Note: The photos of the Royal Marines show them training with Albanian forces. Does any other units (talking worldwide) operate in the field while wearing berets? Or was this simply a photo op?
Total Photo Op. First, all the blokes pictured are "lookers" obviously posed. Second, what the hell are you supposed to aim at with an AK? Good luck hitting anything smaller than a bus at any range. If I was hitting the beach with an AK, I sure as hell wouldn't stop to peer down the barrel. Probably the only thing you would see is the rounds coming your way. Just saying.
The photos may be posed but the Marines train in their berets quite often. The army does the odd bits in berets too.
Not entirely sure as to the reason, but I do know that towards the end of ops in Basra the army was patrolling in berets because the situation had calmed right down and it was seen as a way to better build relationships and trust with locals.
Grim901 - it's not just training, look at old photos of the falklands war and you'll see RM in their 'green' berets more often then other units wearing theirs. While 'green' might be more camouflage (?) and they certainly mocked the paras about there 'red' berets. Green, Black or red, a head in a beret is a nice silhouette for any sniper as some RM found out the hard way. Andy
Anon - As I pointed out, I know that Uk forces deployed with berets operationally in Iraq. I wasn't going to go back much further with my evidence because doctrine changes regularly. I could also have metioned that i've seen plenty of operational pics of marines in berets (outside Afghan anyway) but I don't know enough about the way they operate as opposed to army thinking to suggest why or how often this occurs. I can think of plenty of possibilities but wouldn't want to put them forward without more to go on.
And as for your last point, so is a head in a helmet tbh. Any sniper with a decent weapon (talking cartridge size here) and some skill can make a helmet useless. Those things won't stop .308 etc as far as I know, nor will the unprotected head below the helmet.
My youngest Nephew gave me a black Beret that he wouldn't wear because he said it looked stupid. His Grand mother gave it to him. It's not a mil spec Beret from any nation, known world wide as an Onion Johnny beret. Made by Vrai Basque it's wool felt. Summer use I found it to be too hot to wear and it did not shield the eyes from the sun, Winter it leaves the ears cold and only the very top of my head was warm. Rain is not kept out of your eyes or from running down your face, though it is warm. Sun is unshielded and way to hot for this type of fabric. It looks cool, molds into all kinds of shapes and makes a good bag for ammo or ration pick up, and stores easy. As a combat cover it has it's faults and is easy to spot sitting like a pancake on the top and side of your very reflective face especially when it's a bright color. I wear it but only when it's cool and not raining nor sunny or I need a real live serviceable hat/cap. As a dress up uniform cover it's marvelous! As a working cap or hat it sucks. As a opposite sex attractor it's priceless. That out weighs any faults in my eyes.
Total Photo Op. First, all the blokes pictured are "lookers" obviously posed. Second, what the hell are you supposed to aim at with an AK? Good luck hitting anything smaller than a bus at any range. If I was hitting the beach with an AK, I sure as hell wouldn't stop to peer down the barrel. Probably the only thing you would see is the rounds coming your way. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteThe photos may be posed but the Marines train in their berets quite often. The army does the odd bits in berets too.
ReplyDeleteNot entirely sure as to the reason, but I do know that towards the end of ops in Basra the army was patrolling in berets because the situation had calmed right down and it was seen as a way to better build relationships and trust with locals.
Grim901 - it's not just training, look at old photos of the falklands war and you'll see RM in their 'green' berets more often then other units wearing theirs. While 'green' might be more camouflage (?) and they certainly mocked the paras about there 'red' berets.
ReplyDeleteGreen, Black or red, a head in a beret is a nice silhouette for any sniper as some RM found out the hard way.
Andy
Anon - As I pointed out, I know that Uk forces deployed with berets operationally in Iraq. I wasn't going to go back much further with my evidence because doctrine changes regularly. I could also have metioned that i've seen plenty of operational pics of marines in berets (outside Afghan anyway) but I don't know enough about the way they operate as opposed to army thinking to suggest why or how often this occurs. I can think of plenty of possibilities but wouldn't want to put them forward without more to go on.
ReplyDeleteAnd as for your last point, so is a head in a helmet tbh. Any sniper with a decent weapon (talking cartridge size here) and some skill can make a helmet useless. Those things won't stop .308 etc as far as I know, nor will the unprotected head below the helmet.
My youngest Nephew gave me a black Beret that he wouldn't wear because he said it looked stupid. His Grand mother gave it to him.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a mil spec Beret from any nation, known world wide as an Onion Johnny beret. Made by Vrai Basque it's wool felt.
Summer use I found it to be too hot to wear and it did not shield the eyes from the sun, Winter it leaves the ears cold and only the very top of my head was warm. Rain is not kept out of your eyes or from running down your face, though it is warm.
Sun is unshielded and way to hot for this type of fabric.
It looks cool, molds into all kinds of shapes and makes a good bag for ammo or ration pick up, and stores easy.
As a combat cover it has it's faults and is easy to spot sitting like a pancake on the top and side of your very reflective face especially when it's a bright color.
I wear it but only when it's cool and not raining nor sunny or I need a real live serviceable hat/cap.
As a dress up uniform cover it's marvelous! As a working cap or hat it sucks.
As a opposite sex attractor it's priceless.
That out weighs any faults in my eyes.