Background

For 18 years the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds (YPG) made special arrangements with a group of forensic firearms examiners from Arizona and California to utilize a tracking Doppler radar system for a wide variety of exterior ballistic projects. This technology is far more than a very sophisticated chronograph. It is capable of tracking small arms projectiles out to several thousand yards. Depending on the operator’s wishes, the data acquired by the system can provide 3-coordinate positional and velocity information for the projectile at millisecond intervals. Moreover, drag and deceleration (negative acceleration) data in both tabular and graphic forms are generated for each shot. All of these combined provide great insight into the exterior ballistic performance and behavior of the projectile at any point in time or space as well as the overall flight of the projectile. Downrange velocity at most any point in time or distance throughout a projectile’s flight is probably the most popular parameter generated from which traditional ballistic coefficient values can be derived. These values can then be used with most contemporary exterior ballistic programs for PCs to carry out computations of interest to the user. The BC values derived from actual test firings can also be compared to published values for the same bullet. Here one is apt to discover the influence of marketing in some manufacturers’ listings.

Additional capabilities of ballistic tracking radar systems include the determination of maximum range for small arms projectiles, the velocity of falling bullets, the velocity loss experienced by ricocheting bullets, bullets that perforate selected materials (e.g., glass, wood, sheet metal, dry wall) and the subsequent exterior ballistic behavior of the departing bullets. The results of many of these tests have been published in scientific journals such as that of the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners by one of the authors (Haag).

A Useful Example

The following description and practical application of ballistic Doppler radar to a relatively new 5.56mm military cartridge, the Mk262 Mod.1 5.56mm cartridge, should be of value in understanding and appreciating the capabilities of this technology. This cartridge is loaded with a 77-gr Sierra JHP-BT MatchKing target bullet. The ammunition fired and tracked out to 1,500 yards at the Yuma Proving Grounds was loaded by Black Hills Ammunition, lot number BLH03F024-001. Figure 1 provides a visual comparison between the traditional 5.56mm service bullets, the Mk262 Mod. 1 bullet and the parent Sierra bullet from which the Mk262 came. The proprietary ball powder loaded in these cartridges produced an average muzzle velocity of 2,885 f/s from a 20-inch AR-15 with a 1 in 7-inch twist and 2,740 f/s from a 16.5-inch AR-15 with a 1 in 9-inch twist. Figure 2 shows the special fixture at the Yuma Proving Grounds for securing rifles at specific departure and azimuth angles. The tracking antenna can be seen in the background. Figure 3 provides a composite plot of 3 shots from a 20-inch, 1 in 7 twist AR-15. Figure 4 shows a composite plot of 3 shots from a 16.5-inch AR-15 with the 1 in 9-inch twist along with other data of interest. This type of plot may not be familiar to many readers consequently some explanation is warranted. It is a plot of the drag coefficient (CD) calculated by the system’s software vs. Mach Number and reads from right to left. Mach 1 represents the speed of sound under the site conditions at the time of the test and has been flagged with a vertical red line. Those readers who wish to gain a greater understanding of drag coefficient are urged to use the Internet for a wealth of information well beyond the scope of this article. (Try RSI-Exterior Ballistic Coefficients) Suffice it here to say that a properly designed, properly manufactured and properly spin-stabilized bullet will display a smooth and regular ‘S’-shaped plot over the supersonic, trans-sonic and sub-sonic regions. There is a specific shape and series of CD values for each projectile design and weight.

The reader should take away several interesting observations from Figure 3 and Figure 4. First of all the 1 in 9 twist barrel was able to spin stabilize this rather long bullet. In fact, based on these very limited tests of 3 shots each, it did a slightly better job of doing so than the 1 in 7 twist barrel. This came as a surprise since Sierra Bullets notes “7 to 8” twist only” on their component box for this bullet. Secondly, the calculated G1 BC values in the supersonic region were quite different than in the subsonic region. This is because the shape of this bullet bears little resemblance to the Standard G1 bullet upon which nearly every contemporary exterior ballistics program is based. This is also the reason why Sierra Bullets provides users of their EB programs with multiple BCs over specific velocity regimes.

The Issue at Hand

This project evaluated a claim purportedly coming out of Iraq by U.S. troops that M855 bullets become very unstable and inaccurate after sustained, full automatic fire (100 to 200 rounds) when fired from an FN Minimi/M249 5.56mm Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). The prevailing theory was that the purported instability was a consequence of these bullets acquiring molten cores due to the high temperatures acquired by these bullets when fired through a very hot barrel. No hard evidence existed however as to either of these claims i.e., instability after sustained full-auto fire and/or molten cores being the cause of such instability. On the other hand, F.W. Mann in his classic 1909 book, The Bullet’s Flight from Powder to Target, showed that the lead immediately next to the jacket of lead core jacketed .30-caliber rifle bullets becomes momentarily melted from the transference of frictional heating of the bullet jacket during its journey through the bore. He demonstrated this by drilling a small hole through bullet jackets near the base of 220-gr, .30-caliber jacketed bullets and firing them through multiple cardstock witness panels located at selected distances in front of the test rifle (a .30-40 Krag). Figure 5 reproduced from this book illustrate the results of multiple shots by Dr. Mann. Deposits of vaporous lead can easily be seen at one side of the bullet holes in the witness panels. More recently Haag and Thompson demonstrated what they called the vortex effect for certain thinly jacketed pistol bullets. With these bullets, molten and vaporous lead emerged from slits in these bullets’ jackets and produced spiral patterns at close ranges using a particular brand of ammunition. This was due to the rifling cutting through the jacketing and exposing the lead core to the frictional and thermal effects of firing. The lead at these sites and immediately below the bullet jacket was, in fact emerging in a molten state as proven by an examination of the deposits under a scanning electron microscope. Figure 6 provides two examples of such patterns around bullet holes produced in cardstock at close range by two bullets from a large caliber right twist pistol.

The FN Minimi/M249 5.56mm SAW

The firearm used in this experiment is worthy of some description and opinion by the authors. It is a Belgian manufactured (as opposed to the American or other licensee) FN Minimi, which is the FN firm’s name for what we in America call the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon. Developed over many years from a design attributed to F.N.’s Ernest Vervier, it is a relatively early production model, as was used by American military forces in Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait and Iraq in 1991. It has the fixed position barrel carrying handle, exposed barrel fore end, floating spring loaded feed cover, tubular butt stock, and the 2 position, adjustable gas system of the early American issue model. It weighs 14.5 lbs. (6.5kg) unloaded, overall length is 39.75 inches (101cm.), with a barrel length of 18.43 inches (46.85 cm.). The cyclic rate for this early model was listed as 750 rpm to 1,250 rpm, depending on the gas system position selected and numerous other varying factors. These include lubrication of the action, amount of powder residue/jacket fouling in the gas system, number of rounds in the belt or magazine at a given moment, degree of chamber polish which affects frictional resistance to cartridge case extraction, and most importantly, the individual characteristics of cartridges being used, including bullet weight, powder type and charge, primer variation and case metallurgy. The mounting system/operator firing position used, ambient temperature and other external factors, also contribute to average cyclic rate in an individual situation. So any cyclic rate figure given should be taken as a general guideline and not as a fixed figure, for any full automatic firearm, much like E.P.A. gas mileage estimates on an individual automobile. When researched for this article, the Minimi/M249 was being used by the armed forces of at least 45 different nations.

This particular FN Minimi was purchased from Ohio Ordnance some years ago, reportedly having been sold to Israel originally and Israel having subsequently sold it to Ohio Ordnance, who reconditioned it. The barrel is chambered for the SS109 variant of the 5.56x45mm cartridge, of which the U.S. military designation is M855. The M855 bullet weighs 62 grains and is intended to be stabilized by the barrel’s 1 in 7 inch twist. The older M193 variant of this cartridge, firing the 55 grain bullet, can be fired with this twist, but accuracy is theoretically lessened, as the 55 grain bullet was intended for the 1 in 12 inch twist. But at realistic ranges, that the impact of the bullets can be noted, (which mostly does not exceed distances in excess of 300 meters), the theoretical accuracy differences noted are negligible, particularly when fired from the bipod, or offhand. The open bolt design of the Minimi/M249 SAW together with the mid-barrel point mounting position of the bipod, causes considerable dispersion of bullet impacts, greater than the width and height of a standing man’s body, at more than submachine gun ranges, unless the M249/Minimi is shot from a tight, weighted, or firmly dug in tripod. This matter of relative accuracy depends more on operator skill and the range from the shooter to target engaged, than any other factor. Examining the finely calibrated rear sight on the M249 might lead someone not experienced with this machine gun, to believe that these sights and their calibration selected can make much of a difference in accuracy, at 300 meters or less distance. But experience in firing offhand or from the bipod has shown the rear sight design to be mostly wishful thinking. With the more than adequate sighting radius of the Minimi/M249 standard model, taken with the barrel weight and sight design, one wonders why a trigger/sear system that would have given closed bolt operation on semiautomatic and open bolt operation on full automatic, (like the 70 year old Johnson and German FG42 automatic rifle designs), might not have been featured in this design, (or any design), of squad automatic weapon: especially as the Minimi/M249 seems to be issued as an individual and not a crew served weapon. And the ammunition an individual dismounted soldier can carry is finite. Anyone shooting this class of firearm, who wants to hit a small target at distance, with a minimum of cartridges expended, can understand this question and the need for accurate single shots.

The Minimi/M249 can be fired from either the M16 box magazine (which increases the cyclic rate noticeably), or from an M27 disintegrating link belt that is intended for use from a 200 round box or pouch, as well as from special Beta C magazines designed for this machine gun. Besides the experiment noted in this article, the authors have fired this particular Minimi/M249 over several years, somewhere between 5 to 10 thousand rounds total, with irregular cleaning, lubrication and barrel changes, various commercial and military manufacture ammunition used, of both the M855 and M193 type, including tracer and ball, steel and brass case construction with offhand and prone bipod firing positions used, and usually with large amounts of Arizona desert airborne dust and/or sand present. Having read many complaints about reliability issues on the Internet coming from Iraq and Afghanistan, we can report that this Fabrique Nationale in Herstal, Belgium, Minimi/M249’s reliability has been excellent, with no memorable stoppages or parts breakage in this author’s (Greenberg) experience.

Procedure at the Yuma Proving Grounds

The initial cold bore shots were fired through author Greenberg’s FN Minimi/M249 equipped with a new, chrome-lined barrel at an ambient temperature of approximately 72 degrees F. This FN-manufactured barrel had a twist rate of 1 turn in 7 inches. The lead photo on page 38 shows Idan Greenberg firing the FN Minimi/M249 assisted by David Fisher. Mr. Fisher’s role was to insure that the ammunition belt fed correctly and without any stoppages for the lengthy full-automatic discharges.

The ammunition employed in these tests was U.S. military M855 ammunition manufactured at the Lake City facility in 2000 (lot number LC-00B106-438). The projectiles loaded in these cartridges consist of a 62-gr. FMJ-BT gilding metal jacketed bullets with lead cores and hardened steel penetrators in the tips. This bullet can be seen in Figure 1. Two good radar tracks were obtained and a subsequent inspection of the data files showed that these “cold bore” bullets were well stabilized.

Several LC M855 bullets were also fired through a thin (0.015” thick) white cardstock witness panel to produce ‘normal’ bullet holes for later comparison and chemical testing with a specific chemical reagent for lead known as sodium rhodizonate. This reagent will react with traces of lead around the margin of a bullet hole producing a bright pink color. If molten or vaporous lead were to emanate from the open base of a “hot bullet,” a foggy deposit of vaporous lead would appear around the bullet hole. To look for this and any evidence of bullet instability, a second cardstock witness panel was positioned down range as a ‘target’ for the full automatic bursts.

A disintegrating belt was loaded with 100 rounds of ammunition and fired without stoppages in full-automatic fire. Immediately following this, a magazine with a single round of LC M855 ammunition was inserted in the gun, fired and tracked with the Doppler radar system. Radar tracking and subsequent data was obtained for this hot bore shot.

A second 100-round belt of ammunition was fired through the gun as soon as the radar operator was satisfied that he had acquired and stored the data from the first ‘hot bore’ shot. This required about 30 seconds. After this second full-auto burst of 100 rounds, another single round of LC M855 ammunition discharged and the bullet tracked with the Doppler radar.

The external barrel temperature just forward of the chamber was measured with a Model 42529 Extech infrared sensing device. This indicated an external surface temperature of 580(F within 1-2 minutes after the second 100-round burst.

The perforated cardstock witness panels from these shots (normal, cold bore vs. full-auto bursts) were subsequently examined for any evidence of bullet yaw and then treated with the sodium rhodizonate reagent on site in an effort to detect any corona of separated or molten lead from the cores of these bullets. No evidence of bullet instability or vaporous lead leaking out of the open bases of these bullets was detected with this highly sensitive reagent.

Exterior Ballistic Results

No stoppages occurred during the two, 100-round full auto bursts. A PACT timer showed a cyclic rate of 708 rounds per minute for the first burst and 697 RPM for the second burst. The discharge of the first 100 rounds required 8.386 seconds. The second burst required 8.517 seconds. The highest and lowest shot-to-shot intervals were 0.092 seconds and 0.060 seconds respectively.

The rate of fire noticeably increased towards the end of the belt as resistance to its passage through the action of the gun due to lessening drag and weight. Good radar tracks (reliable data) were obtained for both ‘hot barrel’ shots. Plots of Drag Coefficient vs. Mach Number for these two shots were compared to the two ambient temperature shots. This graphic is reproduced here as Figure 8. Figure 9 shows a combined plot of Deceleration vs. Time for these four shots. Both of these graphics reveal very little difference in exterior ballistic performance for the two bullets from a cold bore vs. the two bullets from a very hot bore. In fact, the “hot” bullets appeared to perform very slightly better as they approached Mach 1 than the “cold” bullets. This is reflected in the calculated ballistic coefficient values given below.

An inspection of the ‘cold bore’ and ‘hot bore’ data files revealed only a slight difference in muzzle velocities between the cold bore shots (3,038 f/s and 3,058 f/s) and the ‘hot bore’ shots (3,093 f/s and 3,099 f/s).

The effect G1 ballistic coefficients for these bullets were calculated over the distance between 45 meters downrange and 600 meters downrange and are incorporated in Figure 8. The average value for the 4 shots was 0.293. The literature value given for the Speer 62-gr. FMJ-BT (SS109 bullets manufactured by IMI) in the Sierra Infinity-6 program is 0.307. This is not a significant difference. The calculated 300-yard velocity for this bullet launched under standard conditions with a muzzle velocity of 2,800 fps using the published 0.307 BC value yields 1,976 fps. The same calculation with using a BC of 0.293 produces a 300-yard velocity of 1,941 fps and a point of impact 0.32-inches low.

Summary

The notion or suggestion that standard issue lead core military ammunition fired from this 5.56mm squad automatic weapon (SAW) becomes unstable after sustained full-automatic fire was not born out by these tests. No degradation in exterior ballistic performance; and clearly no molten or vaporous lead emerged from the open bases of these bullets after sustained full-automatic fire of 100 to 200 rounds of service ammunition.

References

Mann, F.W., The Bullet’s Flight from Powder to Target (republished by Wolfe Publishing, Prescott, AZ (1980) plate 38 p. 333

Haag, L.C. and E. Thompson, “Comet Tail / Vortex Effect”, AFTE Jour. 41:3 (Summer 2009) pp. 257-267

Lucien C. Haag is a Criminalist/Forensic Firearm Examiner at Forensic Science Services, Inc. in Carefree, AZ

Idan Greenberg is a Firearms Adviser in Phoenix, AZ

“You’ve got Rangers all over … doing the exact same thing for God and country, that never see each other. When we go to fight the war we fight in small elements. It’s a rare opportunity you get to see your brethren and take time to get to know one another and celebrate all that you’ve done….” Major Rob Schultz of Headquarters, 75th Ranger Regiment, in a USASOC news release

When nearly a thousand of your best buddies drop in one evening for a visit, you can bet one helluva party is gonna follow.

This is just what happened on the 6th of August, 2007 at historic Fort Benning, Georgia, home of the US Army’s Infantry Branch and headquarters of the 75th Ranger Regiment. The next three days were filled with all the rugged Ranger-theme competitions, events and activities that have come to characterize Ranger Rendezvous over a period of twenty years. Not a party in the way most folks define the word, but an officially sanctioned biennial gathering of elite US Army Rangers past, present and even some likely future Rangers.

Intended to foster esprit de corps within this proud warrior brotherhood that traces its lineage back more than three centuries, well before Robert Rogers’ Rangers of the French and Indian War, the Rendezvous also provides outsiders with unique opportunities. Because most Rendezvous activities are open to the public, it is a rare chance for non-Rangers to get a close look at these necessarily secretive men, along with their highly lethal weapons and exotic, specialized equipment.

So SAR made attendance a priority, courtesy of an invitation from the 75th Ranger Regiment and personally escorted by Carol Darby-Jones, US Army Special Operations Command’s Public Affairs Officer, as well as Tracy Bailey, the Regimental PAO. Thanks to special arrangements by these friendly and energetic ladies, we were privileged to get right in the middle of the action and to speak “on the record” with some selected Rangers.

Vertical Envelopment

Ranger Rendezvous 2007 kicked off on Monday evening with a spectacular mass tactical airborne operation over Benning’s Fryar Drop Zone. Not for show, mind you, but for tangible training value to everyone involved including highly professional USAF aircrews and all varieties of Airborne Rangers from the Regiment’s 1st and 3rd Battalions. 2nd Battalion, with home base at Fort Lewis, Washington, is currently deployed at undisclosed locations overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Diving headfirst out of a turboprop MC-130P Hercules Combat Shadow provided by the US Air Force’s 9th Special Operations Command, Ranger Pathfinders HALO’d in under crescent shaped ram-air chutes nimbly steered to pinpoint landings, quickly setting up ground-to-air communications. It was their job to begin directing waves of the Air Force’s giant C-17 Globemaster transports, as well as more C-130s, each crammed with Rangers in full battle gear. Flying at precise intervals and trailing at altitudes set like ascending stair steps, the lumbering aircraft efficiently disgorged more than 700 Rangers in short order, filling the hot and thickly humid evening air with translucent green canopies.

Once on the ground, the Rangers lost no time rolling up their parachutes and moving out smartly to designated rally points at the perimeter of the enormous DZ, just like in a real combat operation. Sure, doctrine calls for all this to be done under cover of darkness, but where would they get enough night vision goggles for the enormous crowd of spectators and news media reps who all wanted to see the drop?

Regimental Run

The next day started in typical Ranger fashion at the proverbial “O Dark-Thirty” with a Regimental formation on Peyden Field. Gone are the bad old days of running in fatigues and jump boots. Uniformly clad in distinctive black shorts and RANGER tee shirts with running shoes of their personal choice, companies and battalions formed up in the steaming pre-dawn darkness for the prescribed limbering up exercises then took off at a faster than double time pace for a three mile run. The long, living ribbon of Rangers snaked through Benning to the sound of traditional cadence calls, reinforcing warrior spirit in the chanters and providing something of a warning to those who would foolishly tangle with these superbly conditioned and highly motivated fighters.

The Army’s Premier Raid Force
By 75th Ranger Regiment Public Affairs Office

The 75th Ranger Regiment is a lethal, agile and flexible force, capable of executing a myriad of complex, joint special operations missions in support of US policy and objectives. Today’s Ranger Regiment is the Army’s premier raid force. Each of the three geographically dispersed Ranger Battalions is always combat ready, mentally and physically tough and prepared to fight the Long War. Their capabilities include air assault and direct action raids seizing key terrain such as airfields, destroying strategic facilities, and capturing or killing enemies of the Nation. Rangers are capable of conducting squad through regimental size operations using a variety of infiltration techniques including airborne, air assault and ground platforms. The Regiment remains an all-volunteer force with an intensive screening and selection process followed by combat-focused training. Rangers are resourced to maintain exceptional proficiency, experience and readiness. The 75th Ranger Regiment is a proud unit and a team of teams serving the nation – Rangers lead the way.

Run, Sweat, Shoot, and Drag

There was no rest for the weary afterward, at least among those who were competitors in the Stress Shoot. Arguably the most Ranger-like event of the gathering’s several competitions, this demanding test of physical conditioning and marksmanship skills harshly measures each team’s performance under simulated combat conditions.

Because the typically brutal Georgia summer heat and humidity were forecast to top 100 degrees by noon, the Stress Shoot began way earlier than scheduled. By 0800 hours, many of the Regiment’s three man teams had already completed the prescribed run, sweat, shoot and drag.

Our Ranger host for this event, Sergeant Myles Grantham of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, told us that the timed and scored event has its start point way back in the Regimental area, a mile from where we were on Farnsworth Range, site of the live fire portion. The clock starts on each team in turn as they take off at a dead run, burdened by the “battle rattle” of weapons, body armor and gear.

Not surprisingly, all the teams we observed arrived at the range with lungs heaving and sweat pouring, moving right up to the first set of a series of three plywood barriers simulating various typical fighting positions. Closely supervised by fellow Rangers acting as lane coaches, they slammed magazines into their special M4A1 SOPMOD carbines, now lethally loaded with standard green tipped ball 5.56mm M855 ammo. Then, taking up required shooting stances from standing to prone, they do their best to put well aimed shots into stationary E-Type silhouettes set a various distances.

It’s up to each Ranger to decide what day sight he wants to use from among the standard issue types, Grantham noted, including traditional iron aperture and post, no-magnification electronic red dot, or the four power ACOG. Each has advantages and disadvantages given the nature of the shooting conditions and we saw all types in use.

All members of the team must have finished firing the allotted number of rounds and cleared their weapons before they are allowed to run forward, pressing their simulated assault from the next set of plywood positions. Grantham pointed out the tough tradeoff between elapsed time and hits on target, but also noted the core Ranger value of teamwork as a major factor. Some are fast and others are precise. Together they get the job done.

Immediately after the last rounds are fired and magazines removed, each Ranger’s carbine gets a cleaning rod down the barrel to verify it as clear and safe. The team runs to the side of the range and each man harnesses up the pull ropes of a SKEDCO drag bag, heavily burdened with several 5 gallon cans of water to simulate the weight of a wounded comrade. The finish line is 50 meters away and the pull requires a tremendous amount of leg strength and stamina. The unrelenting stopwatch doesn’t halt until the last of the three makes it across the line.

We are pleased to announce that the winning team for this year’s Stress Shoot represents C Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Their hard work and skill were rewarded with a trophy.

Guns and Gear

Early completion of the Stress Shoot worked out fine for us because we got extra time at the Ranger Open House, set up outside the impressive headquarters building for the 75th Ranger Regiment. This display was a 24 karat gold mine for the specialized guns and gear that are usually hidden from public view and jealously guarded from the prying eyes of the news media and other suspected or known adversaries.

But, under the watchful eye of USASOC PAO Carol Darby-Jones, we were given nearly free rein to photograph the real stuff on display and to talk with the stalwart Rangers who had brought their workplace tools to the show. Our earlier conversations back at the Stress Shoot with Ranger Sergeant Myles Grantham, a combat-experienced sniper, sent us on a beeline for the precision rifles table, ably manned by a pair of his sniper buddies from HHC of the 3rd Battalion.

Sergeants Jake Attebery and Staff Sergeant Robert Shoup good-naturedly displayed their .50 caliber Barrett M107, a 7.62mm Knight’s MK11 Mod 0, and the exotic MK13, custom built around a Remington 700 bolt action receiver chambered for the undeniably efficient .300 Win Mag cartridge. Their day sights, night sights, suppressors, spotting scopes, and plenty more were right there on display, prompting more than one visiting Ranger veteran to offer observations on how things have certainly changed for the better since way back when.

Less precise in application but far more lethal on a wider scale and longer range are the Regiment’s mortars, sized from 60mm to a whopping 120mm. This is all the Regiment has in the way of organic artillery, necessarily so given mobility requirements. If heavier firepower is needed then backup is usually supplied by various supporting aircraft that are part of a combined arms force tailored for particular missions.

The 40mm Mark 19 grenade machine gun, a veteran of the Vietnam War, has been recently replaced in the Regiment by the 40mm MK47 Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher, a high tech bomblet chunker boasting a computerized fire control system with integrated day and night sights for much greater first round and subsequent hit probability day or night.

Conspicuously absent from the display were the 84mm M3 Carl Gustav multipurpose recoilless rifle, the Javelin antiarmor system and the Stinger antiaircraft missile launcher. Each of these tactical tubes is uniquely suited for specialized tasks by the fast moving and hard-hitting Rangers, representing essential offensive and defensive capabilities for a wide variety of missions. It’s not as if there were secrets to keep as all are listed on publicly posted fact sheets.

The ubiquitous and highly regarded .50 caliber M2HB and 7.62mm M240B machine guns, standard throughout the US Armed Forces, were prominently mounted on a brand spanking new M1113 Special Operations Ground Mobility Vehicle. This is an even more robust and powerful version of the workhorse HMMWV, newly fitted with a turbocharged diesel engine and custom configured with plenty of extra stowage racks for all that ammo, fuel, water, food and gear needed in deep penetration raids.

Because both of the belt guns on the GMV are too heavy for efficient dismounted missions, today’s Rangers are blessed with a pair of machine guns that were developed by US Special Operations Command specifically for the Navy’s SEAL teams. Replacing the Army’s standard M249 SAW in the Regiment is the 5.56mm MK46, a smaller, lighter, more rugged and reliable upgrade of the same weapon. And for times when it is desirable to have a 7.62mm belt gun that can be carried by one man, the MK48 is now in the Ranger arsenal. Often called a “SAW on steroids,” the 48 is essentially a beefed-up version of the MK46 to handle the heavier-hitting, longer-ranging round.

Sidearms and shotguns were also laid out for inspection, inviting a closer look at the pairing of a standard 9mm Beretta M9 next to the unmistakably boxy profile of a Glock 19 sporting a day tactical light. Seems “certain Rangers” get the Glock – surprisingly chambered for the same puny 9mm round – while most others carry Berettas. Our guess is that this has something to do with reliability since terminal effects with GI issue ball ammo are the same. All this could change in the not too distant future when and if USSOCOM makes good on its on-again, off-again intent to find and field the best new handgun and cartridge combo.

Rangers are believed to be the only ones in the Army to have been issued the M1014 shotgun, originally intended to replace nearly all 12 gauge scatterguns in the US Armed Forces. No sign of the M1014 at the display but that’s OK because there was a really mean looking chopped down scattergun complete with Pachmayr Vindicator pistol grip, Picatinny rail on top and sidesaddle shell carrier. This ultra compact breaching blaster is one of the handiest versions we’ve seen of Remington’s superlative 870 slide action classic.

SCAR Sighting

Seems the Regiment is in the process of evaluating the 5.56mm FN SCAR-L, recently fielded with Navy Special Warfare units including elite SEAL teams. Someone thought it would be a nice touch to bring one of the test guns over for the Open House display; most likely because anything “new and improved” ought to be proudly shown.

The SCAR-L dispenses with the hot and dirty direct gas system of the M16 family in favor of a cool and clean gas piston.

If the 75th decides at some point to replace its M4s with SCAR-L, or the HK416, known to be in use by the Army’s officially non-existent Operational Detachment Delta, that will be BIG news throughout the US Armed Forces and beyond.

Commo Check

We’re gun guys, not real smart but at least smart enough to know that C3I – command, control, communications, and intelligence – are absolutely essential combat multipliers. Reluctantly leaving the weapons displays behind, we moved over to check out the really high tech stuff. Imagine joining the Rangers, going through all that parachute qualification, snake eating, mud crawling, and other character building qualification training, then getting assigned to sit behind a computer screen. Cushy job? Think again….

Sure, a high level Ranger operation uses a bunch of really impressive stuff like SATCOM rigs, hardened computers, whiz-bang digital battlefield displays, encrypted burst long range transceivers, and much more. But they’re designed to travel light, fast and rough, and be used in what is euphemistically known as “austere environments.” So your dream job as a Ranger REMF has the hard reality of freezing cold, blazing heat, driving rain, ravenous insects, cold MREs, round-the-clock operation with no sleep, and the very real possibility of getting your butt shot off while tapping on a keyboard. Still interested?

Our favorite high tech gear among the gadget goodies on display was the little RQ-11 Raven, a battery powered miniature spy plane that sends back radio-linked real-time video to a laptop computer. Its Ranger “pilot” uses a video-game joystick controller to fly the thing out for a bird’s eye peek at what the bad guys are doing, simultaneously sending the imagery to any of several levels of command. Yes, it’s been around for awhile and the Regiment has some other eye in the sky recon robots that they didn’t choose to reveal, but that doesn’t minimize its value in real-world operations.

Ranger Sports

While we were getting our guns ‘n gear fix in the shade of the canopy covered display, one helluva lot of Rangers were out “playing,” most in the direct sun and hundred degree heat. On athletic fields at various locations around the Regimental area groups of Rangers faced off in friendly but fierce competition, representing their units in traditional sports like football, softball and tug-of-war. All in a day’s work for these men who take tremendous pride in physical and mental toughness in any environment.

But the biggest crowds gathered later that afternoon in Hanger 301 at Lawson Airfield for the Combatives Tournament, a Ranger smackdown with all the ferocious intensity of Ultimate Fighting but geared toward motivating military warriors. While the Army has long promoted hand-to-hand combat training using a variety of martial arts techniques, Combatives takes the concept to its highest level. Instead of teaching specific techniques in a controlled situation, Ranger-style Combatives puts the emphasis on real fights between individuals. Yeah, they’re supposed to hold back just a little bit so as not to seriously injure each other, but few see much evidence of that.

Cheered on by nearly 2,000 spectators, Rangers in six weight classes tore into each other with relentless punches, kicks, elbows and choke holds. Winners emerged decisively when their opponents had been brought to the mat, sometimes bloodied but, amazingly, fit enough to fight again.

Sergeant Treybutt Hull, quoted in a USASOC news report from the Rendezvous, reflected on emerging as Regimental champion in the 140 pound weight class. “You know it’s all about farther, faster and fight harder!” the 1st Battalion Ranger said.

Honors and Ceremonies

While it is hard for outsiders to fully appreciate the importance of formal ceremonies to those in the military brotherhood, even clueless onlookers were moved by the solemnity and reverence that accompanied several events on Wednesday and Thursday. The first, recognizing outstanding accomplishments while assigned to the Regiment or providing it support, saw induction of seven Distinguished and three Honorary members of the 75th Ranger Regiment. This was soon followed by another to induct fifteen Distinguished and two Honorary members of the Ranger Hall of Fame.

Thursday, the last day of the Rendezvous, dawned with more of the same typically hot, muggy and hazy Georgia summer weather. The ultimate sacrifice paid by Ranger brothers of the distant, more recent and immediate past was honored that morning at the Ranger Memorial with the laying of floral wreaths, three precision volleys of blank fire, and somber reflection during the haunting and mournful bugle notes of “Taps.”

Finally, in the lengthening shadows of early evening at Sergeant Alvin York Field, the Regiment formed up for a Change of Command. There, precisely adhering to ceremony dictated by hundreds of years of US Army tradition and protocol, Colonel Richard D. Clarke accepted the Regimental Colors, taking command of the 75th Ranger Regiment following the distinguished service of Colonel Paul J. LaCamera.

Find Out More

No man can know with certainty what will happen in the 75th Ranger Regiment over the two years that will pass before Ranger Rendezvous 2009. But let there be no doubt that these brave and dedicated men are determined to uphold tradition and gather once again. We suggest the following internet references for detailed information on the Regiment and, at some point in the future, an announcement of dates and location of the next Rendezvous:

• 75th Ranger Regiment Official Website: www.benning.army.mil/75thranger/index.asp
• Ranger Recruiting: www.goarmy.com/ranger/index.jsp
• 75th Ranger Regiment Association: 75thrra.com
• US Army Ranger Association: www.ranger.org

Next Month

The US Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment, under operational control of the US Special Operations Command, is a unique combat asset, proven absolutely necessary and undeniably effective in a long list of wartime and covert missions. In the next issue we’ll take a close look at Ranger training, weapons and equipment.

Although the Mk 46 Mod 0 superficially resembles FN’s Para and SPW Models, it is again different from these Minimi versions. The modifications to the Mk 46 Mod 0 reduced its weight by 3.9 lbs in comparison to a standard M249. The major differences between the Mk 46 Mod 0 and the standard M249 are as follows:

• The Mk 46 Mod 0 barrel is much shorter than that of the M249.
• The Mk 46 Mod 0 lacks the magazine feed of the M249.
• There is no provision for vehicle or tripod mounting.
• The gas regulation system has been eliminated and replaced with a simplified “monobloc” system.
• There are MIL-STD-1913 rails atop the receiver and a rail system is fitted to the handguard for mounting accessories.
• The Mk 46 Mod 0 flash suppressor is identical to that of the M4 SOPMOD Carbine. This flash suppressor accepts standard military issue noise suppressors (silencers).
• The carrying handle has been eliminated.
• The Mk 46 Mod 0 is Teflon coated for corrosion resistance and to provide dry lubrication.
• The rear sling attachment point has been moved forward to facilitate “across the chest” carry.

We visited FN Manufacturing in Columbia, South Carolina to test fire the Mk46 and were very favorably impressed with the latest addition to the US military’s small arms inventory. Eliminating the requirement for magazine feed apparently significantly increased the reliability of the FN light machine gun. We did not experience a single stoppage while firing approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Changing belts was as simple as sliding a new container into place and positioning the new belt in the feed tray. As mentioned, there is no provision to manually remove the barrels; they will simply be dropped under operational conditions.

Firing the Mk 46 was uneventful and thus quite enjoyable, although muzzle blast was pronounced, as can be expected from any short barreled weapon. Since the Mk 46 is equipped to accept the Navy’s standard suppressor, (From Knight’s Armament Company), however, this probably will not be an operational problem, as the gun will almost certainly be deployed with suppressor in place. The Mk 46 was easy to control; bursts were easily kept in the five to seven round range and muzzle rise was minimal. Although fieldstripping is somewhat lengthy in terms of the number of steps involved, the task is actually quite simple in practice.

In sum, our time spent with the new Mark 46 version of FN’s MINIMI was a very pleasant experience. The gun was lightweight, simple and easy to use and absolutely reliable during our brief experience with it. It seems that the U.S. Navy has a winner!