Interesting setup.

A coalition forces service member provides security during a clearing operation in Takhmak village in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2012. Coalition forces were conducting combat operations in the province in an effort to disrupt insurgent safe havens and promote security. (DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Martine Cuaron, U.S. Navy/Released)

This guy is running an interesting setup that I thought had gone out of fashion.  I wonder what force he's with?

If someone has real deal knowledge of what this particular setup has over the one below then please let me know!

They call survivalist crazy...UPDATE.

Remember my post earlier?  Well here's the video.  The author doesn't know if our civilization can survive...and the depression is inevitable.  Unfortunately it all makes perfect sense.

Persian Gulf Shoot Out Diagram...

 

Blow this pic up and take a good look at that "fishing" boat.  Its real easy to see why security thought that they could have been under attack.  Someone talked about this being a dry run and after reading this....I believe it!

Absolutely cool! Fold out sniper hide.

Wow.  The military applications are obvious.  I wonder if it can be made smaller and able to surround a person lying down.  via GEARSCOUT.

Russia is about to get its BPC's...

The European nation of Georgia should be ready to throat punch France for selling these ships to the Russians.  They're about to have ships that are far more capable than anything they currently have in inventory and will be able to put that nation in danger of assault from the sea.  Additionally with modifications for use in cold weather our friends in Northern Europe are also much exposed.  Wow.  If that wasn't bad enough, they're not only getting the hardware (the ship) but also software in the form of ships sensors....this is bad news.  via Defesa.

French shipbuilder DCNS is conducting the design modifications of the BPC (Batiment de Projection et de Commandement) projection & command ship procured by Russia.

The first of two phases ended in April 2012 with the completion of the preliminary design review while detailed design studies are scheduled for completion in September 2012.

Russia’s requirements include modifying the BPC design to accommodate locally build Kamov Ka-25 naval helicopters and other Russian equipment. The vessels also need to be modified to operate under extreme cold, with higher electrical power availability to de-ice part of the flight deck. All the user interfaces and onboard signage also need to be localised into Russian. It is understood that the both ships will be fitted with DCNS´ SENIT 9 combat management systems and Thales Nederland MRR-3DNG multi-role radar system.

While the design modifications are being finalised, construction of hull blocks for the first of Russia’s two BPCs has begun at the STX France shipyard in Saint Nazaire. The first hull block will be delivered in September 2012 and laid down in early 2013.

Russia’s shipbuilder OSK will participate in block construction for the two vessels as a subcontractor to STX France, building twelve hull blocks for the aft of the ships.

The first vessel is scheduled for delivery to the Russian Navy in 2014 while the second will be delivered in 2015. The contract firmed in June 2011 between JSC Rosobornexport and DCNS calls for the delivery to Russia of two 22,000 tonnes 199 metres long BPC based vessels along with associated services including initial logistics, training, and technology transfers.

The French Navy operates three BPC ships which comprise FS “Mistral”, FS “Tonnerre “and FS “Dixmude”.

Royal Marines on Counter Piracy Operations Near Somalia

RFA Fort Victoria's Lynx Mk 8 helicopter and their embarked Royal Marine boarding team from the Fleet Standby Rifle Squadron apprehended the 13 suspected pirates and secured the vessel

MARSOC service pistol. Cool trumps practical.

COLT Rail Gun

Soldier Systems is reporting that MARSOC has chosen the Colt 1911 with rails as its next service pistol.

My immediate reaction is what the fuck?

Is this another case of cool trumping practicality?  Lets face it.  THERE ARE A NUMBER of practical, reliable, less expensive, more capable 45 caliber pistols available on the market today.

GLOCK 21

You want a go to hell and back 45?  How about the Glock 21.  13 instead of 8 rounds, Polymer so it can handle the jungle better, railed so it can take lasers or lights....oh and its freaking available without having to buy every single piece of it in a custom shop.

FNH 45.

You want fancy?  You want to slam a suppressor, optics and lasers on your gun?  Then how about the FNH 45?  The point is this.  I don't know who the clown is in MARSOC that has this Colt fetish but its becoming annoying.  Its not even the best weapon available, its only the most expensive, the least durable and the hardest to maintain.

MARINE CORPS PROCUREMENT IS BROKEN.

Update:  PLEASE!  Please don't hit me with the 1911 is the AK of pistols!  Its legendary but its a primitive design that's been passed by newer models.  How about a few more examples of pistols that would serve MARSOC better than the cool boy 1911...

XD Tactical 45

HK USP 45

It didn't take long for MARSOC to turn into just another of the pretty boy Special Ops outfits did it???  I've never been a supporter but I had high hopes that they would follow in the US Army Ranger and Special Forces tradition and not tag behind Navy SEALs.  Boutique weapons for the sake of boutique weapons fit is not the way to go.  The accountants are coming for all, not just the Conventional Forces.  This will bite SOCOM in the ass and all the camp followers in the Commandant's office too.  I can't wait for new leadership.  Both in the Commandant's office and in the White House.

Halo 4.

This looks  more like a movie rather than a reboot of the game.  Interesting.

 ABOUT THIS LIVE ACTION SERIES
----------------------------------------------------------
Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn is a live action series, which will be on view from October to YouTube and Halo Waypoint. The series tells the origins of the destructive war between humans and the Covenant from the perspective of a young cadet who hires on the UNSC cruiser Infinity. The events of Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn guide fluent in five episodes of the blockbuster Halo 4. This is from the 6th November 2012, in the stores and put up with the return of Master Chief, a new chapter in the Halo saga. In addition, owners will receive the Limited Edition Halo 4 through Halo Waypoint access to an expanded version of Forward Unto Dawn, the exclusive scenes and additional background information and provides a peek behind the scenes of the production.

Sam Brown's Concept Tanks...

They call survivalist crazy.....

via CNBC.

“We’re in a very unfortunate position to be here,” Richard Duncan, author of The New Depression, warned on CNBC’s “Squawk Box Europe” Monday.

“When we broke the link between money and gold, this removed all constraints on credit creation. This explosion of credit created the world we live in, but it now seems that credit cannot expand any further because the private sector is incapable of repaying the debt it has already, and if credit begins to contract, there’s a very real danger that we will collapse into a new Great Depression,” he argued.

“If this credit bubble pops, the depression could be so severe that I don’t think our civilization could survive it.”

Some people have called me a right wing reactionary.

Some say that I'm a gun nut.

Some just call me crazy.

But this article should give pause to all those that think the world will keep humming along and aren't taking any precautions in case it doesn't.  Quite honestly, the people that I associate with have been talking about this since the last presidential election.  They've been labled and talked about but now this same talk is on a business network.

Wars have started over less.  Civilizations have fallen over less.  Think about that when you're calling your right wing relatives crazy at the next family get together.  Let me leave you with one last quote from the article.

“We could keep deferring the depression, but that could just encourage the bad guys. If you do this, you possibly do more harm than good,” Roger Nightingale, economist and strategist at RND Associates, told CNBC Monday.

“You can defer, but not prevent.”

 Deter but not prevent.  Interesting.

UPDATE:
I originally stated that this news is why I stockpile ammo.  That's a lie though.  I just like to shoot but I do have a question.  What will our large cities look like if government services can no longer be provided?  What will happen to our transportation system, our legal system and everything else?  This does show why the US Army has been running drills in large cities.  Societal collapse will be messy.

Ok. I'll ask it since no one else will. How did this happen?

I'll be the asshole and ask the question.

First let me stipulate.  I wasn't there so I don't know.  Second, I'm going strictly off news reports.  Third, big stuff is happening in the Strait of Hormuz so the Navy has been gearing up for weeks to fight in this area.

So the question.

Why wasn't this supply ship better covered?  Where was Maritime Expeditionary Security Force?  Where were the helo's and aircraft providing overwatch?

Our own smallboats providing protection?

Where was the protection?

F-35 Times Three.

Three U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter jets (tail numbers AF-14, AF-15 and AF-16) are the latest to be delivered from Lockheed Martin to the U.S. Government.

Vid of USAF Security Police hookin' and jabbin' with S. Korean Civilian.

This looks bad.  Real bad.



Read the story here.

If anyone speaks Korean please translate this for me.  Is one of those guys wearing a plate carrier with a combat load out?

A note on the video.  When you hit play it'll take you through a 16 second commercial.  Once that's finish just close the box and restart it and it'll take you to the news report.

Everything in Australia is trying to kill ya...

And unfortunately for this guy the shark succeeded.  Damn....British understatements can be a pain in the ass.  The guy was'nt mauled, he was bitten in half...it was'nt just a great white shark, it was a MASSIVE shark tipping the scales at 12 to 15 feet long.  And the remark about having a problem when you've had 5 people killed in the past 10 months is an ongoing tragedy!  Yeah.  British understatements are a pain in the ass (Australian too!).

Underwood 9mm 115 gr +P+ JHP Ammo Test

Note:  I'm gonna buy a box of this ammo to check it out for myself.  That expansion is off the charts!  I'll give up a bit of penetration for expansion if I can get almost an inch of it out of a 115 grain bullet.  Retained weight was good (they do use Speer by the way) and I'm gonna have to verify the price point, but this is definitely getting my interest up.

Samsung Techwin Defense

NOTE:  Of interest to Marines is the fact that Samsung has production rights to a version of the AAV (seen at about the 5 minute mark).  If the Marine Corps decides to buy new build AAV's instead of simply upgrading existing models, then you could see a price shootout between Samsung and BAE.  I would expect Lockheed Martin to come along as Samsung's partner (to make sure its Berry compliant) and that would be wild.  Also of note is the wheeled amphibious vehicle.  I wonder why a Korean company didn't offer a product for the MPC program.

LOSAT.

Marines sling lead downrange in Australia

Value vs. Cool Guy Factor vs. More.

Tactical Yellow Visor has an article up that you have to check out.  I was led there by Soldier Systems but the issue is the same...whether you're talking clothing or flashlights.

Whats important?

Value, Cool Guy Factor or are you stuck on (as TYV says) Moar?

Lets talk flashlights for a second.  The Maelstrom S12 goes for a little under 100 dollars and puts out 800 lumens.  Nothing at that price point is available from SureFire.



So am I doing as the author says just wanting Moar?  Or am I being a smart consumer and wanting the most value for my money?  And what does it say if I bought a SureFire instead of another light?  Does it mean that I'm more into Cool Guy Factor?  Does it mean that I want less?  We know it doesn't mean that I want the best value for my money so what does buying more expensive but less value dollar wise really mean?

The gear guys are tying themselves into knots.  The gravy train of SOCOM guys showing up and buying shit loads of stuff is over and everyone knows it (same applies to conventionals too).  So they turned to civilian buyers and guess what!  They're meeting some resistance because the average guy (at least the guys that I know) aren't going to put down big bucks on something just because someone says its cool.  A bit of comparison shopping is going to happen and companies like SureFire are getting there asses kicked.

We're on the verge of gear price wars and you're going to see a bunch of these guys go out of business.  That might not be an entirely bad thing.

Costa-Haley Effect got me.

I got bit.  I'm not gonna run out and buy an RMR sight without trying it but I'm getting the urge!  I'm not so sure about the stipling but the extra serrations have my attention.

I'm still stuck on Glock Perfection but the M&P's are looking good.  Damn it.  The RMR and serrations along with supressor sights are a grand plus worth of additions.  Christmas gift to me?

UPDATE:
Talked to some buddies about what we want the pistol to do and how it would be employed in an old fashioned knuckle dragging, gut busting, I want to kill you - your family and everyone who knows you kinda fight ---and I'm left wondering about whether an RMR weapon sight is really worth it.  Now let me be clear.  We're not talking about the military, law enforcement, security or contractor here.  We're talking about Concealed Carry holders.  First there is the Mossad Ayoob considerations when you get to court.  Then there is the practicality of it.  What are the engagement distances that you're talking about for a civilian personal defense weapon?  I really believe anything over 15 to 20 feet is going to be tough to explain.  So right now.  Serrations are in...RMR is a HUGE maybe and stipling is out.  I'm a Glock guy.  I'll get the RTF if I need better grips.