STRIKE-HOLD - the international military and tactical blog

Helikon-Tex SFU NEXT MK2 Battle Trousers

SFU NEXT Mk2 pants are a new, improved version of Helikon's classic SFU NEXT - redesigned to fit with a straighter, more aggressive cut for better utility and freedom of movement. The SFU NEXT MK2 trousers made of a Poly-Cotton Stretch Ripstop fabric featuring a blend of 48% cotton, 50%...

British Airborne Forces 80th Anniversary

22nd June 1940: The Formation of Airborne Forces. On the 22nd June 1940, Winston Churchill sent a letter to General Ismay requesting a corps of at least 5000 airborne troops. Churchill had been impressed by the successes of German parachute and glider-borne troops in securing vital objectives ahead of the...

Introducing the LALO Shadow UCB

The LALO Shadow UCB (Uniform Compliant Boot) is a hot weather environment boot designed to meet Army regulation AR670-1 requirements, but also to provide all day comfort. The Shadow UCB is a durable, lightweight boot that features a puncture resistant protective plate, breathable materials, a hidden lace pocket, rockered sole,...

The Lost Watch of D-Day

The story of Tom Rice is epic, and his watch was a part of it... Tom jumped into Normandy on D-Day as a mortarman with Company C, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Approaching the drop zone, his aircraft was struck by an enemy shell. In the panic as...

Friday Foto

Members from November Company, 3 Royal Canadian Regiment perform section attacks and urban drills as part of testing for the new potential camouflage uniform pattern. Photo By: Aviator Melissa Gloude, Garrison Imaging Petawawa, copyright 2020 Department of National Defence

June 19, 1952 – Birth of a New Force

The Beginnings of Special Forces Fascist aggression in both Europe and the Pacific during World War II saw the need for the creation of military forces capable of conducting unconventional warfare in occupied territories. [caption id="attachment_7646" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Personnel of the First Special Service Force boarding a Douglas C-47 aircraft...

75th Ranger Regiment Military Intelligence Battalion Officially Activated

Provisionally activated on May 22, 2017 at Fort Benning, Georgia, the Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment was officially activated today and now becomes an enduring part of the 75th Ranger Regiment. [caption id="attachment_7636" align="aligncenter" width="1908"] Photo by Sgt. Jaerett Engeseth/Combat Camera Documentation Specialist/75th Ranger Regiment Public...

Nordic Combat Uniform Project Update

The field test phase of the Nordic Combat Uniform project has ended. Extensive field tests of temperate and cold weather uniform configurations were carried out in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, with a total of 420 military personnel taking part. At the same time that tests were being carried out...

New AKs From South Korea For Finland

The National Defence Training Association of Finland (MPK), established in 1993, is a national training organisation, which trains and educates citizens to be prepared for and to survive dangerous situations in everyday life and under exceptional conditions. The association aims to improve and support the readiness of the Finnish Defence...

Finland Prepared For The Worst: Battlefield 2020

"Battlefield (2020)" is an educational film created by The Finnish Defence Forces specifically for conscript training. The film is part of the combat training material provided in the beginner period and in the non-commissioned and reserve officer courses. In addition, the video is used in the training of reservists and...