The Kalashnikov Group unveiled a new variant of the AK-12 assault rifle family for export sales on its social media platforms on 17 August. Designated the AK-19, the rifle is chambered in the 5.56×45mm NATO calibre. Features of the AK-19: Barrel length: 415 mm Weight: 3,35 kg New lightweight adjustable length buttstock New rear sight […]
A U.S. Soldier conducting a combat reconnaissance patrol around Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. US Army photo by Spc. Derek Mustard […]
On 20 August Equipnor was awarded an exclusive contract to provide the Norwegian Army with a new protective vest and load bearing system developed by NFM. Equipnor is the part of NFM Group that manages the supply of products and services to the defense, police and security community in Scandinavia. This award is an agreement […]
On August 23, 1954 the YC-130 Hercules made its maiden flight in California from the Lockheed Martin plant in Burbank to Edwards Air Force Base. The C-130 is still in production today, making it the longest running military aircraft production line in history. The need for the C-130 came from Air Force’s Tactical Air […]
Airborne’s been practicing safe social distancing since before it was cool…. Sky Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade make their way to an aircraft in preparation for airborne operations. When they jump the Jumpmasters will maintain a one-second interval between jumpers, jumpers will maintain a sharp lookout during descent to avoid fellow jumpers, will slip right […]
In honor of National Airborne Day yesterday, and to give credit where it’s due to these other pioneers and unsung heroes… The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was nicknamed “Triple Nickles” because of its numerical designation and because 17 of its original 24 “colored test platoon” were from the 92nd Infantry (“Buffalo Soldiers”) Division of the […]
President George W. Bush created National Airborne Day in 2002. It was created to honor all current U.S. Airborne Forces, and to commemorate the first parachute jump of 48 volunteer members of the U.S. Army Parachute Test Platoon on August 16, 1940. After months of restriction due to Covid-19, U.S. Army Paratroopers assigned to 2nd […]
Heckler & Koch became famous and successful with a range of roller-delayed blowback small arms they manufactured from the early 1960’s up to the early 1990’s. So successful were these firearms that the name HK basically became synonymous with the roller-delayed blowback system. It may surprise some folks however to learn that HK did not […]
General Douglas MacArthur signing Japanese surrender aboard USS Missouri, 2 September 1945. Photo Credit: US National Archives. ********************************** With the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki destroyed by atomic weapons, the will of the Japanese leadership was tested. Then it came the news that the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, with troops crossing into […]
Like a lot of old Ground-Pounders I’m very fond of the A-10 Thunderbolt and the OV-10 Bronco close air support / ground attack aircraft – they truly were the infantryman’s friend. And both still soldier on despite the repeated attempts by the air superiority fighter jocks to kill them off. There also happens to be […]