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Combat & Survival | 03


I love Jordan; the place, not the
person. Of all the Arab countries
and arid places I have visited it
is undoubtedly my favourite, as
not only is it a beautiful country
steeped in culture since pre-
biblical times but its people are
welcoming and friendly.
T
his spring I paid my third visit to the
country in eight years to attend
SOFEX, the Special Forces
Exhibition - Carl covered for me last
time as my diary was double booked - and
to allow me to see a bit of the countryside
away from the capital city I borrowed a
vehicle from Land Rover Middle East. In
early May the daytime temperature in
Jordan quickly builds to well above 30C,
just the way I like it, but as the landscape
in the north sees a fair bit of rainfall, and
even snow, during the winter it is actually
quite green and colourful with wild flowers.
A lovely distraction from the hustle and
bustle of SOFEX.
When on overseas assignment I carry
cameras, computer and valuable kit as
hand luggage in a 10kg daysack, which I
carry on my chest like a reserve
parachute, and take everything else
needed for the trip on my back in a
bergen, which goes in the aircraft hold.
Almost invariably I get held up by security
at one end or the other as the mass of
cameras, lenses and other photographic
paraphernalia crammed into the daysack
Left:
That little pocket
on the upper left
thigh is just the
right size for a
9mm magazine, as
the security
officers at Amman
Airport spotted
even though the
trousers were one
of three pairs
loosely folded up
inside my bergen
[Image © Ramilla]
wakes up the operator watching the scanner
screen; but I expect this and appreciate the
minor inconvenience of unpacking
everything for inspection is a price I have to
pay to undertake my job in safety.
At Amman’s Queen Alia Airport both hold
and hand luggage are screened on the way
into the country, as well as on the way out,
and I was not in the least surprised when a
security officer pulled out my bergen and
daysack and pointed to the inspection table
where a reception party was waiting.
Without too much prompting, I started
unpacking the contents of my daysack
camera bag - in this case a converted
Source ASSAULT 10 with accessory
pouches attached - and spreading them out
for inspection.
“Magazine, Mister, magazine?” How did he
know I was indeed going to be shooting for
a magazine, I wondered. “Yes, COMBAT &
SURVIVAL Magazine,” I replied, pulling
out a couple of back issues from the pouch
inside the bladder pocket to illustrate the
point. He just looked vague and kept
repeating: “Magazine, Mister?” I was
puzzled.
Eventually one of his colleagues, one of
three in grey suits who had quietly
materialised alongside me, picked up not
my daysack but my bergen and put it
through the scanner again. There were now
two operators gazing at the screen and both
indicated that something was seriously
amiss. At this point, for the first time in my
life that I can recall, my mouth went
instantly dry. I am not a nervous person -
I can’t be in this line of business - but
suddenly the shape of a certain muscle
in my body started alternating between
5p and 50p as the gravity of the situation
sunk in. This was serious.
To cut a long story short, the security team
pulled every single item out of my bergen
until, right at the bottom, they came to
three pairs of multi-pocket trousers (5.11
and Niton Tactical) stowed in one of the
Snugpak Pakbox organisers I use to keep
everything neat. There, in the small front
pocket on the upper thigh of the last pair,
they found the elusive 9mm Browning
magazine that had gone through not only
my washing machine and tumble drier, but
the scanners at Heathrow, undetected.
Adrenaline truly is brown.
Thankfully, the senior police officer I was
marched in front of in a building away from
the main terminal, who spoke very good
English, accepted my bashful apologies
and my explanation that it was an innocent
mistake. Fortunately the 9mm magazine
was an old prop with a very worn spring
and even more fortunately it was not
loaded with a couple of inert rounds as it
often was when it appeared on the pages
of C&S. That is one embarrassing
mistake you can guarantee I will not make
again!
Full marks to that alert security officer on
the scanner at Queen Alia Airport.
Now to the sad part. As of 28th May, when
this final page of C&S was penned, British
Forces in Afghanistan had lost five of their
number during the course of the month.
On Friday 4th May Corporal Andrew
Steven Roberts and Private Ratu Manasa
Silibaravi, both of 23 Pioneer Regiment
RLC, were killed in an indirect fire attack
on Forward Operating Base Ouellette, in
the northern part of Nahr-e Saraj district.
Just over a week later, on Saturday 12th
May, Corporal Brent John McCarthy, from
the Royal Air Force, and Lance Corporal
Lee Thomas Davies, from the 1st Battalion
Welsh Guards, were killed by small arms
fire while deployed as part of a Police
Advisory Team providing security at a
meeting at the local Afghan Uniform Police
headquarters near Patrol Base Attal in the
Lashkar Gah. Finally, on Saturday 26th
May Captain Stephen James Healey, from
1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, was killed
as a result of his vehicle being struck by
an improvised explosive device while on
patrol in the north of the Nahr-e Saraj
district.
The thoughts and sympathies of the C&S
Team are with the families, friends and
colleagues of the latest British troops to lay
down their lives in Afghanistan’s troubled
Helmand Province. - BM
Combat & Survival 05
 ROYAL MARINES FROM KILO
COMPANY OF 42 COMMANDO
RM RACE ASHORE IN THE
AURSFJORD ON 19TH MARCH
IN ORDER TO SECURE A
BEACHHEAD

The
Norwegian
Armed
Forces
regularly
conduct a
series of
invitational
exercises
designed to train
winter warfare
operations, with
the first in the
current COLD
RESPONSE series having
been held in 2006.
Initially conducted
annually, today the
exercises take place every
second year. COLD
RESPONSE 2012, the fifth of
its kind with the others
being in 2007, 2009 and 2010,
took place in northern Norway
between the 5th and 23rd of
March this year. +5 followed
the action on the frozen fjords
and mountains of Norway to
provide you with this firsthand
brief.

Combat & Survival 09


DURING THE AMPHIBIOUS PHASE
SECURITY FOR THE AMPHIBIOUS TASK
GROUP LANDING CRAFT WAS PROVIDED
BY STRIDSBÅT 90 (NORWEGIAN VERSION
OF THE SWEDISH CB90) COMBAT BOATS
OF THE TACTICAL BOAT SQUADRON
F
or the Royal Marines of Kilo
Company from 42 Commando
RM Exercise COLD
RESPONSE '12 was the first
chance to re-shape their amphibious
skills after been deployed to
Afghanistan on OPERATION HERRICK
14 for a six month tour in 2011. In
addition they also had opportunity to
develop their mountain and cold
weather warfare skills.
During the exercise the Royal Marines,
together with their US and Dutch
counterparts, conducted a pair of
amphibious raids in order to wear down
the enemy’s forces and require the
enemy commander to pull units out of
his main line of defence. One of these
took place in the Dyroysundet near
Brostadbotn on the 15th of March.
Afterwards the Amphibious Task Group
sailed further north while beating off
enemy air attacks and combating
submarines.
On the 19th of March the whole
Landing Force was covertly deployed
ashore in the Aursfjord and pushed into
the enemy's flank while at the same
time the Land Component conducted a
frontal assault on the enemy's line of
defences. Over the next 48 hours the
Marines conducted inland operations
10 Combat & Survival
! 1: Javelin Light
over mountainous terrain, mostly
covered with ice and snow, during
which they again and again were
engaged by the enemy.
While the weather during the last days
of the exercise was fine, in the early
days the ships and their crews as well
as the Marines had to cope with high
winds, blizzards and temperatures
well below zero. Amphibious
operations are extremely complex and
require the coordination and timely
deployment of ships, landing crafts
and helicopters in order to get the
Landing Forces ashore in the right
order, at the right time and the right
place while at the same time
protecting them from enemy naval,
ground and land forces. The weather
made this task even more difficult.
EXERCISE NUMBERS
A total of some 16,250 troops from
fourteen NATO and Partnership for
Peace (PfP) countries took part on
exercise COLD RESPONSE '12. In
addition to Norway, which deployed
almost all its ground forces, Belgium,
Canada, Denmark, Finland, France,
Germany, Ireland, Latvia, the
Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the
United Kingdom, and the United States
Force Anti-Tank of America all participated.
Guided Weapon
team from Kilo The exercise involved 9,750 ground
Company deployed troops, 3,700 marines and naval
in the frozen personnel, 1,100 members of the air
landscape of a forces and 1,700 members of Special
Forces units. In addition to hundreds of
Norwegian fjord - wheeled and tracked vehicles, 86 fixed
the LF ATGW has wing and rotary aircraft as well as 23
an effective range ships were fielded on the exercise
of 2,500m which was divided in three phases:
2: An infantryman · Deployment and Preparation ~ 5th
to 12th March
of the Telemark
Bataljonen armed
· Operational Phase ~ 12th to 21st
March
with a
5.56x45mm
· Redeployment Phase ~ 21st to 23rd
March
Minimi light As on previous COLD RESPONSE
machinegun waits exercises the bulk of the ground
for the order to
training was conducted in the Troms
move - the plastic District of northern Norway, along the
attached to the strategic E6 road between Bjerkvik and
bipod prevents the Nordkjosbotn, though the exercise
weapon sinking area was in fact much bigger. For the
into the snow naval forces it covered the coastal
waters from just south of Bodo to
3: The core of the Tromso, but the exercise area for the
air forces was even larger and reached
French contingent from south of Orland to well north of
deployed on COLD Tromso.
RESPONSE '12
was provided by Swedish territory was also used for
the 7e Bataillon de part of the exercise area. Smaller
Chasseurs Alpins ground forces and air assets operated
- note the French in the border areas between Narvik in
3-colour snow Norway and Kiruna in Sweden. This
camo and year a lot of the ground combat action
took place within the Setermoen,
distinctive Alpine Mauken and Blatid training areas.
berets
SCENARIO
The COLD RESPONSE '12 exercise
scenario aimed to train the
participating forces in executing a
Crisis Response Operation (CRO)
within a high intensity multi-threat
environment with the aim of Peace
Enforcement. For the purposes of the
exercise the Scandinavian Peninsula
was divided into the fictitious countries
of Gardaland, Timberland, Great
Eastland and Borgland. The Troms
District of northern Norway formed the
Nerthus Region, a part of Borgland

" #
also claimed by Gardaland and
offering rich natural resources.
On the 23rd August 2011 the forces of
Gardaland invaded the Nerthus
Region after the President of
Gardaland had declared officially that
the area was rightly owned by his
country. After all political tools had
failed the United Nations Security
Council authorised NATO, under UN
Charter Chapter VII, to deploy armed
forces in order to re-establish the
border of Borgland. Following this a
Multinational Task Force led by NATO
deployed to the north of Borgland and
began to prepare to push the forces of
Gardaland out of the Nerthus Region.
Led by a Multinational Headquarters
this Multinational Task Force consisted
of a Land Component Command, a
Maritime Component Command
including an Amphibious Task Force,
an Air Component Command and a
Combined Joint Special Forces
Component Command.
LAND COMPONENT
The Land Component of the
4: During their
advance the NATO
forces had to deal
with countless
obstacles - here
Norwegian Multinational Task Force was led by the
combat engineers headquarters of the Norwegian
blow a path Brigade North, which was reinforced by
personnel from other nations.
through a
Norwegian units assigned to the Land
minefield using a Component included the Sambands
mine clearing line bataljonen (signal battalion), the
charge Millitær poltikompaniet (Military Police
company), the Etteretnings bataljonen
5: This Dutch (ISTAR battalion), the Telemark
Marine is armed Bataljonen (mechanised infantry
with the Canadian battalion), the 2 Bataljonen
5.56x45mm C7A1 (mechanised infantry battalion), the
IUR assault rifle Ingenior bataljonen (engineer
battalion), the Artilleri bataljonen
fitted with
(artillery battalion), the Sanitets
Aimpoint CompM4 bataljonen (medical battalion) and the
sight and 3xMag Combat Service and Support
magnification Bataljonen (logistic battalion).
module
The Land Forces also comprised an
800-strong light infantry battalion
provided by Canada. This makeshift
unit was centred around the 1st
Battalion of The Royal Canadian
Regiment and included assets from
several other units of the 2 Canadian
BRITISH COMMANDOS FROM
KILO COMPANY DISMOUNT
FROM A BVS10 VIKING TROOP
CARRYING VARIANT (TCV) OF
THE 2E MARINIERS BATALJON
OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS
KORPS MARINIERS
Mechanized Brigade Group based at
Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.
Among these were a battery from the
2nd Regiment of The Royal Canadian
Horse Artillery, which deployed with
81mm L16 mortars instead of artillery
pieces, as well as an engineer
company from the 2nd Combat
Engineer Regiment and logistic assets
from 2 Service Battalion.
Although the Canadians deployed with
their own weapons they used Bv206
all-terrain vehicles provided by the
Norwegian Armed Forces during the
exercise. The deployment of Canadian
forces to this region was the first one
since the times of the Cold War, when
the Canadians regularly trained in
northern Norway.
The French Army also provided a
battalion for the Land Component.
Their mountain infantry battalion
numbered some 420 troops from the
27e Brigade d' Infanterie de Montangne
(27eBIM). This brigade is the elite
mountain infantry formation of the
French Army.
The core of the deployed battalion was
provided by the 7e Bataillon de
Chasseurs Alpins, which deployed its
État-Major (Headquarters), Compagnie
de Commandement et de Logistique
(Headquarters and Support Company),
three of its Compagnies de Combat
(mountain infantry companies) and its
section of the Groupement de
Commandos de Montagne (mountain
infantry long range reconnaissance
asset). These elements were reinforced
by an engineer platoon from the 2e
Régiment Ètranger de Génie of the
French Foreign Legion, two JTAC
Teams from the 93e Régiment
d'Artillerie de Montagne and a
reconnaissance platoon from the 4e
Régiment de Chasseurs. Like the
Combat & Survival 11

$
Canadians the French deployed with
their own weapons but used Bv206 all-
terrain vehicle provided by the
Norwegians.
The Finnish mechanised infantry
company which took part on the
exercise numbered 215 troops and
was assigned to the 2 Bataljonen of
Brigade North. The Finnish contingent
was provided by the Satakunta Jääkäri
pataljoona of the Porin Prikaati, the
brigade which provides the Finish
Rapid Deployment Force. One of the
light infantry platoons of the company
was equipped with four XA360 AMV
(Armoured Modular Vehicle) wheeled
armoured personnel carriers build by
Patria Land & Armament Oy.
SWEDEN
After Norway, Sweden provided the
largest contingent of forces for COLD
RESPONSE '12 with some 1,500
troops. Elements of the Swedish
ground units that took part in the
exercise included: Amfibie regementet
1 (Amf1), Artilleri regementet (A9),
Försvarsmaktens Tekniska Skola
(FMTS), Göta Ingenjör regementet
(Ing2), Lednings regementet, (LedR),
Livregementets Husarer (K3), Livgardet
(LG), Markstridsskolan (MSS),
12 Combat & Survival
ROYAL MARINES PUSHING
FORWARD TO SECURE THE
BEACHHEAD - THE
COMMANDO IN THE
FOREGROUND IS ARMED
WITH A 5.56X45MM L110A2
MINIMI LIGHT MACHINE GUN
% 6: US Marine &
from 24th Marine
Regiment provides
cover with his
5.56x45mm M249
SAW light machine
gun while his
comrades
advance to secure
Norbottens Regemente (I19), a bridge during The exercise saw air operations
Totalförsvarets Skyddscentrum the break-out conducted across the
(SkyddC) and the Trängregementet phase Norwegian/Swedish border. Royal
(TrängR). Norwegian Air Force cargo planes flew
7: Here US transport runs from Norway to Sweden
Within the Land Component, the Marines of Kilo and back, during which they were
Swedish combat assets formed a covered first by Norwegian F-16
Company from Fighting Falcon fighters and, after
mechanised infantry battle group
which, in addition to the battalion
3/24th Marine crossing the border, by Swedish JAS
HQ, included a reconnaissance Regiment have Gripen 39 fighters.
platoon, a mechanised infantry deployed their
company, an amphibious infantry 60mm M224 AMPHIBIOUS TASK GROUP
company, a light infantry company Lightweight
and a service support company. Company Mortar - The Maritime Component of the
The Swedish forces also provided a it weighs 21kg Multinational Task Force consisted of
MP platoon, a PSYOPS platoon, a and has a range two Task Groups. One was a Naval
NBC company, an engineer platoon, of 3500 metres Task Group which, in addition to
a medical company, a logistic frigates, destroyers and mine hunting
support company, a transportation
company and an artillery battery
8: Commandos vessels of the Norwegian and other
armed with a nation's navies, included the British
(equipped with two 155mm Archer
7.62x51mm L7A2 Type 42 destroyer HMS Liverpool. One
Artillery Systems) for the Land task of the Naval Task Group was to
Component, some of these GPMG cover the provide protection for the second Task
elements being integrated into advance of their Group of the Maritime Component, the
Norwegian units. comrades - the Amphibious Task Group which included
Amphibious Task the bulk of the British troops taking part
The Swedish Navy took part in the Group included on COLD RESPONSE '12.
exercise with a corvette of the Visby Marines from the
class of the Tredje Sjöstrdsflottiljen,
USA and the THE MARITIME
namely HMS Härnösand. The
Swedish Air Force participated with
Netherlands as COMPONENT
some twelve JAS 39 Gripen combat well as the UK
aircraft of the Norbottens Flygflottilj Commander, Major General Ed Davis
(F21). RM, and his staff were based on HMS
BVS10 VIKINGS OF THE 2E
MARINIERS BATALJON ARE
BROUGHT ASHORE BY A
LANDING CRAFT UTILITY
BELONGING TO 4 ASSAULT
SQUADRON ROYAL MARINES
'
Illustrious. Also based on the 'Lusty'
were HC Mk.4 Sea King and Lynx
AH7 of the Commando Helicopter
Force, a Mobile Air Operations Team
and a Lynx Mk8 Saturn of 815 Naval
Air Squadron. After HMS Illustrious
was damaged during the exercise on
9th of March it had to leave early and
the Maritime Component Command
had to be moved to another ship
while the Amphibious Task Group
lost much of its aviation support.
The flag ship for the Amphibious
Task Group, commanded by
Commander Paddy McAlpine, was
the Landing Platform Dock HMS
Bulwark. Among other vessels, the
Amphibious Task Group also
included the Landing Platform Dock
HNLMS Rotterdam of the Royal
Netherlands Navy and a couple of
Stridsbåt 90 (SB90, the Norwegian
version of the Swedish CB90)
combat boats of the Tactical Boat
Squadron of the Royal Norwegian
Navy. The Landing Force
commanded by the Dutch Colonel
Fred Swart and centred around the
9: Dutch Landing 2e Mariniersbataljon of the Dutch
Craft Utility pair Korps Mariniers was embarked on by
launched from the British and Dutch LPDs. The
HNLMS Rotterdam Dutch battalion had Kilo Company
approach a from 3rd Battalion of the 24th Marine
beachhead in the Regiment (a Reserve unit of the
Dyroysundet - the United States Marine Corps) and
LCU can transport Kilo Company from 42 Commando
up to 130 Marines Royal Marines attached. The whole
with their full kit Landing Force numbered some 450
troops and could field sixty vehicles
10: Dutch and including USMC Hum-vees and
British Landing Dutch BvS10 Viking armoured all-
Craft Utility (LCU) terrain vehicles.
ferry troops and
materiel from HMS Britain's 4 Assault Squadron RM,
Bulwark to the permanently based aboard HMS
shore of the Bulwark, together with Dutch
Aursfjord counterparts from the Amfibisch
Gevechtssteun bataljon, brought the
11: CV9030N of the Landing Force ashore on Dutch and
Panser bataljonen British landing crafts. After HMS
in defensive Illustrious left the exercise, air
position - together transport support for the Amphibious
with units of the Task Group was provided by two
Home Guard the AS-532U2 Cougar MK II transport
Panser bataljonen helicopters from 300 Squadron of the
provided the bulk of Defence Helicopter Force of the
the Gardaland Royal Netherlands Air Force,
forces opposing the operating from HNLMS Rotterdam.
Multinational Task
Force In total the Netherlands took part on
exercise COLD RESPONSE '12 with
Images © Carl Schulze 800 troops.
TRAGIC FOOTNOTE
On 15th March a C-130J Hercules
transport aircraft from 355
Squadron of the Royal Norwegian
Air Force disappeared from the
radar while on its way from Evenes
airport to Kiruna in Sweden, where
it was about to pick up personnel
taking part in COLD RESPONSE '12.
The area in which the aircraft
disappeared was mountainous
terrain and the weather was far
from perfect. Shortly after the
aircraft went missing Norwegian
and Swedish rescue assets began
the search for it, but heavy
snowfall and the nature of the
terrain made this a dangerous
task. It was not until the 17th of
March that the plane was found,
crashed into the northwest side of
Kebnekaise mountain at an altitude
of about 1,500 metres. Its crew
had been killed at once. The reason
for the crash is still a mystery.
The C&S team wishes to express
our deepest sympathy to the
relatives of the crew members:
Lieutenant Colonel Truls Audun
Ørpen, Captain Ståle Garberg,
Captain Bjørn Yngvar Haug, Captain
Siw Robertsen and Captain Steinar
Utne.
Combat & Survival 13
 Norway’s winter training exercises to which they invite the NATO allies and Scandinavian neighbours have usually provided
an excellent opportunity for us to see new national and international military hardware deployed in the field, or even on the
fjords, and COLD RESPONSE 2012 was every bit as interesting as previous exercises covered by the +5 correspondents
since the late eighties. In this album we bring you ten images of systems which particularly caught our eye.

Among the ships taking part in

exercise were a pair of Skjold Class
corvettes. Designed in the late
nineties one of the new large, super
fast, stealth missile craft entered
service in 1999, two more followed in
2008 and another three in 2011. This
is one of the latest trio, P963
Steil. The Skjold Class vessels can
attain a top speed of 110km/h and are
armed with a 76mm multi-role cannon,
eight Kongsberg SSM Naval Strike
Missiles, a Mistral SAM system and
two 12.7mm machineguns

Norwegian Home Guard snipers

fielded 12.7x99mm M82 anti-material
rifle during COLD RESPONSE 2012.
This semi-automatic weapon weighs
14kg, features a 10-round box
magazine, has a 737mm long barrel
and can be used to engage targets
out to a distance of 1,800m

16 Combat & Survival

In addition to their 5.56x45mm HK416N
assault rifle the Norwegian Armed Forces
also recently began to field the 4.6x30mm
MP7A1 sub-machinegun, also manufactured by
Heckler & Koch GmbH. Among others, the Since 2007 the Norwegian Army has been
MP7A1 was issued to the crews of Leopard replacing the 7.62mm AG3 assault rifle
2A4N main battle tanks of the Telemark with the 5.56mm HK416N assault rifle. By
Bataljonen. It has a theoretical rate of 2012 even the Home Guard units on exercise
fire of 950rpm and is fitted with an were equipped with the new weapon. This
Aimpoint Comp M4 sight. In addition to HK416N assault rifle carried by a Home
their 5.56x45mm HK416N assault rifle the
Guard soldier is fitted with the 40mm GLM
Norwegian Armed Forces also recently began
to field the 4.6x30mm MP7A1 sub- underslung grenade launcher
machinegun, also manufactured by Heckler &
Koch GmbH. Among others, the MP7A1 was
issued to the crews of Leopard 2A4N main
battle tanks of the Telemark Bataljonen.
It has a theoretical rate of fire of
950rpm and is fitted with an Aimpoint Comp
M4 sight

Artilleriregementet A9 of the Swedish

Army, based at Boden, fielded two pre-
production 155mm Archer Artillery
Systems. Sweden ordered a total of 24
of the 155mm Archer based on the
chassis of the Volvo A30D articulated
dump truck. Laying, loading and firing
of the 155mm L/52 gun is fully
automatic and during the process the
crew does not have to leave the fully
armoured crew cab. The system can
conduct shoot and scoot missions inside
only 30 seconds

Combat & Survival 17

 One of the platoons of
the company of the
Finnish contingent
provided by the
Satakunta
Jääkäripataljoona was
equipped with four
XA360 AMV (Armoured
Modular Vehicle)
wheeled armoured
personnel carriers
built by Patria Land &
Armament Oy. These 8x8
vehicles, which only
recently entered
service, were fitted
with a Protector
Remote Weapon Station
that can be fitted
with a 12.7mm M2 heavy
machinegun (as here)
or a 40mm grenade
Images © Carl Schulze machine

In the recent years the Norwegian Army has

modernised its entire fleet of M113 to keep
them in service well beyond 2020. The vehicles
were fitted with new engines and transmissions,
an armour package that included a spall liner
and add-on armour and new rubber tracks. A
large number of the modified vehicles, like this
NM205F3 Stormingeniør panservogn, are also
fitted with the Protector Remote Weapon Station
manufactured by Kongsberg Protech Systems
Armed with an RB57 Next Generation Light Anti-
tank Weapon (NLAW) a Swedish soldier waits to
engage enemy armour. The NLAW, which entered
service with the Swedish Armed Forces in 2009,
weighs 12.5kg, has a combat range of up to 600
metres, features a shaped charge warhead and can
be used either in overfly top attack or a
direct attack modes

Intriguingly, some Norwegian Army vehicles

participating on COLD RESPONSE 2012 were painted
in desert camouflage like this Leopard 2A4N main
battle tank from the Telemark Bataljonen. Among
the other desert camo vehicles we spotted were a
Leguan AVLB bridge layer, an NM196 ambulance,
Mercedes-Benz 290 GD Geländewagen patrol vehicles
and a Scania tank transporter
18 Combat & Survival
The Swedish contingent fielded this CV9040B Armoured
Infantry Fighting Vehicle fitted with a V-blade
Surface Mine Plough (SMP) manufactured by Pearson
Engineering Ltd. The SMP, which weighs 1,300kg and
can create a clearance width of 4.5m, can be employed
to clear surface laid mines and munitions
 The Spanish Legion, Spain's
most elite fighting unit, is the
realisation of the dream of one
man, a soldier, adventurer and
romantic idealist, José y
Millàn-Astray Terreros. He was
inspired by the military glory of
Spain of past centuries, the
time of the Conquistadors and
of the Tercios of Flanders.
Millàn-Astray wanted to form a
brotherhood of warriors, a
military unit composed solely
of volunteers from all
nationalities and all walks of
life.
A
military unit bound together
by a code of honour,
composed of men ready to
leave all: family, friends and
lovers, in the quest of adventure and of
war. A comradeship of soldiers ready to
fight and, if necessary, to die, for one
another, on any battlefield anywhere in
the world. Their motto is Los Novios de
la Muerte, which translates roughly as
The Betrothed of Death.
CREATION OF THE FIRST
TERCIO
On 20th September 1920 Colonel
20 Combat & Survival
1 Main Image: On
special occasions, 2
religious and
otherwise,
Legionnaires
carry the
crucified Christ
held high at arms
length
1: The Legion
Creed - it has
twelve Spirits
which every
Millàn-Astray created the first Tercio of his
Legionnaire knows
future Legion in Ceuta. For his staff he
gathered together a core of veteran by heart and aims
officers, the most part of which had to keep
already fought at his side, and as second
in command he chose Major (later 2: Old recruiting
General) Francisco Franco who was poster - traditions
renowned for his courage and his ardour play a major part
in battle. in the Legion even
though the Tercios Legionnaires? It is the moment to
The first recruits were warmly received by are less than a decide."
Millàn-Astray. But he gave them one last
century old After a few months of training in Ceuta,
chance to renounce their enlistment:
"For you, there will be daily sacrifices. You today still a Spanish exclave on the
are going to defend the most dangerous Mediterranean coast of Morocco, the
and the most difficult positions. Many of first Tercio was sent to Melilla, also still
Spanish territory three hundred
you are going to die, but to die in battle
kilometres to the east. Melilla was
is one of the greatest honours a man can
hope for. Do you really want to be under a virtual state of siege, under
 !

Left: The khaki

gorrillo side-cap
with red hanging
tassel at the front
is unique to the
Legion

3: A selection of "
historic unit flags
and colours of the
Legion in Melilla
Museum
4: Historic
weapons dating
from the Rif War
period in the early remain to this day.
20th Century
CODE OF HONOUR OF THE
5: Franco, later to
become ruler of LEGION
Spain, played a
Millàn-Astray wanted the Legionnaires to
major part during be bonded together by something more
the formative than a simple chain of command. He
period established the 'Credo Leginario' as
twelve principles, or 'Spirits', inspired by
6: José Milian- the Code of Honour of the French
Astray Terreros, Foreign Legion.
founder of the
Legion, lost an eye Every morning, at the assembly of a
and a hand in Legion regiment, two of these twelve
# $ battle in Morocco 'Spirits' are read to remind every
Legionnaire why he is there and the
manner in which he should act. Into his
warrior philosophy Millàn-Astray also
incorporated the principles of Japanese
Bushido, a strict code which demanded
fidelity, training until perfection and
honour until death.

THE THREE PILLARS

daily attack by the Moroccan
insurgents, the formidable warrior
tribes of Riff.
Once they entered the conflict, the first
Tercio would endure years of hard
combat. Immediately a second Tercio
was formed in Ceuta and was sent to
the front. During the Riff War (1920-26)
several other units were formed within
the Legion. The Tercios de Extranjeros,
which translates to Foreigners
Regiments, were to become the elite
troops of the Spanish African Army.
The territory was officially declared
pacified in 1927, after near seven years
of war and 845 engagements. The
Spanish Legion paid a heavy tribute with
more than 2,000 deaths and 6,000
wounded. The first Tercio was then
permanently garrisoned in Melilla and
the second Tercio in Ceuta, where they
On the walls of the Museum of the
Spanish Legion in Ceuta, some fifty
portraits pay homage to the Legionnaires
of the past who showed special courage
in battle and who contributed to the
reputation of the Legion. Among all these
heroes, the three figures most venerated
by the Legion are Milian-Astray, Lt. Col.
Rafael Valenzuela and the General
Francisco Franco. Milian-Astray, the
founder, is considered to be the father of
the Spanish Legion.
Valenzuela took command of the newly
formed 2nd Bandera in 1920. In June,
1923, a Spanish convoy led by the 2nd
Bandera was attacked by a large
Moroccan force. Valenzuela, at the head
of his men attacked the enemy positions.
During the fierce fighting he was hit and
died on the battlefield. Since then,
Valenzuela has been a symbol of
courage and sacrifice of the Legion.

Combat & Survival 21

 %

&

Main image: The '

Legion marches at
160-190 steps per
minute - twice the
pace of the
Spanish Army

In 1927, Franco was promoted to
General and took command of the
entire Legion. Under his command the
Legion became a modern, well
organized and well trained army.
Without a doubt Franco, Spanish
Head of State from 1939 until his
death in 1975, is the most prominent
person to have ever worn a Legion
uniform.
CABALLEROS
The Legionnaires are called by the title
of Caballeros Legionarios which
translates as Gentlemen Legionnaires,
and not simply soldiers as in other
Spanish regiments.
UNIFORMS
From its establishment the Legion was
noted for its plain and simple
uniforms, in contrast to the colourful
dress uniforms still worn by the
Peninsular regiments of the Spanish
Army. For active service the modern
Legion has the same combat fatigues
as the rest of the Spanish Army, but it
still retains the original, sage green
Tropical uniform for semi-formal
barrack dress and as a parade
7: Honouring the
Legion's fallen at
the Ceuta war
memorial - 10,000
dead are
remembered
8: Although
steeped in
tradition, today the
Legion is a
modern uniform. The shirt is worn open at the
mechanised chest, as a sign of the heart open to
death.
combat force
All Legionnaires, officers and men, and
9: In future issues these days women too, wear the
we will look at the Chapiri. This is a khaki coloured service
Spanish Legion in cap with red hanging tassel and red
the 21st Century piping, inspired by the bonnets worn by
the troops of Queen Isabel, in the
Images © 1830s. Legionnaires are authorized to
Richard Lucas have a beard, as well as tattoos.
LOS NOVIOS DE LA MUERTE
The Legionnaires consider themselves
Los Novios de la Muerte (The Fiancés
of Death) in the sense of being
betrothed or promised to Death. The
official hymn of the Legion is of the
same name. Their battle cries are "Viva
the muerte!" (Long live death!) and
"Legionarios a luchar, Legionarios a
morir!" (Legionnaires to battle, to die
Legionnaires!). If a Legionnaire needs
help he shouts, "A mí la Legión!" (To me
the Legion!) as in the French Foreign
Legion.
THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST
On certain occasions, religious and
otherwise, Legionnaires carry the
crucified Christ held high at arms
length, and the Crucifixion scene is
present, painted or sculptured, in the
rooms of many of the Legion buildings.
At the origin were the strong Catholic
roots of Spain, but in today's Legion
Christ is a symbol of sacrifice.
No Legionnaire is obliged to be
Christian and Legionnaires belonging
to other faiths are accepted and are
free to exercise their beliefs. In the
Legion when they say that a
Legionnaire followed the path of Jesus
it means that he will not come back,
that he has made the ultimate sacrifice.
TO BE CONTINUED...
FOOTNOTE:
Richard Lucas is a prominent
American-born combat journalist and a
frequent contributor to international
military magazines. He has covered
conflict situations worldwide, including
Afghanistan, Bosnia, the Congo, Kosovo
and Lebanon. Based in the south of
France he often works with the French
Foreign Legion as well as other elite
military units. His work can be seen on
his website: richardlucas.fr

22 Combat & Survival


Next Level Training introduced
its dry fire training handgun, the
Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger
pistol, at the 2011 Shot Show.
Founded by IPSC Grand Master
Shooter Mike Hughes, Next Level
Training (NLT) is revolutionising
the way shooters train with its
new SIRT dry fire training pistol.
24 Combat & Survival
1
PSC Grand Master Shooter Yong Lee
had this to say after a recent training
class using the unique laser
enhanced dry fire training pistol:
“Students were amazed that they could
shoot with both eyes open and shoot this
accurately. Most are veteran police
officers with years of shooting experience.
1
Half are instructors. Though the SIRT
pistol was a small part of this class, it
played a critical role in helping
students understand the concept of
looking through the sights and
calling the shots. I wouldn’t have
been able to accomplish the primary
goal of the class without the SIRT.”
Main Image: The Law enforcement trainer and Master
use of the SIRT Class Shooter Darrion Holiwell sees
pistol allows immediate benefits in his own
instructors to trainees after just a few training
sessions with NLT’s dry fire training
run active 'force
pistol and stated: “I used the SIRT
on force' and Training Pistol during one of my
'shoot - no shoot' Patrol Tactics courses. During the
scenarios - you building search exercises, each
can see the red student was given a SIRT. Some of
trigger take up the scenarios were threat or non-
and green shot threat situations. As an instructor, I
placement lasers was able to observe the students as
they searched the building and when
1: The SIRT pistol they had their fingers on the trigger.
The SIRT gave immediate feedback
looks and feels
and I was able to correct mistakes
like the real thing on the spot. This is not possible with
by matching size, a standard blue plastic training
weight and pistol, especially during low light
centre of gravity scenarios.”
of a live pistol -
above the pistols Darrion Holiwell is a critical member
is a SIRT training of the NLT team as he is a 10 year
replacement bolt SWAT veteran and head SWAT
for a M4/M16 training officer in a major
metropolitan jurisdiction. Darrion
rifle
needs the best training regimens and
equipment possible because his life,
2: The SIRT and other’s lives, depend upon it.
training pistol
was designed to Mike Hughes, the founder of NLT
enable shooters and the designer of the SIRT, gave
to train more +5 an introduction and insight to
frequently and his dry firing training pistol: “The Shot
more effectively, Indicating Resetting Trigger (SIRT)
even on training pistol was designed to
enable shooters to train more
improvised
frequently and more effectively.
indoor ranges Conventional dry firing does not

! "
$
provide feedback or allow consecutive
shots and retrofits to real guns had too
many drawbacks.”
The designer continued: “The first
prototype was designed by removing
the barrel and welding a laser to the
slide and putting in a resetting trigger
in a Glock 17 pistol with a modified
switch engaging the trigger bar. This
initial set-up was merely designed for
training for shooting on the move. It
IN THE RUN-UP TO A COMPETITION
PRACTICAL PISTOL COMPETITORS
WILL PERFORM A LOT OF DRY FIRE
TRAINING - THE SIRT PISTOL WILL
GREATLY ASSIST AN IPSC
COMPETITOR IN THEIR PRE-MATCH
TRAINING
3: Safe enough to #
demonstrate at a
busy expo -
conventional dry
firing does not
provide feedback
or allow
consecutive shots,
and retrofits to
real guns had too
was quickly identified that the first many drawbacks.
model had much more utility and
eventually it was being used for all dry 4: The current
firing, which evolved into dry firing version of the SIRT
more frequently and more effectively.”
pistol replicates the
Visual response from the laser
Glock 9mm / .40
provides immediate and accurate S&W Models 17
feedback on shot placement and 22, which are
verification. With the SIRT pistol you the most commonly
can perform thousands of repetitions, encountered pistols
with instantaneous feedback to correct used in law up the SIRT pistol you will be training in
trigger control issues immediately. enforcement a few minutes. The designer explained:
When designing the final production “The laser feedback systems simply will
model of the SIRT pistol NLT included 5: You can shoot not permit sloppy trigger control, so the
the take up indicator in the six way immediate feedback works. We use
adjustable trigger. Once the design of
training courses laser enhanced dry fire to master our
the SIRT Pistol was completed, NLT
with live pistol craft skills and have personally
decided to share it with the shooting ammunition and witnessed our skills such as our draws,
community. also shoot the same reloads, transitions, shooting on the
course with the move, all be sharpened and
Said Hughes: “As a patent attorney SIRT pistol to neurologically rooted in place when we
and mechanical engineer, I know that reduce ammunition live fire, so we can focus on recoil
simple designs are the best designs. costs management.”
As a grandmaster competitive shooter
and ex-college football player who While NLT knows that dry fire training is
never missed a single practise, I also
6: IPSC practical
no substitute for live fire training,
know that quality repetition and an pistol competitors neither is there a need to rely on it
environment conducive for training is can use the SIRT exclusively thanks to the Shot
imperative to maximise your potential.” pistol as an Indicating Resetting Trigger (SIRT)
additional resource training pistol and the exclusive laser
The SIRT training pistol was made by to carrying out live feedback mechanism. Designed to
shooters for shooters. Once you pick fire training complement, not replace, live fire
Combat & Survival 25
 allows for multiple strings of fire during
training without racking the slide,
encouraging more repetitions per
training session.

· Weighted Training Magazine: SIRT

training magazines are adjustable to
match the weight of the loads you
normally run in your firearm, from 10
rounds of 9mm 115 grain bullets, to 15
rounds of 180 grain 40 S&W calibre
bullets. The magazines have a
rubberised base plate for durability, so
that they can be dropped while
reloading in training.

· Dual Indicator Lasers: The Red

Trigger Prep Indicator laser gives you
immediate feedback on your trigger
mechanics while you prep your trigger.
The Green Shot Indicating laser (Pro
Model) or Red Shot Indicating Laser
% Above: Weights & (Student Model) gives you shot
can be added or indication feedback on your follow
removed from the through after pulling the trigger.
magazine to
replicate the
· Laser Take Up Toggle Switch: The
LTUTS allows you to shut off the Take
Up Indicating Laser, and just train with
weight of a loaded the Shot Indicating Laser. The Red and
or empty Green (Pro Model) Lasers may also be
magazine. reversed with an internal switch.

training, the SIRT dry fire training

pistol brings together a host of patent
pending technologies critical to
improving shooting accuracy while
addressing issues of cost and liability.
Safe, effective, and innovative, the
SIRT dry fire training pistol was
developed by shooters for shooters.
NLT understands the unique training
demands and restrictions faced by
today’s law enforcement officers, the
military and competitive shooters.
REPLICATING THE DUTY
PISTOL
Built with a sturdy steel construction,
the SIRT dry fire training pistol looks
like and feels like the real thing. It
does this by matching the size,
weight, and centre of gravity of a live
fire pistol. In addition, the SIRT dry
fire training pistol even offers a host
of customised features including
magazine cartridge changes and
replaceable sights.
7: The SIRT pistol
allows training at
and targets through the feedback from
the laser placement on the target.
almost any Because of its flexibility and cost
location providing effectiveness, the SIRT does not just
permit additional training - it actually
immediate
encourages it.
feedback to the
shooter and Simple to use, the SIRT dry fire training
accompanying pistol is applicable to a range of training
instructor exercises including shooting accuracy,
side-arm handling, integrated cardio
8: As an and live course programs, and even
instructor you can
observe a student
force-on-force training scenarios.
Because it does not discharge any type
as they move with of projectile and instead uses laser
feedback, the SIRT dry fire training
the SIRT pistol in
pistol can be used safely in nearly every
their hand and environment and situation.
when they need to
have their finger
on the trigger · Fully Functional Rail: You can mount
your tactical light or laser device directly
when a onto the SIRT training pistol rail, just as
confrontation you would on your live fire pistol.
erupts.
· Ergonomic Frame: Built to the highest
standards of strength and durability, the
SIRT frame has all the functional grip
features of the 9mm Glock 17 and .40
· Trigger Prep Training: The take up
indicator engages when the trigger is
'taken-up' and partially pressed, as
prepping a trigger is imperative for
maximising accuracy and trigger
control. When the trigger is taken up,
the red laser is on, providing a visual
awareness of the muzzle movement
and further indicating when the trigger
is prepped to the shooter and / or a
trainer or firearms instructor.
· Maximise Trigger Mechanics: When
the simulated sear is “broken” the solid
state internal switching system
activates the green, shot indicating
laser providing visual feedback
indicating proper trigger follow through
and generally proper grip and trigger
mechanics. Whether your shooting
style is target focused or strict front
sight focused, the general visual
awareness of the lasers provides the
requisite feedback to improve shooting
mechanics without compromising your
vision focal at your desired vision focal
length.

Unlike a live fire pistol or air soft

pistol, the SIRT dry fire training pistol
provides instantaneous performance
feedback with no need for ongoing
expenditures such as ammunition
S&W Glock 22 and when fully
assembled is designed to match the
weight of your live fire pistol.
· Adjustable Resetting Trigger: The
SIRT’s adjustable auto-resetting trigger
· Laser Works On Any Target: The
short bursts of the green shot
indicating laser provide sufficient visual
verification to the shooter because of
our natural flash visual memory. The
use of the first prototypes (which were

26 Combat & Survival

' Above: Your live
initially made for individual training by
the company’s founders) unveiled the
effectiveness of a simple laser shot
indicator on practically any target. The
green laser can be seen while training
outside, allows more training and does
not require the hassle, set-up and
restrictiveness of expensive target
simulation systems. The compact and
simple training tool system works.
·
Engaging Targets in a Continuous
String: An auto resetting trigger is
necessary to reset the internal
simulated sear to represent multiple
fire training can consecutive shots. Traditional dry
be augmented by firing requires racking the slide or
using the SIRT cocking the hammer (to shoot in
single action mode). The action
pistol to perform
between shots breaks the natural
the same flow of engaging numerous targets
scenarios on the in an array. The auto resetting
range as you trigger allows for a significantly
perform while live greater number of quality trigger
fire training pulls for engaging targets in a
continuous string during a training
9: The SIRT pistol session.
also allows you to
practise reloading
by carrying out
· Train Hard and Train Smart: NLT
can make training more interesting
and fun. The simple design of NLT’s
your magazine SIRT Dry Fire Training Pistol allows
speed reloads training almost anywhere providing
immediate feedback to the shooter
and/or an accompanying instructor.
Take advantage of dead times
during the day to implement training
in almost any unused room or area
at your facility. Fight the potential
boredom perceived in training with
a simple, but versatile training tool
that makes learning pistol craft
interesting and fun.
·Train Your Vision: Aftermarket laser
caps provide distinct images of the
red take-up laser, such as a cross, a
circle with exterior perimeter, horizontal
and vertical lines and other variations
to indicate take-up and provide the
shooter with awareness of the muzzle
location without promoting a target
focus – particularly useful for front sight
focused instruction. Further, the take-
up indicator can be shut off by means
of a dedicated disengagement spring
switch. Laser intensity adjustment
provides visual awareness of shot
placement.
· Training For Drawing and Reloading:
The integrated lasers allow for proper
training of draws of various pistol craft
skill sets. The SIRT Training Pistol
comes with an adjustable weighted
magazine to simulate the weight and
centre of gravity of a magazine full of
124 grain 9mm ammunition, or a fully
loaded 15-round .40 S&W calibre
magazine with 180 grain bullets. The
magazines can be dropped on many
types of flooring surfaces without
damage.
·Weight and Center of Gravity of a
Real Pistol: The SIRT training pistol is
designed to have a dry weight of 24
ounces with the centre of gravity
Combat & Survival 27


positioned slightly above the trigger
pin. When engaging at full speed
transitions and draws, a simulated
weight and centre of gravity is
imperative for training to accelerate
and decelerate the pistol while
engaging in precise fine motor
movements.
· shoot houses, but many instructors have
A Complete System: Critical features
provide effective, consistent and
rewarding training. Patent pending
shot indicator, resetting trigger
combined with the simulated weight of
the pistol and magazine, a trigger
take-up indicator (that can be
conveniently turned off), and
replaceable sights, all in one self
contained package.
· degree the dynamics of a real encounter.
Train Safely: The SIRT Training Pistol
does not fire any sort of projectile, and
the lasers are not harmful. Of course,
as with use of any item that can
resemble a gun, discretion of where to
use the SIRT Training Pistol must be
applied by the shooter. However, the
brightly lit red front portion protruding
longitudinally forward from the grip
and slide module along with the sharp
razor cuts aids observers to identify
that the SIRT is not a real firearm. All
users are cautioned to train smart with
discretion of areas of use and follow
28 Combat & Survival

firearm safety rules even with the SIRT
Training Pistol.
ASSISTING THE
INSTRUCTOR
Law enforcement and military instructors
generally have access to simulators and
constraints within which they work. This
forces them to search for more efficient
and effective ways to train themselves
and their students. Basic pistol training
courses do not come close to instilling
into a student the necessary skills for a
true confrontation. The largest obstacle
that instructors face is how to adequately
train their students and create scenarios
where students can experience to some
The SIRT pistol will enable an instructor to
test if a student has a grasp of the
fundamentals of sight alignment and
trigger control by demonstrating this with
the dual lasers on the target.
An instructor is able to observe students
as they carry out training scenarios and
when they have their fingers on the
trigger. The SIRT will give immediate
feedback and the instructor can correct
mistakes on the spot. This is not possible
with a standard blue dummy gun,
especially during a low light scenarios.
Properly training a student in defensive
handgun techniques requires many
hours of training. Even in a training
class without time constraints it is
difficult to impart onto the students
handgun skills which can range from
basic marksmanship to defensive
tactics. Use of the SIRT pistol will
enable an instructor to help students
acquire the necessary skills to a higher
level in a shorter amount of time, while
at the same time doing so safely and
being able to verify the results. It is also
easy to diagnose whether a problem is
caused by improper execution of the
fundamentals of grip and sight
alignment or due to improper recoil
management.
The SIRT pistol is an excellent training
tool and enables instructors to run
force on force and shoot - no shoot
active scenarios within the budgetary
Above: The SIRT constraints faced by most
Training Pistol organisations.
does not fire any
sort of projectile The NLT Performance side of the
and the lasers are business was established to bring the
not harmful so you best training to their clients. Next Level
can even set up a Training recruited the best in US
training scenario Special Operations, Law Enforcement,
in your own home and Competition Shooting. The
concept was simple: bring together the
best talent to work with clients to
10: Use of the enhance and build skills in instruction
SIRT pistol will and operations.
enable an
instructor to help
students acquire
Next Level Training is devoted to
working with firearm instructors to aid in
shooting skills to a their efforts by providing training tools
high level in a and the latest training curriculum. They
short amount of
support training whether it is instructor
time, while doing based or branching into other arenas of
so safely and natural point of aim, scenarios,
being able to defensive tactics, competitive shooting,
verify the results concealed carry, tactical fitness or
integrated training.
11: The SIRT pistol In conclusion, the SIRT Dry Fire
offers a host of Training Pistol brings together a host of
customisable patent pending technologies critical to
features including improving shooting accuracy while
magazine changes
addressing issues of cost and liability.
and replaceable Built tough with sturdy steel
sights construction, the SIRT Pistol looks and
feels like the real thing by matching the
Images © size, weight, and centre of gravity of a
Greg Roberts live fire pistol. In addition, the SIRT
Pistol even offers a host of
customisable features including
magazine changes and replaceable
sights.
For further information check out the
www.nextleveltraining.com and for
European training see
www.cphdynamic.com
30 Combat & Survival
Every two years, during the opening ceremony at SOFEX, the Special Operations Force Exhibition
held in Amman, Jordan's Spec Ops Command lays on a demonstration at the formal Opening
Ceremony in front of the King and assembled dignitaries, senior military officers and defence
industry representatives. For 2012 the scenario saw terrorists taking over a regional airport terminal
building and holding civilians hostage.

Jordanian SOCOM were called in to take out the terrorists and liberate the hostages. The operation
commenced with the clandestine insertion of a HALO team (this would have occurred under cover
of darkness) to undertake reconnaissance well ahead of the main rescue effort and then call in a
diversionary air strike just before the main force was inserted by helicopter to both secure the
runway for an extraction by C-130 Hercules and take down the terrorists to release the captives.

Combat & Survival 31

 -30:00 At either end of the
runway, terrorist in machinegun-
armed pick-up trucks (technicals)
wait to target any aircraft trying to
land
-15:00 Terrorists with AK47
assault rifles guard the airport
terminal roof above the hostages,
little realising they are in the
crosshairs of elite HALO SF
operatives
00:00 A flight of F16 Fighting
Falcons drops diversionary bombs
during a fast low pass to distract the
terrorists as the assault teams
swoop in aboard low-flying
helicopters
00:05 One of a brace of AH-6
Little Bird gunships strafes outlying
terrorist positions to remove any
threat to the inbound rescue aircraft
- note the trail of brass from its
minigun
00:21 The technicals are now
disabled and the threat to landing
aircraft has been eliminated but
troops will still be inserted to fully
secure the area

32 Combat & Survival

 The roof team fast-ropes down -
HALO snipers clandestinely
inserted by C-130 have already
taken out the pair of terrorists
on the rooftop but the Blackhawk
gunners are still vigilant

One of four UH-60L Blackhawks

carrying the roof assault team swoops
in - note the gunner at the side window
in front of the door - less than a
minute has elapsed since the airstrike

Covered by the Blackhawk

gunners the roof team
prepares to abseil down -
note the AH-6 at top right
of frame on overwatch and
the other Blackhawk on the
ground

Special Forces Group operators leap from

a Blackhawk to secure the east end of the
runway - two units, one in black and one
in camo, participated in the display

Ground entry team, inserted off-camera to

the left by a third Blackhawk, prepares to go
in as their demolitions expert places a door
charge - the roof team abseils down to
throw in stun grenades

Combat & Survival 33

 03:07 While the ground entry
team rescues the hostages their
colleagues from the fourth
Blackhawk tidy up loose ends - note
the Black armoured pickup providing
real time perimeter security!

03:15 One of the terrorists

makes a run for it but the Spec Ops
K9 is more than his match - the
padded suit is an absolute must to
protect from the dog’s fearsome
teeth when commanded to attack

04:43 As the hostages are being

released from the terminal the C-
130 tasked with flying them out
airlands and four SF buggies race
out to provide a security cordon

04:57 The ground entry team,

having taken out the terrorists
inside the terminal, shepherd the
released hostages towards the
waiting C-130 which will fly them
out to safety

With the hostages safely aboard

the Herc the buggies embark -
had there been casualties these
nimble vehicles would have been
used to casevac them

34 Combat & Survival

08:00 The hostages and their SF escorts are flown to safety in the Royal Jordanian Air Force C-130 -
Jordan has four Hercs, two of which took part with the other one being used to drop the HALO team

09:12 The Blackhawks flare in to pick up the SFG personnel - JSOC has a fleet of eleven of these
helicopters which can each carry a 10-man squad in addition to four of five crew

09:37 Last of the roof team

boards a Blackhawk behind the
terminal building - note the JSOC
crest of desert eagle carrying a
scimitar above the door
09:45 Well inside the ten minutes
allowed for the operation the last
Blackhawk leaves the airport -
Jordan's Special Operations
Command is World class and one of
the best in the region

Special Forces Group HALO operative

swoops in with a Spec Ops flag - well
prior to the rescue phase small
teams would have inserted covertly
and gone to ground to provide intel
on the terrorists
Images © Bob Morrison : Military Scene

Combat & Survival 35

AN ELITE PATHFINDER FROM
16 AIR ASSAULT BRIGADE COMMUNICATES
WITH HIS HQ FROM THE BRAID FELL DROP
ZONE IN SCOTLAND DURING JOINT
WARRIOR 2012 AS THE FIRST STICK
FROM 3 PARA EXITS THE
C-130 HERCULES

Combat & Survival 37

 1 Main Image: One 2 3
of the Pathfinders
scans the area for
enemy activity
through the sight
of his L115A3
Long Range Rifle

1: Many
Pathfinders go on
to join the UK
Special Forces -
some call them the
Bastard Son of the
SAS - so they tend
to be camera shy
2: Primary
weapon of PF is
the Canadian

The Pathfinders of 16 Air
Assault Brigade, nominally a
platoon-sized unit, are
unquestionably the elite of
Britain's conventional ground
forces. Their primary task is to
be their brigade's advance
force and long range
reconnaissance element with
the highly specialist primary
mission of marking our drop
zones, improvised runways and
helicopter landing sites to
allow the main force to be
inserted deep inside enemy
territory and their secondary
mission is to provide tactical
intelligence to allow the
brigade to fulfil its mission; be
that warfighting, peace
enforcement on non-combatant
evacuation operations.
)
5.56mm Diemaco
C8A1carbine or sked to briefly explain their
the C8SFW variant, precise role Brigadier Mark
which has a Carlton-Smith, commander
heavier and 16 Air Assault from 2007 to
slightly longer 2009, stated: "The Pathfinders are
barrel essentially my own directed telescope.
They are responsible for delivering
3: Pathfinder tactical military reconnaissance,
teams also use the predominantly at range and distance
L110A1 5.56mm beyond the capacity and confidence of
the conventional force elements within
FN Minimi 16 Air Assault Brigade. So that's reliant
retractable stock on a specially selected cadre of
Light Machine Gun professional soldiers who are trained
- this one is fitted and equipped to operate in isolated
with a bag locations, hugely reliant on their own
magazine in what self-confidence, their own daring spirit
looks to be DPM and a high degree of self-reliance;
because they are not supported with
anything like the comprehensive
manner that the rest of the brigade is."
Until the mid-seventies when the
Callaghan Government disbanded 16
Parachute Brigade, Britain had a
parachute-trained Pathfinder Company
in the form of 1 (Guards) Independent
Company of The Parachute Regiment;
a formation which would be integrated
into 22 SAS to form the core of G
Squadron.
In 1983, not long after the Falklands
Campaign, 5 Airborne Brigade was
formed by the Thatcher Government to
once again give Britain a limited
parachute assault capability and over
time the ability was developed to insert
a full Lead Parachute Battalion Group
or LPBG, complete with all necessary
equipment and a small number of
Land Rovers to allow self-sufficiency,
from fifteen C-130 Hercules transport

38 Combat & Survival

" Main Image: Each # $
Pathfinder
configures his
personal kit to his
own preference -
note the green
smoke grenade in
the pouch right of
centre
4: When on the live
aircraft in less than five minutes. DZ during JOINT
WARRIOR the
To reconnoitre and mark out the Drop Pathfinders had to
Zone (DZ) for the Paras - two of 5 wear helmets -
Airborne Brigade's battalions were here fitted with
para-qualified and drawn from the laser sensors - but
three Regular battalions of the whenever possible
Parachute Regiment - a Pathfinder they prefer to
Platoon was soon reformed giving wear cut down
the Brigade the ability to insert small bush hats
teams of specialists from high
altitude anything from 12 to 72 hours 5: The collapsible
ahead of the main assault. Since satellite antenna battalion of Paras well behind the the DZ in the days before the Health
their formation in 1985 all Pathfinders beside this Forward Edge of Battle Area or a fleet and Safety bureaucrats decided that
have been trained in both HALO Pathfinder allows of Chinook helicopters swoops in to military ranges were dangerous places
(High Altitude Low Opening) and him to communicate drop off an air assault battalion. for civilians. We were also granted the
HAHO (High Altitude High Opening) over great rare privileged of photographing the
insertion methods and they are distances directly By the early nineties the 5 Airborne Pathfinders exiting a Hercules from
capable of tabbing over long with Brigade HQ no Brigade LPBG concept had matured inside the aircraft during HALO training
distances in short timescales matter where he is and indeed +5 even flew in one of as part of their rigorous selection
meaning they can be dropped the now legendary 'fifteen ship raid' procedure, and we also worked with
clandestinely many miles from the 6: It is not just our training missions, though unfortunately their Mobility Troop (the large photo of
intended DZ/HLS to ensure the Greg Roberts that high winds saw the battalion air-landing their Fastball Land Rovers on the wall
enemy does not realise what is going swears by Kestrel at a nearby airfield rather than of the Aldershot Citadel was taken
on until a swarm of low-flying RAF windmeters - the parachuting, and we also specifically for them by the author) but
Hercules transport aircraft briefly Pathfinders rely on photographed a handful of similar unfortunately the amalgamation of 5
ascends a couple hundred feet from them for gauging training missions from either the Alpha Airborne and 24 Airmobile Brigades
beneath the radar to disgorge a DZ windspeed (pax) or the Juliet (vehicles) markers on into 16 Air Assault Brigade at the end

Combat & Survival 39

 % &
of the nineties and the pace of more
conventional operations over the
following decade would see both the
Pathfinders and the Overhead
Assault capability drop out of the
limelight.
The Pathfinder Platoon may not have
been undertaking their intended role
from 1999 to 2010 but that did not
mean they were inactive, and indeed
it was them who are credited with
halting the rebel forces' advance in
Sierra Leone in 2000 by taking on a
conventional blocking force role at a
crucial crossroads and fighting like a
battalion-strength formation despite
actually only being a troop-strength
unit. In Afghanistan in 2006 they also
defended the Musa Qala District
Centre for 52 days against repeated
Taliban attacks in a now classic
battle of attrition which evolved out
of what was originally planned as
just a 6-night stopover and recce
mission.
40 Combat & Survival
Main Image: One of In between Sierra Leone and Helmand, returning to honing the traditional
the Pathfinder team, as we saw last month in our Book Pathfinder skills. On the recent
identifiable by his Review section, the Pathfinders also Exercise JOINT WARRIOR, held in
weapon, liaises with operated deep behind enemy lines in Scotland, the Pathfinders undertook
the DZ clearance Southern Iraq when there were plans their primary task of drop zone
party, riding Honda to mount a heliborne insertion by 16 reconnaissance, marking and security
Grizzly quads, Air Assault Brigade onto Qalat Sikar at Braid Fell which gave us the
following a airfield, roughly 120 kilometres in opportunity to photograph them
successful jump advance of the US Marine Corps equipped with the latest uniforms and
positions at Nasiriyah. On this weapons.
7: A Pathfinder team occasion a six-man Pathfinder team,
can be four to six accompanied by three Royal The Pathfinders are not Special
strong, dependent on Engineers, penetrated behind the lines Forces, though their selection process
mission - weapons by WMIK Land Rover as there was no is said to rival that of the SAS, but as
are 2x C8A1 Hercules aircraft availability to allow many of their number go on to join
carbine, 1x L110A1
LMG and 1x them to HALO/HAHO in. UKSF some prefer not to be identified
on-camera and we have therefore
L115A1LRR
With Afghanistan operations no longer pixellated their faces. UK MoD is also
8: With the drop part of 16 Air Assault Brigade's a bit touchy about the print media
over the 4-man planning calendar and more giving away too much about their
Pathfinder team tab conventional out-of-area operations specialist roles and equipment - what
off on their next once again their primary focus, plus the Whitehall desk jockeys term
mission - providing Britain's commitment to close compiling a capability mosaic - so
crucial eyes-on cooperation with France seeing the +5 has to be careful about what it
intelligence for the brigade teamed up with their French prints, even though annoyingly the
Brigade commander opposite numbers, attention is internet is awash with facts and fictions
 '



Main Image: The

team leader
collapses his
satellite antenna to
pack it in on the
side of his daysack
once he has
confirmed that the
drop has gone off
without a hitch
9: The Minimi
gunner carried a
Camelbak
Motherlode coyote
tan daysack - note
the spare barrel
stowed on the
right side


about the Pathfinders and Special one Minimi and one L115A3 sniper 10: Note the
Forces. rifle. If using Supacat Jackal or Land different barrel
Rover WMIK for insertion or recce lenghts of the
What we can say, however, is that the tasks, they will also have 7.62mm weapons carried by
peacetime core of the Pathfinders is GPMG and even .50cal Browning these two
effectively four six-man teams plus a HMG and 40mm Lightweight
Pathfinders - the
small support element under Automatic Grenade Launcher at their
lead one is wearing
non-issue olive
command of a captain or major. Most, disposal. green smock
though by no means all, come from
the Parachute Regiment or para- The Pathfinders train and select their 11: These images
qualified support formations and both own, holding selections twice a year show how well
Royal Signals operators and REME subject to operational commitments, British MTP and
mechanics are nearly always and anyone who believes they have MultiCam patterns
represented in their ranks. the fitness, stamina, skills and blend in - the
airborne initiative is welcome to apply.
Pathfinders have
The primary personal weapon of the Their unofficial motto is First In! and
also painted their
weapons to match
Pathfinder is usually the Diemaco C8 when they do go in the Pathfinders
carbine and a team (usually four or six not only know they go in alone, but Images ©
men, dependent on precise mission that they may well have to fight their Bob Morrison
and role) will often also have at least way out again all on their own. Military Scene

Combat & Survival 41

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PRIMARY ROLE OF
THE ROYAL
ENGINEERS MAY
BE TO HELP THE
ARMY TO LIVE,
MOVE AND FIGHT
BUT EVERY
SAPPER IS ALSO A
SOLDIER FULLY
TRAINED IN THE
INFANTRY SKILLS
Every roulement of troops to
Afghanistan on Operation
HERRICK includes a major
component of Royal
Engineers personnel, and
indeed some of the very
first troops to deploy to
Helmand Province in 2006
were combat sappers
(military engineers)
tasked with
constructing Camp
Bastion.

T he lead RE
formation
on
Operation
HERRICK 16, the
current Helmand
deployment, is 26
Engineer Regiment
and their
Commanding Officer,
Lieutenant Colonel

Combat & Survival 43

 
John Ridge, provided the following brief
prior to his regiment deploying this
spring.
"26 Engineer Regiment’s mission is to
provide engineer support to 12th
Mechanized Brigade. Our support
encompasses all three of the core
sapper tasks. We help the Army to Live,
Move and Fight; Live includes
everything from providing water supply
to building camps; Move includes
bridging, road maintenance, the use of
boats and minefield breaching; our
support to Fight covers bridge
demolitions, disrupting enemy routes
and explosive breaching. We have a
truly broad portfolio.
"In order to perform these myriad tasks,
sappers are extremely highly trained.
They are first and foremost soldiers.
They must be able to operate
44 Combat & Survival
alongside, and often in front of, the
infantry. Their fieldcraft, shooting and first
aid all have to be excellent. Next, they
are Combat Engineers, able to provide
close engineer support in the heat of the
battle. Finally, they are tradesmen. We
have highly qualified plumbers,
electricians, carpenters, bricklayers,
plant operators and many other skills. As
well as being soldiers, combat engineers
and tradesmen, many also chose to
qualify as specialists: commandos,
parachutists, bomb disposal officers or
divers. We can pretty much turn our
hand to anything."
Prior to deploying to Afghanistan on
Operation HERRICK 16 the regiment
trained hard over a six month period to
adapt their generic sappering to meet
the demands of the Afghan theatre of
operations. This meant honing their
infantry skills and focussing on the most
Above: likely engineer tasks that they are
Practising likely to face. These are likely to
compound include: repairing roads and routes,
clearance drills in building bridges, and constructing
Afghan Security Force bases. Not
the Copehill Down
only will these help improve security,
FIBUA village on they will also contribute directly
Salisbury Plain - towards economic and governance
weapon is SA80A2 development by making it easier for
assault rifle fitted locals to move around Helmand and
with SUSAT and ensuring that local governance can
vertical foregrip flourish. They will also deconstruct
ISAF bases as the force consolidates.
As sappers they will genuinely help to
1: The
build towards Transition from an ISAF
Royal Engineers to an Afghan lead. This is vital to
flash consists of ensure that the UK is able to draw
two dark blue bars down its forces as they approach the
on a red end of 2014.
background and
12 Mechanized UNIT ROLE
Brigade formation
patch has the The British Army became involved in
numerals atop the NATO-led campaign in
a black Afghanistan to ensure the National
Ace of Spades Security of the United Kingdom.
International forces from a total of 47
nations are in Afghanistan to prevent
Afghan territory from being used
again by Al Qaeda from which to plan
and launch attacks. The presence of
NATO forces is buying time, while
they train Afghanistan’s security
forces to take over the task for
themselves. They don’t seek a perfect
Afghanistan, but a stable Afghanistan
able to maintain its own security and
prevent AQ from returning.
NATO’s strategy in Afghanistan
involves protecting the civilian
population from insurgents,
supporting more effective Afghan

"
government at every level, and
building up the Afghan National
Security Forces (ANSF) as rapidly as
feasible. The Brigade Advisory Group
(BAG) and Police Mentoring Advisory
Group (PMAG) will continue to
support the development of the ANSF
during the tour of 12 Mechanized
Brigade and beyond. With the
developing effectiveness of the ANSF,
the intent is to provide more of a
mentoring role, with the ANSF taking
the lead. This at every level of the
ANSF, from the provision of local
security to infantry skills, counter-IED
capability and the construction of
engineering tasks.
The role of the engineer has
responded to the transition of security
from NATO-led operations to ASNF-
led. The Sapper principals of LIVE-
MOVE-FIGHT have extended to
include DEVELOP and INTEGRATE.
The focus is less orientated to
fighting the insurgent and more to the
development of the ANSF in order to
best set the conditions for
Afghanistan to secure its own
government and communities. The
mentoring role requires close
integration with the ANSF.
Build of security bases is
concentrated around the embedding
of Afghan security forces among the
local population. This will require
consideration of current security base
locations and potential relocations.
Where possible, these constructions
and moves are now contractor or
ANSF-led with support from the
engineer group. This requires cultural
understanding and continual
engagement.
Manoeuvre and freedom of movement
for coalition forces, partnered forces
and local nationals remain imperative in
order to establish and maintain
successful secure and effective Afghan
government. Whilst most road
upgrades are now contracted by the
Afghanistan government, the Royal
2: You need to be Engineers, alongside the Afghan
fitter than most to Engineer Tolay (Company) continue to
be a combat support resources as well as technical
and practical advice.
sapper - in this
shot they are
Talisman, a suite of vehicles operated
lifting a heavy by the Royal Engineers has been in
bridge section into theatre since 2010. The capability
place using muscle allows for British Forces to counter the
power alone threat posed by Improvised Explosive
Devices (IEDs) and mines, improving
3: The 62 tonne freedom of movement and helping to
Trojan AVRE is an mitigate the IED risk to our forces and
armoured to the local nationals within
Afghanistan.
engineer vehicle
designed to open
British Forces remain to operate within
routes through Helmand Province. The 3 Armoured
complex battlefield and 1 Headquarters squadrons of
obstacles and 26 Engineer Regiment are allocated
clear a path between and providing engineer
through minefields support to the ground-holding
battlegroups; namely 1 Royal Welsh,
4: Combat sappers 1 Grenadier Guards, 3 Yorkshire
use the Case 721 Regiment, Kings Royal Hussars,
1st Battalion Royal Anglians, 1st
CXT Medium
Battalion Welsh Guards, 3 Rifles and
Wheeled Tractor
the Light Dragoon Guards, as well as
for earthmoving, the PMAG and BAG. Each battlegroup
excavation ,
is embedded within one of the five
general handling Coalition areas of responsibility; Nahr-
and heavy lifting e-Saraj (North), Nahr-e-Saraj (South),
tasks but an Nad-e-Ali, Lashkah-Gah and Burma.
armoured vesion
is deployed to PREPARATIONS FOR
Hemand HELMAND
Although training for the Regiment
continues year round, training specific
!
to the mission for the HERRICK
deployment commenced in the late
summer of 2011. This has involved
continued training in both basic
soldiering and combat engineering
skills, in a number of locations around
the country and around the globe
including Thetford in Norfolk, Lydd in
Kent and Southern Jordan in the Middle
East.
Whilst 25 Field Squadron were
deployed in Jordan for six weeks
learning capabilities, technicalities and
legal boundaries surrounding Talisman,
the remainder of 26 Engineer Regiment,
alongside 1 RTR G Squadron were
perfecting their patrolling tactics,
cordon operations, immediate medical
drills, counter IED tactics and local
national engagement as part of the
basic soldiering prerequisites for
deployment.
Away from field exercises, the
deployment has required a number of
Sappers to become qualified at driving
theatre specific vehicles such as
MASTIFF and Buffalo, most being
somewhat different to the armoured
fighting vehicles that are used in
exercises outside of deployment
specific training. Weapon ranges,
physical training information
communications lessons and language
courses have featured in every troop’s
events list.
The core skills rooted in the initial
stages of the pre-deployment training
have underpinned every field exercise
since October. Honing skills ranging
from detainee and prisoner handling to
compound clearance and cultural
understanding have continued through
the exercises, ensuring a well trained
and rehearsed Regiment ready for
deployment.
ORIGINS OF THE REGIMENT
26 Engineer Regiment has a long
history that has involved the Regiment
being disbanded and reformed several
times in line with the changing needs of
the Army. The first records of the
numerical prefix date back to the 1890s
where 26th (London Electrical
Engineers) Battalion Royal Engineers
was formed to help with coastal
Combat & Survival 45
 #

5: Training hard to defences and was later heavily

bridge a gap - involved in WW2.
during recent
operations 26 Post-WW2 the Royal Engineers
developed a Regimental system that
Engineer Regiment
led to the formation of 26 Engineer
undertook the first Regiment. Six years later when it was
opposed bridge decided the Regimental system was
construction since not working as well as hoped 26
the Korean War Engineers was disbanded and
worked under the name 4th
6: This bridge, Divisional Engineers. Between 1969
capable of and 1994 the Regiment was in
carrying armour, existence fluctuating between being
was constructed called 26 Engineer Regiment and 3
Armoured Division Engineer
by Royal Engineers
Regiment. During this period the
during pre- Regiment and its squadrons
HERRICK training deployed independently and as a
without the use of formed unit on Op BANNER
any form of heavy (Northern Ireland). In 1987 the
lifting equipment Regiment was given the freedom of
Iserlohn after 17 years there. The
7: By January of ceremony also marked the 750th
this year MTP anniversary of the city. In 1994 the
uniforms had been Regiment was disbanded under
‘Options for Change’.
issued - note how
first sapper on the The intervening period was a
right and third on turbulent one and with great
the left both carry demands on the military. In April
5.56mm Minimi 2000 26 Engineer Regiment
light machineguns reformed to provide Close Support
$ Engineering to 12 Mechanized
Images Brigade as a result of the strategic
Crown Copyright: defence review. In 2001 its 38
Cpl Paul Morrison RLC Squadron deployed on Op FINGAL
(Afghanistan) and 8 Squadron
deployed on Op AGRICOLA
(Kosovo). In 2005 the regiment
deployed on Op TELIC 6 (Iraq) and
then went straight into preparing for
and deploying on Op HERRICK 6.
This Iraq tour was of particular note
as the regiment conducted the first
opposed bridge construction since
the Korean War.

The year 2009 saw the Regiment

warned off for another Op TELIC tour
% but was stood down when British
Forces were withdrawn from the
country. Since then the Regiment has
deployed to Canada to help modify
the training area to reflect the Op
HERRICK environment, among other
training deployments to Kenya and
within the UK.

The Regiment is now made up of 38

Headquarters and Support Squadron
and 8, 30 and 33 Armoured Engineer
Squadrons. Each squadron has its
own identity and history. The
squadrons are regularly deployed
independently of the Regiment on
both exercises and on operations.

46 Combat & Survival

 1

I find the EDCB, carried 2

here by Jitka, is just the
right size for an SLR
camera, two lenses,
flashgun, notepad
and essential
accessories
pocket for
3 notebook and pen.
There is also a zipped
accessory pocket atop
the cover flap, ideal for my
near indestructible Land Rover
phone and spare camera
batteries etc., plus there are two
small open pockets at the base of the shoulder
straps.

4 The cover flap is held in place by a sturdy 3-

prong quick release buckle on an adjustable
webbing strap and there is a similar
buckle at one end

EDCB has a large

main compartment
plus two expandable
side pouches

The NITON 999 Group, in addition
to being an Approved Reseller of
high quality products from many
big name manufacturers, has an
excellent reputation for
producing its own NITON
Tactical range of practical and
competitively priced kit and
clothing geared to Emergency
Services and Security Industry
users. Some of the NITON
Tactical range appear at first
glance quite similar to well-
established products, but closer
inspection reveals that their
designers have subtly modified
the kit to improve it, based on
user feedback.
1: Mesh
inserts allow of the
the zipped shoulder
side pockets strap
meaning the
comparatively covertly, but securely, carry a
to be expanded EDCB can be
camera and accessories in cities knowing I for carriage of worn under an
can speedily access it without the hassle of bulkier items over-garment
first removing a daysack or looking like a but still speedily
potentially vulnerable tourist with a camera 2: From top: secure removed without the
bag on his shoulder. need to disrobe. There is a
zipped document velcro-type felt panel for a
The main compartment, which has a nylon pocket at rear, name tape on the front of the cover flap and this
weather baffle under the cover flap, is large accessory pocket and is stitched PALS-style to allow attachment of
enough to accept a full frame digital SLR notebook pocket at MOLLE-compatible accessories.
camera with multi-purpose 28-210mm
zoom lens fitted and the two expanding side
front
On the front edge of each of the expanding
pockets are ideally sized to accept a 75- mesh insert side pouches there are two
300mm lens and a flash head. Inside the 3: Under the cover elasticated straps and a pocket to take an ASP
main compartment there is a full width there is a drawcord or torch. The cover flap for these pouches is
nylon pocket on the front face and a mesh weather baffle - side fastened with Velcro. There are also PALS tapes
pocket on the rear face, plus there is an
organiser panel for three pens and business
pouches will hold a at the non-buckle end of the adjustable shoulder
strap, which has a removable shoulder pad to
cards on the rear face; but non- couple of 30-round spread the weight, and on the body of the bag

T
he NITON Tactical EDCB (Every Day
Carry Bag) follows the basic design
concept of a type of shoulder bag
commonly used by those in the
Police, Security and Private Military Contractor
sectors to carry essential kit and equipment, but
its design has been modified for added
practicality. The EDCB is also a useful small
pack for those occasions when a daysack may
be either too large or inappropriate and I have
used this style of bag for some time to
photographers should find it equally useful
for carrying their specialist kit
Manufactured from heavy duty black nylon,
the EDCB is heavily padded on the rear face
for comfort. On the outer front face of the
bag there is a flat pocket, with velcro-type
fastener, which will hold documentation,
behind the main compartment there is a
fast access secure document pocket with
horizontal zip and on the outside front face
of the cover flap there is a small zipped
magazines at the opposite end of the strap there is a felt
pad for attachment of national flag (not
4: Rear face is supplied) or tac-sign patch. Finally, there are
heavily padded - drainage eyelets in the base of the main
compartment and two pairs of webbing loops
velcro-type strap in for attachment of a base pack if desired.
the centre is for belt
attachment
To buy the EDCB online go to niton999.co.uk
then click on Equipment Bags and under brands
Images © select NITON TACTICAL then scroll down to
Bob Morrison : TAC83. Alternatively ring 01293 549 858... and
Military Scene please don’t forget to tell them C&S sent you.

48 Combat & Survival

 There was not much in the
way of new vehicles of note at
SOFEX 2012, but one which
did catch our eye was the
Navistar (International)
Saratoga LTV (Light Tactical
Vehicle) contender for the US
DoD proposed JLTV Hum-vee
replacement contract. Six
companies have now
proposed vehicles for this
anticipated 65,000-strong
replacement fleet intended to
enter service with SOCOM,
the US Army and the US
Marines from 2015.

U nveiled in Washington last

October, the Saratoga has
been designed for superior
survivability, mobility and
transportability, targeting the gap
between the current High Mobility
Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle
Modernized Expanded Capacity
Vehicle (HMMWV MECV) and Joint
Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
programmes. It is a sister vehicle to
the International MXT-MV, known as
Husky in British service, and is ready
for production to meet today’s mission
needs.

Archie Massicotte, President of

Navistar Defense, stated at the launch:
“Defence budgets are shifting and the
circumstances demand that industry
anticipate what our warfighters need
rather than wait for a written
requirement. Finding a gap in the

– available now.” prior to the launch. The 10 tonne GVW Saratoga

market is what we do in the
commercial world and we are at it
again for the sake of our warfighters.
The government needs options and
the Saratoga is an affordable solution
The manufacturer claims the Saratoga LTV has
a high degree of commonality with vehicles
currently fielded by the US DoD. The company
has also designed and tested its own
proprietary geometry survivability solution for
the vehicle. Considering material mix, vehicle
structure and hull shape, the Saratoga is said
to offer a more survivable solution for the light
tactical vehicle class while also meeting the
DoD’s 76” (1930mm) transportability height
requirement.
Intended to meet the most demanding
performance needs, the vehicle had undergone
more than 25,000 miles of automotive testing
incorporates the 325hp MaxxForce D6.0L V8
engine, automatic engaging limited slip
differentials, Allison 2100 SP 6-SP Automatic
Transmission and air independent suspension
for added control. Range is 350 miles, turning
circle is 54ft (16.5m),approach and departure
angles are 60 and 45 degrees respectively, and
the vehicle can ford 30” (750mm) unprepared.
Both A- and B-kit armour protection can be
fitted.
“We believe the Saratoga is a turning point for
tactical wheeled vehicles just as the Battle of
Saratoga is considered the turning point of the
American Revolutionary War,” said Massicotte.
“The warfighter needs it today and we are ready.”

50 Combat & Survival

 EW Next Issue
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On Sale June 28th 2012
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It has been said a million times
before, and it is very doubtful
that Napoleon Bonaparte was
the first to say it, but an army
really does march on its
stomach. On the modern
battlefield there is even less
chance of living off the land in
the way that Napoleon’s troops’
opponents were often expected
to do, so the individual combat
ration pack is an essential part
of the kit carried by almost
every frontline soldier today, be
that in or on his vehicle or in
his pack and webbing.
9
1
Main Image: Royal
ith draw-down from
Helmand looming fast,
Marines deployed
the focus on British
on Cold Response
military training for units
'12 to Arctic
not earmarked for the last Operation Norway were
HERRICK roulements, and particularly issued with the Cold
those tasked with out-of-area rapid Climate Ration to
reaction, is starting to turn away from keep their energy
the arid wastes of Afghanistan and levels up
returning to the more traditional [Image courtesy 2
scenarios. For 3 Commando Brigade, Carl Schulze]
Britain's Amphibious and Arctic
specialists, this has meant re- 1: Contents of the
engagement on NATO Northern Flank CCR carton - it is
exercises such as COLD RESPONSE, like a trip to the
the Norwegian invitational exercise tuck shop
held in early spring.

3
When working in desert or arid
theatres like Afghanistan, and
before that Iraq, the
Operational Ration Packs
(ORP) issued to
frontline troops
have to be
configured
differently from
those issued in
temperate
2: Menu 4 main
evening meal is
chicken tikka with environments, particularly as fresh water
rice - delicious! needs to be conserved for drinking
rather than used cooking plus the
soldier needs to be rehydrated much
3: Cold Climate
more. As a result over the last few years
Ration alongside the we have seen major advances in the
12-hour Operational types of menu and foodstuffs supplied
Ration Pack with in individual 24-hour, and more recently
EMAG atop for 12-hour, ration packs to ensure that the
scale

Combat & Survival 53

 " # $

4: The Mountain
House chicken
tikka carries the
Halal Approved
logo

5: Also by
Mountain House,
the fruit and
custard desert is
thick and spoons
easily

6: Natural Muesli
aka budgie food
for breakfast -
% what more can be & '
said?
7: No special 'Not
for civvies'
packaging but you
can't beat a couple
of 300cal Yorkie
bars for energy
 8: There are three
different types of
round oat biscuit
in each ration
pack

9: A firm favourite
in Afghanistan,
Original Beef
Jerky puts in an
appearance
a necessity. On the plus side, this one; just good tasty food ... and
10: Four different normally water supplies will be loads of it.
varieties of oat or relatively plentiful in cold climate
cereal bars are operational areas, even if that water Quoting official sources, the British
provided in each may be snow or ice and will need to Cold Climate Ration (CCR) was:
be melted, so boil-in-the-bag retort "developed for use above the snow line
pack pouches or even dehydrated main or the Arctic Circle where a lightweight,
meals can be used to provide high dehydrated and high-energy ration is
calorific content at relatively low required. This ration has a minimum of
weight and bulk. 5,500 Kcals and consists of
soldier will have adequate nutrition dehydrated main meals, breakfasts
which he or she not only will eat but will While covering COLD RESPONSE and puddings supplemented by a
want to eat at a reduced weight burden '12 (see the lead feature this month) range of snacks and drinks."
while also conserving water. Carl was not only able to sample the
current cold theatre Operational The current British Multi Climate Ration
Soldiering in cold environments Ration Pack, conceived by the (MCR) pack as issued to most troops
presents a different set of challenges to Defence Equipment and Supply serving in Afghanistan who are not fed
the menu planners, not least because branch of the UK MoD, but was also from a cookhouse (or galley if you are
the number of calories needed for given one for the +5 guinea-pig to a Royal Marine) contains around 4000
maximum efficiency is about 50% examine and taste for the Marching calories to cater for the increased
higher for a fighting male than the 3600 Ammo series. Sometimes when I amount of foot patrols and the heavy
kcal needed for temperate theatre open a ration pack and see the weight of kit carried in that theatre by
operations, but also because it is contents my heart sinks a little, but in frontline troops. It also contains a lot of
essential for both effectiveness and this case all was smiles. No items intended for snacking on the
morale that hot meals are ingested compressed cardboard bread or move rather than more conventional
when the ambient temperature is very yucky fish portions or packs of main meal type options. For more on
low whereas in a desert environment smegma-like cheese substitute in the MCR see the August 2008 and
most of the time a hot meal will not be April 2009 issues.

54 Combat & Survival


So how do you cram another 1500
calories into a 24-hour ration pack
without bumping up the weight and
bulk, you may be thinking. The answer
is to use dehydrated pouches for the
main meal of the day, working on the
assumption that plenty of water will be
available in the sort of place this type
of ration will be most needed, and
then cram the cardboard carton full of
the sort of sweet and sticky snacks
that not only your mum would tell you
were bad for you but the little devil on
your left shoulder would tell you to eat.
Opening the MCR is like walking into a
tuck shop, and as I have a typical
Glaswegian's sweet tooth I had no
problem consuming each and every
morsel over the course of a couple of
days.
There are only two proper meals
catered for in the roughly
230x180x180mm (9.5x7x7 inches)
CCR carton; namely breakfast and
evening meal. This makes particular
sense for the Arctic theatre winter
deployments where you are likely to be
on the move throughout the short
! cranberry cereal bar; chocolate
hours of daylight and then laying up
in shelter during the long and cold
hours of darkness. While moving you
can snack to your heart’s content to
keep replenishing your energy levels
and while at rest you will have time to
prepare a more conventional meal,
including converting snow to water to
rehydrate meal pouches.
Carl opted for Menu 4 as our taste
sample, probably because he knows
I love a curry, and this meant dinner
was Chicken Tikka and Rice followed
by Mixed Fruit and Custard. The
supplier of both these courses was
Mountain House of Preston, a name
anyone shopping in the better
outdoor leisure and camping outlets
will recognise, and indeed the curry
came in their standard commercial
packaging. All that was needed to
reconstitute this tasty dish in its zip-
locked sachet was the addition of
350ml of boiling water and a good stir
at either end of the 8-9 minute
standing period.
The Custard and Mixed Fruit
11: Boiled sweets
and polo mints are
included in the
Sundries pack
12: Four sachets
of drinks powder
are included as
water should not
be a problem in
cold climate zones
13: As the nuts, dessert, like the curry, was also
though good freeze dried and required 250ml of
quality, are a bit boiling water to reconstitute, followed
bland I recommend by a five minute stand. The
mixing them with consistency of this was very thick,
the fruit for meaning it spooned out easily, and
flavour the berry fruits were very tasty
indeed. I could eat a shedload of
this one too. Incidentally, don't forget
to remove the oxygen scavenger
sachet before adding water to both
pouches
Breakfast was a 100ml sachet of
muesli which required 100ml of
water and a one minute stand to
prepare it for eating. I must confess
that I am not really into budgie food,
much preferring hot porridge oats
made with water and sprinkled with
salt (the milk and sugar method is
for Jessies) but the muesli was
acceptable.
Now to the snacks, and what a
treasure trove there was. Menu 4
contains: two Yorkie chocolate bars -
the civvy ones these days; a
fruit and oat bar; a golden oat
bar; a caramel cereal bar; a
chip oat biscuits; mixed berry oat
biscuits; golden oatie biscuits;
Wild West Original beef jerky;
Imperial fruit mix; Imperial nut mix; a
pack of individually wrapped boiled
fruit sweets and; a pack of Polo
Mints.
On the drinks side there were four
individual sachets containing;
Orange beverage powder;
Raspberry energy drink powder;
Exotic Fruits isotonic drink powder
and; instant hot chocolate powder.
Incidentally, several of these also
feature in other NATO ration
packs we have covered in this
series. Inside the sundries
pack were four more drinks in
the form of two instant coffee
sachets and two teabags.
Other bits and pieces in the
resealable polythene bag containing
Combat & Survival 55
 14
16
1 Torch Niton Tactical have
Stubby 3-Volt lithium batteries
are great for powering small
torches, but their one downside
is that replacements can be a bit
difficult to source in a hurry.
56 Combat & Survival
15
14: There is
enough in the
brew kit for two
coffees and two
teas - note quality
brands are
supplied the sundries kit included: 5x windproof
matches and striker; 4x sachets
15: Hygiene wipes, whitener; 4x sachets sugar; 6x water
dental chewing purification tablets; 2x dental chewing
gum, windproof gum; 4x wet wipes; small pack of soft
matches and tissues; a plastic spoon and; a second
sterilising tablets resealable polythene bag for waste.
Printed on the underside of the carton
there is also a simple range card and
16: Contents of the on the front there is a hazardous
Sundries pack warning label, no doubt conceived by
include brew some seat-polishing Euro-bureaucrat,
components and to help relieve the boredom for five
hygiene minutes.
accessories
Finally, on the back of the contents list
Images © is a short questionnaire and prize draw
Bob Morrison : entry form to allow the end user to
Military Scene provide feedback to the Defence Fuel
& Food Services Team at Abbey
Wood.
I am not eligible to enter, but if I was
answering Question 3 I would advise
them to change the type of nuts
supplied as they were bland and
boring; though as I had just spent a
week munching through packs of
superbly tasty mixed nuts in Jordan
my palate might have been spoilt a bit.
1: This torch now 2
lives in my daysack
pouch but the belt
9
clip means it can
ith their TAC74 Backup LED be attached to
webbing
overcome this by designing
it to also accept a single 2: TAC74 Backup
conventional, and widely available, AA bat- LED Torch is 3
tery by merely adding a body extension supplied with
adapter ring. Measuring a fraction over 4"
(105mm) in AA mode, or 3.5" (90mm)
either a CR123A
when configured for a CR123A lithium bat-
lithium battery or a
tery, this triple mode torch has a runtime of normal AA battery
40-45 minutes on full power and a range
of 100 to 150 metres at 190 lumens 3: Adapter ring
dependent on whether the 1.5V or 3V bat- removed and
tery is used. When turned On, one tap of lithium battery
the soft button On/Off switch on the base fitted - AA cell
reduces the beam to 50% and a doubler alongside gives online go to niton999.co.uk then click on
tap turns the torch into a strobe. Torches & Lighting and under brands select
some idea of size NITON TACTICAL. Alternatively ring 01293
The Backup Led Torch, which comes in a 549 858 ... and please don't forget to tell
sturdy presentation box complete with
Images © them C&S sent you.
either a Lithium or AA battery, has a
Bob Morrison :
belt/pocket clip attached as
Military Scene This is one very useful and quite powerful
standard, but a Blackjack little spare torch which has already found a
mount for attaching it to home in one of the accessory pouches
weapon or helmet is also attached to the MultiCam daysack I use as
available from Niton. To buy a camera bag. Recomended.

Ussen sounds a
little bit like it is
Scandewegian
but it is not.
(Long story - see
P34 of the
December 2011
issue). The good
news is that all
Ussen products
are made here in
UK, which makes
a change for
clothing these
days. Not only
that, they are
good as well.
3
1
have been using the items covered
here for some months now, over
the winter, and like them a lot.
They are comfortable, well thought
out as regards to design, and as warm
as they are supposed to be. This said,
and the fact you will be mostly likely be
reading this in summer months, they
will be ideal for those chill summer
evenings as well as not being OTT. If
the weather is 'Baltic', then this is the
hat for you. The Baltic is a heavy duty
warm hat for when it is cold. If less
cold or you want to wear something
thinner or under a helmet, then the
Flight Hat is the one for you.
I have also been using the Flight
Gloves, which are quite light really but
good enough as stand-alone gloves for
lighter use. However they also make
very good inner / liner gloves and I
have used them under mitts; a good
combination as these are man enough
to stand up to reasonable use when
the mitts come off for added dexterity.
58 Combat & Survival
1
Left: Ussen
Otterburn top in
conjunction with
Baltic hat and
gloves on a chill
Lakeland evening
1: Ussen Otterburn
fleece outer
garment worn with
2
Baltic hat and
Images © Mike Gormley
gloves
2: Norj hat with
top and gloves -
note the different
ways the cuffs can
be worn to suit
user needs
3: The Ussen Baltic
range I have been
using through the
They are a good close fit and, above
winter
all, they are long enough to come well
up to cover the wrist and lower forearm 4: Baltic Norj top
so doing away with those cold gaps so showing how the
often experienced when wearing close fitting sleeve
gloves. The tops are elasticated to form overlaps the glove 4
a good seal and to keep them in place.
with thumb loops
I had been using two Ussen tops. The
Baltic Norj Zipped Pro is really a 5: For more on the
replacement and upgrade for the well Ussen story see
known 'Norgy' army shirt so well loved the December
by forces personnel. This is lighter and
more modern with a very nice soft feel 2011 issue of C&S
maintained after numerous washes, or
at least mine has. The Baltic Norj is very 5
pleasant to wear as a base layer or on
its own. The decent length zip gives
good venting and also produces a mid
way collar; not crew and not full polo,
so fits in under other top layers. The
Baltic is also long enough to prevent
draughts. One of the major design
benefits, to me at least, is the sleeve
and cuff. The cuff can be worn long
and has a thumb loop and like this
covers the lower arm, wrist and part of
the hand, overlapping gloves if worn. It
can also be folded back into a cuff
which is a close fit so keeps wind out.
All in all a really good item of kit.
The second top I have is the new
Otterburn, due to be launched at the
Outdoor Trade Show, which is a more
basic thicker fleece zip necked top. I
say basic in that it is really a zip neck
pullover mid / top layer. This said, I use
it a great deal both in combination with
the Baltic and other base layers and on the new Ussen website in June. In
also a lot around the house as a casual addition to their fleeces and thermals,
top. It is great next to skin as it is soft Ussen will shortly be adding
and cosy. Cuffs are of a loose fit as is waterproof clothing and a small range
the top in general. of walking trousers to their ever-
growing portfolio. Reversing the trend,
I really like this one, which will feature all garments will be UK made.
 Product - UK Contact: Bug Ger Off / Kendrick Imports
Telephone - Web: 0845 475 1281 / www.kendrickimports.com
This is nifty and ‘engineered’
variant of a well known theme
to light fires without matches
or lighters or the rubbing
of sticks together.
6
he device is full
enclosed in a screwed
capsule to keep it both
tidy and protected, as well
Prepared 4 / Prepared 4 Ltd. Ussen / Ussen
01243 527105 / www.prepared-4.co.uk 07810551638 / www.ussen.co.uk
With a name like this it just
has to come from South
Africa. Perhaps they should
have added ‘man’ at the end
just to confirm it. This
product is brought to these
shores by the same people
who market the Rogue hat
range, also seen on these
pages for time to time.
6 his is really a ‘heads up’ so
it can be read at an
appropriate time of year, as I
have not yet had the
opportunity to try it out in anger as I
write; but as this goes to print I will be
in Scotland so will no doubt be finding
out if it really does work. Kendrick say
it works on Scottish midges as well as
South African insects. We will see.
Bug Ger Off is non-DEET and uses a
variety of natural products but the
principle one is Tagetes oil, taken from
the Khaki Bush, as used in Africa by
organic farmers to keep the unwanted
away from their crops. Guess they
should know what works.
Seen here are the wrist strap and
Bug Ger Off body crème, wrist strap and drops as well as the Body Crème and
drops awaiting a midge test in early there is a range of other related
products. I will let you know how I get
Scottish summer on but you may wish to give it a go
yourself – sounds like it should work
so worth a try, I think.
as dry. The rod itself is screwed in
place and can be replaced, if
required, as can the striker. The striker
can also be sharpened to give it a
better striking edge.
Above Left: Almost
away until required. A lanyard and
ready for work - rings are also supplied along with
the container detailed instructions.
This is a becomes a
neat little tool, screw-on Above: Nano striker comes
very light and easy to stow handle boxed with detailed instructions
Combat & Survival 59
 Product - UK Contact: Smartwool / Smartwool
Telephone - Web: 07715104553 / www.smartwool.com

Another truly multi-

functional top from
Smartwool. Perhaps aimed
more at the sporting side of
things, it is made from a
combination of Merino and
polyester. The main area of
the garment is of quite light
construction to maximise
air flow, ventilation and
breathability but the areas
where there are likely to be
a heavier load, such as
under a pack, have a closer
softer weave to prevent
abrasion.

6 he zip is quite long for

good ventilation when
required. Also zipped is a
small pocket around the
back for such things as a set of
keys. The fit is close but not figure
hugging so is comfortable when
hot, and easy to get on and off
again if hot. The Teller has a long
cut with added ‘drop tail’ to prevent
‘leaks’ occurring between shorts /
trousers and top, thereby avoiding
chilled kidneys and back.

A garment that will get a lot of use,

mine does.

Main Image:
The Smartwool Teller Tech Zip Top
Below:
Around the side is a handy and
Images © Mike Gormley

discrete zipped pocket

60 Combat & Survival

 MAIN IMAGE:
PERFECTLY SPACED
PARA JUMP FROM
THE TROOP DOORS
EITHER SIDE OF THE
LEAD HERC - THE
FOURTH MAN IN
THIS SHOT HAS
JUST JUMPED OFF
THE LEDGE OUTSIDE
THE PORT DOOR

THE JOINT WARRIOR SERIES, A TRI-SERVICE EXERCISE

WHICH EVOLVED FROM THE ROYAL NAVY’S JOINT
MARITIME COURSE, IS CONDUCTED IN THE SPRING AND
AUTUMN OF EACH YEAR. THE FIRST OF THE 2012
EXERCISES (JW 121) TOOK PLACE BETWEEN 16TH AND
26TH APRIL AND PROVIDED CO-ORDINATED TRAINING FOR
ALL THREE UK ARMED SERVICES, ALONG WITH VISITING
FORCES FROM ALLIED NATIONS INCLUDING CANADA,
DENMARK, FRANCE, GERMANY, THE NETHERLANDS,
NORWAY, AND THE UNITED STATES.

B
ritish Army representation on JW
121 included troops from 16 Air
Assault Brigade who focused on
a theatre entry operation into a
notional country. The Airborne Task
Force (ABTF) used a combination of
parachute, air assault and tactical air
landings from RAF C-130 Hercules,
French Air Force C-160 Transall and
RAF Chinook helicopters to seize and
secure the airfield at West Freugh.
Despite the ridiculously short notice
given to the media by UK MoD, C&S
managed to get up to the Stranraer
area by silly o’clock on a beautiful April
Left: Monday morning to photograph the
The only heart- Pathfinders on the Drop Zone and then
stopping moment watch a company battlegroup from 3
during the drop Para lob in from a pair of Hercs onto
Braid Fell high above Loch Ryan. With
was when the
all troops safely on the ground, the
Para on the right Para’s mortar section set up on the
had to deploy his edge DZ and the rest of the company
reserve to tabbed off to secure key objectives.
resolve a main
canopy issue as Shortly afterwards the remainder of the
per SOPs ABTF, based around the 5th Battalion
The Royal Regiment of Scotland
battlegroup, undertook a Rapid Air
Land (RAL) by Chinook helicopter and
Transall transport aircraft at West

62 Combat & Survival

 NOTE THE CONTAINERS HANGING BENEATH EACH PARA
- THE FIGURE ON THE GROUND UNDER THE MIDDLE
PAIR IS ONE OF THE DROP ZONE MEDICS ON HAND TO
PROVIDE IMMEDIATE FIRST AID IF REQUIRED

1 2

1: Safely on the ground -

the nearest Para has
collapsed his LLP canopy
to avoid being dragged in
the stiff breeze but his
colleague is still tugging
on his lines to deflate his

2: Weapons in hand and daysacks slung,

a re-formed section from 3 PARA tabs off the
Drop Zone to seize the first objective within an
hour of the first man dropping

3: Standard weapon for British Paras is the

5.56mm SA80A2 and these days most opt to fit the
vertical downgrip which makes the weapon easier
to hold if wearing body armour

Combat & Survival 63

 4 5

4: The 5.56mm Minimi L110A1 Light

Machine Gun with collapsible Para stock
is usually issued to every fourth man in
an infantry patrol

Freugh airfield, which they then

defended and from where they
subsequently conducted several
more air assault operations to defeat
a notional enemy force. We will cover
this phase next month.

In total this part of the exercise

involved more than 1,600 troops and
was supported by Apache, Chinook
and Royal Navy Sea King helicopters
from the Joint Helicopter Force. RAF
fast jets and support aircraft, as well
as several US and French aircraft,
took part in JOINT WARRIOR 121, 5: Although not required for this phase of
and this spring the ABTF was joined the exercise many Paras wore the TESEX
by a number of personnel from the laser detectors which would be required
French 11th Parachute Brigade as later during attacks on defended positions
part of the evolving Franco-British
Combined Joint Expeditionary Force. Images © Bob Morrison : Military Scene

THE BATTALION’S MORTAR PLATOON IS

USUALLY SPLIT AMONGST THE COMPANIES -
HERE CREWS SET UP A MORTAR LINE JUST OFF
THE DROP ZONE TO SUPPORT THE COMPANY
AS IT ADVANCED TO ITS OBJECTIVES

64 Combat & Survival

 The science and art of leading he would claim that success in football is
people, of getting them to share as much about keeping the correct
your dream and vision, of inspiring formation as individual skill.
them to make the sacrifices that
are necessary in order to even have The other form of leadership is often a form
an opportunity of enjoying the fruits of of inspiration, whereby the leader creates a
eventual success, is something that is at the team spirit or esprirt de corps that allows
heart of every management manual and is the team to achieve more than would be

Image © Bob Morrison : Military Scene

considered the foundation of any successful expected of them. Harry Redknapp at
organisation or venture. How strange it is Tottenham is a famous example of this
then, that in practice no-one actually seems style of management, in direct contrast to
to know what it is that makes a good leader, the previous England manager Fabio
or how you can choose who the good leader Capello, who often seemed to think that
will be out of all of the people who put the reason that England failed was that the
themselves forward for the job. players weren’t good enough to play the
style of football he wanted from them.

It is often said of a sacked football

manager that he ‘had lost the dressing
room’, meaning that the players had lost
their faith in his abilities to lead them to
success. Once that happens the loss of
morale and the willingness to make the
final effort that makes the difference
between winning and losing means that a
self-fulfilling cycle of demoralisation –

T
failure – increased demoralisation means
he question of leadership is always at the heart of any that it is just a matter of time before the
issue that makes the front-pages of the daily newspaper, club’s owners make the inevitable decision
whether it is: the political leadership style of Nicolas to replace the manger and get in someone
Sarkozy vs Francois Hollande, Tony Blair vs Gordon new.
Brown or Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney; or in the business
pages where the response to a tough period is often the The problem is in deciding who. Kenny
discussion of the failings of the current leadership; or, Dalglish was brought in precisely because
in particular, in the sports pages, where the he was the fans’ choice after the
decision to replace one manager with another perceived failing of Roy
is a clear triumph of optimism over experience. Hodgson to either
If, as has been said, every political career ends understand or reflect the
in failure, then even more so is the new Messiah glory that was Liverpool
who is hailed as the saviour of the club one weekend likely Football Club, and yet
to be cast aside as a failed experiment once the team Liverpool finished the season in
demonstrates that whatever skills the new manager may have, its worst position for twenty years. On
the ability to get his team to win is not one of them. the other side of the coin, Brendan Rogers,

Whether it is Kenny Dalglish, a man The first is leadership through the manager of newly-promoted
Please visit www.davidrubens-associates.com to see
what we are up to – and feel free to drop me a line
After twenty years of running Meido Ltd and Meido

who is claimed to represent the soul management, where the leader brings a Swansea City, managed to make his
of Liverpool more than any other technical skill to the job, and will often team perform over and above what
person on the planet, and who could see the way to overall improvement as would have been expected from them
Consultants, I have completely rebranded my

be trusted to inspire his charges to finding improvements through on the basis of any logical analysis. The
reach levels of inspiration and incremental changes in policies and problem will be if, as happened with
operations as David Rubens Associates.

at david@davidrubens-associates.com

perspiration that others could not, or
Andres Villas-Boas, a young manager
who had seen success in Portugal
and who was expected to bring his
magic to work in a completely
different environment at Chelsea, it is
clear that whatever it is that does
make a successful manager, it cannot
be easily identified or bought with a
chequebook.
Leadership, at least in its classic
version, can really be divided into two
separate sections, neither of which
have much to do with the other.
procedures. These leaders are often Villas-Boas before him, the ability to
analytical, and see the issue of manage a small club to success is
improvement as one of ‘systems seen as an indication that he will be
management’. Their skill is to increase able to manage a major club in the
the effectiveness of the organisation, and same way.
they do not see it as part of their job role
to necessarily build a relationship with Leadership seems to be as much an
the people under their command. issue of magic and witchcraft as any
simple analysis of leadership skills, and
Roy Hodgson, the new England if managers on £10,000 per week
manager, is of this type, renowned for regularly fail in their ability to provide
making his team practise the same basic leadership to players on £200K per
positions and moves for hundreds of week, it is perhaps no surprise when it
times. His teams have often complained can seem equally elusive to the rest of
that training is boring and repetitive, but us.

66 Combat & Survival

 TOM CLANCY’S GHOST RECON:
FUTURE SOLDIER
Format: Xbox360 Released By: Red Storm / Ubisoft
Release Date: Out Now RRP: £39.99
*Main image as supplied

a near-future timeline that

allows the makers to toy
with some fantastic up-
and-coming technology and
shiny gadgets to lure
players back to the Clancy
way of doing things.

Fans of the Ghost Recon series
have had quite a wait for the
latest instalment in the series
as it has been five years now
since Ghost Recon: Advanced
Warfighter 2 originally debuted
and, to some extent, the gaming
landscape has been shifted
considerably in that time by the
likes of Modern Warfare and
Battlefield. In a bid to play
catch-up, Future Soldier has
eschewed the contemporary
setting of its peers in favour of
I
ndeed GR:FS even embraces
the future by being Kinect
friendly – some menus and the
gun customisation interface
now support gestural input when
putting together your dream
weapon and test-firing it at the
range. While a welcome use of
technology, this also means
getting up and standing in the
centre of the room – which is no
bad thing, I guess, but it’s easier
to just use the pad.
The future soldier theme also means
plenty of technological treats such
as spy grenades which reveal
enemy positions, portable drones
which watch the battlefield from
above and optical stealth camo that
makes you all but invisible until you
move or fire. And that’s all before
we get to the weapons, walking
tanks and pretty lights drawn over
everything by your tactical displays.
The gameplay in the campaign mode
utilises the same over the shoulder,
squad based system as Gears of War
and its ilk; and generally entails
rushing from cover to cover as you
proceed down a fairly linear route,
following waypoints to achieve your
objectives. More focus has been

68 Combat & Survival


placed on the action for this
instalment – something which may
irk traditional GR fans who favoured
the more tactical approach of
Future Soldier’s forebears. However,
charging headlong into battle is still
a sure route to an early restart and
a level of tactical play remains
intact.
Multiplayer is designed to ensure
cooperation between online team-
members with six game types each
boasting two maps and game perks
and rewards dished out for well
realised teamwork. There is also the
option to play through the campaign
with friends and a ‘horde’ mode that
sees the team face off against 50
increasingly frenetic waves of
attackers.
Three character classes are available:
scouts are a sniper class, clothed in
optical camo; engineers are handy in
close combat and can hack enemies
for intel; while riflemen are more
resilient and can lay down
suppressive fire. Each class has a
different weapon set available to
them, all of which are totally
customisable in the aforementioned
gun-smithing menu.
The game features beautifully
detailed characters and
weapons but, sadly, falls a
little flat in the environment
detailing. Textures are flat and
sparse and Future Soldier certainly
lacks the visual ‘wow’ factor that
DICE brought to Battlefield 3.
Otherwise, it’s a worthy addition to a
much loved series of games and,
with a little tweaking and extra
downloadable content, could be
one to watch out for.
Rating : 8/10
Neal Molyneaux
Dragon’s Dogma marks
Japanese publisher Capcom’s
first foray into a Western style
open world RPG in a market
that has already seen the
likes of stand-out titles such
as Skyrim and Dark Souls
unleashed this year. So, does
this title have what it takes to
raise its game above such
illustrious company?
T
he game opens with a fully
tooled-up party taking on a
manticore as a prelude to a
face-off with the titular dragon
but, after slaying the first beast, the
game whisks you forward to a different
time when the slumbering dragon is
unleashed upon the world once more
and, after rushing to confront it with
your custom built character, you
quickly find yourself
minus a heart –
reincarnated as ‘The Arisen’. From
DRAGON’S DOGMA
Format: Xbox360 Released By: Capcom Release Date: Out Now RRP: £39.99
here, the open world is your oyster as
you take on missions to improve your
character in order to be able to take
on bigger, tougher foes leading up to
a showdown with the dragon that has
your heart.
You are assisted in these missions by
‘pawns’ – quest partners either
selected from a preloaded set or from
other players’ characters online,
giving the game more of a MMOG
feel as you pick and choose a team
tactically suited to each foe. You have
one pawn which consistently
accompanies your character and
which can be levelled up alongside
you, but the rest of your team-mates
have to be hired on a per-mission
basis. Combat, while a team effort, is
player-led with your pawns providing
magic attacks, healing and melees –
as well as exhorting you to aim for
weak points on your foe.
Dragon’s Dogma is a massive game
with some beautifully realised settings
and opponents, but it is not without
its flaws. Quests can be repetitive
over the thirty-five hours that the
game is supposed to take to
complete and, while the world itself is
graphically impressive, the characters
themselves suffer from glitches and
clipping that aren’t forgiveable in this
day and age. Frame stutter and slow
down also rear their ugly heads when
the combat gets overly frenetic –
especially on the slightly arthritic
Xbox.
In a crowded marketplace, such
things matter, but the scope and
breadth of Capcom’s foray into RPG
territory do much to assuage these
issues and Dragon’s Dogma is a
solid first attempt.
Rating : 7/10
Neal Molyneaux
Combat & Survival 69
 Gil Hibben, knife-maker,
Alaskan hunting guide, HIBBEN ASSAULT AND
martial artist and throwing SOA SURVIVAL EXPLOSION
knife expert, both produced
fighting knives for Vietnam
KNIVES IN THEIR SHEATHS
era servicemen and designed
movie knives for many
Hollywood productions
including some of the
Sylvester Stallone films. John
Wayne, Elvis Presley, Steve
McQueen and Steven Seagal
all had Gil Hibben knives
made specially for them and
Paramount Pictures use him

as the Official Klingon Gil Hibben’s 1: Both the Hibben 2

Armourer for their assault knife Assault and the
productions, so it is fair to has a 7.5” SOA Survival
say that he is the creator of 7CR17 Explosion knives
some of the most widely
stainless steel are produced by
recognised knives in the
industry and collectors will
blade and US manufacturer
pay good money to own his leather United Cutlery
blades. sheath
2: The Hibben

T
Assault has an 3
he Hibben Assault is a unusual trigger-
custom design 7.5” grip handle for
(190mm) blade Bowie- added grip on the
style knife with leather back stroke
sheath which, though designed
primarily to be a combat soldier’s
knife, will also find favour with
3: The handle of
serious hunters, outdoorsmen and the Hibben Assault
woodsmen. The clip-point blade is is crafted from lanyard hole (lanyard not supplied)
manufactured from 7CR17 stainless Micarta with formed in nickel silver at the top of the
steel and the guard, pommel and nickel silver pins handle. The uniqueness of this
fittings are cast in stainless steel with and lanyard hole particular knife is the trigger-grip
a satin finish. handle which ensures that even in the
wet you do not lose grip on a back
The handle is carved from Micarta stroke if hacking through dense
and attached to the full tang with foliage. Try it and you will see what I
nickel silver pins plus there is a mean.

70 Combat & Survival

 4

4: There is a
double tooth saw
serration on the
back edge of the
SOA knife - note
compass in handle
5: Survival
Explosion
unsheathed with
survival items
removed from the
handle
THE 8.5” SAWBACK BLADE
6: This concealed OF THE SURVIVAL
compartment in EXPLOSION IS
6
the Survival MANUFACTURED FROM
Explosion sheath
will hold four AUS-6 STAINLESS STEEL
5.56mm NATO
rounds

Priced at just £65 if bought through
battleorders.co.uk this useful 12.75”
long working knife will not break the
bank and if buying if for a collection,
rather than for work use, it comes
complete with a Certificate of
Authenticity.
If you are in the market for a survival
knife rather than a more conventional
combat knife like the Hibben
Assault, the SOA Survival
8 knife with saw and gutting knife
7: Inside the
handle of Survival
Explosion is a
waterproof
cannister held in
place by a button
compass
8: SOA knife (left)
incorporates many
features of my old
Spetsnaz knife but
it is much larger
and heavier
Explosion knife
might be what
you are looking
for. Also produced by United
Cutlery Corp., this 13.75” long
knife has an 8.5” (215mm) long
stainless steel sawback blade
and a hollow chequered grip
handle which houses both a
survival equipment cannister in
a waterproof compartment and a
button compass in the screw top.
The ABS-lined nylon sheath this
knife comes with is wrapped in five
metres of paracord, beneath which
you will find a synthetic sharpening
stone in a recess on the back face
and there is also a concealed
holder for four rifle cartridges
behind the knife. The contents of
the survival cannister are pretty
basic - some matches, a striker,
Images © fishing line, a fishhook and a
Bob Morrison :
waterproof plaster - but the user
Military Scene
will no doubt customise to suit in the
7
way that they would with a survival tin.
I reckon that although this design is
inspired by the US Ranger
Association, it owes a lot to the more
complex Russian Spetsnaz survival
blades stowed in its hinged wirecutter
sheath. Having said that, the SOA
Survival Explosion is in my opinion
more practical and it is also larger
and heavier than its Russian
equivalent and therefore possibly
more useful for extreme survival use.
I particularly like the heavy duty
double serration sawback blade
which makes fast work of cutting dry
wood, though if you cut green
branches you will find you need to
periodically clean out the teeth for
maximum cutting efficiency. If you
need to construct a survival shelter
this knife will be worth its weight in
gold.
Although the SOA Survival Explosion
is good solid outdoor knife, priced at
just £19.95 from battleorders.co.uk it
is remarkably good value for money.
However I would recommend ditching
the cannister and contents and then
filling the handle (there is an O-ring
under the compass) with a fire striker
and a better fishing kit.

Combat & Survival 71

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74 Combat & Survival