Monday, October 5, 2009

So long SAW?

Defense News (www.defensenews.com) is running a series of highlights on the recent Modern Day Marine 2009 expo. There is so much to read about this expo! One thing that caught my attention was the following:

So long SAW?

I was totally unaware of the Marine Corps intention of replacing the SAW by the IAR.

Cheers,
at

5 comments:

  1. MoyletraOctober 22, 2009 at 6:36 PM

    Interesting that the USMC is reducing firepower when the broadly equivalent British Army is increasing firepower at squad (UK section) level. We Brits now have an infantry section of:
    Fireteam Charlie: Corporal, armed with a L85A2 5.56mm rifle; Riflemen, armed with a L85A2 5.56mm rifle with 40mm underslung grenade launcher; Rifleman, armed with a L108A1 5.56mm light machine gun and Rifleman, armed with a L7A2 7.62mm general purpose machine gun.
    Fireteam Delta: Lance Corporal, armed with a L85A2 5.56mm rifle; Riflemen, armed with a L85A2 5.56mm rifle with 40mm underslung grenade launcher and Benelli M4; Rifleman, armed with a L108A1 5.56mm light machine gun and Rifleman, armed with a L86A2 5.56mm light support weapon.
    NOTE. All troops in an infantry section are armed with a P228 pistol.

    As an old timer I remember 2 x fireteams each 3 x L1A1 SLRs and 1 x GPMG - all 7.62 and deadly!!!

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  2. JCOctober 23, 2009 at 11:03 AM

    Hi Moyletra!
    Thanks for your comment.
    Two machine guns per fireteam? Outstanding!

    Cheers,

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  3. MoyletraOctober 25, 2009 at 9:41 AM

    Yes - just after the Falklands War it was realised that the section didn't have enough punch or tactical options, so 2 x L7A2 per section was the solution. Then after that we got the 5.56mm conversion to SA80 and LSW.

    In that era we had 2 x L7 GPMG, 1 x L86 LSW and 1 x L85 rifle per team in close recce team (2 teams per section). 6 sections = 24 GPMG which was roughly equivalent to a rifle company's firepower.

    Ah fond memories

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  4. MoyletraOctober 25, 2009 at 4:27 PM

    I have a s##t load of late 80s/early 90s recce (US recon)/close observation (COP) SOPs that I could scan or Pm to you if you are interested.

    Although to be honest from a wargame or tac shooter a lot of the detail is superfluous, and the key tactical doctrine is pretty much common sense!

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  5. JCOctober 25, 2009 at 9:34 PM

    Hi Moyletra!

    The Falklands war, I hear you.
    I'm from Argentina and during my last trip I bought a wonderful set of official AARs written by officers of the Ejercito Argentino (Argentine's Army). In the section that deals with Mount Longdon, there is an specific mention on how higher caliber MGs would have helped the British to secure the objectives faster.

    If you could share those SOPs I would be forever grateful.

    Cheers,

    JC

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