Some pics from the Nato exercise in Norway

[stabiz]

Might be interesting for some, just click on the image to see the next one:

http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/03/19/nyheter/innenriks/forsvaret/nato/5372925/

[Fincuan]

Nice, thanks for posting. :up:

Re: pics 2 and 3: Is it common for the Norvegian Special Forces to use HK416s(could also be 417s, but the mags look like stanags to me) these days?

[fatty]

http://gfx.dagbladet.no/labrador/537/537300/5373000/jpg/active/810x.jpg

Love the paint job on this F-16

[baggygreen]

The guys from my squadron would love a recce vehicle like that in #4!:yeah:

[Thomen]

The guys from my squadron would love a recce vehicle like that in #4!:yeah:
Might want to put in a call to the German Army for that.. hehe

It comes with a remote MG or automatic grenade launcher. A retractable periskop like optic/camera and a small UAV for aerial recon. :yeah:

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/fennek/

[baggygreen]

Jeezus, thats a nice piece of gear, thomen, ta for the link!

sure beats rovers the light cav uses

[SkysTheLimit]

Wow - great photos - thanks for the link!

[UnderseaLcpl]

What weapon is that in picture 8? It looks like an M16a4 but why does it have a bipod and what appears to be a quick-release barrel handle? Also, is that sight on the top an ACOG or some kind of FLIR?

Anyone?

[fatty]

It's an ELCAN sight, pretty similar to an ACOG. Not 100% sure about the gun but it looks like a Diemaco Canada LSW which is an M16 in a Squad Automatic Weapon configuration.

EDIT: I mean Colt Canada.

[fatty]

http://www.motov.dk/images/lsv.gif

http://www.hjv.dk/VHV/TELE/VHK%20SJÆLLAND/billedgalleri_01/Pia_LSV.jpg

[UnderseaLcpl]

Thanks guys.

I fail to see how this weapon would be superior to the M249, however. Is it a semi-automatic light support weapon? What is the purpose of that?

[baggygreen]

Thanks guys.

I fail to see how this weapon would be superior to the M249, however. Is it a semi-automatic light support weapon? What is the purpose of that?
Same could be said for the F89 minimi over the m249, couldnt it? the F89 has got a single shot lockout, good for warning shots etc..

I would imagine that its simply a different selling point?

[OneToughHerring]

Who are those Norwegians excercising against? Against the impending attack of the Penguin Brigade? I'd say you're pretty safe, it's not like you're all that significant strategically.

[Schroeder]

Last time I checked they were part of NATO.:shifty:

[UnderseaLcpl]

Same could be said for the F89 minimi over the m249, couldnt it? the F89 has got a single shot lockout, good for warning shots etc..

I would imagine that its simply a different selling point?


I don't know if I'd consider that much of a selling point. Open-bolt weapons are superior in sustained automatic fire. Warning shots, ambush openers, and precision work can easily be performed by fire team members with semi-automatic rifles. Additionally, the M16 upper reciever is prone to double-feeds.

Maybe they are after a weight reduction?

[Tchocky]

Could it be that M16 receivers are cheap and plentiful?

I'm not sure if it's even possible to convert your standard M16 to an LSW, mind :)

[SteamWake]

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh312/UlteriorModem/ground_school.jpg

[UnderseaLcpl]

Could it be that M16 receivers are cheap and plentiful?

I'm not sure if it's even possible to convert your standard M16 to an LSW, mind :)

I don't think they converted anything other than the handrail attatchments. The rest of the weapon seems standard-fare.

In any case, I don't think it is appropriate to cut corners when it comes to support weapons. Their firepower and suppression ability is critical in combat.

[OneToughHerring]

Last time I checked they were part of NATO.:shifty:

Well that explains everything. :hmmm:

[stabiz]

Well, its a NATO exercise, and as a member and host I guess its considered okay to participate.

[stabiz]

Some more pics:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/ed_20090319_060.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/ed_20090319_033.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/ed_20090317_023.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/lmh-cr09-042.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/lmh-cr09-001.jpg

[UnderseaLcpl]

Question about the first pic; Why are the magazine release and the selector lever on the right side of the rifle? Is that a left-handed version?
If so, why is the soldier pictured using a right-handed carry?

[Fincuan]

I think that's the standard configuration for the HK416: controls on both sides.

edit: Actually it looks like "normal" would be selector on the left, and only an "indicator" and the firing mode markings on the right. So no idea why it's like that. Might be that Norway ordered them configured that way.

[OneToughHerring]

Well, its a NATO exercise, and as a member and host I guess its considered okay to participate.

Yea I know, I've been to Norway. I've even been to the gate of a military base where the guard saluted me for some reason. It was in the middle of nowhere up north. Not sure if it was a normal military base or some top secret Nato base.

[SteamWake]

Question about the first pic; Why are the magazine release and the selector lever on the right side of the rifle? Is that a left-handed version?
If so, why is the soldier pictured using a right-handed carry?

Image probably got flipped somewhere.

[Jimbuna]

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/9109/810xd.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=810xd.jpg)

A great example of how the simplest camo scheme can look so effective.

[Schroeder]

Question about the first pic; Why are the magazine release and the selector lever on the right side of the rifle? Is that a left-handed version?
If so, why is the soldier pictured using a right-handed carry?

If this weapon is configured like the G36 then you can operate it from both sides.

[fatty]

The receiver has "made in Germany" printed on it, reading left to right, stock to muzzle. The image is not a reversal.

[Thomen]

Here is more Info about the M416
http://www.hkpro.com/hk416.htm

[Fincuan]

If this weapon is configured like the G36 then you can operate it from both sides.

That's what I figured too. "Ambidextrous trigger group" or something like that. Some, if not all, of the Finnish Army MP5s are configured the same way, so looks like it's not that uncommon with H&K weapons.

[August]

I drove one of these for two years in the late 1970's. I wish i had one up at the camp! :D

http://gfx.dagbladet.no/labrador/537/537298/5372982/jpg/active/810x.jpg

[Schroeder]

This is the first time I hear that someone likes the M113. :o
In the German army most people (especially the drivers and mechanics) did not have a high opinion of that thing.

[OneToughHerring]

A German helicopter has crashed in the military exercise, no casualties. Saw about this in the Finnish media, can't find an English link about it.

[August]

This is the first time I hear that someone likes the M113. :o
In the German army most people (especially the drivers and mechanics) did not have a high opinion of that thing.

Well it is a 40 year old design and i don't recall any particular flaws, except that it couldn't stop a bullet.

[antikristuseke]

Not being able to stop bullets is something id concider a flaw when it comes to APC's.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Well it is a 40 year old design and i don't recall any particular flaws, except that it couldn't stop a bullet.

That was just one problem. In addition to the boxy shape of the M113 causing many right-angle impacts, it also suffered from "spalling". That is, pieces of the interior breaking off and turning into lethal shrapnel when the aluminum armor was struck.
The M113 doesn't really fill a needed battlefield role, imo. It is too weak to be an IFV, and too inefficient to be a transport.


edit- fixed designation, my bad

[Schroeder]

That was just one problem. In addition to the boxy shape of the M117 causing many right-angle impacts, it also suffered from "spalling". That is, pieces of the interior breaking off and turning into lethal shrapnel when the aluminum armor was struck.
The M117 doesn't really fill a needed battlefield role, imo. It is too weak to be an IFV, and too inefficient to be a transport.
Isn't that thing called M113?

[Raptor1]

I do believe he was talking about the M113

Don't think there is an M117 APC

[Oberon]

I didn't know that NATO was still using the old shoebox, good to see it still going :up: I thought vehicles like the Hummer and Bradley would have taken over its role by now. I mean, compared to the BTR-70 the armour was better IIRC, although obviously as the BTR series got on I dare say things were improved, by which time the Bradley had come in.
For something to have lasted since the 1960s, well, it mustn't be that bad :hmmm: Surely? :hmmm:

[Morts]

actually i think its mostly the danes using the M113 and that is a M113 in danish service pictured there:)

[Platapus]

I drove one of these for two years in the late 1970's. I wish i had one up at the camp! :D

http://gfx.dagbladet.no/labrador/537/537298/5372982/jpg/active/810x.jpg

This is the first time I hear that someone likes the M113. :o
In the German army most people (especially the drivers and mechanics) did not have a high opinion of that thing.

Schroeder,

I don't think that is a M-113 APC in that picture. At least it does not look like the 113's I drove. M-113's have five road wheels and a rubber skirt covering the treads on the upper side.

So what is that APC in the picture?

Could this be the XM546E1? But that was a proposed design for the MIM-46 though.

There are not that many APCs with six road wheels and many of them are Chinese and Russian

[Schroeder]

Hm, you are right the M113 has only 5 road wheels....:hmm2:

[August]

Schroeder,

I don't think that is a M-113 APC in that picture. At least it does not look like the 113's I drove. M-113's have five road wheels and a rubber skirt covering the treads on the upper side.

So what is that APC in the picture?

Could this be the XM546E1? But that was a proposed design for the MIM-46 though.

There are not that many APCs with six road wheels and many of them are Chinese and Russian

The rubber skirt was removable. You can see the row of bolts along the edge where it bolts on, but you're right. It does have an extra road wheel! It's like a stretched version of the 113. There's also a couple square protrusions in the front that I don't remember seeing on the 113.

Of course it's been 30 years since I last sat in one...

[August]

Not being able to stop bullets is something id concider a flaw when it comes to APC's.

Well in all fairness, it wasn't designed to stop bullets. It's an APC, not an AFV, and it did offer a heckuva lot more protection from shrapnel than the trucks and half tracks it was designed to replace.

[stabiz]

More pics:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/vg1943.jpg

The Government impose new and drastic counter measures to speeding:rotfl:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/tk2881.jpg

The German chopper that crashed:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/belluh1b.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/3459.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/090317TMBN.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/090318NASAMSII.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/_PAE5505.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/railsback/_PAE5827.jpg

[Fincuan]

Thanks again

Big :haha: at the speeding pic. Excellent!

[antikristuseke]

Well in all fairness, it wasn't designed to stop bullets. It's an APC, not an AFV, and it did offer a heckuva lot more protection from shrapnel than the trucks and half tracks it was designed to replace.

True that, though I'd still expect protection from small arms fire from an APC. not that early BTR's were better in that department.

[Schroeder]

From what I know the M113 does protect you against small weapons fire, at least for some time. It is not entirely unarmored. But you should try to stay out of combat with it.