- Location
- currently downrange
The drill for Canadian aircraft is different from squadron to squadron and often misinterpreted by flight engineers who are not exactly all weapons experts. The crew's confidence in the weapons handling of the troops getting on board has alot to do with it also.
Generally for tactical helicopters you'll see the weapon should be "made safe" ie - unloaded, cleared and mag put back on prior to embarking and "readied" ie - cocked when you hit the ground. There is no requirement for a LCol to carry a loaded weapon on an administrative flight into an airport that now has civilian flights going into it. If you are being met with a mike and camera stuck in your face its unlikely your next move requires any combat rolls to a fire position. Its dangerous but its not world war three there right now. Theres nothing wrong with a trained soldier in an operational area carrying a pistol or any other weapon for that matter loaded and readied as it should be (cocked and locked). What's the threat and what's the level of training of the soldiers you're around is the issue.
I liked my old WWII issue pistol just fine, always worked, shot good enough, and I got away with putting rubber hogue grips on it
. A big .45 would be nice but soldiers generally must endure the weapons they're given with small exceptions. They are tools to do a job, one should take care of their tools and make sure they work properly.
As for sticking a pistol in a mag pouch of either one of the crap Tac Vests issued in the pictures, its a bad idea. People do that because our issued holsters are equally crap and three other reasons (as I see it):
1. Chest mounted pistols are easier to bring into action when in a cupola, turret, or vehicle;
2. Dismounted infantry walk alot. I mean alot. Having a poor quality thigh holster flopping around your leg while running or marching with a ruck or support weapon is a major pain; or
3. Somewhere, sometime, (probably seeing pictures like this) somebody convinced them it looked cool. More front line troops would have pistols (if they needed them) if all the CP rats and FOB-Goblins would cough them up. Pistols and bayonets these days are mostly treated as combat fashion accessories for combat tourists. Contrary to popular belief not everybody needs a rifle, a pistol, a bayonet, 10 mags, and three hidden backup knives, even if Timmy Taliban is around.
Myself, I got a good holster, used it properly, and wouldn't give up one of my (only) four mag pouches for my primary weapon's ammo. These days in Afghanistan most people patrolling around the HQ looking to jack up soldiers for non-issue kit have realised they need a real job.
Generally for tactical helicopters you'll see the weapon should be "made safe" ie - unloaded, cleared and mag put back on prior to embarking and "readied" ie - cocked when you hit the ground. There is no requirement for a LCol to carry a loaded weapon on an administrative flight into an airport that now has civilian flights going into it. If you are being met with a mike and camera stuck in your face its unlikely your next move requires any combat rolls to a fire position. Its dangerous but its not world war three there right now. Theres nothing wrong with a trained soldier in an operational area carrying a pistol or any other weapon for that matter loaded and readied as it should be (cocked and locked). What's the threat and what's the level of training of the soldiers you're around is the issue.
I liked my old WWII issue pistol just fine, always worked, shot good enough, and I got away with putting rubber hogue grips on it
. A big .45 would be nice but soldiers generally must endure the weapons they're given with small exceptions. They are tools to do a job, one should take care of their tools and make sure they work properly. As for sticking a pistol in a mag pouch of either one of the crap Tac Vests issued in the pictures, its a bad idea. People do that because our issued holsters are equally crap and three other reasons (as I see it):
1. Chest mounted pistols are easier to bring into action when in a cupola, turret, or vehicle;
2. Dismounted infantry walk alot. I mean alot. Having a poor quality thigh holster flopping around your leg while running or marching with a ruck or support weapon is a major pain; or
3. Somewhere, sometime, (probably seeing pictures like this) somebody convinced them it looked cool. More front line troops would have pistols (if they needed them) if all the CP rats and FOB-Goblins would cough them up. Pistols and bayonets these days are mostly treated as combat fashion accessories for combat tourists. Contrary to popular belief not everybody needs a rifle, a pistol, a bayonet, 10 mags, and three hidden backup knives, even if Timmy Taliban is around.
Myself, I got a good holster, used it properly, and wouldn't give up one of my (only) four mag pouches for my primary weapon's ammo. These days in Afghanistan most people patrolling around the HQ looking to jack up soldiers for non-issue kit have realised they need a real job.
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