Monday, May 26, 2008

Soldier Seeking More Stopping Power

Choice of weapon matters. 

The smaller, steel-penetrating M855 rounds continue to be a weak spot in the American arsenal. They are not lethal enough to bring down an enemy decisively, and that puts troops at risk, according to Associated Press interviews.

Designed decades ago to puncture a Soviet soldier’s helmet hundreds of yards away, the M855 rounds are being used for very different targets in Iraq and Afghanistan. Much of today’s fighting takes place in close quarters; narrow streets, stairways and rooftops are today’s battlefield. Legions of armor-clad Russians marching through the Fulda Gap in Germany have given way to insurgents and terrorists who hit and run.

Fired at short range, the M855 round is prone to pass through a body like a needle through fabric. That does not mean being shot is a pain-free experience. But unless the bullet strikes a vital organ or the spine, the adrenaline-fueled enemy may have the strength to keep on fighting and even live to fight another day.

In 2006, the Army asked a private research organization to survey 2,600 soldiers who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly one-fifth of those who used the M4 and M16 rifles wanted larger caliber bullets.

Yet the Army is not changing. The answer is better aim, not bigger bullets, officials say.

(3) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2225 hrs
Military

  1. Better aim? How many of those guys really were under fire? I can’t count the number of incidents where police officers have emptied pistols in gunfights at less than 6’ where nobody was hit, and to think of anybody seriously saying better aim is required in a close in firefight? Somebody is smoking some good sh*t if that’s the line they’re taking.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2008 at 2252 hrs


  2. This issue was raised years ago, during the first Ranger/Spec Ops infighting battles of Vietnam. It really hurt bad in Somalia. This truism is illustrated in Black Hawk down, which makes that movie a must view for every Memorial Day.
    This fact has been known and lamented for years by the USMC and US Army. This is why during my twice monthly visits to the rifle range I perfected “head-shot’s”.

    This talk may insult your delicate sensibilities but those are the facts. Soldiers are in the service of the country to KILL bad men that would gladly kill you without so much as a how do you do.

    Mr. nerdbert, urban/guerilla warfare is a brutal business. If one single bullet is fired at one of our young men they better empty their magazine and they better have unlimited magazines to empty. When they do empty those magazines they would be best served to aim for the head.

    Why you interject Police into the debate is highly suspect, but then again your entire thought process is highly suspect.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 26, 2008 at 2332 hrs


  3. Nearly one fifth?  So 18-19% of our own mlitary were for ‘different’ fire power and 81-82% were for keeping the current ammo?  Sounds like the military is doing the right thing.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on May 27, 2008 at 0845 hrs


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