaller frame, ambidextrous slide stop lever and flared magazine well. The weapon’s smaller frame makes it easier to conceal, as demonstrated in the photo. (U.S. Marine Corps graphic)
Aside from concealability, the M007 has several physical improvements over its predecessor. The grip lacks finger grooves but has a textured frame, improving the ergonomics of the weapon and providing a consistently comfortable grip with traction for a wider range of users. The ambidextrous slide stop allows for both right- and left-handed use. The magazine release of the M007 can also be changed and the magazine well is flared, making the system easier to reload, said Nelson.
Collaboration between the product team at MCSC and the FBI played a key role in the Corps’ ability to hasten the otherwise lengthy acquisition process.
“The fielding of the M007 is an example of how we can streamline the acquisition process by reviewing another service or agency’s test data to see if it fits the Marine Corps’ need,” said Lt. Col. Paul Gillikin, Infantry Weapons team lead at MCSC. “We received the initial request for a new concealed carry weapon system in April 2016. By collaborating with the FBI, we were able to procure, establish sustainability plans and start fielding the weapon to Marines by May 2017.”
Typically, the acquisition process of a new weapons system–from the time the requirement is received by MCSC to the time the system is fielded to the fleet–takes months, if not years, to complete. By leveraging thorough test data performed by the FBI, MCSC’s team reduced their own testing time. The team also carefully planned to ensure the M007 is fully supported, sustainable, and meets all logistics and safety requirements, enabling MCSC to meet and deliver the concealed carry weapons systems Marines need in a relatively quick turnaround time, said Gillikin.
Program Manager Infantry Weapons, which falls under MCSC’s Ground Combat Element Systems portfolio, manages the concealed carry weapons program for the Marine Corps.
By Ashley Calingo, MCSC Office of Public Affairs and Communication
