Desert war… German soldier in Afghanistan with a camouflaged scoped H&K G3A3. Optic is more than likely the last generation Hendsoldt ZF24. As for that attachment under the handguard, I’m not 100% certain but it looks like the LLM01 (Laser Light Module). The Germans currently use the LLM01 on the G36, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they use them on their G3’s.
Type 56-2 A Pakistani soldier with a Chinese Type 56-2, easily distinguished by the side-folding stock with red bakelite panels. Safety is on but can’t tell if his finger is on the trigger or behind it. The railed handguard and forward grip are obviously aftermarket, and I wouldn’t be surprised if those parts came from China too…
Security A German soldier armed with the H&K MP7 provides security at the Ali Chapan High School in Afghanistan during a visit by high ranking diplomats.
Generation Kill U.S. Army Pfc. Richard Welch, of the 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, looks through the scope of his M-249 as he secures his sector during a patrol through Al Betra, Iraq, Nov. 26, 2007. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adrian Cadiz).
Viking A soldier from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment (The Vikings) stands to attention as his regiment receives their Afghanistan Operational Service Medal at Picton Barracks in Bulford, England, on November 1, 2012. The parade was the first in a series of events marking the end of their successful six-month deployment to Afghanistan as part of Task Force Helmand. The parade comes during the same week that two more British soldiers were shot dead at a checkpoint in Afghanistan by a man wearing a local police uniform. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Up it goes… U.S. Army SPC Jeremy Stocks from “Dustoff” team, C Company, 1-214 Aviation Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade restores a flagpole back in place after it fell during a night sandstorm at Camp Dwyer in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on April 10, 2011. (Reuters/Denis Sinyakov)
Salute A member of the Russian Airborne during a jump over Moscow. August 2nd is VDV (Airborne) Day. Current and former airborne members gather and celebrate but it usually gets out of hand.
Ceremonial… A Mongolian soldier in traditional garb performs with his SVD Dragunov rifle at a base in Kabul, Afghanistan. The irony here is that the infamous Genghis Khan himself brutalized Afghanistan, managed to occupy it but historically is said to have never completely conquered it.
416 A Norwegian soldier with his camouflaged H&K 416. Norway was one of the earliest European nations to adopt the 416 as their new standard issue rifle. The civilian version, the H&K MR556, isn’t the only piston driven AR-15 on the market but the 416 has a distinct claim to fame. The 416 was the rifle used by SEAL Team 6 to kill Osama Bin Laden.
L110A1
A British soldier in Afghanistan with the paratrooper version of the FN Minimi. Note the SUSAT optic which is still used on some of their SA80 rifles. The SUSAT is very similar to the older SUIT optic which was primarily used on the British FAL, the L1A1.
Nap time… A German soldier takes a nap on his cot during joint exercises with French troops. Note the blank fire adapter on his HK G36. The rifle has the newer style carry handle optic with a small rail along the top for red dots. Older dual optics were an integrated together.
Overwatch…
Coalition forces provide overwatch for Afghan National Army Commandos from the 3rd Commando Kandak during a patrol in Maiwand district, Kandahar province, Afghanistan, May 25. Coalition forces are currently conducting combat operations in the Kandahar province to disrupt insurgent safe havens and promote security in the area. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Martin Cuaron/Not Released)
Type-56 A Mali soldier with his Chinese Type-56. A unique AK variant that carried over the SKS feature of an under-folding spike bayonet. The civilian versions sold by Polytech were chambered in 7.62x39 but also 5.56x45. The front sight base with bayonet is quite valuable on the surplus parts market. They sell easily for around $350 to $400.
Universal sign language…
Russian soldiers flipping the bird as they withdraw troops from Georgia back in 2008. Note the somewhat modernized PKM with a polymer stock and fluted barrel. That is not the PKP Pecheneg, which has a heavy fixed barrel rather than a quick change one.
Soldier in the first photo seems to have a SPOSN Gorka with the Partizan camouflage pattern.
Peace… A Romanian soldier with the PM md. 65, a domestically produced AK variant. Note the reverse donkey-dong handguard to facilitate the folding stock. Romanian troops in Afghanistan tend to have the side-folding stock version, the PA md. 86.
