STRIKE-HOLD - the international military and tactical blog

Operation Eagle Claw 1980: Osprey Publishing

With the recent hype and hysteria over a possible war with Iran, the publication of this new book in Osprey Publishing's RAID series is a pertinent reminder of another time that the US seemed to be on the verge of war with Iran. After Shah Pahlavi was overthrown in February...

H&K’s Middle Child: The HK33 and HK53 in 5.56mm

Introduced in 1968, the HK33 was Heckler & Koch's adaptation of the roller-locked, delayed-blowback operating system to the 5.56x45mm / .223 Remington cartridge. In addition to the standard full-length rifle (with a 15.35 inch barrel), a shorter version was made as the HK33K (with a collapsing stock and 12.4 inch...

Friday Foto

A U.S soldier observes the area from a hilltop near the town of Walli Was in Paktika province, near the border with Pakistan, on November 5, 2012. Photo: Reuters/Goran Tomasevic

Airsoft licensed Barrett REC7 Carbine and SBR announced

Evike Manufacturing Group (EMG), in collaboration with KRISS USA Inc.’s premier airsoft brand KRYTAC, has announced airsoft reproductions of the REC7 Direct Impingement (DI) Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) and Carbine rifles under license from Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc. The EMG Barrett REC7 DI will be offered as an SBR, with...

French Air Force demonstrates long-range operational capability of A400M

The Airbus A400M 'Atlas' is a European, four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It was designed by Airbus Military as a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities to replace older transport aircraft, such as the Transall C-160 and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The A400M entered service with the French Air Force (Armée...

Sunday Gunday: GunBusters vs. a WWII PPSh submachine gun

How reliable is a 78-year old PPsh on continuous full-auto? How many rounds do you think he'll get through before there's a stoppage? Watch the video and find out... https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=359&v=q2qD_P10paA&feature=emb_logo hat tip to spartanat.com  

Royal Marines Go Full Commando In Norway

Over the past couple of months Britain’s Royal Marines have been training across a wide spectrum of Arctic warfare scenarios. This training has been capped off over the past week and half with the exercise “Cold Response 2020”. After it was announced just over 3 months ago that the Royal...

Friday Foto

A 173rd Airborne Brigade Sky Soldier prepares to board an aircraft prior to conducting a tactical parachute jump. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ryan Lucas

Of Bergans, Bergens and Backpacks

Anyone who's familiar with the British Army and its infantry equipment knows that Squaddie slang for a rucksack is "bergan" or "bergen". Most seem to also understand that this has some sort of Norwegian connection, but few seem to really understand what it's about. So if you're curious, read on......