Leapfest 2025 took place from July 29 to August 4, 2025, in Exeter, Rhode Island. It is the largest and longest-running international static-line military parachuting competition in the world. Paratroopers from 18 countries across 51 teams participated in the event. Competitors used steerable MC-6 parachutes to navigate toward designated targets on the drop zone. Scores […]
The HK G8 was a specialized variant of the HK11E light machine gun which was optimized to provide semi- and full-auto direct fire support for small special operations teams. Chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, combined the precision of a rifle with the firepower of an automatic weapon – filling that so-called ‘light support weapon’ or ‘light […]
In what is definitely an indication of the shape of things to come, guerillas have taken down a Colombian Police special operations Black Hawk with an FPV drone! The incident was captured on video by the crew of another Blackhawk that was coordinating and recording the operation: The Colombian forces rely on Black Hawk helicopters […]
With the recent 250th Anniversary of the founding of the US Army, we look back at the creation of its first unit, formed under the command of Irish-born William Thompson. Thompson was initially appointed Colonel of a Pennsylvanian rifle battalion and sent to Massachusetts to help defend Boston, and his unit would continue to play […]
In this match-up, Ian and his guest John Keene (MSG – Ret.) discuss the pros and cons of the Valmet M78 and the FN-D. Both weapons have interesting backgrounds and both were designed to fulfill the role of a box-magazine-fed light machine gun. Beyond that, there are some very distinct differences – for one thing, […]
A paratrooper of the US Army 11th Airborne Division gathers up his parachute canopy after a jump on Malamute drop zone November 2024. Photo: US Army […]
UF PRO proudly announces the launch of the Striker TT BDU, their lightest battle dress uniform crafted specifically for the challenges presented by tropical terrain. This innovative uniform incorporates fast-drying materials and ergonomic design features, ensuring optimal comfort and performance in hot and wet conditions. Developed in collaboration with elite special operations forces, the Striker […]
Originally developed in 1942 as a standard camouflage pattern for US military forces, “frog skin” camo served mostly with the US Marines in the Pacific Theater. Although it was used for a while by some US Army combat units in Europe during the Normandy invasion, it was rather quickly withdrawn from service and replaced with […]
In British slang, to call someone an “anorak” is the equivalent of calling them a nerd or a geek – or, as we say in our world, a “geardo”. Well, we’re proud geardos here at Strike-Hold, so let’s follow on from our smock post yesterday by taking a deeper dive into the range of anoraks […]
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