The Latest from Cactus Tactical: Weapons of the War in Afghanistan: Sidearms Part I

Weapons of the War in Afghanistan

UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter taking off from Firebase Vegas with wounded soldiers after a resupply helicopter was blown up on the LZ after being hit with an RPG. Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

In the world of war, weapons and technology are ever changing, each war is characterized by the weapons and tactics used to fight it. As new environments and enemies are encountered, the parties to those wars develop new - more effective tactics, technologies, and weapons to counter and defeat their adversaries. The ingenuity seen in war has existed since (and most certainly before) the first wars of recorded history and continue to this very day.

Keeping with that theory, let’s take a look at the weapons that have characterized the wars and conflicts that the United States has been a party to over the course of it’s history. During the course of this series, I aim to breakdown the weapons used in each conflict by their classification, and to which party they were employed by. Having served in combat operations in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, I would like to start our series with the War in Afghanistan.

For our fifth installment, let’s take a look at the most commonly encountered sidearms in the War in Afghanistan. A sidearm, usually a handgun, is worn on the body in a holster to allow immediate access and use. A sidearm is to be used if the primary weapon is not available; if it has run out of ammunition or if it malfunctions.

Part I: The United States

The M9 is the most commonly encountered handgun in Afghanistan in use with the US Military. You pretty much can't go anywhere without seeing one, it is basically the M4 of handguns in terms of prevalence.

The M9 is a short recoil, semi-automatic, single-action / double-action pistol which uses a 15-round staggered box magazine with a reversible magazine release button that can be positioned for either right- or left-handed shooters. The M9 has been in use with the United States military since 1985.

Cartridge: 9x19mm
Effective Range: 50 m
Weight: 2.08 lbs / 0.94 kg Unloaded
Rate of Fire: N/A
Capacity: 15-round magazine

3rd Platoon Viper Co. 1-26 INF soldiers on patrol in the village of Kandalay, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

BlackHawk CQC Serpa Holster for Beretta 92 / 96

M11

The M11(Sig P228) is in use with the US Army, Navy, and Airforce.

The M11 pistol is a 9-mm, semiautomatic, magazine-fed, recoil-operated, double-action weapon. The M11 has been in use with the United States military since 1989.

Cartridge: 9x19mm

Effective Range: 50 m

Weight: 2 lbs / 0.91 kg w/ Magazine

Rate of Fire: N/A

Capacity: 10, 13, and 15-round magazines

CH-47 Chinook helicopter getting ready to land at Firebase Vegas for resupply

BlackHawk CQC Serpa Holster for Sig Sauer P228 / P229

Glock 17/19

Glock pistols can be found in Afghanistan in use with US forces, but in a much more limited quantity than the M9/M11. Most units using Glock pistols fall under the command of USSOCOM.

The Glock 17/19 is a 9 mm short recoil–operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistol that uses a modified Browning cam-lock system adapted from the Hi-Power pistol.

Cartridge: 9x19mm (Glock 17 & 19)
Effective Range: 50 m
Weight: 1.57 lbs / 0.71 kg unloaded
Rate of Fire: N/A
Capacity: 15, 17, and 33-round magazines

AH-64 Apache attack helicopter scanning the Korengal Valley around Firebase Vegas for enemy activity ahead of CH-47 Chinook resupply helicopters.

CactusTactical.com

Shotgun-Gear.com

Shawn G at OP Rock, Firebase Vegas
Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

For more info on these and other weapons
Technical specs compiled from:
http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/Active_FM.html
http://world.guns.ru/index-e.html
https://en.wikipedia.org
http://www.militaryfactory.com/smallarms/

DISCLAIMER: GLOCK is a federally registered trademark of GLOCK, Inc. and is one of many trademarks owned by GLOCK, Inc. or GLOCK Ges.mbH. Neither Cactus Tactical, nor this site are affiliated in any manner with, or otherwise endorsed by, GLOCK, Inc. or GLOCK Ges.mbH. The use of GLOCK on this page is merely to advertise the sale of GLOCK pistols, parts, or components. For genuine GLOCK, Inc. and GLOCK Ges.mbH products and parts visit www.glock.com.

Labels: 1-26 INF, Afghanistan, Beretta, Cactus Tactical, Firebase Vegas, G17, G19, G22, G35, Glock, Handgun, Korengal Valley, M11, M9, Operation Enduring Freedom, Sidearm, Sig Sauer, War In Afghanistan, Weapons of War