NY Court Rules Against Producing Trace Data

Justice Frederick J. Marshall of the New York State Supreme Court, Erie County, has ruled that defendants in the Williams v. Beemiller, et al. case do not have to produce firearm trace data that plaintiffs sought as part of their “jurisdictional” discovery requests. The judge cited the Tiahrt Amendment in the Nov. 25 ruling.

Justice Marshall’s ruling helps close the door on private individuals seeking trace data directly from FFLs and the admissibility of such information in litigation. Though trace data does not constitute business records, the case serves as a warning to FFLs that their private business records are discoverable, according to NSSF.

Reid Says Gun Control Will Not Pass

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said again that he does not have the votes to bring a gun control bill to the floor. “I would love to bring it back up, but I can’t do it until I have the votes, and at this stage I don’t have the votes,” Reid told reporters recently. (© FB/IFT)

Sturm, Ruger’s 2nd-Quarter Sales Up

Sturm, Ruger & Co. has reported that second-quarter sales were up 45% and earnings increased 64% compared to the same period a year ago. Said CEO Michael Fifer, “New product introductions were a significant component of our sales growth as new product sales represented $146.6 million, or 32%, of firearm sales in the first nine months of 2013.”

ATK’s 2nd- Quarter Sales up 48%

ATK has reported that second-quarter sales in its Sporting Group – which includes ammunition for law enforcement, military and sporting applications as well as optics, reloading gear and sport-shooting and tactical accessories – were up 48% to $421 million compared to $284 million in the same period last year.

The company said the increase in sales was driven by higher volume in ammunition, sales from Savage of $57 million and a previously announced ammunition price increase, partially offset by a decline in sales in tactical military accessories. ATK reported that its overall net income for the quarter was up 42%.

Interstate Handgun Sale Act Introduced

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) has introduced the Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act (HR 3335) to allow for the out-of-state sale of handguns to law-abiding citizens. While current technology makes the ban on interstate sales of handguns an anachronism in modern times, it stands zero chance of passage in the Democrat controlled Senate.

Excise Tax Revenue Up to Record Levels

The latest Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Collection report released by the Department of the Treasury indicates that firearm and ammunition manufacturers reported tax liabilities of $224.3 million in the second calendar quarter of 2013, up 40.3% over the same time period reported in 2012.

This 2013 second-quarter total surpasses the previous highest quarter reported (1st quarter 2013) by 12.6%. The report, which covers April 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013, shows that $64.6 million was due in taxes for pistols and revolvers, $82.5 million for firearms (other)/long guns and $77.2 million for ammunition (shells and cartridges). Compared to the same time period in 2012, tax obligations were up 23% for pistols and revolvers, up 43.3% for firearms (other)/ long guns and up 55% for ammunition.

Canadians Need An I-94 Number to Buy Guns

Nonimmigrant aliens entering the United States are admitted under different classes/categories. Canadians are considered non-controlled aliens and commonly admitted under class/category V (Visitor for business or pleasure). Nonimmigrant aliens receiving an I-94 number are normally entered under categories E and K.

The issuance of an I-94 number is a manual process (may include a small fee) and not necessary for visitors of business or pleasure, including Canadians. For firearm sales, a nonimmigrant alien must possess an I-94 number. Therefore, for a Canadian to purchase a firearm in the United States through an FFL, they will need to obtain an I-94 number.

Responsible Persons on an FFL

Neither the Gun Control Act (GCA) nor its implementing regulations specifically define the term “responsible person.” ATF derives its interpretation of that term from 18 U.S.C. §923(d)(1)(B), to mean an individual who has the power to direct the management and policies of the business entity for which the federal firearms license is being applied. Reference the March 2006 FFL Newsletter:

An existing responsible person (RP) under the applicable federal firearms license must request the addition of the new RP in writing. Written correspondence can be addressed directly to the appropriate Federal Firearms Licensing Center (FFLC) examiner on letterhead or by email. The addition of a new RP does not have to be submitted on a Form 7.

Photographs and fingerprint cards (FPC) must be submitted in addition to all required personal information. If the RP being added to the license is currently an RP on an existing license, no new photographs, or FPCs need to be submitted, but a new background check must be completed before approval of the addition can occur. However, don’t expect ATF to notify you if the new RP is approved – it won’t. ATF will only notify you if the RP is disapproved. To find your FFLC examiner, visit www.atf.gov/files/contact/service-centers/fflc-distribution-map.pdf. Corporate account examiners and a staff directory can be found at: www.atf.gov/contact/service-centers/index.html.

To delete an existing RP under the applicable license, each licensee must also request this deletion in writing to the FFLC.

Transferring Firearms from FFL to Personal Collection

If your business is a sole proprietorship, no ATF Form 4473 or NICS check is required to transfer a firearm from your business inventory to your personal collection.

However, the acquisition and disposition (A&D) record must reflect the disposition of the firearm from business inventory to personal use, and the date of such transfer. Note that if you wish to dispose of the firearm prior to it being held as part of your personal collection for one year, you are required to re-enter the firearm into the A&D record, complete an ATF Form 4473, and conduct a background check on the transferee. However, if the firearm is maintained in your personal collection for one year or longer from the date the firearm was transferred from the business inventory, you are not required to comply with the provisions of §478.102 or 478.124. Reference 27 CFR 478.125a.

An ATF Form 4473 and NICS check is required when a corporation, LLC, or partnership holding a federal firearms license transfers a firearm to one of its officers (or partners in the case of a partnership) for his or her personal use. The disposition of this firearm must also be recorded in the A&D record.

Report Deaths of FFL Responsible Persons

The Federal Firearms Licensing Center reminds all licensees of the requirement to report deceased responsible persons (RP) to the FFLC within 30 days, so the RP can be deactivated in FFLC’s system.

The deactivation of a deceased RP may lead to the right of business succession. Certain persons other than the licensee may secure the right to continue business with the license at the same address on, and for the remainder of the term of, the current license. Upon expiration of the license, the successor would be required to apply for a new license if they wish to continue operating. (A successor cannot renew the existing license.) The guidance for Right of Succession (27 CFR 478.56) is also located on the face of the license. In the case of a Corporation, only a legal corporate entity may continue to be licensed.

If after the death of an individual the corporation is dissolved under state law, the entity no longer exists and may no longer be licensed. For further information or clarification on how the deactivation of a deceased RP may affect your license, please contact ATF Customer Service at (866) 662-2750.

New E-Check Claimed to be Improved

The FBI NICS E-Check has been upgraded and is now said to provide a much more user-friendly experience.

The biggest obstacle many FFLs identified with the old version of the E-Check was that it was difficult to set up on additional computers. Additionally, the old version of the E-Check was not compatible with many browsers.

The new E-Check 2.0 allows you to access the system from any computer or any browser. The FFL and/or manager receives administrative controls, which includes the ability to create and modify accounts. The E-Check 2.0 does not require a digital certificate to be downloaded to your computer. This makes it easier to use from any browser using a computer, laptop, tablet, smart phone, etc. You will log into FBI NICS E-Check using a user name and password similar to how you log in to most on-line accounts.

NFA Paperwork

ATF has become aware of fraudulent misuse of paperwork associated with National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms.

ATF strongly recommends that you never give anyone a copy of the applicable form that is to stay with your NFA firearm. In addition, please be aware that there are several areas to inspect if you are examining an NFA form for transfer. The ATF NFA Branch assigns a control number to every transfer, which is stamped on the applicable NFA form. Also, the serial number for the firearm is included in the tax stamp that is affixed to the applicable NFA form.

Should you suspect any misuse of NFA approved forms, please contact your local ATF office. A listing of the offices may be found at: www.atf.gov/content/contact-us/local-atf-offic.

Note on FFL Responsible Persons

The Federal Firearms Licensing Center reminds all licensees that an ATF Form 2.5330.20-Certification of Compliance with 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(5)(B) (COC) is currently required for each and every responsible person (RP) every three years, when submitting your renewal application (as indicated in Part C, question 6 on the ATF Form 8 Part II).

The Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) information is required on all renewals as well. The CLEO information should be entered in Part C, question 4 by the RP completing the renewal form. The CLEO should not complete any part of the application and should not sign the application. The RP completing the renewal should sign the renewal, thereby certifying that all of the information provided is true and correct to the best of his or her knowledge, and that a copy of the application has been provided to the CLEO, as required.

The failure to complete the COC and CLEO information on renewals generate the most returns from the FFLC, which ultimately delays the issuance of the renewed license.

Court Rules Sheriffs Cannot Participate In Suit

A lawsuit seeking to overturn two new Colorado gun-control laws remains alive despite a judge’s ruling that county sheriffs cannot participate. The lawsuit will move forward on behalf of other organizations that support gun rights, which had joined 55 of the state’s 64 sheriffs as plaintiffs.

Chief U.S. District Judge Marcia Krieger ruled that the sheriffs, in their official capacities, do not have standing to challenge the laws. They can join the suit as individuals, however.

The lawsuit seeks a decision from Krieger that the laws are unconstitutional. One of the laws bans magazines with capacities of more than 15 rounds. The other imposes fees and requires background checks for private transfers of firearms. The laws took effect July 1. (© FB/IFT)

Facing the Recall Music, CO Legislator Resigns

Sen. Evie Hudak (D-Westminster, Colo.) became the latest target of recall elections, resigning her seat in the Colorado Legislature just days before opponents were expected to turn in signatures to try to oust her from office.

She was targeted for her support of strict gun-control legislation, which did not sit well with much of her constituency. By resigning, Hudak ensured that Democrats would keep their narrow one-vote majority in the next legislative session, because a committee from the Democratic Party will appoint her replacement. If recalled, voters could have replaced her with a Republican.

November NICS Stats Down Over 14%

What will likely turn out to be an unprecedented gun sales slow-down continues with the November 2013 NSSF-adjusted National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) figure of 1,308,100 is a decrease of 14.2% compared to the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,525,177 in November 2012.

For comparison, the unadjusted November 2013 NICS figure of 1,805,759 reflects a 9.6% decrease from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,997,703 in November 2012. NSSF-adjusted NICS for November 2013 is the second highest on record — an 18.8% increase over November 2011.

Plastic Gun Ban Signed Without Schumer’s Trick

A 10-year renewal of the so-called “Undetectable Firearms Act” has been signed into law, without the polymer magazine ban trick Sen. Schumer (D-NY) attempted to insert into it.

Just before the Senate recessed in late November for two weeks, Sen. Schumer abruptly called for unanimous consent for a one-year extension to the Undetectable Firearms Act. Up to that point, all discussion in both the House and Senate were for five or 10 year periods.

His scam was to have the bill expire again during the Senate’s lame duck session in 2014. At that point, Schumer and his compadres on this effort (which included Patrick Leahy (D-VT) who, like Schumer, proclaims himself to be “pro-gun” to constituents) could tack on the gun-control expansions that their vulnerable Democrats in rural and western states would not support in an election year, The Washington Times reported.

Schumer and some Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, such as Leahy, had been trying recently to expand the scope of the so-called “plastic gun ban” ban to include millions of existing and non-threatening polymer magazines.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, the Alabama Republican who is on the Judiciary Committee, objected to Schumer’s request and asked the bill be done in regular order.

Schumer protested not moving immediately. He said on the floor that, “What makes us need to do this rather quickly is that a few months ago someone in Texas published on a website a way to make a plastic gun, buying a 3D printer for less than $1,000.” He’s referring to Cody Wilson who printed a plastic gun which he calls “The Liberator.”

The Times reported that current federal law states that a firearm has to have 3.7 oz. of steel in it — after removing the grips, stocks and magazine. With the invention of 3D printers, a few people have technically abided by the law by adding a non-functional steel clip to the firearm. Even though Wilson has a federal manufacturer’s license, which exempts him from the law, he added a piece of steel to his gun to make it compliant. The Democrats then attempted to create a non-existent political controversy for public relations purposes.

Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal put out a press release Friday that falsely blamed Sen. Sessions for blocking the bill permanently. Mr. Blumenthal theatrically stated that, “Delaying these protections simply puts innocent American lives at risk.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, was outraged by the games being played by Democrats. “Congressional Republicans support a lengthy extension of the ban on firearms that cannot be picked up by metal detectors,” the Iowa Republican said in a statement. “Rather than working with us, they sought to move their inadequate bill just before the Senate adjourned, intending to make Republicans object. Democrats have knowingly mischaracterized this debate.” The statute has actually been led by Republicans in the past. It was originally signed into law in 1988 by President Reagan. The GOP congress passed it with strong bipartisan support in 2003, and President George W. Bush signed it.

The author publishes two of the small arms industry’s most widely read trade newsletters. The International Firearms Trade covers the world firearms scene, and The New Firearms Business covers the domestic market. He may be reached at: FirearmsB@aol.com.

Recently, SAR had the chance to discuss the topic in depth with 3-Gun National champion Tommy Thacker. Tommy’s shooting career can be traced back to 1999 at the local and regional level and by 2001 he was competing at the national level. It all started with a trip to SHOT Show in 1999 where he watched a stage demo by Team Safariland. He recorded the demo so he could practice the techniques. He would go the NRA Headquarters range in Fairfax, VA to practice. One night a few USPSA competitors saw him and told them about local USPSA matches held monthly at the NRA range; he was hooked. Tommy started working for FNH USA in 2008 and shortly thereafter formed their shooting team. Tommy considers 2009 as the year he started competing professionally. Tommy recently parted ways with FNH USA in pursuit of other endeavors. In February 2014, he took his nearly 20 years of top-level management, sales and firearms experience to ArmaLite where he was named president.

Tommy currently offers a full suite of training through Northern Virginia Tactical consisting of Basic Pistol to Advanced 3-Gun and everything in between. He has trained law enforcement (LE), military, and federal agency personnel in all levels of fundamentals to pre-deployment mission specific applications. His main goals as an instructor is to understand what student needs are as well their objectives and then help them reach these goals. Not everyone is striving to be a national champion or getting ready to deploy so an instructor needs to identify with his student to ensure they get the most out of a training segment. Below are question and answer segments that Tommy graciously participated in to give readers greater insight into shooting at a high level of performance.

SAR: What do you feel are techniques that best cross over between competition, LE, and CCW?

Thacker: Almost everything I do shooting-wise crosses over to the civilian, LE and military side of shooting; the fundamental difference is tactics. I never go into a department or agency to teach tactics, which is best left to their tactics development team. My goal is to teach them how to handle their firearms in a manner that will improve their speed and accuracy. How many chiefs/supervisors do you know that would not like to have that?

SAR: You are most associated with your 3-Gun success. Any thought to cross over into other competition styles such IDPA, IPSC, etc.?

Thacker: 3-Gun competition in my opinion is the pinnacle of the shooting sports. Top level 3-Gun competitors can step down into IDPA and USPSA and use his skill set to be competitive in those sports. However, it is more difficult for an IDPA or USPSA shooter to jump right into 3 Gun and be competitive. I shoot all of these sports exactly the same way, my shooting style does not change from a pistol match to a 3-Gun match; what changes is my tactics if you will. I know that IDPA has different rules like, use of cover, tactical order and various reloading scenarios; so I change the mindset before stepping into those types of competitions.

I see this is similar to a LE as most SWAT operators are assigned to regular patrol operations until the call comes in. When the call comes in, they have to transform to a different mindset. Their role in the stack is much different than their role on the street.

SAR: How do you get into the “zone” when getting ready to compete? How do you handle the pressure of competing in events where split seconds could make the difference?

Thacker: My “zone” for competition is probably as easy as it gets. I try to be completely relaxed. I practice this and focus on what I need to do for each part of the competition. I think this really is the key to my success, the mental game. I use one of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, “Begin with the End in Mind.” This is an effective tool in business and in shooting you have to know where you are going before you decide how to get there, a mistake I see often on the range.

I feel the mental preparation is just as important, if not more important, than the physical practice. Most of the top-level competitors have a skill set that is programmed at a subconscious level; there is not much in the conscious mind when they pick up the firearms to start engaging targets. I just run the program in my head; at the Pro level there is no time to think about shooting – it has to be natural as soon as the buzzer sounds.

You have to be confident in your equipment and abilities. If you are unsure of your rifle dope; a shooting position, or have never tried anything like it before you will not execute it properly. That is what practice is for, training helps your mind see and develop a memory for success. That is the key for building confidence on the range. When I walk a new course of fire, I have confidence even though I may have never been there before. The reason for the confidence is that I can almost guarantee that I have seen each little segment or array at a match or practice somewhere in the past. Our mind works with pictures and if you can remember what that array or position looked like in the past, you will be comfortable with it this time.

SAR: Can you describe in as much detail as possible your sighting process in preparation of breaking a shot?

Thacker: I wish I could tell you that I have one system that I use all the time and stick to it but unfortunately, it is not that easy. I address every target in every array a little differently. If it is a close wide-open target (0-7 yards), I get a flash sight picture, index on the target and engage because every tenth of a second counts. Again, it goes back to knowing what you are capable of and executing it properly. The sight picture varies across all three guns and for each type of target I encounter. Rifle targets vary, as some require a precise hold with the least amount of moment while others can be engaged with some movement to being on the run and drifting the sights across the target in full stride.

SAR: Recommend a structured weekly program for an already competent shooter who wants to progress to the next level?

Thacker: I would say the most important thing for a shooter to work on to help them advance to the next level is movement. If there is an opportunity to move through the course of fire and engage targets that will be the place to make up time. That being said, you could practice movement without shooting many rounds or any at all. Dry fire can be a great tool for seeing what your body is doing while you are moving. It is difficult to shoot on the move and expect to get hits if you do not know what your body does and how much your sights are moving without actually shooting. Most people just start shooting on the move and stop almost immediately because they are not hitting targets. They assume they are not ready to shoot on the move because their skill set is not there when in most cases they miss because they are trying to do something their body can’t, shooting on the move doesn’t mean running and shooting all the time. Sometimes it is just a little movement of the upper body or a small heal to toe movement and other times it can be an all-out sprint while engaging targets within 3 feet of the muzzle.

SAR: What mental preparations do you make before and during a Match?

Thacker: Ah, the question that everyone finally gets to… My mental game is my complete mindset. It is who I am and the way I live; I don’t turn on something just for competition or training. I am a very positive thinker and whole-heartedly believe there is absolutely nothing I cannot do. Your mindset is what controls your emotions and your actions. If you think negative you will be negative, if you think positive you will be a positive person and most of all, if you think you can win you will figure out a way to accomplish your goal.

I believe that God has given me a specific set of skills and qualities and has the ultimate control over my life. It is up to me to stay on the right path and not let the world drag me away from my values and principles. I know my abilities and prepare myself for each event by thinking back to the fundamentals and all of my years of training and past performances. I have a major championship and know that I can compete at the highest level of the sport and win. With that in my mind, there is nothing that scares me, nothing that shakes me and I can concentrate on the stage in front of me. Yes, the stage, not the match. If I am worried about my overall finish, I will not concentrate at the stage level and not perform at my best.

Fundamentally, you must concentrate on one thing at a time and be the best you can be at that time. Winning a match is an overall project that may consist of five to nine courses of fire; each stage is task in the overall project. Many people lose focus in a match and start to worry about other competitors overall match performance. I take that back to Covey’s “circle of concern” vs. “circle of influence.” It is okay to be aware of your “circle of concern,” or other people’s scores. However, when you spend all of your time focused in this area you will fail. On the other hand, if you spend your time focused in your “circle of influence,” or your performance, you will excel. You can only control your own performance and you can only shoot one stage at a time so there is no reason for me to look anywhere other than the current stage.

My focus is 100% on the stage I am getting ready to shoot and how I can have my best performance right there at that specific place in time. There are variables that will come into play; being tired, feeling sick; sore muscles, being hungry or distracted by any number of reasons. All of these factors will have some effect on your shooting and you must be able to identify them and adjust on the fly. If for some reason I have a bad stage, I try to let it go immediately so that it does not affect my overall match performance. Those points are lost and I cannot get them back or make them up. If I try to, that one bad stage will have a much more significant impact on my overall score. Many people will try to “make up” points on the next stage and that leads to trouble. All you can do is get back in the right mindset and do the best you can on the next stage. If you shoot to your abilities you will finish where you finish, if you try to shoot to someone else’s abilities you will beat yourself every time.

My coach reminds me all the time, “You don’t rise to the occasion; you fall to your level of training.” This is so true and I see it happen all the time at the range. Shooting is a very simple sport that we make complicated.

SAR: Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us.. Your insights are most valuable.

Sites of Interest

Loudoun Guns, Inc.
302 Industrial CT, SE Ste F
Leesburg, VA 20175
(703) 771 7479
www.loudoungunsinc.com

Northern Virginia Tactical
(703) 677 8267
www.nvtactical.com

CMMG RELEASES MK4 RCE

For the past decade, CMMG has delivered precision-machined AR rifles known for their exceptional function, accuracy and reliability. The latest rifle to embody these features is the CMMG Mk4 RCE, available in 5.56x45mm NATO or .300 AAC Blackout. The Mk4 RCE is one of CMMG’s premier 2014 rifle models. At its core is an M4 upper receiver and an AR-15 lower receiver – both forged from 7075-T6 aluminum. The barrel is a matte finished 416 stainless steel 16-inch barrel with 1:7 rifle twist. The Mk4 RCE weighs just 6.5 pounds unloaded and weighs 7.5 pounds with a fully-loaded 30-round PMag. It is 33 inches long with the stock collapsed and is 36 3/8 inches in length with the stock extended. The RCE includes an RKM14 KeyMod free-floating hand guard with a 1913 Picatinny rail on top. The KeyMod slots are found at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions and offer shooters a low-profile mounting alternative to the M1913 Picatinny rail. For accessories that are not yet KeyMod compatible, users can purchase a separate CMMG 5-slot Picatinny adapter rail that can be easily attached to any of the KeyMod slots for optimal placement of the accessories. The Mk4 RCE is equipped with a CMMG SV muzzle brake that helps to reduce recoil and increase muzzle control for quick and manageable follow-up shots. The muzzle brake is built from nitride finished 4140 steel and is able to withstand harsh conditions while providing steady and consistent muzzle rise compensation. Other features include a Geissele Automatics SSA 2-stage trigger, a Magpul CTR adjustable stock and Magpul MOE pistol grip and trigger guard. One Magpul PMag with a 30-round capacity is included with the rifle. You can find more information at www.cmmginc.com.

ROBAR ANNOUNCES NEW SR-21 RIFLE

ROBAR, a trusted leader in precision rifle design, announces their new SR21 precision rifle. Designed around a customized 700 action with match grade barrel, the SR21 breaks new ground, being based on a versatile chassis system. Embracing the most advanced technology in use by precision shooters, ROBAR’s SR21 begins with ROBAR’s legendary accuracy guarantee of one-half MOA or better – then continues to build on that promise. The final package is based on innovation, “best-quality” components and trusted manufacturing skills. Among the unique features of this rifle are the monolithic rail, attachable sections (for mounting optics/laser/night vision and accessories), a quick detachable stock and compatibility with standard AR-style stock and pistol grip – all working together as a cohesive unit. ROBAR has created the SR21 to be one of the most versatile rifles possible, while still assuring the ability to deliver that magical 0.5 MOA. ROBAR can also place your existing rifle in this remarkable chassis and work with you to create your own SR21. This state-of-the-art modularity translates into versatility, user-friendliness and adaptability, allowing ROBAR to create an SR21 meeting your particular needs. Contact them at www.robarguns.com.

FAB DEFENSE ANNOUNCES NEW FOLDING BACK-UP SIGHTS

FAB Defense has just introduced their new folding back-up sights. When the FAB FBS ergonomic angel-wing shaped front site shroud aligns with the FAB RBS rear sight, a precise optical tunnel is created that ensures more accurate aiming and faster target acquisition. The FBS is a highly-advanced, low-profile, ultra-rugged, auxiliary folding front sight. It can be used with any rear sight, but has been designed to provide an extreme optical advantage when paired with the FAB Defense RBS rear back-up sight. No tools are needed for easy, rapid elevation adjustments, with positive detent locking. The RBS is a highly-advanced, low-profile, ultra-rugged, dual aperture, folding auxiliary rear sight that can be used very effectively with any front sight. But, when paired with the FAB Defense FBS front sight, it provides the extreme optical advantage described above. Dual apertures are 3mm for longer eye relief mounting, low light, and faster target acquisition; and 1.5mm for shorter eye relief mounting and greater accuracy. Apertures are instantly selectable to match conditions, and windage is easily and quickly adjusted without tools. Both RBS and FBS are made of extremely durable high-grade polymer and metal, and feature instant spring-locked deployment mechanisms that will not slip, break or deform. Their low folded profiles are smooth and inconspicuous, and will not snag on gear, webbing, or brush. The FAB Defense FBS and RBS are easily mounted on any 1913 Picatinny rail, making them ideal for use on M4/AR-15/M16 platforms and on the FAB Defense KPOS as primary or as back-up sights. When an optical sight battery fails, hunters, law enforcement officers, home defenders, and military warriors can rely on these auxiliary sights to get the job done. For more information about FAB Defense weapon accessories; Meprolight Optical and Tritium Self-illuminating Night Sights; Front Line holsters; and E-LANDER magazines, visit www.themakogroup.com.

TIMNEY UNVEILS 2014 CUSTOMER’S CHOICE TRIGGERS

Timney Triggers, the oldest and largest trigger manufacturer in the world, has been asking shooters and hunters, “What trigger would you like us to build next?” The response has been incredible and thanks to their customers’ involvement, they’re thrilled to announce their 2014 Customer’s Choice offerings. Mossberg 100 ATR – adjustable from 1.5 – 4 pounds. Retail price is $119.95 and $129.95 for nickel plated version. Remington Model Seven – fully adjustable from 1.5 – 4 pounds. Retail price is $134.95 and $144.95 for nickel plated version. IWI Tavor – factory set at 4 pounds and unbelievably easy to install. Because of the unique, bullpup design the Timney Trigger replacement is a two-stage trigger feel. Retail price is $352.95. Timney Triggers is dedicated to ensuring their customers a lifetime of hassle free shooting enjoyment. That is evident in the last step of the manufacturing process, when each trigger is hand assembled, tested, and calibrated for the specific rifle model it is intended for before it’s delivered to the customer’s door. Timney Triggers is proud to offer a lifetime warranty on all of their products and each trigger is proudly made in the USA. For more information on Timney Manufacturing please contact them at www.timneytriggers.com.

PLINKER ARMS INTRODUCES TWO NEW .22LR MAGAZINES

Plinker Arms, makers of American-made firearms magazines, accessories and components, announces two new .22 LR magazines to their family of .22 LR products; the .22 LR Universal magazine and the .22 LR Upper Conversion magazine. The Plinker Arms Universal .22 LR magazine is an American-made, sonically welded .22 LR magazine for SIG, DPMS and CMMG rifles. The magazines are made using a very durable, long-fiber polymer that not only increases the magazine’s longevity but makes the magazines more solvent and corrosion resistant. The Universal .22 LR magazines are available in Black, OD Green and Flat Dark Earth (FDE) and in either 10 -or 25-round capacities (all state laws apply). The .22 LR Upper Conversion magazines are compatible with all three new Plinker Arms .22 LR Upper Conversion Units; the M4, SBR and Bull Barrel Upper Conversions. These magazines are also American made using a sonically welded, long-nylon polymer body construction. Available in either 10 – or 25-rounds (all state laws apply), the new Plinker Arms .22 LR Upper Conversion magazines come in Black only. Both magazines have a limited lifetime warranty and retail is just $24.99. (The Universal .22 LR magazine will not fit the Colt .22 Umarex rifles, Tactical Solutions, HK or other Umarex rifles.) For more information you can contact them at www.plinkertactical.com.

MANTA INTRODUCES NEW M7000 SUPPRESSOR COVERS

Manta is now manufacturing their new M7000 series suppressor covers. The covers will be available beginning in January 2014 and will fit 1.5 inch diameter suppressors. The use of revolutionary materials coupled with cutting-edge designs has allowed Manta to solve a problem that plagues every suppressor: HEAT. The Manta Suppressor Cover will resist the extreme heat generated from suppressors thus protecting operators and gear from accidental burns while helping to reduce mirage and IR signature. Cover segments can interface together and can be cut to length for a custom fit. The Manta Suppressor Cover will not melt. Manta has refined their designs and materials through years of testing, bringing a product to market unlike anything else. Roots in the military market has enabled Manta to create products to solve heat issues that have plagued other weapon platforms such as the Browning M2 machine gun barrel. Currently, Manta offers covers for suppressors that are 1.5 inches in diameter, a cover for the .50 caliber Barrett M107A1 suppressor and a barrel cover for the M2 Machine gun. The M7000 is Black, the M7001 is Flat Dark Earth, the M7003 is Olive Drab and the M7010 is Cammo. Manta plans to introduce multiple variations over the next several months to interface with the most popular suppressor sizes. For more information on Manta visit them online at www.manta.us.

TRU-SPEC LAUNCHES MULTICAM BLACK PATTERN

TRU-SPEC, one of the leading suppliers of uniforms and personal equipment to the military, law enforcement and public safety markets, has added the MultiCam Black pattern to their popular Tactical Response Uniform selections, specifically designed to meet the unique needs of law enforcement officers operating in high-risk environments. The MultiCam Black pattern, developed by Crye Precision and DURO Industries, projects a distinctly authoritative presence appropriate for domestic operations. The pattern is designed to complement officer’s existing equipment, while presenting a sharp, professional image for the top-tier law enforcement units. MultiCam Black will be available in TRU-SPEC high tech Tactical Response Uniform (TRU), constructed with CORDURA NYCO fabric, which provides exceptional durability, comfort and No Melt, No Drip thermal performance. The TRU Shirt, TRU Pant, 1/4 Zip Combat Shirt and Contractor Cap will be available in the new MultiCam Black pattern as part of the initial launch. You can contact them via www.truspec.com.

The .45 Auto caliber is simply an American caliber. There are very little sales of this caliber outside of the U.S. commercial, law enforcement and more recently military market. It appears there is a trend throughout the U.S. law enforcement market of the return of the .45 Auto caliber duty pistol retiring the 9x19mm caliber pistols. The .40 caliber pistol still has much popularity but the pendulum has defiantly been swinging in the direction of the .45 Auto caliber. The SIG P220 pistol has been around since the early 1980s in .45 Auto caliber. Originally chambered in numerous calibers including 9x19mm, .38 Super, .30 Luger and .22 Long Rifle, the P220 is now only offered in .45 Auto. The P220 has a 8-round single stack magazine. The pistol operates by the Browning locked breech short-recoil method. When the cartridge is fired both the barrel and the slide are locked. The slide begins to move rearward and the barrel is cammed, sliding the barrel downward to unlock the slide from the barrel. At this point the cartridge case is extracted and ejected from the pistol. Once the slide reaches its full rearward movement the recoil spring returns the slide forward stripping the next round from the magazine, feeding the round and chambering it. At this point the slide moves to its full foreword most position where the barrel and the slide lock up again due to the camming action of the barrel.

SIG pistols were very simple to operate. They had no manual safety. Looked favorabley by some and a negative by others, the SIG pistols offered a double action/single action trigger pull. Once the pistol was loaded, the hammer was decocked via a decocking lever on the left side of the pistol. To fire, the first pull is a long approximately 10 pound double action trigger. Once the pistol fires all consecutive rounds will be a lighter approximately 4.4 pound single action pull. Of course at any time the decocking lever may be engaged to return the hammer to the double action position. SIG pistols also used a passive firing pin block, which was a major breakthrough in safety. Unlike the GI M1911-type pistols that one could drop on the muzzle with the safety engaged at 5 feet and have an unintentional discharge due to the inertia of the free floating firing pin the SIG P220 could not fire unless the trigger was pulled all the way to the rear. There is a spring loaded plunger in the slide which blocks the forward movement of the firing pin that is disengaged by an arm in the frame when the trigger is pulled all the way to the rear. For a right handed shooter, the magazine release, decocking lever and slide release are all within sweeping distance of the right hand shooters thumb. The pistol is not so friendly for a left handed shooter. Instead of using the slide release the lefty would slingshot the slide by manually pulling it to the rear. He would use his trigger finger to actuate the decocking lever and magazine release.

Maintenance of the pistol is extremely simple. Insure the weapon is unloaded by first removing the magazine. Retract the slide and visually inspect the chamber. Lock the slide to the rear. Rotate the takedown lever and pull the slide assembly off of the front of the frame. Push inward on the rear of the recoil spring guide and lift it out of the slide assembly. Now lift upward on the barrel and remove it from the slide.

The P220 fared well with law enforcement and commercial sales, but the low magazine capacity could not compete with the new generation of 9x19mm caliber pistols that would soon dominate the industry. In the U.S., with the onset of the war on terror, American special forces began to get into regular engagement with pistols that proved the inferiority of a 9mm ball round compared to a .45 Auto caliber round. Operators liked the light recoil and high capacity but it was soon to be determined that all would change in favor of the stopping power of the .45 Auto. The Glock and H&K pistols would find their way into theater, as well as some of the traditionalists who liked the old and outdated M1911-type pistols.

At this time SIG Sauer was behind the ball. They had spent these years developing the P226 in 9mm and the P229 series in 9x19mm, .40 and .357 SIG as well as introducing their own polymer framed pistols. The pistols being procured by the American military and law enforcement in .45 Auto caliber were high capacity pistols ranging from 10 to 13 rounds. That was significantly more than the 8 rounds offered by the P220. The time had come for SIG to enter the combat .45 Auto caliber pistol market. They already had a combat proven pistol with a incredible name and reputation – they only needed a pistol to compete.

At SHOT Show 2013, SIG Sauer introduced a new family of the P-series pistols, one that would fit this need for the .45 Auto caliber combat pistol: the SIG Sauer P227 series of pistols. Three pistols are offered in the P227 family. The P227 Nitron (4.4 inch barrel), Carry (3.9 inch barrel with rail) and SAS Gen II (3.9 inch barrel) without rail. The P227 Nitron is the combat/duty pistol that was sent to SAR for test and evaluation. The other two models are compact versions with shorter barrel length.

The P227 Nitron has very similar dimensions as the P226 chambered in 9mm with the biggest difference being the slightly larger grip. The overall length of the pistol is 7.7 inches and overall height is 5.5 inches, which is identical to the 9mm P226. The width of the pistol is 1.5 inches. The P227 Nitron was equipped with Siglite tritium night sights but could also be had with standard sights. The big change on the P227 from the P220 is the increase from an 8-round to a 10-round magazine. The 10-round magazine is a double column magazine that is easily loaded up to the capacity. Thus, the P227 Nitron can be loaded with 10 rounds in the magazine plus 1 in the chamber for a total of 11 rounds.

The frame of the P227 has a Mil-Std 1913 rail on the front bottom of the frame allowing attachment of tactical lights or laser sights. The backstrap has a unique shape with a hump on the bottom. This is a very comfortable grip, especially those with large size hands. The stainless steel slide of the pistol was machined flawless, what one would expect from a company with a reputation like SIG. The frame is anodized black and has a nice checkering pattern on the frontstrap of the grip. Slide comes back as smooth as can be and there is no play/rattle between the slide and frame. The test and evaluation trigger broke at 4 3/4 pounds on single action and 10 1/2 pounds on double action.

The first P227 pistols did not leave the factory until summer of 2013 and now they are still quite hard to get. There are many new developments in .45 Auto caliber ammunition such as the Federal HST load as well as the proven Hydra Shok round. Remington has their Golden Saber and Bonded Golden Saber rounds as well as the soon to be released Black Belt Golden Saber rounds. Winchester offers their Politically correct Ranger T-Series (Black Talon design). Hornady offers one of the finest LE defense cartridges called the Hornady Critical Duty and Critical Defense loads. CCI offers their proven Gold Dot ammunition. Some of the specialty ammunition is the Lehigh Defense Controlled Fracturing and Maximum Expansion loads.

The test and evaluation pistol was tested with Pierce Ammunition 230 grain full metal jacket for function testing. There was a total of 200 rounds of Pierce 230 grain full metal jacket round nose fired in the P227 with no malfunctions. The ball ammunition shot consistent 2-inches at 15 yards from a supported position. One magazine of 10-rounds was fired in the Hornady Critical Duty, Federal HST, Federal Hydra Shok, Remington Golden Saber, CCI Gold Dot and Winchester T-Series. There were no malfunctions. The P227 fed all these different high performance hollow point rounds with no malfunctions making this a very reliable pistol regardless of what it is fed in high quality ammunition. The best group was with the Critical Duty 220 grain FlexLock cartridge with 1 3/4 inch group off hand at 15 yards.

The P227 will definitely be competing for military contracts. It will be interesting to see how the P227 is received by SOCOM who has always favored the 9x19mm P226. Although in recent years they had switched to guns in .45 Auto such as Glock and Heckler & Koch pistols. The P227 will give them everything they liked and had coveted in the P226 but fire the projectile they have come to respect on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. It seems logical that they could switch to the P227 with little to no transition training. The pistol will certainly have interest in law enforcement. The compact versions will fare well for both LE and commercial sales for personal protection and undercover weapons. The major hurdle will be the same as it has been throughout the history of SIG: cost. The high price tag of SIG pistols have taken them right out of police procurement trials compared to their contemporaries. But it is difficult if not impossible to make a fine quality handgun on the cheap. You will get what you pay for.

Battle Rifle Company debuted at the 2012 SHOT Show. There, Chris introduced his standard lines of rifles. In 2013, the company again attended the SHOT Show as well as the annual NRA meeting.

With all these different Black Rifle manufacturers something has to set each of them apart from the other. Battle Rifle Company has many areas where they stand out: Every rifle is assembled by an armorer. There is no production line. Battle Rifle Company manufactures their own design flash suppressor, which eliminates 98% of the flash according to Battle Rifle Company. All of the barrels are cryogenically treated to increase the life of the barrel. Each rifle is custom tuned to run optimally. Every rifle has a rail of some sort on it. Every rifle is equipped with back up sights. Each rifle comes with a CProducts steel magazine. However upon request they can be provided with a PMag or CAA magazine. Each trigger is polished giving a trigger pull from 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 pounds. Also what is referred to as rapid reset springs are added to increase the speed of follow up shots. The customer has options of stock assemblies such as the Damage Industries Enhanced Combat System Stock, Magpul stocks, Chaote M4 stock and Enhanced M4 stock to name a few. Depending on the model, the barrels are manufactured by Ballistic Advantage, Green Mountain, DSS or Blackhole Weapons. Every mag well is currently inspected with numerous manufacturers of magazines to insure compatibility with all commercially available magazines.

The BR4

The BR4 was the first weapon tested in the Battle Rifle Company lineup. This is a basic patrol-type carbine. It was received with a rubber butt pad that slid over the rear of the standard stock assembly. This particular rifle was shipped with a detachable carrying handle. It was equipped with a one-point sling adapter on the rear of the receiver extension plate. The pistol grip was an Ergo Grip. The rifle had a standard rail assembly and the Battle Rifle Company flash suppressor.

BR15

The BR15 has a 16-inch barrel with the M203 step cut on it. The barrel has a 1/7 inch rifling twist. This is optimal for projectiles from 62 to 69 grains in weight. The rifle also came with a black carrying case. This particular rifle has a 16-inch barrel but also available is a 14.5-inch barrel with the Battle Rifle Company flash suppressor permanently welded in place.

The fit and finish of this rifle was quite good. The receivers were tight and the trigger was crisp. Some accessories were added by the author. The rifle was tested with the new Magpul M3 magazines. This included the 20-round, 30 with and without window and the new 40-round magazine. This is the newest generation in the evolution of what this author feels is the best magazine available anywhere for this platform. The new magazines have a flat floor plate allowing easier stacking in a magazine pouch. The new M3 features a stainless steel magazine spring, four-way anti tilt follower, pop-off Impact/Dust Cover and no tools are required for disassembly for cleaning. The low profile ribs and aggressive front and rear texture provide positive control of the magazine, which help with compatibility of double and triple magazine pouches. The easy to disassemble standard flared floor plate provides drop protection and aids extraction from the magazine pouch. A paint pen dot matrix has been added to the bottom panel of the magazine body for easy marking by the end user for magazine identification. The geometry of the M3 makes it compatible with non-standard M16/M4-type magazine wells including the HK416, M27 IAR, British SA80 and FN SCAR. The M3 incorporates a new material technology and manufacturing process that increases strength and durability in critical areas. The new 20-, 30- and 40-round magazines were tested in the BR4.

The Manta rail systems were chosen for this rifle as well. Manta extreme rail panels are a new technology in rail protection and gripping technology. Manufactured from the same material as M1 Abrams tank treads, this material is easy to grip whether your hands are wet, muddy or whatever condition may come. Molded into the rail panels are several metal clips that enable the rail to grab positively even improperly made rails. The manta grip sleeve was mounted over the forward vertical pistol grip. The pressure pad from the flashlight mounted on the rail was slipped into the sleeve on the vertical pistol grip cover. This not only protects the pressure pad but makes it much easier for the shooter to actuate. These same panels were adopted on the new M27 IAR manufactured by H&K for the Marine Corps. Manta rail sections are also designed to cover wire from various devises to keep them out of the way and from getting snagged on trees or any other obstacle.

The optic chosen was the Trijicon RX01 reflex sight. This has a 6.5 MOA amber dot, which brings pinpoint accuracy and allows the shooter to shoot with both eyes open. The sight has a 24mm objective. The illumination source is both a tritium lamp as well as fiber optics located in the front of the sight. The body of the sight is cast A357. The sight came with a polarizing filter. This is the same one used by SOCOM and part of the SOPMOD program.

The ammunition used for testing was U.S. M855 ball. The shooting conditions were less than optimal. It was 109°F in the Nevada desert with high winds. More than 300 rounds were fired out of the BR4 with no malfunctions. It should also be noted that there was blowing sand on the rifle as well. Targets were shot at close range due to the optic being a 1x CQB sight. The rifle shot right where the dot in the optic was once zeroed. The M3 PMags dropped free once the mag catch was depressed. The 40-round PMag worked flawlessly. The BR4 is by all means suitable as a patrol or self defense rifle.

The BR15 LIT (Light Infantry Tactical)

The second rifle provided for testing was the BR15 LIT with a 16 inch barrel. This differed from the standard BR15 in that first it had a nickel boron coated bolt carrier group. This finish claims to be easier to clean and require little to no lubrication. The stock provided was the Damage Industries Enhanced Combat System Stock. The rifle has an aluminum Midwest Industries free floating handguard with removable rail sections. This rifle came with A.R.M.S., Inc. #71 polymer folding front and rear sights and a 1-point sling adapter attached to the receiver extension end plate. This also had the Ergo Grip pistol grip. This rifle also has a 1/7 inch twist and equipped with the Battle Rifle Company proprietary flash suppressor.

The optic chosen for this rifle was the Trijicon ACOG TA31RC0-M4CP – this is the U.S. Marine issue ACOG sight. This is a 4×32 mm scope manufactured from a 7075-T6 aircraft grade aluminum forging; the same as the rifle receivers. It is powered by both a tritium lamp and a red fiber optic the goes right over the top of the scope. The reticle is a red. The brightness of the chevron is self regulating based on the ambient light collected from the fiber optic. However, soldiers have been known to cover portions of the fiber optic with tape to dim them up. The rifle came with a Killflash cover to prevent reflection off the lens as well as lens covers.

This rifle was also tested with M855 ball ammunition in the scorching windy desert heat. More than 100 rounds were fired with no malfunctions of any type. Groups averaged between 2 and 3 MOA. I believe the ammunition and condition may have not brought out this rifle’s true capability. I believe with proper match ammunition, less wind and better shooting conditions the factory specified 1 MOA could be achieved.

Battle Rifle Company is new to the industry and is making low production numbers of hand crafted rifles. There is plenty of business in this community to go around and they will certainly find their nitch. The rifles tested were an excellent quality and function perfectly. These rifles were accurate and well made.

The basic concept of technical intelligence certainly dates back to the Stone Age when reports of the first use of sticks sharpened into spears reached a cave clan leader. If he was smart enough he had his Cro-Magnon minions sharpen their own and train with them in anticipation of the next fight over hunting grounds. Ever since then, timely warnings on developments in enemy weaponry have repeatedly given a decisive edge to battle commanders who would otherwise be blindsided by their adversaries’ unexpected or increasingly sophisticated innovations.

This, in a nutshell, is what the 203D is all about.

A Brief History and Recent Operations of the 203D Military Intelligence Battalion

While not actually dating back to the Stone Age, today’s 203D proudly traces its lineage to the Army’s spectacularly successful Ordnance Technical Intelligence Teams in WWII. GIs fighting worldwide against the German and Japanese Axis forces eagerly awaited regular issues of the well-illustrated and plainly-worded Intelligence Bulletins. These provided the latest rumor-busting facts along with practical advice on dealing with enemy weaponry of all types.

The concept was revived in the Korean War and again in time for the buildup to the Vietnam War when a Captured Materiel Exploitation Center was set up in country. This was formalized as Delta Company of the existing 519th Military Intelligence Battalion.

Their own tech intel bulletins were widely circulated among U.S. and allied units with particular interest in capabilities of the enemy’s newly-introduced RPG-7 and surprise appearance of Soviet PT-76 amphibious tanks.

After a postwar layover at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Delta was moved to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland in 1978, first becoming the 11th Military Intelligence Company, later ramped-up to Battalion status.

Addition of OPFOR (Opposing Forces) training missions came with its designation as the 203D Military Intelligence Battalion (Provisional) in 1982. The Army’s decidedly different TI troops had their own unique entity – a detachment operating Soviet armored vehicle look-alikes for large scale mock battles on the vast desert terrain of the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California.

In an odd series of back and forth re-designations that only matter to heraldry buffs and unit members at the time, the 203D became the Foreign Materiel Intelligence Battalion in 1986 and back to 203D MI BN (Provisional) in 1995.

A visit way back then to these (called “Wizards of War” at the time) astonished this author who encountered what were probably the most amazing motor pools, warehouses, armories, and ammo bunkers in the entire U.S. Armed Forces. Packed with examples of the world’s armored fighting vehicles, artillery, commo and chemical gear, as well as exotic weaponry and ammo from pen guns to city-block-destroying multiple rocket launchers, this inventory supported in-depth evaluations and volumes of essential Tech Intel Bulletins and fact-filled operators manuals.

Then, in 1998, the 203D became a strange hybrid of active and reserve component soldiers. The battalion commander, along with primary staff officers and two of its line companies were reservists. Headquarters and A company were active duty troops. We’re told that the concept was intended to support both day-to-day collection and analysis of materiel with the capability to somewhat quickly bring in and deploy additional assets as required by real world situations.

This changed radically in late 2011 when the battalion became fully a reserve component. The Army lost the 203D’s 96 hour deployment capability and dumped a host of “challenges” on its mostly part-time officers, warrants, NCOs, and soldiers.

Elements of the 203D have been involved in every major ground operation the Army has launched beginning with Grenada in 1983. Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and again for Operation Iraqi Freedom were major undertakings for the battalion as primary players in multi-service, multinational Combined Joint Captured Materiel Exploitation Centers (CJCMEC). The latest overseas deployment came in 2011 with a WIT (Weapons Intelligence Team) sent to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

More recently, In May 2012, the battalion held the annual Combined Joint Captured Materiel Exploitation Center (CJCMEC) exercise. The purpose of the exercise is to increase the ability of the 203D MI BN, DIA, ONI, NASIC, MCIA, NAVEODTECHDIV, and Allied Partners from South Korea, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom to effectively operate as a CJCMEC during Overseas Contingency Operations. The exercise consisted of over 180 participants with the notable presence of 28 representatives from the Republic of Korea.

In September 2012, the 203D MI BN (TECHINT) hosted its annual TECHINT Day at its facilities on Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. The event began with an introduction to the unit and an overview of traditional and contemporary TECHINT. Guests then witnessed a live, pyrotechnic infused; demonstration of a TECHINT Teams’ aerial insertion and exploitation in a battlefield scenario. The demonstration depicted a traditional TECHINT exploitation of a Russian 2S6, Sensitive Site Exploitation of a command post, exploitation of a foreign weapons cache and biometric data collection of two “insurgents.” Guests were broken into teams and rotated through each of those stations for deeper, more hands on training. The afternoon portion consisted of rides in a Russian T-72 and BMP armored carrier, as well as live fire familiarization training on AK-47, AK-74, RPK, FPK, SVD and PKM machine guns. Over 185 personnel from the Intelligence Community; Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement and various Active Reserve units attended the event. Attendees included MG James Young, USAR Chief of Staff (and former 203D MI BN Commander); BG William Duffy, MIRC CG; multiple representatives from the Intelligence Community; and ROTC Cadets from multiple universities.

Also, the 203D conducted two Foreign Weapons Mobile Training Teams during 2012. Over 80 sailors and soldiers were trained including members of the Navy SEAL Team 3 out of San Diego, CA and the Army’s 300th Military Police Battalion.

The MPs were heading off to Afghanistan to train the Afghan Police on law enforcement tactics including the proper use and operation of foreign weapons. The SEALs were heading off to an undisclosed location.

A similar Captured Materiel Exploitation Center (CMEC) exercise and a TECHINT demonstration for TECHINT professionals from the United Kingdom were conducted in 2013; as well as a specialized weapons training session for the FBI.

The unit’s leaders were tight-lipped when asked about more recently deploying specialized TI Teams in response to requests from high level entities in Department of Defense. Hold that thought and keep in mind that individuals, teams and whole units of Army Reserve Soldiers are subject to a call to active duty at any time.

For those with a desire to know more, an in-depth history of the 203D in Operation Iraqi Freedom was written by Second Lieutenant Daniel Arnold, who deployed with the 203D MI Battalion in OIF as a Sergeant in the CM&D Platoon. He is currently a civilian employee with the National Ground Intelligence Center. www.thefreelibrary.com/The+203D+MI+Battalion+(technical+intelligence)+in+operation+Iraqi…-a0137860163

Mission

This United States Army Reserve battalion is tasked with a formidable array of missions. Here’s its actual mission statement:

The 203D MI BN will maintain combat ready Soldiers, teams, and units capable of deploying and conducting Technical Intelligence (TECHINT) missions in support of worldwide Overseas Contingency Operations. On order, deploy and establish the Captured Materiel Exploitation Center (CMEC), which serves at the DOD directed infrastructure for the formation of the Joint Captured Materiel Exploitation Center (JCMEC) providing near-real time intelligence derived from enemy materiel. Exercise Mission Command for battlefield collection, processing, exploitation, and evacuation of enemy weapons, equipment, and other materiel within the theater of operation. Train Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational elements on TECHINT Operations. Core Competencies include TECHINT, CJMEC operations and exercises, Site Exploitation (SE), Battlefield Forensics, and Weapons Technical Intelligence (WTI).

And while they’re at it, the “Big Green Machine” (Active Duty U.S. Army and all its Reserve and National Guard components) the 203D has some specifics spelled out in Field Manual 2-0 Intelligence. Not a few of which (note asterisks *) present significant challenges for this part-time battalion to maintain proficiency and perform acceptably:

– Establish and Operate the Captured Materiel Exploitation Center (CMEC)
– Conduct TECHINT collection and reporting in support of validated S&TI
   *Act as the HQDA executive agent for foreign materiel used for training purposes
   *Conduct TECHINT training for DoD and RC TECHINT personnel
   *Support INSCOM’s FMA and FME operations as directed
   *Analyze and exploit foreign
captured enemy documents (CEDs) equipment, weapon systems, and other war materiel.
– Report on the capabilities and limitations of enemy combat materiel
– Provide reports alerting the command to the tactical threat posed by technical advances in new or recently discovered foreign or enemy materiel
   *Provide countermeasures to any enemy technical advantage
   *Provide foreign or enemy equipment for troop familiarization and training
   *Provide recommendations on the reuse of CEM
– Supervise the evacuation of TECHINT items
– Provide task organized battlefield TECHINT teams to support a subordinate command’s TECHINT effort

Well, that’s what the Army expects them to do. But are they provided with the necessary personnel and assets to do the job? Particularly in the choking grasp of politically-driven “sequester” budget cuts and what some see as a kind of benign neglect by higher-ups.

Organization of the 203D Military Intelligence Battalion

The 203D MI BN is a United States Army Reserve unit that maintains combat ready soldiers, teams and units capable of deploying in support of Worldwide Overseas Contingency Operations.

This unit’s 267 soldiers – officers, warrants, NCOs and enlisted – are organized into a headquarters company and four line companies. Most all of these soldiers report for duty one weekend a month to training assemblies and two weeks a year for more in-depth taskings. A dedicated cadre of some eighteen full time soldiers and a half dozen civilians provide day-to-day operational, logistical and administrative continuity.

The battalion occupies modern and spacious quarters at the Army’s Aberdeen proving Ground, Maryland, the traditional home of the Ordnance Corps and boasting Aberdeen Test Center’s enormous and versatile range complex. Fortuitously, it is co-located with the Foreign Materiel Operations Division of NGIC, the National Ground Intelligence Center.

The long time mission of this unit has been to conduct battlefield exploitation on enemy materiel in order to alert battlefield commanders of new enemy capabilities; thus preventing the element of technical surprise. In addition, the 203D MI BN is responsible for the evacuation of foreign materiel from the battlefield back to research and testing facilities in the United States or other Coalition countries, with the intent to accelerate the development of friendly countermeasures.

The battalion woks with NGIC to train soldiers, airmen, sailors, marines and civilians on technical intelligence and foreign weapons. The battalion also supports the Defense Intelligence Agency by planning and participating in Combined Joint Captured Materiel Exploitation Center Exercises. The 203D MI BN provides a significant level of support to Army organizations, national level agencies and other military services to ensure TECHINT operations are conducted on the battlefield.

Battalion Headquarters: Conducts Mission Command and includes the S1, S2, S3, and S6 sections for support.

HHC: Provides and coordinates support for the battalion on all functions and other basic requirements to ensure the success of the unit.

A, B & C Companies: Conduct TECHINT Operations; foreign vehicle exploitation, foreign weapons exploitation, site exploitation, Weapons Technical Intelligence (WTI), IED identification, and Foreign System Familiarization.

D Company: Exploitation and Warehousing – Maintains accountability of captured materiel, creates Target Packages on Captured Exploitation Materiel (CEM) for TECHINT teams, analyzes and exploits CEM to determine new/special capabilities; receives, tracks and stores CEM for shipment to scientific exploitation centers; and supports exploitation efforts conducted by other organizations with subject matter experts. Their analytical cell provides battlefield intelligence analysis to TECHINT teams. Develops and prioritizes national level and combatant commanders TECHINT requirements.

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) and Training Sustainment Issues

The 203D MI BN (TECHINT) has 44 different military occupational specialties assigned to its organizational structure. The MOS requirements were developed in the 1980s to facilitate exploitation of foreign equipment; particularly Soviet built equipment. The Army does not at this time maintain a MOS specifically for the exploitation of foreign equipment and materiel.

When the 203D was an all active-component entity, these diverse MOS’ were filled mostly with NCOs with years of experience in their specialties. They applied these U.S. military skills to analyzing foreign materiel and providing useful intelligence about capabilities and countermeasures.

For example, let’s say that the latest export version of a particular foreign battle tank is recovered on the battle field. Team members whose MOS’ likely include 94 series Communications Repairer, 19 KILO Abrams Tank Crewman, 63 HOTEL Track Vehicle Repairer, 45 KILO Armament Repairer, 45 BRAVO Small Arms/Artillery Repairer, and others would apply their expertise to evaluating and sending resulting technical intelligence up through the chain-of-command for dissemination. That way, all friendly units in the area of operations and beyond can be provided with info of immediate tactical value should additional tanks of this type be encountered.

This analysis model has continued since transition to all-Reserve Component but this drastic change, implemented in late 2011, carries with it some particular challenges. Today’s 203D, while retaining many highly experienced mid and senior level NCOs, has a large percentage of enlisted soldiers who are very new to their MOS. As such, they can’t be expected to look at a given piece of enemy materiel with the same analytical abilities as more seasoned NCOs.

The solution, we’re told, is partly one of closer involvement of the more experienced unit members. This is discussed in Part 2 in our in-depth interview with Sergeant First Class Danial Stanley, a Platoon Sergeant in Company D.

Crystal Ball

“As the Army’s only TECHINT unit, the 203D has successfully mobilized for multiple deployments in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The unit’s structure, however, has not kept pace with the new and evolving definition of technical intelligence. Given that the technical requirements of today are more focused on IED analysis and the like, and that the U.S. will likely maintain its military technology edge over any potential adversary for many years. The 203D will be updated to focus on the emerging and current TECHINT and DOMEX needs of today.” (203D MI BN Command Briefing)

At the same time emphasizing their determination to perform at 110% despite creeping austerity and challenges coming down from the chain-of-command, unit leaders we talked with hold out hope that the Army will OK some needed changes in the near future.

The 203D’s Command Briefing addresses this with some specific challenges such as the not-incorrect perception of many in the Army that some of the battalion’s capabilities are reduced. Reasons for this include loss of the previously standard 96 hour response time for deployment, reduced funding for Mobile Training Teams, lack of opportunities for career progression, and reduced ability to perform in multiple deployments.

Solutions forwarded up the chain start with structural reorganization to a headquarters element and three identical line companies that are completely modular. These can be individually tasked to different locations and at different times to provide WTI qualified TECHINT teams in support of CMEC missions on company level.

This change also supports a full spectrum of operations from individual TI teams, to a company-sized CMEC (Captured Materiel Exploitation Center), to the whole battalion being activated to set up a “theater level” CJCMEC (Combined Joint Captured Materiel Exploitation Center).

Personnel issues are addressed by a requested reduction of the current 44 Military Occupational Specialties to just 15 carefully selected skill sets. This not only streamlines the range of specialties, it also provides better retention of trained personnel because they have upward progression in rank.

Some of the specific numbers and plans are still being looked at by the Intelligence community and the Army as to what will be the best design for the 203D of the future.

Note from 203D’s commander after reviewing the story: “Army and Army Reserve leadership are analyzing the 203D’s mission and future structure. The above section is full of conjecture from people you interviewed who didn’t necessarily take into account the larger picture.” We report, you decide…

Need Technical Intelligence Training?

An important part of the 203D’s mission is to send out mobile training teams to conduct foreign weapons training for authorized units in DOD and other entities. Depending on available funding and other factors, this can be done at a location specified by the requestor, or at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. For details contact: Commander, 203D Military Intelligence Battalion, ATTN: S-3, 4247 Deer Creek Loop, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005. Telephone (410) 278-7832. Email ulisses.taymes.mil@mail.mil

Foreign Weapons and More

While the battalion’s mission and capabilities go well beyond collection and identification of enemy materiel, the hook for us gun guys is, of course, the foreign weapons, ammo and related equipment. In Part 2 we’ll sit in on some concentrated foreign weapon training sessions in classrooms and then take our readers to the range for a day of live fire action.

Interview with Sergeant First Class Danial “Danny” Stanley, Foreign Weapons Lead Instructor, 203D’s Technical Intelligence Operator Course

This 45 year old native of West Virginia now makes his home in Harpers Ferry, WV, and commutes each workday to his regular job as a civilian employee for a defense contractor at Fort Meade, MD. He’s a for mer Navy Hospital Corpsman who went into the Army in 2000, and then the U.S. Army Reserve. Total service 26 years.

SAR: How did you make your way into the 203D?

Stanley: A USAR recruiter found a 45B position (small arms and artillery repairer) in 203D. When I found out we were tech intel dealing with foreign weapons I never left. Probably never will. I deployed with 203D to Operation Iraqi Freedom. My current duty position is Senior Technical Analyst and I’m a platoon sergeant in Delta Company.

SAR: Has your current assignment lived up to your expectations?

Stanley: More than. I really enjoy this place. I get the opportunity to keep current on FW technology and tell new soldiers. I feel like I’m passing knowledge on to the next generation and this is a good place to do that.

SAR: So many different specialties in 203D. Tell us about their appreciation for weapons technology.

Stanley: We do have more than forty different Military Occupational Specialties but I think the one that soldiers tend to like the most is whenever we get to work with small arms. I can show you a T72 tank all day and all the nifty features of it, but when we break out the FWs (foreign weapons), everybody wants to be there. It’s kind of our bread and butter. How does that work? Can I shoot it? Nobody gets to shoot the tank but everybody gets to shoot the guns.

SAR: Can you say you’ve brought people to an interest in small arms through the work that you do?

Stanley: I’d think yes. You’ve probably spoken to enough people in the military to know that previous generations owned guns, hunted for rabbits and deer. They knew how to use a gun before they came into the military so it’s not a big deal for them to get into the Army and shoot an M16. But we now get a lot of city kids and others who never even touched a gun until they joined the Army. They’ve seen the AK47 on some video game and now they get to shoot it. Pretty excited about that and I could probably go next door (to where the class is ongoing) and ask who has actually bought a gun since getting to the 203D. Quite a few who’ve said yes.

SAR: So, for all MOS’ in 203D one unifying thing is small arms?

Stanley: I think so, yes.

SAR: Are you personally interested in firearms and shooting?

Stanley: Oh yes. In my regular job I’m a gunsmith with a large defense contractor, fixing guns for the Army. Depot level maintenance, upgrades, etc., to their standard small arms. No FWs. I keep the guns running for the guys who go downrange.

SAR: How did you get into this job?

Stanley: Found it on Linked-in, searching for keywords ‘gunsmith, armorer.’ I’ve been there 3 1/2 years now. My Army training and knowledge got me in the door and my FW knowledge from 203D is what I think sealed the deal because they wanted someone who knew FWs. Since then I’ve gone to get certifications on a lot of different guns. Glock, SIG, Beretta, Remington, Colt, HK, Knight’s, and three from Long Mountain. The way contracting works is my employer pays me to go to the class then they bill the Army.

SAR: Back to personally interested in firearms and shooting.

Stanley: My first gun was one my dad got me; a single shot .410 (shotgun) when I was twelve. My first personally purchased gun was a (Ruger) 10/22. The first deer rifle I bought got me curious about how they work and why this is not considered an ‘assault weapon’ but that one is. I went to the gun store and told the man I’d like to buy an inexpensive deer rifle and he sold me an SKS. I asked what that little nub on the muzzle end was and he said that’s a bayonet lug. I said, ‘that’s cool, I think I’ll put a bayonet on there.’ He said, ‘Oh no, you’ll be in violation of the crime bill of 1994 by having a bayonet.’ That turned on the curiosity bulb and I’ve been buying guns and fixing guns, trading and building. I’ve lost count of how many I’ve got in my cabinet since then.

SAR: Preferences?

Stanley: For the most part I really like my AR. Mostly because it’s such a modular gun. I built my own starting with a Rock River lower. By going to gun shows and saying ‘here’s a part I need to complete it. Well, I’m not happy with that,’ and changed it out. I’ve changed fore ends, pistol grips, butt stocks, so many times. It’s currently being remodeled again with a railed fore end, floating system. Flat top upper with M4 feed ramps, Colt heavy barrel. Heavy barrel was great for shooting targets but running up and down range and trying to shoot around barricades the barrel gets hot and heavy pretty quick. I’m probably going to build myself a short upper with a just long enough flash hider to keep it legal. Semi-auto, of course.

SAR: Handguns?

Stanley: My daily carry is an HK P2000 SK in .40 S&W. It’s compact, fits good in my hand, put it in my waist without an issue. I like the reliability of the HK. I like .45 cal., but if I’m going to get one the only logical choice is a classic 1911. But a little too big to carry on a daily basis. So the HK in .40. More powerful than 9 millimeter and we’ve known for a hundred years that the 9 mil sucks but we keep using it. Kind of a happy medium between a 9 mil and a .45. I work in the ‘Peoples Republic of Maryland’ (restrictive gun laws) so I can’t carry when I’m going to and from work. But when off duty and home in West Virginia, I carry all the time.

SAR: What formal schools and subsequent training have you received for your duties?

Stanley: Factory schools for Glock, SIG, Beretta, Remington, Colt, HK, Knight’s, and three from Long Mountain Outfitters. LMO’s Matt Babb’s a great instructor. I’ve picked up a lot of good points from him. Also, Dr. Phil Dater’s silencer technology class there. He‘s a great teacher, shed a lot of light on the inner workings of suppressors. Not just a tube with baffles – here’s how it works. I’m about to go to a fourth one next month; LMO’s week long FW operator/armorer course.

SAR: LMO’s FW course because you haven’t had enough of that at 203D?

Stanley: Well, you can teach yourself only so much. Even though I might have worked with them enough and taught myself everything I think there could possibly be to learn on my own; and I‘m not by far anywhere near that level. I could have a self-taught PhD in firearms but without a certificate no one wants to hire you based just on the knowledge you might have in your head without some paperwork to back it up. I’m getting the certificates for liability purposes.

And now I’m almost done with an online Associate Degree in firearms technology through Sonoran Desert Institute – fully paid for by the Army’s tuition assistance program. It’s mostly theory, but they also send me things to work on. I got a stock with a checkering kit, punch and hammer set, bore site, Dremel tool, etc. I don‘t have time to take off two years to attend a formal, in-house gunsmithing school.

SAR: Briefly comment on key weapons that are featured in the course and why these in particular.

Stanley: For the most part the course focuses on the most common on the battlefield; the AK, G3, SKS. Basic families and variants. Those are the ones we’ll most likely encounter. Our goal is to learn about new technologies and see if they have practical advantages. We can’t know if anything is new, we can’t know the unknown until we know the known. If we know all the variants of the AK, and we know all the variants of the G3 family of firearms, and the FAL, then, if we see something that kinda looks like a FAL and kinda looks like a G3 – a Frankenstein thing – then we know something new has come out.

The two days of FW training in the course gives you a taste. I think the only way to get good at is it to learn more of it yourself. Everybody in this unit probably ought to get themselves a copy of Jane’s Guns Recognition Guide or subscribe to Small Arms Review. Or at least get some back copies. Jane’s is a great reference but it’s still the same as the edition I bought twelve years ago. If you could thumb through some back issues of SAR you’ll probably catch some emerging technology from that. A good reference library.

SAR: Within the weapons specialty at 203D, there must be much more emphasis on what’s newest and best. How is that addressed in the command and specifically in your position?

Stanley: We share the building with NGIC – the National Ground Intelligence Center. They have a foreign weapons reference collection across the hall from where we work. They get new and old guns from time to time. We’ve got a pretty decent relationship with them and when something really neat comes in they’ll call and Chief Warrant Officer Grogan and I will go over and take a look.

For instance, makeshift firearms. There’s not much more to a gun than a tube to make the bullet go downrange, something to hit the firing pin, and a trigger. Sometimes that’s what we’ll find; just enough parts to make it go ‘boom!’ And if it can hit a vehicle and take it out, that’s all that really matters ’cause now everybody’s gotta get out of the vehicle. I’ve seen those. That’s technical intelligence: Who built this, where did the parts come from? You find some makeshift firearm and the pistol grip came from a Black and Decker drill, firing pin is a welding rod, the barrel is a spare from an M2 .50 cal. dropped along the roadside. They put it all together and the next thing you know they’ve got a makeshift .50 caliber sniper rifle.

SAR: Is it correct to say that a lot of what’s at NGIC was collected by the 203D?

Stanley: Yes. I’ve been with the battalion for quite some time and we went over in 2003 to Iraq and we collected a lot of stuff for the Priority Intelligence Requirements List. Essentially a shopping list that says ‘these are things the Coalition Forces would like to have.’ For example, NGIC would say we want to have the following guns and five of each. So we sent home planeloads of guns to the U.S., and to whoever put out their wish list.

Interestingly, Australia said we want five Makarov pistols. Nothing unusual, just standard 9x18mm. So we found and shipped ’em.

SAR: Any unusual weapons?

Stanley: I didn’t see a lot of unusual stuff. When we were over there it actually got kind of tedious. As much as I’m into firearms, I’ll tell you that after staring at CONEX box (large steel ocean shipping containers) after CONEX box of AKs – surplus East German AKs that were outfitting Sadaam’s army.

I saw in a warehouse an M1 Garand rifle that was presented to Sadaam Hussein by Richard Nixon. It had a plaque on it. I thought that was kind of neat – here we are going after the guy who used to be on friendly relations. It stayed there because it had no technical intel value. Who knows what happened to it.

I saw a couple of 12 or 14 foot long “punt guns,” shotguns with a two inch bore. I thought that was kind of funny.

We sent home a couple of crates of brand new in the box Al Kadish sniper rifles. Iraqi version of the SVD but kind of like a Frankenstein cross between the SVD and the PSL. The SVD is milled but the Iraqis decided to make a stamped version, kinda hokey. But they all had red plates on the bottom of the pistol grip with lettering in Arabic. None of us knew why but we were curious and we took them apart. Every one had a hole drilled through the barrel just beyond the chamber. So the second you pulled the trigger the bullet would go about three eighths of an inch and blast out the sides of the hand guards. There are a lot of theories about why they appeared to be sabotaged or who knows what. Some believed that Sadaam would give these to people as “gifts” because he was a twisted dude hoping the people would shoot ‘em and blow a thumb off.

We found them in an infantry training facility and I feel like it was homework. They were sniper rifles in a loose sense of the term and my theory was the trainers would have the students practice their trigger pull with these guns. A lot foreign militaries have a high desertion rate and when they do, a lot of times they take their guns with ‘em.

Somebody finally told me that the translation (for the lettering on the red plates) was “training.”

SAR: Can you tell us about some of the interesting weapons that you have seen at NGIC?

Stanley: I can’t tell you. There’s some pretty neat stuff over there but… I’ve mentioned that I’ve gone to some training at Long Mountain and I’ve seen Dan Shea’s collection. It’s pretty neat. And I’ve seen some guns that he has that I have seen in other places and I’ve been told, ‘Hey that’s classified.’ It’s not so much that the technology is classified but the fact that the U.S. Army has something like that is classified. If we told the world that the 203D and NGIC have this latest, greatest evolution in Russian firearms technology then they’d say, ‘well that cat’s out of the bag. Let’s work on something new.’ It’s ok that you (Dan) have it but the U.S. Army is not supposed to acknowledge that they have it. However you have to rephrase that (laughs).

SAR: Unusual ammunition?

Stanley: We went to a warehouse in Iraq and found cases of wooden rounds. Fluted cases and wooden bullets. (Old style 8mm Mauser type training blanks?) We brought back to our collection point thousands of tons of ammo. If it was questionable it would go to EOD for destruction but a lot was sent to Aberdeen to be used for testing. If some company says they’ve got a new bulletproof vest that will stop those Russian AK rounds, then someone takes it down from the shelf for testing. Standard ammunition but it got used for tests that save soldiers’ lives. New body armor, new vehicles. We’d gather up several crates of RPG7 rounds and they come here to Aberdeen and do penetration tests to see if BAE’s truck will actually stop it.

SAR: We understand there’s some difficulty lately in 203D getting 7.62 x 39mm ammo for the course’s live fire component and to conduct MTTs.

Stanley: With restructuring and trying to save some money here and there, somebody at a higher level is trying to figure out which of these missions is critical and who should be doing it. I think that MTT (Mobile Training Team) mission is kind of getting squabbled over right now as to whether the 203D or Special Forces to be teaching it. Might cost us all our ammo.

We sent a MTT out to Utah a few months ago. We just brought guns and they supplied all the ammo. A lot of ammo.

SAR: Do you have any particular favorite from the foreign weapons that are part of the course? If so, why?

Stanley: I think my favorite is the AK. It’s probably cliché for me to like the AK but it’s just a reliable gun. The tank of firearms. I wouldn’t say it’s indestructible but you can’t beat ’em. The AK 47 and the M1911. I mean, what could go wrong with them? I don’t think there is any way to improve it. Can’t beat it. Simple. You can teach a monkey to use it. I think I saw that video on YouTube. I’ve seen some newer versions. The Polish version is great.

SAR: What advice do you have for students preparing for this course?

Stanley: What we teach here only scratches the surface and we can’t possibly teach you everything you need to know in just two weeks. It’s important that everybody who takes this course does a little homework on their own. The reason we have so many MOS’ (Military Occupational Specialties) here is you’re supposed to be good at your MOS and use that knowledge of American equipment within that MOS to learn about and exploit foreign equipment. If you’re a commo technician you should know American radios really well and be able to look at a foreign radio and figure out what it does. I know American weapons and I know foreign weapons. If I look at foreign weapons I should be able to tell, ‘hey, there’s something new.’ Learn more about it. You can’t possibly learn this one weekend a month or on a two week span one time a year. So if your MOS is fixing guns, go buy a Jane’s manual on guns. Radios, go buy one on foreign radios and learn about it. Our medics – their primary duty here is not to be a medic. It’s to exploit foreign medical materiel. Look at their first aid kit and compare it to ours. Are they prepared to treat battle wounds or not. If we see some dead guy on the field with no visible signs of trauma. Do some kind of a quick necropsy and find out how he died. My advice is to study and learn more on your own. Develop a passion for MOS and your foreign counterpart’s MOS. Prepare yourself for the day when someone asks you, ‘what does that tan box do?’

As a Platoon Sergeant I really enjoy getting with a new soldier who just got out of initial entry training and comes to the unit and asks, ‘why am I here and what do I do?’ It’s gratifying to see them progress through their days of ‘just got out of school, doesn’t know what’s going on,’ to seeing them teaching someone else what I just taught them. When I see a soldier doing what I told him and the way I told him to do it, knowing he’s going to tell someone else what I told him and the way I told him to do it, I feel like I have done my job. They’re going to succeed me, and someone is going to succeed them and there’s continuity.

SAR: So everybody who comes into the battalion – officer and enlisted – has to go through the TIO course?

Stanley: Yes, that’s a recent development. I’m glad to see that happening. I’ve seen people here for two or three years struggling. Asking ‘why the hell am I here?’ Now they go through the course and the light goes on. They realize they actually do have a purpose.

SAR: Is it a challenge to keep these soldiers motivated when they think they might never deploy to do the TI mission in real conflict?

Stanley: It is sometimes frustrating to think you’re training for something that might never happen.

(At this point we were joined by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nathan “Nate” Grogan, the 203D’s Armament Systems Warrant Officer)

SAR: Rather than specific questions, tell us about your portion of the 203D. What you do and how you do it.

Grogan: My biggest focus right now is trying to continually refine and improve the foreign weapons training program. Not just on small arms, but anything that has to do with weapons in general. From pistols up to artillery. My MOS is a 913 Alpha, Armament Systems Warrant Officer, assigned to the S-3 Operations section. A good position to be in for what I’m trying to do.

SAR: Do small groups or teams get deployed these days?

Grogan: Not currently, but we’re actually trying to change that.

Stanley: Trying to get restructured so we can get deployed. Intelligence is global. Look at the news and see that there’s stuff brewing all over the place. It’s just a matter of time before someone says, ‘Hey 203D, you’re needed in North Korea.’

SAR: The question then is how to keep these young soldiers who are coming into a reserve battalion motivated? From what you’re telling us, the TIO course is a good part of that. It shows them the bigger picture, how they fit in, what happens when they would be deployed, what they would do, why it’s important when all the info goes back to be shared throughout the intelligence community. Right?

Stanley: Yes. And when a solider finishes his class we don’t really consider him an actual subject matter expert (SME) at that point. This isn‘t official jargon but I‘d consider them a junior SME or SME in training or development. When they go back to their companies (in the battalion) we start assigning them classes; ‘I want you to teach Module 12 from the course.’ We have better access to the foreign small arms than the vehicles. We can’t just go over there on a Saturday afternoon and say, “Would you mind if we check out the ‘zoo?” (Soviet ZSU-23-4 ). We have to make arrangements ahead of time for (NGIC’s) contractors to move it out from that side of the fence. But we can tell Specialist Brown to go teach a foreign weapons class on how to field strip an AK47. We get the armorer to sign out a couple of AK47s for the day.

(Grogan explains challenge of this RC unit’s yearly training plan that often gets changed along the way and that creates challenges in access to vehicles and equipment. Talks about the desirability of changing 1 weekend a month to a week a quarter so soldiers are training when full-timers are at work. Both Grogan and Stanley agree that the unit’s 2 week annual training period works reasonably well in this regard.)

SAR: The purpose of this article in SAR is to explain the 203D’s mission, capabilities and what the battalion has to work with as a reserve component entity that is unique to the entire Army. There is no active duty Army counterpart. You guys are it. With that in mind, we want to know how you accomplish the mission based on the realities of what you have to work with. It’s not to pick you apart. It’s to say ‘this was an active duty command that was transitioned to RC. The only one the Army has. This is what they do, how they do it, and this is what they have to do it with.’ As with any unit, even the best-equipped, funded and staffed active duty unit, there are still things they’d like to have. The focus of what SAR is here to do is not, ‘this is where they’re missing the mark,’ it’s ‘this is what they’re faced with.’

(Grogan points to the Battalion Commander’s statement regarding challenges:

“We take great pride in being the Army’s only Technical Intelligence battalion and the opportunities we have to operate in a Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational environment. Fulfilling our missions as a completely Army Reserve unit does come with challenges, most significantly is our status as an “Always Available” unit. This requires we be ready at all times to deploy in support of Overseas Contingency Operations. Our Soldiers understand this challenge and this serves as a clear motivator for them to maintain their individual readiness as the unit’s leadership focuses on operational support and training opportunities that maintain our mission readiness.”)

Grogan: Twenty years ago this was a full active duty unit. Soldiers would come in already knowing their MOS. Their full U.S. Army job. Usually pretty good at it and had advanced to E5 or E6 (Sgt. or Staff Sgt.). They’d get assigned to the 203D and be in training status for about a full year to learn their full-blown TECHINT MOS.

Stanley: Even down to the level of getting foreign vehicle operators licenses.

Grogan: I know this because some of the civilians who work at NGIC right now and some of the people I worked with at ATC (Aberdeen Test Center) are 203D alumni. That’s how it used to be. The challenge is now with it being Reserves, you bring in a soldier who has never done his job on active duty full time. He comes straight out of Basic and AIT (Advanced Individual Training) so the only training he’s had is at the schoolhouse.

Stanley: Also, one of our bigger challenges comes in addition to doing our unique mission; we still have to stay trained on the Army’s mission: Shoot, move, communicate. We have to take the soldiers out to the range twice a year to get qualified on their M16s, remind them this is how to work the radio, maintain proficiency in standard soldier skills. Also physical and medical readiness so once a year somebody comes to conduct screening and that’s one month’s drill weekend shot. PT test takes another. And mandatory briefings. With at least half the year taken up doing U.S. Army stuff we hardly have time to do our foreign materiel training. In between there we try to throw in what the Army calls ‘hip pocket training.’ Out of random nowhere we say ‘let’s discuss this.’ Grab a book and get an AK from the armorer and teach a spontaneous class here and there. We try to put these classes on the schedule but – generally someone higher than the battalion level – will come and say ‘this is what you need to do this month. Sensitivity training or you‘ve got to remind people to not commit suicide.’

SAR: Part of this line of questioning is our misconception that there are still small TI teams being brought on to active duty for a period and sent to Afghanistan or Horn of Africa or wherever. We’ve learned that’s not happening. So that’s removed from the challenge but there are other challenges or difficulties the battalion faces.

Grogan: We’re trying to change that; to put together a team based on intelligence requirements. Get a quick call and get boots on the ground and then run back. A strong possibility. They’re looking at different alternatives for different types of small teams TI stuff.

SAR: What part(s) of the course do students find the most difficult?

Stanley: I asked a couple of students. The one thing that seems to be most difficult is ‘separating wheat from the chaff.’ When we do the practical exercise for site exploitation there’s a lot of stuff in the room. What in that room is important? What do we want to take with us? What to leave behind?

SAR: How are these difficulties overcome?

Stanley: The way to overcome it is just to practice.

SAR: Is the availability of ammunition and range time adequate? We note there is adequate 5.45×39 and 7.62x54R for the other weapons tomorrow, but no 7.62x39mm.

Grogan: The ammunition thing. The transition from a multi-component unit to a pure reserve unit has been extremely rough. The biggest problem we’ve had is the foreign ammunition piece. (But the battalion has all it needs for their organic U.S. weapons). All of the ‘red calibers’ are a big headache because in the ‘Big Army’ scope of things they’ll only let you draw ammo for the weapons that are assigned to you. When we were ‘multi-component’ – part active duty, part Reserve – all those foreign weapons we trained with and took to the range were actually signed out on a long term hand receipt from the big NGIC arms room. When something would break or when we needed to train on something else we’d do a swap-over real quick and continue training. So all that ammo was technically assigned to NGIC. The ammunition was there but then it turned into ‘things don’t match up in the system what are you doing?’ And then it goes back to ‘Wait a minute, you’re an MI unit. Why do you need 7.62×39?’ We’d say, ‘We’re technical intelligence,’ and we‘d have to explain that to them.

SAR: What recommendations would you like to make to the chain-of-command that would improve the course? (More time, ammunition, training aids, graphics, other weapons not currently included, etc.). One thing we’ve learned is that the two days of foreign weapons are sort of an add-on at the end of the course. That proficiency is not tested when determining if a student will pass the course.

Stanley: More variety of weapons.

Grogan: For somebody who’s already a small arms guru like Sergeant Stanley and myself… The weapons we cover are probably the most prolific ones like the AK. They have to be. You’ve got to tailor the training to the soldiers. He may be infantry but he grew up in a city and never handled any kind of firearm until he joined the Army and touched his first M16 in basic training. So, getting his hands on an AK47 and AK74, an Uzi or an MP5 is really great training to him.

The permanent facilities at Folkestone Racecourse are a delight with the Jazz Bar, Spitfire Tea Room, two restaurants, hospitality boxes and an indoor venue for military models. Back again are Ginger’s bar and the V Marquee – plus the new Dance Hall Days Marquee. Viewing of the entire grounds and the military reenactments are comfortably provided by the Main Grandstand and Victorian Grandstand while the Vintage Village is the base for the civilian life and an area of calm away from the noise and excitement in the military vehicle area. There are also two large areas with a number of food vendors providing a wide array of food and beverages ranging from snack items through various smoked meats, typical English staples such as meat pies and fish and chips to cakes, tarts, ice cream and other confectionary.

An exciting area to walk around is the reenactment encampments. Regardless of the military country, branch or time period being represented, the attention to the smallest detail is truly amazing. Everything is period from all military kit, field kitchens, utensils, homefront items such as sewing kits, cigarettes, and candy. The re-enactors are proud of their collection of kit and are very approachable and are eager to answer any questions one may have and are always available for pictures.

Every day of the show, in the arena, events are scheduled all day long highlighting military vehicles in operation and battle reenactments that utilize accurate equipment in the utmost detail of both Allied and Axis armies complete with pyrotechnics and firing scenarios.

Finally, the War and Peace Revival is home to one of the largest militaria fairs in the world. Nearly 400 militaria trade dealers set up tents to offer military relics from all periods for sale to collectors and re-enactors consisting of uniforms, medals, helmets, headgear, webbing, vehicle spare parts, trench art, accessories, home front period items, ephemera, etc., – you name it and it is probably there somewhere. The collector’s treasures await discovery. Of interesting note are the number of deactivated machine guns for sale; some surprisingly rare and desirable – at quite reasonable prices. U.S. attendees beware: As much as you would like to buy one, maybe take it all apart, and squirrel it in pieces in your luggage or try to ship it home, you are courting disaster with a federal fine and possible jail sentence. Don’t do it!

Historic Military Heritage to the Area

The new location at Hellfire Corner in the county of Kent is quite apropos as the area is steeped in military history. For many centuries south east Kent has been a bastion against invasion from Europe and a favored point of entry into the British Isles. Throughout this time, the famed White Cliffs of Dover have long been an inspiration – a symbol of defiance and a defensive wall against invaders.

In the 5th century, the Hengist and Horsa conquered the first territories of Britain. Hengist is traditionally listed as the founder of the Kingdom of Kent, while the names Hengist and Horsa mean ‘stallion’ and ‘horse’, giving Kent its prancing white horse emblem.

In World War I, Kent was under threat for the first time in a thousand years as it was a Frontline County. In the early part of the war the threat of a German invasion was a reality, turning Kent into a vast armed encampment. The first ever bomb to fall on England was dropped near Dover Castle on Christmas Eve 1914. Regular shelling from warships and bombing from airplanes and zeppelins forced residents to shelter in caves and dugouts. Dover harbor became home to the Dover Patrol, a varied collection of warships and fishing vessels, which protected Britain’s vital control of the English Channel. Ten million men departed through Folkestone harbor for the frontline, many never to return. Westenhanger welcomed hundreds of Canadian soldiers through its train station. Westinhanger and the surrounding area was home to intensive training – including at Hythe Ranges – prior to soldiers departing through Folkestone for the frontline.

By the end of World War I, extensive new bases had been established at Ashford, Grain, Manston, and at the vast military port of Richborough. Although some pill-boxes, anti-aircraft batteries and field defenses were built during World War I, it was in World War II that defense installations were scattered like confetti across the county. Expecting invasion, the government oversaw the construction of heavy gun batteries on the cliffs of Dover, pill-boxes galore, underground bunkers, airfields and coast defenses.

In May 1940, over 200,000 of the 338,000 men evacuated from Dunkirk passed through Dover. Shells and bombs fell on Dover causing 3,059 alerts and killing 216 civilians. 10,0156 premises were damaged with many having to be demolished. The Battle of Britain was fought in Kent’s skies, preventing Hitler’s Operation Sea Lion invasion of England and Dover became a symbol of Britain’s wartime bravery, the center of East Kent’s ‘Hellfire Corner.’

In 1944, Kent was heavily involved in Operation Fortitude South, the massive allied deception of WWII to convince the Germans that the invasion would come from the Pas-de-Calais, instead of Normandy. Folkestone Racecourse was used as a decoy airfield with dummy aircraft parked to make it look like an active airfield. Nearby Broome Park was used to base the mythical troops who were supposed to be invading Calais.

Kent has been left with a huge legacy of defense heritage that is probably unrivaled by any other county. The Defense of the Realm and how it was done can probably be understood without leaving the county. At Chatham there is the award winning Historic Dockyard, Fort Amherst and the Royal Engineers Museum, at Dover the immense bulwarks of the Castle and the Napoleonic Western Heights; at Maidstone there are the museums of Kent’s two historic county regiments; between Hythe and Rye stretches out the Royal Military Canal; at Capel-le-Ferne and Manston there are museums and tributes to ‘The Few’; and at villages right across Kent there are pill-boxes, village halls and memorials all bearing testament to the role Kent has played as Britain’s Frontline County.

2014

2014 is going to be a huge year at The War and Peace Revival as it is the centenary of the start of World War I one hundred years ago in 1914, the 75th anniversary of the start of World War II in 1939 and the 70th anniversary of D-Day in 1944. If you have any interest in military history, military accoutrements, military vehicles, military reenactments, military firearms, wartime home front or whatever your interest in modern military history, then a trip across the pond to England this summer to attend this event should have a high priority on your to-do list. You won’t be disappointed.

The dates for The War & Peace Revival are July 16-20, 2014. Visit their website at www.thewarandpeacerevival.co.uk/about.html for details on attending, cost and events planned.

Show:
The War & Peace Revival

Location:
RAF Westenhanger, Folkestone Racecourse, Hythe, Kent, UK CT21 4HX

Show website:
www.thewarandpeacerevival.co.uk/about.html

Promoter:
Rex Cadman. Best to use the website and link through email.

Contact address for correspondence:
The War and Peace Office The Old Rectory 45 Sandwich Road Ash Near Canterbury Kent CT3 2AF

Date & Location of next show:
RAF Westenhanger, Folkestone Racecourse, near Hythe, Kent, UK
32nd Annual Show
16th to 20th July 2014
33rd Annual Show
22nd to 26th July 2015
34th Annual Show
20th to 24th July 2016
35th Annual Show
19th to 23rd July 2017
36th Annual Show
18th to 22nd July 2018

Focus of show:
Re-enactors of military units from all modern times, emphasis is on the military vehicles and having correct uniforms and kit. Located on 400 acres of displays, live unit reenactment of many different units from Croatia to WWII to Vietnam. Huge militaria sales area, with hundreds of vendors selling everything from deactivated firearms to vehicle kit and period dress.

Dress:
This show is outdoors, with a lot of walking and potential rain and mud. Be prepared to supply your own seating arrangements anywhere you go, including to watch the military vehicle demonstrations though viewing is possible from the Main and Victorian Grandstands.

Hotel hints:
There are a number of hotels in and around the area. Hotels tend to be booked way in advance, so you will probably have to book outside the area if you haven’t booked already.

Power & Plug types:
220 volt 50 cycles, UK three prong type plugs. It’s unlikely to find U.S. or Euro plugs in most hotels.

Country warnings:
Like any country, there are areas that are not safe to travel in. A good rule of thumb is to stay out of city areas at night. Ask the locals for advice on danger areas.

Cultural hints:
The British love pubs, pub quiz nights, and Karaoke, as well as football (soccer to American speakers), cricket, rugby, and jokes told in a wry manner. They utilize 300% more of the English language than Americans, and are generally very precise speakers. The Brits have a long military tradition, which is evident in their culture and museums. Ordering food in pubs is generally done at the bar with payment in full; then it is brought to you.

Getting around:
Rental cars will have UK style right hand steering, and driving is on the left side of the road. Unless you know how to drive with a left hand shift – the pattern is the same – order an automatic. We advise finding the first parking lot in sight after getting your rental car, and learning the reverse geometry if you are a Euro or U.S. type driver. The trains are quite reliable, as are buses. For directions to the Folkestone Racecourse, please go to www.thewarandpeacerevival.co.uk/location-accommodation-and-travel.html

Tipping:
10% is generally fine in restaurants, less to a taxi. In many pubs tipping is not considered correct, offer to buy the barkeep a drink for later.

Currency type:
GBP – Great Britain Pound. Generally see-sawing of late at 1.5 to 1.75 USD per GBP. For up-to-date conversion, try www.xe.com/ucc/. Slang expressions for currency include “Quid,” which is one GBP.

Military Museums to see:
In London; Tower of London’s Weapons display and the Imperial War Museum are of note and there are many others. Portsmouth- Fort Nelson cannon museum. Royal Armouries in Leeds in the North. The UK has a well-developed museum community, check the Royal Armouries website at www.armouries.org.uk/home and search “English Heritage” for other sites. For tank aficionados, www.tankmuseum.org.

Tourism:
Two excellent resources online are www.visitbritain.com/ and www.visitlondon.com. If you are in the area for The War & Peace Revival, look for a visit to Leed’s Castle (not in the city of Leeds up North, it’s north of the show site) which was the Queen’s castle since the 1200s, and is an amazing family visit. For events in Kent, try www.kentmessenger.co.uk.

Pride in Postwar France

Seeking to erase the shameful stains of the Vichy government’s collaboration with German occupiers and to rebuild the “glory of the French Republic,” nationalism flourished in many forms. Among these was a multi-faceted effort to modernize France’s ground, air and naval forces.

Even lowly small arms were important in this and the major arsenals were directed to begin development of various weapons of native design that would be better than those of its recent allies and adversaries. While this made sense in a patriotic way, it could not have been an easy decision in the struggling economy of the newly-liberated France, devastated and demoralized by years of war.

Cheap Surplus Subguns

At the end of WWII in 1945, the planet was awash in surplus small arms of all kinds including submachine guns. Literally millions of perfectly serviceable and demonstrably effective SMGs were available at scrap metal prices.

Some worthies among the combatant forces’ mountains of surplus subs included the rugged Soviet PPSh and PPS in 7.62x25mm Tokarev and the elegant Italian 9mm Beretta Modello 38/42.

America had generously equipped the Free French Forces with powerful .45 caliber Thompsons and M3 “Grease Guns.” Britain had air dropped massive quantities of simple and reliable 9mm Stens to the Maquis resistance fighters, who also had captured plenty of 9mm German MP38 and MP40 submachine guns.

So, why not continue them in use while precious francs were used for other, more pressing problems? Historical documents cite a combination of economic stimulus theory and nearly tangible national pride: Put the domestic armaments industry back on its feet and arm the military with weaponry of distinctively French origin.

M.A.C., M.A.S. and More

France’s principal weapons manufacturers included M.A.C. (Manufacture d’Armes de Chatellerault), M.A.S. (Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Etienne), M.A.T. (Manufacture d’Armes de Tulle), and Hotchkiss. Beginning in 1946 in response to government solicitations, all four firms developed 9mm submachine guns with the hope of selection by the military and subsequent, profitable mass production. These went through varying degrees of modification as they progressed through the Army’s intensive evaluation that culminated in early 1949. M.A.C. put forth the 48 L.S., M.A.S. offered the 48 C4, M.A.T. the Modele 48. Hotchkiss came in a bit too late with the “Type Universal.” (Editor’s Note: Photos and details of each these entries and much more can be found in The World’s Submachine Guns (Machine Pistols) Volume 1 (1915 – 1963), Thomas B. Nelson and Hans Lockhoven’s invaluable, encyclopedic reference book, first published in 1963 but, sadly, now out of print).

Interestingly, the MAS 38’s sturdy, heavy, well machined steel receiver fell out of favor. Clearly reflecting mass production techniques and combat success in WW2 of mass-produced allied and axis designs, the four candidates were built around lighter but serviceable, inexpensive sheet steel tubing or stampings. Their other significant commonalities included MP40 and Sten type single-position feed 32-round box magazines, as well as overall compactness from stocks that folded or telescoped, and forward-folding magazine housings. Simplicity of operation came from variations of blowback action in full-auto only (with exception of the semi/full auto Hotchkiss) at manageable cyclic rates at 500 to 650 rpm.

On 20 May 1949, after the last clouds of nitrocellulose propellant drifted away from the test ranges and whatever backroom deals were struck, a product-improved version of M.A.T.’s Modele 48 was named the victor, designated Pistolet Mitrailleur de 9mm Modele 1949.

Anatomy of the MAT 49

The design of the PM MAT 49 – while certainly the work of a project team – is credited to Pierre Monteil, an armaments engineer who later became the top man at MAT. While there are pros and cons to be noted in any firearm, the MAT 49 is generally regarded as an excellent example of postwar design; perhaps a bit heavy but definitely sturdy, soldier-friendly and battle worthy. From the manufacturing standpoint, the gun could be quickly and economically produced, with hydraulic-pressed sheet steel forming its robust, rectangular upper receiver, gracefully curved lower with integral pistol grip, and up-folding magazine housing. Perforated steel tubing shields the barrel and the telescoping stock is made in the manner of the U.S. M3 “Grease Gun” from heavy steel wire that’s bent and welded. A necessary amount of traditional machining is required for the barrel, trunnion, bolt and extractor, with the whole thing being put together mostly with welds and pins.

Likely taking a cue from the twin bolt guide rods inside the U.S. M3 and M3A1 “Grease Guns,” the MAT 49’s bolt rides around a single rod anchored fore and aft at the top of the receiver. This saves the walls of the receiver from wear and provides a bit of clearance alongside the bolt for the grit that inevitably accumulates under arduous operational conditions.

A sturdy spiral-wound recoil spring surrounds the guide rod, telescoping into the body of the bolt. It imparts sufficiently strong forward motion for feeding and firing, then slows the bolt’s rearward “blowback” movement after firing. Its tension is calculated so that no buffer is needed to keep the bolt from smacking against the rear of the receiver.

Traditional phosphate coating with a matte gray tint completes the process, providing durability, rust-resistance and low reflectivity of light.

Internal Combustion and External Safety

Perhaps the MAT 49’s most notable engineering innovation comes in response to the problem of premature ignition of a cartridge as it is being pushed from the magazine into the firing chamber. This dangerous situation is common to “slam-fire” subs with fixed firing pins machined into the bolt face.

The unique solution Monteil’s team chose was to extend the face of the bolt so it partially enters an enlarged chamber area, assuring that any premature detonation with resultant case rupture will be safely contained. Additionally, a gas escape tunnel is drilled on both sides of the receiver and through the rear of the chamber to vent the explosion. However, in normal cycling the incoming round is fully seated in the chamber at the moment of detonation and the forward portion of the bolt effectively blocks these holes for both optimal performance of the round and energetic blowback action. We are unaware of any other submachine gun that has been widely-distributed before or since that utilizes this arrangement. Also noteworthy is the controversial decision to dispense with any deliberate mechanical safety other than that built into the pistol grip or by folding the magazine housing in the up position.

The design team’s examination of previous submachine gun designs showed a variety of solutions to minimizing safety hazards inherent in “open bolt/slam fire” operation. The American Thompson, for example, has a manual safety switch that blocks the internal action. Others, like the British Sten, German MP 40 and Soviet PPSh 41, employ simple bolt-arrestors.

But for whatever reasons (no doubt thoroughly considered and exhaustively debated during the trials of 1948-49) the MAT 49 has neither form. Instead, it relies on a grip safety that, unless depressed by a hand on the pistol grip, securely blocks movement of the bolt either rearward or forward. Thus, when a loaded magazine is in place and the bolt is forward on an empty chamber, dropping the weapon on its butt won’t allow inertia to move the bolt back far enough to pick up, chamber and fire a cartridge. Similarly, when the bolt is cocked, the gunner has to properly grasp the pistol grip to fire. When operators are given proper training, this arrangement is considered an acceptable compromise that is both operationally efficient (no need to fumble with an extra safety or selector) and functionally safe.

Evolution

First production began at Tulle in late 1949, and then transferred to St-Etienne in 1965, eventually totaling more than 700,000 guns by 1979 when production ended. The original design with its strictly rectangular receiver and “teardrop” grip safety was updated twice.

For recognition purposes, the receiver on Type 2 guns are a bit longer and slightly trapezoidal in shape (receiver a little bit wider at the top than the bottom) when viewed from the rear. Reasons for this odd geometrical reconfiguration were not revealed in extensive research for this article in both English and French language sources. Also, Type 2 guns have a rectangular grip safety, and a star is stamped on the side of the trigger to signal its resized and improved internals.

Type 3 guns, characterized by small changes in order to simplify production, were initiated in 1967 at St-Etienne. These are easily recognized by “MAT MODELE.1949” stamped above the serial number at the rear of the receiver and the all metal pistol grip with raised ribs.

Another variant is the MAT 49/54. Although utilizing the original weapon’s receiver, it is considerably different in outward appearance. Made for the Gendarmerie Nationale (France’s national police), it has a fixed wooden stock and much longer barrel. Some early photos show this gun with two triggers that presumably facilitate semi and full auto fire. More recent ones show these national police carring standard military issue MATs.

Soldier Friendly?

Several hours on VMMV’s range for live fire and photos with the MAT 49 provided an acceptable amount of time for evaluation. Here are some impressions, not necessarily in order of importance:

First off, we think it’s a good looking weapon with a distinctive profile; compact, thoughtfully configured, and efficient yet classy in form and function – sort of a stylish French makeover of the ugly duckling American “Grease Gun.” Taken as a whole there’s nothing else quite like it given the combo of rectangular receiver, semi-shrouded barrel, telescoping stock, finger-grooved mag housing, and super-simple operation.

That said, it’s heavy as hell – half the size of a Thompson but close to the same weight. Yeah, “heavy helps controllability and sturdy is always heavy” as the conventional wisdom goes. We get it but remain thankful we don’t have to be humping it up and down the hills of Korea, running between bunkers at Dien Bien Phu, or clearing the Kasbah in Algiers.

All metal construction is utilitarian, but will freeze to ungloved hands in the subzero cold of Korean winters. And, even with that mean-looking perforated barrel shroud, burns are a real hazard after a couple of mags in full auto.

Sights are rudimentary – flip-over rear for 100 or 200 meters with a hood-protected fixed front post – and the short sight radius is nothing to write home about. But, how much precision should one reasonably require of a slam-fire, short barrel 9mm kicking out slugs at ten per second?

Little retraining is needed for those with a basic amount of experience in sub gunning; mag goes in the hole at the bottom, left side charging handle racks back and you don’t really have to remember to push it forward again. Stays put afterward so it’s not a high speed shuttling hazard.

Speaking of injury or death from accidental discharges, KEEP YOUR FINGER OUTSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD WHEN CHARGING THE WEAPON AND MAKE SURE TO PULL THE BOLT ALL THE WAY BACK UNTIL IT LOCKS!

Adjust the sight and sling, line up the sights and squeeze. No fumbling with a safety or selector. Buttons and tabs are logically located and readily activated to unlock and swing down the mag housing or unlock and swing it back up again.

Same with dropping a mag, adjusting the stock, and no worries with the self-opening dust cover that’s way better than the Grease Gun’s hinged hatch lid “safety.”

No tools are needed to strip the gun for routine maintenance, the upper and lower receivers fully separate, major parts are easily removed and replaced, and there are no nooks and crannies inside that are hard to get at and clean.

But, Monsieur Monteil, when you directly copied the American M3A1’s wire buttstock, why didn’t you bring forward its clever incorporation of a mag loader (outta luck if you lose the one in the accessory pouch) and tap the ends for a cleaning brush and patch loop? Also, is the bolt’s single guide rod really better than a twin arrangement? And honestly, is that premature detonation mitigation arrangement really needed?

The MAT 49’s mags are glorified Sten or Grease Gun boxes, with single-position feed lips made from indestructibly heavy steel. A twenty rounder is available, but most provide 32 coups (shots). Don’t think you can fill ‘em up without the accessory loader that slips over the top. That said, the gun’s owner showed how one of the tips of the wire stock has a distinct “C” shaped cut that he has used to depress the top round when loading. The American Defense Intelligence Agency’s tech manual says to use a flat blade screwdriver in the cartridge’s extraction groove. When the mag runs dry the bolt closes over an empty chamber. Some like this; some don’t.

Guerre

As production of the new PM MAT 49 ramped up at Tulle, priority for issue was naturally given to elite formations like the paratroops and commandos. Other elements of the French military continued to use the MAS 38, along with American Thompsons and some Hotchkiss Universals.

Combat action for the MAT 49 came soon enough when a French battalion was committed in 1950 to the United Nations contingent in the Korean War and others were deploying as the communist insurrection in Indochina intensified.

Photos from the Indochina conflict – France desperately trying to reassert postwar control over its resource-rich “protectorates” of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam – show the MAT 49 side by side with American Carbines and “Tommy Guns,” in the hands of French regulars, Foreign Legionnaires and colonial troops. The little sub’s reliability and effectiveness in the harsh conditions of mountain and jungle warfare earned praise and affection from the men who carried it and others who faced it in battle.

Large numbers of the guns fell into the hands of enemy, who eagerly distributed them in original 9mm caliber and later converted many to fire Communist Bloc 7.62mm Tokarev ammo. Both types were regularly encountered by American forces all during the Vietnam War and the 9mm Type 1 weapon featured in the accompanying live fire photos here was captured in ‘Nam.

Following France’s defeat at the hands of the communist Viet Minh in 1954, the MAT 49 migrated to Algeria with the Foreign Legion and other troops battling socialist/nationalist forces seeking to overthrow French rule. The compact, fast-firing submachine gun was extensively used by both sides, achieving iconic status in newsreels and photos, as well as a starring role in the movies Lost Command and Battle of Algiers.

By this time the MAT 49 was fully integrated into all branches of the French military. In addition to use by designated members of infantry and airborne units, it was being carried by artillerymen and armored fighting vehicle crewmen, naval landing forces, air force security, and others with assigned duties calling for something more potent than a pistol but less cumbersome than a rifle.

More than two dozen countries, most of which have close ties with France, adopted the weapon. It soldiered on in first line French service through numerous small actions in the 1960s and 70s.

The last hurrah for the MAT 49 in Foreign Legion service is said to have come in 1978 during the Kolwezi operation (Zaire/Congo). There, the 9mm sub gun’s limited range and penetrating power compared poorly to the AK type assault rifles employed by many of the Katangan rebels, reinforced by a Cuban division. Yes, the paras had plenty of rifle caliber Mle 1949/52 semi-autos and AAT Mle 52 machine guns, but more reach and knockdown was called for.

The 5.56mm NATO caliber FAMAS, a select fire bullpup of homegrown French design (no surprise there), began replacing both subguns and semi-auto rifles after 1980. The MAT 49 remained in reserve and paramilitary police use for many years, but is rarely encountered today outside of backwater countries.

MAT 49 Machine Pistol (Submachine Gun) Technical Specifications

Type 1 version as seen in this feature’s live fire photos. Principal data from The World’s Submachine Guns (Machine Pistols) Volume 1, Nelson and Lockhoven, 1963.

Nomenclature: Pistolet Mitrailleur de 9mm Modele 1949 (Machine Pistol, 9mm, Model 1949)
Country of origin: France
Manufacturer: Manufacture d’Armes de Tulle (M.A.T.)
Cartridge: 9x19mm Parabellum (Luger)
Muzzle velocity: 1,200 fps (365 mps)
Operation: Blowback
Type of fire: Full auto
Cyclic rate: 600 rpm
Length w/ stock extended: 26 inches (660 mm)
Length w/ stock retracted: 16 inches (404 mm)
Barrel: 9 inches long (230 mm), four grooves, left twist, one turn in 10 inches (250 mm)
Feed: Sten type sheet steel box magazines of 20 and 32 round capacity. Double stack, single position feed
Weight: 8 pounds (3.63 kg) unloaded, 9.4 pounds (4.23 kg) with loaded 32 round magazine
Sights: Hood protected fixed blade front and 2-position flip rear marked 100 and 200 meters

Accessories:

Slings and magazine carriers in leather and canvas web versions, blank firing adapter, magazine loader.

Approximately 700,000 produced from 1950 to 1979 by M.A. Tulle and later M.A. Chatellerault. Principal submachine gun of French armed forces and national police during this period. Replaced in military service circa 1980 by 5.56mm FAMAS assault rifle.

(Special thanks to Marc Sehring, Operations Manager of The Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles (vmmv.org ) for graciously hosting our live fire evaluation, and to Christian Cartner and Ken Lee; French Foreign Legion airborne infantry living history enthusiasts of Regiment Etranger de Parachutistes, Cie de Combat (email la_boudin@yahoo.com ). And certainly to the intentionally unnamed owner who accompanied his Vietnam battlefield-captured (and amnesty-registered) PM MAT 49 that we put through the live fire wringer.)

Not only raising the bar, but leaping over it

In a time when many industries are cutting workers and cutting costs it is encouraging to see a healthy firearms industry turning out the best products in history. The American consumer seems willing to pay for top quality merchandise and many of the best firearms in the world are made right here in America. When it comes to defensive handguns there are compromises in selecting a model for concealed carry. The pistol must be shorter and lighter than a service pistol and sometimes the caliber is a compromise as well and we have to deal with less of a handle to grasp during recoil. Sometimes compromises are made in magazine capacity. Just the same, deploying a lightweight weapon at all times is better than carrying a heavy handgun only when possible. My handgun is the 1911 and there are a number of lightweight versions that offer excellent protection – and one of the finest is illustrated in these pages.

The lightweight 1911 was in the planning stages before World War Two. The underlying premise was quite practical. Reduce the length and weight of the 1911 while retaining reliability and the fight stopping cartridge. World War Two intervened but the technological advances with aircraft grade aluminum made efficient aluminum frame pistols possible. Before the war, aluminum was rare and expensive to obtain. While various custom gunsmiths continued to produce chopped and channeled versions of the 1911, very few approached the reliability of the 1911 Government Model. The Commander reduced the weight of the pistol by over ten ounces and also shortened the 1911 by 3/4 of an inch. “Old Ugly” is flat but not small and the new pistol was a great step forward for those wishing to carry the highly effective 1911 concealed and in comfort. The tradeoff was increased recoil. The Commander requires about a twenty-five per cent increase in meaningful practice to master but is well worth the time and effort.

The Officer’s Model, the Detonics and various other pistols were introduced that shortened the 1911 even further. Barrel length was reduced to 3.5 and even 3.0 inches and the magazine and butt shortened as well. While opinion varies on the subject, professionals agree that the shorter barrel and slide versions of the 1911 are not as reliable as the Commander length barrel. Modifications to bushingless lockup moved the pistol several steps away from the original template. A consensus among gunsmiths seems to be that a minimum barrel length of four inches is needed in order to ensure reliable function with the 1911 pistol. After much deliberation and experimentation, this author agrees. While there are a number of reliable compact 1911 handguns – the Kimber Ultra Carry comes to mind – with a worst case scenario of poor maintenance and with the widest possible spectrum of ammunition, the 4 inch barrel will always prove more reliable. This brings us to the Kimber Custom Defense Package (CDP). A product of the Kimber Custom Shop, the CDP illustrated is a four inch barrel 1911 with a frame of 7075-T7 aluminum alloy. The frame is finished in a rugged Kimpro finish.

The CDP is in practical terms an upgraded Pro Carry but also much more. The Pro Carry is a great pistol, a respectable carry gun with the same reliability as the CDP. But the Devil is in the details. The CDP features the full length handle of the Government Model. The handle lies flat against the back when worn in a properly designed concealment holster. There is no need for a short butt 1911 in this application. However, the five inch barrel Government model may tend to pinch the skin when worn in an inside the waistband holster. The four inch gun works better for concealed carry and also clears leather more quickly. While a short sight radius may limit precision accuracy at long range the four inch barrel pistol comes on the target more quickly. The frame is aluminum and of course a lightweight pistol kicks more than a steel frame. The front strap is checkered in custom grade style with thirty lines per inch in order to be certain that your hand stays in place during recoil. The grips are perfectly checkered rosewood. The Pro Carry uses rubber grips and if you think that they feel as good or do the same job as rosewood; fine, but remember Steinbeck’s words in The Grapes of Wrath concerning the worn comfort of a pistol grip. After forty years with the 1911 when I wrap my hand around Kimber something says ‘friend.’

The CDP sports a custom grade beavertail grip safety that ensures that you depress the grip safety as you grip the pistol. Some shooters using the thumbs forward grip may allow the palm to rise off of the frame and deactivate the grip safety. Training cures this but the CDP’s grip safety is an advantage. The grip safety releases the trigger at the proper point about half way into compression. The beavertail also funnels the hand into the grip as you acquire the firing grip. The mainspring housing aids in gripping the pistol as well. The magazine well is slightly beveled as an aid in rapid insertion of the magazine. The magazine catch is tight as it should be. Flush fit magazines are preferred for concealed carry. There is nothing wrong with the Kimber magazines. I supplemented the factory magazines with flush fit Metalform magazines and sometimes deploy the excellent, slightly extended and ultra-reliable Metalform eight round magazine. The CDP is virtually devoid of sharp edges as a concealed carry handgun should be. A good example of this is the ambidextrous safety. The safety is among a few designs that is genuinely robust and devoid of sharp edges.

The CDP features self luminous sights with Tritium inserts. The sight design is among the best ever fitted to a handgun. The front sight is a serrated ramp dovetailed into the slide in a far superior fashion to the old tenon attachment. The rear sight is angled to prevent snagging on the draw but presents a bold sight picture. Thankfully there are no forward cocking serrations. I do not use them on a short handgun and, in my opinion; the slide looks cleaner without this addition. Although the Kimber is an aluminum frame handgun +P loads are no problem to fire partly due to the good fit, a beavertail safety that spreads recoil about the palm and also an 18 pound recoil spring. The pistol also features a full length guide rod. The chamber is cut to minimum specifications, good for accuracy, perhaps not so great with lead bullet handloads. Care in handloading ammunition is demanded.

For best control in rapid fire and in target shooting a smooth and tractable trigger action is needed. The Kimber demonstrated a smooth 4.5 pound trigger action as delivered. After 7,500 rounds or so trigger compression has settled into a crisp 4.2 pounds, practically ideal for all around use by a skilled user. The 1911 tends to smooth with use and reach a sweet spot. The Kimber has done that. There are those that feel that a too light trigger will increase the user’s liability. Perhaps I don’t know much about gunfighting but I do have a couple of difficulties under my belt, a degree in Criminal Justice and over two decades of police experience. If the trigger action helps you hit the target, great. If you miss the target and strike an innocent person then you are in a world of trouble regardless of the type of firearm used. Putting a bullet where it will matter is what counts in marksmanship.

The CDP is a great gun chambered for an efficient cartridge. The .45 ACP is among a few cartridges that often demonstrates a full powder burn in a relatively short pistol barrel. The cartridge achieves good velocity with a modest powder charge. The cartridge has been around since about 1905, a bit longer than the 1911 handgun, and has proven its efficiency. Even with a non expanding bullet, the .45 Automatic Colt Pistol cartridge has proven effective in interpersonal combat. Despite claims by those without a leg to stand on and arguably little to no experience in the real world, the small calibers cannot equal the .45 ACP’s ballistics despite the use of well designed modern expanding bullet designs. The .45 ACP is also a low pressure cartridge and that means little wear on the handgun. The .45 ACP is a handloader’s dream compared to many cartridges and that means economy in action. The 1911 pistol and the .45 ACP cartridge are simply an ingenious combination. In the light of the times it simply made sense and the pistol and the cartridge had to work. Good men have died because of inferior equipment.

There are a number of deviations from the original template that some will laud and others condemn. The ambidextrous safety is seen as superfluous for the right handed shooter, but a necessity by the left handed shooter. The Kimber ambi safety is well designed and more robust than most.

The 1911’s virtues included the ability to be field stripped with only a coin or case rim. The Kimber needs an Allen wrench to remove the grips. The pistol also features a full length guide rod. Many custom grade handguns use a full length guide for many reasons, including taming recoil and preventing the recoil spring from kinking. If jammed against a barricade the full length guide rod will prevent the pistol from going out of battery. On the other hand maintenance is more complicated, although the top end is easily brisked off compared to the original pistol. It is removing the guide rod that demands a special tool. If this bothers you remove the full length guide rod and substitute a Commander length guide rod and 20 pound recoil spring. But remember – the CDP is not designed as a service pistol for general issue. It is designed for use as a personal defense pistol and this means a higher standard of maintenance and perhaps a higher demand on the handgun as well.

Leather Gear

For range use a minimalist holster allows ease of demonstration for the instructor and a comfortable carrying platform. The Milt Sparks #88 Mirage is ideal for this use. Unlike the common belt slide, the Mirage rides under the belt, which adds security but also allows considerable ease of concealment if you choose. I like this holster very much. It is convenient and few if any belt slide holsters approach the all-around utility of this well made holster. For use under a covering garment the Milt Sparks 60TK is ideal. This holster offers a good balance of speed and retention and is very well made of good material. The holster rides high and it is a very specific 1911 holster not well suited to some types of handguns. This holster demands a certain break-in period as it is quality gear. Once this break-in is accomplished you have a brilliantly fast holster. For deep concealment beneath a pulled out T shirt or sport jacket nothing conceals like an inside the waistband (IWB) holster. The IWB rides inside the pants, which means the covering garment need only cover the belt line, not the body of the holster. This isn’t an easy holster for a maker to get right. The Milt Sparks Summer Special IWB is the standard by which all others are judged. This holster features dual belt loops, a reinforced holstering welt, a strong spine and a sewn in sight track. This is as good as it gets. I cannot imagine a task these three quality holsters cannot handle and handle well. The 60TK is easily the fastest on the draw and a remarkably concealable holster while the Summer Special conceals the best. The choice depends upon the situation, the season and the covering garment. Milt Sparks offers even more designs but these three are my choices and they are excellent all around holsters that are well made by professionals for the discriminating user.

Shots Fired

The combination of good sights and an excellent trigger compression make for a pistol with the highest hit probability of any I have used. The 1911’s low bore axis and straight to the rear trigger compression are contributing factors but the CDP is designed to enable a trained shooter to make hits quickly at combat ranges. The pistol is capable of good work. At longer ranges the CDP is about as accurate as any five inch barrel handgun you wish to put it up against. When conducting the firing test the new Black Hills steel cased ammunition was used during combat drills. It is good to see Black Hills offering quality affordable steel cased ammunition. This is a good resource when one is too busy to load their own as is often the case these days. For carry use I have deployed the Black Hills 230 grain JHP for many years. I prefer the .45 ACP because it makes a larger hole and the 230 grain JHP has more momentum than a lighter bullet. The 185 grain Black Hills load is reliable and accurate and has about the same energy, but I prefer the heavier .45 ACP bullet. A new loading has given me pause. Black Hills is offering an all copper 185 grain JHP. While a disadvantage of all copper projectiles has been the expense of the bullet, Black Hills offers these loads in fifty round boxes at an attractive price. Copper weighs less than lead in a bullet of equal length. So, if the bullets are an equal length and take up the same volume in the case, the lighter bullet will be driven faster for a given powder charge. A 185 grain .45 is longer than a 185 grain lead core/copper jacket bullet, but shorter than a 230 grain bullet. The all copper bullet, however, retains its integrity after the hollow nose expands. The base and the bullet do not separate, they cannot. So far function and accuracy are excellent. Ballistic testing has shown the bullet performs at least as well as any other hollow point in the caliber. It just may be an honest improvement over the cup and core type hollow point. The light recoil and good accuracy coupled with consistent expansion and penetration may just sway me toward the TAC load.

The combination of first rate quality control and a proven design has proven a winner for Kimber. Coupled with good support gear the Kimber CDP is as good a defensive handgun as currently available and my first choice in a 1911 for daily carry.