The Weapons That Special Forces Really Use

[Cubo de Sangre]

This was a fun little article for those of us without any firsthand experience. There's nothing in particular to quote so just check out the whole piece if interested.

http://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-some-of-the-weapons-special-forces-use-2014-12

 

[BB in Crazy!!!!]

Pretty much the same stuff I used (Marines) in Iraq 6/7 years ago.

 

[Snakesolidsnake]

Interesting read, but a tad misleading in my eyes. The author was a Ranger and is referring to what he used in the Rangers. Rangers are special forces but operate more like an infantry battalion than Delta Force or the Seals (which is what most people think of when they think Special Forces/Ops). Seals and Delta Force aren't using the same off the rack M-4's and M-9's that I used as a non-infantry Marine. They have specific weapons for specific jobs.

 

[Protectandserve]

The M110 is a badass piece of equipment. Our snipers had gotten them in the Guard. They were great for intermediate distance and urban shooting.

 

[Higus]

Nice article. I love reading things like this

 

[Roaming East]

from what ive seen in Iraq and Afghanistan, most soldiers can 'prefer' a .45 all they want, they wouldnt be able to hit shit with that either....


The level of pistol compentency amongst the rank and file is generally appalling. And in the hands of a tier 1 bad ass the cranial region of a no-goodnik hardly considers the difference in rounds.

 

[Protectandserve]

from what ive seen in Iraq and Afghanistan, most soldiers can 'prefer' a .45 all they want, they wouldnt be able to hit shit with that either....


The level of pistol compentency amongst the rank and file is generally appalling. And in the hands of a tier 1 bad ass the cranial region of a no-goodnik hardly considers the difference in rounds.

Dear god this.

Me and the other cops on our deployment ended up training people on the M9 prior to deployment as they issued all of us them. We had people who could barely qual with the M4 much less the M9.

The M9 course is really easy too. A few of us shot it like Robocop for shits and giggles. (One handed, from the holster with the other hand in the air)

 

[Fire of Youth]

Interesting read, but a tad misleading in my eyes. The author was a Ranger and is referring to what he used in the Rangers. Rangers are special forces but operate more like an infantry battalion than Delta Force or the Seals (which is what most people think of when they think Special Forces/Ops). Seals and Delta Force aren't using the same off the rack M-4's and M-9's that I used as a non-infantry Marine. They have specific weapons for specific jobs.

I have often been confused by the different versions of US special forces (e.g. green beret vs navy seals) and what they actually do. Perhaps you could enlighten me with a brief description of the each special forces area of speciality?

 

[Protectandserve]

I have often been confused by the different versions of US special forces (e.g. green beret vs navy seals) and what they actually do. Perhaps you could enlighten me with a brief description of the each special forces area of speciality?

Rangers: Fast deploy able light infantry battalions. Specialize in seizing airfields and raiding in general. Can be deployed by either plane (parachute static line or helicopter).

US Army Special Forces (Green Berets): Specialize in Foreign Internal Defense, training local forces usually irregular type/guerrilla forces. Can be tasked to close combat missions, largest thing they provide is access to US airpower. Deployed generally as 12 man ODA teams. They are extreme specialists in their area of function and can take a group of fuck ups and make them into decent soldiers.

SEALS: Can be deployed anywhere and anyhow. HALO jumps, aircraft insertions, boat and SCUBA. They excel at close quarters combat, hostage rescue and raiding on a smaller scale than what would be tasked to Rangers. Also involved in long range patrols, surveillance missions, etc. Also, excel at being Hollywood heroes and making sweet movies.

Delta: An offshoot of the ODA teams. They are close combat specialists and are house to house/CQB fight experts. Deploy in smaller teams than a lot of others, are much more out of the limelight then the SEALS.

There are also Marine SF teams, and Air Force Pararescue and Air Combat Controllers.

 

[Fire of Youth]

Rangers: Fast deploy able light infantry battalions. Specialize in seizing airfields and raiding in general. Can be deployed by either plane (parachute static line or helicopter).

US Army Special Forces (Green Berets): Specialize in Foreign Internal Defense, training local forces usually irregular type/guerrilla forces. Can be tasked to close combat missions, largest thing they provide is access to US airpower. Deployed generally as 12 man ODA teams. They are extreme specialists in their area of function and can take a group of fuck ups and make them into decent soldiers.

SEALS: Can be deployed anywhere and anyhow. HALO jumps, aircraft insertions, boat and SCUBA. They excel at close quarters combat, hostage rescue and raiding on a smaller scale than what would be tasked to Rangers. Also involved in long range patrols, surveillance missions, etc. Also, excel at being Hollywood heroes and making sweet movies.

Delta: An offshoot of the ODA teams. They are close combat specialists and are house to house/CQB fight experts. Deploy in smaller teams than a lot of others, are much more out of the limelight then the SEALS.

There are also Marine SF teams, and Air Force Pararescue and Air Combat Controllers.

Thankyou good sir

 

[Tama]

Rangers: Fast deploy able light infantry battalions. Specialize in seizing airfields and raiding in general. Can be deployed by either plane (parachute static line or helicopter).

US Army Special Forces (Green Berets): Specialize in Foreign Internal Defense, training local forces usually irregular type/guerrilla forces. Can be tasked to close combat missions, largest thing they provide is access to US airpower. Deployed generally as 12 man ODA teams. They are extreme specialists in their area of function and can take a group of fuck ups and make them into decent soldiers.

SEALS: Can be deployed anywhere and anyhow. HALO jumps, aircraft insertions, boat and SCUBA. They excel at close quarters combat, hostage rescue and raiding on a smaller scale than what would be tasked to Rangers. Also involved in long range patrols, surveillance missions, etc. Also, excel at being Hollywood heroes and making sweet movies.

Delta: An offshoot of the ODA teams. They are close combat specialists and are house to house/CQB fight experts. Deploy in smaller teams than a lot of others, are much more out of the limelight then the SEALS.

There are also Marine SF teams, and Air Force Pararescue and Air Combat Controllers.

From what I remember, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) operates only under jurisdiction of the USMC chain of command. It goes with their creed of Marines always supporting other Marines. They're also the most recent addition to SOCOM (created in 2005). Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[D Train]

I think Rangers are not considered SF as they are not part of JSOC.

 

[Cubo de Sangre]

Thank you to those who've shared first-hand accounts. Since there's so much experience here can some dudes share some perspective on the old-fashioned carry handles? I see them in the picture in the OP and it made me immediately skeptical the pic was as "legit" as the article states because I thought those had gone the way of the do-do bird (extinct). I admit I purchased that configuration out of some sort of coolness or nostalgia, but it never occurred to me that was still commonly used.

Goes to show what this internet warrior knows.

 

[Protectandserve]

Thank you to those who've shared first-hand accounts. Since there's so much experience here can some dudes share some perspective on the old-fashioned carry handles? I see them in the picture in the OP and it made me immediately skeptical the pic was as "legit" as the article states because I thought those had gone the way of the do-do bird (extinct). I admit I purchased that configuration out of some sort of coolness or nostalgia, but it never occurred to me that was still commonly used.

Goes to show what this internet warrior knows.

I only saw them a few times in Afghanistan. Some of the Air Force and Navy non combat personnel had some old school shit for weapons. I did see a fair amount of Marines with M16A3's.

Most everyone else I saw had some type of flat top and electronic sights on top. Most popular was the Aimpoint, then ACOG's, saw a few EOTECH's and we had about 20 guys testing the Leupold HAMMR with a reflex sight on top.

This was 2013 in RC South.

 

[tatakai]

haha, right on, man.

anyone that actually shoots people for a living will tell you, when it comes to hand gun calibers and 45 over 9 and all that shit is - "it doesn't fucking matter."

pistols suck. i'd take a 9 with 16 rounds over a 45 with 8 any day

 

[Tama]

haha, right on, man.

anyone that actually shoots people for a living will tell you, when it comes to hand gun calibers and 45 over 9 and all that shit is - "it doesn't fucking matter."

pistols suck. i'd take a 9 with 16 rounds over a 45 with 8 any day

What about a .45 with 15+1 rounds?

 

[Snakesolidsnake]

From what I remember, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) operates only under jurisdiction of the USMC chain of command. It goes with their creed of Marines always supporting other Marines. They're also the most recent addition to SOCOM (created in 2005). Correct me if I'm wrong.

I believe that is incorrect. It's one of those complicated things that has to do with the different types of command chains. The Marine Corps selects, equips, and trains them (or arranges for that to be done, since most of those schools are joint), but I believe SOCOM selects the missions for the teams.

 

[Snakesolidsnake]

I think Rangers are not considered SF as they are not part of JSOC.

Oh no, they are. Just ask any Ranger. Most that I met when you ask them what they do will say they are SF or Special Forces before they say they are/were a ranger. (Kind of a joke, sorry. Worked with a few in Afghanistan (I was a Marine) and they made sure everyone knew what they were, even if they just had a desk job.) They wear the shoulder patch that says Special Forces and consider themselves as such. They fall under the Army Special Ops Command, which is an adjacent command to JSOC, and both fall under SOCOM.

 

[lts5025]

Oh no, they are. Just ask any Ranger. Most that I met when you ask them what they do will say they are SF or Special Forces before they say they are/were a ranger. (Kind of a joke, sorry. Worked with a few in Afghanistan (I was a Marine) and they made sure everyone knew what they were, even if they just had a desk job.) They wear the shoulder patch that says Special Forces and consider themselves as such. They fall under the Army Special Ops Command, which is an adjacent command to JSOC, and both fall under SOCOM.

Rangers aren't authorized to wear the Special Forces tab unless they've completed SFQC and been awarded it. Rangers are "Special Operations" but certainly not "Special Forces"

 

[Snakesolidsnake]

Rangers aren't authorized to wear the Special Forces tab unless they've completed SFQC and been awarded it. Rangers are "Special Operations" but certainly not "Special Forces"

You're right, got that mixed up with the Ranger tab, but most of them that I've met (whether they have the SF tab or not) call themselves special forces.