1970s–1980s

By Robert Bruce

In the course of decades of researching various sources including military and museum archives, Robert Bruce has acquired a treasure trove of photos of what might be considered “odd and unusual weapons.” Here is a follow-on to earlier oddities that appeared in previous issues.

 Now, with apologies for some of these rough-looking images—presented as they were found—SADJ takes a look at some interesting developments in the tragic aftermath of the Vietnam debacle as U.S. and Allied forces pivoted to other Cold War conflicts and “brushfire wars” around the globe.

When the Democrat-dominated U.S. Congress cut off funding and other military aid to America’s South Vietnamese allies, a Communist victory was assured. Saigon fell in 1975 to a combined North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and Viet Cong (VC) assault spearheaded by T-54/T-55 tanks supplied by Communist China.

Although badly shaken by what many bitterly considered a betrayal of an ally and callous disregard for the sacrifice of more than 211,000 dead and wounded Americans, the U.S. Armed Forces regrouped and refocused on the harsh realities of conventional—and likely escalating to thermonuclear—warfare with the Soviet Union; a formidable and nearly equal enemy. Joined by NATO Allies (not including the French, that’s another story) “force modernization” became a priority for rapid upgrades to ships, aircraft, tanks and all types of weaponry. Leaving the big stuff to others, we’ll concentrate here on just a few notable man-portable arms that were driven by a determination to equip fighting forces with better guns and ammo—some of which were already in the RDT&E (Research, Development, Test & Evaluation) pipeline when Saigon fell.

West German Partisan Pistol: VP70M with Buttstock and Carrying Sling

CREDIT:  HK GMBH

First produced in 1970 in the height of the Cold War, Heckler & Koch’s (HK) Volkspistole 70M (literally “people’s pistol”) was intended for civilian partisans in the wake of an almost-certain USSR/Warsaw Pact invasion of West Germany. Inspired by the multitudes of cheap and simple weapons dropped by U.S. and Allies behind German lines in WWII to arm resistance forces, it was much more capable than the single-shot OSS “Liberator” pistol and even the quick-takedown British MKII STEN submachine gun. The VP70M is a highly concealable, 9mm 18-round capacity, semiautomatic handgun that instantly converts into a 2200 RPM three-round burst-fire machine pistol with addition of its buttstock/holster. Notably, it carries the distinction of being the first production-run polymer-framed handgun.

Underwater Revolver: Gun, Underwater Defense, Mk 1 Mod 0

CREDIT: ROBERT BRUCE

Like the one seen here, locked away for posterity in the arms vault of the Naval Historical Society, the Mk 1 Mod 0 was developed late in the Vietnam War for use against enemy swimmers and continued in service with men of the Navy’s Underwater Demolition Teams and SEALs in the Cold War. It’s a seriously updated techno version of the multi-barrel “pepperbox” revolver of the 1800s. The removable barrel/chamber cluster holds six sealed Mk59 cartridges, each loaded with a wickedly long, needle-like tungsten dart.

Heavy Duty Grenade Gun: 40mm Philco-Ford CROW

CREDIT: NAVAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVES

Because grenade machine guns firing the M79 “Blooper’s” low-velocity 40mm grenades proved inadequate in Vietnam, logic demanded a weapon that could fire the newly developed, powerful and long-reaching 40mm M384 and M385 High Velocity ammo. But how to tame this hot round’s formidable recoil in a grenade machine gun (GMG) of manageable size and weight? In 1970, Philco-Ford’s Aeronutronic Division got a developmental award for their Counter Recoil-Operated Weapon (CROW) concept: “… the principle of converting kinematic energy of the round into potential energy. The energy stored in various springs is released during the counter recoil stroke to open the barrel, eject the spent round and feed the next round.” The resulting 35-pound GMG demonstrated effective operation at rates of fire up to 400 RPM. Nice try, but the prize went to Naval Ordnance Louisville’s MK19, which is still serving today.

SAW Contender: Rodman Laboratories XM235

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE MUSEUM

This interesting mini machine gun was entered in the Army’s 1975-1976 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) trials. Chambered in the Army’s specified 6x45mm experimental cartridge, its novel operation system—enhancing full-auto accuracy—was patented by its government design team as the Modular Lightweight Squad Automatic Weapon System, “… having symmetrical forces applied to recoiling parts by use of two parallel gas pressure rods acting in unison. An integral sprocket feed system is actuated by the recoiling parts and avoids gross asymmetrical movements about the weapon’s center of gravity resulting from shifting ammunition weight. A dual tube receiver and dual gas system is featured in the weapon.” In the end, the Army chose FN’s Minimi in 5.56x45mm NATO, serving now as the M249 light machine gun.

Fire and Forget It: TRW’s Low-Maintenance Rifle

CREDIT: AUTHOR’S COLLECTION

It isn’t PC to assert that many if not most Third-World troops are culturally indifferent to properly maintaining their weapons, so we’ll just present this one as an interestingly cheap and simple shoulder weapon for U.S. counterinsurgency forces to arm certain soldiers. Responding to a 1971 Army requirement, the Thompson Ramo Wooldridge group (TRW) offered this 7.26-pound, 34-inch-long, 450 RPM, 5.56mm Firestick, only externally reminiscent of the superlative, sophisticated WWII German FG 42. Its equally simple and cheaply printed 1973 Tech Manual dryly notes in typewritten prose: “… a 5.56mm magazine-fed, gas operated, air cooled, shoulder weapon … designed for use as an automatic weapon and functions from the open bolt position. … The rifle is fabricated from corrosion-resistant materials and is semi-permanently lubricated by the dry film process.” Less than a dozen were made, and the project was abandoned. After all, millions of uncannily reliable AKs were available worldwide—super simple, dirt cheap and with mountains of 7.62x39mm ammo.

Piggyback Projectiles: Frankford Arsenal’s Folded Ammunition

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE MUSEUM

Some engineers—ever eager to explore even marginal improvements to conventional cartridges—have produced some genuine oddities. Not the least of these is presented in a “Feasibility Study of 5.56m Folded Ammunition System,” published in September 1976 by the Munitions Development and Engineering Directorate at the Army’s Frankford Arsenal. Citing advantages including efficient stowage, higher performance in less overall space, weight reduction, etc., it boasts: “The shorter ammunition length shortens the weapon bolt stroke required to feed the ammunition and extract the case after firing. This feature enables a shortening of weapon length in the chamber/breech location.” So, what has transpired in some 4 decades since? Most notably not Frankford’s folded ammo but the HK G11’s molded brick caseless and AAI/Textron’s lipstick-tube cased-telescoped ammo.

BULLPUP MASHUP

“The EM-2, a British rifle fleetingly adopted in the UK in 1951 as ‘Rifle, No. 9,’ was the first attempt in the world to field a general-issue military shoulder weapon based on the ‘compact’ or bullpup system.” (R. Blake Stevens in the introduction to Thomas B. Dugelby’s 1980 Collector Grade book, EM-2 Concept and Design—A Rifle Ahead of its Time.)

Bullpup??!! Most simply defined as the term applies to small arms, a “bullpup” design puts the magazine and firing chamber behind the pistol grip/trigger group that’s typically located about midway along the length of the weapon. Why? For compactness, balance and quick handling.

There are advantages and disadvantages to this arrangement, kicking off all manner of controversy between proponents of traditional configurations and cocky challengers. Evidence of resistance to change is readily seen in the fact that the first promising young litter of Brit bullpups died from neglect. But that didn’t end the breed, so let’s zoom in for a closer look at some bullpups born in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

U.S. Air Force Arm Gun: Colt’s Lightweight Submachine Gun

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE MUSEUM

Seen here circa 1969 in what’s likely a conceptual drawing from a presentation of the remarkable IMP-221 (Individual Multi-Purpose), this unique bullpup pistol, firing hot .221 Remington Fireball cartridges, was intended to be a compact and deadly efficient survival weapon for downed aviators. Credited to engineer Dale Davis of the USAF Armament Laboratories, it evolved from the more conventional Colt SCAMP (Small Caliber Machine Pistol) into an ergonomically unique solution to the challenges of producing an ultra-compact weapon with acceptable stopping power and practical range. Its bullpup design provided good balance, and the receiver with magazine along the arm provided some stability, swiveling to accommodate right or left handers.

Colt IMP

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE MUSEUM

For a variety of reasons—not the least of which was the absurd difficulty of accurately shooting the thing—the USAF-Colt IMP initiative was ultimately rejected. But independent gun maker Gwinn Firearms apparently appreciated its novelty and saw potential for civilian or perhaps law enforcement sales, producing the Bushmaster Arm Pistol around 1972. It’s a very close version in .223/5.56 NATO, economically utilizing a lot of standard AR-15/M16 components such as Eugene Stoner’s familiar multi-lug, rotating bolt.

Brit Bullpups: Evolution of the “Rifle, No. 9”

CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Seen on the far right is a well-worn trials version of the “EM-2” that soon followed the No. 9, likely chambered for an experimental 6.25x43mm “intermediate type” cartridge. To its left are later variants of the design; the first is identified as an XL60 in .280/4.85mm, and the more recent SA80 A2 (L85A2) in 5.56mm NATO. All of these bullpups are a radical break in British Army rifle tradition, with the SA80 series officially adopted as standard in 1987.

Intermediate Cartridge Showdown: .280 vs. .223

CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

On the left is the .280/4.85x49mm, the Brit hopeful in NATO’s weapon and ammo trials of 1978-1979, standing side-by-side with what became the NATO standard .223/5.56x45mm (right). The difficulty of “herding cats” applies here with each of several nations offering their favorite rifles and cartridges with the goal of standardizing to the extent possible for “interoperability.” What emerged was each nation kept its preferred rifle though chambered for America’s mandated 5.56mm fed from America’s M16 mags.

SA80/L85

CREDIT: BRITISH MINISTRY OF DEFENSE

2001: A steely-eyed Royal Marine Commando proudly cradles his newly upgraded L85A2 bullpup (topped with a well-used SUSAT day sight) while providing security for a nuclear-armed submarine during Operation Veritas. Cheaply and poorly made in Britain in the beginning by RSAF Enfield, the rifle was plagued with reliability problems, and only a radical rework by the German firm HK in the early 2000s and subsequent manufacture as the A2 version rescued it.

“Bugle” Blaster: The French FAMAS

CREDIT: U.S. AIR FORCE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

As a member of NATO, the French participate in defense of Europe and occasional forays overseas. So a certain amount of interoperability is evident in the distinctive FAMAS G2 (Fusil d’Assaut de la Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne) assault rifle including 5.56mm chambering and M16 standard magazines. The French’s quirky penchant for home-grown designs led to this delayed blowback-operated bullpup with the nickname “Le Clairon” (“The Bugle”), entering service in 1978. Interestingly, the bugle has blown its last notes, and France’s soldiers now carry the superlative German HK416. Sacre bleu!

Armee-Universal-Gewehr: The Austrian Steyr AUG

CREDIT: AUSTRIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE AND SPORT

With its rakish profile including integral optic and streamlined polymer housing, the AUG would seem perfect for arming starship troopers in most any sci-fi flick. Entering Austrian Army service in 1978, the Sturmgewehr 77 (assault rifle) is a truly modular weapon that can be immediately configured without tools from a standard version with a 20-inch barrel into a short-barrel submachine gun, carbine, heavy-barrel sniper rifle or a squad auto weapon firing from an open bolt. While firing 5.56mm NATO ammo, early versions were fed from proprietary waffled translucent polymer mags, an interoperability problem corrected in later NATO versions, also fitted with Picatinny accessory rails. The AUG proved enormously successful and was purchased in quantity by numerous countries, most notably Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Leap Ahead Assault Rifles: Advanced Combat Rifle Program

CREDIT: ROBERT BRUCE

Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 1989: Soldiers at a press preview showcase the “final four” candidates that will travel to Fort Benning, Georgia, for sudden-death playoffs on a super high tech instrumented, combat simulation range. From top left and clockwise: Steyr ACR firing flechettes telescoped inside polymer tubes; Colt ACR, a modified M16A2 firing “duplex” (two stacked bullets) in conventional brass cases; AAI ACR firing brass-cased flechettes; and the HK ACR firing 4.73mm caseless cartridges. While marching underneath the ACR program banner of “doubling hit probability,” in reality the Army was grasping for something better than its somewhat serviceable M16 rifles and NATO 5.56mm ammo. Formally launched in 1986, it flamed out 4 years and $300 million later because none reportedly achieved the stated goal. Since then, GIs have wondered if their M16s and M4s really are the best they deserve, a doubt lingering for 30 years that may be set aside by the winner in the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon trials.

Brick Firing Bullpup: HK G11

CREDIT: HK GMBH VIA WIKIMEDIA

Undoubtedly the most radical concept—not only in the ACR program but in any previous practical pairing of gun and ammo—this wunderkind is an engineering and tactical tour de force, birthed in the 1970s from the marriage of West German companies Dynamit Nobel and Heckler & Koch. Among its most striking attributes is its little, brick-like rectangular caseless cartridges made from a nearly magical propellant, compressed and formed with a skinny 4.73mm projectile nestled snugly in a tunnel. On detonation in the oscillating chamber, the bullet zips downrange and everything else disappears, needing no extraction or ejection. It fires in semiauto, auto (460 RPM) and three-round bursts at an astonishing 2,100 RPM. This last intended to maximize accuracy and multi-hit lethality because the third bullet is well on its way before any muzzle jump. The engineering wizardry required for this comes from a vertically oriented, disc-like “chamber” that feeds at 12 o’clock and rotates 45 degrees to align with the barrel at 3 o’clock to fire. Perplexed? Do a Wiki search for details on this German military marvel. A brilliant live-fire demonstration, starring the late, great Jim Schatz in the G11 gunner role is readily available on YouTube. Search “G11K2 Demonstration—Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 1990.”

Dynamit Nobel’s Caseless Cartridge

CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA

A near miracle in chemical engineering and ultra-modern manufacture, the G11’s remarkable ammo is seen here with its components. The HITP (high ignition temperature propellant) is shaped into a tiny 1.3-inch long brick, hollowed out to hold a cup-shaped primer/booster and a 4.73x33mm projectile, held centered by a plastic cap. Resistant to moisture, crushing and cook off, it kicks out its 51-grain FMJ bullet at 930 m/s with scant recoil.

Caseless LMG

CREDIT: HK GmbH

Although unknown if this ever went beyond its conceptual drawing, the HK G11 system with Dynamit Nobel’s caseless brick ammo could almost certainly have been developed as a SAW/LMG in at least prototype form. Presumably, the vexing problem of cook off from overheating in fast, sustained firing would be solved in some manner, but would this work with a rotating disc chamber? Other caseless contemplations included a handgun-like personal defense weapon. In the end, West Germany’s plan to adopt the G11 died of monetary starvation because of many financial and other problems after the Soviet Bloc crumbled and “reunification” followed with its impoverished Eastern brethren.

NEXT TIME

In the next installment of Ordnance Oddities we’ll give a nod to the next 2 decades with such well-intentioned efforts as the U.S. Army’s Land Warrior initiative. What were they “imagineering” for 21^st century soldiers?

In this edition, we’ll take a look at some interesting developments as the massive might of the combined U.S. Armed Forces was brought to bear in Southeast Asia, not only against elusive Viet Cong guerrillas, but increasingly in pitched battles against well-trained and -equipped regulars of the North Vietnamese Army and their Communists Chinese and Russian “advisers.”

Now, with apologies for some of these rough-looking images—presented as they were found—let’s look at some very unusual weaponry from America’s quickly escalating involvement in South Vietnam’s fight against Communist guerrillas, backed by North Vietnam and China.

Escalation in Vietnam

While it was initially believed that the Viet Cong insurgency in the Republic of Vietnam would soon collapse when confronted by strong South Vietnamese forces being trained, armed and equipped by America, this proved sadly optimistic. Despite horrendous casualties, Communist VC guerrillas didn’t seem to falter and were increasingly well-armed and reinforced by PAVN (People’s Army of Vietnam) regulars from the north.

America’s political leadership was unwilling to cut and run (that would eventually change when Democrats took control of the money), so escalation was inevitable. By the high water mark in 1968, more than 536,000 U.S. Soldiers, Seamen, Airmen and Marines were in the fight, alongside Allied counterparts, notably 800,000 South Vietnamese and 50,000 South Koreans.

Desperate for some sort of victory that would put an end to the hemorrhage of American lives and treasure, the Army as an institution and its essential Ordnance Corps radically ramped up RDT&E (Research, Development, Test & Evaluation). This came in support of the ever-expanding war in Vietnam that was already spilling over to other countries in Southeast Asia. Results, as it’s said, were mixed, and it wasn’t rare for combat troops in the field to make their own modifications and innovations.

**********

What’s Ahead

In the next installment of “Ordnance Oddities,” we’ll turn a jaundiced eye on some “Silliness in the 70s and 80s.” Like the funny 5.56mm Folded Ammunition/Weapon System from Frankford Arsenal and maybe even the remarkable Colt SCAMP.

 Now, with apologies for some of these rough-looking images—presented as they were found—let’s look at some very unusual weaponry from the early 1960’s and America’s gradual but quickly growing involvement in South Vietnam’s fight against Communist guerrillas, backed by North Vietnam and China.

First, here are some weapons used by the VC (Viet Cong) and NVA (North Vietnamese Army).

CREDIT: DOUGLAS PIKE PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION, THE VIETNAM ARCHIVE, TEXAS TECH

Homemade Recoilless Gun. A “VC HOMEMADE BOMB LAUNCHER 66mm TYPE SSA CAPTURED AT NAM CAN ON FEB. 5, 1963.” This was during the early days of the “America adviser” period before large numbers of conventional troops were committed. According to the 1964 edition of FSTC 381-5012 Typical Foreign Unconventional Weapons, “The Model S.S.A. Recoilless gun was made either in North Vietnam or in a Viet Cong safe area because its manufacture requires fairly extensive machine shop capabilities. The tube is a 60mm smooth bore made of a piece of pipe approximately 4½ feet long. The weapon traverses freely, but elevation is accomplished by means of a threaded shaft extending from a clamp around the rear of the tube to an arm attached to the mounting clamp. The total weight is approximately 72 pounds. The test history of this weapon is not known. The weapon is presumed to be effective.” No word on the finned rocket, but it had to have operated on the recoilless principle, delivering its explosive warhead at some undetermined range and with some degree of effectiveness.

Why Vietnam?

American military involvement in French Indochina dated back to WWII when the OSS (Office of Strategic Services—forerunners of the CIA] assisted Ho Chi Minh in his guerrilla war against Imperial Japanese occupiers. It continued in the early 1950s with advisers and massive shipments of war materiel to the French who were trying to keep Ho and his Viet Minh insurgents from kicking them out of their reclaimed colony. The French lost, and Vietnam was divided into a Communist north and a republic in the south. Fearful of South Vietnam falling like a “domino” into the rapidly growing Communist bloc, American aid and advisers began pouring in again. But the nature of counter-guerrilla warfare was quite different from what characterized massive conventional battle in WWII and the Korean Conflict. Once again, the U.S. Army, as an institution, and its essential Ordnance Corps were inadequately prepared, even against a poorly equipped but highly determined foe.

CREDIT: DOUGLAS PIKE PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION, THE VIETNAM ARCHIVE, TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Medieval Crossbow in Modern Warfare? This undated Communist propaganda photo is intended to show the courage and determination of these teenage “liberators” despite the terrible handicap of primitive weapons. Its official caption says, “Militia of the Khua minority people … have efficiently helped the border guards defend the security of the DRVN (North Vietnam) frontier … They have detected and captured many spy-commando groups smuggled by the U.S. imperialists and their henchmen.” We note that the string on the young man’s crossbow is being held rearward by his thumb because the triggering stud is apparently a bit too short. His female battle buddy is much more effectively armed with what looks to be a U.S. .30 cal. M1903A3 bolt-action rifle, presumably captured from their South Vietnamese Army enemies.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY MILITARY HISTORY INSTITUTE

Vintage Submachine Guns. This trio of subguns, captured from VC combatants, represents some typical subguns supplied by the insurgent movement’s Communist benefactors. From top to bottom: the Soviet PPS-43 or Chicom Type 54, a WWII German MP40 and an NVA K-50M, modified from the Red Army’s iconic PPSh 41. Judging from its descriptive card, the German “burp gun” has probably the most interesting origin, “GERMAN 9MM SCHMEISSER SMG 1941 ASSEMBLED FROM THE COMPONENTS OF SEVERAL SCHMEISSER WEAPONS PURCHASED IN EUROPE BY COMMUNIST AGENTS … .” Aside from perpetuating the long-common mistake of erroneously identifying Heinrich Vollmer’s MP38 and 40, there must have been some evidence of its origins from among millions of surplus German weapons in Europe after the War.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

VC “Zip Gun.” July 6, 1965, Fort Hood, Texas. SFC Wes Willoughby, curator of the 1^st Infantry Div. Museum, shows a VC-made 9mm pistol. While pretty conventional and surprisingly sophisticated in its grip, receiver and barrel, it feeds from a highly unusual 3-round sliding chamber. No word on how this was moved up or down to index each round for firing. The rifles in the display case behind him appear to be typical types from the Soviets, Red Chinese and various European countries.

Ingenious GIs

When his life is on the line and the weapons he’s given don’t measure up, the American GI takes action. Either on his own or with some help from higher ups. Here are some developments that validate once again the old expression, “necessity is the mother of invention.”

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Improvised Door Gun. In Vietnam in 1963, PFC Dave Foch, 57^th Light Helicopter Transportation Company, shows his “John Wayne Sling,” with on-board ammo can and chute-fed .30 cal. Browning M37 machine gun. According to Wikipedia, “The shooting down of a CH-21 Shawnee near the Laotian-Vietnamese border with the death of four aviators in July 1962 were some of the U.S. Army’s earliest Vietnam casualties.” So, since this H-21C Shawnee “Flying Banana” doesn’t appear to have a suitable mount for the gun in its door, Foch’s clever rig is likely intended to provide suppressive fire when in flight and on landing zones, as well as a formidable, portable weapon in case his helo is forced down like the one some months before when the whole crew was killed by guerrillas.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY/MILITARY HISTORY INSTITUTE

Browning Hits the Skids. In the undated, but probably around 1959 photo, the XM-1 Armament System is seen on the left side skid of a little Hiller OH-23D Raven observation helicopter. A common complaint from pilots of these nimble but unarmed little scout choppers from service dating back to the Korean War was the inability to take out targets of opportunity or to immediately retaliate against hostile ground fire. That’s a solenoid fired, .30 caliber Browning M37 machine gun, fed by disintegrating steel-linked belts pulled up from an under-mounted magazine. Because the feed side of the M37 could be easily switched, another set was mounted on the right skid for balance, backup and double the firepower when needed.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

“Custom” Pistol? In 1963 at Ton Son Nuht, Vietnam, Staff Sergeant Robert Blerk, Chief Machine Gunner with the Army’s 57^th Light Helicopter Transportation Company, shows off “Long Tom,” a customized .22 auto that’s obviously set up to take a muzzle-coupled suppressor along with a high-mounted rear sight to clear the can. With no more info on the photo print we found, we’ll speculate that the pistol (possibly built on a High Standard Target model) was acquired in friendly association from flying around some of America’s clandestine operators of the CIA, spookily assessing strength and capabilities of insurgent forces. That’s an H-21C Shawnee in the background.

CREDIT: USAF/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Dragon Feeding Time. We’ve got a “two-fer” here in this May 1966 photo from the Vietnam War with cowboy-rig revolvers and Gatling guns. From left to right are Staff Sergeant John Boineau, Staff Sergeant Carl Starwalt and Master Sergeant Norris Johnson, USAF airmen loading steel-linked 7.62mm ammunition for Miniguns on an AC-47. Plenty was needed because each of the three M134 Miniguns could rip out up to 100 rounds per second at top speed, and with every fifth round a red tracer, its nighttime signature, looked like undulating streams of dragon fire. Whole books have—rightly so—been written about Dr. Gatling’s hand-cranked cartridge spitter in America’s War of Northern Aggression and its evolution into various motor-driven super machine guns, as well as other books detailing the saga of stalwart Captain Ron Terry fighting the arrogant Air Force brass to fly close support missions in his FC/AC-47 modified WWII cargo planes. These quickly became known fondly as both “Spooky” and “Puff the Magic Dragon.”

A New Rifle for a New Type of War

At the time, soldiers and militiamen of South Vietnam were armed with the usual array of America’s leftover infantry weapons from WWII. Since most of these men were considerably smaller than their GI counterparts, big Garands, Brownings and Thompsons weren’t a good fit. M1 and M2 carbines were more favorable, but range and stopping power were lacking. American soldiers and Marines had heavy M14 rifles firing hard-hitting 7.62mm (.30 caliber) rounds; excellent for warfare in the open spaces of Europe but not so much for tropical Vietnam. What followed is a tale of optimism and woe, perhaps best detailed in R. Blake Stevens’ and Edward C. Ezell’s The Black Rifle: M16 Retrospective.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

ARVN Armalite. In June 1962, ARVN (Army of Republic of Vietnam) infantrymen were armed with early-production 5.56mm AR-15 rifles during a field operation; these small-stature soldiers no doubt were glad to be rid of the heavy, hard-kicking M1 Garand rifles previously issued. Sharp-eyed readers will note the prong-style flash suppressor and slab-sided lower receiver with unshielded mag release and no forward assist mechanism. Also, on the soldier’s pistol belt is the little rifle’s bayonet and carrying case with “clothespin” bipod. Early field performance reports were sometimes exaggerated, hastening replacement of the 7.62mm M14 with the M16 in U.S. military service. A fateful decision …

CREDIT: USMC/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

AR Optic Experiments. While today’s American military riflemen take for granted the combat effectiveness of electro-optical sights now standard on their M16 series rifles and M4 carbines, this was a long time coming. As early as 1961, with the USAF’s initial evaluation of Eugene Stoner’s Armalite/Colt AR-15, some low powered scopes were handily mounted without any modification into their preordained space on the carrying handle. But for various reasons this essential enhancement didn’t become standard for decades despite the Son Tay Raiders in 1970 having early Aimpoint red dots on their XM177E carbines. However, some optically scoped “Sixteens” did find use in ‘Nam as seen in this photo of a 2^nd Bn 2^nd ROK (Republic of Korea) Marine sniper’s M16A1 during Operation Dragon Fire, south of Chu Lai.

 “Brown Water Navy” 

The U.S. Navy has its own Ordnance establishment that’s turned out some interesting weaponry over time. Relevant to this installment is the immediate adaption of the WWII PT (Patrol Torpedo) boat’s swiveling gun tub with twin .50 M2 machine guns to the similarly fast and light PBR (Patrol Boat River) of Vietnam. Transitioning from open-ocean “blue water” to muddy rivers of the Mekong Delta, supporting riverine operations required some real institutional and engineering expertise. Fortunately for sailors, SEALs and Marines, the work started early and paid off quickly.

CREDIT: “ORDNANCE FOR SMALL BOAT NAVY” U.S. NAVY/NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER

Piggyback Pounder. An early 1960’s joint development by weapons wizards at Naval Weapons Station, Crane, Indiana and their Coast Guard comrades at Curtis Bay, Maryland, the Mk 2 Mod 0 and Mod 1 81mm mortar with piggyback .50 cal. machine gun was a murderous combination on patrol craft in Vietnam. The mortar tube could be elevated for conventional drop fire at long range or levered down for direct fire with a trigger mechanism. And with all that steel in the gun and its massive mount, bolting a Browning M2 on top was a piece of cake. The mortar fired all the conventional M43 series ammo and the wickedly awesome M120 APERS packed with 1,200 steel needle flechettes.

CREDIT: U.S. NAVY/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Crank ’em out! April 1969, Cà Mau Peninsula, RVN. A U.S. Navy PCF (Patrol Craft Fast) “Swift Boat” crewman readies an Mk 18 grenade launcher. No word if this was the one that John Kerry claimed to have been cranking when he was “wounded in combat action.” Responding to an urgent request from the Navy in the early 1960s, Honeywell Corp. developed a novel hand-cranked weapon firing standard, low-velocity 40mm ammo for the M79, held securely in Mylar/Dacron tape belts. What became known as the Mk 18 Mod 0 Grenade Launcher utilized a clever “clam shell” split breech of two star wheels that clamped around each cartridge from opposite sides as it was ratcheted up into firing position. For simplicity, the rounds were not extracted from the belt for firing, and the empties were simply cranked out the other side.

CREDIT: “ORDNANCE FOR SMALL BOAT NAVY” U.S. NAVY/NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER

40mm Forerunner to the Mk 19. While not strictly an early Vietnam War weapon, the Mk 20 is included here as an example of rapid development in response to combat urgencies. Although it’s hard to understand how the ultra-simple and somewhat reliable Mk 18 was falling short, the archaic hand crank was dispensed with in the automatic firing Mk 20. Fielded by the Naval Ordnance Station, Louisville, Kentucky, in a crash program after just 6 months’ work, it fired the same belts of the low-velocity 40mm M79 ammo but in a radical blow-forward mechanism. Only a very few of these oddities were made, and the much more effective Mk 19, firing high-velocity, longer range 40mm ammo in full-auto, quickly gained acceptance, continuing to this very day.

CREDIT: U.S. NAVY/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

An A 40 and A 50 for the Fight. April 1969, My Tho, RVN. Gunners Mate 3 Thomas Bruemer USN PBR on river patrol. In a piggyback rig that’s handy in most any engagement, the 40mm Mk18 on top is used to crank out M79-type grenades for suppressive fire in close-combat action, while the much more formidable M2 .50 cal. could punch hard and fast at near and very far range. It is worthy to note that around this time there was experimentation with Duplex and Triplex (two and three projectiles) in each cartridge case for the M2.

What’s Ahead

In the next installment of Ordnance Oddities, we’ll take a look at some interesting developments that the massive might of the combined U.S. Armed Forces was brought to bear in Southeast Asia; not only against elusive Viet Cong guerrillas but increasingly in pitched battles against well-trained and -equipped regulars of the North Vietnamese Army.

 Now, with apologies for some of these rough-looking images—presented as they were found—let’s look at some very unusual weaponry from the 1950s, when countering nuke-armed Commies was paramount.

CREDIT U.S. ARMY TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM

Flying Jeep! American frontiersman Davy Crockett rides—actually flies—again in this provocative photo taken at Piasecki Aircraft Corporation facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As noted on the side, it’s a prototype VZ-8P Airgeep, produced in response to a 1957 Army requirement for an aerial platform cheaper and easier to fly than conventional helicopters. Enormous, ducted fans fore and aft provide lift, and a mock-up of a revolving, multi-chamber recoilless rifle indicates intended armament. No word on why the pilot is whimsically dressed in coonskin cap and fringed buckskin shirt.

CREDIT: ARMY ART COLLECTION

“Aerial Assault Vehicle.” So, how would the Army use these Airjeeps? Deep thinkers at the Pentagon commissioned artist Robert Rigg to illustrate a futuristic attack scenario with side-mounted rocket pods softening up enemy forces in advance of a ground attack. Wisely, the pilot has been relocated to a more efficient and comfortable bubble-topped cockpit in the front.

“Night Recon.” Another one from Robert Rigg shows a pair of Airjeeps with some manner of underbody weaponry—possibly ray guns—raining hell on a doomed enemy soldier.

**********

Now that you know what was going on at the time, let’s take a look at some oddities in the latter part of the 1950s, following the “police action” in South Korea that claimed more than a million American and Allied lives before the formal cease fire in 1954. The very real threat of apocalyptic war with the nuclear-armed Soviet Union and its Communist Chinese cronies led to some truly bizarre theories and experimentation; supported, by the way, by a bloated bureaucracy with multi-million-dollar budgets. For the record, not all of these were developed by the Army’s Ordnance Branch, but maintaining them was their mission, and all were intended to perform some sort of land warfare mission.

CREDIT: ARMY ART COLLECTION

Flying Fan. While all those Airjeeps were flying around and shooting things up, this one-man flying fan was to be going in ahead to spot suitable targets, give damage assessments and radio the info back to headquarters. A couple of these 1031 Flying Platforms were actually made by Hiller Aircraft for evaluation, but—for some reason—didn’t do the job intended. Gosh, why not?

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Aerocycle. Why stand on a bucket fan when you can ride into battle on top of de Lackner Helicopters’ HZ-1 Aerocycle with its impressive set of long, counter-rotating blades? Regular infantry grunts assigned to recon duty were supposed to be able to climb aboard and fly this monstrosity with only about 20 hours of instruction. After a couple of predictable crashes, the program was abandoned.

Particularly notable in this mid-1950s photo, the soldier-pilot is armed with a distinctive T48 rifle, an American-trial version of the superlative Belgian FAL that was on the fast track for replacing the venerable M1 Garand as the Army’s standard battle rifle. Keep reading below for more on this debacle.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM

Air Cushion Sled. Hard to get more absurd than this twin-fan, air-floating belly flopper for scooting riflemen up to the front lines. The only info accompanying the photo, taken some time in the 50s at Fort Eustis, Virginia, is the designation “Experimental GEM” (ground effect machine). Apparently steered with that joystick, did the soldier have to drag the toes of his combat boots to stop?

Move, Shoot, Communicate

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Can you hear me now? At Fort Carson, Colorado, in June 1955, Captain E. A. Treadwell calls Private First-Class Edward Croft’s helmet-mounted, cutting-edge transistor radio. Assuming it worked at some practical distance, Croft could be directed to move into a specified position and employ his venerable M1 Garand rifle against designated targets. While this kind of rig is very common now in SPEC OPS, it was quite the noble novelty 60 years ago.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

“Tank of the Future.” Right in there with Pentagon pipe dreams of the “Pentomic” battlefield, tank designers at Aberdeen Proving Ground produced this racy model of a streamlined, rocket-shooting, armored fighting vehicle. With no info accompanying this March 1960 photo, we speculate that the ultra-low silhouetted tank would have a front-mounted engine (see fan on the deck and front drive sprocket on the Christie suspension) along with an unmanned, rotating turret with swing-up rocket tubes, underslung heavy machine gun and TV camera.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Burst and Burn. In what is probably a dual development by Army Ordnance and Chemical Corps, the inexplicable mistake made in shortening the M2 flamethrower’s gun (exiting flame stream heats up the operator’s hands) is made a bit less awful by piggybacking a modified M2 carbine. Probably in response to requests from GIs in the field, it gives the flame gunner the capability to drill threats with .30-cal. bursts at 750rpm or light ’em up in the old-fashioned way. Sadly, this photo was not accompanied with info on results of the Infantry Board’s evaluation in 1958, and we’ve seen no evidence of this in any subsequent use.

Search for the “Ideal” Infantry Rifle

Books have been written (notably in a series from Collector Grade Publications) on the ups and downs of the U.S. Army’s quest in the 1950s for a replacement for the iconic M1 Garand. While a short version here doesn’t serve justice, several candidates and different calibers were evaluated by NATO’s “Rifle Steering Committee,” including entries from Britain, Belgium and the American government with commercial armament establishments. All users of modern U.S. military small arms should make it a point to delve deeper into this disturbing story to know why they got the M14 and then the M16 and M4.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS/NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Brit Bullpup. One of the more radical candidates for America’s new rifle was the British EM2, not only a very unconventional bullpup but also chambered in a lightly recoiling, flat flying, terminally efficient .280 caliber “intermediate” cartridge. Characterized by the bolt group and magazine behind the pistol grip/trigger group for a compact profile, the EM2’s overall length was a handy 35 inches—about 9 inches less than that of what would become the M14. This photo shows it being handled by a U.S. Army senior NCO, probably during Ordnance Corps/Infantry Board evaluations in 1950 or the International Trials of 1952 at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Despite ingrained prejudice against its layout, lower powered cartridge and British pedigree, it was well-received but ultimately rejected higher up on the chain of command.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS/SPRINGFIELD ARMORY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Beyond the BAR. Among the requirements for the Army’s new rifle—with cartridge standardized as the new 7.62×51 NATO—were both semi- and full-auto fire in the manner of the beloved but very heavy .30-06 cal. Browning Automatic Rifle, seen at the bottom of this photo. Right above it is a heavy-barreled, bipod equipped E1 version of the Belgian-made and then-to-be American-built T48. Springfield Armory’s homegrown T44, essentially a “modernized” M1, is at the top, later designated M14.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS/SPRINGFIELD ARMORY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Belgian Twofer. Springfield Armory technician Majewski pauses during live-fire trials in May 1955 at the Quabbin Reservoir range to show the distinctive T48 rifle, tipped with an ENERGA rifle grenade, both Belgian designs. By this time, it seemed almost a sure thing that the T48 would win the U.S. trials, but that wasn’t the way things turned out.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS/SPRINGFIELD ARMORY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Springfield Armory vs. Fabrique Nationale. Here are the two remaining contenders for America’s new battle rifle—and most of NATO too—going into last gasp, winner-take-all “Light Self-Loading Rifle” competition in 1955. Underneath Springfield’s more traditional looking T44 with modified M4 bayonet and its new grenade launcher is the decidedly different T48. Although billed in the photo as “FN” (Fabrique Nationale), the T48 pictured is reliably identified as one made under Ordnance contract by the American company High Standard for the trials. By most accounts the T48 proved superior, but the deck was stacked against it. For a combination of unsettling factors, not the least of which was “not invented here” prejudice, the T44 was chosen, entering U.S. service in 1958 as the M14. Meanwhile, Britain, Canada, West Germany and much of the rest of NATO chose the T48 FN FAL.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS/SPRINGFIELD ARMORY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Full-Auto Follies. Recalling that photo of the BAR, T44 and T48 to indicate the requirement for effective full-auto performance, this one shows the results of desperate efforts by Ordnance engineers to tame the nearly uncontrollable, wild dispersion of the lightweight T44/M14 in full-auto. Despite addition of a muzzle brake and bipod as well as a heftier straight line wooden stock with FAL-like pistol grip and fold-down metal foregrip, the M14E1 was still a conspicuous, embarrassing failure as a replacement for the BAR.

Project SALVO

At about the same time Big Army was muddling through its selection of a main battle rifle, firing traditional bullets from full-size, hard-recoiling cartridges, parallel developments were underway in “Project SALVO.” Kicked off around 1951, this was an earnest effort to dramatically increase the rifleman’s hit probability with multiple projectiles from each shot. Visionary ordnance engineer Irwin Barr at AAI Corp. was way ahead of the pack with his tiny steel arrows called “flechettes.” First proven for Office of Naval Research by 32 of ’em nested in a particularly nasty 12-gauge shotgun shell, Barr took the concept further for rifles with larger, single flechettes loaded in otherwise conventional brass cartridge cases.

CREDIT: AAI (AIRCRAFT ARMAMENTS, INC.)

Needle Rifle. The rifles to fire these took various forms, leading eventually to this early 1960s version of a SPIW (Special Purpose Infantry Weapon) from AAI, fed by a rotary magazine.

“Hypersonic Micro Arrows.” Sequentially improved throughout the 1950s, here’s the deadly steel dart that’s launched in super-quick bursts from Barr’s SPIW. Now weighing 10.3 grains and secured inside the cartridge case neck by a fiberglass sabot, the little arrow flew at more than 4,000 fps beyond 400m on an ultra-flat trajectory with strong crosswinds having virtually no effect. Target penetration of multiple-stacked pine boards—and even a steel helmet—was also spectacular, as might be expected from these rocketing needles.

It’s a Wrap

Yes, we’ve been making fun of many of the seemingly oddball developments in Ordnance during the 1950s, but we’ll give a tip of the hat to those that were well-intentioned. One way or another, these either demonstrated dead ends or opened the doors to further examination.

In the next installment of Ordnance Oddities, we’ll march into the early part of the 1960s with a look at what happened when a focus on atomic war with the Soviets shifted a poorly prepared Ordnance Corps to counter-guerrilla operations against Communist surrogates in Southeast Asia.

Now, with apologies for some of these rough-looking images—presented as they were found—let’s look at some very unusual weaponry from the 1940s through the 1950s.

CREDIT: U.S. WAR DEPARTMENT/NATIONAL ARCHIVES/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Atomic Bazooka! Undoubtedly the most spectacular of these oddities is the M28 and M29 man-portable, tactical nuclear weapon system, officially named the “Davy Crockett” after a semi-mythological American patriot of the early frontier days. Developed in the late 1950s Cold War period, in this case, Davy’s job was to quickly move into position to take out Communist enemy concentrations with the watermelon-sized M338 mini-nuke. The inability to kick its atomic warhead to a safe distance from the gun crew was an unfortunate limitation that added to other concerns, and the project was scrapped after very limited deployment. Photo taken at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

CREDIT U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Effect on Target! While we’re exaggerating the Davy Crockett’s nuke blast effect (equivalent of 20 tons of TNT) in this photo of a 14-kiloton test, it is in color and has its characteristic mushroom cloud. The M29 weapon itself used a novel piston-spigot system to propel the 50-plus-pound Mk-54 sub-fission warhead to a maximum range of 2.5 miles. Photo taken October 30, 1951, at Yucca Flat, Nevada.

_________

Now that we’ve set the stage, let’s go back in time to the early 1940s, just two decades after “The War to End All Wars.”

___________

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE MUSEUM

Frankengun .45! Despite being nearly perfect in its original M1911 form, John Moses Browning’s superlative .45 ACP semiautomatic handgun was an apparently irresistible candidate for “improvement.” And so, here’s what happens in peacetime when idle hands at Army Ordnance Corps go to work to fit a detachable shoulder stock, extended magazine and slide with long barrel and an eye-catching perforated cooling jacket. Photo taken at Aberdeen Proving Ground, one month before the U.S. entered WWII.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE MUSEUM

Convertible Chopper! Urgent wartime production demands spurred experimentation in alternatives to America’s heavy and expensive Thompson Submachine Guns. Here’s the UD-1, a novel offering from United Defense that can be quickly converted to fire either standard U.S. .45 ACP ammo or the European-favored 9mm Parabellum. For various reasons, it lost out to the ultra-cheap and simple M3 “Grease Gun.” Photo taken at Aberdeen Proving Ground in April 1943.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE MUSEUM

A Mortar Rifle? Desperate times for Marines in desperate fights with a fanatical Japanese enemy in early Pacific island-hopping combat inspired this trigger-fired 60mm mortar. Don’t make fun of this clever field-expedient because it’s a very practical solution to the urgent need for Marine mortarmen to move fast and hit hard in close-range jungle fighting. Its tube, carried by a single Marine, has an under-slung rifle stock serving as both a trigger mechanism and its baseplate (seen buried butt-deep into a sandbag); not intended for shoulder firing. While seen here with the heavy and ungainly standard bipod with quick release collar, this was most certainly dispensed, in most cases, with the gunner slamming the butt into the ground, grabbing that broomstick foregrip and using “Kentucky windage” to aim.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE MUSEUM

Improved One-Marine Mortar! Probably inspired by that rifle stock mortar, Master Gunnery Sergeant Garrett pushes this to the limit with his design for a bipod-mounted, trigger-operated, shoulder-fired 60mm mortar. Yes, Leathernecks are notoriously tough guys, but ouch! Noting the angle of the simple quadrant sight on its left side, that bipod will have to extend pretty far to lob the shell even a short distance. Photo taken at Aberdeen Proving Ground in September 1943.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS, NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Gotta Have a Bayonet! Among the first M1 Carbines delivered to the Army’s Infantry Board at Fort Benning, Georgia, February 1942, this one has been “improved” by taping a trench knife to the barrel. This came at the start of a crash program to put a “pig sticker” on the little rifle. Well, only about 2 years later, the M4 Bayonet was standardized, secured to carbine barrels modified with the T2 lug assembly.

CREDIT U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS, NATIONAL ARCHIVES

First Full-Auto M1 Carbine? While industry and Army Ordnance Corps engineers and technicians back in the U.S. were scrambling to provide full-auto capability to semiauto-only M1 Carbines, some muddy-boots Ordnance GIs in Europe apparently didn’t wait. Photographed in Belgium on November 10, 1944, “Sergeant Harold Schwarz, one of two inventors of an improvement of the Carbine, proves the worth of the piece by firing 15 rounds in less than 2 seconds.” It was apparently not good enough, and Inland Manufacturing’s trip lever mod won, standardized as the M2.

CREDIT U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS, NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Backpack Machine Gun! U.S. Army Technical Sergeant O. P. Peterson demonstrates a clever, field expedient backpack mount for the Browning M1919A4 .30-caliber machine gun with pintle, T&E and a can with 250 rounds of belted ammo. This rig was made by enterprising, close-to-the-front-lines Army Ordnance Corps soldiers in response to the call from “line doggies” for greater portability and faster setup time for this workhorse infantry medium machine gun. Unstrapped and placed on its four, fold-down wire feet, the gun goes immediately into offensive or defensive action.

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM COLLECTION VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Sticky Grenade! It’s just no good to throw an ordinary grenade at an enemy vehicle because, more often than not, it bounces right back at you. So, early in the second war against the “Hun,” clever Brits fielded the “Sticky Bomb,” a hand grenade coated with a particularly strong and thick adhesive that would cling to its target then explode with maximum effect. This 1943 photo shows how the grenade was packaged in a sheet metal clam shell to protect its inherent stickiness without also gluing it to everything it touches. But it wouldn’t also stick to its shell due to numerous little spikes inside.

U.S. NAVY BUREAU OF ORDNANCE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Inside the Sticky Grenade. When a suitable target presented itself at close range, the plucky British Tommy would reach into his haversack, firmly grasp the hand bomb by its protruding handle and quickly undo the protective shell. It was a bit complicated to use; pulling one pin armed the fuse striker mechanism so the grenadier could throw or stick it. When the safety spoon lever on the handle was released, the nitroglycerin filler detonated in five seconds. “Sticky wicket lads!”

CREDIT: PHOTOGRAPHED BY DER RIKKK AT WEHRTECHNISCHEN STUDIENSAMMLUNG, KOBLENZ. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Shoot Around the Corner! A WWII German Krummlauf (curved barrel) seen here on an MP 44 select-fire 7.62mm kurz rifle in a display cutaway of a typical armored vehicle mount. This model has a 90-degree bullet deflector barrel clamped on that allows a crewman safely inside to shoot attacking infantrymen as they approach or in the dire situation when they’re climbing aboard. There was also a 30-degree model for dismounted combat in built-up areas, enhanced by a prism sight that allowed somewhat accurate target engagement out to nearly 200m. Oh, and a similar curved barrel was developed for the U.S. M3 “Grease Gun.”

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE MUSEUM

Copycat Recoilless Rifle WWII German paratroopers were equipped with the 75mm L.G. 40, a 325-pound highly maneuverable and hard-hitting wheeled recoilless artillery piece first noted in the airborne assault on Crete in 1941. Quickly responding on behalf of America’s brand-new airborne forces, the Army Ordnance Corps developed the T26 Artillery Rocket Launcher, with a 4.5-inch (115mm) bore. Parallel development of what was to become the shoulder-fired 2.36-inch “Bazooka” rocket launcher apparently doomed the T26 and GI paratroopers were stuck with heavy 1400-pound M1A1 75mm pack Howitzers.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS, NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Nazi Death Metal “Music?” In this 1945 photo, a U.S. Army officer examines a pair of gigantic parabolic reflectors that concentrate, and direct intense sound waves generated by pulsed detonation of a methane/oxygen mix. Theoretically, this sonic cannon—intended for defense of static positions—would incapacitate or even kill attacking troops. But don’t laugh, this concept and other “directed energy” weapons are being deployed right now by friend and foe alike.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY SIGNAL CORPS, NATIONAL ARCHIVES

German-Based Night Vision. Posed in front of a tank fitted with a large infrared spotlight, this is the U.S. M3 Sniperscope, an early night vision device consisting of an M2 Carbine topped with an infrared light and cathode ray detector sight. It’s based on the WWII German Vampir (vampire) night vision system for vehicles and small arms that gave enhanced tactical capability at night. This set-in motion a crash program of reverse engineering and subsequent enhancements by Army Signal Corps and Ordnance Corps technicians.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE MUSEUM

Bazooka Revolver! October 14, 1947, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. This Army Ordnance Corps photo is one of several we found documenting progress on Project No. TS4-4007, the “Launcher, Rocket, Repeating, 2.36-inch, T112 (Drum Type).” When a loaded tube is rotated into alignment with the forward end of the M9A1 launcher, moving the black knobbed lever apparently twist-locks it into the coupling for firing. Two more rockets can then be quickly launched and—as empty tubes are rotated around—reloaded.

CREDIT: U.S. ARMY ORDNANCE MUSEUM

Magazine-fed Super Bazooka! February 23, 1950, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Another Army Ordnance Corps photo of Bazooka experimentation, this one is from Project No. TS4-4019. It shows the “Launcher, Rocket, Repeating, 3.5-inch, T115.” It looks like its gravity-fed magazine holds at least three of the “Super Bazooka” rockets that drop down into the firing tube in turn. Too bad this wasn’t available at the outbreak of the Korean War when GIs only had puny single-shot 2.36-inch bazookas against the enemy’s heavily armored, Soviet-supplied T-34 tanks.

________

Conclusion

While the end of the Cold War came in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, don’t think that the “peace dividend” that followed would have put a crimp in experimental oddities by newly idle bureaucracies. Many of the developments in weaponry that followed are no less interesting.

Credit: U.S. War Department/National Archives/Wikimedia Commons

First Flying Cannon

Since mounting a heavy and hard-kicking cannon would destroy the typically flimsy wood and fabric aircraft of WWI, this novel gun was developed by U.S. Navy Commander Cleland Davis for use in anti-submarine and anti-Zeppelin engagements. Seen here mounted at the nose gunner’s station of an F5L seaplane, this Davis Non-Recoiling Gun is fitted with a Lewis machine gun for both aiming the cannon and as a defense weapon. Its secret is cleverly designed ammunition that simultaneously fires its explosive projectiles out the front while blasting a counterweight of lead balls packed in grease out the back. Thus circumventing Newton’s Third Law of Motion, a technique quite successfully applied to subsequent developments in a variety of recoilless cannons including the U.S. military’s spectacular 105mm M40 and the now-ubiquitous Carl Gustaf.

Our introductory photo for this feature doesn’t show the earliest of these oddities, but it certainly represents an excellent engineering solution to a previously unknown challenge in the evolution of warfare and weaponry. But now having set the stage, we’ll move out smartly in somewhat chronological order, starting with a peek at a place way back on the developmental trail of the multipurpose hand grenade.

Credit: Richard Knotel in Glogau 1857/Wikimedia Commons

Hand Bombs!

What we now think of as hand grenades originated centuries before as fuzed, gunpowder-packed clay pots, evolving into somewhat efficient and deadly miniature cannon balls. In this illustration, a pair of handsomely uniformed and equipped Prussian (German) Grenadiers is plying their trade, circa 1715. Note the length of slow burning match cords in their left hands, used to light the shorter time fuze on the grenade itself. The Grenadiers of King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia were elite soldiers, chosen for exceptional throwing strength as well as being at least 6 feet tall due to the short and rotund King’s odd fetish for his personal regiment of what became known as “Potsdam Giants.” Their quite necessary secondary armament consisted of a sword and a matchlock musket with detachable bayonet. A small supply of the heavy cast iron bombs was immediately available from that large leather bag slung over the left shoulder.

Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art/Wikimedia Commons

Shoot and Stab!

Yes, muzzle loading pistols with flintlock ignition were much more handy and efficient than matchlock hand cannons for close-quarters fighting by the likes of ship-to-ship boarding parties in the age of sail. Alas, they still offered the user only one shot before the decidedly inconvenient need for a reload in the midst of a melee, so most sailors preferred stab, slash or smash weapons. Of course, it made sense to add a handy mini-bayonet to the pistol for use as the situation required. The matched pair seen here is finely crafted in silver-inlaid walnut and intricately carved brass with a steel barrel and lock mechanism; most likely a custom-made armament for a wealthy Naval officer. Their wicked triangular bayonets are immediately deployed when the trigger finger pulls back on the sliding latch seen just below the lock.

Credit: Photograph by Andreas Franzkowiak at Germanisches Nationalmuseum/Wikimedia Commons

Matchlock Revolver

Finding the slow rate of fire of single-shot matchlock weapons to be intolerable, this clever Luntenschloss-Drehling mechanical repeater was crafted in Germany circa 1580. Its revolving cylinder has multiple chambers with sliding touch hole covers, each loaded with powder and a ball. The glowing tip of a slow-match cord would fire each in turn as it ratcheted up to align with the barrel. This revolver arrangement was adopted for any number of muskets, rifles and pistols, enduring today in such notable weapons as Milkor USA’s 40mm M32A1 Multi-Shot Grenade Launcher.

Credit: U.S. Army Ordnance Museum

Fast Firing Flintlock

This photo, fortuitously found in the somewhat haphazard research holdings at the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum when it was still at Aberdeen Proving Ground, is noted only as a “repeating flintlock rifle made by Kirkland & Company.” Subsequent research suggests that it may have been influenced by a similar weapon from previous makers in Europe and the U.S. including the .54 caliber, four-shot Ellis-Jennings Military Repeating Flintlock Rifle. We speculate that the Kirkland version works with superposed loads in a manner similar to the Ellis-Jennings as noted in the Springfield Armory’s collection record: “The gun was loaded by ramming down four charges, one on top of the other. The lock was then pushed opposite the foremost vent and held there by a little apron closing the vent nearest to the rear. It was supposed that the flame was kept from reaching the next charge by tight ramming of the intervening ball. The apron having then been lifted, the lock was slid back to the next hole, and the process continued. A small reservoir for the priming powder was seen attached to the pan. By raising this up before each shot and [w]rapping the piece, the pan was filled. This rendered the piece self-contained, as the powder horn or cartridge box was not required for its service.” In some ways, its modern equivalent is found in the remarkable Metal Storm system.

Credit: Booklet “Maxim Automatic Gun in Action” in the collection of the U.S. Army Center of Military History

Backpacked Maxim

Weighing “only” 44.5 pounds with tripod mount, this 1895 Extra Light machine gun from the Maxim-Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Company of London can be carried handily by an infantryman in a serviceable, but no-doubt uncomfortable, box with shoulder straps. Forced by competition from the much lighter Colt-Browning M1895 “Potato Digger,” Hiram Maxim radically reduced his anvil-like standard gun by eliminating the prominent water jacket, along with several other simplifications. Overheating of its brass-shrouded, air-cooled barrel was a major flaw, and, while few were sold, several of these light and handy guns served the British South Africa Company quite well in the Chitral and Matabele Campaigns.

Credit: Booklet “Maxim Automatic Gun in Action” in the collection of the U.S. Army Center of Military History

Cavalry Maxim

Standard Maxim Automatic Machine Guns of the 1890s with their formidable tripods, tools and spares made for a heavy, bulky and ungainly load on even the sturdiest of pack animals, limiting tactical effectiveness in fast-moving cavalry engagements. Hiram Maxim sought to remedy this with the Extra Light machine gun of 1895, an air-cooled gun weighing 27.5 pounds and quite handily carried by a single cavalryman in a sturdy leather scabbard. Interestingly, a dozen or more of these (sold to the British South Africa Company) were used to devastating effect by rebellious Boers against the British Army.

Credit: Archives of the Northwestern Military Academy and Wikimedia Commons

Heck on Wheels

In 1899, these four stalwart soldiers were aboard a specially modified, gas engine automobile from the Duryea Motor Wagon Company mounting a .30 caliber Colt-Browning M1895 “Potato Digger” machine gun behind a rather small steel shield. This was one of a series of experimental machine gun carriers and other developments from Major R.P. Davidson of the Northwestern Military and Naval Academy, recognized as a key figure in armored warfare evolution. While we are tempted to make fun of this early scout vehicle, it offered some advantages over horse-drawn versions at the time.

Credit: U.S. National Archives

Fight Club!

With a pedigree dating back to the dawn of caveman conflicts, clubs are ultra-simple to make and use and are nearly foolproof in close-quarters battle. What’s remarkable about this selection of seemingly medieval examples is that they were made for and used with deadly efficiency in trench raiding in WWI. This is not surprising given the obvious limitations of long and heavy bolt-action rifles, particularly when equipped with absurdly long bayonets of the time. As such, the trench club, in all its particularly nasty forms with spikes, barbed wire wrapping and such, did yeoman duty along with knuckled knives, sharpened spades, handy hatchets, revolvers and grenades.

Credit: U.S. National Archives

British Biker Gang

Motorcycles reached a high degree of utility by the time the world was at war in 1914-1918. All of the major combatants were using both solo and sidecar-equipped versions for a variety of tasks like liaison and message running. As scouting was prominent among these, mounting a machine gun was inevitable. Here we see a battery from the British Machine Gun Corps–Motor Machine Gun Service, heading out on heavy “combination” (with sidecar) bikes made by Clyno Engineering Company. The formidable belt-fed, water-cooled Vickers machine gun, Mark I, .303-inch, mounted in a firing position on the sidecars could be quickly detached and used on ground tripods.

Credit: U.S. National Archives

Last of the Lance

The tragic absurdity of horse-mounted cavalrymen in modern conflict reached its pinnacle on the Western Front in WWI with trench warfare dominated by massed artillery, machine guns and endless thickets of barbed wire. This photo is said to depict a German Uhlan, armed with a steel tube lance and bolt-action Gewehr 98 rifle, patrolling behind the front lines. Noting his Lederschutzmaske 17 (leather protective gas mask model of 1917), it isn’t polite to ask what might happen to his noble steed if there actually were poison gas in the area. But the Germans did have a muzzle mask for the horse that looked like a canvas feed bag (apparently not available for this photo-op).

Credit: U.S. National Archives

Ridiculous Rifle Grenade?

Technically the Granatenwerfer 16 (grenade thrower model of 1916) is a trench mortar, but the on-target effect of this 79-pound piece of Teutonic over-engineering was little more than that of the simple cup or rod type grenade launchers for most any infantryman’s rifle. But to its credit, the device’s sturdy base is topped with a well-marked elevation mechanism and traversing plate to facilitate rather precise accuracy out to around 300m. Its finned fragmentation grenades contain a blank cartridge that—when its hollow base is slid down on the “spigot” rod—it is trigger-fired and quickly reloaded for multiple hits in the intended target area.

Credit: U.S. Army Ordnance Museum

Feel the Burn!

In WWI, the “diabolical Hun” (Germans) were the first with both poison gas and flamethrowers in desperate attempts to break the deadlock of trench warfare on the Western Front. Seen here in a photo probably taken in 1917 at the Stosstrupp (Shock Troop) training center in Sedan, France, a four man Flammenwerfer (flame thrower) team advances down a trench behind a horrifying wall of “liquid fire.” The forward man in the stack is the gunner, directing the flame and regulating it with a valve mounted on the igniter-tipped wand. The second man stumbles along behind carrying the 70-pound pressurized steel cylinder looking like a giant Thermos bottle and holding four gallons of a volatile oil and chemical mixture. The two riflemen right behind are there for both protection of the crew and ready to take over as almost inevitably needed.

Credit: U.S. Army Signal Corps/National Archives

Birth of the Bazooka

While the handwritten notation, “1 inch recoilless gun” is the only caption information that accompanied a vintage cyanotype print the author discovered and copied in the National Archives, subsequent research has revealed that it almost certainly shows Dr. Robert H. Goddard, widely considered to be “the father of modern rocketry,” demonstrating his rocket launcher for Ordnance Department representatives at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, on November 20, 1918. One report from this obscure but seminal event predicted that such weapons “could be developed to operate successfully against tanks.” Unfortunately, in the aftermath of Germany’s defeat and the American disarmament that followed, further development by U.S. Ordnance lay dormant for more than two decades until the birth of the iconic U.S. “Bazooka” of WWII.

Spinning Slug Slinger 

Credit: U.S. Army Signal Corps/National Archives

Using an electric motor to spin its mechanism at around 20,000 RPM, this remarkable contraption needs no gunpowder-packed cartridges and reportedly fires a continuous stream of 330 steel balls each second to punch through ¾-inch steel plates at several hundred feet! The hopper-fed, centrifugal force brainstorm of Earl Ovington and Levi Lombard is seen here in a demonstration for Ordnance Department officials at Aberdeen Proving Ground in October 1920. While exciting in its possibilities for defense against massed attackers, it destroyed itself in the demonstration and disappeared from official consideration.

Conclusion

Experimentation in armaments languished in the aftermath of the “War to End All Wars” but exploded once again in 1940, forced by naked aggression by a resurgent Germany and its allies. Developments in weaponry that followed over the next 5 years and beyond ranged from sublime to ridiculous. We’ll mine more from Robert Bruce’s archive collection to unearth and present additional Ordnance Oddities for the amusement, and perhaps amazement, of Small Arms Defense Journal’s discerning readers.

[Copyright 2019 Robert Bruce Military Photo Features.]

Story By Robert Bruce, Military Affairs Editor

“We’re going to go shopping; we’re going to put gear in the hands of Marines in order to figure out if we need it. That’s turning the world upside down … we need to get Marines—junior Marines—together with industry in a conversation way earlier than we have been comfortable with in the past.”

—Lt. Gen. David Berger, Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command (MCCDC)

 Speaking at the opening ceremony for the 38^th MDM Expo, three-star General Berger threw the door wide open for both close-range and leap-ahead technologies and ideas, recently enabled by significant budget increases after years of what many saw as intentional starvation under the previous presidential administration. And the Corps, with a deserved reputation as the most nimble and warfighting-focused of the U.S. Armed Forces, would shake up traditionally cumbersome acquisition processes by inviting and more seriously considering ideas from Marines of all ranks as well as businesses big and small.

Berger’s forceful commitment was energetically supported in all aspects of this annual Expeditionary Warfare extravaganza, where defense industry reps and Navy/Marine Corps program offices showed their wares and interacted with high value attendees—not just generals, Pentagon potentates and allied military shoppers, but multitudes of muddy boots Marines with plenty of combat experience.

Show, Tell, Listen

U.S. Marines and civilians attend the 2018 Modern Day Marine Military Expo on Lejeune Field, Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, Va., Sept. 26, 2018. The Modern Day Marine Military Exposition is a 3-day expo that showcases the latest in defense manufacturing, science, technology and warfighting products presented by approximately 400 exhibitors. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by James H. Frank)

This year saw an expanded set of formal presentations, information panels, product demonstrations and “Booth Briefs” both scheduled and off-the-cuff for up-close interaction.

Perhaps most useful to potential vendors came on opening day in the form of info-packed Briefs to Industry by Marine Corps Systems Command and its components. In addition to stage-setting overviews, specific needs were identified in ground combat, logistics, support and training.

Ground Combat is our focus so we zeroed in on the presentation by Colonel Mike Manning, GCE Portfolio Manager, that led off with the very welcome news that funding has increased dramatically and is projected to move steadily upward by more than $133 million by fiscal year 2020.

On the weapons track, he’s looking for help from industry with a prioritized list including variable power day optics, binocular night vision goggles, multi-spectral imagers and rangefinders, medium machine gun modernization and a “next generation squad weapons/rifle,” a noble but seemingly endless quest.

Oh, and now that the Corps is buying 15,000 more of HK’s superlative M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles, the ongoing search for a rugged, reliable, higher capacity feed device intensifies. Maybe like MAGPUL’s compact, unstoppable 40-round PMAG M3 drum?

Now, having the new hardware is one thing, but making sure it’s used most effectively by grunts and others in the fight is daunting—particularly as everything on the battlefield gets more and more high-tech.

Colonel Lois Lara, Training Systems’ Program Manager, called for emerging technologies to enhance and improve head-mounted displays and moving past serious limitations in current laser systems being used for small arms in force-on-force training.

The follow-on Brief to Small Business was a lifeline to those offering worthy products to meet identified needs but a bit short in the “how do we let the Marine Corps know what we’ve got?”

[Author’s Note: The website for MDM Expos is among the most comprehensive and user-friendly we’ve encountered. There’s a wealth of info for exhibitors and attendees, as well as an invaluable portal for those unable to attend in person. Links are available to the actual content of the Briefs to Industry from MCSC’s Commander and Portfolio Managers. Links are also available at marcorsyscom.marines.mil. For specific solicitations and contract awards see FedBizOpps.gov or fbo.gov.  Also, Defense Innovation Marketplace is a comprehensive resource: defenseinnovationmarketplace.mil.]

Some additional presentations over the expo’s three days featured the “Close Combat Lethality Task Force,” “Synthetic Training Environment” and informed speculation on the “Future Operating Environment.”

New this year were concurrent presentations in the Marine Corps University’s on-site Expeditionary Seminar Facility. Attendees sampled sessions on “Expeditionary Energy,” “Cybersecurity” and a hush-hush (closed session) explaining once and for all, “Why the North Won the Civil War ….”

Regularly scheduled “Booth Briefs” were offered by a number of exhibitors, and we hastened to observe Warfighting Laboratories’ show ‘n’ tell on the tough and versatile Marathon Robotics system. These somewhat eerie, man-sized, mobile targets move around realistically and flop over “dead” when hit. MCWFL also provided on-the-spot briefings from Center for Lessons Learned, the Technology Initiative Screening Branch and RCO’s rapid development and delivery of operational prototypes to forces in the fight.

Marksmanship Technology Demonstration (MTD)

“Once per year, Weapons Training Battalion in conjunction with Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, will invite select industry participants to the Marksmanship Technology Demonstration to demonstrate commercial off-the-shelf technologies with potential to address Marine Corps marksmanship gaps. The Marksmanship Technology Demonstration is not a tradeshow.” —MTD RFI

Again this year, a formal RFI (Request for Information) issued months before MDM 18, invited industry participation in an MTD exclusively for “Marine Corps units/agencies that are within the capability development process.”

[Author’s Note: Officials emphasize that the MTD is not associated with MDM but is “aligned to make it easier for the vendors to participate.” Smart move all around.]

Here’s the list of this year’s industry participants, as released by Warfighting Lab: Daniel Defense, SIG SAUER, Competition Machine, Tri-State Precision, H-S Precision, Steyr Arms, NEMO Arms, American Technologies Network, Trijicon, FN, Mantis, Marathon Targets, Pratt & Miller Defense, Smart Detection Initiatives, Oakwood Controls, Conflict Kinetics and Horus Vision.

The product demonstration and live-fire event was closed to civilian press, but in a televised interview with the USMC’s “Saved Rounds” video news feature series, Captain Bryan Grogan, Operations Officer for Weapons Training Battalion, provided this perspective: “The purpose of this is to link up vendors and capability developers, [and] requirements writers so they can see what is in the realm of the possible in regards to marksmanship technologies.”

Sharp-eyed viewers will recognize several of the weapons and technologies seen in action in the video, accessible on YouTube and at facebook.com/moderndaymarine (scroll down to October 5).

So, if you think your company has what it takes for serious consideration, be watching for next year’s RFI on fbo.gov.

More than 360 Exhibitors

For all three days of the expo while deadly serious information was being dispensed in the Briefing Center tent, the other giant tents and the outside displays were buzzing with activity as visitors ranging from youthful enlisted Marines to high-level military, DoD and industry potentates patrolled the aisles.

Discipline is needed to avoid being overwhelmed by the variety of offerings on display and the sheer size of many including hulking AFVs, artillery pieces, real aircraft and the like.

All are certainly compelling to others, but man-portable weaponry is our stock in trade. 2018’s lineup included weapons from prominent names like American Rheinmetall, FN, General Dynamics, Glock, HK and SIG SAUER. Some of their rivals in the firearms arena included Arbor Arms, Geissele and LaRue.

Short Bursts

Space limitations dictate just brief notes on some of the things we encountered, so follow-up info is encouraged by visiting vendor websites as noted.

SIG SAUER MHS and more. Flushed with victory, of course, in winning the multi-service Modular Handgun competition, they showcased the M17 and M18 versions, along with a full selection of other pistols and long arms. Most all, by the way, were going to be made available for handling and shooting at the concurrent Marksmanship Tech Demo. sigsauer.com

FN 509 Tactical. Heavily advertised these days in most gun- and defense-related magazines, the versatile 509 Tactical drew a lot of admiring attention at their sprawling display that was dramatically dominated by the fuselage of a “Little Bird” helo. fnamerica.com

Barrett MRAD. Touting “Modularity Without Compromise,” this bolt-action tack driver offers six distinct cartridge options. barrett.net

AimLock R-M1. Augmenting battle-proven stabilized, remotely operated weapons stations with innovative automatic targeting technology, it features ruggedized computing and display modules with a gamer-style controller. aim-lock.com

LaRue Tactical BET. When a glitch kept away the weapons they planned for display, these tough Texans rallied to release a herd of 500 distinctive armadillo-configured “Beverage Entry Tools” branded with MDM 18 and the classic USMC logo. larue.com

SAAB Carl Gustaf. One of the bigger weapons we were drawn to was the latest M3E1/M4, tapped by the Marines to eventually arm every infantry squad with one of these devastating tank and bunker-busters. saab.com

Taking Aim

Aimpoint FCS13RE. The Carl Gustaf and similar launch platforms get superior hit probability on static and moving targets with this Dynamic Universal Reflex Sighting super system from Sweden. aimpoint.com

Photonis Vyper 14. The AN/PVS-14, a SPECOPS favorite, now gets 40% greater range with the new 4G image intensifier tube. photonis.com

Leupold. Well-proven in combat and competition, Leupold’s Delta Point Pro is a tough, economical, high-performance red dot for pistols, shotguns and carbines. leupold.com

Excelitas Talon. Rugged and compact, this new clip-on image intensifier/uncooled thermal imaging weapon sight gives all-weather performance. excelitas.com

Optics 1 I-CUGR. The Integrated Compact Ultralight Gun-Mounted Rangefinder gives the operator the ability to range man-sized targets out to 1500 meters. optics1.com

Trijicon VCOG. This tank-tough 1-6×24 power Variable Combat Optical Gunsight boasts an LED illuminated, first focal plane BDC reticle. trijicon.com

Nice to Have

MAGPUL Bipod. Their ever-expanding line now includes a clever bipod with distinctively configured, quick-adjusting legs. magpul.com

KF Armory Defense MIB²S. Designed for easy assembly, disassembly and extreme durability, the Modular Interlocking Ballistic Barrier System’s giant super blocks defeat .50 BMG APIT projos. kfarmory.com

Meggitt Linkless Magazines. Metallic-linked 30mm ammo is too heavy and prone to feed problems, so their linkless magazines are winners for machine-cannon systems. meggitdefense.com

Quantico Tactical LRAD. Adding to their offerings by leaps and bounds, this mega gun seller has now partnered with LRAD Corp. to offer the Long Range Acoustic Devices, including the new 450XL. quanticotactical.com

American Rheinmetall. Among its many superior quality munitions, the company’s 40mm MK281 training grenade uses unique target marking technologies, giving USMC MK19 gunners realistic day and night training. americanrheinmetall.com

Arnold Defense. Long recognized for superior launch systems for area suppression with 2.75-in. rockets, the new FLETCHER uses advanced rocket guidance technology for land-based, vehicle-mounted applications. arnolddefense.com

Laser Shot. Who can resist the chance to fire machine guns and pistols right in the middle of the show floor? Countless Marines and others tried their skills on the MMTS and SimRange simulators. lasershot.com

Revision’s additions. Perhaps best known for excellent ballistic eye protection, the company’s offerings now include the Viper Helmet System, tactical power packs and communication components. revisionmilitary.com

Spyderco. This highly respected blademaker’s pro line features the new compact Para 3 folders that offer full-service cutting performance for professional end users who want versions optimized for tactical use. Available in a variety of handle colors and blade edges in stainless and matte black. spyderco.com

Small Business, Big Ideas

We always make it a point to visit the Small Business Pavilion and again found much to recommend. We needn’t say too much about Cheata Tactical’s quick entry tee shirt for nursing military moms (cheatatactical.com), but the RHTT (Robotic Human Type Target) under development by SimIS shows promise as a potential rival to Marathon’s near lock on the smart, tough, roll-around sniper target market. simisinc.com

The Corps’ Small Biz office was strategically located right there in the tent, busily dispensing advice to eager applicants. marcorsyscom.marines.mil

Honorable Mention

Battle Challenge. Gyrene gladiators flocked to the expo’s newest and most spectacular event, to strain, sweat and shoot in an exciting and fast moving “Fire and Maneuver” contest that incorporates highly relevant military skills and fitness challenges that include precision laser M4 carbine shooting, cargo net climb, rope descent, man-down rescue and more. Participants compete against each other and the clock to earn “Best of the Best!” battlechallenge.org

National Museum of the Marine Corps. It would be close to criminal negligence to come all the way to the expo yet fail to visit the Corps’ spectacular, state-of-the-art museum, just outside the main gate. usmcmuseum.com or marineheritage.org

The Navy claims ownership of the Marines, so cutting edge research and development at Office of Naval Research (ONR) deserves respect and attention in exhibits. While this super high tech command has lots of spooky projects in the works, we gun guys are most interested in things that facilitate hole-punching one way or another. Some examples are the continuing work on lightweight and caseless ammunition, leap-ahead improvements in integrated day–night optics and lots of directed energy initiatives.

Something for Everyone

Other firms and military entities offering innovative weapon sights, ammo, accessories, edged weapons, hydration, chow, extreme weather clothing, rugged gear, VR worlds, tactical tea and more, enjoy not only our attention but that of salty Marines of all ranks swarming the aisles. Word of particularly notable items and other things of interest gets around quickly, and reps are always kept busy with show-and-tell duties.

Oh, and thousands of free copies of Small Arms Review and Small Arms Defense Journal were handed out by the friendly and energetic Chipotle Publishing team. Best deal at the show.

A full listing of exhibitors, their websites and other information may be found at www.marinemilitaryexpos.com.

“Expeditionary Convention Center”

 It’s billed as “the world’s largest military exposition focusing on enhanced capabilities for expeditionary forces.” Kicked up a notch yet again under the leadership of Alex Hetherington, a veteran Marine Aviator, this year’s Modern Day Marine Expo was held from September 25 through 27 aboard Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia.

Co-sponsored by the base, the Marine Corps League and Marine Corps Systems Command, the 38^th Annual MDM showcased the products and services of close to 400 entities that support military land, air and sea operations.

Wendell W. Webb, National Commandant of the Marine Corps League, emphasized his organization’s vision for this annual event. “The Marine Corps League is committed to the Modern Day Marine Expo as a program to share the development and awareness of the tools our future Marine Warriors will need for the next unknown conflict. This type of expo allows the industry team to interact with the planners, General officers, Staff NCOs, NCOs and the Warriors on the ground or in the air, sharing the needs and ideas of future weapon systems that turn into requirements then tactics.”

Exhibits at this year’s exposition filled three enormous, sparkling white, climate-controlled tents, as well as several others showcasing small business and housing the official briefings. These, and adjacent space in the outdoor display area, were packed with the latest operational equipment and technology, along with videos, models and prototypes of items soon to enter service.

Defense contractors from throughout the U.S. and some allied nations signed on to show their products and services, get feedback from the warfighters and respond to questions.

Much of the equipment now used by Marines and other U.S. and allied forces confronting enemies in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the globe was first presented to military leaders, operations planners and acquisition managers at previous editions of the expo.

As well as experiencing the latest, greatest technological advances, attendees can go face-to-face with many of the nonprofit organizations and agencies that exist to assist service members and veterans.

“Crossroads of the Marine Corps”

Strategically located about 30 minutes’ drive south of Washington, DC, America’s capitol city with powerful lawmakers, the Pentagon, numerous defense contractors and foreign embassies, MCB Quantico is an ideal expo location.

It is home of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, charged with developing Marine warfighting concepts and determines the Corps’ capability requirements for doctrine, equipment, organization, training, education and support.

The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory at Quantico is part of the Development Command and responsible for improving current and future naval expeditionary warfare capabilities for the Marines and their amphibious roles and missions.

Also at Quantico is Marine Corps Systems Command, principal agency for acquisition and sustainment of systems and equipment for the Marines’ warfighting mission. Many of the personnel who staff those organizations took advantage of continuously running shuttle buses to visit the exhibit halls and discuss missions, capabilities and requirements with defense industry professionals.

Honors and Awards

With so many high-level Marine leaders and other VIPs converging on the expo, important ceremonial events are conveniently scheduled to coincide. Bad weather on Wednesday moved the customary Enlisted Awards parade inside the main Briefing Center tent. There, eight outstanding Marines and one Navy Hospital Corpsman were standing tall to be personally congratulated by Commandant Neller, along with the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps and the Commandant of the Marine Corps League.

For us, the Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock II Award for outstanding contribution to marksmanship training is most prominent among these. 2018’s honoree was Sergeant Kailub S. Young for his exemplary performance while serving as the Line Staff NCO, Charlie Range, Range Company, Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California. His award citation notes some 4,589 recruits under his supervision and with his numerous innovations, achieved a record 98.71 percent Combat Marksmanship Initial Qualification, with 2,264 scoring “Expert.” This “undoubtedly enhanced the capabilities of the Marines obtained by Operational Forces.”

Marine Military Expos 2019

Next year’s Modern Day Marine Expo is scheduled for September 17-19, once again aboard MCB Quantico, Virginia. This is the largest of three related shows where exhibitors meet the Marines on their own turf.

Marine West Expo 2019 is slated for February 7-8 at Camp Pendleton, CA, and Marine South Expo 2019 for April 11-12 at Camp Lejeune, NC. Both are held at home installations for two of the Marine Corps’ expeditionary forces, which are continually training and dispatching fighting elements to a broad spectrum of missions around the world “in the air, on land and at sea.”

Exhibitors at the Marine Military Expos meet and exchange information, face-to-face, with not only the users of their equipment but also the men and women responsible for equipping the Corps, tasked with a broad range of existing and emerging demands.

In addition to displaying products before thousands of users, Marine Military Expo exhibitors also exchange information with their target audience, listen to their needs and gain valuable insight into what works best in a wide array of combat, combat support and combat service support situations. Marines who have recently returned from wartime missions not only provide feedback but also convey suggestions and ideas that are often considered and adopted in designing or improving equipment and systems.

The decision-makers and procurement experts who exhibitors want and need to meet attend the expos for up-close and personal exposure to the leading-edge equipment, systems and services—solutions their Marines need for the years ahead. At the Marine Military Expos, networking opportunities among the buyers, the users and defense industry professionals are unlimited. Take advantage of those opportunities for your company by exhibiting at the Marine Military Expos: marinemilitaryexpos.com

MDM 2019 SHOW INFO

Location

Quantico Marine Corps Base, Lejeune Field, Quantico, VA, U.S.

Website

marinemilitaryexpos.com

Contact

Marine Military Expos

1525 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1200

Arlington, Virginia 22209

Tel: 760-576-6701

Email: alexander.hetherington@emeraldexpo.com

Next Show

September 17-19, 2019

 Focus

MDM is billed as “the world’s largest military exposition focusing on enhanced capabilities for expeditionary forces.”

Dress

Business casual for civilians and duty uniform for military.

Hotel Hints

Most U.S. chains have hotels and motels locally. The nearby Stafford and Fredericksburg areas have a lot of great lodging and dining options. Book early—the event is a very popular show, and the hotels fill up fast. See the Hotel and Travel link at the MDM website.

Show Food

Numerous vendors right on site featuring delicious local and regional food and beverage items.

Power and Plug Types

American standard 110 volts AC

Cultural Hints

General American culture in the immediate area with a tendency towards “Southern Hospitality” from friendly, polite and helpful locals. The show and the base have specific USMC culture as well; pride in being courteous, straightforward and honest. Attend the show, interact with Marines, and you’ll understand.

Tipping

U.S. customs apply. Taxis about 10%; bellhops $1 per bag minimum; Skycaps $2 per bag; and sit-down restaurants 15-25% depending on service quality. Note “tip jars“ at some of the show’s food vendors. Toss in a dollar or two for these hard-working folks.

Currency

U.S. Dollars. Go to xe.com for current exchange rates.

Getting Around

Fly into Dulles International, Ronald Reagan Washington National or Stafford Regional airports.

Military Museums

The spectacular National Museum of the Marine Corps is just outside Quantico MCB.

Numerous other museums are located in Virginia and nearby Washington, DC.

Tourism

Visas required for all foreign visitors. Popular attractions in the area are found in and around Washington, DC, some 30 miles from Quantico MCB. DC’s Official travel and tourism website is washington.org.

And as noted right below, tourism in Virginia is safer, with the added benefit of splendidly preserved battlefields from the War Between the States: virginia.org.

Although recent Federal court rulings should have relaxed DC’s draconian gun prohibitions, no one other than on-duty military or authorized law enforcement personnel should take a chance by carrying firearms, magazines or even a single round of live ammunition into the District of Columbia without obtaining the most strictly controlled permits. Not surprisingly, the nation’s capitol city has all of the usual big city problems; visitors are cautioned against walking or even driving in all but the most heavily patrolled areas. The Maryland suburbs are almost as bad. Stay in Virginia but make it south of Alexandria and near Quantico—much more safe and sane.

Everything we do is about warfighting,” Neller said. “We don’t do anything that won’t make us more ready and effective on the battlefield.” General Robert B. Neller, 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps

It was no coincidence that four star General Neller toured the enormous exhibit tents at Modern Day Marine Expo on September 24, 2015, the very first day of his new assignment as Commandant. This is, after all, the place to see in person the best of what Marines have to move, shoot and communicate now and perhaps in the near future.

That same day, addressing a packed briefing hall at the “Crossroads of the Corps,” Neller seemed to throw down a metaphorical iron glove to assure his highly esteemed Marines there and those deployed worldwide that the Corps under his stewardship would put combat readiness first.

While this time-honored priority would seem chiseled in stone, many in the Corps and in its sister services can’t be blamed for believing that demonstrably hostile agendas, pushed at the highest levels of domestic political power, degrade combat effectiveness.

The ugly realities of crippling budget cuts and radical social engineering over nearly a decade have combined to stress a necessarily shrinking Corps to a dangerous degree. The Herculean challenge to do more with less – always a bedrock Marine Corps virtue – may be approaching critical mass.

Hoverbike. With the simplicity of a motorcycle and the freedom of a helicopter, Hoverbike is touted as the world’s first flying motorcycle, under development as a new class of Tactical Reconnaissance Vehicle (TRV). Plans to mount a light machine gun for the operator are, thankfully, being considered. Survice Engineering and U.K.-based Malloy Aeronautics have teamed up as part of an ongoing research and development contract with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. Hover-bike.com. Photo courtesy of Survice Engineering

Briefings big and small

Reaching out to industry partners helps take up the slack, and the Corps wisely uses the annual Expo as an efficient venue for meaningful interaction. This year, in addition to MARCOR Systems Command’s traditional Report to Industry, four additional panels were added, with General officers and top-level civilians highlighting trends in Marine Corps force development:

Building the Future Marine Corps: Harnessing Innovations Across the MAGTF
Building From the Sea: Future Amphibious Operations by Sea, Air, Land, and Cyber
Marine Corps Special Operations Brief
Marine Corps Small Business Programs Office

Spyderco. Michael Janich of Spyderco showed us (top to bottom) the SzaboHawk, the Street Beat, and the covert Dog Tag Folder. SzaboHawk is a modern tomahawk designed to excel as both a tool and a close-combat weapon. Constructed from a solid billet of .300-inch-thick D2 tool steel, it features a curved handle that places its center of balance approximately midway along its length, making it faster in the hand than conventional head-heavy designs. The Street Beat Lightweight’s Bowie-styled blade is machined from VG-10 stainless steel and features a full-flat grind for superior balance of edge geometry and strength. For tactical users who operate in environments where light discipline is a concern, the blade also features a non-reflective black ceramic coating. The Dog Tag Folder is fabricated from solid titanium and accurately replicates the size and shape of a military dog tag. An alternate version features a handle machined from a solid piece of black carbon fiber/G-10 laminate with an inlaid detent spring arm. The blade and all metal hardware have a matching black titanium carbonitride coating. spyderco.com Photo by Robert Bruce

Nuts and Bolts

And, reviving the Planning Brief to Industry, a popular forum from 2012, Systems Command and PEO Land Systems provided registered exhibitors the opportunity learn what’s in the field with Marines now, what’s in the pipeline, and what’s needed in the near future to enhance warfighting at individual and unit levels.

Among nine specific Program Managers, our attention is naturally on those for Ammunition and Infantry Weapons. Be advised that immediate opportunities for significant ammo acquisition by the Corps include 5.56mm SESAMS cartridges and 9mm blanks.

On the Infantry Weapons side, a $9 million cut in the budget for traditional hole-punching weapons is slightly offset by a million dollar plus-up for “non-lethal.” Cynics may be forgiven for seeing both as an obvious response to directives from a politicized Pentagon for kinder and gentler operational encounters.

Actual briefing slides from these and other PMs can be found and downloaded from SYSCOM’s website marcorsyscom.marines.mil Click the COMMAND BRIEFINGS bar.

Also there you can find the 2016 ACQUISITION FORECAST.

For specific solicitations and contract awards at FEDBIZOPS and elsewhere, Defense Innovation Marketplace is a comprehensive resource: defenseinnovationmarketplace.mil/industryresources.html

HK VP9. No doubt hard to beat if entered in the XM17 Modular Handgun System competition, the exciting new VP9 is Heckler & Koch’s latest handgun. Breaking new ground with its integration of a unique striker firing system with an enhanced HK “light pull” trigger, unequaled in any production striker fired handgun. It also uses HK’s ergonomic handgun grip design that includes three changeable backstraps and six side panels— accommodating all hand sizes. Molded finger grooves in the front of the pistol’s grip also instinctively position an operator’s hand for optimal shooting. All controls are completely ambidextrous. Slide releases are on both sides of the frame and the magazine release can be easily activated by left- or right-handed shooters. For female shooters with reduced hand strength, patented charging supports mounted on each side of the rear of the slide provide better gripping leverage for racking the slide rearward. It uses standard P30 magazines, has a Picatinny rail molded into its polymer frame for mounting lights and accessories and the proprietary captive flat recoil spring helps reduce the recoil forces. The respected cold hammer forged barrel with polygonal rifling ensures long service life as well as a slight increase in muzzle velocity. Its machined steel slide is protected from corrosion and wear by HK’s hostile environment finish and all metal components, including springs and pins have superior metallurgy. Hk-usa.com Photo by Robert Bruce

Essential face time

An efficient change to in-person meetings went into effect this year. Following each of the Planning Brief to Industry sessions, there was the opportunity to register for a one-on-one meeting right at the Expo with the proper Program Manager one is looking to reach. Registration was done via online form on the MDM website at the conclusion of each session.

Targeted to purveyors of grunt gear, Systems Command’s sprawling exhibit in Tent B included an ongoing “Integration with Industry Workshop,” where individual exhibitors could showcase and demonstrate equipment intended to be worn or carried by dismounted Marines.

Beyond the usual “show ‘n tell,” this involved actually adorning a combat-ready Marine’s standard outfit with whatever gadget or gear enhancement was being offered. An expert panel then provided a “usability assessment” right on the spot.

Guns and ammo, sights and accessories

In spite of the Corps’ shrinking procurement budget, the expo was once again filled with thousands of items needed for expeditionary warfare, an ongoing challenge to SADJ’s mission to find and report on the best in guns and related gear for infantrymen. This year’s roster included weapons from prominent and emerging names like Beretta, Colt, FN, HK,, Glock, HK, Knight’s, Magpul, S&W, Sig Sauer, and Troy.

CSR-20. FN calls its new CSR-20 (Compact Sniper Rifle) “the future of advanced combat precision sniper rifles.” Derived from combat-proven architecture of the FN SCAR family of weapons, the CSR-20 provides a highly reliable, accurate and modular weapon system designed for easy operator and armorer level maintenance. Chambered in 7.62x51mm, it features a sub-MOA, 16-inch, cold hammer-forged, chrome-lined barrel, monolithic aluminum receiver, and non-folding stock with adjustable cheekpiece. It’s seen topped here with an optional Leupold MK6. Fnamerica.com Photo by Robert Bruce

Handgun hopefuls

While relatively small potatoes in the world of mega military contracts, the tantalizing prospect for yet another back-from-the-dead appearance of an M9 sidearm replacement program always has our interest. So when the Army announced just a couple of weeks before MDM that it is seeking bids for the new XM17 Modular Handgun System we were on the hunt.

While pistol pushers there were understandably wary of revealing too much to competitors, we zeroed in on likely contenders from Beretta, S&W, SIG, Glock, HK, and FN. Given the Army’s inscrutable evaluation procedures, no sane writer should speculate on which combo of pistol, ammo and feed mechanism might prevail. If any…

TORC. Standing center stage on the Robotics side of MCWL’s exhibit, this tracked mini platform from Polaris Defense is fitted an optional M240 machine gun and the TORC (Tele-Operated Robotic) system as a wireless robotic remote control support vehicle. It incorporates a user-friendly and intuitive operator control that can be customized to meet varied operational needs. Multiple camera options, including fixed, PTZ, EO/IR, thermal and low light options are available for full 360 degree awareness around the vehicle, eliminating any blind spots. The operator control unit (OCU) is matched to customer needs, and ranges from a belly box or rugged laptop to an exact replica of the vehicle’s operator chair and controls. TORC’s tele-op system has been integrated onto multiple Polaris vehicles, all of which have different missions and payloads that can be controlled remotely with the TORC robotic systems as well. Polaris.com/en-us/military and Torcrobotics.com Photo by Robert Bruce

Lethal lipstick

Ever hopeful year after year at MDM for some big news about LSAT, the Lightweight Small Arms Technologies program at Textron/AAI that we have doggedly followed from its inception more than a decade ago, we stopped by to talk with program engineer Ben Cole.

Mature in design and well proven in numerous hard-knocks evaluations as a Squad Automatic Weapon firing 5.56mm “lipstick tube” plastic cased, telescoped ammo, this contender to replace the M249 – along with a prototype Carbine to hopefully boot the M16/M4 series weapons – still remains on the sidelines.

The good news for overburdened grunts seeking relief from lugging anvil-heavy M240s is that a prototype of an LSAT medium machine gun firing 7.62mm plastic telescoped ammo is up and running.

Oh, and the program itself, optimistically funded all these years by the Army’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, has been rebranded as “Cased Telescoped Weapons and Ammunition.”

Zion MIS B. Zion Armament weapon designer Eric Tonkin is justifiably proud of his MIS B, the Monolithic Integral Suppressed Barrel. It is a reinvention of the relationship between the suppressor and rifle, made from a single piece of billet material with no welding, threading, screwing, attaching etc. The MISB is said to be quieter, lighter, stronger and reduces recoil better than any other rifle on the market. Zionarmament.com. Photo by Robert Bruce

Shusssssh and see

Short of alchemy, there seems little that can be newly conjured to significantly enhance effectiveness of existing guns and ammo. So innovations in such things as signature suppressors command attention. Among other quiet can contrivances, we urge you to check out Zion Armament’s Monolithic Integral Suppressed Barrels (Zionarmament.com) and the new TranQuilo M308 suppressor from LaRue.

Sights too, particularly for multi-weapon commonality, night and foul weather applications. As such, we commend Aimpoint for their computing DURS, as well as new clip on thermal sights from Knight’s (UNS-Ts) and Flir (HISS-XLR). Don’t overlook items from L3, Leupold, Schmidt & Bender, Trijicon, and more.

Other firms, offering innovative weapon sights, ammo, accessories, edged weapons, and more enjoy not only our attention, but that of seasoned Marines of all ranks swarming the aisles. Word of particularly notable items gets around quickly and reps from Geissele, Nammo, Surefire, Rheinmetall, Spyderco, Benchmade, Ontario, Otis, and many others were kept busy with show and tell duties.

Trijicon MRO. Mike Walkowiak, Trijicon Operations Manager, shows Staff Sergeant Matthew Traywick the new Trijicon MRO™ (Miniature Rifle Optic), intended for use on rifles, carbines and shotguns to provide fast target acquisition. The 2 MOA red LED aiming dot is powered by a single CR2032 battery, capable of providing up to 5 years of continuous use at the day setting. Its large aperture and tapered light path maximizes the viewing area, giving better situational awareness and faster fast target engagement – especially from non-standard shooting positions. It boasts ambidextrous brightness controls, sub-flush adjusters, advanced lens coatings, and a fully sealed, waterproof to 30 meters, hard anodized forged 7075-T6 housing. Trijicon.com Photo by Robert Bruce

Train as you fight

Always on the lookout for GI entrepreneurs who have transitioned to the civilian world to develop and market items clearly superior to those in service, we made it a point to locate ex-Army NCO Jon Ford in the Small Business Pavilion. His Advanced Tactical Training System has some demonstrable advantages in economy, simplicity, versatility, and realism over AirSoft, Simunition, Paintball, and MILES systems.

Pushing the lethality/reality envelope with a CQB gunfighting trainer using actual service weapons and ammo, the partnership of giant General Dynamics IT and small firm Troysgate has produced the InForce Advanced Live Combat Training System. Real operators with real weapons exchange fire with live threat counterparts each shooting real bullets right thru a giant mirror-like screen in tailorable scenarios. Computers precisely sense hits or misses in real time and video cameras record everything for after action review.

Combat Action’s ATTS. Jon Ford, the retired US Army NCO who developed Combat Action’s Advanced Tactical Training System (AATS) explains how its highly realistic M16/M4 type training weapons work with proprietary sensors on the special tactical vest. ATTS fires an infrared data packet with a standalone network allowing the custom programmed server to track all data in real-time during active training scenarios. ATTS software features live GPS waypoint information, live interactive mapping, live mission data, live indirect fire simulation, live IED simulation, live communications, indoor and outdoor setup modes, quick mission setup, and more. With decided advantages over competing systems like MILES, Simunition and AirSoft, its unique training system does not require any extra protective equipment, allowing soldiers and law enforcement officers to train in a realistic environment. Combataction.net Photo by Robert Bruce

HighTech

Exhibits by the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab and Office of Naval Research (ONR) are mandatory stopovers, never disappointing. Once again, robot warriors were the focus, with recent favorites MAARS, the little machine gun-toting Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System crawler, and LS3, the mule-like walking quadruped. These are now joined by Spot, DARPA’s mechanical scout dog and the Robotic Vehicle Modular, a tailorable tracked platform intended to support infantry squads.

The Navy claims ownership of the Marines, so cutting edge research and development at ONR deserves respect and attention. While this super high tech command has lots of spooky projects in the works, we gun guys are most interested in things that punch holes; one
way or another.

One way is the hole-burning GBAD, ONR’s vehicle-mounted, aerial drone-killing laser system, getting better and better. Another way is EMRG, the decidedly unconventional Electromagnetic Railgun, a giant, kinetic energy puncher that is even more spectacular. The railgun is a long-range weapon that launches projectiles at hypervelocity using electricity instead of chemical propellants. It is currently undergoing sea trials aboard the joint high-speed vessel USNS Millinocket.

Magpul Hunter 700. Magpul Industries’ Drake Clark answers questions from Marine Corporal Dylan Fitzgerald about the Hunter 700 Stock for Remington 700 Short Actions. Made from reinforced polymer and an anodized aluminum bedding block, it offers users a cost effective replacement featuring fully adjustable length of pull, comb height, and enhanced ergonomics. It requires no bedding and is a true “drop-in” solution for the end user*. This stock is also M-LOK compatible to accept a broad range of accessories. Magpul.com Photo by Robert Bruce

Tent City

Billed as “the world’s largest military exposition focusing on enhanced capabilities for expeditionary forces,” this year’s Modern Day Marine Expo was held from September 23rd to 25th aboard Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia.

Co-sponsored by the base, the Marine Corps League, and Marine Corps Systems Command, the 35th annual MDM showcased the products and services of more than 300 firms and entities/companies that support military land, air and sea operations.

Exhibits at this year’s exposition filled three enormous, modern, climate-controlled tents, as well as others showcasing small business and housing briefings. These, and adjacent space in the outdoor display area, were packed with the latest operational equipment and technology, along with videos, models and prototypes of items soon to enter service.

Defense contractors from throughout the U.S. and some allied nations signed on to show their products and services, get feedback from the warfighters, and respond to questions.

Much of the equipment now used by Marines and other U.S. and allied forces confronting enemies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world was first presented to military leaders, operations planners and acquisition managers at previous editions of the expo.

Instant Eye Drone. Tim Debs of Darley Defense with the Instant Eye Drone, a high-performance, low-cost aerial system that can be hand launched and recovered by a single person in any weather. The quadcopter weighs less than one pound and can go from a stowed configuration to airborne in under 30 seconds to provide rapid situational awareness and tactical sensor operation for 30 minutes. No piloting skills are required to operate the InstantEye system in day/night conditions, in winds up to 30mph, or from a moving ground or maritime position. darley.com Photo by Robert Bruce

“Crossroads of the Marine Corps”

Strategically located about 30 minutes’ drive south of Washington DC, America’s capitol city with powerful lawmakers, the Pentagon, numerous defense contractors, and foreign embassies, MCB Quantico is an ideal Expo location.

It is home of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, charged with developing Marine warfighting concepts and determines the Corps’ capability requirements for doctrine, equipment, organization, training, education and support.

The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory at Quantico is part of the Development Command and responsible for improving current and future naval expeditionary warfare capabilities for the Marines and their amphibious roles and missions.

Also at Quantico is Marine Corps Systems Command, principal agency for acquisition and sustainment of systems and equipment for the Marines’ warfighting mission. Many of the personnel who staff those organizations took advantage of continuously-running shuttle buses to visit the exhibit halls and discuss missions, capabilities and requirements with defense industry professionals.

Knight Vision UNS-TS. At the Knight’s Armament booth, Jack Leuba was enthusiastic about the many virtues of the new Knight Vision UNS-TS (Universal Night Sight – Thermal Sniper), seen here mounted in tandem with a Leupold MK6 1-6 x on Knight’s SR15 Mod 2 LPR The UNS-TS Clip on Weapon Sight adds long range, high resolution (640×480, 17µ) thermal capability to an existing rifle and day scope. It offers reduced target acquisition times and improves solider effectiveness both daylight and clear air conditions as well as degraded visibility conditions caused by adverse weather, dirty battle field conditions and complete darkness. It’s SWaP-C (size, weight and power – cost) architecture design represents a quantum leap forward in soldier systems product technology. In addition to this uncooled VGA video format array, the UNS-Ts also incorporates a patent pending Ultra-Wideband wireless radio communications system using multiple imagery display methodologies (goggle, helmet mounted, remote display, etc.) so that it can be used 1) in conjunction with a DVO interconnectivity, such that the UNS-Ts display output imagery serves as the input for the DVO, 2) as a stand-alone rail mounted Weapon Sight or 3) as a Hand- Held imager. Knightarmco.com Photo by Robert Bruce

Honors and Awards

With so many high-level Marine leaders converging on the Expo, several important ceremonial events are conveniently scheduled to coincide.

Congressman Mac Thornberry, (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and tireless advocate for the Marine Corps, received the Iron Mike Award at Tuesday evening’s Grand Banquet and Awards Dinner.

At Wednesday morning’s colorful Enlisted Awards Parade, featuring the world-renowned USMC Drill Team and Drum and Bugle Corps, ten outstanding Marines and one Navy Corpsman were honored.

For us, the Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock Award for outstanding contribution to marksmanship training is most prominent among these, this time going to Sergeant Joseph S. Peterson of Marine Corps Training Command, Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Shooting Team in 2014.

Streamlight TLR-6. Streamlight’s Matt Barker showed us the new TLR-6 Universal combo laser and light module that can be tailored with any of 6 housings to for use with more than 18 different handguns. With a C4® LED illuminator and a 640-660nm red laser 100 lumens; 2,000 candela; 89 meter beam distance. Uses two CR1/3N lithium batteries and runs 1 hour (LED only or LED/laser combo); 11 hours (laser only). Its parabolic reflector produces a balance of beam and peripheral illumination; optimized electronics provide regulated intensity; red laser provides long-range targeting. Ambidextrous switching with push-button on both sides to access three modes: Laser only, Laser/LED combo, LED illumination only All modes feature a 10 minute auto shut-off to conserve batteries. Streamlight.com Photo by Robert Bruce

MAGPUL PMAG D-60. Could the new MAGPUL PMAG D-60 be the answer to firepower enhancement of the Marine Corps’ HK416/M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle? This is a durable, lightweight, highly reliable 60-round 5.56x45 NATO polymer drum magazine for AR15/M4 compatible weapons. The unique drum configuration keeps the height of the magazine manageable as well as allowing for prone firing and easier storage. Features an easy-to-use loading lever, paint pen dot matrix for easy marking, and a rear window for instant capacity indication. It’s compatible with a wide range of NATO firearms such as the M4, M16, SCAR™ MK16/16S, HK®416, MR556, M27 IAR, IMI Tavor, and others. Magpul.com Photo by Robert Bruce

Troy American Gunfighter Rifle. Alyssa Fuentes of Troy Defense with their feature-packed, specially priced American Gunfighter Rifle. Easily a $1500 value, it’s being offered at the deeply discounted price of just $854; exclusively to individual U.S. active or retired federal, state and local law enforcement officers, as well as military active duty, reserve component, and retired. Recently, the program has been expanded to include active, part-time, on call, volunteer and retired Fire and EMS personnel. The TROY Defense 5.56 features a free-float modular rail system with integrated front sight, MIL-SPEC bolt and carrier with upgraded extractor, MIL-SPEC forged upper and lower receiver, TROY BattleAx 6 position buttstock (fixed or folded), Melonite coated 1/7 twist 5.56 barrel, TROY Medieval Flash Suppressor, TROY Rear Folding BattleSight, and TROY 30 Round BattleMag.  Available in Black only at special pricing. Troyind.com and Americangunfighter.com Photo by Robert Bruce

Number one,
you’ve got to
get us off
gunpowder… 

—Adm. Jonathan Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations, February 4th, 2015

Four-star Admiral Greenert, stating the Navy’s foremost priority before a distinguished audience of military, government, academia, and industry representatives in Washington, D.C. at the 2015 Naval Future Force Science and Technology Expo, repeated the enduring reality that, “Probably the biggest vulnerability of a ship is its magazine, because that’s where all the explosives are.”

But the Chief of Naval Operations wasn’t daydreaming about concepts existing only in science fiction. Greenert specifically noted that the Office of Naval Research’s (ONR) Laser Weapon System (LaWS) and the Electromagnetic Railgun – weapon programs vital to the future force – are up and running right now.

In a quantum leap from the gunpowder and shot armament of all American warships since the “Old Ironsides,” (the USS Constitution, which was commissioned some 216 years ago), the USS Ponce made U.S. Navy history in late 2014 by being the first warship publicly acknowledged to be deployed in the Persian Gulf with a fully operational, high power, anti-materiel laser as one of its standard weapon systems.

USS Ponce

Not coincidentally, the USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15), originally an amphibious assault ship, has emerged from major refitting as an Afloat Forward Staging Base for multiple roles including that of a Special Operations mothership. With highly sophisticated command and control electronics along with a flight deck, enormous well deck for large tactical watercraft, and plenty of room for a lot of special visitors and all their associated gear, the Ponce is well suited for many tasks, including that of hosting the A/N SEQ-3 (XN-1) prototype Laser Weapon System, known as LaWS.

In operational demonstrations tests while underway in September through December 2014, LaWS, a collaborative effort between ONR, NAVSEA, NRL, NSWC Dahlgren Division, and industry partners led by Kratos Defense & Security, detonated small rocket warheads mounted aboard a speeding oncoming small boat, shot a Scan Eagle UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) out of the sky and destroyed other moving targets at sea.

This was not done with impact from solid or explosive-tipped projectiles. It was super heated by concentrated infrared beams from the Ponce’s 30 kW solid state laser traveling at the mind-boggling velocity of 186,000 miles per second – the speed of light. Targets are hit instantaneously, with perfectly straight line-of-sight precision, and taken out within seconds.

Radically departing from aiming limitations of conventional gun systems, there is no need for elevation calculations to compensate for plunging trajectory or even time-of-flight adjustments in leading a target moving at high speed.

Admiral aboard! 12 February 2015, Bahrain. Rear Adm. Peter A. Gumataotao, commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, views the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) installed aboard the USS Ponce. Some of the ship’s highly advanced electronic sensors can be seen on the superstructure above, providing target detection and identification data linked with the new system’s fire control suite. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sean Furey

While critical details of the system are understandably under wraps, credible open-source information says the weapon itself is based on the output of six off-the-shelf commercial infrared welding lasers that are combined at various power levels and projected with pinpoint accuracy. Beam efficiency is said to be as much as 35% of the juice being supplied to the system from a large, diesel-powered generator below decks.

Range and burn-thru capabilities are classified, but an educated guess of effective engagements at somewhere around 1000 meters against thin-skinned targets can be made from video of testing posted by the U.S. Navy and its industry partners. Pretty good from a 30 kW system and we’re told that new ones that reach and surpass 100 kW are soon to follow.

“Laser weapons are powerful, affordable and play a vital role in the future of naval combat operations,” said Rear Adm. Matthew L. Klunder, Chief of Naval Research in an ONR release. “We ran this particular weapon, a prototype, through some extremely tough paces, and it locked on and destroyed the targets we designated with near-instantaneous lethality.”

4,500 rounds per minute! 12 June 2004, at sea aboard USS KEARSARGE. The MK15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), now an essential companion to the Laser Weapon System (LaWS), fires its electrically-driven 20mm Gatling cannon during a systems test. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by PHAN Kenny Swartout

Real life video “game”

In addition to the offensive power, LaWS has proved useful as a surveillance tool due to its powerful optics that can detect objects at “tactically significant ranges” like a shipboard “Hubble Telescope,” Klunder said.

Laser gunners, sitting in climate-controlled comfort inside the ship, use live imagery feeds from a variety of sources for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) to positively identify and lock on to potentially threatening targets. These sources include the system’s own high-power optical telescope and the USS Ponce’s cutting-edge radar and sensor arrays integrated with those of the Mk-15 Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System), the combat-proven 20mm Gatling.

Then, using a handheld controller that almost any avid gamer could instantly adapt to for precision tracking, the system can address various types of threats using a range of escalating options. These run from “warn-away” measures, such as optical “dazzling,” to lethal destruction, if necessary.

Not yet lethal ? 11 December 2014, Atlantic Ocean. Senior Chief Master-at-Arms Shannan Richardson receives training in the use of an LA-9/P laser aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington. Seen here mounted on a rifle stock, this hand-held GLARE/LA 9/P laser from B.E. Meyers, is used by individual Sailors out to 4 km at night and 1.5 km during daylight for hail and warning across linguistic and cultural boundaries. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Stevie Tate

That is not to say “lethal” in the sense of terminating personnel…current Rules of Engagement restrict LaWS to beam-blasting only non-human hostile targets.

Although this politically correct order allows defensive action against threats from drone aircraft and unmanned boats, imagine the legal nightmare it poses for the laser gunner and his entire chain of command in using the system against inbound helicopter gunships or fast attack boats with ship’s crew aboard. Inadvertently igniting the fuel-stained tee shirt of an Iranian “swarm boat” crew could lead to career destruction or even long, hard time in the brig.

While it’s not hard to imagine the scorn that Admiral “Bull” Halsey, that steel-tough icon of WWII, would have for these hindering rules from Pentagon lawyers and political appointees, we’re told not to worry; no such ridiculous restrictions are put on the other weaponry aboard the Ponce.

In a recent interview with the US Naval Institute, Rear Adm. Matthew L. Klunder assured, “The Captain of that ship has all of the authorities necessary if there was a threat inbound to that ship to protect our sailors and Marines [and] we would defend that ship with that laser system.”

So, use the laser to “light ‘em if ya got ‘em,” but when in doubt blast ‘em out with missiles, cannon or a wall of 20mm slugs at 4500 rpm from the radar/computer aimed CWIS, LaWS’ closely-linked shipmate.

Is a ground-mount LaWS next? 7 October 2010, East Imperial, California. Participating in an AH-1 Cobra Close Air Support exercise, US Marine Cpl. Mark A. Tirona sets a portable laser designator rangefinder (LDR) onto a target. Credit: USMC photo by Staff Sgt. Cruz G. Sotelo

Cheap shots

In addition to the potential for removing the catastrophic danger posed by shipboard storage of tons of expensive, powder-propelled and explosive-tipped conventional ammunition, Klunder pointed to the miserly cost of these laser shots, powered and cooled by electric current from an ordinary diesel-fueled generator.

“At less than a dollar per shot, there’s no question about the value LaWS provides,” said Klunder. “With affordability a serious concern for our defense budgets, this will more effectively manage resources to ensure our Sailors and Marines are never in a fair fight.”

Preliminary lessons and cautions

While ONR reports “the system exceeded expectations for both reliability and maintainability,” note that it comes with its own swarm of highly-trained civilian contract engineers and technicians. Keeping this complex weapon system operational in the long run is no small matter.

Also, considering the report that the Ponce’s sailors who “worked daily with LaWS over several months” said it “performed flawlessly, including in adverse weather conditions of high winds, heat and humidity,” (and even in a desert dust storm blown out into the gulf) we join others in awaiting release of verifiable data on a host of challenges.

Some of these questions concern range, time to burn through various target surfaces, speed of power-up, between-shots duration, and performance in heavy fog, torrential rain and snowfall.

Adversaries and Countermeasures

While today’s Pentagon denies America’s sailors the authorization to employ DE weaponry against hostile personnel, you can damn well bet our current and future adversaries are not similarly disarmed. These forces already have lethal laser capabilities and have demonstrated the will to use them against manned and unmanned targets.

Pyramid power? In anticipation of Office of Naval Research-funded plans to test a prototype electromagnetic railgun installed aboard a joint high-speed vessel in fiscal year 2016, this artist’s rendering shows a railgun installed in an interestingly configured turret on the flight deck aboard the USNS Millinocket. U.S. Navy photo illustration

Among numerous incidents kept officially under wraps for various reasons, some have managed to get out. Communist China is said to have used a powerful ground-based laser to blind a U.S. reconnaissance satellite in near-earth orbit, and the CIA reports the Soviets used a vehicle-mounted laser weapon in their Afghanistan debacle. Laser damage to eyes is also of great concern, such as that damage reported by an American aviator overflying one of the Kremlin’s spy trawlers.

ONR’s CDEW (Counter Directed Energy Weapons) program is intent on blocking threats such as those from high-power lasers or microwaves, “known and projected.” Countermeasures against frying eyes, internal organs and electronic circuits include a wide range of practical measures from laser-defeating eyewear to protective coatings for ships and aircraft. More spooky things are hinted at, such as what sci-fi buffs would call “force fields.”

Electric Railgun

While decidedly more tangible than laser beams and microwaves, ONR’s Hypervelocity Projectile is the “directed energy” of a streamlined, super-hardened metal arrow launched at astonishing velocity.

Eliminating the inherent limitations of any kind of explosive propellant in an enclosed chamber attached to a barrel, the HVP railgun system uses electromagnetic levitation, accelerating the projectile down parallel rails from zero to more than 5,000 mph.

While plenty of electrical power is needed for each shot, it has no powder magazine and each shot costs only what it takes to make the slug and generate the electricity. Also, no explosive warhead is needed. It “kills” with devastating efficiency by kinetic energy shock and penetration.

Well along in development, two railgun prototypes from competing contractors are scheduled for a seaborne “shoot out” in 2016.

(Editor’s Note: A follow-on feature by Robert Bruce on ONR’s spectacular railgun program is in the works. Stay tuned.)

Future

Navy sources say that the Ponce’s yearlong LaWS trial is expected to lead to similar deployments on other ships, most notably plans for a 100 to 150 kW version in 2016 or 2017.

An ONR release states, “Data regarding accuracy, lethality and other factors from the Ponce deployment will guide the development of weapons under ONR’s Solid-State Laser-Technology Maturation program. Industry teams have been selected to develop cost-effective, combat-ready laser prototypes that could be installed on vessels such as guided-missile destroyers and the Littoral Combat Ship in the early 2020s.”

And, as might be expected, “The revolutionary technology breakthroughs demonstrated by LaWS will ultimately benefit not only U.S. Navy surface ships, but also airborne and ground-based weapon systems.”

This last includes ONR’s GBAD DE OTM (Ground-Based Air Defense Directed Energy On-The-Move) that will protect USMC maneuver elements from hostile drone aircraft armed with recon cameras (and perhaps even weaponized drones).

Additionally, ONR is collaborating with DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) and counterparts in other U.S. and allied armed forces on a host of directed energy programs. Some prominent examples are DARPA’s Excalibur and HELLADS, the U.S. Army’s HEL MD, the USAF’s Joint High Power Solid State Laser.

Because we know it is inevitable that our current and future adversaries will be fielding the full range of lethal laser weapons from space-based platforms to human-portable devices, it’s an arms race that the free world’s forces can’t afford to lose.

Reporting for test duty, Sir! 8 July 2014, San Diego, California. An electromagnetic railgun prototype, built by BAE Systems for Office of Naval Research, is on display aboard the joint high speed vessel USNS Millinocket. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristopher Kirsop

ONR: High Tech for the High Seas

The Office of Naval Research is science on the cutting edge; coordinating, executing and promoting a mind-boggling array of S&T (science and technology) programs for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

Prominent among its many forward-looking components is Department 35, Naval Air Warfare and Weapons, supporting “the Navy’s power projection needs, fostering the technology development of naval aircraft, structures, propulsion, autonomy, energetics, directed energy and electric weapons.”

Our request for additional information on DE and related activities, routed through official channels, was rewarded by this response from Peter Morrison, ONR Program Manager:

“The Office of Naval Research (ONR) funds science and technology efforts which explore the potential of laser weapons in the maritime environment, including the Laser Weapons System (LaWS). Investments in LaWS include upgrading to enable a quick reaction capability to operationally field it for a near term deployment on the USS PONCE, bringing the science fiction futuristic nature of laser weapons into the reality of today’s warfighting needs for countering both small boat and unmanned drone threats.

The lessons learned from this operational deployment on the USS PONCE will help to inform our science and technologies (S&T) investment strategies, and help identify and support critical research areas for solid state lasers (SSL) at still higher power levels. Critical research coming from ONR’s SSL program and other cooperative programs, including the Ground Based Aviation Defense (GBAD) system and those in the Army HEL Mobile Demonstrator, and Air Force S&T efforts – combined with joint investments with the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office and DARPA, means the services are making informed “Buying Power” decisions and able to leverage each other’s work in new innovative ways, every day.

In addition, ONR works with other services, industry and academia to investigate the S&T that support Counter Directed Energy Weapons capabilities, where lasers and high power radio interference may call for individual warfighter or systems protection. These protections can be as simple as offering upgraded or new protective glasses for lower power lasers and laser pointers to pilots, to far more elaborate and complex improvements in structural or electromagnetic protection methods.”

ONR’s extensive website www.onr.navy.mil has excellent overviews of its many DE (Directed Energy) initiatives with links to programs including High Energy Laser, Solid State Laser Maturation, Solid State Fiber Laser, High Energy Fiber Laser System, Free Electron Laser, Ground-Based Air Defense Directed Energy On-the-Move, Counter Directed Energy, and Hypervelocity Projectile.

While the layman should be excused for wondering why several of these appear to overlap, we’re assured that their individual missions are both distinct and complement one another.

Don’t miss some particularly interesting tidbits tucked away here and there on both the website (search “Swampworks”) and ONR’s Facebook page.

(Special thanks to David Smalley, a public information and media relations contractor for ONR Corporate Strategic Communications.)

Resources and Videos

Office of Naval Research www.onr.navy.mil
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency www.darpa.mil
Directed Energy Professional Society www.deps.org
BAE Systems www.baesystems.com
Boeing www.boeing.com
General Atomics www.ga.com
Kratos Defense www.kratosdefense.com
Lockheed Martin www.lockheedmartin.com
Northrop Grumman www.northropgrumman.com
Raytheon www.raytheon.com

A large number of excellent videos are available on YouTube. Search suggestions: “Navy Laser” or “Navy Railgun”

We have seen great strengths emerge from the two legacy organizations and are beginning to harness these… in a way that will allow us to operate in a much more agile, proactive, market-oriented way that we hope will really benefit our customers immediately and in the years to come.” Mark Cherpes, FN America
President and CEO

The “legacy organizations” that Cherpes notes are U.S. firearms industry powerhouses FNH USA and FN Manufacturing. Following a merger finalized in October 2014, they are now a single entity under the name FN America, LLC.

The receiver body of a Mk19 grenade launcher undergoing high precision robotic welding operations at the FN Manufacturing plant in Columbia, South Carolina. Computer controlled machining and welding devices are key components of the facility’s well-deserved reputation for highest quality fabrication. (FNH USA/FN America)

While this might seem to be of only passing interest to the legions of admirers and users of the highly respected Belgian firm FN Herstal’s distinguished line of military, law enforcement and sporting arms – many of which have long been in production in the U.S. at FN Manufacturing and all distributed in North America by FNH USA – Cherpes sees significant benefits for the new company and its customers.

“Consolidating our operations in the U.S. has created a unique opportunity for us to gain efficiencies and has opened the door to some exciting new opportunities for growth and profitability,” he said. “This merger will ensure a stronger, more agile organization that is better poised to meet current and future U.S. market challenges.”

Cherpes, elevated to the top position at the new FN America, brings years of experience as FNH USA’s Vice President of Military Operations. He foresees multiple benefits for distributors, dealers and consumers, including streamlined development and production of existing and new products and services.

An indicator of current and future benefits to consumers from this consolidation can be seen in an announced $100 cut in MSRP for a popular model of the striker-fired FNS Pistol line, long being made by FN Manufacturing. Other price reductions are likely.

September 2012, Afghanistan. A U.S. soldier, armed with a compact version of the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during operations in Kandahar province. The M249, made by FN Manufacturing, features a cold hammer-forged steel barrel for enhanced accuracy and long life as well as a hard chrome-plated bore and chamber for greater corrosion resistance. (U.S. Army)

Also, of particular importance to major military, law enforcement and commercial firms, Cherpes points out that the merger will also enable the company to better manage the complete product and customer care lifecycles.

Herstal Group

While FN America, its U.S. operation, is a distinct entity, it is a subsidiary of Fabrique Nationale Herstal. FNH is known worldwide for 125 years as a leader in the development and manufacturing of reliable, innovative, high-quality firearms for military, law enforcement and commercial customers. A pioneer in innovative firearms technology since the days of John M. Browning, FN supplies a variety of products to customers in more than 100 countries worldwide.

FNH itself is part of the Herstal Group, along with FNH USA, Browning North America (Morgan, UT) and Browning International (Herstal, Belgium). FN Herstal also has manufacturing facilities in Viana, Portugal and Miroku, Japan. The Herstal Group employs more than 2,500 people worldwide, of which more than 1,000 are in the U.S.

FNH USA’s FN 15 Rifle, built by FN Manufacturing, is almost identical externally to the Army’s current-issue M16A2. While most of the M16 family of weapons has been made for the U.S. Armed Forces by Colt, U.S. based FN Manufacturing is now making and supplying the American military’s M16 and M4 family. (FNH USA/FN America)

Its new FN America, operating in four U.S. locations, employs approximately 500 people, offers customers in the U.S. a portfolio of products, training and support services under the well-established FNH USA brand name.

Headquarters, Development and Manufacturing

In addition to its headquarters in McLean, Virginia, FN America also has a Development and Technical Center (DEVTEC) in Fredericksburg, Virginia and manufacturing operations in Columbia, South Carolina.

Its sprawling, state-of-the-art, ISO 9001 certified manufacturing complex produces a wide range of small arms for the U.S. military such as Mk19 grenade machine guns, M249 SAW, Mk46, Mk48, M240, M240C, M240D, M240E1, M240H, M240B, and M240L machine guns, as well as M4/M4A1 carbines and M16 rifles.

May 2007, Iraq. USMC Sergeant Christopher Mc Cabe fires his M16A4 rifle during monthly range training at Camp Korea Village. FN underbid Colt to take over production of M16 series rifles in 1988, becoming its sole supplier to the U.S. Armed Forces. (USMC)

Particularly noteworthy from the listing above are two metaphorical earthquakes that shook the world of U.S. military rifle makers. Way back in 1988, FN underbid Colt to take over production of Uncle Sam’s M16 series rifles, and in 2013 got the M4 series carbine contract. Since then, hundreds of thousands of these U.S. military standard infantry shoulder weapons have rolled off the production lines at FN Manufacturing.

Consider how there is little doubt that this figures into the somewhat belated but now most welcome decision for FNH USA to recently begin offering semiautomatic versions of these for civilian sales such as the new FN 15 Carbine.

In addition to making small arms for the U.S. military, FN America’s South Carolina plant builds FN’s commercial handguns including the FNX series of hammer-driven pistols, the FNS line of striker-fired pistols, and the FN 15 Rifle and Carbine line of modern sporting rifles. All of these made and marketed under the FNH USA brand.

Its U.S. warehousing, warranty department and repair facility is located in Arnold, MO.

A technician at FN Manufacturing performs final assembly operations on an M240 machine gun. The company makes all versions of this well respected and ultra reliable weapon for the U.S. Armed Forces. (FNH USA/FN America)

Cold Hammer Forged

Carrying forward FN’s more than a century of arms manufacturing experience; FNH USA has long since perfected the cold hammer forging process to ensure accuracy and durability.

Current US M-series machine gunners enjoy the extreme durability and long range accuracy of FN’s cold hammer forged barrels. Now, civilian AR owners who covet these tough, precision barrels can have this wish come true.

“With the addition of this new AR-15 commercial barrel line, FN customers now have the option of upgrading their standard AR-15 barrel to an FN,” said Ken Pfau, Senior Vice President of Commercial and Law Enforcement Sales. “This will allow shooters to customize their AR-15 platforms with top-notch components that give them a great return on investment both on and off the range.”

FN AR-15 barrels are hammer forged using the same proprietary high-grade Chrome Moly Venadium steel used in FN’s venerable machine gun barrels produced to handle the punishment of sustained fully-automatic fire.

FN Manufacturing makes the full line of 7.62 NATO caliber M240 machine guns, including the remarkable M240L (Light), incorporating titanium construction and alternative manufacturing methods. At 21.8 pounds, the M240L short barrel variant is 5.4 pounds lighter than the M240B. (U.S. Army PEO Soldier)

After forging, each barrel is magnetic particle tested to ensure that it is free of micro-stresses or flaws, resulting in consistency and quality in every barrel shipped from the factory. The bore and chamber are chrome lined to help resist corrosion and provide resistance to heat erosion, which greatly improves barrel life and reliable chambering/extraction.

The M4 style feed ramp and barrel extension provide consistent feeding and the matte black Manganese Phosphate finish resists external corrosion and oxidation.

Available in popular lengths and configurations from 14.5 to 20 inches, MSRP ranges from $349 to $379.

March 2009, Camp Atterbury, Indiana. A U.S. army soldier, training for overseas deployment, fires a 40mm Mk19 automatic grenade launcher at derelict target tanks. FN Manufacturing makes the Mk19 for the U.S. Department of Defense. (U.S. Army)

Team FNH USA

Success in shooting competitions underscores what the company calls its all-around “Distinct Advantage.” The goal of Team FNH USA is to enhance the company’s products during competition and promote sportsmanship, integrity and respect for the shooting sports.

Comprised of some of the world’s best competitive shooters, members include police officers, state troopers, FNH USA employees and stay-at-home moms. All bring a love of the sport, appreciation of our Second Amendment rights and dedication to grow shooting sports for old and young alike.

The full line of products from FN Herstal and FNH USA are available to military, government and qualified law enforcement entities. Certain weapons and accessories are available for commercial sales to individuals through authorized dealers nationwide.

The website at www.fnhusa.com provides detailed information. Or telephone (885) 5-FNHUSA (Virginia, Eastern U.S. Time Zone).

February 2004, Fallujah, Iraq. Armed with a first generation Colt M4 carbine, this 82nd Airborne Division radioman monitors message traffic. The new FN 15 Carbine is based on this combat classic, serving the Army since 1994 and still going strong in updated versions. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Charles Johnson)

FN 15 Carbine: Live Firing FNH USA’s First M4 Clone

by SADJ Staff Writer

“The new FN 15 product line of modern sporting rifles incorporates all of the best features and benefits FN has developed over the last 125 years of our history and expertise in building high-quality and reliable firearms that are well-known around the world. We are pleased to bring this new line to our customers looking for the latest in FN technology to add to their collection. With this addition, FN now offers our customers robust and affordable products in all categories, whether they are looking to purchase a product for personal defense or use in the pursuit of sport or competitive shooting activities.” FNH USA news release

An AR-15 type semiautomatic rifle and carbine are the first two versions in the new FN 15 product line, unveiled in 2014 and likely to be offered with upgraded options at the 2015 SHOT Show. Both weapons closely resemble their current U.S. military, selective-fire counterparts that were originally made by Colt but are now in production by FN under U.S. Department of Defense contracts.

Seen here in the hands of a currently-serving U.S. army soldier in simulated convoy security battle drills, the FN 15 Carbine is identified by its forward hand guard that is rounded like first generation M4s. Light, compact and fast handling, it is well suited for urban warfare and motorized combat operations. (Robert Bruce)

The light and handy 5.56mm NATO caliber FN 15 Carbine version is the focus of this hands-on evaluation, featuring a 16-inch chrome-lined, alloy steel, military profile barrel. Its textured polymer forearm and butt stock are both matte black, and the stock is collapsible into six positions for individual preferences, making the total length 31.9 inches at its shortest and 35.2 inches
at its longest.

The FN 15 Carbine also features an A2-style compensator and a 1:7-inch RH rifling twist rate. It comes with fixed A2-style front sights, a removable M4-style rear carrying handle with adjustable sight, and one GI pattern 30-round aluminum magazine.

The FN 15 Carbine, immediately identified by its large, laser-engraved FN logo on the magazine well, accepts all GI pattern magazines including the 30-rounder seen here. Green tips indicate the ammunition is current issue 62 grain M855 cartridges, ballistically matched with the weapon’s 1 in 7 inch rifling twist. (Robert Bruce)

A Close Look

FN America, the new consolidation of U.S. operations of Belgium’s FN Herstal, provided a sample FN 15 Carbine on loan for our evaluation. The weapon arrived in the usual heavy cardboard shipping box along with standard accessories including a 30-round magazine, removable carry handle and operators manual.

Our overall impression of the weapon was favorable, with points awarded for workmanship, fit and nicely matching satin black anodized finish on the upper and lower receivers. Its matte black phosphate protected barrel is made in the familiar M4 contours with a distinctive recessed collar for mounting an M203 grenade launcher. At the necessary 16 inches for conventional civilian legal purposes, it is only slightly longer than that of its military counterpart.

The very large, laser-engraved FN logo on the right side of the magazine well jumps out at the observer in raw aluminum-silver color against the black background. While a notable departure from the military versions, it is, no doubt, a selling point for many of us who are attracted to FN’s long and distinguished line of weaponry.

Left side view of the FN 15 Carbine allows a careful evaluation of the weapon’s M4 inspiration. Most notable are the telescoping buttstock, flat top receiver with detachable carrying handle, rounded hand guard, short barrel with indentation for grenade launcher attachment, and “birdcage” flash suppressor. (FNH USA/FN America)

Field stripping the carbine is done in the traditional manner as taught to countless soldiers, marines and others beginning with the Vietnam War. In the process, observations and commentary for this feature were provided by a gunsmith from Virginia-based Freedom Forge Armory with extensive experience with both civilian and military versions of the AR-15.

This exercise gave us the opportunity for a close look at the all-important internals, principally the bolt carrier group. No surprises here; a sturdy and well machined assembly, strictly conforming to Eugene Stoner’s innovative multi-lug, rotating, direct gas operated AR-15 pattern that runs the entire M16 family.

Its nicely machined and aligned M4 type feed ramps at the junction of the barrel extension and upper receiver are important details to assist with reliable feeding in fast semi-auto fire from a wide variety of magazines.

The ability to clamp on supplementary sighting devices like this Aimpoint Patrol Rifle Optic is an important advantage of AR platforms with flat top upper receivers. (Robert Bruce)

While the lower receiver closely resembles its military brothers, selector settings are marked on both sides for SEMI and SAFE only, with civilian-legal parts inside. The “high shelf” internal cavity is narrowed at the top rear to block drop-in installation of most “auto sear” devices for illegal-when-unregistered automatic fire.

Crisp CNC machined markings indicate the serial number, nomenclature and the surprising designation of caliber as MULTI. This might be because it is an early version receiver, interchangeable for the rifles and carbines, marked with an eye toward calibers other than standard 5.56mm NATO.

The FN 15 Carbine’s field-strip parts layout is familiar to all who have experience with any version of the AR-15/M16.

Clarifications, Please

In the process of close examination of the FN 15 Carbine some questions arose that were conveyed to FN America’s press office. Here’s what we asked and what we got in the way of answers.

The FN 15 Carbine features M4 style feed ramps that extend as needed into the upper receiver. This facilitates reliable, high cycle cartridge feeding from both top positions in standard GI staggered double column magazines, even with weak springs. (Robert Bruce)

SAR: Why “button broached” rifling in the barrel instead of FN’s signature “cold hammer forging ?”

FN America: FN America produces the button broached (barrels) used in the FN 15 Carbine and Rifle. It was selected because the original M4 contract specified a button broached barrel.

SAR: Why a smooth and ribbed handguard instead of the more popular (and more “M4ish”) quad rail type that FN is making for the current U.S. Army M4A1 contract?

FN America: The FN 15 series was built as a basic, entry level AR platform that provided the user the most bang for his/her buck coupled with the ability to add their own aftermarket upgrades.

SAR: Noting hints in sales literature for the product line, what changes or “improvements” to the FN 15 carbine and rifle are under consideration?

FN America: Future FN 15 variants will be offered with extended rails, cold hammer-forged barrels and other options. There will also be AR-15 barrels and upper/lower receiver options sold as accessories to the FN 15 line.

SAR: Having noted a small, distinctive “keyhole” icon cast in the upper and lower receivers, is FN making these?

FN America: (no reply).

SAR: Is FN making the bolt carrier group?

FN America: (no reply).

A digital gauge shows that the single stage trigger “breaks” at 7 pounds, 12 ounces, following the usual military standard of 7 to 8 pounds of pull. (Robert Bruce)

On The Range

Assisted by a currently-serving U.S. Army NCO with recent combat experience carrying an M4, we put the FN 15 Carbine through a live fire evaluation on a local range. Steps included “zeroing” the weapon and then firing it from various positions and distances with green tip M855 ammo.

We also fed the carbine with a variety of different 5.56mm cartridges including some old type M193, soft point hunting loads and steel cased Russian ammo. It all worked fine.

The sergeant pronounced it “good” in handling, performance and accuracy, while saying he missed having full automatic capability… Our turn confirmed his observations, with the practical note that a semiautomatic weapon can be legally owned by most American citizens with no expensive permits needed.

Bottom line is the FN 15 Carbine is a worthy entry in the increasingly crowded field of M4 type weapons from dozens of manufacturers. While others may be priced lower or higher, those who have a particular affinity for the FN line will want one.


What’s Next?


Recognizing that many customers want something that looks and performs closer to the Army’s product improved M4A1, in production by FNH USA, we look forward to seeing what changes or improvements to the FN 15 Rifle and Carbine might be showcased at the 2015 SHOT Show.


(Special thanks to Freedom Forge Armory, New Kent, Virginia, for handling the transfer, for sharp eyed technical evaluation, and for combat experienced, hands-on performance testing of the FN 15 Carbine sample. Find Freedom Forge Armory LLC on Facebook. Email freedomforgearmory@comcast.net).

Pull the rear disassembly pin from left to right and it will remain captive in the lower receiver. Pivot the upper receiver open, pull the rear pin out and separate the assemblies. (Robert Bruce)

Pull rearward on the charging handle and remove the bolt carrier group. (Robert Bruce)

The FN 15 Carbine’s bolt carrier assembly is essentially the same as that of all other AR-15 series weapons. Notches on the side engage with the forward assist plunger. (Robert Bruce)

The FN 15 Carbine’s bolt carrier assembly is essentially the same as that of all other AR-15 series weapons. Notches on the side engage with the forward assist plunger. (Robert Bruce)

The buffer and its coiled spring are housed in the tubular extension at the rear of the upper receiver. It arrests rearward movement of the bolt carrier on firing and sends it forward to chamber another round. (Robert Bruce)

Although semiautomatic only, the lower receiver of the FN 15 Carbine is nearly identical to that of the military version. (Robert Bruce)

One notable exception in the lower receiver is this narrowed opening at the top. This blocks installation of commercially made “auto sear” devices for full automatic fire. (Robert Bruce)

Removing the hand guards reveals the stainless steel gas tube that channels propellant gas into the bolt carrier assembly. (Robert Bruce)

Removing the hand guards reveals the stainless steel gas tube that channels propellant gas into the bolt carrier assembly. (Robert Bruce)

The FN 15 Carbine’s field strip layout is the same as the military M4. (Top to bottom, left to right): Carrying handle/rear sight assembly, upper hand guard, charging handle, upper receiver and barrel group, buffer assembly, bolt carrier assembly, lower hand guard, telescoping buttstock, lower receiver assembly and 30-round magazine. (Robert Bruce)