STRIKE-HOLD - the international military and tactical blog

Operation Dragoon 75 – Dispatch from the Front

Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France, was originally supposed to be launched simultaneous to the invasion of Normandy - thus catching the Nazi forces in France and Western Europe between the horns of a two-pronged assault. However, due to there not being enough ships, aircraft, crews, and materiel to...

Operation Dragoon 75

Today, 75 years ago:  August 15, 1944. U.S. paratroopers from the 517th PIR patrol a road after landing in Southern France during Operation Dragoon. Operation Dragoon (initially Operation Anvil) was the code name for the Allied invasion of Southern France on 15 August 1944. The operation was initially planned to be...

Operation Dragoon 75th Anniversary

This week marks the 75th anniversary of  Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of Provence, on August 15, 1944 - just two months after the famous Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6. The invasion involved 400,000 troops from the US, France (including from former colonies), Britain, and Canada. The assault was...

Rheinmetall’s New 60mm Mortar for Infantry and Special Forces

Compact, lightweight mortars help light infantry and special operations forces bring indirect fire support to wherever and whenever it's needed. Dropping mortar shells on top of entrenched opponents at distances beyond which they can lay down suppressive fire with small arms also enables light forces to gain a tactical battlefield advantage. ...

Friday Foto

Today's "Friday Foto" is actually a video.  Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqHIohkWZ64

Coast Guard’s Newest Cutter Intercepts Cocaine Transport

Crews aboard the pre-commissioned U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Midgett (WMSL 757) seized more than 2,100 pounds of cocaine worth approximately $64 million from a low-profile go-fast vessel interdicted in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean last month! On July 25 a U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk aircrew embarked aboard...

CONCAMO GhostHood Product Spotlight

If you follow tactical industry news out of Europe then you've probably heard of CONCAMO from Germany that launched last year. CONCAMO has also recently launched an intriguing new product family called GHOSTHOOD. Our friends at Airsoft and MilSim News Blog recently got their hands on a set and published...

Leapfest 2019 – International Friendship Jumps and Wings Exchange

We weren't able to attend the International Friendship Jumps and Wings Exchange ceremony at Leapfest today, but thanks to information provided by the Rhode Island National Guard PAO team we are able to bring you the following report. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Deirdre Salvas There is...

Leapfest 2019 – The Results

The 2019 Leapfest International Airborne Competition has now come to an end, and the results are in for the best Team and Individual scores. Paratroopers from around the world participated in Leapfest, Aug. 3, 2019, West Kingston, R.I.  (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Deirdre Salvas, 143 AW/PA) First...

Leapfest 2019

Leapfest is the largest, longest standing, international static line parachute training event and competition. Conducted by the Rhode Island Army National Guard, the purpose of Leapfest is to promote international camaraderie and Esprit de Corps among Airborne Soldiers, while also showcasing the capabilities of the Rhode Island National Guard. Paratroopers are...