03-08-2013, 10:58 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-08-2013, 11:06 PM by KentuckyBuddha.)
LRRPF52 Wrote:Grendels at the Squad Level would make a lot of sense, especially in the 16" Carbine format for Afghanistan, and an LMG with constant-recoil in a half-bullpup configuration, like a micro-M60E4 with a reliable operating system a la MAG58.
Augmented with .338 Medium-Heavy machine guns and long-range sniper rifles, with 6x35 PDW's for soft skills, and you have a simple ammunition mix that is lighter across the logistics weight/volume displacement, with better performance characteristics than 5.56/7.62/.50 BMG.
The main distinguishing weapon characteristics between the DM carbines and assault rifles would be select barrels, triggers, and optics peculiar to the DMC, where 2 MOA or better accuracy is required, a crisp/reliable trigger like the Geissele is dropped-in, and a good compact variable power optic is used that goes up to 8x or 10x.
Depending on the theater of operations and force posture, squad-level infantrymen could use a mix of 6x35 PDW carbines with 6.5 Grendel 16" Carbines.
This is almost verbatim the rant I repeat all the time! I like 5.7x28 though...but to be fair I have zero experience with the 6x35. Tankers, Drivers, Officers, etc etc deserve a hand rifle like the Five seveN or a bullpup like a P-90. The Army just won't have anything but a double action pistol...luckily the Five seveN was originally double action. : )
But hey...you can't get class 5 for troops to shoot anyhow. Imagine if Coach Pitino or Calipari told the good people of Kentucky he was going to have the kids qualify with the basketball at the free throw line twice a year if they needed it or not...and they would be playing basketball with their (and their teammates and countless others) lives on the line and the game could be had at a moments notice 24/7. They would put them away for their own protection!! That is just nuts! We are just not likely to make a change for financial reasons no matter how much it is needed sadly.
In the engagement paradigm we are likely to face from now on, FOB goblins need to practice just like 11 bang bangs. This has got to sink in, and hopefully soon.