Tellermine 29

A Tellermine 29 showing the three fuzes.

The Tellermine 29 is a round metal cased German anti-tank blast landmine. It first entered service in 1929, and the initial German defence plan was to purchase 6,000 a year, but in January 1931 it was decided to speed up the purchase process and 61,418 were ordered. By 1937 with the introduction of the Tellermine 35, it was being used for training, and the majority were sent to warehouses.



The mine did see limited service during the Second World War, notably after D-Day in France where allied troops reported encountering it.

The mine uses three Z.D.Z. 29 fuzes that are normally set at an activation pressure of 125 kg, but can be set to function with a pressure of just 45 kg or even function as a tripwire fuze. The mine is fitted with two secondary fuze wells that enable the fitting of anti-handling devices.

A training version of the mine designated T.Mi.29 (Ueb) was also produced that was filled with a smoke-generating main charge and holes along the circumference to allow the smoke to escape.

A number of Yugoslavian mines copied the basic pattern of the Tellermine 29, including the TMA 3 and TMA 4.

FN FNC

FN FNC rifle of late manufacture (with enlarged trigger guard)

Following the market failure of their previous 5.56mm caliber assault rifle, the CAL, famous Belgian company Fabrique Nationale began to develop the new assault rifle for 5.56mm NATO cartridge in the early 1970s. The final design, called the FNC (Fabrique Nationale Carbine) was produced circa 1978 and was consequently adopted by the Belgian Armed forces. It was also adopted by Sweden and Indonesia, and both those countries purchased the licenses to build more or less modified FNC carbines at their own facilities. Swedish version is known as Bofors AK-5 and Indonesian version is known as Pindad SS1. The FNC also was sold to some police forces around the world, and, in limited numbers for civilians - as a "Sporter" model, limited to semi-automatic mode only.

Same rifle, right side view. note the spring-loaded dust cover on the cocking handle slot

The FNC is a sound design which accumulated best features from other famous designs, such as Kalashnikov AK-47, Colt/Armalite M16, and others.

FNC is a gas operated, selective fire, magazine fed weapon.

FN FNC of earlier manufacture, with butt folded

The gas drive and rotating bolt of FNC strongly resembles the AK-47 system, but adapted for more advanced production technologies such as CNC machining and with some modifications. The long stroke gas piston is located above the barrel and is linked to the bolt carrier. Unlike the AK-47, the gas piston rod could be separated from the bolt carrier when gun is disassembled. The gas system featured two-position gas regulator (for normal or adverse conditions) and a separate gas cutoff, combined with folding rifle grenade sights. When grenade sights are raised into the ready position, the gas cutoff automatically blocks the gas supply to the action, allowing for safe launching of rifle grenades. Both gas cutoff and grenade sight are located on the gas chamber, just behind the front sight. The now common rotating bolt has two massive lugs that locks into the barrel extension.

FN FNC Para, with shorter barrel, butt folded and magazine removed

The receiver is made from two parts that are linked by two cross-pins. The receiver could be opened for disassembly and maintenance by removing the rear pin, so the parts could be hinged around the forward pin (which also can be removed to separate receiver parts). Upper receiver is made from stamped steel, the lower receiver, along with magazine housing, is made from aluminum alloy.

Barrel of the FNC is equipped with flash hider which also served as a rifle grenade launcher.

FNC is equipped with hooded post front sight and a flip-up, "L" shaped rear diopter sight with 2 settings, for 250 and 400 meter range.

The controls of the FNC consist of the 4-positions safety / mode selector switch on the left side of the receiver. Available modes are Safe, Single shot, 3-rounds bursts and Full automatic fire. The cocking handle is attached to the bolt carrier at the right side and does reciprocate with the bolt group when the gun is fired. The rear part of the cocking handle slot, cut in the upper receiver for cocking handle, is covered by the spring-loaded cover which automatically opens by the handle when it goes back and automatically closes the opening when cocking handle returns forward.

FNC is equipped with side-folding buttstock, made of steel and covered by plastic. A solid, non-folding plastic butt is available as an option. The pistol handle and the forend are made from plastic. FNC is equipped with sling swivels and can be fitted with special bayonet or with adapter for US M7 knife-bayonet. FNC can be fed from any STANAG (NATO standard) compliant magazine, and issued with 30 rounds magazines. If required, FNC could be fitted with 4X telescope sight or various IR / night vision sights.

Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: standard model 997 mm (776 mm with folded butt);"Para" model 911 mm / 680 mm
Barrel length: 449 mm (363 mm "Para" model)
Weight with empty magazine: 4.06 kg (3.81 kg "Para"model)
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds (accept all STANAG-compatible magazines)
Rate of fire: about 700 rounds per minute
Effective range: 450 meters

Teller mine - German-made antitank mine common in World War II

Various Teller mines strapped to a tree

The Teller mine was a German-made antitank mine common in World War II. With explosives sealed inside a sheet metal casing and fitted with a pressure-actuated fuze, Teller mines had a built-in carrying handle on the side. As the name suggests (Teller is the German word for dish or plate) the mines were plate-shaped. Containing little more than 5.5 kilograms of TNT and a detonation pressure of roughly 200 pounds, the Teller mine was capable of blasting the tracks off of any World War II-era tank or destroying a lightly armored vehicle. Because of its rather high operating pressure, only a vehicle or heavy object passing over the Teller mine would set it off.



Teller mines had two additional fuze wells (on the side and underneath) to enable anti-handling devices to be attached.

There were four models of Teller Mine made during World War II:
Teller Mine 43
Teller Mine 42
Teller Mine 35
Teller Mine 29

Approximately 3,622,900 of these mines were produced by Germany from 1943 to 1944.

Enfield SA-80

British soldier sights the L85A2 rifle fitted with German-made 40mm grenade launcher

The development of the SA80 (Small Arms for 1980s) system, which included two weapons - SA80 IW (Infantry Weapon) assault rifle and SA80 LSW (Light Support Weapon) light machine gun, began in the late 1960s when British army decided to develop a new rifle, which will eventually replace the venerable 7.62mm L1 SLR (British-made FNFAL rifle) in the 1980s.



When NATO trials were announced in 1977 to select a new cartridge, British state-owned Enfield Small Arms Factory developed its own small-caliber, high velocity round, which was more or less representing the US .223/5.56mm case necked down to accept 4.85mm (0.19 inch) bullet. When the cartridge came out, Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield developed a new weapon around it, initially designated as SA80-IW or XL65. This weapon, being somewhat similar in outline to the much earlier British Enfield EM-2 assault rifle, was internally quite different, and, basically, was more or less the US-made Armalite AR-18 rifle, put into bullpup stock and rechambered for 4.85mm cartridge. After NATO trials, which resulted in adoption of the Belgian SS-109 version of the 5.56mm cartridge, Enfield engineers rechambered XL65 for this cartridge and continued its development under the designation of XL70. Due to Falkland war, the new system was adopted only in 1984. Original SA80 weapons (both L85 and L86) were plagued with many problems, some being very serious. In general, L85 was quite unreliable and troublesome to handle and maintain. Finally, in the year 1997, after years of constant complaints from the troops, it had been decided to upgrade the rifles then in service.

L22A1 carbine

The upgrade program, committed in years 2000 - 2002, was completed by the famous Heckler-Koch, which was then owned by British Royal Ordnance company (German investors bought the HK back in 2002). About 200,000 rifles were upgraded into the L85A2 configuration, out of total 320,000 or so original L85A1 rifles produced. While official reports about the upgraded weapons were glowing, the initial field reports from the British troops, engaged in the Afghanistan campaign of 2002, were unsatisfactory. Most problems, however, were traced to improper care and maintenance of weapons, and for now the L82A2 performs fairy well both in Afghanistan and Iraq.

L22A2 carbine, as issued to Royal Armoured Corps tank crews in Iraq; note that it has a Picatinny rail above the front grip

Other than the basic L85A1 variant, the SA80 IW also appeared in the shortened carbine version, and in the manually operated L98A1 rifle, which got its gas system removed and a larger cocking handle attached. The L98A1 is used to train the army cadets for basic rifle handling and shooting skills, and the rifle is fired as a manually operated, straight pull magazine repeater rifle. The latest weapon in the SA80 family is the recently adopted L22 carbine, which is issued to tank crews of Royal Armoured Corps. This weapon is available in two versions, L82A1 and L82A2, the latter being fitted with additional Picatinny rail on the right side of front grip base.

Upgraded L85A2 with SUSAT sight

The current L85A2 rifles are recognized as reliable and very accurate, especially when using standard issue SUSAT telescope sights. The drawbacks ofthe L85A2 are somewhat poor balance (which can be improved with installation of HK-made 40mm underbarrel grenade launcher), right-side only extraction and rearward placement of the fire mode selector.

Technical description.

The L85 is a gas operated, magazine fed, selective fire rifle of bullpup layout.

The receiver of the L85 is made from stamped sheet steel, reinforced with welded and riveted machined steel inserts. The gas operated action has a short stroke gas piston, located above the barrel. The gas piston has its own return spring. Gas system has a three-position gas regulator, one position for a normal firing, second for a firing in adverse conditions and the third for launching the rifle grenades (gas port is shut off). The machined bolt carrier rides inside the receiver on the two parallel steel guide rods, with the single return spring placed above and between the guide rods. The typical rotating bolt has 7 lugs that locks into the steel insert in the receiver, just behind the barrel breech. The charging handle is attached to the right side of the bolt carrier, and prior to A2 upgrade caused some problems by reflecting the ejected cases back into the action, thus causing stoppages. In the L85A2 configuration the charging handle was redesigned to avoid such problems. The charging handle slot is covered by the spring-loaded dust cover. The bolt and its extractor claw also were upgraded in the L85A2, to achieve more reliable extraction of the spent cases.

The trigger / hammer assembly of the L85A1 is also typical for a modern bullpup rifle, with the long link from the trigger to the hammer unit, located in the buttstock. The hammer assembly of the L85A2 was redesigned to introduce a slight delay before the hammer release when the gun is fired in the full auto. This did not affected the cyclic rate of fire but improved the reliability and stability of the weapon during the automatic fire. The fire mode selector is located at the left side of the receiver, well behind the magazine housing, and allows for single shots of full automatic modes of fire. The cross-bolt safety button is located above the trigger.

The barrel is rifled for a NATO-standard 5.56mm ammunition, with 1:7 twist, and is fitted with a NATO-standard flash hider, which allows to launch the rifle grenades from the barrel.

The L85 is fed using NATO-standard (STANAG) magazines, similar to M16 type magazines, with the standard capacity of 30 rounds. Early L85A1 steel magazines caused a lot of trouble, as well as the magazine housing itself, which had thin walls that could be easily dented, thus blocking the magazine way. Both magazines and its housings were upgraded in the L85A2 configuration.

L85A1 rifle, with carrying handle and front sight installed instead of more common SUSAT telescope sight

The standard sighting equipment is the 4X SUSAT (Sight Unit, Small Arms, Trilux) telescope, with illuminated reticule. The SUSAT is mounted on a quick-detachable mount at the top of the receiver, and features an emergency backup open sights at its top. The SUSAT allows for an accurate fire (mostly in single shots) out to 400-500 meters. For a second-line troops an alternative sighting system is available, that consists of the removable front post sight with high base and post protection "ears", and a detachable carrying handle with built-in diopter rear sight.

The L85 can be fitted with the proprietary knife-type multipurpose bayonet. L85A2 rifles also can be fitted with 40mm under-barrel grenade launcher, using special handguard. Launcher is made in Germany by Heckler-Koch.

Enfield SA80-IW (Individual Weapon), chambered for experimental 4.85x49 ammunition

Caliber: 5.56x45 NATO
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 780 mm (709 mm in Carbine variant)
Barrel length: 518 mm (442 mm in Carbine variant)
Weight: 4.13 kg (with SUSAT optical sight and no magazine); 5 kg with SUSAT and loaded with magazine with 30 rounds of ammunition
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Rate of fire: 650 rounds per minute
Effective range: about 500 meters (with SUSAT sights)

Why China's Navy Makes Asia Nervous

Article by Time. See full article by clicking on this.

The last time the aircraft carrier once known as the Varyag generated this much concern, it was for fear it might sink. The ship was one of the Soviet Union's last naval commissions, but construction at the Black Sea shipyard of Mykolaiv was abandoned in 1992 after the U.S.S.R.'s breakup. The Varyag languished as an unfinished hulk until 1998, when a Chinese company, based in Macau and with ties to the Chinese navy, bought it from Ukraine, ostensibly to take the ship to the gambling enclave as a floating casino. Turkish officials worried that the 300-m vessel — a rusting shell without weaponry, engines or navigation equipment — would sink while crossing the Bosphorus Strait, causing an environmental headache and a hazard to navigation. So they delayed its passage for three years, only agreeing in 2001 to halt traffic on the Bosphorus to allow the symbol of Soviet decline to be tugged past the shoreside forts and luxury homes of Istanbul on its five-month journey to the Pacific.



Macau's harbor was never deep enough for the Varyag. The orphaned warship of a former superpower, with its distinct ski-jump-like bow for launching planes, wound up instead in the northeastern Chinese port city of Dalian. There, it has slowly been transformed into the first aircraft carrier of a future superpower. Now the world has a new set of concerns about the former Varyag. On Aug. 10 the newly refurbished carrier set sail from Dalian for its first sea trial. Its casino cover story long discarded, the ship will enter a wager with decidedly higher stakes: the projection of China's military power on the high seas.

The Varyag's launch comes at a fraught time. China's armed forces are modernizing — military spending has grown by an annual average of 15% since 2000 — and after a decadelong charm offensive in East and Southeast Asia, Beijing has begun taking a more aggressive stand on territorial disputes. Several factors are driving this tougher approach, including the possibility that disputed waters may have valuable energy reserves, a desire to challenge the regional influence of the U.S., the ever present influence of nationalism and a fear of looking weak before next year's leadership transition. "The Chinese attitude appears to have become substantially more assertive in character," says Clive Schofield, director of research at the University of Wollongong's Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security. "You see this across the board."

China's neighbors, particularly Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines, have responded with tough talk and posturing of their own. Last year China and Japan sparred over islands in the East China Sea that Japan administers and both nations claim, known as the Diaoyu to the Chinese and the Senkaku to the Japanese. When Japan detained a Chinese trawler captain near the islands, China cried foul. Two weeks later Japan released the fisherman, who returned to a hero's welcome in China. This summer, Chinese warships passed through international waters near Okinawa, which has unsettled Tokyo. Japan's latest white paper on national defense said Chinese military modernization, increased activities in Asian waters and lack of transparency "are becoming a cause for concern in the region and within the international community."

The more contentious cockpit is the South China Sea. Its 3 million sq km are dotted by tiny islands, and many of its waters are thought to hold rich oil and natural-gas deposits. Tensions have been rising between China, which claims almost all of the South China Sea, and some of the other Asian states that assert sovereignty over parts of it. The Philippines, which says that Chinese ships have harassed its survey ships and fishing boats a half-dozen times since the spring, announced it would begin to refer to the area as the West Philippine Sea and sent its navy's flagship, the World War II — era frigate Rajah Humabon, to patrol it. Vietnam accuses Chinese vessels of deliberately cutting, twice this summer, the cables of survey ships belonging to PetroVietnam. Hanoi says it is considering a possible reinstatement of the military draft and carried out live-fire drills in June. China responded with three days of naval exercises of its own.

Surface Tension
The disputes over Asia's waters have drawn in the U.S. Last year, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared that the U.S. had a "national interest" in freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and offered Washington's assistance as a mediator. China responded angrily that the U.S. was seeking to "internationalize" an issue that should be resolved among neighbors. Some observers figured that Beijing would take a less antagonistic approach in 2011, having seen how regional disputes invited greater U.S. involvement. "That hasn't happened," Ian Storey, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore said in June. "In fact, tensions have risen in the past two or three months, probably to a higher level than they've been at since the end of the Cold War."

On July 20, China and ASEAN announced nonbinding guidelines on how a settlement in the South China Sea might be pursued, but the differences have hardly narrowed. Cui Tiankai, a Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, warned that the U.S. was at risk of becoming entangled in a regional conflict if it did not work to restrain other states in the region. "I believe that individual countries are actually playing with fire," he told reporters in late June. "I hope that fire will not be drawn to the United States." In mid-July, General Chen Bingde, the Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), publicly complained to his U.S. counterpart, Admiral Mike Mullen, about U.S. military spending, maritime surveillance operations near China's borders and joint exercises with Vietnam and the Philippines that he called "ill timed." Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said after a four-day visit to China that he was not convinced that Beijing's military advancements were entirely defensive in nature, and he fretted that the strife over the South China Sea "could result in some kind of escalation, some kind of miscalculation — an incident, a misunderstanding that would greatly heighten the stakes."

In such a heated environment, China's new aircraft carrier will stoke fresh fears. The ship has yet to be given a Chinese name, but some mainland netizens are calling it Shi Lang, after the 17th century Chinese admiral who conquered Taiwan. Even if Beijing eventually chooses to call the vessel something more subtle, the message to the region will be clear — China's ability to back up its territorial claims is growing.

Military analysts caution that the carrier itself is not a game changer. It is, after all, built from a scrapped 26-year-old hull. The ship may take at least five years after setting sail to become fully operational, says Richard Bitzinger, an expert on Asian militaries and a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore; even then, it may be used just for training. Once the ship begins trials, pilots will have to practice taking off and landing from a moving deck, and crews learn to handle the complexity of a vessel for which the Chinese have no experience. But, as Andrew Erickson, an associate professor at the U.S. Naval War College, puts it, "China has to start somewhere. A newlywed couple wants a starter home, a newly rising great power wants a starter carrier." Analysts believe that as the PLA navy learns how to operate the former Varyag, China will begin building aircraft carriers from scratch — perhaps as many as four. This is the biggest significance of the vessel now being refurbished in Dalian. "It is indicative of China's intentions to break out," says Bitzinger.

For the foreseeable future, the U.S. will remain the dominant military power in Asia. It spends six times what China does on defense and has a long history of operating carriers. The U.S. commissioned its first in 1934 and now has 11 nuclear-powered flattops. Each can carry more than 80 aircraft and simultaneously launch and land several each minute. Combined with submarines, guided-missile cruisers, destroyers and supply ships, the Nimitz-class carrier group is one of the world's foremost military forces, far more powerful than anything China will be able to organize for decades.

But a straight comparison between the U.S. and China is misleading, says Erickson, "unless one envisions an all-out global conflict between the two, which fortunately remains virtually inconceivable." Instead, China is focused on blocking any effort by Taiwan to achieve full independence. China's naval development has been concentrated on what military experts call "antiaccess" or "area denial" capabilities, which would prevent the U.S. from coming to the aid of Taiwan in the event of a conflict. To that end, China has developed an intimidating array of missiles including a new "carrier killer," a long-range, land-based ballistic missile capable of hitting moving ships that General Chen first publicly acknowledged during Mullen's China trip in July.

China has also been able to focus on the projection of military power elsewhere, with cross-strait tensions easing following the election of the mainland-friendly Ma Ying-jeou as Taiwan's President in 2008. Compared with the PLA navy's North Sea and East Sea fleets, the South Sea fleet "has received a major jump in attention and funding in the past several years," says Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt, North East Asia project director for the International Crisis Group. "In addition to the upgrade of existing combatant vessels and submarines, we've also seen the deployment of additional military personnel, patrol ships and submarines." The biggest addition will be the aircraft carrier, which Kleine-Ahlbrandt expects will be sent to operate in the South China Sea. "American military officers tend to brush off [the Varyag] and say it's old, technically outdated, basically just a sitting target," says Storey. "I think the view in Southeast Asia is quite different. It's going send a message to Southeast Asian countries that China is serious about upholding its territorial claims in the South China Sea."

The Confidence Gap
China is playing hardball on the diplomatic front too. Beijing cut off military-to-military ties with the U.S. over arms sales to Taiwan, only resuming them in late 2010 to prepare for President Hu Jintao's state visit to the U.S. Unlike the Cold War, when the U.S. and the Soviet Union agreed to a robust set of rules and hotlines to keep an incident at sea from touching off a nuclear war, Beijing and Washington have no comparable agreement. In a recent report by the Australian-based Lowy Institute for International Policy, authors Rory Medcalf and Raoul Heinrichs list more than a dozen incidents at sea between naval forces or their proxies in the western Pacific. They note that without more communication and active confidence-building measures by all sides, increased naval activity in the area raises the risk of wider hostilities. "While the chance that such incidents will lead to major military clashes should not be overstated, the drivers — in particular China's frictions with the United States, Japan and India — are likely to persist and intensify," they write. "As the number and tempo of incidents increases, so does the likelihood that an episode will escalate to armed confrontation, diplomatic crisis or possibly even conflict."

For now, however, there isn't any particular mood of belligerence in Dalian, where the former Varyag sits dockside within view of an Ikea store and the site of a new Sam's Club. There's just a feeling that it's high time the world's most populous nation took its rightful place on the high seas. Residents recall when the carrier was towed in nearly a decade ago, a rusted shell with little obvious potential as a warship. Today they scoff at the thought that other countries should be worried. "That thing was a piece of trash that even Ukraine didn't want," says a worker at a nearby construction site. "For a nation of 1.3 billion people, it's definitely not enough. We need much more." It's that notion, and not the aircraft carrier itself, that makes the rest of the world nervous.

LAPA FA 03

The LAPA FA-03 rifle was developed by Nelmo Suzano at Laboratorio de Pesquisa de Armamento Automatico(LAPA) between 1978 and 1983. This lightweight bullpup rifle features a plastic housing and an interesting double action trigger system, but very few rifles were made in mid-1980s, probably no more than 500 in total. Some of the LAPA FA-03 rifles are still used by special police forces of Brazil.



The LAPA FA-03 assault rifle is a gas operated weapon that uses conventional piston-operated system with rotating bolt locking. The most unusual thing about FA-03 is its trigger, which can be set to "double action" mode, in which rifle can be carried safely with loaded chamber and hammer in lowered position, safety disengaged. In this mode, rifle is ready to fire but it requires along and deliberate trigger pull to fire the first round (a system very popular in modern semi-automatic pistols). Otherwise this was a fairy conventional weapon, with right side only ejection and open sights (rear sight is built into carrying handle).

Caliber: 5,56x45mm NATO
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 738 mm
Barrel length: 490 mm
Weight: 3,5 kg empty
Rate of fire: 650 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 20 or 30 rounds

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FN SCAR

The US Special Operations Command (US SOCOM) issued a solicitation for the procurement of SOF Combat Assault Rifles (SCAR) on October 15th, 2003. This solicitation requested a new combat rifle, specially tailored for the current and proposed future needs of the US Special Forces, which are somewhat different from latest generic US Army requirements,which are being fulfilled by the newest Heckler-Koch XM8 assault rifle.

FN SCAR-L / Mk.16 rifle prototype (1s generation, late 2004), left side view

The key difference in basic requirements between XM8 and SCAR is that, while XM8 is a single-caliber weapon system, tailored for the 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition, the SCAR should be available in various different calibers. Initial SOF requirements included two basic versions of SCAR system - the SCAR Light (SCAR-L), available in 5.56mm NATO, and the SCAR heavy (SCAR-H), which should be initially available in significantly more powerful 7.62x51 NATO chambering, andshould be easily adaptable in the field to other chamberings. These other chamberings initially include the well-spread 7.62x39 M43 ammunition of the Soviet / Russian origins, and probably some others (like the proposed 6.8x43 Remington SPC cartridge, especially developed for US Special Forces).

FN SCAR-L / Mk.16 rifle, 2nd generation prototype, with FN EGLM 40mm grenade launcher attached

The key idea of SCAR rifle system is that it will provide the Special Forces operators with wide variety of options, from short-barreled 5.56mm SCAR-L CQC variation, tailored for urban close combat, and up to long range 7.62x51 SCAR-H Sniper variant, as well as 7.62x39 SCAR-H, which will accept "battlefield pickup" AK-47/AKM magazines with 7.62 M43 ammunition, available during the operations behind the enemy lines. Both SCAR-Land SCAR-H shall be initially available in three versions, Standard (S), Close Quarters Combat (CQC) and Sniper Variant (SV; now it is dubbed Long Barrel - LB). All these variants, regardless the caliber and exact configuration, will provide the operator with the same controls layout, same handling and maintenance procedures, and same optional equipment, such as sights,scopes, and other current and future attachments.

FN SCAR-H / Mk.17 rifle prototype in CQC (Close Quarter Combat,short barrel) configuration,7.62x51 mm NATO version

Late in 2004 USSOCOM announced, that the winner for the initial SCAR contracts is the FN USA, an US-based subsidiary of the famous Belgian company Fabrique Nationale Herstal. Prototype rifles were manufactured by FN Manufacturing Inc, US-based subsidiary to FN Herstal; This company will also handle series production of rifles. Starting mid-2005, first SCAR rifles went to end users in US Special Operation Forces. Since USSOCOM uses Navy-type "mark" designations, SCAR rifles were officially designated as 5.56mm Rifle Mark 16 (SCAR-L / Light) and 7.62mm Rifle Mark 17 (SCAR-H/ Heavy). It is believed that Mk.16 and Mk.17 rifles will gradually replace most rifle systems now in service with US SOCOM forces, such as M4 carbines, M16 rifles, M14 rifles and Mk. 25 sniper rifles.

FN SCAR-L / Mk.16 rifle partially disassembled; note additional quick-detachable barrel

As it turned out, FNSCAR rifles are not based on any previous weapons but designed from scratch. In all variants FN SCAR rifles feature gas operated, short stroke piston action with rotating bolt locking. Bolt has seven radial locking lugs that lock directly into the barrel extension.

5.56mm NATO FN SCAR-L / Mk.16 rifles of current (2007/2008) production, top to bottom in Long Barrel (LB), standard (Std) and Close Quarter Combat (CQC) configurations

Receiver is made from two parts, upper and lower, connected with two cross-pins. Upper part is made from extruded aluminium, lower part is made from polymer. SCAR-L and SCAR-H use similar upper receivers that differ only in the size of ejection port. Other different parts include caliber-specific bolt, barrel, and lower receiver with integral magazine housing. Parts commonality between SCAR-L and SCAR-H is astonishing 90%. Barrels are quick-detachable, and held in the upper receiver with two cross-bolts. Barrel change procedure requires minimum amount of tools, takes just several minutes and there is no need to adjust the headspace after the change.

7.62mm NATO FN SCAR-H / Mk.17 rifles of current (2007/2008) production, top to bottom in Long Barrel (LB), standard (Std) and Close Quarter Combat (CQC) configurations

The trigger unit with ambidextrous safety-fire mode selectors witch allows for single shots and full automatic fire, with no provisions for limited-length bursts mode. The charging handle could be easily installed on either side of the weapon, so the upper receiver has respective cuts on both sides. Top of the upper receiver is covered by the full-length integral Picatinny rail (MIL-STD 1913); additional Picatinny rails are mounted on both sides and under the free-floating handguards. Side-folding polymer buttstock is adjustable for length of pull, and is shaped to provide positive cheek rest with adjustable cheek support. SCAR rifles are fitted with removable, adjustable iron sights, with folding diopter-type rear sight on the receiver rail, and folding frontsight onthe gas block. Any additional type of sighting equipment, necessary for current tasks, including telescope and night sights, can be installed using MIL-STD 1913 compatible mounts.

Mk.16 SCAR-L rifle will use improved M16-type magazines, made of steel; Mk.17 SCAR-H will use proprietary 20-round magazines in 7.62x51 NATO chambering, or standard AK-type magazines in proposed 7.62x39 M43 chambering. Current prototypes of SCAR rifles do not have bayonet mounts,and, probably, will never have one.

	Mk.16SCAR-L (Light)	Mk.17 SCAR-H (Heavy)
Caliber	5.56x45 NATO	7.62x51NATO basic 7.62x39 M43 and others additionally
Overalllength, standard configuration	850 mm(max) / 620 mm (min)	997 mm (max) / 770 mm (min)
Barrellength	254mm/10" (CQC), 355mm/14" (Std), 457mm/18" (LB)	330mm/13"(CQC), 406mm/16" (Std), 508mm/20" (LB)
Weight	3.5kg empty	3.86 kg empty
Rate of fire	600rounds per minute	600 rounds per minute
Magazinecapacity	30 rounds standard	20rounds (7.62x51 NATO) 30 rounds (7.62x39 M43)

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Patrol Craft - various types

PCF Patrol Craft

Over 100 Swift Boat PCF types served in the Vietnam conflict, conducting operations in riverine warfare.

The PCF (Patrol Craft, Fast) vessels - or better known as "Swift Boats" - were a product of the Sewart Seacraft company which designed the ship to military specifications. The approved military design featured limited offensive capabilities in the form of machine guns and mortars but provided a fast and reliable platform from which to conduct the increasingly important riverine operations in the Vietnam War. Nearly 200 of the type were constructed though only about 110 actually served in the war with the United States Navy.

The Swift Boat featured a distinct design profile with a noticeable mast atop the cabin. The driving compartment was held well-forward with three rectangular windows at front. An upper gun tub mounted a dual 12.7mm (.50 caliber) gun system in an open arrangement. Additional armament consisted of a single 12.7mm machine gun mated to an 81mm mortar launcher in an over-under set up. Beyond that, the occasional 7.62mm machine gun could be mounted forward and any personal crew weapons could be utilized.

The Swift Boat appeared in three marks (I, II and III) differing only slightly. The Mark II moved the deck house more amidships and featured redesigned port hole windows for the cabin. The Mark III were based on the Mark II but were larger in size. Swift Boats performed admirably well in Vietnam riverine operations but were susceptible to enemy rocket attacks and water mines. The crew complement was normally six sailors. Power was derived from 2 x Detroit Diesel engines developing roughly 480 horsepower each and held the PCF's reach some 21 knots in ideal conditions.

Specifications for the PCF (Patrol Craft, Fast) (Swift Boat)

Dimensions:
Length: 50ft (15.24m)
Beam: 13ft (3.96m)
Draught: 5ft (1.52m)

Performance:
Surface Speed: 21kts (24mph)
Range: 366miles (589km)

Armament Suite:
2 x 12.7mm machine guns (upper cabin turret)
1 x 12.7mm machine gun and 1 x 81mm mortar mounting (rear deck)

OPTIONAL:
1 x 7.62mm M60 general purpose machine gun (forward mounting)
Structure:
Complement: 6
Surface Displacement: 0tons

Machinery:
Engine(s): 2 x Detroit Diesel engines developing 480hp each.



Armed Low Water Patrol Boat

The United States Marines and Army Both Made use of the Vietnam-era PBR.

One of the most intriguing of the United States Navy's crafts during the Vietnam War arguably was the PBR (or "Patrol Boat, Riverine" though also sometimes known as "Pibber"). The low-draft, high-speed river-borne craft was used for basic river patrol, river traffic searches and special forces insertion in an attempt to disrupt enemy riverine highways from supplies, ammunition and the like. The boat, the centerpiece for River Patrol Force, Task Force 116, could be fitted with a plethora of armament and was very effective in its intended role.

Design of the PBR centered around its propulsion of twin Detroit Diesel diesel engines which generated up to 220 horsepower. These engines drove twin Jacuzzi Brothers waterjets that allowed the PBR speeds in excess of 28 knots. The rigid hull was constructed of fiberglass and produced a shallow draft, allowing the PBR elements to traverse portions of the Delta where other Navy craft could not enter. Accommodations amounted to a standard load of four personnel with one usually consisting of an interpreter for dialogue and navigational purposes. Ceramic-based armor allowed for some protection for the cabin where three of the crew and their fellow passengers resided. A forth crewmember mounted the separated forward armament tub at the bow.

Armament consisted of a myriad of weapons combinations based on experience and practice. The forward bow turret was usually armed with twin 12.7mm (.50 caliber) M2HB Browning heavy machine guns. A pintle mounting amidships could hold a Mark 19 40mm grenade launcher or a single M60 7.62mm (.30 caliber) belt-fed machine gun. The rear pintle mounted (protected by ceramic shields) could mount a single 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine guns. Additional armament for the boat consisted of mortar launchers, 20mm cannons and flamethrowers, the latter of which produced impressive results against the straw and thatch structures found throughout the region. The standard armament of the PBR could also be augmented by whatever personal weapons were carried by the crew.

The PBR appeared in two marks known simply as Mark I and Mark II. The most differentiating feature between the two was that the Mark II series was fitted with a longer hull. The PBR plays a large role in the Hollywood motion picture Apocalypse Now. PBR's served the United States Navy up until 1995.

Specifications for the PBR (Patrol Boat, Riverine)

Dimensions:
Length: 32ft (9.75m)
Beam: 12ft (3.66m)
Draught: 2ft (0.61m)

Performance:
Surface Speed: 28kts (32mph)
Range: 0miles (0km)

Armament Suite:
2 x 12.7mm Browning M2HB machine guns in forward tub turret position
1 x 40mm Mark 19 automatic grenade launcher on midship gun pintle mount
1 x 12.7mm Browning M2HB OR 7.62mm M60 machine gun on aft gun pintle mount

OPTIONAL:
1 x 7.62mm machine gun on starboard pintle mount
1 x 7.62mm machine gun on port pintle mount
1 x 60mm mortar on midship mount
1 x 20mm cannon on midship mount
1 x flamethrower
Structure:
Complement: 4
Surface Displacement: 7tons

Machinery:
Engine(s): 2 x Detroit Diesel diesel engines generating 220hp and driving 2 x Jacuzzi Brothers waterjets.

Patrol Boat Light

The PBL is a multi-purpose, high-speed Boston Whaler-type vessel suitable for interdiction duties.

The PBL (or "Patrol Boat, Light") is another in the United States Navy's long line of surface vessels built on speed and quick strike / interdiction. Such qualities are often prized by special forces units and the capabilities inherent in a system such as the PBL are a mjor reason why. The vessel has seen constant use since its inception and remains in service, being used as recently as Operation Enduring Freedom with United States Navy Special Boat Units (SBU).

The design of the PBL is of particular note, considering the fiberglass hull provides a shallow draught. This effectively means that the PBL can operate in just about any water depth apart from choppy open seas. The shallow draft also plays on the vessels ability to hit a top sea-going speed of up to 40 knots, making the quick strike capability of this craft a strongpoint. The PBL design is centered around a Boston Whaler-type boat and remains unarmored which contributes to the types impressive speeds. The craft has three weapon stations for a variety of weapon mountings though these are traditionally filled with 12.7mm (.50 caliber) and 7.62mm anti-armor and anti-infantry heavy and light machine guns respectively with mountings providing 180-degree arcs of fire forward, amidships and aft. Power for the PBL is derived from twin outboard motors generating 155 horsepower each. These systems sit low to the water line and can hold 25 knot speeds for a sustained amount of time.

The core mission assignment of a class of vessel such as this is strictly in the interception of like-size water-going vessels. Mission types run the gamut of various security operations in established traffic zones and can also revolve around riverine operations if need be. The PBL can also be used to implant special forces units or serve as a reconnaissance gathering platform in a similar special operations role. The overall negligible size of the craft makes transportation ideal through either cargo aircraft, floating headquarters on sea or towed trailer systems via land.

Specifications for the PBL (Patrol Boat, Light)

Dimensions:
Length: 25ft (7.62m)
Beam: 8.6ft (2.62m)
Draught: 12.6ft (3.84m)

Performance:
Surface Speed: 40kts (46mph)
Range: 0miles (0km)

Armament Suite:
3 x weapon stations for .50 caliber machine guns or 7.62mm machine guns.
Structure:
Complement: 11
Surface Displacement: 6tons

Machinery:
Engine(s): 2 x outboard motors developing 155hp each.


INS Hetz / Nirit Sa'ar

The INS Hetz proceeds along a multiple-minded mission set, ready to react in an offensive or defensive nature.

An Israeli Naval Ship (INS), the Hetz/Nirit-class Sa'ar 4.5 is a missile boat that was launched sometime in 1991. The Hetz - and her class - are designed with a multiple mission set in mind: "brown water" patrol close to the shore line and "deep blue" water assignments further at sea. The Hetz takes on a coast guard type assignments and, at times, can be called upon to assume destroyer escort duty as a picket boat, in effect expanding the missile defense umbrella covering Israel's coastline against enemy missile, aircraft or a surface warship attack.

Originally, the Hetz Sa'ar 4.5-class missile boat was named the INS Nirit. Two of the original class - the Aliya and Geula - were scheduled to have helipads and hangers built atop the aft deck. They were renamed to the INS Aliya-class. Compatible helicopters included the Sikorsky HH-65, Bell 206, Hughes MD 500 as well as the newest Eurocopter Panther. In 2006, both "heliboats" were sold to Mexico.

The Nirit was last to be launched and received advanced equipment and, when commissioned in 1991, received a name change to INS Hetz. The Romach and the Keshet were then upgraded to the Hetz standard and the Israeli Navy named the Hetz as first in its class. Another two missile boats were upgraded as Hetz Sa'ar 4.5-class the INS Sufa launched in 2002 with the INS Herev following in 2003.

The Hetz was outfitted with three types of missile systems - the Barak, the Gabriel II, and the American-made Harpoon - and could support a layered defense approach with the operator choosing the right weapon for the task at hand. Apart from the Harpoon, the other two defense systems were of wholly Israeli design. The Gabriel II was a short-to-medium anti-ship missile system with a range up to 36km with six such launchers mounted onboard. The Barak was a short-range 10km system designed for anti-aircraft and surface ship suppression to which the Hetz mounted two of these launchers forward. The Boeing Harpoon missile system rounded out the triad and was a proven long-range, surface-to-surface anti-ship missile. The Hetz carried two harpoon batteries of four launchers each having a maximum range of 130km. For closer encounters, the weapons suite was made up of the Vulcan Phalanx Mk 15 25mm CIWS (Close-In Weapon System) or the standard OTO Melara 3 76mm main gun. Fire control onboard for the missile systems and the CIWS 25mm gun was directed by the Thales Neptune air/surface search radar and the Elta EL/M-2221 fire control radar. The ship was also afforded an electronic warfare system in the Elisra NS-9003A/9005 RWR and, as the last level of defense, an Elbit a chaff rocket system was made available.

Specifications for the INS Hetz / Nirit Sa'ar 4.5

Dimensions:
Length: 202.3ft (61.66m)
Beam: 24.9ft (7.59m)
Draught: 9ft (2.74m)

Performance:
Surface Speed: 34kts (39mph)
Range: 5,523miles (8,888km)

Armament Suite:
8 x Harpoon surface-to-surface, long-range, anti-ship missiles.
6 x Gabriel II surface-to-surface, short-to-medium range, anti-ship missiles.
4 x Barak surface-to-air, anti-aircraft, short range missile system.
2 x 76mm OTO Melara cannons OR 2 x Vulcan Phalanx Mk 15 25mm CIWS.
2 x 20mm Typhoon anti-aircraft cannons
4 x Chaff dispensers
4 x Smoke dispensers
Structure:
Complement: 53
Surface Displacement: 488tons

Machinery:
Engine(s): 4 x MTU 16V956 TB91 diesel engines delivering 4,000 base horsepower; 4 x shafts.


INS Dabur

The Dabur series of patrol crafts were replaced by the Dvora-class vessels in Israeli Navy service.

The INS Dabur (PC 860) was the lead ship in her class. Classified as a patrol craft, the system saw the first dozen vessels constructed in the United States with the rest taken over by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) in Israel. The ship and her sisters saw extensive use in the Israeli Navy for over 30 years with action in the 1973 Yom Kipper War. As offensive platforms, the Dabur proved her worth in high speed attacks on Egyptian naval forces of similar or lesser size operating in the Mediterranean.

The design of the Dabur-class went on to influence a generation of Israeli-designed boats to come. She featured a superstructure set about midship and was crewed by nine personnel. Her armament included twin 20mm Oerlikon cannons (one mounted forward and one mounted aft), 2 x 12.7mm (.50 caliber) heavy machine guns, 2 x 324mm torpedo tubes for the Honeywell-brand Mk 46 torpedo and depth charges. In any case, the vessel was primed to attack most vessels through her varied armament types. Power was derived from twin General Motors diesel engines powering 2 x propeller shafts.

The Dabur could reach a top speed of 29 knots in ideal conditions. The system also served (and may continue to do so) in other navies of the world including Argentina, Nicaragua and Chile. Armament may differ between the types based on need. The Dabur-class as a whole was relieved of operational duty in the Israeli Navy by the Dvora-class ships.

Specifications for the INS Dabur (PC 860)

Dimensions:
Length: 64.9ft (19.78m)
Beam: 18ft (5.49m)
Draught: 5.8ft (1.77m)

Performance:
Surface Speed: 29kts (33mph)
Range: 450miles (724km)

Armament Suite:
2 x 20mm Oerlikon cannons
2 x 12.7mm machine guns
2 x 324mm torpedo tubes (Mk 46 torpedoes)
Depth Charges

OPTIONAL:
2 x 25mm cannons (replacing 20mm types)
Crew-served rocket launchers
Additional 12.7mm OR 7.62mm machine guns
Structure:
Complement: 9
Surface Displacement: 39tons

Machinery:
Engine(s): 2 x General Motors diesel engines driving 2 x shafts.

Armored Troop Carrier

The Armored Troop Carrier bristled with heavy armament and was armored for the rigors of close-in fighting along the Vietnam river shorelines.

The United States Navy, much like the French Navy before it during the First Indochina War, saw the importance of controlling and using the many streams and rivers of South Vietnam for war fighting and resupply. The purpose of the Armored Troop Carrier (or "ATC") was therefore twofold - first to move US Army and ARVN troops and, second, to service the fire team boats and other gasoline-powered watercraft on the rivers of Viet Nam. During a standard operation, troops were carried into battle in the Navy's ATCs, which were conventional landing craft, armored to safeguard against heavy fire they often were exposed to from canceled enemy positions onshore. These armored boats could carry a fully equipped infantrymen platoon of 40 men on any waterway with a depth of 5 feet or more.

The ATC boats converted from LCM-6 landing craft developed in the 1950s for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore use. The converted LCM designs added 0.25 inch armor plating in many areas to protect the superstructure from critical damage caused by rockets. The upgraded armored ATC made up about half of the river craft deployed by the United States during the Vietnam War, in effect making the ATC the "workhorse" of the river war. Some ATCs had helicopter decks added and became ATC(H). These installations allowed helicopters to land on the boats themselves for swift evacuation of wounded soldiers. The Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) started with three basic boat types: (1) the ATC boat ("Tango Boat") - this served as the most useful boat; (2) the "Monitor", a floating artillery platform of the MRF and, (3) the Command and Communications Boat (CCB), the so-called "Charlie Boat". Each squadron of boats had a Tango boat converted into a boat for refueling to be used by all of the above.

The ATCs fuel capacity (using fuel oil or gasoline) was 1,200 gallons with space for 300 gallons of lube oil with a mixing tank holding 500 gallons. The boat was equipped with a portable tank and transfer pump that required hoses for the fuel exchange. The ATC full load displacement was 155,000 lbs with a cargo weight of 130,000 lbs. A sling was installed for hoisting fuel containers onboard. She maintained a semi-flat bottom with 2 x 6-cylinder diesel engines each having 225 horsepower at 2,100 rpm for emergency use and 165 horsepower at 1,800 rpm for continued use. ATCs fielded 2 x 24-inch D by 17-inch P by a 2-inch bore with a right-hand rotation propellers. The cargo well was 9'6" x 22'6" with a clear overhead and 9'6" x 31' 6" with a clear dock.

All Tango boats had a distinctive lowering bow ramp used to deploy troops and load cargo to and from shorelines. The ATC could provide close support against enemy fire due to a shield of hardened steel armor. The vessel could carry an arsenal of weapons that made her available for most defensive- and offensive-minded missions. ATCs were typically fitted with 4 x 7.62mm M60 general purpose machine guns and 2 x 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine guns, 1 x 40mm Mk 19 rapid-fire automatic grenade launchers and 2 x 20mm cannons, these protected in armored pill boxes. The crew of seven also carried their personal weapons and large supplies of ammunition was kept on board. If the Monitor river craft were considered the "battleships" of Vietnam rivers then the Tango ATC boats were the "heavy cruisers".

The Tango boats participated in a memorable chapter of the United States Navy's river warfare that was a hard fought effort for control of the "green" and "brown" waterways of the Republic of Vietnam. The US Army's Mobile Riverine Force used the ATC to transport the Riverine Infantry Force throughout the Mekong Delta. In the early part of the war, Tango boats mainly transported troops of the 9th Infantry Division. When the decision came down to integrate, Vietnamese Army and Marine troops replaced the Americans on these Tango boats.

The Viet Cong guerrillas operated on the river on a daily basis and this led to fierce gun battles at very close quarters. The guerrillas used a multitude of boats (called "junks" and "sampans") that were capable of navigating in only a few inches of water and could travel practically unseen and unheard near the banks of the rivers. However, also operating in these inland river areas was the joint Army and Navy Mobile Riverine Force. This force consisted of ATC's and heavily armed and armored monitors along with support boats that moved combat troops from the US Army's 9th Infantry Division into combat.

The ACT's were able to deploy troops on the flanks and to the rear of communist elements in an effort to defeat the enemy forces. After many years of war, the enemy had begun to find ways to counter the allied river patrol effort - the Viet Cong started using smaller rivers and canals to move their supplies. As such, the main force of the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong learned to avoid direct contact with the more powerful Mobile Riverine Force.

To secure the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, the American and Vietnamese river units fought well and hard against a tough Vietnamese communist enemy. In 1975 the Vietnam War ended in failure for the Republic of Vietnam and, by extension, the United States. However, the experience and brave work of the ATC crews, and that of her sister type ships, provided the military with valuable knowledge of riverine warfare for possible future application.

Specifications for the Armored Troop Carrier (ATC)

Dimensions:
Length: 56.5ft (17.22m)
Beam: 17.5ft (5.33m)
Draught: 3.3ft (1.01m)

Performance:
Surface Speed: 8.5kts (10mph)
Range: 0miles (0km)

Armament Suite:
FIRST GENERATION:
1 x 20mm cannon
2 x 12.7mm M2 Browning heavy machine guns
4 x 7.62mm M60 general purpose machine guns
2 x 40mm Mk 18 automatic grenade launchers
2 x 40mm M79 single-shot grenade launchers

Also any crew-served personal weapons - grenades, pistols, rifles, assault rifles and machine guns as available.

SECOND GENERATION:
2 x 20mm cannons
2 x 12.7mm M2 Browning heavy machine guns
4 x 7.62mm M60 general purpose machine guns
1 x 40mm Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher
2 x 40mm M79 single-shot grenade launchers

Also any crew-served personal weapons - grenades, pistols, rifles, assault rifles and machine guns as available.
Structure:
Complement: 7
Surface Displacement: 77tons

Machinery:
Engine(s): 2 x Detroit Diesel 64HN9 engines delivering 220 horsepower each @ 2,100rpm to 1 x shaft.


Patrol Boat Mark V Special Operations Craft

The Mark V series of boats is utilized primarily by the United States Navy SEALs for high-speed insertion and extraction.

The Mark V SOC (Special Operations Craft) primarily serves the United States Navy's Navy SEALs special forces group as a high-speed insertion/extraction vessel with the ability to carry up to 16 SEAL specialists along with its standard operating crew of five or six. Additionally, the craft can serve as a general patrol vessel in low engagement areas and as a launching platform for unmanned aerial vehicles. Built by Halter Marine, Incorporated, the initial Mk V boats were delivered beginning in 1995 with some 20 total craft accounted for. Full operational status was achieved by 1999.

After a fast development time, the first Mark V SOC boat were found to reveal several structural design issues. When operating in rough waters, the Mark V's aluminum hull was known to transmit much of the shock impact throughout the boat and (in some cases) onto the crew, resulting in various injuries. Additionally, the pilothouse structure was known to collapse if struck with the right amount of force from a marauding wave at full speed in rough waters (the Mark V could reach speeds nearing 50 knots). After several years of operation and modifications to the base Mark V, an improved Mark V was on the drawing boards in an attempt to address the rough water operation of the original craft altogether. The newest in the Mark V SOC line became the Mark V.1 (known unofficially as the "MAKO") and featured a composite carbon-fiber hull (as opposed to the aluminum type) along with other improvements in an effort to help protect the crew. As of this writing, the MAKO is in the testing phase with design undertaken by Maine Marine Manufacturing LLC.

When serving the Navy SEALs, the Mark V can carry up to four CRRCs (Combat Rubber Raiding Craft) complete with outboard motors including two motors held in reserve. A handy ramp at the stern makes for easy pick up of the CRRC's and SEAL team as the vessels can come right up and unto the Mark V. Self-defense is accounted for through at least five weapon mounts that can provide a field of active fire covering all 360 degrees of the vessel (along with any personal weapons deployed by the crew). Armament initially included single-mount heavy caliber and general purpose machine guns and automatic grenade launchers but the arsenal has since grown to include a station for the (man-portable) Stinger surface-to-air missile system, miniguns, chain guns, cannons and twin heavy machine gun mounts. It should be noted, however, that the Mark V series is not an ideal offensive weapons platform and is generally reserved for low-to-medium engagement threats - it remains primarily a high-speed insertion/extraction vessel with a secondary role of coastal patrol/interdiction.

Beyond its ample firepower and speed, the Mark V series of patrol boats features a sleek profile with angular shapes helping to provide some "stealth" functionality. Along with the powerful diesel engines, the Mark V can rely on two water jets for low-speed approaches, in effect reducing its wake signature significantly. Mark V's can be launched virtually from any forward-operating post that can offer ample storage space, supplies and maintenance facilities while deployment can be handled through transport aircraft (C-5 Galaxy), by land-based trucks via special transport trailers or applicable support/supply ships.

Specifications for the Patrol Boat Mark V Special Operations Craft (SOC)

Dimensions:
Length: 82ft (24.99m)
Beam: 17.5ft (5.33m)
Draught: 5ft (1.52m)

Performance:
Surface Speed: 50kts (58mph)
Range: 690miles (1,110km)

Armament Suite:
Combination of any of the following:

12.7mm M2 Heavy Machine Guns
7.62mm M240 General Purpose Machine Guns
7.62mm M60 General Purpose Machine Guns
40mm Mk19 Automatic Grenade Launchers
Stinger MANPADS
GAU-17 Miniguns
12.7mm MK95 2 x Heavy Caliber Machine Gun Mount
MK 38 Chain Gun
25mm Mk48 Cannons
Structure:
Complement: 22
Surface Displacement: 68tons

Machinery:
Engine(s): 2 x MTU 12-cylinder TE94 diesel engines; 2 x KaMeWa K50S water jets.