Tuesday, May 31, 2016

The Tactical Blog from Cactus Tactical

Weapons of the War in Afghanistan: Grenades, Mines, and Explosives Part I

Weapons of the War in Afghanistan

Resupply helicopter exploding and burning on the LZ of Firebase Vegas after being hit with an RPG-7. Koregnal 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 seventh installment, let’s take a look at the most commonly encountered Grenades, Mines, and Explosives in the War in Afghanistan.

Remains of helicopter scraped off of LZ after melting into a metal plate on the LZ, Firebase Vegas, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

Veiw of tail section and some rotors.

Part I: The United States

M67

A staple of the infantry, you can find these everywhere in Afghanistan. The M67 comes in pretty handy whether it's clearing abandoned structures used as fighting positions by the enemy, caves, trenches, qanats, or as a last resort during an ambush or the enemy trying to overrun your base or position.

The M67 grenade is a fragmentation hand grenade used by the United States military. The M67 hand grenade has an effective casualty radius of about 15 meters. The M67 grenade has a spherical steel body that contains 6.5 oz of composition B explosive. It uses the M213 pyrotechnic delay fuse. The M67 grenade weighs 14 oz in total and has a safety clip to prevent the safety pin on the grenade from being pulled accidentally. The safety pin prevents the safety lever, or "spoon" on the grenade from moving and releasing the spring-loaded striker which initiates the grenade's fuse assembly.

The M67 can be thrown 30 to 35 meters by the average soldier. Its fuse delays detonation between 4 and 5 seconds after the spoon is released. Steel fragments (not to be confused with shrapnel) are provided by the grenade body and produce an injury radius of 15 meters, with a fatality radius of 5 meters, though some fragments can disperse as far out as 250 meters.

Charge/filler:6.5 ounces of Composition B

Effective Range: Effective casualty-producing radius is 15 meters; killing radius is 5 meters

Weight: 14 oz / 400 g

Two M67 Frag Grenades.

Tannerite 1/2 Pound Target

M18

These are used extensively in Afghanistan. Often times if an element on patrol came into heavy enemy contact or had casualties you would see them pop Red Smoke to signal air support. Other times for medevacs, once the medevac bird was in sight we would pop smoke and then have the birds confirm the color of smoke that they saw before having them land.

The M18 Colored Smoke Grenade is a US Army grenade used as a ground-to-ground or ground-to-air signaling device, a target or landing zone marking device, or a screening device for unit maneuvering. The M18 replaced the World War II M16 which did not burn as long or as vividly. Both were produced at the same time as the M16 production line was already setup when the M18 was adopted. The M16 was available in the same colors as the M18, but also blue, orange, and black. The M18 initially were going to be produced in the same colors including white, but it was decided to limit it to four colors for simplicity.

Charge/filler:11.5 ounces of a colored smoke mixture. Available in red, green, yellow, or violet.

Effective Range: N/A

Weight: 19 ounces

Squad returning from patrol, Firebase Vegas, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

Tac Shield Para Cord, 200 Feet, Coyote

M84

The M84, also known as a flashbang or stun grenade, is the currently-issued stun grenade of the United States Military. Upon detonation, it emits an intensely loud "bang" of 170–180 decibels and a blinding flash of more than one million candela within five feet of initiation, sufficient to cause immediate flash blindness, deafness, tinnitus, and inner ear disturbance. Exposed personnel experience disorientation, confusion and loss of coordination and balance. While these effects are all intended to be temporary, there is risk of permanent injury or even death. Consequently, the M84 is classified as a less-lethal weapon.

The M84 features a magnesium-based pyrotechnic charge inside a thin aluminum case, contained within a perforated cast steel body. Unlike the high explosives (HE) used in traditional ordnance, the pyrotechnic charge produces a subsonic deflagration, not a supersonic detonation, minimizing the blast effects. On initiation, the inner aluminium case is designed to be consumed by the pyrotechnic compound, with only the auditory and visual elements of the deflagration being permitted to escape via the perforations in the cast outer body. This design minimizes the risk of collateral damage due to flame, blast and unconsumed fragments of the inner case.

It is intended to be thrown into enclosed spaces to distract and temporarily incapacitate enemy personnel for easier capture, or when risk of collateral damage during urban warfare or hostage rescue operations contravenes the employment of traditionally lethal and destructive fragmenting HE ordnance. US Army doctrine calls for the M84 to be deployed "during building and room clearing operations, when the presence of noncombatants is likely or expected and the assault element is attempting to achieve surprise.

Charge/filler: 0.16 ounces magnesium/ammonium nitrate pyrotechnic mix

Effective Range: 5' radius

Weight: 8.33 ounces / 236 g

Resupply on it's way to Firebase Vegas, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

Omega Elite Tactical Vest #1

M14

While not as often used as the other grenades, you can find this grenade in use in Afghanistan. Units often used these to burn out unsalvageable or IEDed HMMMVs, we used these often to burn out brush to create stand off areas around our firebase or to remove the cover/concealment from known enemy fighting positions. Many of the trees in the Korengal Valley were of a very hard wood and did not easily cut or burn. Using incendiary grenades and JP8 was about the only way to somewhat remove them on the fly.

A cylindrical grenade visually identical to the M8, the M14 (also written AN/M14) is a purpose designed incendiary grenade. Working off the intense and violent reaction of the thermate filler, end result of the deployment of the M14 is molten iron. This means the M14 is primarily employed on material to be destroyed in a roughly secure environment and not as an offensive or defensive weapon. The grenade has the ability to melt right through an engine block. Also, since the thermate reaction uses iron oxide instead of oxygen for its oxidizing agent, the grenade can work under water.

The AN-M14 TH3 incendiary hand grenade is used to destroy equipment or start fires. It can also damage, immobilize or destroy vehicles, weapons systems, shelters and munitions.

The grenade filler burns at over 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit and can burn through homogenous steel plate – even underwater. Burn time is 30 to 45 seconds.

Charge/filler: 26.5 ounces of thermate (TH3) mixture

Effective Range: N/A

Weight: 2 lbs / 0.91 kg

Galati Six Pack Pistol Magazine Pouch

M18A1

The M18A1 Claymore mine is used extensively at outposts and firebases in Afghanistan. It is common to find these setup at the entrances and exits of a base for use as a last attempt defense at preventing the enemy from gaining access. We also used these extensively when setting in on ambushes.

The M18A1 Claymore is a directional anti-personnel mine used by the United States Armed Forces. Its inventor, Norman MacLeod, named the mine after a large Scottish medieval sword. Unlike a conventional land mine, the Claymore is command-detonated and directional, meaning it is fired by remote-control and shoots a pattern of metal balls into the kill zone like a shotgun.

The Claymore fires steel balls, out to about 100 m within a 60° arc in front of the device. It is used primarily in ambushes and as an anti-infiltration device against enemy infantry. It is also used against unarmored vehicles.

The M18A1 Claymore mine has a horizontally convex gray-green plastic case. The shape was developed through experimentation to deliver the optimum distribution of fragments at 50 m range. The case has the words "Front Toward Enemy" embossed on the front of the mine. A simple open sight on the top surface allows for aiming the mine. Two pairs of scissor legs attached to the bottom support the mine and allow it to be aimed vertically. On both sides of the sight are fuse wells set at 45 degrees.

Internally the mine contains a layer of C-4 explosive behind a matrix of about seven hundred 1⁄8-inch-diameter (3.2 mm) steel balls set into an epoxy resin.

When the M18A1 is detonated, the explosion drives the matrix forward, out of the mine at a velocity of 1,200 m/s (3,937 ft/s), at the same time breaking it into individual fragments. The steel balls are projected in a 60° fan-shaped pattern that is 2.0 m high and 50 m wide at a range of 50 m. The force of the explosion deforms the relatively soft steel balls into a shape similar to a .22 rimfire projectile. These fragments are moderately effective up to a range of 100 m, with a hit probability of around 10% on a prone man-sized 1.3-square-foot target. The fragments can travel up to 250 m. The optimum effective range is 50 m, at which the optimal balance is achieved between lethality and area coverage, with a hit probability of 30% on a man-sized target.

Charge/filler: 700 - 1/8" steel balls with a 1.5 lbs charge of C-4

Effective Range: 50 m, 250 m maximum range

Weight: 3.5 lbs / 1.6 kg

Squad getting ready before a patrol, Firebase Vegas, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

GG&G Tan Claymore Mine Hitch Cover

M-112

C-4 is used regularly in Afghanistan and has many different uses, from blowing out large boulders, destroying unexploded ordinance and enemy weapons caches, demolition, and improvised breaching charges.

C-4 or Composition C-4 is a common variety of the plastic explosive family known as Composition C. The British version of the explosive is known as PE-4 (Plastic Explosive). C-4 is composed of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer to make it malleable, and usually a marker or odorizing taggant chemical.

C-4 has a texture similar to modeling clay and can be molded into any desired shape. C-4 is stable and an explosion can only be initiated by the combination of extreme heat and shock wave from a detonator.

The Composition C-4 used by the United States Armed Forces contains 91% RDX ("Research Department Explosive", an explosive nitroamine), 5.3% dioctyl sebacate (DOS) or dioctyl adipate (DOA) as the plasticizer (to increase the plasticity of the explosive), 2.1% polyisobutylene (PIB, a synthetic rubber) as the binder, and 1.6% of a mineral oil often called "process oil." Instead of "process oil," low-viscosity motor oil is used in the manufacture of C-4 for civilian use.

C-4 is very stable and insensitive to most physical shocks. C-4 cannot be detonated by a gunshot or by dropping it onto a hard surface. It does not explode when set on fire or exposed to microwave radiation. Detonation can only be initiated by a combination of extreme heat and a shockwave, such as when a detonator inserted into it is fired. When detonated, C-4 rapidly decomposes to release nitrogen and carbon oxides as well as other gasses. The gasses expand at an explosive velocity of 8,092 m/s (26,550 ft/s). After the initial explosion, gasses rush back toward the center of the explosion causing a second, inward wave of energy.

Charge/filler: 1.14 lbs of RDX

Effective Range: N/A

Weight: 1.25 lbs / 0.57 kg

Restrepo as seen from the Korengal Outpost, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

Allen Muff Style Hearing Protection

Det. Cord

Det. cord can be found all over Afghanistan; usually in conjunction with C-4. It has other uses than just detonating explosives. It can also be used to clear out smaller sized trees to create landing zones, use in improvised breaching devices, as well as other uses.

Detonating cord (also called detonation cord, detacord, det. cord, detcord, primer cord or sun cord) is a thin, flexible plastic tube usually filled with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN, pentrite). With the PETN exploding at a rate of approximately 4 miles per second, any common length of detonation cord appears to explode instantaneously. It is a high-speed fuse which explodes, rather than burns, and is suitable for detonating high explosives. The velocity of detonation is sufficient to use it for synchronizing multiple charges to detonate almost simultaneously even if the charges are placed at different distances from the point of initiation. It is used to reliably and inexpensively chain together multiple explosive charges. Typical uses include mining, drilling, demolitions, and warfare.

As a transmission medium, it can act as a downline between the initiator (usually a trigger) and the blast area, and as a trunkline connecting several different explosive charges. As a timing mechanism, detonation cord detonates at a very reliable rate (about 7,000–8,000 m/s), enabling engineers to control the pattern in which charges are detonated. This is particularly useful for demolitions, when structural elements need to be destroyed in a specific order to control the collapse of a building.

While it looks like nylon cord, the core is a compressed powdered explosive, usually PETN (pentrite), and it is initiated by the use of a blasting cap. Detonation cord will initiate most commercial high explosives (dynamite, gelignite, sensitised gels, etc.) but will not initiate less sensitive blasting agents like ANFO on its own. 25 to 50 grain/foot (5.3 to 10.6 g/m) detonation cord has approximately the same initiating power as a #8 blasting cap in every 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) along its entire length. A small charge of PETN, TNT, or other explosive booster is required to bridge between the cord and a charge of insensitive blasting agent like ANFO or most water gels.

Charge/filler: 6.4 pounds of pentaerythrite tetranitrate [PETN] per 1,000'

Effective Range: N/A

Weight: 18 lbs per 1,000'

View of Firebase Vegas from the Korengal Outpost, Korengal valley, Afghanistan.

Arredondo AR-15/M4 Extended Magazine Well

CactusTactical.com

Shotgun-Gear.com

Shawn G in the Korengal Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

Labels: 1-26 INF, Afghanistan, Cactus Tactical, Detcord, explosives, Firebase Vegas, Grenades, Korengal Valley, M112, M14, M18, M18A1, M67, M84, mines, Operation Enduring Freedom, War In Afghanistan, Weapons of War

www.CactusTactical.com

www.USGunWorks.com

Shawn in the Korengal Valley, Kunar Province, 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/
http://www.olive-drab.com/
http://www.army.mil/
http://dok-ing.hr/products/demining/mv_4?productPage=general
http://www.peosoldier.army.mil/

"The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement."

Friday, May 13, 2016

The Tactical Blog from Cactus Tactical

Weapons of the War in Afghanistan: Anti-tank/Assault Part II

Weapons of the War in Afghanistan

View to the South of the Korengal Valley from the Korengal Outpost (KOP).

For our sixth installment, let’s take a look at the most commonly encountered Anti-tank/Assault weapons in the War in Afghanistan. These weapons will be recoil-less weapons, rocket propelled grenades, grenade launchers, and shoulder fired missiles.

CED Millenium Chronograph, 2 Foot Mounting Bracket

Part II: AAF/ACF

RPG-7

You can't go anywhere in Afghanistan without seeing one of these. We were attacked with RPG-7s on countless occasions throughout our deployment in the Korengal. Depending on what warhead is being used these can get the adrenaline flowing when they start flying around.

The RPG-7 (Russian: РПГ-7) is a portable, reusable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, was designed by the Soviet Union; it is now manufactured by the Russian company Bazalt.

The launcher is reloadable and based around a steel tube, 40 millimeters in diameter, 95.3 centimeters long, and weighing 7 kilograms. The middle of the tube is wood wrapped to protect the user from heat and the end is flared to assist in blast shielding and recoil reduction. Sighting is usually optical with a back-up iron sight, and passive infra-red and night sights are also available.

As with similar weapons, the grenade protrudes from the launch tubes. It is launched by a gunpowder booster charge, giving it an initial speed of 115 meters per second, and creating a cloud of light grey-blue smoke that can give away the position of the shooter. The rocket motor ignites after 10 meters and sustains flight out to 500 meters at a maximum velocity of 295 meters per second. The grenade is stabilized by two sets of fins that deploy in-flight: one large set on the stabilizer pipe to maintain direction and a smaller front set to induce rotation. The grenade can fly up to 1,100 meters; the fuse sets the maximum range, usually 920 meters.

The RPG-7 can fire a variety of warheads for anti-armor (HEAT) or anti-personnel (HE) purposes, usually fitting with an impact (PIBD) and a 4.5 second fuse. Armor penetration is warhead dependent and ranges from 30 to 60 centimeters of RHA; one warhead, the PG-7VR, is a 'tandem charge' device, used to defeat reactive armor with a single shot.

Cartridge: 40mm, 64mm, 85mm, 93mm, and 105mm Rocket propelled grenades

Effective Range: Effective range 200 m, Maximum range 920 m

Weight: 15 lbs / 7 kg

Rate of Fire: N/A

Capacity: Single shot (reloadable)

Myself with an RPG-7 at Firebase Vegas, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

Wiley X Saber, Clear Lenses

Norinco Type 69 RPG

As with the RPG-7 the Type 69 RPG is very common in Afghanistan, this is mostly due to the fact that China supplied a large amount of these to the Mujahideen/Taliban in co-operation with the US and CIA, during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980's. The Chinese came up with some pretty hardcore nasty anti-personnel warheads for these, and being on the receiving end is not fun at all.

The Type 69 85mm rocket propelled grenade (RPG), made by Norinco, is a Chinese copy of the RPG-7. First introduced in the early 1970s, the Type 69 RPG is a common individual anti-tank weapon in service with the PLA. New types of grenade rounds were developed in the 1980s and '90s to meet the requirements of modern battlefields.

The Type 69 is a shoulder-launched, muzzle-loaded anti-tank and anti-personnel grenade launcher which launches a variety of fin-stabilized, over-sized grenades from its 40mm tube. The launcher has an optical daylight sight and (optional) infrared night vision to provide increased fire accuracy. In general, the Type 69 is a low-cost, easy-to-use weapon with significant firepower. It is sometimes referred to as "infantry artillery" or "pocket artillery". The type 69 RPG is a copy of the Soviet RPG-7 but not a direct copy. The Type 69 does not have a forward grip like the soviet RPG-7 as it was left out to lower production cost.

Although the design of the grenade launcher has not changed significantly since it was introduced nearly thirty years ago, many new types of grenade rounds have been developed over the years to provide enhanced capabilities.

Cartridge: 40mm, 64mm, 75mm, 85mm, 93mm, and 105mm Rocket propelled grenades
Effective Range: Effective range 200 m, Maximum range 920 m
Weight: 12.3 lbs / 5.6 kg
Rate of Fire: N/A
Capacity: Single shot (reloadable)

Chinese Type 69 40mm Airburst Anti-Personnel High-Explosive (HE) Grenade, many of these were found in enemy fighting positions after a night attack on OP Rock & Little Rock, Firebase Vegas, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.
When the 75mm warhead strikes the ground, it is propelled upwards by a jump mechanism, and detonates at a height of approximately 2 meters. Somewhere in the region of 900 steel balls and fragments of the case are propelled outwards, giving the warhead a lethal radius of 15m. This is basically a rocket-propelled, bouncing, 360 degree claymore mine. AAF/ACF fighters were volley firing these at OP Rock & Little Rock. These are also available in a Anti-personnel high-explosive incendiary (HEI) type, which is the same except for the fact that it also contains 2,000 to 3,000 incendiary pellets.

Yankee Hill Machine Diamond Series Free Float 15 Inch Forearm

GP-25/30/34

The GP-25 and later variants made their way into Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War. While they are in the hands of AAF/ACF fighters, they don't have access to large stores of the grenades that these fire, so every once in a while you may see one used, but is generally not the norm. You will see these mostly in use by the Afghan National Army or Police.

The GP-25 Kostyor, GP-30 Obuvka, and GP-34 are Russian 40 mm under-barrel grenade launchers for the AK-series of assault rifles. They were first seen by the west in 1984 during the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. The initial version was designated BG-15 Mukha, and was fitted under the barrel of AK-74 assault rifles. The main production version, the GP-25, has a different sighting system. The GP-30 was lightened and the redesigned sighting system was moved to the right.

The grenade launchers are similar in appearance and fire the same 40 mm caliber ammunition and use the same High-Low System developed by Germany in late World War II to keep recoil forces low without a rocket or other type of recoilless weapon back blast.

A grenade is first muzzle loaded into the barrel, the weapon is aimed, then the self-cocking trigger is pulled to fire the weapon. This fires the percussion cap at the base of the grenade which triggers the nitrocellulose propellant inside the body of the grenade. The hot expanding gas from the propellant is forced through vents in the base of the grenade that move the grenade along the barrel, and at the same time force the driving band to engage with the twelve rifling grooves. The rifling imparts stabilizing spin to the projectile.

The barrel has a life of about 400 rounds.

Cartridge: 40 mm caseless grenade
Effective Range: Sighting system for 100 to 400 m
Weight: 3.31 lbs / 1.5 kg
Rate of Fire: N/A
Capacity: Single shot (reloadable)

Abandoned structure below the Korengal Road, near "Death Draw," an area of the Korengal road known for IEDs, and Coalition Casualties.

CactusTactical.com

Shotgun-Gear.com

Shawn G in the Korengal Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

Labels: 1-26 INF, Afghanistan, Cactus Tactical, Firebase Vegas, GP-25, Korengal Valley, Norinco Type 69 RPG, Operation Enduring Freedom, RPG-7, War In Afghanistan, Weapons of War

www.CactusTactical.com

www.USGunWorks.com

Shawn in the Korengal Valley, Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

"The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement."

Friday, May 06, 2016

The Tactical Blog from Cactus Tactical

Weapons of the War in Afghanistan: Anti-tank/Assault Part I

Weapons of the War in Afghanistan

View of gate at the Korengal Outpost at the beginning of winter, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

Monsoon season in the Korengal Valley as seen from Firebase Vegas.

Part I: The United States

M136 AT4

The AT4 is just about the most common of the shoulder fired rockets that you will find throughout the Army.

The M136 AT4 is a 84mm, lightweight, self-contained, anti-armor weapon. It consists of a free-flight,fin-stabilized, rocket-type cartridge packed in an expendable, one-piece,fiberglass-wrapped tube.

The AT4 may be considered a disposable, low-cost alternative to a Carl Gustav recoilless rifle. The AT4 took many of its design features from the Carl Gustav, which operates on the principle of a recoilless weapon, where the forward inertia of the projectile is balanced by the inertia of propellant gases ejecting from the rear of the barrel. But unlike the Carl Gustav, which uses a heavier and more expensive steel tube with rifling, the disposable AT4 design greatly reduces manufacturing costs by using a reinforced smoothbore fiberglass outer tube. In a recoilless weapon, the barrel does not need to contend with the extreme pressures found in traditional guns and can thus be made very lightweight. This fact, combined with the almost complete lack of recoil, means that relatively large projectiles (comparable to those found in mortars and artillery systems) can be utilised, which would otherwise be impossible in a man-portable weapon.

Cartridge: 84mm HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank round)

Effective Range: Point target 300 m, Area target 500 m, Maximum range 2,100 m

Weight: 14.8 lbs / 6.7 kg

Rate of Fire: Single use.

Capacity: Single use.

Infantryman checking the perimeter of OP Rock after a night attack on the OP, Firebase Vegas, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

Wiley X Guard Sunglasses

M72 LAW

The M72 LAW has been around for a while now, but is still an effective weapon within the 200 meter range. It is light and compact, easily carried by infantry on patrol in the rugged and hostile mountains of Afghanistan. Having a couple of these on hand when setting in on an ambush, or finding yourself caught in an enemy's ambush is always a good thing.

The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) is a portable one-shot 66 mm unguided anti-tank weapon. The weapon consists of a rocket packed inside of a launcher made up of two tubes, one inside the other. While closed, the outer assembly acts as a watertight container for the rocket and the percussion cap-type firing mechanism that activates the rocket. The outer tube contains the trigger, the arming handle, front and rear sights, and the rear cover. The inner tube contains the channel assembly, which houses the firing pin assembly, including the detent lever. When extended, the inner tube telescopes outward toward the rear, guided by the channel assembly, which rides in an alignment slot in the outer tube's trigger housing assembly. This causes the detent lever to move under the trigger assembly in the outer tube, both locking the inner tube in the extended position and cocking the weapon. Once armed, the weapon is no longer watertight, even if the launcher is collapsed into its original configuration.

When fired, the striker in the rear tube impacts a primer, which ignites a small amount of powder that "flashes" down a tube to the rear of the rocket igniting the propellant in the rocket motor. The rocket motor burns completely before leaving the mouth of the launcher, producing gases around 1,400 °F (760 °C). The rocket propels the 66 mm warhead forward without significant recoil. As the warhead emerges from the launcher, six fins spring out from the base of the rocket tube, stabilizing the warhead's flight. The early LAW warhead, developed from the M31 HEAT rifle grenade warhead, uses a simple, but extremely safe and reliable, piezoelectric fuze system. On impact with the target, the front of the nose section is crushed causing a microsecond electric current to be generated, which detonates a booster charge located in the base of the warhead, which sets off the main warhead charge. The force of the main charge forces the copper liner into a directional particle jet that, in relation to the size of the warhead, is capable of a massive amount of penetration.

A unique mechanical set-back safety on the base of the detonator grounds the circuit until the missile has accelerated out of the tube. The acceleration causes the three disks in the safety mechanism to rotate 90 degrees in succession, ungrounding the circuit; the circuit from the nose to the base of the detonator is then completed when the piezo-electric crystal is crushed on impact.

Cartridge: 66mm HEAT rocket
Effective Range: 200 m
Weight: 5.5 lb / 2.5 kg
Rate of Fire: Single use
Capacity: Single use

Structures on Kamisar Ridge, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

AR-15 2 Piece Upper Receiver Vise Block

M141 SMAW-D

While AT4s maybe the most common shoulder fired weapons found throughout the Army, the SMAW-D seemed to be in higher use among infantry units in Afghanistan. This is most likely due to its more compact carrying size over the AT4, as well as it's enhanced bunker/cover penetrating abilities. We had more of these on hand at Firebase Vegas then any of the other ANti-tank/Assault shoulder fired weapon systems.

The M141 Bunker Defeat Munition (BDM), or SMAW-D ("Disposable"), is a single-shot, shoulder-launched weapon designed to defeat hardened structures. The weapon was designed as a modification of the United States Marine Corps Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) to fill the void in the United States Army inventory of a "bunker buster" weapon.

The SMAW-D operates on the principle of a recoilless rifle, in that the recoil created by launching the projectile is counteracted by a "backblast" of gases fired from the rear of the weapon. This makes the SMAW-D inherently dangerous, especially in confined, urban areas, as is with all weapons of this design.

The M141 has two configurations: A carry mode in which the launcher is 32 in long, and a ready to fire mode in which the launcher is extended to its full length of 55 in.

The warhead is the same High Explosive, Dual Purpose (HEDP) as the USMC SMAW. It is effective against masonry and concrete bunkers as well as lightly armored vehicles. The projectile is capable of penetrating up to 8" of concrete, 12" of brick, or 6.9' of sandbags. The warhead is activated by a crush switch in its nose that is able to distinguish between hard and soft targets. On soft targets, such as sandbags, the detonation is delayed until the projectile is buried in the target, producing a devastating effect. The warhead detonates immediately on contact with hard targets.

Cartridge: 83.5 mm (fires 83 mm rockets)
Effective Range: 15 – 1000+ meters
Weight: 15.7 lbs / 7.1 kg
Rate of Fire: Single use
Capacity: Single use

View from SE Guard tower at Firebase Vegas, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

GG&G Quick Detach Dovetail Sling Thing

M202 FLASH

When I arrived at Firebase Vegas I was surprised to see some of these sitting in our ammo storage bunker. It's not often that you see these these days, but they work well on enemies seeking refuge in cave systems, Qanats (Karizes), bunkers, and trench/tunnel systems.

The M202 FLASH (FLame Assault SHoulder Weapon) is an American rocket launcher, designed to replace the World War II–vintage flamethrowers that remained the military's standard incendiary devices well into the 1960s. The M202 is based on the prototype XM191 napalm rocket launcher that saw extensive testing in the Vietnam War.

The M202A1 features four tubes that can load 66 mm incendiary rockets. The M74 rockets are equipped with M235 warheads, containing approximately 1.34 pounds (0.61 kg) of an incendiary agent. The substance, often mistaken for napalm, is in fact TPA (thickened pyrophoric agent).

TPA is triethylaluminum (TEA) thickened with polyisobutylene. TEA, an organometallic compound, is pyrophoric and burns spontaneously at temperatures of 1200 °C (2192 °F) when exposed to air. It burns "white hot" because of the aluminum, much hotter than gasoline or napalm. The light and heat emission is very intense and can produce skin burns from some (close) distance without direct contact with the flame, by thermal radiation alone.

The weapon is meant to be fired from the right shoulder, and can be fired from either a standing, crouching, or prone position. It has a trigger mode to facilitate firing all four rockets at once, not just one at a time. After firing, it can be reloaded with a clip housing four rockets.

Cartridge: 66mm M74 TPA rocket
Effective Range: Point target 200 m, Area target 750 m
Weight: 11.5 lb / 5.22 kg empty, 26.6 lb / 12.07 kg loaded
Rate of Fire: 4 rockets; 1 rocket per second
Capacity: 4 rocket clip

Firebase Vegas morning time at the beginning of winter in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

AP Custom Rhino Series Carbon Fiber Freefloat Handguard

FGM-148 Javelin

The Javelin is a commonly found missile system on US Firebases in Afghanistan. While not deploying the full system, the CLU is often used to scan the areas surrounding bases at night for security, due to it's great ability to pickup heat signatures, and good night vision capabilities. When deploying the full system the Javelin is very accurate and devastating once locked on to target and fired.

The Javelin is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance. The system takes a top-attack flight profile against armored vehicles (attacking the top armor, which is generally thinner), but can also take a direct-attack mode for use against buildings. This missile also has the ability to engage helicopters in the direct attack mode. It can reach a peak altitude of 150 m (500 ft) in top-attack mode and 60 m in direct-fire mode. It is equipped with an imaging infrared seeker. The tandem warhead is fitted with two shaped charges: a precursor warhead to detonate any explosive reactive armor and a primary warhead to penetrate base armor.

The missile is ejected from the launcher so that it reaches a safe distance from the operator before the main rocket motors ignite; a "soft launch arrangement". This makes it harder to identify the launcher; however, back-blast from the launch tube still poses a hazard to nearby personnel. Thanks to this "fire and forget" system, the firing team may change their position as soon as the missile has been launched, or prepare to fire on their next target while the first missile is still in the air.

The missile system is most often carried by a two-man team consisting of a gunner and an ammo bearer, although it can be fired with just one person if necessary. While the gunner aims and fires the missile, the ammo bearer scans for prospective targets, watches for threats, such as enemy vehicles and troops, and ensures that personnel and obstacles are clear of the missile's back blast.

Cartridge: 127mm Tandem shaped charge HEAT missile
Effective Range: 75 to 2,500 m, Maximum firing range 4,750 m (tested)
Weight: 49.2 lbs / 22.3 kg (carry weight), Detachable CLU: 14.1 lbs / 6.4 kg
Rate of Fire: Single use
Capacity: Single use

Setting in for an ambush on a trail largely used by AAF/ACF fighters. Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

Valdada Micro Edge Red Dot Scope

M203

I have carried the M203 many times, it is a great weapon for flushing out enemies in dead space, not in an area able to be engaged by direct line of sight weapons, and also for suppressing enemies firing from the windows of structures.

The M203 is a single-shot 40 mm under-barrel grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older stand-alone M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilizes the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low. Though versatile, and compatible with many rifle models, the M203 was originally designed for the U.S. M16 and its variant, the M4 Carbine. The device attaches under the barrel, the launcher trigger being in the rear of the launcher, just forward of the rifle magazine. The rifle magazine functions as a hand grip when firing the M203. A separate sighting system is added to rifles fitted with the M203, as the rifle's standard sights are not matched to the launcher.

Cartridge: 40×46mm SR
Effective Range: Point target 150 m, Area target 350 m, Maxiumum range ~400 m
Weight: 3 lbs / 1.36 kg unloaded
Rate of Fire: 5 to 7 rounds per minute
Capacity: Single shot

Home sweet home. May not have had running water, showers, or any of the other normal creature comforts for a full year, but during my time in the Korengal this was home, and for some reason I grew to love it. 1st Squad B-Hut, Firebase Vegas, Korengal valley, Afghanistan.

Streamlight TLR-1 Strobe Led Weapon Light

M320

M320 Grenade Launcher Module (GLM) is the U.S. military's designation for a new single-shot 40 mm grenade launcher system to replace the M203 for the U.S. Army, while other services will keep using the older M203. The M320 uses the same High-Low Propulsion System as the M203.

In 2004, the Army announced a requirement for a commercial off-the-shelf 40 mm grenade launcher. It had to be more reliable, ergonomic, accurate, and safer than the M203. It had to be able to fire all 40 mm low-velocity grenades, but be loaded from the breech to accept future longer projectiles. Heckler & Koch's submission was selected in May 2005.

Cartridge: 40×46mm SR
Effective Range: Point target 150 m, Area target 350 m, Maxiumum range ~400 m
Weight: 3.3 lbs / 1.5 kg unloaded
Rate of Fire: 5 to 7 rounds per minute
Capacity: Single shot

View of the TOC at Firebase Vegas. The TOC was located inside an abandoned Afghan house that the small firebase was built around. Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.