REAPR 338 machine Gun for SOF

[SteyrAUG]

To understand the bad siting you have to understand their mission. This was the whole reconstruction era and they were supposed to be helping locals rebuild infrastructure etc.

The sites were selected due to being on crossroads, valley junctions or similar and not for any defensive tactical value. This was very common in that era.

Both the Battle of Kamdesh (COP Keating 10th mtn) and the Battle of Wanat (173rd ABN) in the Korengal suffered greatly from being too spread out and thus ended up being greatly outnumbered.

Both involved platoon size infantry elements of about 45 to 50 soldiers up against 250-300 seasoned Taliban fighters. (Some estimates are as high as 500, and the enemy death toll backs up these larger figures)

The army has tried to learn from these, both battles are majorly studied by officer candidates, but you have to point very large fingers at the Commander-in-Chief, questionable mission and unrealistic ROE.

Would really recommend three books and a documentary:

10th mtn @ Kamdesh:
Outlaw Platoon

173rd @ Wanat:
To quell the Koringal
Chosen Few
RESTREPO

Wanat was the bloodiest engagement in a'stan, made worse as the US kia were all out of one platoon.

All three books are good but tough reads, partially because you know the outcome, but also partially because you shake your head at why we would ever put soldiers into those positions.

RESTREPO is a must see documentary, closely followed by Hornet's Nest

I kind of knew that having seen Restrepo, but it still was a shitty deal. Have also seen the Medal of Honor episode about Romesha.

[1168]

Our issued M9’s did fine, even when exposed to the harsh ME environments (sandstorms/dust/etc). The major problem was the issued/non-OEM magazine during the early GWOT years. Checkmate branded M-9 magazines were horribly unreliable.

Yup. I’ve carried the M9 in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, some other places, including in brownout conditions that turn the insides red-brown (Somali dirt is a red clay). Its among the most reliable handgun available in those conditions, and I’ve also been issued M11, 1911, Glock. The open top slide has never caused me a problem. I’m very very suspicious of the M17/18 reliability in the same conditions.

Somali dirt is a key reason that Unit ditched 1911s. I can confirm that they are problematic in ME/SWA/AFRICOM.

Issued Checkmate M9 mags are hot garbage, and I’d go so far as to buy my own if I were issued those and had to rely on a 92.

[1168]

That could be a likely course of action. I can see weapons like this being tested by the Rangers and then trickling their way out of SOF.

^this dude knows how that works^

Hard to close with the enemy in places in Astan when you base was a bowl at the bottom of a valley. Seems like we just picked some shitty locations to establish combat outposts.

Yeah, that was never my experience....

agreed. I think the COP Keating problem was more conventional than SOF (since we’re talking about a SOF gun). I’ve been more or less everywhere in Afghanistan, and the mountainous northern part of a bordering country, and when in mountainous terrain, we tried to use the terrain to our advantage whenever possible, usually to great effect. I also had a close friend at Keating. He got shot, but did survive to fight another day. I heard some wild stories when we lived next door to each other, and I don’t think he ever recovered from all that.

I'm assuming Combat Outpost Keating. Ash Hess was there for the first attempt. Starts at 49:46 if you just want to jump to that topic.

everyone should watch this when Afghanistan comes up. In most of the stories I’ve heard of conventional dudes having a bad day due to “overmatch”, GPMGs were notably absent. I don’t give a **** how heavy that pig is, we’re bringing it, and a magnum bolt gun, too. AND A RADIO.

[WillBrink]

everyone should watch this when Afghanistan comes up. In most of the stories I’ve heard of conventional dudes having a bad day due to “overmatch”, GPMGs were notably absent. I don’t give a **** how heavy that pig is, we’re bringing it, and a magnum bolt gun, too. AND A RADIO.

He's a member here, don't think he's posted in a while though. Works with mod Failuretostop at KAC.

[GTF425]

when in mountainous terrain, we tried to use the terrain to our advantage whenever possible

I remember every COP I was on was built on top of an absolute mother****er of a hill to walk up. Literally walked uphill both ways in the snow when patrolling in the winter.

In most of the stories I’ve heard of conventional dudes having a bad day due to “overmatch”, GPMGs were notably absent. I don’t give a **** how heavy that pig is, we’re bringing it, and a magnum bolt gun, too. AND A RADIO.

This was my pet peeve as WSL. Guys trying to find ways to cut corners because it sucks being on a gun team. And with comms; I get it- ASIPs and 117s suck to carry, roger. Having no comms because you, the FO, wanted to sneak an MBITR in your assault pack sucks even worse.

[1168]

I remember every COP I was on was built on top of an absolute mother****er of a hill to walk up. Literally walked uphill both ways in the snow when patrolling in the winter.



This was my pet peeve as WSL. Guys trying to find ways to cut corners because it sucks being on a gun team. And with comms; I get it- ASIPs and 117s suck to carry, roger. Having no comms because you, the FO, wanted to sneak an MBITR in your assault pack sucks even worse.

Throw a 60mm HE in that pack, too, Ranger. The 60 handheld team will have WP. For marking.