* If the U.S. Army adopted the ACU around 2006, do SOFs or regular infantry still wear the tri-color DCUs? How about the tan Nomex aviator suit?
* For militia, tribesmen, VIP bodyguards, and PMCs, what is the most common weapon seen in the world: AK-47, AKM, M-16, FN-FAL, MP5, M9, M1911, AKS? Would geographic location factor in, such as more G3s seen in South America and more AKs seen in Africa?
* What is the best generic 1/35 figure for a militia or VIP bodyguard? (I can't seem to find the 1/35 Warriors African T-55 Crew figures anymore).
* Did the SR16 ever see service anywhere?
Thanks!
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Modern Guns and Uniforms Questions
Trisaw
Joined: December 24, 2002
KitMaker: 4,105 posts
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Posted: Thursday, December 12, 2013 - 09:56 AM UTC
tanknick22
Joined: February 19, 2009
KitMaker: 1,139 posts
Armorama: 1,100 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 12, 2013 - 12:04 PM UTC
the acu is issued army wide and that includes sof and infantry units, but for service in afghanistan the multi cam uniforms were issued stationg in 2011
jowady
Joined: June 12, 2006
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
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KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 683 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 12, 2013 - 04:32 PM UTC
Whether someone is in Afghanistan or North Korea or Vietnam or Syria or a Mexican Drug Cartel the AK is far and away the most common weapon. They are incredibly numerous, they are reliable (except reputedly those manufactured in North Korea) and they are easy to take care of. Some 100 million of the AK family have been produced.
HeavyArty
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 12, 2013 - 05:53 PM UTC
Quoted Text
* If the U.S. Army adopted the ACU around 2006, do SOFs or regular infantry still wear the tri-color DCUs? How about the tan Nomex aviator suit?
As the others have said, Universal Camo Pattern - UCP (green/grey digital pattern) ACUs are the norm for big Army, with those in A'stan wearing Multi-Cam (basically old-style woodland camo minus black) ACUs as the norm. Spec Ops guys can and do wear pretty much whatever uniform meets the needs of their mission. This includes modified DCUs, sand flight suits or CVC uniforms, etc., etc...
Quoted Text
* For militia, tribesmen, VIP bodyguards, and PMCs, what is the most common weapon seen in the world: AK-47, AKM, M-16, FN-FAL, MP5, M9, M1911, AKS? Would geographic location factor in, such as more G3s seen in South America and more AKs seen in Africa?
I disagree with the above about AK-47s. They may be the most prolific weapon made, but they are far from the best quality weapons. From what I have seen and experienced, professional Private Military Contractors prefer either the M4 or H&K MP5s. These are both excellent weapons and are compact for in and out of vehicle ops. Even malitias and the enemy prefer M4/M16s, when they can get their hands on them, over AKs.
Quoted Text
* What is the best generic 1/35 figure for a militia or VIP bodyguard? (I can't seem to find the 1/35 Warriors African T-55 Crew figures anymore).
New World Miniatures does some nice, generic PMCs.
So does Nato in Miniatures.
No idea on the last question.
jowady
Joined: June 12, 2006
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 683 posts
KitMaker: 1,027 posts
Armorama: 683 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 12, 2013 - 08:07 PM UTC
[quote]
Which would explain all those insurgents with AKs. I even know a few guys from 'Nam who ditched their wonderful M16s and carried AKs. It happened in Iraq as well, not all or even most of the time but it did. And I stand by my statement , if you're doing an insurgent it is extremely rare to find them carrying anything but an AK family weapon.
Quoted Text
* If the U.S. Army adopt
I disagree with the above about AK-47s. They may be the most prolific weapon made, but they are far from the best quality weapons. From what I have seen and experienced, professional Private Military Contractors prefer either the M4 or H&K MP5s. These are both excellent weapons and are compact for in and out of vehicle ops. Even malitias and the enemy prefer M4/M16s, when they can get their hands on them, over AKs.
[.
Which would explain all those insurgents with AKs. I even know a few guys from 'Nam who ditched their wonderful M16s and carried AKs. It happened in Iraq as well, not all or even most of the time but it did. And I stand by my statement , if you're doing an insurgent it is extremely rare to find them carrying anything but an AK family weapon.
HeavyArty
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 12, 2013 - 08:53 PM UTC
Quoted Text
if you're doing an insurgent it is extremely rare to find them carrying anything but an AK family weapon.
I agree with you there. Most insurgents around the world use AKs becuase the old Soviet Union handed them out like candy. That is why they are so prolific.
He wasn't asking about insurgents though, but PMCs who can afford the best weapons, which are usually M4-based ones.
Quoted Text
I even know a few guys from 'Nam who ditched their wonderful M16s and carried AKs.
Yes they did, on slim occasion. The Vietnam-era M16 is not the same weapon as the modern M16A2/M4. Early M16s had some issues, mainly with the powder and the non-chromed chamber, that made them unreliable. It also didn't help that the manufacturer and the Army said they were self-cleaning and didn't issue cleaning kits for them. These problems have been overcome in subsequent marks (A1 & A2). It is now probably the best and most reliable battle weapon in the world.
Karl187
#284
Joined: October 04, 2006
KitMaker: 3,094 posts
Armorama: 2,942 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 12, 2013 - 11:35 PM UTC
Just to chime in about AKs- both Gino and Jowady make good points- I just wanted to add that AKs tend to be much cheaper and far more readily avaliable to purchase in places were insurgents would operate. Also the Chinese (Type 56 I & II) versions are not supposed to be as good quality as many of those from the Eastern bloc and Russia.
I would also say that a lot of the PMC people seem to utilise extra equipment like sights and torches via the RIS rails on M4's etc- standard AKs cannot be easily fitted with sights and the older sights manufactured for those AKs would likely be much harder to come by than a sight or device meant for a RIS mount.
Many of the AK-47s still in use, from what I can see in most pictues, are actually AKS'- fairly similar but not completely identical.
I think the odd SKS (Chinese and Russian versions) still gets a look-in from various groups too.
I would say that, in terms of pistols, for insurgent/militia/tribesmen groups then things like the Tokarev TT-33 and the old Makarov would be much more common (and cheaper) than M9s or 1911s.
Also- about the G3- that is a pretty common weapon in non-military and military hands in some places including Africa- old FN FAL's are also fairly common out there.
While I'm on the subject of Africa, both in military and non-military groups, there is a bigger prevalence of the Type 56- both the 56 I with the fold-up bayonet mounted under the foregrip and the 56 II with the fold-up metal frame stock.
I've also seen pictures of insurgents, particularly in Afghanistan, carrying really old stuff like SMLE's. Also, I think it was in Nepal, Maoist rebel groups were known to use muskets of Napoleonic vintage- footage I saw of them was from the early 2000s.
I would also say that a lot of the PMC people seem to utilise extra equipment like sights and torches via the RIS rails on M4's etc- standard AKs cannot be easily fitted with sights and the older sights manufactured for those AKs would likely be much harder to come by than a sight or device meant for a RIS mount.
Many of the AK-47s still in use, from what I can see in most pictues, are actually AKS'- fairly similar but not completely identical.
I think the odd SKS (Chinese and Russian versions) still gets a look-in from various groups too.
I would say that, in terms of pistols, for insurgent/militia/tribesmen groups then things like the Tokarev TT-33 and the old Makarov would be much more common (and cheaper) than M9s or 1911s.
Also- about the G3- that is a pretty common weapon in non-military and military hands in some places including Africa- old FN FAL's are also fairly common out there.
While I'm on the subject of Africa, both in military and non-military groups, there is a bigger prevalence of the Type 56- both the 56 I with the fold-up bayonet mounted under the foregrip and the 56 II with the fold-up metal frame stock.
I've also seen pictures of insurgents, particularly in Afghanistan, carrying really old stuff like SMLE's. Also, I think it was in Nepal, Maoist rebel groups were known to use muskets of Napoleonic vintage- footage I saw of them was from the early 2000s.
Trisaw
Joined: December 24, 2002
KitMaker: 4,105 posts
Armorama: 2,492 posts
Posted: Friday, December 13, 2013 - 06:50 AM UTC
Thanks, guys,
Gino...where do you buy your "NATO in Miniatures" figures for the best price and customer service?
Also...is the AK-74 series as popular outside of the Russian military? I hear lots of talk of the AK-47 family, but almost no mention of any non-military foreign force using the AK-74 family.
Finally, what guns are hardly ever seen outside of military usage? I don't see non-military foreigners with FAMAS, Travor, Galil, or G36 rifles to name a few.
Thanks again.
Gino...where do you buy your "NATO in Miniatures" figures for the best price and customer service?
Also...is the AK-74 series as popular outside of the Russian military? I hear lots of talk of the AK-47 family, but almost no mention of any non-military foreign force using the AK-74 family.
Finally, what guns are hardly ever seen outside of military usage? I don't see non-military foreigners with FAMAS, Travor, Galil, or G36 rifles to name a few.
Thanks again.
AJLaFleche
Joined: May 05, 2002
KitMaker: 8,074 posts
Armorama: 3,293 posts
Posted: Friday, December 13, 2013 - 07:30 AM UTC
Quoted Text
where do you buy your "NATO in Miniatures" figures for the best price and customer service?
I'm not Gino (sounds liek an old C&W song!) but youy can find Nato in Miniature at Military Miniatures Warehouse> John provides excellent service and if a figure if it's in stock, you'll get it id a couple days. His website is pretty good about keeping up with his stock list. These kits will pretty much all run a full retail where ever you get them. Luckymodel has them, too, but delivery time is somewhat longer.
HeavyArty
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Friday, December 13, 2013 - 02:29 PM UTC
I have only bought them off of eBay. It sounds like the shop AJ gives is good though.
Karl187
#284
Joined: October 04, 2006
KitMaker: 3,094 posts
Armorama: 2,942 posts
Posted: Saturday, December 14, 2013 - 12:26 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Thanks, guys,
Gino...where do you buy your "NATO in Miniatures" figures for the best price and customer service?
Also...is the AK-74 series as popular outside of the Russian military? I hear lots of talk of the AK-47 family, but almost no mention of any non-military foreign force using the AK-74 family.
Finally, what guns are hardly ever seen outside of military usage? I don't see non-military foreigners with FAMAS, Travor, Galil, or G36 rifles to name a few.
Thanks again.
The AK-74 doesn't turn up in the Middle East or Africa as much as the AK-47/AKM- the 74 would be more expensive than an AKM and it also uses different ammunition which would present obvious problems if there was a mix of both AKM's and AK-74s.
Also- the prevalence of the 47 over the 74 can also be put down to the fact that many countries produced variants of the AK-47/AKM- Nigeria, Egypt, Iraq, Romania, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia- to name only very few. Many Czech, Yugolsav and Romanian AK variants are around in the Middle East and other areas. For instance the Afghan security forces use a lot of Romanian PM md-63s and Hungarian AMD-65s- or at least they did a couple of years ago. In contrast to the myriad AK-47/AKM variants- the AK-74 didn't inspire nearly as many- the Chinese, in particular, never manufactured a military AK-74 variant.
I just also thought I'd mention that if you turn to Asia and the Indian Subcontinent things get more diffuse in terms of weaponry- you have much more use of the M16 and variants but also heavy use of the FN-FAL and the G3.
The G36 is quite often seen outside military service- lots of Police forces use it as their standard assault rifle- I believe the French police use the FAMAS. I would guess the G36 may also be popular in the hands of PMC personnel but I'm really not sure about that.
Trisaw
Joined: December 24, 2002
KitMaker: 4,105 posts
Armorama: 2,492 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 15, 2013 - 07:31 AM UTC
Thanks, guys, I appreciate the answers and am welcome to more info.
brian638
Joined: July 24, 2004
KitMaker: 318 posts
Armorama: 263 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - 08:32 AM UTC
Hi Peter,
I have recently spoken to a PMC and we did discuss weapons. They will train with the AK variants and some companies may even issue the latest versions. The one issue many PMC's will have with the AK series is down to its sound signature. If you are caught up in a firefight/ambush and friendlies turn up you really do not want to be firing a weapon that may sound like the bad guys. However local guys with a PMC team may well be armed with AK variants.
Regards
Brian
I have recently spoken to a PMC and we did discuss weapons. They will train with the AK variants and some companies may even issue the latest versions. The one issue many PMC's will have with the AK series is down to its sound signature. If you are caught up in a firefight/ambush and friendlies turn up you really do not want to be firing a weapon that may sound like the bad guys. However local guys with a PMC team may well be armed with AK variants.
Regards
Brian
Trisaw
Joined: December 24, 2002
KitMaker: 4,105 posts
Armorama: 2,492 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - 08:49 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Peter,
I have recently spoken to a PMC and we did discuss weapons. They will train with the AK variants and some companies may even issue the latest versions. The one issue many PMC's will have with the AK series is down to its sound signature. If you are caught up in a firefight/ambush and friendlies turn up you really do not want to be firing a weapon that may sound like the bad guys. However local guys with a PMC team may well be armed with AK variants.
Regards
Brian
That's a good point, Brian. I recall a TV documentary (since cancelled) in the early years of OEF where running Special Forces soldiers were being fired upon from a distance. The SOF with an AK held it high over his head as he ran with his comrades...just to show and prove to everyone that it was NOT him firing his AK and that was the sound of enemy gunfire.
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