Firearm evolution is a slow tedious matter at times with breakthroughs and improvements coming in bits and pieces influenced by a multitude of factors such as manufacturing techniques, metallurgy, cartridge improvements, technology, market forces and countless other factors as experienced in individual countries and cultures. The firearm development path covers centuries of time. One of the most basic concepts that has remained constant, or stagnant depending on point of view, are handgun sights. The earliest muzzle loading pistols feature sights that we can recognize today in the form of a front post and some sort of rear notch that it is aligned with. Modern open sights are more refined, but the basic form is the same – align front post within rear notch. This is now undergoing a change with the advent of installing red dot sights (RDS) in lieu of the traditional iron open sights for everyday personal defense weapons, law enforcement and military weapons. Competition handguns have sported enhanced sights, albeit red dots or magnified optics, for decades now; however a subtle movement is underway to incorporate red dots into everyday concealed carry or personal defense handguns. The previously applied red dots were big and ungainly affairs with complex, often times, custom mounts utilized for a “gaming” application and less than hardy for everyday carry. This is not the case with the current RDS offerings coming on line.

The ever rising groundswell of RDS on handguns is evident with multiple manufacturers offering options of mounting RDS to the frames of their semiautomatic handguns. Most of these examples are large and put one in mind of an offensive handgun more than an inside-the-waistband concealed carry weapon. Other offerings are custom in nature in terms of configuration and cost. An emerging leader driving the concept both in theory and application producing red dot sights for defensive handguns is the Technical Services Division (TSD) of One Source Tactical. Gabe Suarez is both the owner of One Source Tactical and Suarez International a worldwide training organization. Mr. Suarez is a controversial figure within certain circles for various reasons; some of which are his “out of the box” thinking when it comes to personal defense methods and tools that best serve this mindset. No matter preconceived opinions, one can be sure that any ideas presented by Mr. Suarez and then backed up with products are well thought out and proofed during numerous training cycles and personal application in the field under the most rigorous conditions. TSD’s Advanced Combat Glock slide is an excellent example of this.

While models such as Smith&Wesson M&P and Springfield XD are offered via TSD, the starting point for TSD’s development of the red dot handgun began with the Glock – and for good reason. Many consider Glock the standard which fighting pistols are held based on capacity, weight/firepower ratio, ruggedness, and reliability. Glock handguns enjoy a reputation second to none. After exploding on the scene in the early 1980s with the Glock 17, Glock pistols quickly evolved into the benchmark for personal defense handguns. One Source Tactical literature is quick to point out that they were not the first to conceive the red dot mounted handgun. As alluded to earlier, competition circles have been using red dot sights on their handguns for a decade. Those rigs however use very large optics and as such, they were unsuitable for daily carry. One of the first credible accounts of actual use of a “mini” red dot sight on a defensive pistol is Kelly McCann, who used a RDS on his well worn and traveled Glock 19 pistol.

TSD and Suarez International first began work on the Advanced Combat Glock concept when seeking an answer to questions posed by many of their students as to how best to enhance what was for many their primary method of defense – the handgun. The obvious answer was training and practice. Suarez International will never be confused with advocating gear as a substitute for skill ingrained by training and practice. However, Gabe felt gear enhancement could assist in the quest. Proficiency with a handgun is one of the most perishable weapon skills and is impacted as we get older due to changes in our vision causing difficulty seeing iron sights and the target at the same time, or difficulty transitioning focus between sights and target. The solution arrived at was the same as most had already opted for with their rifles: add a red dot sight to your AK or M4 and your shooting skill generally improves in terms of accuracy, speed, and proficiency engaging moving targets. While a little more challenging due to size restrictions, this is what Suarez’s TSD decided on as the best course of action with handguns. What TSD finally arrived at with trial and error in product development not only assisted their students but enhanced the basic ability of the personal defense handgun platform as a whole.

When looking for a viable red dot sight, TSD examined several available optics. They wanted something with a bright, clearly defined dot that was visible in the greatest variety of lighting conditions. Another consideration was reasonable battery life and waterproof enough to be submerged in a bucket of water. No dials, adjustments, or on-off switches were another must as the possibility of the unit becoming mis-adjusted or turned off during holster carry was totally unacceptable. An RDS with a minimal footprint to fit as many different types of slides as possible was another desired feature so as not to confine the concept to a Glock-only idea. TSD obtained various samples for testing; while all of them share similar characteristics, all were found lacking except for one: the Trijicon RMR. Reflective of the real world input through their training division sister company; TSD desired a viable back up sighting system with the Trijicon RMR, because as tough as the RMR is, anything man-made can fail. After experimenting with various systems from dot and bars cut into the RMR unit, TSD opted for the simplest, yet most sound solution. The iron sights were left exactly where they were and just made taller as represented by available suppressor sights to use over the Trijicon RMR unit.

Users of the TSD Advanced Combat Glock find that they no longer have to switch focus from target to sights and invariably eliminate the “front sight focus” so difficult for older shooters. They can now do as nature intends for them to do, focus on the threat. Moreover, because the indexing of a small red dot is far easier and sharper than the same task with three pieces of steel, they find they can take shots beyond what was considered possible with iron sights. Hitting steel at 100 yards on the first shot is very possible with the TSD modified RDS Glock, as well as running CQB drills at times that were considered impossible to achieve before – all simply because the concept uses the eyes in a more normal manner.

What sets apart the Suarez TSD effort with the RDS Advanced Combat Glock is the amount of product development, field trials, and cross over support it receives from its sister companies. For example, One Source Tactical already stocks real world carry applicable holsters along with literature and training for the Advanced Combat Glock. This is far different compared to other manufacturer’s more limited experimentation with the concept. TSD offers various packages to further cater to customer needs and budgets. One package includes a Lone Wolf Glock Slide milled to accept a Trijicon RMR of choice. The RMR is secured with two machine screws directly into the slide providing for RMR remaining solid through thousands of rounds and return to zero should you ever need to remove your sight. The kit includes all the slide parts (except barrel and recoil spring unit) and finished in a matte black moly finish. Another option is to send your Glock slide (any model) and TSD will cut a dovetail for the Trijicon RMR sight, or other red dot sight of your choice.

Range testing of the TSD Advanced Combat Glock took place at Echo Valley Training Center. Two main T&E priorities were the focus and to make sure that Glock reliability was not compromised and the Trijicon RMR as installed by TSD proved a worthy addition by increasing capability beyond what was expected from a normal iron sighted Glock. Of first concern was being able to find the Trijicon RMR dot just as quickly as what is expected with the traditional iron sight front post. Suarez’s TSD orientation of the suppressor style rear iron sights behind the RMR acts as both back-up sights and quickly orientates the shooter’s eye to RMR dot stationed above the front post. This uses existing skill sets of acquiring sights by placing the dot visually on top of the front sight requiring zero learning curve and matches same sight system most already have on their M4 or AK set up with co-witnessed sights (RDS between the irons). A little time on the range with the Suarez TSD modified Glock exploits that existing skill set to put the dot on target without any delay. Lastly, yet another advantage of the TSD decision to retain elevated irons around the RMR is that it provides instant verification of zero and if not there instant back up in the event the dot is out.

It was determined that the Trijicon RMR red dot sight assisted in engaging targets at close distances with the red dot easy to pick up rapidly. The RMR red dot sight offered the capability to engage multiple targets in rapid sequence compared to open sights, while at same time providing adequate accuracy out to at least hundred yards due to the red dot superimposing an aim point on the target while not totally obscuring the target due to the dot not being that large. As many “maturing” shooters can attest to, the single focus plane with the red dot is easier to shoot accurately than coordinating front and rear sights. The RMR sight withstood the recoil and heat generated by repeatedly long strings of fire. The RMR only weighs several ounces, which aids its ability to withstand the inertial forces experienced as the slide operates. The dual illumination model RMR was chosen so that there was reliance on batteries.

Range testing purposely included several types of holsters so as to determine if the TSD Advanced Combat Glock was worthy of being considered for daily concealed carry duties; not to mention reinforcing if the RMR dot was easily picked up as the Glock was extended at speed engaging either paper or steel targets. Standard belt, inside the waistband, and thigh holsters from Comp-Tac Victory Gear, BlackHawk, DeSantis, and Galco had no problems accommodating the RDS Glock. Other drills consisted of various scenarios engaging targets from behind cover or on the move. Magazine change drills were done for the dual purpose of getting a feel of manipulating the Glock with RDS installed and making sure the red dot was seamlessly picked up after the Glock was reloaded and back engaging targets. A standard 4th generation Glock 17 was used as a control to help better quantify if the RDS Advanced Combat Glock offered an advantage over standard iron sights. It was quickly determined that the RDS Glock has great potential in terms of accuracy, speed, and extending effective engagement distances. Perhaps counter-intuitively, CQB distances were more of a concern with how the TSD Advanced Combat Glock would perform. 5 yards and closer is the true realm of the defensive handgun for any practitioner of concealed carry.

As stated at the beginning of the article the use of the TSD RDS Glock as an everyday carry handgun is what sets it apart from other similar endeavors incorporating red dots on pistols. Point shooting with the TSD Glock is still very possible via using the RMR window as a ghost ring – albeit large ghost ring – if forced to react spontaneously to a threat. The RMR came into its own for precise fire at any range desired with placing the dot on the target and applying correct trigger control. Groups with the TSD Advanced Combat Glock were markedly smaller than the control G17 at all distances with the ability to hit steel man popper targets at 50 yards with amazing efficiency and even out to 100 yards with regularity. Speed drills involving plate racks and dueling trees were run with times more similar to a pistol caliber carbine than a handgun. The advantage offered by use of red dot sights in the competition environment is well known. The ability to place the RMR dot on the plate and not having to align front and rear irons proved much more adept at moving rapidly from plate to plate. Another subtle advantage of the Advanced Combat Glock concept is it allows for easy incorporation of a suppressor to the threaded Lone Wolf barrel if so inclined while maintaining the same sight picture.

Overall, it does indeed seem that the Advanced Combat Glock is a valid tool offering real world application and is beyond merely being considered a concept. Most practitioners of concealed carry employ handguns for 95% of their defensive needs with long arms such as shotguns and rifles not as readily accessible. The Suarez TSD Glock extends the effective range of the handgun beyond what most are capable with iron sights. As with most things involving weapons, especially ones that are pushing the envelope past “safe” norms such as the Advanced Combat Glock from One Source Tactical’s TSD shop, it will be individual bias and needs that determine if the Advanced Combat Glock is worthy of consideration.

SITES OF INTEREST

Suarez International USA, Inc.
One Source Tactical/Technical Services Division
1616 Iron Springs Road
Prescott, AZ 86305
(928) 776-4492
www.suarezinternationalstore.com

Glock
6000 Highlands Pkwy
Smyrna, GA 30082
(770) 432-1202
www.glock.com

Lone Wolf Distributing
57 Shepard Road
PO Box 3549
Oldtown, ID 83822
(208) 437-0612
www.lonewolfdist.com

Echo Valley Training Center
www.echovalleytrainingcenter.com

Trijicon Inc.
49385 Shafer Ave
Wixom, MI 48393
(248) 960-7700
www.trijicon.com

When I answered the phone, I could sense the frustration in his voice. The caller was a friend of mine who head up small arms procurement in a Scandinavian country. His quick greeting was followed by the description of a small machine screw. As he gave me the dimensions in millimeters, I banged out a few numbers on my calculator, and realized he was describing a 6-40 screw – common in our inch-system. He told me it was for a U.S.-made gun sight. He had checked all of his sources in Scandinavia and even some in Europe, but none of these suppliers had any on hand. He asked if I would buy him some of these screws so he could pick them up when he visited me in Florida during the following week.

This episode started me to thinking about U.S. small arms. Is it time we consider going metric? I know we’ve been at this crossroads before, but it has never happened. Maybe there are good reasons now to reconsider. If you’ll allow me to present some facts, I’ll let you be the judge.

One of the first facts to consider, is that a “decimal-based measurement system” (the metric system) was proposed by Thomas Jefferson in 1790 and the U.S. mint was formed to produce the world’s first decimal currency with the U.S. dollar equal to 100 cents. Our system of measure did not go that way. As I’m sure you know, our inch-system is a carryover from our days as an English colony. The last major holdouts for the inch system were one-time fellow colonies: New Zealand, Australia, and Canada who switched over to metric more than 40 years ago.

Flirtation with a Metric Small Arm-the FN FAL

In 1953, the U.S. military had to decide what they would do if the 7.62mm Belgian FN FAL (U.S. designation T48) were to win the competition against the U.S. T44 (M14.) After beating out the M14 in several trials, the FAL was on the fast track to become the official U.S. service rifle, but the FAL did have one detractor: the design was metric. To assure there would be no U.S. production problems, Harrington and Richardson was awarded a contract to convert the design over to the inch system. H&R built a quantity of 500 inch-system FAL’s of exceptional quality. As this production was ongoing, engineers under the direction of Springfield Arsenal’s Roy Rayle, worked around the clock to correct deficiencies in the M14 design. In 1954 testing, the two rifles – T44 (M14) and the U.S.-made T48 (FAL) tested to a draw, and in subsequent trials the T44 went on to win.

Why the big exercise to make an inch-system rifle? To enable U.S. production of the T48-FAL in the 1953 timeframe, there was almost no choice but to convert the design and the drawings to the inch-system. Factories across America had manual lathes and milling machines that could produce weapon components, but these were all set up with inch-system controls. Screws, roll pins, solid pins, spring wire, and sheet metal stock were readily available in U.S. markets, but only in inch-system sizes. Similarly, measurement tools, like vernier calipers, micrometers, and gage blocks were configured for inch-system only measurements. Producing metric components in the U.S. without converting to the inch system was simply not a reasonable option. Success of the T44-M14 made the issue temporarily go away, with no need for further consideration of the metric system in small arms for a long time afterwards.

U.S. Government Mandates Metric

By 1968, most of the world had become metric so a Federal law authorized a 3-year study to determine the impact of increasing metric use in the U.S. Many of the major companies in the U.S. passed out conversion manuals for the International System of Units (SI) that was being adopted throughout the world and trained their workers to use the metric system. By this time, the newer Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) lathes and milling machines were capable of easily converting back and forth from inch to metric so there would be no major trauma when metric drawings reached the production floor.

The U.S. Metric Study was completed in 1971 and their published report recommended we should “go metric” on a carefully coordinated national program. Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and established a U.S. Metric Board, but a timeline was never established for metric conversion. U.S. arms producers like the General Electric Armament Systems Department, followed a government directive mandating that new guns should be metric. They complied in the next product they released, making the drawings for the newest Gatling gun totally metric. And what about the ammunition feed system that connected to it? It was produced using inch system dimensions. Why? Because the government directive said the guns had to be metric, but made no mention of the feed system, so it was a half measure at best. This was typical of the resistive mood of the country towards the metric system. After years of public apathy, spending money, and achieving only marginal results, the U.S. Metric Board was disbanded by President Reagan in 1982.

European Small Arm is adopted: It’s a Sweet Baby but it’s Metric.

In the mid 1970s an international shoot-off resulted in the adoption of the first metric weapon in modern U.S. military history, the 7.62mm FN Herstal Belgian MAG-58. The machine gun, U.S. designation M240, was designed totally in metric. The Army bought the manufacturing rights and the drawings with the intent to competitively procure the weapon and spare parts from manufacturers in the U.S. This required that the Army bring these 1950s era drawings up to current standards, meaning the ones outlined in a specification known as ANSI-Y-14.5 managed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The Army converted the drawings themselves but left the metric system in place. They also left the drawings in first angle projection – the European standard – but more about that later.

It is important to note that by the late 1970s, the manufacturing scene in the United States changed dramatically. CNC machine tools were everywhere, with most of them easily capable of switching from inch to metric. Many conventional lathes and milling machines had digital readouts added to them, making them capable of inch/metric conversion with the push of a button.

FN Herstal won the 1979 production contract to make the M240 in the U.S, and built a factory in South Carolina. FN knew they would be faced with a challenge in finding qualified machinists and other factory help, but they had experience in setting up small arms factories in third world counties and reckoned South Carolina would be easy by comparison. They brought in their own manufacturing team to train the workers, hired manufacturing managers who had prior experience setting up manufacturing plants outside the U.S., and went totally metric on the manufacturing process. During the first full production year, a quantity of 4,509 M240’s was the production goal set by the Army. Guns from every production lot that year had to pass an interchangeability test with other M240s made on the same line. At specified intervals, U.S. made M240s were interchanged with FN Herstal-made guns and were required to pass the same acceptance test. In every case, the weapons functioned flawlessly and the production goals were achieved.

Five years later, the FN South Carolina plant submitted the lowest bid and won the manufacturing contract for the M16A4. If there was to be a metric/inch production challenge, this was it. There was no plan to change the M16 drawings to metric. In fact, it was never discussed. Rather, buttons were pushed on the CNC machines and machines that were formerly making metric M240 parts were now making M16 components. Not only were both inch and metric drawings on the shop floor at the same time but the U.S. drawings were in third angle projection and ones of European origin were in first angle projection.

First Angle – Third Angle: What is it and Who Cares?

The “projection of a drawing-first or third angle” relates to engineering drawings, or “blueprints” if you prefer that term. Since we must use a two dimensional drawing to define a three dimensional component, rules have been set up for where different views are positioned on the drawing – this is called the “projection.” Europeans set their drawings up in first angle projection while in the U.S. we prefer third angle projection. First angle and third angle drawings have one view in common but the rest of the views are in opposite locations. The differences between these conventions are explained in the illustration, and it all makes more sense if you consider the logic behind them. In the third angle system, the user moves his/her eye around the part 90° at a time to “see” another side of the part and the view is positioned accordingly. In the first angle projection system the part is “rotated” 90° each time for a new view. If you are familiar with one system and not the other, you’ll find the left side view where you expect the right side to be, the top where the bottom should be, and so on.

Textbooks describing these systems make the case that Americans find first angle projection illogical. To avoid confusion, drawing standards specify that a figure with two views of a truncated cone be placed in the title block of every drawing to show the part is depicted in first or third angle projection. There is little danger in confusing metric dimensions for inch dimensions; like making a firing pin 400 inches long instead of 400 millimeters. Not paying attention to whether the part to be made is described in first or third angle projection, however, can easily result in parts being made backwards.

By now you may be wondering how FN Manufacturing made out manufacturing with drawings in first and third angle projection as well as metric and inch. Surprisingly it didn’t cause them any problems. The U.S. Army eventually did convert the M240 drawings to third angle projection, fearing that small businesses making spare parts without understanding the application could mistakenly make the parts backwards.

Where Are We Now?

He we are today, 30 years after the metric M240 was put into U.S. production and where is our manufacturing technology? Essentially with the flip of a switch, practically every modern machine tool will operate in metric or inch. Electronic digital readouts on manual milling machines and lathes give even those machines dual capability and the opportunity for even the smallest machine shop to produce in either system. Even inspection equipment from Coordinate Measuring Machines to hand held vernier calipers and micrometers swap metric units for inch units at the push of a button. And what about first and third angle projection? Most good Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems that we now use to make our drawings can switch from either system by the mere selection of a “radio” button. Our military continues to procure metric weapons including the Beretta M9 pistol and the Heckler & Koch M320 grenade launcher and at the same time inch-system weapons like the M4 and M110.

It is the job of U.S. arsenals and military directorates to specify what small arms will be bought along with the drawing packages that define them. There is a directive in the Federal Acquisition Regulations that specifies metric dimensions should be used. Officially, the metric system is preferred, but there are open ended exceptions to the Metric Conversion Act. This means the military doesn’t really care if your drawings are inch or metric or if your hammer rotates on a 1/8-inch pin or one 3 millimeters in diameter. One of the newest small arms under consideration by the military is the LSAT designed by AAI. This light machine gun, firing cased telescoped ammunition, is designed in inch system and is likely to stay that way unless the military directs otherwise.

Pro – Let’s Do It

Just how difficult would it be to specify totally metric weapons from here on out? There would be changes to threaded fasteners, pins, nuts, spring wire, rollers, ball or roller bearings and other hardware. For the most part, the standard metric sizes are close enough to the standard inch sizes so that nothing is sacrificed in strength or durability. Sheet metal comes in standard metric sizes but this is one where direct substitution that could cause a problem causing the substituted part to be too thick or too thin. This change does require careful study and potentially some dimensional changes to mating parts.

Our NATO and other allies are all using the metric system and sometimes our weapons systems. If our small arms were designed with metric, components like pins, screws, and other hardware, would be available to them in their normal supply chains avoiding situations like the one my Scandinavian friend encountered. In short, metrification would make all U.S. small arms more attractive to the rest of the world.

Likely the best reason is that the metric system is incredibly simple. U.S. schools are teaching the metric system and students are finding it easier than our inch system. One high school teacher told me that when her students are required to make measurements, she gives them metric rulers. She switched from inch rulers because students became so bogged down with fractional inch conversions; they were missing the point of the exercise.

Con – Let’s Don’t

We’ve been making parts in inch system dimensions for a long time, now, and have a ready supply of inch system hardware and components. In many cases, metric components are more expensive. The easiest path forward is to continue to let small arms manufacturers produce weapons using any system they want.

Any change, no matter how small, always has an associated price. Not every machine shop is equipped with the latest machine tools and measuring equipment, and even those that do, will still find a certain percentage of their equipment will become obsolete.

The manufacturing success at FN aside, it cannot be denied, there is always the possibility of making manufacturing mistakes when using both inch and metric drawings in the same factory. Introducing metric drawings in first angle projection will only compound the problem.

Conclusion

It’s decision time. Do we make the change to metric in small arms now, or do we kick the can down the road and hope for the best? After all, we still have some allies who, like us, have not adopted the metric system – Liberia and Myanmar. If we hurry, we might at least say we’re not the last country to “Go Metric.”

The Thompson submachine gun has been the subject of many stories since its introduction to the international military and police communities in 1921. There are many collectors of this fine weapon worldwide, some owning many of the different variations, most fortunate to own only one. There are also a lot of enthusiasts who do not own a Thompson, but still collect many of the accessories and paper items. As an accessory or paper collection grows in size, it is usually displayed or defined by a specific era of Thompson history. Of course, the Warner & Swasey era was first, followed by the Colt era and then the Maguire/World War II era. The Kilgore/Willis and Numrich Arms Company era are next, followed by the rebirth of the second Auto-Ordnance Corporation at West Hurley, New York. The current Thompson era is now Kahr Arms, located in Worchester, Massachusetts.

Paper items from the Colt era are very popular collectables and can be quite expensive. There are many items to collect given the Colt era lasted for nearly twenty years. Including advertisements, there is probably no one collection that has an example of every paper item produced during this time period. And the list is ever increasing; newly discovered items and what they represent make all collecting exciting. The subject of this story is a set of military manuals that can belong at the end of the Colt era or the beginning of the World War II era.

It all started on January 25, 1940 when the Royal Swedish army ordered 500 Thompson submachine guns for the Svenska Frivilligkåren SFK or the Swedish Voluntary Corps. The plan was to use the Thompson guns in Finland against the Russian army in what has become known as The Winter War. Delivery was made but the war ended before the guns could be issued. These 500 Thompson were then adopted by the Royal Army of Sweden in 1940 and designated Kulsprutepistol m/40 (submachine gun m/40). All 500 Thompson’s were of Colt manufacture and are the only Thompson submachine guns known to have been used by Sweden. (The full story of the Swedish Thompsons can be found in the May, 2009 issue of Small Arms Review.)

Auto-Ordnance 1940 Handbook

Collectors have known for many years that Auto-Ordnance Corporation (AOC) produced a 1940 Edition Handbook written in Swedish. These handbooks are quite rare and not often encountered. Most enthusiasts have never viewed the inside pages, only a picture of the cover. This handbook is almost non-existent in Sweden; enough so as to raise doubts the handbook was ever provided to the Royal Army of Sweden. Recently, a 1940 Swedish Handbook was found in Sweden bearing the name Erik Ahlberg, a former Swedish Army Officer. Military records reveal Erik Gunnar Ahlberg was born on November 18, 1908, was a book printer by trade, and served with a Swedish Landstormen infantry regiment during World War II. The Landstormen was a second line unit, much like the National Guard in the U.S. Ahlberg later received a reserve officer commission on January 1, 1956 and was promoted to the rank of captain with the Kungl. Södra Skånska Infanteriregementet (Royal Southern Scanian Infantry Regiment) I7. Captain Ahlberg recently passed away and the handbook was found while the family was disposing of his estate. It was actually discarded at first, but luckily someone thought to see if there may be any collector interest with this type of item.

Review of the handbook shows it is only 21 pages in length, less than half the size of the commonly found English 1940 AOC handbook. The literal English translation for the language on the cover is as follows:

UPPLAGA 1940
EDITION 1940
UPPGIFTER
DATA
om
on
THOMPSON
THOMPSON
KULSPRUTEPISTOL
SUBMACHINE GUN
MODELL 1928
MODEL 1928

Please take note of the 270 Broadway (New York) address; there are only a few AOC paper items with this address. The next address for AOC would be in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The Swedish AOC handbook appears to have been designed and printed very quickly. It is definitely not an exact Swedish translation of the commonly found English 1940 AOC handbook. The Swedish order was placed with AOC on January 25, 1940; the ship carrying the Thompson guns and accessories set sail on February 19, 1940. If the handbooks accompanied the guns and accessories, this left only a short time to design, write, proof, print and deliver the handbooks for shipment. The first indication the handbook was written quickly can be found on the front cover. The phase in the lower right hand corner, “Tryck i U.S.A.”, translates in English to: Print in U.S.A. The correct word or phrase should be Tryckt i U.S.A. – meaning Printed in U.S.A. The use of stock pictures from AOC handbooks and catalogs used prior to 1940 indicate it was most likely printed and distributed before the commonly found English Edition of 1940 Auto-Ordnance handbook was compiled. The schematic of the Thompson gun pictured at the front of the handbook is actually a Model of 1921 A Thompson with a vertical fore grip. This same schematic had been used by AOC since the first handbook was published in 1921. All known Swedish Thompson guns were Models of 1928 A (no compensator) with horizontal fore grips. There is no picture in the Swedish AOC handbook of this Thompson variation.

Pictures used in the English Edition of the 1940 AOC handbook would have been much better suited for the Swedish guns. For example, the schematic used in the 1940 English Handbook was changed to a 1928 model Thompson gun with a horizontal fore grip. It also included several pictures of Thompson guns with horizontal fore grips and no compensators – just like the version purchased by the Swedish government.

More evidence of a rush to complete the Swedish handbook involves the use of stock AOC pictures showcasing the 100-round or “C” drum. One picture is of a Thompson gun described as a Model of 1928 shown with a vertical fore grip and a 100-round drum; the other a display of a Thompson 100-round drum, 50 round drum and 20 round magazines. Again, these were older stock pictures used in prior AOC handbooks. Sweden did not purchase any 100-round drums with their order of 500 Model of 1928 A Thompson submachine guns. And Auto-Ordnance had long before officially discouraged the use of 100-round drums with the Model of 1928 Thompson gun.

The First Swedish Manual

After the Thompson gun was adopted by the Royal Army of Sweden, steps were taken in Sweden to prepare a manual for this American weapon. A stand alone 11 page Swedish manual was initially compiled, printed and distributed in 1941. Documentation at the KRIGSARKIVET or War Archives in Stockholm, Sweden, dated December 3, 1940 revealed the initial production run for this first manual was 2,000 copies. Only a few copies of this manual are known to survive today.

The literal English translation for the language on the cover is as follows:

BESKRIVNING
DESCRIPTION
över
over
11 mm Kulsprutepistol m/40
11 mm submachine gun m/40
[THOMPSON]
THOMPSON
[Beskr Ksppistol m/40]
Description of submachine gun m/40
1941 ÅRS UPPLAGA
1941 EDITION

This Swedish manual did update the AOC schematic to show the horizontal fore grip but interestingly, still used the Model of 1921 Thompson actuator and buffer assembly. It appears the schematic was taken directly from the Swedish AOC handbook referenced above, and slightly modified to feature the horizontal fore grip.

It is not unusual to find where past owners have personalized a military firearm handbook or manual with their name. Such is the case with this Swedish Army manual. A quick review shows the name “Ljtn Thisell” (Ljtn is short for Lieutenant) on the cover. Research revealed there was only one soldier named Thisell in the Swedish military, a Nils Erik Gregor Thisell. He was born on May 8, 1908 and served in the same Swedish Landstormen infantry regiment during World War II as Captain Ahlberg, above. Thisell and Ahlberg are not only connected in history by two very rare Thompson instruction manuals; military records reveal they were both appointed as Landstorm Second Lieutenants during World War II. And both received their reserve commissions with the Royal Southern Scanian Infantry Regiment I7 on the same day – January 1, 1956.

It is not surprising the featured AOC Handbook and Swedish Army manual are connected to two officers who served with a Swedish Landstormen infantry regiment. As Swedish production of the m/37-39 Suomi 9mm submachine gun increased during World War II, the 500 Thompson guns or m/40’s became surplus for the needs of the Swedish military and were re-issued to the Landstormen units.

Written on the front cover of Lieutenant Thisell’s manual is the statement “gäller 1/3 1960” – translation: “valid 1st. March 1960.” This passage indicates the instructions inside the manual, though issued in 1941, were still valid on that day. This begs the (unanswered) question about the Thompson gun or m/40 still being used by the Swedish military in some capacity in 1960. If the Thompson gun was not in use or at least in inventory for available use, why write this statement on the cover of an old army manual?

SOLDATINSTRUKTION FÖR INFANTERIET

In 1941, information on the new submachine gun, Kulsprutepistol m/40, was included in the Swedish Army manual, SOLDATINSTRUKTION FÖR INFANTERIET (Instructions to Soldier – Infantry). Much of the information on the m/40 or Thompson submachine gun, including two of the pictures, came directly from the initial 11 page Swedish Army manual, BESKRIVNING över 11 mm Kulsprutepistol m/40, referenced above. While not common, Swedish SOLDATINSTRUKTION FÖR INFANTERIET manuals can be found in the U.S. and make a great addition to a Thompson paper collection. Just remember that detailed information on the m/40 or Thompson gun is only found in the 1941, 1942 and 1943 Infantry manuals.

The 1941 SOLDATINSTRUKTION FÖR INFANTERIET manual was the first to include information on the Kulsprutepistol m/40. As the pictures of the manual covers show, there are three different variations of the 1941 manual: the initial or first edition, a second edition and a later third edition. The information on the Thompson or m/40 in all three 1941 editions is identical.

A new SOLDATINSTRUKTION FÖR INFANTERIET was issued in 1942 that contained information on the Kpist m/40. There were two editions in 1942. Interestingly, the cover marking on the 1942 second edition is different than the 1941 second edition. Instead of using the word ANDRA (Swedish for second), a Roman Numeral II is used. The information on the Thompson or Kpist m/40 in both 1942 editions is identical.

A new SOLDATINSTRUKTION FÖR INFANTERIET was issued in 1943. Only one edition is known to exist. The information on the Thompson or Kpist m/40 in the 1943 manual is identical to the 1942 manuals.

The information in the 1941 and 1942/1943 manuals is not exactly the same, but the minor variations are mostly linguistic. For example, in the 1941 manuals accessories are referenced as follows: “Tillbehör äro: reservdelsask med innehåll rem, gördel med väskor för reservdelsask, 4 stavmagasin och 1 trummagasin.” This translates to: Accessories are: spare parts box with contents, sling, belt with pouches for spare parts box, 4 stick mags and 1 drum mag.

In 1942 the wording was changed to: “Tillbehör äro: ask för reservdelar med innehåll, kulsprutepistolrem m/40, livrem med väska för 20-skottsmagasin och väska för 50-skottsmagasin, 4 st 20-skottsmagasin och 1 st 50-skottsmagasin.” This translates to: Accessories are: box for spare parts with contents, submachine gun sling m/40, belt with pouch for 20-rd mags and pouch for 50-rd mag, 4 pcs 20-rd mags and 1 pc 50-rd mag. While the language is not identical, there is really no substantive difference between any of the manuals – but collectors want every version.

The last SOLDATINSTRUKTION FÖR INFANTERIET manual was issued in 1944. It references the Kpist m/40 as one of three submachine guns in the Swedish Army, but states: “Not described here.” The same notation is used in this manual on many other weapons in Swedish army inventory that were procured in small numbers during World War II.

The picture of the Kpist m/40 in Thompson Model of 1928 A configuration from the infantry manuals is representative of all known Swedish Thompson submachine guns. While an original Model of 1928 Thompson without a compensator is not frequently seen in the United States, the 500 Colt Thompson’s shipped to Sweden indicate that this was indeed a variation that could be easily purchased from the Auto-Ordnance Corporation.

Epilogue

There is one more Swedish publication that contains a reference to the Kulsprutepistol m/40. The reference is only a picture, but the description showcases the international reputation of the Thompson gun, even during the middle of World War II. The publication is the MILITÄRKALENDERN 1943 or Military Calendar. One word in the caption on page 35 tells the world exactly what the Swedish military thought of this American submachine gun: “s. k. gangsterpistol” – translation: so called gangster gun. And who in this country would dispute that!

(The author wishes to acknowledge the great assistance provided to this story by Mr. Peter Soneson, an advanced collector and dealer of Swedish military armaments, Tingsryd, Sweden and Ms. Ann Gillberg, Librarian, Krigsarkivet, Stockholm, Sweden)

After multiple tests that started in 1921, France opened a competition in 1933 for the adoption of a new gun. Not having anything satisfactory, a new tender is opened in 1935. It is there that a new competitor appears: the Petter gun.

History

In 1934, Swiss engineer Charles Gabriel Petter developed an automatic pistol that was the subject of a patent application deposited on March 9, 1934 under number 782.914. This patent was delivered on March 25, 1935 and was notified on July 5, 1935. An additional patent is recorded on June 14th, 1935. In addition, the invention was recorded in the United States with the patent No. 2.139.203 of December 6, 1938.

Proposed to the French Army in March 1935, this weapon was adopted in 1937 as the automatic pistol Model 1935 A. Its manufacture was undertaken by the Société Alsacienne de Construction Mécanique (Alsatian Company of Mechanical Engineering). The SACM was established in Mulhouse (Alsace) prior to 1870 and, with its diversification of activities, built a new factory in Cholet (center of France, near the Loire River) in 1936. Here were produced barrels for rifles; in particular those that were assembled on Model 07-15 M 34 rifles. This factory also manufactured the new pistol Model 1935 and later developed the future submachine gun Petter M 1939.

Description

The M 1935 A is organized in the same manner as that carried out by MAS (Model 1935 S) in order to satisfy the conditions that were set forth for the gun. It should be noted that though the gun was organized in the same manner that there does not exist any interchangeable part between the two weapons (even not chargers).

The frame of the pistol Model 35 A has a curved grip that has two Bakelite grip panels that follow the contours of the grip and also contains the trigger and stirrup at the rear.

The magazine is retained by a push pin and has 7 holes on each side of the magazine to show cartridge count. A safety prohibits firing when the magazine is removed. Some magazines are marked “35 A” on the floor plate.

The frame has guide rails that are cut slightly higher than the main part of the frame to correspond to the internal rails machined into the slide. The slide has an ejection port on the right side and a loaded cartridge indicator. The rear sight is an open U notch and the front sight is assembled with a dovetail. The vertical grooves for handling the slide are machined at the rear of the slide. The safety is organized in the same manner as that of the MAS Model 1935 S pistol.

The barrel is assembled and locked in the slide by two locking lugs on the top of the barrel. The barrel has two links that are articulated with the axis of the slide stop. Its calibre is 7.65mm (.30) and has four right-hand groves with one turn in 250 mm (9.84 inches).

The recoil spring is a little longer than that of the pistol Model 1935 S and is held captive by a guide rod.

The first Petter guns received a blued finish and some scarce models were parkerized. Almost the entire total production of the gun receives a black varnish cooked finish (Parkolac).

Production

The first specimens were delivered to the French Army on October 23, 1937, but production started slowly because the first series of weapons presented manufacturing defects that were detrimental to their performance. The Commission of Experiments of the Infantry of the Camp of Mourmelon and the Technical Establishment of Versailles carried out a series of tests in order to define the remedies to be brought to these defects and in the summer of 1939 made recommendations with regard to machining, tolerances and heat treatments.

Five hundred guns had been produced when the establishments previously noted made their conclusions and recommendations. Except for the first weapons produced, all the parts of the pistol Model 1935 A are interchangeable.

The manufacturer then launched into mass production and by June, 1940, more than 10,000 guns had been made (but inevitably not brought into service). The Model 1935 A pistol is listed on the instruction manual Instruction sur l’Armement et le Matériel de Tir, edition of 1940 (National Printing Office) whereas the pistol Model 1935 S is not. During the occupation, 23,850 guns were delivered to the German troops between on October 15, 1940 and April 28, 1944 and carried the designation Pistole 625 (f), in the German nomenclature. The name of the manufacturer appears and no letter codes specific to the productions of the Third Reich. Only some Waffenamt marks can bee seen.

After the war, S.A.C.M. returned to manufacturing for the French Army and up until February 10, 1950, provided 50,400 guns. In 1957, forty thousand of these guns were still in service and the Châtellerault gun factory was charged to constitute a stock of spare parts to ensure five years of maintenance for pistol M 1935 A.

The total production of the pistol M 1935 is of 84,950 guns. The original pistol had no lanyard ring, but on some guns this accessory was added for police use.

Marks

The production is numbered per series of ten thousand guns with a prefix letter. This number is always followed of an A. The location of this number is erratic on the very first weapons. Later, the marks are concentrated on the left face of the frame above the trigger guard where one can read for example: Mle 1935-A F 8544 A S.A.C.M.

Guns manufactured under German control carry the punch of Waffenamt struck beside the serial number: WaA 655 for weapons whose serial numbers lie between B 701 and B 1250, then WaA 251 for those numbered of B 1251 to D 4550. According to the period, German markings can also be reproduced on the slide and the barrel, while the last two figures of the serial number are struck under the slide and the barrel.

There are some guns that have on the right face of the slide BAVARIA MUNICIPAL POLICE. Those belonged to a batch manufactured during the Occupation, seized by the Americans and provided to the Bavarian police force after the war.

Operation

The weapon functions by short recoil of the barrel. It has a slide stop, a magazine safety and can also be put in a safety position when the hammer is half cocked.

Disassembly

Put the weapon at safety. Remove the magazine. Check that the weapon is not loaded. Bring the slide rearward until its notch is opposite slide stop. The slide stop is driven out from right to left, which makes it possible to separate the slide from the frame. The barrel and the spring can then be separated while the lock work is extracted from the frame. Reassembly is carried out in the inverse order.

Characteristics Model 1935 A
Caliber: 7.65mm (.30)
Ammunition: 7.65mm Long
Overall length: 196 mm (7.71 inches)
Barrel length: 109 mm (4.29 inches)
Height: 126 mm (4.96 inches)
Weight: 670 g (1.48 pounds)
Magazine capacity: 8 rounds

Epilogue

At the time of destocking in the arsenals, some of these guns were sold on the U.S. market (one source estimates about 25,000 guns), where they were sold for $10-$20. Some of them were converted into .22 Long Rifle. The remaining weapons in the arsenals were destroyed.

In 1937, the Petter patent was acquired by the Swiss Industrial Society (SIG) of Neuhausen – Rhine Falls, for which it was used as a basis for the P 210 gun.

The Ivema Bochica Gun Truck

The explosion shook the crew violently as their vehicle staggered heavily from side to side. Minutes after the explosion the occupants, all unharmed and without wounds, exited the vehicle. The Bochica had been damaged by a mine, which had been detonated to the right and not directly underneath the machine. Although there were components that had been bent and torn by the explosion, the Bochica was repaired in just a short time, allowing it to continue its task. This was not an attack of the narco-guerrilla but rather a test of the Gila APC developed by the International Vehicle & Equipment Marketing (Ivema) from South Africa. André Mouton, the company’s Director of Operations, tells us that although the Gila follows the typical silhouette and “V” floor of the Casspir, it is actually a new vehicle built under the specifications established by the Colombian Army. Once in Colombia for testing, the vehicle received the name of Bochica, and was put to the test.

The designer of the project and representatives of Ivema insisted that the tests of explosives were carried out with crew complement to demonstrate not only the capacities of the vehicle cross-country, but also the high level of protection provided. This meant a Colombian Special Forces motorized squad in its interior. The Colombian Army actually received a handful of the APCs to test in country. André Mouton explains the details of the machine, pointing that the Gila is wider than the Casspir, measuring 6,390mm in length, 2,500mm width, 2,750mm height, and 3,800mm base. These dimensions translated into added and improved comfort to the crew, but also in greater stability. The vehicle fits perfectly inside the C130, facilitating deployment.

Another consideration, especially useful for export and international deployment, is that the vehicle is modified from left to right side driving without any mayor structural change. The vehicle is already set for driving one way or another by simply switching the steering wheel from left to right and vice versa by unplugging and plugging back some components. Time was taken to introduce other mechanical improvements and increase the level of protection against explosions and mines, which now exceeds NATO standards (4569 Stanag Level 4). The new vehicle has a combat weight of 9,720kg, with a payload of 2,280 @ 12,000 (13.600kg margin), and a gross weight of 12,000kg. The Gila was ready in May of 2006. Mouton tells us that the Colombians requested a purely transport variant with the crew seating facing each other and with an interior space for a crew of 2 and 9 motorized infantrymen. One of the consequences was that interior space available for equipment was reduced. The turret was specified to be simple and limited to a single heavy machine gun, having a traverse of 360 degrees. The mechanical components were placed in modular form and those more delicate implements were placed within the protective armor. The modules allow the adaptation of a number of details. The originally selected engine is the Mercedes-Benz Euro-3 turbocharged diesel 4800cc, developing 215hp (160kw), with a maximum torque of 780 Nm @ 1200-1800 rpm. Although the engine is a 4 cylinder model, it produces more force and is much more efficient and reliable than the V8 used in the Casspir. Another advantage of this particular engine is its easy availability on the commercial market in South Africa as well as in Colombia, and most countries of the world. The Mercedes Euro-3 pushes the vehicle to a maximum speed of 105km/h, and allowing it to surpass gradients of 60 degrees. The 28V electrical system depends from a 100 Amp alternator.

Mouton also gave us a look of a mock up of a Gila modified to Brazilian Federal Police Department (DPF) requirements. The DPF prefers a combat infantry variant, with back-to-back seats to allow the use of firing ports by the mounted squad. The turret is fixed, but equipped with viewfinders and four small firing ports for the use of small arms from the interior. The DPF model has been equipped with protective shields that fold over the frontal bulletproof glass windows. Each vehicle costs about USD $400,000. On the other hand, 23 overhauled Casspirs were sold to Peru, with 20 going to the Police and 3 to the Naval Infantry.

Ivema tells us that the tests were successful in Colombia, but was not clear if additional machines were ordered. Then in April, Ivema announced the first order of 12 Gilas by an undisclosed African customer.

The M1 Garand has earned a reputation as a reliable, dirt tough rifle. But there are basic considerations that need to be covered with the Garand before we begin firing the rifle for accuracy. . If the rifle isn’t functioning correctly then a loading program isn’t going to help. Before anything else, we need to get the piece up and properly functioning. Most Garand rifles are over fifty years old. Some are made up from necessary new parts with older parts in kit form used to put a rifle together. Even the end of run production rifles and the Beretta versions, both nice peacetime rifles, are getting pretty old. Some are tired and in need of replacement parts. There is always the possibility of a rifle put together with less than first quality parts. Even though the new production Springfield M1 is a fine rifle, high round count versions just may give the same problems as older Garands.

The Garand is a rifle we all love to own and also love to shoot – and shoot a lot. The problem arises when shooters do not know what to look for in used rifles. Often, after picking up a rifle at a gun show, we are disappointed. The rifle may malfunction through no fault of the rifle itself as the new owner may not know how to lubricate or even properly load the rifle. It is hoped this report is a help in servicing a fine old rifle, as the information may have been lost save for the resurgence of popularity of the old warhorse.

Going straight to the problem areas of the Garand, we will learn how to detail strip the rifle but also learn how to handle shooting problems. As is common with many firearms, there are several possible causes for each malfunction. A single rifle may have several faults. In wartime Garands there were more than one type of gas cylinder. They all work basically the same but the later versions are the more desirable from a shooting standpoint. The Chlorate priming compounds used in military ammunition current with the Garand and environmental issues often caused corrosion. When this corrosion attacked the gas cylinder the result was often short cycles as corrosion allowed gas to flow past the piston. A stop-gap cure was to cut perhaps 3/8 inch at a time off the operating rod spring to allow more exuberant recoil and a greater possibility of function with less gas pressure. Another fix often used in wartime – and I admit no experience with this one – was to clean up the corroded piston and weld up the front, then polish to .527 diameter. With the availability of good quality parts from Amherst Depot and others, such work is no longer necessary. Just the same, it can be done and done rather quickly.

The gas piston should be .527 in diameter. The cylinder is .5320. Occasionally an oversize gas cylinder will be encountered and this situation causes the same problem as a corroded piston. Gas runs around the oversize cylinder and gas pressure is lost. A minimum tolerance between the gas piston and cylinder is .005. Do not attempt a tighter fit. There must be a certain amount of blow by or the action will cycle too vigorously.

Short cycles are far more common than battering but a too tight piston and cylinder could batter the rifle. A similar battering problem can come from over loaded or too hot handloads.

A dirty gas piston is a cause of other malfunctions. Just any cleaner or a simple wipe down doesn’t work with gas pistons and your can not use gun oil to wipe down the piston. The gas piston as well as the cylinder must be thoroughly cleaned with bore cleaner and, a step often over looked, they must be dried after cleaning. Leaving the parts wet with lubricant may cause short cycles.

Additionally, do not neglect gas piston alignment. If dropped the piston may have been damaged. If out of alignment, proper gas seal is not possible even if all parts are in specification.

A bent ammunition follower is another cause of malfunctions. A common cause of a bent follower is an attempt to jam the loaded en bloc clip into the magazine. The clip cannot be jammed into place – it must be carefully lined up. The follower should be replaced if it is bent though there may be some success in carefully straightening the follower with a pair of needle nose pliers. A sure tip-off of a bent follower is ejecting the clip on the 7th round (the Garand en bloc clip holds eight cartridges) leaving a single round left in the ejected en bloc clip. The follower guide may sometimes stick causing malfunctions. A thorough cleaning and lubrication may help or the part may simply be replaced.

In its proper place, lubrication of the Garand is essential. While not an art, certain procedures must be followed and the following items must be lubricated:

* The locking lugs on the bolt,
* The rear of the bolt, and
* The cocking lug recess that lies in the operating handle.

A light oil film will suffice to keep these parts moving properly. This is the baseline for function.

Another cause of malfunction is dirt, brass shavings and varnished lubricant entering and becoming encased in the locking recesses of the receiver. This foreign matter prevents the bolt’s proper action. Clearing and cleaning is the proper cure for this problem. The gas port may be cleaned after removing the gas cylinder. There is an old Army method of cleaning the gas port that Old Timers swear by that sounds a bit rough at first but after some practice it seems to work. Using a fully assembled rifle, two to three drops of oil are poured in the muzzle and allowed to seep down over the rifling and past the gas port. The rifle is fired twice. The oil is forced through the gas port and cleans the port. Clear the rifle and lock the bolt to the rear after this procedure. Check the cylinder, swab the oil out and repeat if necessary. On the other hand if you are not on a range to fire the rifle, the port may be cleaned manually. Take care not to enlarge the gas port as you carefully use a small rod to clean the port. The normal dimension for the gas port is .0805. If the port were to be enlarged, the action of the rifle would be adversely affected. Remember, rearward action, the cocking stroke, is controlled by gas pressure. Accidentally enlarging the port would result in accelerated action and battering. You may even damage the rifling if you clean too aggressively. I mention this because power drills and all manner of improper tools have been used to clean the gas port. While it might sound like a good idea at the time, damage results.

Moving to the bolt, the ejector must lay flush across the face of the bolt until the cartridge has been fired. An ejector that is too long or that is blocked by debris may cause feeding problems. A sure sign of a too long ejector is the point of the bullet contacting the area at the top of the chamber during cycling rather than cycling into the chamber properly. The first round must feed freely into the chamber. Check first for debris under the ejector, congealed powder and other sticky things that prevent proper function. Replace the ejector if needed.

It is critical to learn the proper loading procedure for the Garand. Since many Garand shooters are not ex military and ex military men in this day and age have probably not been exposed to the Garand, a primer is sometimes needed in order that they do not warp or bend parts. A skilled operator with a Garand rifle and a bandolier of ammunition can give a shooter with a detachable stick magazine rifle a run for his money. To load the Garand, begin with the bolt locked to the rear. The hand moves to the bolt with the eight round en bloc clip held between the thumb and forefinger. As the hand lines the clip up with the slots in the receiver, the thumb presses down as the back of the hand nudges the bolt back. The clip locks in place just as the back of the hand nudges the bolt to the rear and the bolt releases, flying forward to load the rifle. Without this proper sequence, internal parts related to the magazine may be damaged and the rifle will not function properly.

It is not unknown for a clip ejector to have a sharp point, sometimes from the arsenal and sometimes from honest wear. The ejector may not allow the clip to be fully depressed into the magazine if the ejector is too sharp. The tip of the ejector may be filed or ground if it is too sharp. More frequently debris in the magazine causes problems. A few words on function: the clip latch moves the operating rod out of engagement as the rifle is loaded. If the rifle doesn’t load properly something is wrong in the loading apparatus. The operating rod catch may be sticking. There are hooks on this catch that must be examined for breakage. A new part is the only answer.

As for ejection difficulties, there are several possible causes. A rough chamber is always a possibility. For several reasons, the M1 chamber is more prone to corrosion than a bolt action rifle. Camming action in loading is not as strong with an automatic as with a bolt action rifle. A copper brush and a liberal dose of Shooter’s Choice bore cleaner may be used to clean the chamber.

Another tip for proper function is to polish the bolt. The bolt may be polished on the rear of the bolt, the part facing the shooter, with a polishing cloth. The forward bolt lugs may be stoned for function and ejection. Less is more are the key words in polishing this action. Extractors should also be checked at this point. Extractors are usually trouble free in the M1 Garand, but things happen with the best of rifles.

There are obvious problems with the Garand hammer. When the hammer will not stay cocked, the hammer hooks are probably broken. The only recourse is the replacement of the hammer. As for trigger action, there is a means of working the action to a smoother let-off. When the rifle is cocked the hammer hooks to be filed are those toward the front of the engagement. These forward hooks may be filed with a needle file until they are smooth. We are actually reducing engagement so take care. This is cut and dry work, to be done a little at a time. Then the rifle should be reassembled and the action tried. There is no other way to proceed safely.

The Garand is a rugged, reliable and worthwhile rifle. But like any machine it will wear with hard use. Knowing your rifle, how it works and being aware of the forces and wear at work on the rifle will help ensure that the proper maintenance is conducted. This will allow many years of reliable use of a historic and excellent rifle.

The Steyr anti-material rifle is a recent development of Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & CO. The public first saw it at the SHOT Show in 2004 in Las Vegas.

Steyr originally built this rifle only in .50 BMG. When ownership of .50 cal. by private citizens was prohibited in Australia and California, they produced the HS .460 (11.65mm x 90.50mm), designed by Horst Grillmayer of Austria. It’s basically a necked-down .50 BMG to .458. But, instead of using available .458 bullets, it shoots a proprietary 600-gr. spire-point bullet at 2,985 fps. It’s similar to the old CETME cartridges, and it resembles a .408 CheyTac.

The HS .50 is a single shot, bolt action rifle meant to be fired off an integral bipod. A three-stage bipod is attached at the front of the forearm. The two-stage trigger is set to 4.5 pounds but can be adjusted for a lighter pull. As in other rifles, the buttstock is fully adjustable. The heavy barrel is fluted over half its 33-inch length with the front length being round. A muzzle brake and a Picatinny 1913 rail are standard, but there are no iron sights.

As it is a single shot, it’s not a true bullpup, but the two-lug rotating bolt is above and behind the trigger pack. The bolt does not have to be removed to load the weapon like some other anti-material single shots.

The rifle is a takedown with the scope left on the barrel when it is removed. This makes return-to-zero almost guaranteed, very useful especially when there’s no chance for a first sighting shot. Overall length when broken down is 36 inches. The large muzzle brake causes a great deal of side blast, and people standing on the side or to the rear require major ear protection. Plugs and muffs in combination would be a good idea as the blast is louder than a Barrett or ArmaLite .50 BMG.

The rifle became well known when it was discovered that Steyr had sold 800 HS .50 rifles to Iran in 2005. As expected, the rifle turned up in Iraq. The Daily Telegraph reported that the first American soldier was killed with one 45 days after the shipment. Steyr, as expected, was running around trying to spread chicken feathers over the entire debacle. American forces have recovered over 100 of the rifles.

This rifle is sold in the U.S., and prices run around $4,400. Ammunition for the HS .460, made from re-sized new .50 BMG brass runs $450 per 50; $825 per 100. Single rounds are $20 each.

Manufacturer: Steyr-Mannlicher
Caliber: .50 BMG, .460 Steyr
Service date: 2004
Weight: 28.5 lb
Length: 54 inches
Barrel length: 33 inches
Action: Bolt, single-shot
Effective range: 1,800 yards
Optics: Customer, no iron sights fitted
Stock: Polymer

When the German army attacked Poland in 1939, the world faced a quick and mobile machinery of war. One country after another was overwhelmed and the so called Blitzkrieg was born. These successes confirmed the plans of the military leadership that nothing could ever stop them – and this fact was reflected in the equipment of the troops: almost no weapons and special gear have been developed for defensive purposes since World War 1. Unexpectedly for the Germans, their advance slowed down in the vastness of Russia and finally came to a standstill at the end of 1942. The troops had to hold out in static defence lines for weeks and months. And besides the danger of attacks, another deadly enemy appeared on the front: snipers.

Every look over the trenches could be the last one. In this precarious situation the Germans remembered an item that was developed for the battlefields of World War 1 – indirect firing devices that allowed soldiers to shoot at the enemy without exposing themselves. The so called “Spiegelkolben” (mirror stock) was industrially made as well as improvised variants by troops at the front. An old manual Gebrauchs-Anweisung zum Spiegelkolben B.A.F. mit Ladehebel für das Gewehr 98 (manual for indirect firing device B.A.F. with cocking handle for rifle 98) shows how it functions. The rifle’s stock was put into the upper part of the housing and secured with clamps. The lower part holds a second buttstock with trigger. Both triggers were connected by a chain; so the soldier could aim the target through the periscope and if he pulled the trigger, the rifle’s trigger was also pulled by the chain. The most complicated part of the device was the cocking mechanism. An expensive construction of rods and joints was necessary to allow the soldier to cock the rifle from cover. Similar devices were also used by other nations during World War 1.

After the war-related events went badly in 1942, the Germans again began to develop an indirect firing device now called “Deckungszielgerät” (DZG). In the meantime, the army had introduced the semi-automatic Gewehr 41 from Walther so there was no need for a complicated cocking mechanism and the device could be made simpler. Not until 10 rounds were fired, the soldier had to pull the whole device back to his trench to reload the weapon. Unfortunately, the Gewehr 41 (and later the G/K 43) never reached the front line in great numbers. As a replacement, the device was modified with a second adjustment possibility to accept the stock of captured Russian semiautomatic SVT rifles. These weapons got the German designation Selbstladegewehr 259(r) and were well liked by the troops. If no self-loading rifle was available, the device could also be used with the standard K.98k rifle. The official manual D.1852 Deckungszielgerät was published on 8 January, 1943. No production figures are known and the very few surviving examples do not carry a makers name or code.

Shots could not have been especially accurate, but the device probably had some merit when harassing the enemy or forcing attackers to stop and take cover.

The new indirect firing device was made of a simple housing of pressed steel and a wooden buttstock with periscope. Again, a chain connected both triggers. The stock of the rifle rested on two cross bolts that could be repluged for compensating different stock types. The plug-slot for the SVT was marked with a big “R” (for Russian). Two adjustable pressure pieces were fixed in the top cover to press the stock down against the cross bolts.

The position of the periscope could be varied, depending on the height of the sight line of the rifle. The holes in its top cover were designed for fixing camouflage material. For easier transportation, the buttstock could be swung in the housing or taken off after loosening two screws.

In folded position the length of the indirect firing device is 18.9 inches (480 mm), the height 11.42 inches (290 mm) and the width 5.12 inches (130 mm). The total weight is 7.94 pounds (3.6 kg).

Since the indirect firing device worked well with semiautomatic rifles, the German army thought about using a similar one for their machine guns. But the recoil power of full automatic machine guns was too heavy for a filigree device. Trials showed that it was very difficult to hold the weapon on the target even with short burst. Devices for machine guns stayed in development until the end of the war, but they were never introduced.

Even though a Sturmgewehr 44 could also be used with this indirect firing device, a more simplified one was developed near the end of the war. No exact dimensions or weights are known, but the weight should have been much less than the old device. There was no longer a metal housing for the device and the wooden buttstock was replaced by a metal folding stock like the MP 40 and only two little mirrors were used instead of the periscope. A few pieces went to the front line in March 1945 for trials. The supplied questionnaires should have been given back until 1. May 1945, but this never happened.

Inspired by the indirect firing devices for rifles, a German soldier constructed a self-made device for the Raketen-Panzerbüchse 54, better known as the Panzerschreck. In 1943 this weapon came to the front in large numbers to replace the Panzerfaust. The rocket-propelled grenade could penetrate 160 mm of armor, but the target had to be closer than 250 meters.

Without a doubt, it was very dangerous for the soldiers and so an indirect firing device would have helped a lot. The idea of a clever soldier was printed in the magazine Von der Front für die Front (From the Front for the Front) in October 1944. This magazine was sporadically published and contained a mishmash of suggestions for improvements concerning weapons and all kinds of military equipment. The device was made of two additional handles and a periscope. It could be easily made by armorers, but in February 1945 an industrial production came into planning. The first order amounted to 100,000 pieces, but it’s unlikely that any of them were delivered.

The 28th annual War & Peace Show, in association with the Invicta Military Vehicle Preservation Society, was held on July 21-25, 2010 at the 40-acre Hop Farm Family Park in Paddock Wood, Kent, England. Celebrating the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II, this year the War & Peace show paid homage to three great Second World War events: The 70th anniversary of the evacuation of Dunkirk, the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the removal of children from towns and cities to escape the Blitz.

For the first time the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, gave a full performance above the show, as part of the Battle of Britain tribute. Additionally, iconic aircraft of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight performed aerial displays that included the Lancaster bomber, a Hurricane fighter and a Spitfire.

A major display was constructed to show how 338,226 British and French soldiers were rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940. This included a beach scene with a bombed out and abandoned period fishing boat, a display of nearly 20 military vehicles of the kind that went to France in 1939, and a road block using former Whitbread Drays and abandoned military vehicles, to illustrate the difficulty retreating British soldiers had in reaching Dunkirk.

The removal of children from the Blitz-threatened towns and cities to the countryside was covered via a major photographic exhibition of close to 200 original photographs.

The show is a Mecca for military vehicle enthusiasts and is the world’s largest military vehicle spectacular with a complete range of vehicles from the massive “Dragon Wagon” tank recovery trucks to tiny Austin staff cars. Tanks, trucks, artillery tractors, scout cars, motorcycles, commando bicycles were everywhere as well as the ubiquitous Jeep. In all, over 3,000 vehicles were in attendance. Not only are all these vehicles on display, but in a special field the heavy equipment such as tanks and various tracked vehicles are put through their paces on a dirt course to show their diverse terrain ability.

Another great attraction to the show is the massive area where over 1,000 stalls are set up for militaria vendors to sell their wares. Collectors from around the world come to the show to hunt for, and find, items for their collections. Uniforms, badges, kit, gear, medals, ordnance and guns are all on display and for sale with many selling deactivated machine guns of a type and rarity at affordable prices that makes Americans sigh with jealously since they can’t bring any of them home with them.

Additionally, a large area is set aside for military re-enactors. These re-enactors take great pride in the attention to detail and accuracy that they are representing from all eras of modern military history from World War I to the present.

The War & Peace Show is also about fun and enjoyment for the whole family. They have a wonderful entertainment program with music, dancing, comedy and fashions from the 1940s period and the kids are not forgotten either with lots of attractions for children including the funfair and the Hop Farm play areas.

The War & Peace show is billed as the world’s largest event specializing in military history and is dedicated to keeping alive the courage and determination of those who fought for freedom. This is a show that is a “must see” event and can’t be fully explored in just one day. Whatever your interest in military history is, this is the place to be. The next War & Peace Show is scheduled for Wednesday, July 20 through Sunday July 24, 2011 at the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood, Kent, England. For more information visit www.thewarandpeaceshow.com.

The Brazilian government must rely on a number of crack military units to maintain control of its borders. Realizing that Brazil could be an open door to international and local terrorists, the military has organized outfits able to deal with such threats and protect the State. This has resulted in one of the most efficient armies in Latin America, and yet one of the least known outside the region. The Army fields several brigades, to include 1 Parachute, 1 Spec Ops, 1 Air Assault Light Infantry, 1 light infantry for peacekeeping Ops and Urban Warfare, 1 Frontier, 2 armored, 4 mechanized, 5 jungle, 10 motorized, 4 divisional artillery, 2 construction engineer, 1 air defense, and 1 army aviation.

Small arms include M964 and variants (Imbel FAL), Imbel MD2 & MD97 rifles. Special operators make intensive use of the M4 carbine along with FAMAS, G3A3 and G3SG1 rifles. Taurus is now distributing the Tavor TAR-21 to the Frontier Bde. Submachine guns include the Taurus M972 (Beretta M-12), and the MP5 range. Snipers have access to the Barrett M82A1, HK PSG-1, M700 and ACGL rifles. Elite outfits use the HK21E and the Minimi-Para Mk-2. The MAG 60-20 is distributed to all the services.

Light Infantry

Due to the nature of the country, which is covered in most part by the dense Amazonian rain forest, many of the military units are trained and geared for jungle warfare. The Centro de Instrução de Guerra na Selva (Selva – CIGS) operates from Manaus, sharing installations with the Amazon’s Military Command (Comando Militar da Amazônia). The Center prepares leaders in the conduction of small unit tactics. The Jungle Warfare Training develops in three phases: Jungle Survival, Skill Development, and Jungle Operations.

The Jungle Warfare Training Center prepares operators for the jungle, hunter, and frontier infantry outfits. These are particularly adapted and skilled to operate in the Amazon’s environment. The Jungle Infantry units include the 1ª Brigada de Infantaria de Selva (Bda.IS) also known as Brigada Lobo D’Almada, the 2nd Bda.IS or Brigada Ararigbóia, the 7th Bda.IS, the 10th Bda.IS, the 16th Bda.IS, the 17th Bda.IS or Brigada Príncipe da Beira, and the 23rd Bda.IS.

There are several other outfits that appear to operate independently from the brigade structure, including the 1st Jungle Infantry Battalion (1º Batalhão de Infantaria de Selva [BIS]- Batalhão Amazonas), the 2º BIS – Batalhão Pedro Teixeira, the 4º BIS – Batalhão Plácido de Castro and the 8º BIS.

The Jungle Brigades and Battalions deploy in Destacamentos de Operações de Selva (DOS), which are small 12-men units providing long distance reconnaissance, surveillance and patrols along the borders. The DOS are inspired in their training, organization and doctrine on the A Teams of the USSF, with two officers and 10 enlisted NCOs. The preferred weapons include the legendary Para-FAL, and MAG MGs.

The Hunter Battalions include the 19º Batalhão de Caçadores (BC), the 23rd BC, the 24th BC, the 25th BC, and the 28th BC.

The light infantry also lists the Frontier Guard Command, which operates from Amapá, and the 18th Frontier Infantry Brigade, operating from Mato Grosso. In the same State of Mato Grosso we find the 2nd and 17th Frontier Infantry Battalions. In addition, Special Frontier Platoons have been established to monitor the frontier; each PFE is formed with 50 men.

The very harsh Caatinga Region is home of the elite 72° Batalhão de Infantaria Motorizado (or 72° BIMtz), better known as Batalhão General Victorino Carneiro Monteiro. Its HQ is at Petrolina, Pernambuco, having its origins with the 2nd Riflemen Company/35th Inf Bn. (Feira de Santana)/10th Motorized Infantry Brigade. The company operated independently as a specialized outfit since 1975. It became the elite 72° BIMtz in 1982, when the Army realized the need for a larger unit to operate in this vast and difficult area. The battalion deployed to Angola as part of the UN forces between September 1995 and April 1996.

Mountain warfare is the dominium of the 11o Batalhão de Infantaria de Montanha (11o BI Mth), from São João Del Rei, Minas Gerais. The lineage of the 11th Mountain Battalion can be traced to 1888, with the establishment of the 28o BI PARDO – RS, as part of the so-called “Canudos” campaign.

Parachute Force

The Vila Militar de Rio de Janeiro holds the colors of the Parachute Infantry Brigade (Brigada de Infantaria Pára-quedistado Exército Brasileiro). The Paras, along with the Air Assault Brigade, is part of the Rapid Action Force (Força de Ação Rápida). Its tasks include tracking, pursuing and apprehending dangerous criminals, poachers and smugglers.

The Parachute Brigade has its origins within the Parachute School established on December 26, 1945. A year before, the government had dispatched 47 soldiers for airborne training in the United States. By 1953 there was a pressing need to establish what was denominated Nucleus of the Airborne Division. By 1969 the Army decided to emphasize smaller, more mobile units, and replaced the Division with the Parachute Brigade in 1971, and this is renamed the Parachute Infantry Brigade in 1985.

Today, the Para Brigade comprises a HHC Company, the 25th Batalhão de Infantaria Pára-quedistas (BIP-Infantry Parachute Battalion), 26th BIP, and 27th BIP, supported by a Pathfinders Company (20ª Companhia de Presursores Pára-quedistas), a Support and maintenance Parachute Battalion (Batalhão de Dobragem, Manuntenção de Pára-quedas e Suprimento pelo Ar), a Field Artillery Battery, and an AAA Battery. There is also a Cavalry Reconnaissance Unit assigned to this outfit, and other support elements.

The 25th Batalhão de Infantaria Pára-quedistas (BIP-Infantry Parachute Battalion) – or 25o BI Pqdt as it is known in Brazil – has its origins with the School Infantry Company raised on 26 December 1945, as part of the Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment at Colina Longa, Deodoro, Rio de Janeiro. Then, on September 5, 1952, the Army expanded the unit to become Airborne Infantry Battalion (Batalhão de Infantaria Aeroterrestre), and in October of 1956 the unit is named the Batalhão Santos Dumont, and in 1961 this becomes the Santos Dumont Regiment. This unit becomes the 3rd Parachute Infantry Battalion, but by November 7, 1973, it becomes the 25th Parachute Infantry Battalion, with three Parachute Riflemen companies (1ª, 2ª & 3ª Companhias de Fuzileiros Pára-quedistas), a Command and Services Company, and a HHC group.

The 26o BI Pqdt and the 27º BI Pqdt. also trace their lineage to Decree Nr 49.863, dated January 11, 1961, establishing the Regimento Santos Dumont. The 26th and 27th Parachute Infantry Battalions are officially established in 1973. The 27º BI Pqdt is based at Sâo Goçnaho.

The 1º Esquadrão de Cavalaria Pára-quedista (1st Parachute Cavalry Squadron) is established on December 21, 1981, with Celso Carlos Antunes as its first commander. According to the Brazilian Army, the unit is today equipped with locally-built Jaracara armored reconnaissance vehicles. In 1993, the Parachute Cavalry expands with the 2nd Parachute Cavalry Platoon. By late-2005, the unit counts with 3 platoons (Pelotões de Cavalaria Pára-quedista), an Administrative Base, and a Command Platoon to meet its tasks.

The 20th Parachute Logistical Battalion remains as the main support unit of the brigade.

Air Assault

The 12ª Brigada de Infantaria Leve (Aeromóvel), from Caçapava, São Paulo, is tasked with air assault and airmobile tasks. The lineage of the unit can be traced to the establishment of the 4th Infantry Brigade in June 1919 around São Paulo. The 4th Inf. Bde. receives several transformations, and in 1971 it becomes the 12th Infantry Brigade assigned to the 2nd Army Division. In 1987 the unit transforms into the 12th Motorized Infantry Brigade, and on June 19, 1995, under Ministerial Order No.023, it becomes the 12th Light Infantry Brigade (Airmobile) from Caçapava.

The Brigade is optimized for air assault, infiltration (air, land and sea), and urban combat. To accomplish its missions, the Brigade depends on the helicopter as a principal means of movement, so it works closely with the 1º Grupo de Aviação do Exército (1st Army Aviation Group). Its subordinated units include the 5th, 6th and 39th Light Infantry Battalions or BILs (Batalhão de Infantaria Leve), the 20th Light Artillery Group, and the 22nd Light Logistical Battalion.

The 5th Batalhão de Infantaria Leve – Regimento Itororó, traces its origins to the 5th Infantry Regiment established in June 1908, with the 13th and 14th Infantry Battalions. The unit transformed throughout the years, until the 2nd of June of 1992, when under Ministerial Order No.030 it became the 5º Batalhão de Infantaria Leve.

The 6th BIL also traces its lineage to several battalions raised in 1908 (16th, 7th and 18th). It became the 6º Batalhão de Infantaria Leve under Ministerial Order No.024, in June 1995. In June 1995, under Ministerial Order No.025, the Army officially adds the 39th Light Infantry Battalion to the 12th Light Infantry Brigade (Airborne), along with the 20º Grupo de Artilharia de Campanha Leve (20 GAC L) (Ministerial Order No.026).

Special Operations Brigade

The Brazilian government started its first CT unit in 1953, with the Ministry of Aviation establishing its own anti-hijacking unit. Out of this, the military started the Talon Project, a 13-week course to prepare all new commandos.

Today, the Air Force (FAB) has the Aeronautical Center of Ground Operations (TO QUOPTE) subordinated to the General Air Operations Command (COMGAR), and comprising the BINFAE-CO (Canoas Special Aeronautics Infantry Battalion). This outfit was established in 2002. One of its units, the 1st CAAAD is equipped with 9K38 Igla Manpads. There is one squadron dedicated to combat search and rescue. In addition, the FAB deploys what it calls the Special Aeronautical Infantry – much like the RAF Regiment – in charge of protecting FAB installations and closely associated to airborne operations. The Batalhão de Infantaria da Aeronáutica Especial deploys units at Dos Afonsos (BINFAE-AF), Brasilia (BINFAE-BR), Canoas (BINFAE-CO), Galeão (BINFAE-GL), Manaus (BINFAE-MN), Recife (BINFAE-RF) and Río de Janeiro (BINFAE-RJ). The TO QUOPTE is complemented with the CSAR unit capability. All these units are equipped with the SIG-550 as their standard weapon.

The Army, on the other hand, depends on its own Special Operations Brigade (Brigada de Operações Especiais), comprising an Administrative Base, the 3ª Companhia de Forças Especiais (Pára-quedista) with base at Manaus, the Special Operations Training Center (Centro de Instrução de Operações Especiais), the NBC Company (Companhia de Defesa Química, Biológica e Nuclear), the 1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais (Pára-quedista), the Destacamento de Operações Psicológicas and the 1º Batalhão de Ações de Comandos (Pára-quedista).

The Brigade was activated in 2004 at Rio de Janeiro. It lists more than 2,000 men ready to deploy anywhere in Brazil within 6 hours notice. There is a small detachment directly subordinated to the President for immediate action. The Brigade has been relocated from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Genoveva, Goiânia, so it can be closer to the Capital, Brasília, and consequently to the Anápolis Air Base and the Santa Genoveva airport.

The nucleuses of the Brazilian Special Forces teams are the DOFE and the DAC. The Destacamento Operacional de Forças Especiais is in charge of reconnaissance. These commandos are experts in infiltration and extraction techniques. The actual raid or hit is carried by the DAC (for Destacamento de Ação de Comandos). Each of these detachments comprises between 12 and 14 men, with 4 officers forming a command element, and four or more “duplas” forming the tactical element. Each dupla consists of two NCOs

Spec Ops Battalion

The Brazilian Spec Ops reorganized under Project Talon, for an emphasis in counter-terrorism. A CT team under this name is said to be operational from volunteers coming from airborne or special operations units, who attend a 14-day selection before attending a 13-week CT-CQB specialization. What is well known and established is that the 1st Special Forces Battalion (1º Batalhão Operações Especiais) has gained considerable reputation as one of the best intervention units in Latin America. A high degree of preparation in urban warfare and intervention is required in order to enter and to bring order to the shantytowns of the big Brazilian cities (the fabelas), which are among the most dangerous in the world. Therefore, the Battalion has been called in on several opportunities to lend a hand to the police. This is not your usual police beat. One of the police patrols was observed exchanging fire with the tugs using M16 rifles and an elderly Madsen machine gun.

The origins of the Brazilian Spec Ops can be traced to a search and rescue parachute unit that was established in 1953. The first SF course was established in 1957, and evolved with its own doctrine and tactics through the years. The 500 strong 1st Special Forces Battalion (1º BFEsp for short) was established on November 1, 1983, moving to the military installations at Camboatá, Rio de Janeiro on September 27, 1984. In November 1991, the battalion took the colors, lineage, and historical name of Batalhão Antônio Dias Cardoso.

The 1º BFEsp divides its forces into a Command Company, the 1st and 2nd Airborne Special Operations companies, a Support Company, and the Counter-Terrorist Detachment (CTD). The CTD is in charge of counter-terrorist actions in the country, and maintains close ties with the GOE of Portugal. The CTD strength is believed to include 200 men divided into platoons of about 25 operators each.

The single Commando Company, at one point part of the SF Battalion, has evolved in the Battalion of Airborne Commando Activities (1º Batalhão de Ações de Comandos [Pára-quedista]). The old installations of the 1º BFEsp became the Centro de Instrução de Operações Especiais (CI OP ESP). The basic Special Operations training has a duration of 16 weeks encompassing jungle, riverine, and mountain warfare. The desert phase takes place at the Caatinga region, with has a particular harsh semi-desert environment.

The Special Forces Training Center offers courses for Snipers (Caçador), infiltrators (Mergulho Operacional), while the Centro de Instrução Pára-quedista General Penha Brasil provides several other specialty courses.

Conflictive Frontier

The military has successfully implemented the SIVAM (or Amazon Vigilance System) at a reported cost of $1.4 billion. Some of the funds come from the U.S. since this radar system will help to monitor small-plane flights over the huge jungle region. The government has stepped up efforts and has set aside a budget of $3.5 billion over the next eight years to acquire transport aircraft, and additional helicopters, for moving troops well inside the jungle. The Brazilian Armed Services are now tasked with controlling the frontier with Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.