Weapons

Behind the Cover: Big changes for Marine service rifles

By Dan Lamothe on June 13, 2011 Behind the Cover, Gear, Weapons

Since early in the Iraq war, Marines in combat have carried either the M16A4 rifle or M4 carbine, 5.56mm workhorses that leathernecks know well. Soon, the Marine Corps could adopt big changes to those weapons. While the Army searches for a possible new carbine, Marine officials want to overhaul both the M16A4 and M4, modernizing to make them more adjustable, accurate and comfortable. The effort to modernize the M16A4 shows a continued divergence with the Army, which continues to favor carbines and their shorter barrels. The Corps continues to stick largely with the M16A4 and its 20-inch barrel, which advocates…

Video: HIMARS rockets at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on May 23, 2011 Afghanistan, Camp Leatherneck, Infantry, Marjah, Weapons

I now introduce an insurgent’s worst nightmare. Below is new video of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, better known as HIMARS. It was recorded by Combat Camera recently at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, where Kilo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marines, operates from to assists infantry units downrange: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWYo6LMgurA&feature=channel_video_title[/youtube] The rockets carry M270 rounds, and are no joke. Military officials say they can be fired up to 186 miles, with the warhead reaching an altitude of more than 31 miles on long-range shots. HIMARS use was briefly suspended in February 2010 after two rockets fired from a HIMARS unit fell about…

2nd LAR Marines replacing 3rd LAR in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on May 11, 2011 Afghanistan, Weapons

Picture this: You’re a smuggler heading to and from Pakistan from Afghanistan, intent on making a quick buck without any regard for where your goods go. There’s a mix of assault rifles, ammunition and poppy in your shipments, but you’re letting the details take care of themselves. Then one day, your world gets shaken up: Marines in full battle rattle stop your vehicle with a Light Armored Vehicle, armed with a 25mm chain gun and two 7.62mm machine guns. They’re all business, and they don’t seem thrilled to learn your carrying contraband. Since November 2010, that has been the job…

With IAR in hand, 1/3 Marines set to deploy

By Dan Lamothe on April 13, 2011 Afghanistan, Gear, Infantry, Weapons

The debate rages on, but the infantry automatic rifle will soon join the war in Afghanistan. Marine officials announced last night that 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, will deploy to Helmand province beginning today. They’ll eventually take over in country for 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., which has patrolled Garmser district since the fall. The deployment by 1/3’s Lava Dogs will serve as the first war-zone test for the 5.56mm M27 IAR, which could eventually replace the M249 squad automatic weapon on many infantry patrols. For now, it’s expected the unit will…

Soothing sounds of Marine artillery

By Andrew deGrandpre on February 21, 2011 Camp Lejeune, Japan, Training, Weapons

If you love the sound of friendly artillery, be sure to crank the volume on your speakers before watching this little gem. Marine Corps Times’ senior video journalist Colin Kelly caught up with members of Romeo Battery, 5th Battalion, 10th Marines, at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in early February — just a few weeks before the start of their six-month deployment to Okinawa. They were good enough to give him a demo of this wondrous Howitzer, which we — in turn — are happy to share with you. Enjoy. And please be sure to keep these Marines and their families in…

Marine tanks now assigned to 3/8 in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on February 17, 2011 Afghanistan, Infantry, MEU operations, Weapons

When the Marine Corps acknowledged last month that it would begin using U.S. tanks in the war in Afghanistan for the first time, one of the most obvious questions was simple: Where? We’re starting to clear that up. The Corps has released several photos recently that show that elements of at least two platoons from Delta Company, First Tank Battalion, out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., have joined Battalion Landing Team 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines. The ground combat element for the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3/8 was called off Navy ships last month to lock down the upper Gereshk Valley, an area of Helmand…

Marine tanks are now on the prowl in Afghanistan

By Dan Lamothe on February 8, 2011 Afghanistan, Infantry, Vehicles, Weapons

So, how’s your day going? Good? Glad to hear it. Perhaps it will be improved knowing that Marines in the violent northern section of Helmand province, Afghanistan, now have tank support. The Marine Corps just released this Feb. 1 photograph of Marines in an M1A1 Abrams rolling north through the desert on the way to Forward Operating Base Edinburg, an outpost manned by 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, N.C. The tanks are manned by Delta Company, 1st Tank Battalion, out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., the first American unit to operate tanks in Afghanistan. Lejeune’s Combat Logistics Battalion…

Another look at the Marine Corps' search for a new 1911 pistol

By Dan Lamothe on January 27, 2011 MARSOC, Reconnaissance, Weapons

By now, many of you may have heard about the Marine Corps’ search for a new 1911 pistol. I first reported about it for Marine Corps Times in the fall when a Request for Information was released by acquisition officials, and followed up by walking the floor at SHOT Show last week to discuss the competition with many of the gunmakers assumed to be in the fight. As outlined in this story, Colt Defense and Springfield Armory have submitted samples to the Corps for the competition, while at least two other bigtime pistol makers — Kimber and Smith & Wesson…

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