As concerns over crime and gun safety rise a company called V-Line now offers consumers Security Cases and Cabinets to secure household valuables and lock guns out of the reach of children. V-Line Industries Closet Vault was designed to install in between the wall studs with the door and frame protruding just 1 inch to provide extra internal depth. Measuring 53” X 16 3/4” X 4 3/4” the Closet Vault is large enough to accommodate small household valuables such as jewelry, cash, cameras and firearms without taking up floor space. The Closet Vault can be easily hidden in a closet or behind a door for best concealment. The door fits flush into the frame of the Closet Vault to protect against a prying attack. The Simplex push button lock is mechanical and features a programmable combination. Two “Ace” key locks have been added to the top and bottom for additional security when quick access is not required. Several shelving accessories are available to customize the Closet Vault to best meet individual needs. There are also several other options available for customizing the interior of the Closet Vault which include full and half shelves, pistol caddies and a pegboard door panel to best utilize all available storage space. For more information on this and other innovative security case and cabinets contact V-Line Industries, Dept SAR 370 Easy Street, Simi Valley, CA 93065. Phone: 1-805-520-4987. Fax: 1-805-520-6470. Web Site: www.vlineind.com.

NEW M4 CARBINE FROM BUSHMASTER

A new model from Bushmaster, the XM15 E2S M4 Post-Ban Carbine features a lightweight 14.5” barrel machined in the distinctive M4 profile with a permanently attached Mini Y Comp muzzle brake. This configuration yields a total barrel length of 16” to comply with Post-Ban regulations. A BATF approved fixed tele-style buttstock is added to complete the military look of this new carbine. The 14.5” barrel is chrome lined in both bore and chamber for maximum longevity and ease of maintenance. The barrel’s button rifling, in a 1 X 9” right hand twist, will stabilize a wide range of currently available ammunition with bullet weights up to 69 grains. The new M4 Carbine features the M16A2 dual aperture rear sight system with both windage and elevation adjustments-elevation is calibrated from 300 to 800 meters. The two different apertures give a short range, quick target acquisition sight picture or a smaller “peep” aperture for long distance accuracy. The tele-stock style buttstock is pinned and fixed in an “open” position and has been BATF approved for use on Post-Ban manufactured carbines. As with all other Bushmasters, the forged 7075T6 aircraft quality aluminum receivers are finished in a non-reflective mil-spec hard anodize for durability and include all M16A2 design improvements such as a cartridge case deflector, last round bolt hold-open and raised ridges for magazine release protection. A mil-spec manganese phosphate coating insures complete protection against corrosion or rust on barrel and other exposed steel parts of the weapon. The M4-16 Carbine is shipped in a lockable, hard plastic case-complete with 10 round magazine, carrying sling and operators safety and instruction manual. The new M4 Carbine is also available with an optional V Match “flat-top” upper receiver and A3 removable carry handle. For more information contact Bushmaster Firearms, Inc., Dept SAR P.O. Box 1470, 999 Roosevelt Trail, Windham, Maine 04062. Phone: 1-800-998-SWAT. Fax: 1-207-892-8068. Web Site: www.bushmaster.com.

SPEC-OPS T.H.E. WALLET FROM BEST MADE DESIGNS LLC

Best Made Designs has added yet another multi-functional product to their ever growing line. The new item is called the T.H.E. (Tactical Holds Everything) Wallet. This thing is the “Swiss Army Knife” of wallets. The wallet can be carried in a back pocket, it can be worn around your neck on a lanyard or it can be worn belt-mounted. The wallet features Best Made Designs innovative “Shark Bite” closure system. It has no Velcro, buckles or snaps to wear out or to make noise and it is ultra-secure. Also this new closure will last forever. In fact the entire wallet is guaranteed for life! Other features include a large document slot for passports, 8 credit card slots and inside and outside ID windows (with non-glare finish). There is also a zippered pocket for spare change, keys or whatever. It also includes divided full-length compartments for cash, receipts and airline tickets. This can even be zipped shut to form a hidden pocket! T.H.E. Wallet is made from Cordura and nylon pack cloth, double stitched and bar tacked at critical stress points to make it super durable. It is available in black, olive drab and woodland camo. This is the ULTIMATE Military/Law Enforcement wallet. For more information on this any their other “Made In The USA” products contact Best Made Designs LLC, Dept SAR P.O. Box 475, Monahans, TX 79756. Phone: 1-915-943-4888. Fax: 1-915-943-5565. Web Site: www.specopsbrand.com.

PEPPER ESCORT

The Pepper Escort was designed by McClarin Manufacturing, Inc., as a personal defense alternative to a firearm. This new device combines a powerful light, an emergency whistle and pepper spray with UV dye marker all into one small package. Shaped like a handgun the Pepper Escort has a trigger that releases the pepper spray. The trigger is locked in the safe position by a pin “safety” connected to a whistle. Pulling the whistle away from the device also pulls out the pin safety readying the Pepper Escort to fire the pepper spray. The spray is 10% oleoresin capsicum which also contains a ultra violet dye which can aid in police identification. Pepper Escort features a 3-ounce canister of the pepper spray which is good for approximately ten one-second bursts. It also comes with a smaller 1.5 ounce canister which is good for five one-second bursts. Spray canisters are easily and quickly replaced in the handle. The spray stream is very high volume and reaches about 20 feet. On the top of the Pepper Escort is a “Tuff Lite(r)” Krypton flashlight. The super bright Tuff Lite(r) is weather and shock proof and is operated by a convenient thumb switch. The light has a pre-focused light beam that blinds the attacker and also serves as an aiming point for the pepper stream. The Pepper Escort is the ideal protection while jogging, traveling, in the home dormitory or at work. For more information or to place an order contact McClarin Manufacturing, Inc., Dept SAR 31 Bonito Blvd., P.O. Box 250, La Luz, NM 88337. Phone: 1-505-437-5542. Fax: 1-505-437-5771. Web Site: www.pepperescort.com.

BLACK HILLS ADDS .40 S&W LOADS

Black Hills Ammunition has added two .40 caliber loads to its already extensive line of fine ammunition. For self defense and police duty use, they now offer a 165 grain Gold Dot bullet loaded to 1150 fps/ 483 ft lbs of energy. This is probably the most powerful .40 caliber load available within the industry pressure standards. As a companion training/practice round they offer a 165 grain FMJ at 1100 fps in their “blue box” remanufactured line. The 165 grain loadings have become increasingly popular, offering a good balance of velocity and bullet weight. For more information contact Black Hills Ammunition, Dept SAR P.O. Box 3090, Rapid City, SD 57709-3090. Phone: 1-605-348-5150. Fax: 1-605-348-9827.

Arms Proliferation

The Taliban had been unable to purchase arms legally, due to a UN arms embargo (UN Security Council Resolution 1076 of 22 October 1996. But prior to 1991 the country was flooded with military equipment and arms. The Soviet-Afghan War served as a testing ground for a wide array of new weaponry, including the BTR-80, BMP-2, AGS-17 grenade launcher, Vasilek 82mm automatic mortar, 9P140 Uragan multiple rocket launcher, several models of the Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunship, and the Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft. During the Soviet involvement/occupation (1986-90) the Soviet Union equipped Afghanistan with $5.7 billion worth of arms while the United States underwrote the Mujahideen to the tune of $5 billion during roughly the same period. Most equipment is of former Soviet origin. When the Soviets pulled out, their records indicated that the Afghan government forces equipment inventory included 1,568 tanks, 828 infantry fighting vehicles, more than 4,880 artillery pieces, 126 combat aircraft and 14 combat helicopters, 12 R-300 (Scud) missile launchers and 10 Luna-M (Frog) missile launchers.

Chinese equipment was supplied to the mujahideen during the 1980s as U.S. aid via Pakistan. Russian estimates (1991) of the mujahideen capabilities indicated 200,000 active guerrillas, 97 tanks, 60 BMPs, 100 APCs, over 5,000 anti-aircraft heavy machine guns, 3,500 mortars 2,000 recoilless rifles, and over 11,000 antitank weapons (RPGs). Some of these arms eventually became Taliban property while some were retained by independent groups after the Soviet withdrawal while some stocks were kept by the retreating government army after the Taliban captured Kabul. And some more recent supplies have come from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Small Arms

The average Taliban fighter is lightly equipped by Western standards. Load bearing equipment is minimal and is usually limited to Chinese type ammunition pouches worn on the chest and the occasional canteen and rucksack. Leather bandoleers are still used by some fighters, especially older Pakhtuns and tribal volunteers from Pakistan where these are widely used. The typical Taliban “uniform” is shalwar kameez and kurta (the traditional long cotton shirt and pajama pants), a black cotton turban, and in colder weather, foreign copies of the U.S. Army M65 pattern field jacket (which Bin Laden himself favored), civilian coats, civilian sweaters, and pukhoor wool blankets. The pakool or puhtee, a flat Chitrali wool cap is rarely if ever worn. Although popular with the mujahideen in the 1980s, it is now identified with the Northern Alliance and was favored by its commander, Shah Ahmad Masood. Helmets are rarely if ever seen, though Northern Alliance troops have paraded wearing helmets. Footgear is most commonly chapati sandals and sometimes tennis shoes. Boots are in short supply. However these are hardy men with, in many cases, years of experience fighting conventional military forces (the Soviets, the DRA Army, and the Northern Alliance) in the harsh terrain and climate of Afghanistan.

Besides the Kalashnikov assault rifle, which is the standard infantry weapon on both sides, there is no standardization of combat equipment. Taliban small arms include nearly everything in the pre-1990 Soviet armory. Of course the most common weapon is the Kalashnikov. Large stocks of these weapons were left behind by the Soviets and the DRA Army was equipped with them as well. The U.S. supplied Chinese made AKMs (Type 56 rifle) to the mujahideen and the Taliban has received military aid from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the form of money and weapons shipments, mostly Chinese made arms. Large quantities of Soviet PPSh-41 submachine guns were dumped on the pro-government militias by the Soviets. Although a distant second choice to the Kalashnikov they can be found all over Afghanistan and could be used by militia forces and guerrillas. Limited numbers of the Soviet AK-74 firing the smaller caliber 5.45x39mm cartridge are found. The AKR or short-barreled AKSU versions of the Kalashnikov are extremely popular (and probably more so now that Bin Laden is always seen with one). The AKS-74U 5.45mm paratrooper carbine is closer to a submachine gun than a rifle. Good for close in work, it’s not the best weapon for the long range fighting found in Afghanistan’s mountains and plains. Although significant numbers of the AK-74, including those mounting the BG-15 40mm grenade launcher, were fielded in Afghanistan by Soviet troops before the withdrawal, ammunition supply is not reliable. Copies of the weapon and its ammunition are produced by Pakistan’s cottage weapons industry although specimens I examined were marked as .222 caliber.

As many as 60,000 Pakistani volunteers have already served with the Taliban. Pakistanis, especially Pakhtun or Pathan tribesmen from northwest Pakistan with strong links to the largely Pakhtun Taliban, may volunteer in large numbers. They can be easily equipped from their tribal weapons factories in the autonomous Pushtun tribal enclave of the old North West Frontier Province. A Krinkov .222 made in Pakistan costs 4500 rupees (about $100 US). In comparison an original Soviet TT-33 Tokarev pistol captured in Afghanistan sells for 10,000 rupees ($220) while the “best copy” of a Tokarev costs 3,000 rupees. That’s $67 for a semi-auto pistol. Authentic Kalashnikovs can be had for as little as $300. Weapons —everything from a British Sten gun chambered for 7.62 x 39mm and fitted with a Kalashnikov magazine to Webley .32 and .38 caliber revolvers to Mauser 98Ks or 8mm Kalashnikovs — can be made to order in the back alley gun shops of Darra Adam Khel and Sakhahot Malakand. Given enough time they can turn out copies of SVDs, PKMs, RPDs, Soviet anti-tank mines, grenades, small mortars, anti-aircraft guns, and heavy machine guns.

Machineguns and Anti-tank Weapons

The RPD, RPK, and PKM light and general-purpose machineguns are commonly found in Afghanistan. The DShK 12.7mm and KPV 14.5mm (known in Afghanistan as Dashika and Ziqriat) are in widespread use. Many of these heavier weapons are aging and harsh field use is showing. Barrels are worn on many machineguns. Given a protracted ground campaign without re-supply or replacement, these weapons will eventually succumb to the rigors of Afghan warfare. AGS-17 30mm automatic grenade launcher – a fearsome weapon for ground combat, although their use would depend upon the availability of spare parts and adequate stocks of ammunition. These weapons, first fielded in Afghanistan, are over ten years old. RPG-7s are prevalent and a favored Taliban weapon supplied from Soviet, Chinese, and Pakistani sources. Volley fire against armored targets or even helicopters can be expected. It is rumored that Bin Laden sent specially trained teams to Mogadishu to assist Aideed’s forces in shooting down American helicopters using this technique.

More effective for anti-tank use (especially versus Western armor) would be recoilless rifles. I had an opportunity to examine examples of recoilless rifles in use by Taliban troops. The SPG-9 75mm anti-tank gun and the obsolete B-10 (RG82) 82mm anti-tank gun that it replaced are the most common. While these weapons were serviceable, mounts were improvised, sights were damaged, and ammunition supplies were limited. How widespread this situation is can only be guessed at.

Mortars, Artillery, and Rocket Launchers

The only mortars I saw were 82mm M-1937 Soviet mortars. Other Soviet and Chinese produced mortars are certainly in the Taliban inventory. I saw a few D-30 122-mm Towed Howitzers with their unique three-trail carriage. A truck (Ural-375 or ZIL-131) or armored tractor is needed to tow it. One of the guns I saw sat in the open, without a transporter, crew or ammunition. This is the most common type of artillery available to the Taliban. Unless the Taliban has recently organizes and safeguarded these weapons, they exist only as solitary weapons pieced out to various commanders. The M-46 130-mm Towed Field Gun may pose a threat as at least two chemical projectiles have been fielded for this weapon. The 130 mm Sarin (nerve gas) projectile weighs 33.4 kg of which 1.6 kg comprises the Sarin CW agent that is dispersed by a TNT bursting charge. The other is a VX projectile weighing 33.4 kg of which 1.4 kg is the VX CW agent. It can’t be confirmed whether the Taliban have access to any of these munitions. The D-20 152-mm Towed Gun-Howitzer fires the following case-type, variable-charge, separate loading ammunition: FRAG-HE, CP, AP-T. Other types of ammunition include chemical, HE/RAP (range of 24000 m), HEAT, illuminating (S-540), smoke (D-540) and tactical nuclear (0.2 kT). The same types of chemical munitions used in the M-46 are available for the D-20.

Rocket Launchers: the BM-21 122-mm Multiple Rocket Launcher (40-round), the BM-27 9P144 Uragan (Hurricane) 220-mm Multiple Rocket Launcher (16 launching barrels firing range of up to 40 km) and the 9A52 300-mm Smerch Multiple Rocket Launcher are all used by the Taliban. Their disposition is the same as the Taliban artillery.

Wheeled Vehicles as Gun Mounts

Quickly impressed by the cross-country performance and versatility of Japanese pickup trucks in the war against the Soviets (nicknamed Ahu — the deer, pickup trucks were widely used in mujahideen operations in Kandahar, Helmand, Farah, and Nimroz provinces), the Taliban favor pickup trucks as an all-purpose vehicle for both combat and combat support roles. Equipped with large numbers of Toyota Hilux pickup trucks purchased in Dubai by Osama bin Laden, the Taliban militia can operate as motorized light infantry (or pickup truck cavalry) armed with machineguns, mortars, recoilless rifles, and light multiple rocket launchers (MRLs). With this mobility the Taliban respond quickly to offensive military action. Equipped with heavy machineguns and handheld RPGs that can be fired on the move, it is the Taliban’s principle troop carrier.

Taliban and Northern Alliance forces mount single-barrel and multi-barrel rocket launchers (BM-1, BM-12, Saqar-20, and Saqar-30) and DShK and ZGU-1 heavy machine guns on wheeled and tracked vehicles. Both combatants also have enhanced the firepower of light trucks and BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles by fitting them with 32-shot 57mm rocket pods salvaged from combat helicopters (Mi-24 and Mi-25). Because of their combined mobility and firepower (each of the six blocks of rocket launchers takes 32 rockets and the impact area covers 500 square meters) they have been extremely effective in recent fighting.

Anti-Aircraft Guns

Defending Afghanistan on the ground it will be the ZSU 23-4, an anti-aircraft weapon mounting four 23mm cannons and a “Gun Dish” radar for fire control. The radars are probably not operational. The Taliban also have what appear to be ZPU 14-1s anti-aircraft cannon. Using heavy machine guns and ground-to-air missiles the mujahideen inflicted a heavy toll on Soviet helicopter gunships, but mostly in daytime attacks. The Soviets lost over 100 fixed wing aircraft and over 700 helicopters (35% of which were Hinds) from ground fire. Sophisticated U.S. helicopters like the Apache are expected to support any U.S. ground operations. It and the special operations Pave Low, can operate at night with pilots trained to fly with night vision goggles.

The Northern Alliance and its Military Organization

The anti-Taliban forces are a loose grouping known as the Northern Alliance. Also known as the United Front, its leaders ruled Afghanistan before the Taliban took control in 1996. The Northern Alliance has been fighting the Taliban since then. The alliance, under ousted President Burhanuddin Rabbani, is a mish-mash of the major political and ethnic groups in Afghanistan. Other groups, some without names and many small and inconsequential, who don’t want to be part of the Northern Alliance also fight against the Taliban.

The Iranian-Tajik clans in the eastern the provinces of Badakhshan, Takhar, Parvan, Kapisa, and, partly Kabul) and also in Herat and Ghowr provinces to the west are the traditional enemies of the mostly Pashtun Taliban. Tajiks make up about 20 percent of the Afghan population and occupy a similar proportion of territory. Nearly 75% of Northern Alliance troops are Tajik and in great part due to Masood’s long reign of military leadership are the most combat-capable. The Northern Alliance main forces are concentrated in the east of the Afghanistan on two fronts — the Panjshir Valley front and the Takhor front (along the Panj river).

The Northern Alliance’s military strength has been estimated as high as 50,000, but more realistic assessments (Jane’s World Armies) give the number at 20,000 or less. Like the Taliban, the size of Northern Alliance forces is subject to exaggeration. Troop strength fluctuates with the situation changes. It can’t afford to maintain a large standing force and like the Taliban it recruits additional fighters for large offensive operations.

The Northern Alliance is not a modern army. It doesn’t have well-organized, well-trained, and well-armed units capable of successfully conducting large-scale offensive operations. Northern Alliance forces are a hodge-podge assortment of armed groups, combining semi-professional leftovers of the old regime, tribal militias, former mujahideen groups, and ethnic-regional forces into a loosely unified opposition. In small groups, its forces are active all over the country and are in firm control of all or portions of six provinces in the northeast, about ten percent of Afghanistan. This territory includes old Soviet airfields that could be used as forward bases by U.S. aircraft or commando units. The Northern Alliance is eager to help the American effort. It already has been receiving military equipment from Russia, via Moscow’s close ally Tajikistan. The U.S. and Russia are arranging to provide the Afghan rebels with more. The apparent hope is that, in concert with U.S. aerial assaults and possible covert and special operations actions, the Northern Alliance might serve as the lever to topple the Taliban regime and make way for the installation of a more moderate and less anti-American government in Kabul.

Despite extensive combat experience most Northern Alliance leaders lack the skills and experience to command large combined arms (infantry, tank, artillery) units in tactical operations. Most Northern Alliance military leaders gained their war fighting experience during the protracted guerrilla warfare against the Soviet Army. The mujahideen usually operated in small groups of platoon strength (20-50 men) armed with small arms. When the situation required several of these “platoons” were combined in company sized units of 150-200 men or more. Larger mujahideen units were rare.

Weapons and Equipment

Before the Taliban took Kabul in 1996, Defense Minister Shah Ahmad Masood transferred a great number of heavy weapons and vehicles to his base in the Panjsher Valley. Many, including a largely inactive “artillery division” reportedly remain in storage because of fuel and ammunition shortages. When asked about Soviet weapons in use by the National Alliance, Zabed Naim, 43, a mujahideen veteran of the war against the Soviets and now a National Alliance troop leader, replied: “They are all past their lifespan. We need modern weapons. We need everything. If the Americans don’t help us we will still fight the Taliban with everything we have … if we don’t have guns, we will fight them with sticks.” Reports have filtered back from National Alliance that Russian units are equipping their fighters: everything from combat fatigues to BMP armored personnel carriers.

Russia has expressed its readiness to arm the Northern Alliance. Most weaponry in Afghanistan is already stamped “Made in USSR.” Warfare in Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain requires special tactics and equipment, fire support means, and methods of conducting combat operations. The Russians are already equipping the Northern Alliance: recent videos and photos from northern Afghanistan show Afghan soldiers in Russian camouflage fatigues, new rucksacks, and awkwardly wearing oversized Soviet Army helmets while attempting to march in step.

Russian Military-technical assistance to the “Northern Alliance” is put at $40-45 million. It’s expected that the Pentagon will pay for the Russian tanks and guns supplied to the Afghans. Besides large stocks of tactical field radios, spare parts, military rations, tools, fuel, combat load bearing equipment, and footwear, the Russian General Staff has decided to deliver the following:

Small Arms

Kalashnikov assault rifles (models and calibers unspecified), light and company (general purpose) machineguns, grenade launchers, SVD rifles (Dragunov sniper rifle) and SKS carbines (Simonov Self-loading Carbine). Because of the extreme ranges of many infantry-on-infantry engagements the Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD) and the DShK 12.7mm machine gun (in service since World War II) are still considered the most popular weapons in Afghanistan. Small arms, such as assault rifles, obsolete submachine guns, machine guns, and sniper rifles, can also be supplied in mass amounts as large quantities of un-issued and still serviceable small arms have been stored in arsenals since World War II. This is an opportunity for the Russians to dump old ordnance and gain hard currency from the US in exchange. The Northern Alliance Army lacks ammunition for all weapons so aging surplus Soviet Army stocks can be expended before their “sell by date” is reached. Not mentioned but probably included in the weapons aid will be Shmel rocket-flamethrowers. They proved very effective in Afghanistan in the past and would be of use in the Taliban’s cave redoubts.

Vehicles and Heavy Weapons

The Northern Alliance, a conglomeration of poorly equipped light infantry and irregular guerrillas, desperately needs troop transporters (trucks), jeeps , and armored vehicles. Soviet infantry fighting vehicles are adequate for mountainous terrain. T-55 and T-62 tanks, BTR-60 armored personnel carriers (essentially armored taxis for infantry squads), and BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles (IFV). Some may be veterans of combat in Afghanistan, 1979-89. The BMP-1 is a fully armored Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Its low-silhouetted hull has a sharp, sloping front with a conspicuously ridged surface. It mounts a 73mm smoothbore gun (firing a rocket-assisted, fin-stabilized HEAT projectile) and a 7.62mm coaxial machine-gun. A launching rail for an AT-3 Sagger antitank guided missile attaches above the gun. These vehicles are considered obsolete for front line Russian Army use, but are ideally suited to Afghanistan. The more modern BMP-3 IFVs are equipped with a 100mm launcher-cannon, a 30mm automatic cannon, and three 7.62mm machine guns. These first echelon combat vehicles are in short supply in the Russian Army and will not be sent as aid. However, it’s possible that the new BTR-80 armored personnel carrier, (equipped with the KaMAZ engine) will be given to the Northern Alliance. Minimal training is needed for crews as some Afghan fighters will be familiar with the vehicles. The Northern Alliance is scheduled to receive 50 tanks and 80 IFVs by December 1, 2001.

Russia will also contribute forty 23mm ZSU-23-4 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, two batteries of 100mm antitank guns, six batteries of 122mm D-30 howitzers, four batteries of 120mm 2B11 mortars, and three batteries of 82mm 2B9 automatic mortars. The Russians may supply ten 122mm 9K51 Grad multiple rocket launchers, Grad-P portable launchers, and Malyutka and Fagot antitank missile systems as well as six Mi-24 Hind helicopters six Mi-8 transport helicopters. The BM-21 Grad and BM-27 Uragan multiple rocket launchers are serious support weapons. A salvo from one Uragan launcher’s sixteen 220mm barrels covers a 42 hectares at a range of 10-35 km. Company and battalion mortars ( 60mm and 82 mm) will round out the indirect fire support.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s mountains, desert, and plains are home to nearly 27 million people from more than thirty different ethnic groups. The annual per capita gross domestic product is US$800. Average life expectancy for an Afghan male: 47 years; and for a woman: 45 years. Adult literacy is only 32 percent. There is one telephone for every 925 people. Afghanistan, which is about the size of Texas, has only 1,700 miles of paved road (and speaking from experience most of that is badly potholed and rutted).

Ultra-religious, unsophisticated, and culturally isolated the Taliban was initially welcomed as a unifying and stabilizing force in Afghanistan but its religion-based cruelty and suppression of basic human rights has made it very unpopular with a significant percentage of the population. Their power base is rooted in the Pahktun or Pushtun people – a Pashto-speaking tribal group numbering about 10 million in Afghanistan (40% of the population) and another 5 million in Pakistan.

As everyone now knows Afghanistan’s terrain and weather are impediments to any military action. Geographically and climatically, Afghanistan is very brutal territory. Rugged and isolated, full of mountains and caves where Taliban troops and terrorists may hide, it is an extremely hostile environment. Afghanistan is one of the most densely mined countries in the world and landmines and unexploded ordnance from over twenty years of war will present hazards. The Taliban has extended the network of underground bunkers and caves used by the mujahideen during the Soviet occupation. Impending winter with its freezing temperatures, heavy snow fall, and high winds will impede special operations forces seeking bin Laden and his men in the mountains and passes. There will be virtually no local supplies and the attendant logistical problems will mirror those encountered during Operation Restore Hope (Somalia).

Recommended Reading:

The Bear Went Over the Mountain: Soviet Combat Tactics in Afghanistan. Lester W. Grau and David M. Glantz, trans. Washington: NDU Press, 1996. (Also released with minor changes under the same title, London and Portland, Ore.: Frank Cass, 1998.)

The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan War. Jalali, Ali Ahmad, and Lester W. Grau Quantico, Va.: US Marine Corps Combat Development Command, 1998 (SCN: DM-980701). A limited-distribution study provided to university and service school libraries.

Russia’s War in Afghanistan, David Isby, London: Osprey Publishing, 1986.

Many of LTC Grau’s and COL Jalali’s (Afghan Army) articles on combat in Afghanistan can be found on the internet at: http://www.angelfire.com/sd/tajikistanupdate/artorg.html

The buyer of an M48 may be misled by advertising to believe that he is purchasing a K98k “clone” that will accept all Mauser 98 components and can be “sporterized” using hardware designed for M98 rifles. This is not the case, as there are significant dimensional differences between the Yugoslav M48 and the German 98 series rifles. The most significant difference is the M48’s receiver, which is approximately 1/4 inch shorter than that of a K98k. The center to center measurement of the floorplate screws of the two rifles differs by some 5/16 inch, making it virtually impossible to install a M48 action into a stock intended for an M98. The M48’s bolt is almost exactly 1/4 inch shorter than the bolt of the 1943 German (Mauser) manufactured K98k we used for comparison. The M48 lacks the K98k’s stock cutout for access to the bent bolt handle, as well. The M48’s bolt handle is flattened on the bottom, which serves the same purpose as the K98k’s stock cutout. M48 sights are also placed and graduated differently than the K98. There are other detail differences as well, but the receiver dimensions are the most significant. We verified these differences by direct comparison and measurement between our M48 and a 1943 production Mauser K98k owned by a friend.

Regardless of the differences between the M48 and the true K98k, the Kragujevac rifles are, in fact, legitimate M98 variants. They simply are not exact K98k replicas. That said, these rifles are well made, if somewhat rough in certain areas, and should stand up to a lifetime of civilian service for the collector of military arms and military shooting enthusiast.

The rifle we received was new production, not one of the used or reconditioned M48 rifles that are also available at lower prices. Although new and unissued, our rifle had been in storage for approximately 50 years and was literally soaked in cosmoline! The heavy preservative grease had permeated every nook and cranny of the rifle. We had to detail strip the rifle to its least common denominator and put the metal components into a parts bath to get into all the interior crevices. Even then, there was residue that we had to work at with pipe cleaners and small brushes soaked in cleaning solvent. It was a time-consuming and messy job! The stock was likewise permeated with cosmoline and had to be treated, lest the stuff get into our clothes on the range. Needless to say, there was no rust on the rifle.

Besides being soaked in cosmoline, the M48’s stock apparently had never been sanded. We can only surmise that final finish was to be the responsibility of the soldier to whom the rifle would ultimately be issued. The stock on our rifle was the roughest this writer has ever seen. Although some advertising states that the stocks are made of teak, we question this. Our rifle’s stock was a dark blonde colored wood that did not appear like any teak that we have ever seen, but we have limited knowledge of wood. The stock was so rough that it actually had splinters in several places and the rough spots just aft of the forward band were so deep that we never could completely eliminate them without sanding recesses into the stock. In addition to having the rifle’s serial number stamped into it, the stock also had a penciled-in serial number that we wished to retain, so we did not sand the stock entirely smooth — just enough to remove the splinters and the worst of the rough spots. Interestingly, once we had sanded the stock and rubbed it with linseed oil, we found it to be virtually the same texture as the World War II vintage German stock on the K98k that we used for comparison. The overall result of our efforts on the stock were pleasing to us, giving the old M48 a patina of use despite the fact that it was a “new” rifle.

Other than the Cosmoline and rough stock, our M48 was fairly well finished – about as can be expected of a military rifle. The bluing was on generally on a par with wartime German K98k’s, although there were a few light spots. The overall fit of parts was good — again as good as other military issue rifle of the era. There were light machining marks on some of the components. All major parts are serially numbered in the European tradition. The M48’s action was not the “butter smooth” that one associates with commercial Mauser 98 rifles and well-worn World War II rifles, but then this rifle had never been fired, except in testing, until we received it. When we compared the action to that of the K98k, there was only a slight difference in “feel,” so we suspect that the action will improve with use, although it isn’t bad, as is. When the bolt is opened and the rifle is vertical with the butt down, the bolt will fall to the fully retracted position under its own weight, although there is some roughness. The M48’s trigger pull is two-stage military, with the first stage seven pounds and the second stage a whopping 9.5 pounds! The trigger pull is so heavy that it made the M48 difficult to shoot with any accuracy. If our rifle was truly representative of all M48s, any owner who wishes to shoot the rifle on a regular basis will have the trigger pull lightened.

The M48 is shipped with a number of accessories, including bayonet, cleaning kit, front sight guard, muzzle protector, oil/solvent bottle, leather ammunition pouches and sling. The leather sling we received, however, was so oil soaked and stretched that we simply threw it away and ordered a reproduction K98k sling. Otherwise, the accessories were all usable. Like the rifle, the M48’s bayonet was soaked in cosmoline and had to be thoroughly cleaned. The leather ammunition pouches were filthy and moldy, but turned out to be serviceable after having been cleaned and treated with neatsfoot oil.

Shooting the M48 brought no surprises. The rifle shot 3.5 inch groups at 100 yards at point of aim using surplus Ecuadorian ammunition. We believe that accuracy could be improved by lightening the trigger pull and using commercial ammunition. Although advertised as non-corrosive, the surplus ammunition we used proved to be mildly corrosive, if the rust that appeared in the bore of our M48 about three days after cleaning is any indication. We have been advised that there is no truly non-corrosive military 7.92x57mm ammunition available, so the shooter should be advised to clean his rifle on three consecutive days after shooting military surplus ammunition. All in all, the M48’s accuracy is satisfactory for a military rifle, despite the abysmal trigger pull. As stated, a lighter trigger and better ammunition should improve accuracy, as should continued shooting to break in the new rifle.

All in all, we consider the M48 Kragujevac Arsenal rifles to be a reasonable buy for the collector and shooter who desires a military Mauser bolt action rifle. Ammunition is plentiful and cheap, although most surplus ammunition is at least mildly corrosive. There are so many of these rifles available that the M48 probably has little potential for increasing in value, however. On the other hand, the rifles are relatively inexpensive and are sturdy and well made, except as noted above. The M48 is a true M98 Mauser variant, but we should reemphasize that it is most definitely NOT a K98k replica as is represented in much advertising. Moreover, as the reader can surmise by our comments, the M48 is most definitely not as well finished as an original German Mauser. In the final analysis, though, we believe that the M48 is an interesting M98 variant that can be fired and enjoyed strictly for what it is – a solid military rifle that represents one of the last production versions of the legendary Mauser 98.

Following is a list of sources for M48 Mauser rifles compiled from Shotgun News and several periodicals. We have made every effort to search out as many sources of M48 rifles as possible, but cannot guarantee that the following list represents all sources of M48 Mausers. The potential M48 purchaser should also be aware that while new M48s with accessories and all matching numbers are reasonably priced and probably most desirable, used rifles are available in very good to excellent condition, although most do not have all the accessories of the unissued rifles. Some used M48s are available with all matching numbers. The latter rifles are significantly less expensive than the new ones and may well be an alternative for the shooter who wishes to own an M48, but who does not wish to expend the cash for an unissued rifle.

Kragujevac Arsenal M48 Rifle Specifications *

Caliber 7.92x57mm (8mm)
Length 43.5 inches
Barrel length 23.25 inches
Weight 10.0 lbs.
Rifling 4 groove, rh twist
Feed 5 round magazine
Sights Tangent leaf, graduated to 2,000 meters

*Source: Ball, R.W.D., Mauser Military Rifles of the World.

M48 Kragujevac Mauser Sources
(New and used)

AIM (used)
PO Box 556
Springboro, OH 45066
Tel: 513-424-9960
Fax: 513-424-9970
www.aimsurplus.com

Classic Arms (used)
PO Box 125
Indian Trail, NC 28079
Tel: &04-238-1222
Fax: 704-238-9121
www.classicarms.org

J&G Sales (used)
PO Box 10400
Prescott Valley, AZ 86304
Tel: (928) 445-9650
Fax: (928) 445-9658
Email: jgsales@qwest.net

Mitchell’s Mausers (new)
PO Box 9295
Fountain Valley, CA 92728-9295
Tel: 714-899-3660
Fax: 714-899-8611
www.mitchellsales.com

SOG International (used)
PO Box 590
Lebanon, OH 45036
Tel: 800-944-4867
Fax: 513-932-8928
Email: soginc@go-concepts.com

Wholesale Guns & Ammo, Inc
(New & used)
232 Blydenburgh Rd
Central Islip, NY 11722
Tel: 631-234-7676
Fax: 631-234-7408
www.gunsnammo.com

This year’s total gun show was in excess of 1600 tables and there were over 250 tables and booths dedicated solely to Class III firearms and related items. If I had a dollar for every time I heard “I have never been to a show with so many guns like this before”, I could probably add that nice Model 96 Expeditionary Rifle that has been calling my name to the old gun collection with no money of my own. As a matter of fact, there were so many dealers this year that Small Arms Review had to add an extra building to the show that had never been open before! The attendance at the show was reputed to be the largest at any in the Southwest in many years- preliminary numbers were around 15,000 attendees- but we don’t have the final count yet. The most popular questions asked were if we would be back next year to do it again, and would it be possible to do two shows instead of only one there each year. As of this writing we are already in the preliminary planning stages of SAR Show 2002 in Phoenix on December 6-8, but have no intentions of making it a bi-annual event at this time. It is our feeling that we need to keep the December SAR show in Phoenix as an extraordinarily special event that people really look forward to all year. The promoter, Crossroads of the West Gunshows, is considering making their April show in Phoenix into a Cowboy Action and Old West show, but they have not committed at press time. We will be sure to show up for that if they do- there is a large crossover from Class 3 to Cowboy Action- just ask “Poison Pete”. We are considering doing an East Coast show in the Spring or early Summer if we find a show promoter who wants to tie our show to his in a Class 3 friendly state, and we can keep it from conflicting with the other Class 3 shows. We like to be supportive of other shows.

The list of tables and booths at the show looked more like a Who’s Who of the Firearms Industry than the floor-plan of a trade show. Those in attendance included Kent & Kathy Lomont, Ohio Ordnance, Gemtech, Dillon Precision, Gun Parts Corporation, DS Arms, Armalite, Buffer Technology, J&T Distributing, Sherluk, StG Supply, Long Mountain Outfitters, Great Lakes Arsenal, Glock Tactical Stocks, Arms & Ordnance, Fifty Caliber Shooters Association, Surplus International LLC and several others. Outside the Small Arms Review buildings there were military vehicles of all types on display. They were brought by members of the Arizona Military Vehicle Collectors Club, who spent the weekend fielding questions from curious spectators and generally having a good time.

There was a dedicated booth beside the Small Arms Review display set up as an area for The Usual Suspects to gather and it was packed with people all weekend. Several of our regular contributors were in attendance to sign books and articles and just chat with our readers and each other. Some of those spending time at the booth were Frank Iannamico and Robert Segel.

The SAR-BQ was even bigger and better than last year. This year we had over 150 in attendance for a huge spread of ribs and boneless chicken breasts with lots of fixin’s and side dishes. The smell of BBQ started wafting through the show buildings about 90 minutes before the feed started so attendees were well aware that 5:00 was getting closer.

As we did last year, the show hosted a display contest for those in attendance to vote on. The display contest gives individuals a chance to display their collection and educate some attendees at the same time. Winners of the display contest were: 1st Place – Jeff Miller of JDM, 2nd Place – Idan Greenberg, and 3rd Place – Captain Jack McCarl. 1st Place received a check for $200 and a nice plaque, 2nd Place received $100 and a plaque and 3rd Place received $50.00 and a plaque. Congratulations guys!

Participants and visitors at SAR Show 2001 had the opportunity to see a few new products being introduced on the market. I’ll give you an overview of some of the great stuff I had the chance to handle while there.

One of the neatest products I had the opportunity to check out was a new magazine loader introduced by Arms & Ordnance Research, Inc. This particular model was for the Ruger® MKII Pistol magazine and it operates nothing short of amazing. The device holds up to 50 rounds of .22lr and loads the magazine far faster than I have ever emptied one. To use it you simply dump the ammo in the reservoir, close the cover and shake the device side to side to correctly align the ammo into the feed chute. Once the ammo is aligned in the chute simply insert the magazine into the loader he same way you would insert it into the pistol, and it is loaded before you have time to see what is going on. This is one impressive magazine loader and I have been informed that some other popular magazine models are “in the works”. Keep your eyes here for an update as they become available. Retail pricing for the MKII Loader is $39.95 plus shipping. Arms & Research, Inc. P.O. Box 441, Warrendale, PA 15086 E-mail: ultimateloader@arms-ordnance.com.

Denny Foutch was there with Glock Tactical Stock, LLC displaying his new carbine kit for Glock pistols. There was a steady flow of people in front of his display handling this new kit. It consists of a tactical shoulder stock which holds two spare magazines, and an Impulse 16.25” barrel. There are no tools required to install this kit and no modifications to the gun. There is also no BATF paperwork required to purchase and install the kit as it meets all length requirements. It is available for the Glock 17 in 9mm and .357 SIG but he is working on other models and calibers as you read this. This carbine kit is extremely comfortable to shoulder and seemed very well balanced. I did not get the opportunity to fire one as there were no range facilities available but I did my fair share of “fondling” and I think it is a real winner. The stock can also be installed with a standard length barrel as long as the pistol is registered as a Short Barreled Rifle first. The stock will also enhance the Glock 18 machine pistol. Pricing for the carbine kit is $399.95 delivered. Glock Tactical Stocks, c/o Denny’s Guns, 2001 Clay Street, North Kansas City, MO 64116. (816)221-9117 ext. 11 E-mail: info@glocksbr.com

C.J. Weapons Accessories had a few new products that could be of benefit to the AR-15/M-16 owner, and judging by the crowd I think they were in the right place. The first is called the Bore Stay™ and it is a bore guide for cleaning your rifle. It locks into the chamber using the locking lugs that lock the bolt during firing. It will not pull out when you are changing the tip or the brush unless you turn it to unlock it from the lugs. It has a solvent hole at the top for you to add solvent without having to remove the rod and has an O-ring to prevent solvent from leaking into the receiver. Retail pricing for the Bore Stay™ is $24.95. C.J. Weapons other new product is called the Chamber Maid™ and is a flexible rod kit for cleaning the firearms chamber. The kit I tested is also for the AR-15/M-16 however it is being manufactured for several other rifles and shotguns. It consists of a flexible cleaning rod, which is a very heavy-duty coated cable, a rugged T-handle and a bore brush. This kit makes bore cleaning easy and allows you to get to those important locking lugs to keep them clean with ease. The Chamber Maid™ retails for $13.25. C.J. Weapons Accessories, 23196 Lena St., Moreno Vally, CA 92553. (909)653-3098.

Lauer Custom Weaponry had a nice booth introducing their line of firearm finishes and it was their Camo-Coat™ finish that immediately caught my attention. They had several firearms on display sporting this finish in several colors and styles. This finish and patterning is as nice as any I have ever handled and incorporates an amazing durability. While they have eleven standard camo finishes it was brought to my attention that they also do custom camo finishes and even showed me some examples of their custom work. In one particular example a customer sent them a sampling of the local foliage he wanted to blend with and they duplicated the colors, shading and patterning to an amazing accuracy. It is no joke when I say that the customer should never set his gun down in the field and take his eyes off it for fear of losing it. Lauer offers a wide variety of finishing as well as gunsmithing services and I would encourage you to call them for additional product information as well as pricing. Lauer Custom Weaponry, 3601 129th Street, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. (800)830-6677. Website: www.lauerweaponry.com.

David Fisher of Fisher Enterprises, a local Title II Manufacturer based in Tempe was there displaying a few of his new integral M-16 suppressor designs. He had examples in both .223 and 9mm. He was preparing to test for sound reduction in the coming weeks and we will make sure to get a little more in-depth with his newest designs at a later date. Workmanship seemed very nice and the aesthetics were great. Fisher Enterprises, P.O. Box 7486, Tempe AZ 85281-7486. (602)615-7777

Theresa at J&T Distributing introduced me to the newest addition in their line of AR-15/M-16 upper receivers. They are so new, that they have not even been named yet. They are ultra lightweight with fluted barrels and are manufactured to both pre-ban and post-ban specifications. They are 11.2oz lighter than the standard heavy barreled uppers. J&T Distributing, Box 430, Winchester, KY 40391. (859)-745-1757. Website: www.jtdistributing.com.

Scott at Buffer Technologies had a new soft-side ammo pouch being custom manufactured for him by Eagle. They are currently manufacturing it for the military but have never made them for the civilian market. The pouch is well padded and has a hard insert with a divider made to hold two 100 round belts of 7.62×51 NATO ammunition. They appear to have the ability to attach to web gear and allow the operator to feed the belts directly to the gun. At press time Scott was not sure of the retail price. Buffer Technologies, P.O. Box 104903, Jefferson City, MO 65110. (573)634-8529. Website: www.buffertech.com

If you were not at the show this year, I am sorry you missed it. We will let everyone know as soon as we solidify the dates for next year so you won’t have to miss it again. There is nothing like good company, great guns and some hot BBQ to help you prepare for the holidays and have fresh in your mind as you prepare to ring in the new year. Do yourself a favor and make plans to attend SAR Show 2002. I am looking foreword to seeing you there! We will be running another story on our show later this year, covering some of the more amazing machine guns that were displayed there.

Note; while the “L” sight and smooth barrel began to appear on mid-range serial number Savage 1928’s they appeared on lower numbered Auto-Ordnance, Bridgeport guns. The reason is that the Savage factory began manufacturing the guns approximately eighteen months before Auto-Ordnance. Thus, a low numbered Auto-Ordnance 1928 model was manufactured at the same time period a mid-range number Savage gun.

The Cutts compensator was retained on all military A-O 1928A1 models throughout production. Most of the Auto-Ordnance, Bridgeport Thompsons were fitted with the late (4th) style compensator that has the Thompson bullet logo on the left side, and the Auto-Ordnance name roll marked across the top of the leading edge. All M1928A1 model Thompsons made at the Auto-Ordnance, Bridgeport plant were originally fitted with the horizontal style foregrips.

The Auto-Ordnance, Bridgeport plant was under the jurisdiction of the Springfield Ordnance District in 1941. Thompson Guns were inspected and proofed by on site Springfield ordnance inspectors. The initials of the chief executive officer of the respective Ordnance Districts, who were designated as Army Inspectors of Ordnance or AIOs, were stamped on the guns indicating that they accepted the weapons on behalf of the United States Government. Springfield District Chief executive officers during WWII Thompson production were; Waldemar Broberg and Lt. Colonel Guy H. Drewery. Subordinate ordnance officers managed the inspection process, and all of the guns were actually inspected and stamped by personnel working under their respective chief inspectors. The purpose of the government inspection was to insure that the material being manufactured was the type, quality and quantity specified in the government agreement with the provider. Great emphasis was placed on government contractors to perform their own quality inspections at their factories to avoid having material rejected by the government inspectors. This was done to avoid delays in badly needed materials and to avoid the expense of rejected goods. The quality fit and finish of the Auto-Ordnance produced guns was identical to those of Savage manufacture. Interchangeability of parts was 100% as per Ordnance Department directives.

Model of M1928A1 parts manufactured by Auto-Ordnance’s factories or subcontractors and marked AOC were; Receivers, trigger frames, Blish locks, bolts, actuators, barrels, grip mounts, butt plates, sears, sear levers, trip levers, disconnectors, safety levers and pivot plates.

Although the Remington Arms Company was subcontracted to manufacture many Thompson parts for Auto-Ordnance, in January of 1942, Auto-Ordnance acquired the machinery from Remington and moved it into their Bridgeport plant and began manufacturing the parts themselves. These parts included the actuator, bolt, extractor, ejector and disconnector.

An interesting variation of the Auto-Ordnance, Bridgeport produced M1928A1 Thompson that has been observed, are those Thompsons that have had the U.S. designation ground off and the A1 mark overstamped to read AC. Many of the guns documented had been refurbished, and fitted with the smooth barrels and the “L” style fixed rear sight. Many, but certainly not all, of these guns so altered were in the 150,000 to 152,000 serial number range. A letter X was added as a suffix on the serial numbers of many of these guns. A few other examples of these “1928AC” Thompsons documented were fitted with the finned barrel and Lyman adjustable rear sight. A small number of these Thompsons had their original military horizontal foregrip replaced with the early style vertical foregrip. It is believed that these were guns that had been purchased from the government by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation and refurbished in order to be sold to law enforcement agencies after they were surplused. The Numrich Arms Corporation also removed U.S. markings from 1928 and 1928A1 model Thompsons they sold in the 1950’s.

Interestingly, some of the AO “1928AC” overstamped Thompsons did not have Army Inspector of Ordnance (AIO) acceptance stamps on them, but were stamped with the Ordnance “wheel” acceptance mark. While other examples of these guns had no government inspector or acceptance stamps at all, suggesting that they were never inspected or accepted by the U.S. Government. Perhaps these guns were contract overruns or assembled from parts that remained after the government contracts were filled. However, no documentation could be located that could prove or disprove this theory.

A Treasury Department IRS Form dated June 30, 1944 reveals that two Auto-Ordnance manufacture U.S. 1928A1 Thompsons with an X suffix added to the serial numbers were sold to a Massachusetts police department that year. The U.S. was ground off and the letter C over stamped on the 1 on both of the guns. Please note that the war didn’t end until the 15th of August 1945. All of the 1928 “AC” guns documented were originally manufactured by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation’s Bridgeport factory, and in almost every case had an AO prefixed serial numbered frame, although most of the frame/receiver numbers were mis-matched. The serial numbers located on the frames of these weapons also had the letter X added to them.

Although most of the Bridgeport manufactured Thompsons documented had the very common mismatched receiver and frame numbers, I found it interesting that in almost every case of an Auto-Ordnance, Bridgeport mismatched gun, the frames were also of Auto-Ordnance manufacture. Even though the Savage frames are completely interchangeable, few Auto-Ordnance, Bridgeport guns were observed with Savage trigger frames. The only two serialized parts on wartime Thompsons were the receiver and the trigger frame. The only reason for this was that when the Thompsons were manufactured the lower frames and receivers were hand fitted to each other to insure a close fit between the two parts. It was purely for cosmetic purposes, and had no bearing on the reliability or functioning of the weapon.

As per standard Ordnance Department procedures when there was more than one contractor manufacturing the same weapon, there were separate blocks of serial numbers assigned to each contractor. This was done so that no two weapons would be produced with the same serial number. However, during the military run there were some numbers duplicated, and a few more that were only one or two numbers different, the only difference being the letter S or AO preceding the serial number. Even though there were serial numbers that were close or duplicated on Savage and Auto-Ordnance guns, the dates that those Thompsons had actually been manufactured were quite different. By the time Auto-Ordnance, Bridgeport had produced their very first M1928A1 gun, Savage had shipped well over 200,000 1928 and M1928A1 model Thompsons.

Other major variations of the Auto-Ordnance, Bridgeport manufactured gun were the same as the Savage models.

Finned barrel, Lyman adjustable rear sight.
Finned barrel, “L” style rear aperture sight.
Smooth barrel, “L” type rear sight.

The Auto-Ordnance Corporation manufactured several experimental prototypes of the Thompson in an attempt to get more life out of the original design. There were 1928 model variations chambered for the U.S. 30’06 caliber, as well as a few prototypes made chambered for .30 carbine cartridge. The rifle cartridges proved to be too powerful for the Thompson’s Blish lock delayed blow-back system.

On 25 April 1942, the M1928A1 Thompson was reclassified as “Limited Standard”. The M1928A1 weapons were to be replaced in service by the new M1 version of the Thompson and the M3 submachine gun that was under development by the Ordnance Department and the Guide Lamp Division of General Motors. Due to unforeseen problems the M1928A1 model continued to be manufactured until the autumn of 1942.

Auto-Ordnance, Bridgeport manufactured their last U.S. M1928A1 model on 15 October 1942. Thereafter they concentrated on producing the M1 and M1A1 model. Government documents show that the Bridgeport factory manufactured a total of 323,900 M1928A1 Thompsons. The grand total of 1928 and M1928A1 Thompson Submachine Guns manufactured during WWII, by both Savage and the Auto-Ordnance facilities was an estimated 1,070,832 from 1940 to the fall of 1942 when the M1928A1 model was superseded by the M1 version.

The official end of the M1928A1 model came at an Ordnance Committee meeting held on 16 March 1944 item 23248; Memorandum for the Standards and Specification Section, Conservation Branch, Production Division, Army Service Forces. It was noted for the record that; “U.S. Army specification 52-3-30 of Gun, Submachine, Thompson, Caliber .45 M1928A1 be canceled in accordance with paragraph 30, AR 850-25”. The request was approved.

This article was condensed from relative information in the book AMERICAN THUNDER: The Military Thompson Submachine Gun, available from Moose Lake Publishing LLC. 207-683-2959

Nevertheless, the Mexican government still depends heavily on military assistance. The Army’s main tasks with internal security and assistance to the civilian authority are in case of crises. The Mexican Army has determined that a soldier has the basic discipline required to build a better police officer. The Mexican Army High Command considered it was appropriate to develop the Cuerpo de Policia Militar (Military Police Corps) as a specialized unit of the Armed Forces. Therefore, the Corps is now listed as one of the elite outfits of the Mexican Armed Forces.

In June 1998, the Mexican Army established the Military Police Corps. This new body was going to be used to spearhead the fight against drug trafficking, and tasked with special operations in support of local authorities in internal security tasks. The legal bases for this elite outfit are established under Title 1, Article 1, General Missions, II & III paragraphs of the Army and Air Force Organic Law. This article assigns the Army and Air Force with internal security and assistance to the general population tasks and duties. The Corps comprises the 1st, 2nd and 3rd MP Brigades, and a Special Forces Airborne Group (Grupo Aeromovil de Fuerzas Especiales).

The Corps is tasked with establishing doctrine and exerts technical, training and operational control of all three MP brigades, the Military Police Service School, the 1st and 2nd MP Battalions of the Presidential Guard, and the many MP platoons assigned to Regional (12) and Zone (44) headquarters. This jurisdiction also extends to the MP platoons assigned to the Central and South Task Forces, and sections attached to other dependencies, bases, and those MP units in charge of security of the Mexican Air Force installations.

Weapons of the Military Police Battalion

Each Mexican Military Police Battalion comprises a Command Secretariat (Administrative Group), a HQ Group, a HHC Company, and five Military Police Companies.

The uniform is the General Purpose Army Modelo-1990. This is a copy of the US BDU made of a 50/50 % cotton/polyester drill in olive green color. In fact, the uniform is a modular one. For urban and high visibility duties, the uniform is worn with colorful and florescence insignia and cords & lazes. For field and combat duties, the helmet receives a cloth cover, and all colorful insignias are removed. The US M85 kevlar helmet is standard along with modified ALICE equipment. A new ALICE system of local manufacturing is also being introduced, and body armor is in the process of being general issue.

Until recently, MP Special Forces operators wore an US-BDU copy in “Duck Hunter” camouflaged pattern, matched to a light-green beret. This dress has been exchanged for the now standard US BDU in “Woodland” camouflage pattern, and USFF style Green Beret.

The Mexican Military Factories General Direction is in charge of the production of small arms and ammunition for both the Armed Forces and Security Forces. The Military Factory General Direction has 17 plants, one lab, and one training establishment. Within the first 6 months of 2001, these facilities produced 11,599 weapons, 34.227 million rounds of ammunition, and 335,454 grenades. By comparison, during all of year 2000, the installations produced 11,833 weapons, 28.567 million rounds of ammunitions, and 461,818 grenades. In 1999, Mexico produced 9,356 weapons. Within the last 6 months, the factories have repaired 16,000 weapons. The same number were repaired last year. The factories produce HK P7-M13S pistols, HK MP5 SMGs, HK G3s, and HK-21 MGs. It is also reported that Mexico produces 60mm and 101.6mm mortars. The ammunition produced includes 9mm, 45 acp, 38 Special, 5.56x45mm, 7.62x51mm, 12.7x99mm, and 20x102mm as well as 60mm and 101.6mm mortar grenades.

It is not surprising that the Military Police Corps is basically equipped with weapons produced locally. Most officers carry the HKP7- M13 produced in Mexico, and some operatives carry the excellent HK-P7 SPS in 9mm imported from Germany.

Mexican factories have been producing HK products since 1981. Therefore, most MP troops are equipped with the locally made G-3 rifle with retractile stock. For support, the MPs count on HK-21 machine guns. Officers prefer the MP-5 SMG, and more recently, the M4 Carbine and M9 pistol. The short M16 (M4 Carbine) has been popular in the hands of the local police.

It was not until 1998, with the first units attending Special Forces training in the U.S., that the M4 gained popularity among Army officers. The Mexican Army has relied on the HK system for its troops, so it would have been logical to adopt the HK-33 and the HK-53 models for use in the 5.56mm category. This would have simplified training and with a very reliable set of weapons. The Mexicans are familiar with the HK-33 and HK-53 models since they are common in the hands of the Federal Police. Nevertheless, more and more Army officers are now equipped with the MP5 SMG in 9mm and M4 Carbine in 5.56mm.

Armor in Internal Security

Some MP units have been equipped with the DNC-2 (Mexican BDX APC) armored transport. It is known that Mexico acquired almost the entire Belgian production of the BDX APC. The Timoney APC was designed in Ireland, and was built under license as the BDX by Beherman Demoen Engineering in Belgium. The 1977 Belgian order called for 43 vehicles for the Belgian Air Force, and 80 vehicles for the Belgian Gendarmerie. The Gendarmerie models included 18 examples with 81mm mortars. Those BDXs observed in Mexican service are equipped with a single machine gun ring, or a one-man turret; there is also the 81mm self-propelled mortar model. Those BDXs in the hands of the police are the Gendarmerie transport variant. The BDX is made of all-welded steel, and its armor thickness varies from 9.5 to 12.7mm. It can be equipped with a dozer blade to be used to remove obstacles.

The BDX is ideal for internal security operations, and has space for 12 men. It has been reported that these vehicles were overhauled in Belgium before delivery. Although the BDX can be equipped with the GM Detroit Diesel 4V-53T engine (180hp at 2800 rpm), those in Mexican service retain the Chrysler V-8, water-cooled, petrol engine (180 bhp/4000 rpm).

The Mexicans have not had second thoughts in using armored vehicles to quell civil disturbances. In 1957, units of the 12th Motorized Cavalry Regiment from Puebla, were dispatched to San Luis Potosi. The tanks were used to fire upon civilians and to bring order for the restoration of the official candidate for governor. The PRI representative had lost to the opposition candidate (Dr. Navas).

For many years, the Mexican armored units depended on obsolete M3 light tanks. These units had been acquired in the early 1940s to replace the elderly and inadequate CTVL and CTMS-1TBA Marnom-Herrington light tanks then in use. In 1972, the Stuarts were used again to quell civil disturbances at Puebla de los Angeles. On August 28, 1968, the twelve MAC-1s (denominated Car Mex-1 in Mexico) of the 1st Armored Reconnaissance Squadron of the Presidential Guard were unleashed from the National Palace against university students protesting in the Main National Plaza (El Zocalo).

The Military Police were later equipped with the MOWAG Roland APCs for internal security. The Rolands carried only a MAG-58 light machine gun. More recently, the Rolands have been transferred to regular Army units, and replaced with VERE units. Between 1989 and 1994, the Army Vehicle Repair Workshop assembled 3.347 GM Hummers. The Mexican Hummer VEREs (or Vehiculo de Reconocimiento y Enlace – Reconnaissance & liaison vehicle), have been equipped with either an HK-21 or a MK-19 MGL.

F.R.A.C.D.

The National Defense Secretariat (Secretaria de Defensa y Nacional – Sedena) has established the Airborne Reaction Force for Disasters (Fuerza de Reaccion Aeromovil para Casos de Desastre – F.R.A.C.D.). These task forces comprise an air group and a land group. The air unit counts on one heavy lift team with a Mi-26 helicopter, and three immediate support teams, each equipped with one MD-530F and two MI-8 or MI-17 helicopters.

The FRACD counts on Military Police sections, which are deployed to disaster areas in support of local authorities and law enforcement agencies. FRACD teams have also been deployed to Central America in support of local authorities during the various disasters in Honduras and Nicaragua (Hurricane Mitch, 1998) and El Salvador (earthquake, Jan & Feb 2001).

During Hurricane Mitch (3 to 21 November 1998), the Mexican Army deployed 812 soldiers to Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador. Included during these operations in Central America was a 12 rescue dog unit. The Mexican armed forces dispatched 2 Boeing 727, 4 C-130, at least 2 AN-32 (Armada) and a small flotilla of helicopters (eight MI-8/MI-17, four MD-530F, and four UH-60). These assets delivered 17,097,750 tons of assistance.

A Mexican plane was the first to land with international aid in El Salvador during the crisis in November 1998, and a Mexican plane was the first one again to land in El Salvador with international aid during the 2001 earthquakes (January 13, and February 13).

Intense Preparation

The use of military forces for civilian tasks in general, and law enforcement in particular, is a common occurrence outside the United States. The Mexican Army has developed its Military Corps with the task and capacity of reinforcing the Federal and State police when the need arises. By Latin American standards, the Mexican Military Police Corps appears to be well trained and equipped for the mission entrusted to it.

A soldier is trained in the handling of firearms, and discipline of fire. It is an error, however, to think that this is sufficient to transform a recruit into an effective police officer. It is also an error to believe that a police officer does not need the training in the handling of firearms and discipline of fire. It is actually imperative for the police officer to master these basic requirements since he/she must make use of firearms under strict legal guidelines-at least in theory. In essence, a former soldier COULD be a good starting point to build a good police officer.

There are considerable and important differences between a soldier and a law enforcement agent. The most classic difference between one and the other is that a police officer is limited to the “reasonable” use of force when apprehending someone. The soldier does not have that limitation when performing his normal military duties in wartime. Of course, a soldier’s behavior is restricted and subject to civilian authority during peacetime.

It is required that a Military Policeman be educated and restricted by Codes and Regulations. The Mexican Army tries to weld the differences between soldiers and policeman with an intense training program. The MP Company of the Superior War School was established on April 16, 1992, followed with the foundation of the MP Service School on December 16, 1998. After passing a battery of entrance exams, the MP candidates attend 1st Level training (10 weeks) at the 1st Military Regional HQ, at Temamatla. Upon successful completion of this 1st Level, the candidates go to the 2nd Level Training, MP Basic Course, for 5 weeks.

The Military Police Service School also provides the Basic MP Course for officers and NCOs (2 weeks), the Deactivation of Explosives Basic Course, the Second Sergeants Development Course (3 months), Canine Handlers Course (2 months), the Canine Trainers Course (6 months) and the Instructors Course. Additional training is accomplished through refresher and specialized training of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Levels.

The MP Service School Commandant is a full Colonel (Director), with a second in command being a Lt. Colonel (Subdirector). The Candidates’ Corps is under the responsibility of a Major or a Captain. There are Academic, Pedagogic, and Administrative sections.

The Canine Production Center is also part of the MP Service School. This unique outfit is in charge of “producing” dogs for training in the various specialties required by the MPs.

Missions & Tasks

According to the National Defense Secretariat (Sedena), the missions and tasks assigned to the Mexican Military Police can be summarized in seven points:

1. To keep order, discipline, and the enforcement of the Law, Regulations, Orders, and Dispositions in military installations and military units.

2. To provide security and protection of HQ centers, Military Installations and Military Dependencies.

3. Transit organization and direction.

4. Take custody, provide evacuation and exert control of POWs, and military personnel under detention.

5. Cooperation with special investigative tasks, and prevention and investigation of suspected spies and saboteurs.

6. Enforcement of physical security measures of individuals, information and property.

7. Protection of individuals, public property, and prevention and deployment for riot control in emergency cases, and/or in support of the Judicial Military Police.

The specific mission entrusted to the Military Police Corps is to plan, direct, and coordinate the operational and administration of subordinate units. The mission of the MP Brigade is to carry on specific tasks as ordered or established by the Mexican Army High Command. The same mission statement applies to the battalion. And at all three levels, the mission must be done under the motto: PRECAUCION, DESCONFIANZA Y REACCION (Precaution, distrust and reaction).

Military Police Corps: Line Units

Grupo Aeromovil de Fuerzas Especiales – Military Police Corps

1st Military Police Brigade, Temamatla
General HQ Group
HHC company
1st MP BN
2nd MP BN
3rd MP BN

2nd Military Police Brigade, Military Camp No.37-D Santa Lucia, Mexico DF HQ Group
HHC company
4th MP BN
5th MP BN
6th MP BN

3rd Military Police Brigade, Military Camp No.1-A Mexico DF. HQ Group
HHC Company
7th MP BN
9th MP BN
10th MP BN

Guardias Presidenciales, Military Police
1st and 2nd MP Battalions of the Presidential Guard

Immediate Reaction Force
3RD MP BDE.
1st MP BN/1st MP BDE.
1st Special Ops Bn.
2nd Special Ops Bn.
3rd Special Ops Bn.

MP Companies Attached to the Following Territorial Forces:

I REGION MILITAR – Federal District
1 ZM – Tacubaya, FD
22 ZM – Toluca, Mexico
23 ZM – Panotla, Tlax.
24 ZM – Cuernavaca, Morelia
37 ZM – Santa Lucia, Mexico

II REGION MILITAR – Mexicali, Baja California
2 ZM – Tijuana, Baja California
3 ZM – La Paz, Baja California
4 ZM – Hermosillo, Sonora
40 ZM – Guerrero Negro, BCS

III REGION MILITAR – Mazatlan, Sinaloa
9 ZM – Culiacan, Sinaloa
10 ZM – Durango, Dgo.

IV REGION MILITAR – Tancol, Tamperico
7 ZM -Escobedo, NL
12 ZM – San Luis Potosi, SLP
8 ZM – Reynosa, Tamps

V REGION MILITAR – Guadalajara, Jalisco
11ZM – Guadalupe, Zac
14 ZM – Aguas Calientes, Ags
15 ZM – La Morena, Jalisco
20 ZM – Colima, Col
41 ZM – Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

VI REGION MILITAR – La Boticaria, Varacruz
13ZM -Tepic, Nayarit
18 ZM – Pachuca, Hidalgo
19 ZM – Tuxpan, Veracruz
25 ZM – Puebla, Puebla
26 ZM – El Lencero, Veracruz

VII REGION MILITAR – Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas
30 ZM – Villahermosa, Tabasco
31 ZM – Rancho Nuevo, Hgo
36 ZM – Tapachula, Chiapas
38 ZM – Tenosique, Tabasco
39 ZM – Ocosingo, Chiapas

VIII REGION MILITAR – Ixtepec, Oaxaca
28 ZM – Ixcotel, Oaxaca
29 ZM – Minatitlan, Veracruz
44 ZM – Miahuatlan, Oaxaca

IX REGION MILITAR – Cumbres de Llano Largo, Guerrero
27 ZM – Ticui, Guerrero
35 ZM – Chilpancingo, Guerrero

X REGION MILITAR – Merida, Yucatan
32 ZM – Valladolid, Yucatan
33ZM – Campeche, Campeche
34ZM – Chetumal, Quintana Roo

XI REGION MILITAR – Torreon, Coah
5 ZM – Chihuahua, Chihuahua
6ZM – Saltillo, Coah
42 ZM – Santa Gertrudiz, Chihuahua

XII REGION MILITAR – Irapuato, Gto.
16 ZM – Sarabia, Gto.
17 ZM – Queretaro, Queretaro
21 ZM – Morelia, Michoacan
43 ZM – Apatzingan, Michoacan

MP Platoons Attached to the Following Military Garrisons:

BAJA CALIFORNIA:1. Military Garrison Cipres
2. Mil. Gar. Tecate
3. Mil. Gar. San Felipe

SONORA:
4.Mil. Gar. San Luis Colorado
5. Mil. Gar. Nogales
6. Mil. Gar. Agua Prieta
7. Mil. Gar. Sonoyta

CHIHUAHUA:
8. Mil. Gar. Ciudad Juarez
9. Mil. Gar. Ojinaga
10. Mil. Gar. Palomas

COAHLINGA:
11. Mil. Gar. Acuña
12. Mil. Gar. Piedras Negras

TAMPERICO:
13. Mil. Gar. Nuevo Laredo
14. Mil. Gar. Matamoros

COLIMA:
15. Mil. Gar. Manzanillo

MICHOACAN:
16. Mil. Gar. Lazaro Cardenas

OAXACA:
17. Mil. Gar. Puerto Escondido

VERACRUZ:
18. Mil. Gar. Coatzacoalcos

CHIAPAS:
19. Mil. Gar. San Cristobal de las Casas
20. Mil. Gar. Palenque
21. Mil. Gar. Comitan de Dominguez

QUINTANA ROO:
22. Mil. Gar. Cozumel
23. Mil. Gar. Cancun

JALISCO:
24. Mil. Gar. Melaque