Praxis Potpourri: Homemade Bandoleers, Tactical Books, E&E Kits and Jungle Refrigeration

Folks,

We have the following response from Irish at KABA to my 7.62 NATO bandoleer piece plus some other praxis links.

From Keep And Bear Arms:

I must be ahead of the curve. 38 years after Home Ec, I purchased a sewing machine a few weeks ago. I have been making bandoleers in 5 diff. camo patterns. These are much nicer than the mil spec. For 1 thing they are camo. Second is that I use MORE stiching than the standard. Third, my material is MUCH heavier than the mil spec. All you need to get going is an original for a pattern, and a female who can walk you through the "finer" points. Seriously, one big hint is to be willing to vary from the original. Remember, the mag should be sticking out with the flap behind it. This way you can QUICKLY retrieve the mag, but still be able to close the flap. Jo Ann fabrics has a nice DPM like pattern at 75% off NOW. I got all they had.

Some bando's are for mags and some are for strippers. Strippers are mostly for bolt actions. I still prefer pouches for mags, but bando's can be handy, in that you can throw it on quickly, or hang them up as needed. I also make the cardboard inserts. I carefully seperate the insert. Next buy yellow file folders and trace and cut and glue. You can get 4 inserts per folder. And do not forget the large safety pin, or the mag loader for the stripper clips. I pin the mag loader on the bando.

Just imagine how "COOL" you will look, showing up at the range with camo bando's. Instead of the cheap surplus OD models. You could have the Mrs. make it. Be a real man and do it yourself.

We've got a lot of newbies rallying to the cause of the Three Percent these days and they need educating in matters military. The following four volumes will do nicely.

From Pete at WRSA comes this book.



Light Infantry Tactics for Small Teams is an excellent primer in the basics of small unit infantry combat. It is broken down into Sections of Skill Groups and then each chapter describes the various skills. From the Table of Contents they are as follows:

Section I: Undividual Competencies
Camouflage
Hand & Arm Signals
Infantry Movement Techniques
Fighting Positions
Land Navigation
Communication & Procedure

Section II: Leadership Competencies
Troop Leading Procedures
Pre-Combat Inspection
OpOrder & Warning Order
After Action Review

Section III: Patrolling Methods
Departing & Re-entering the FFL
Traveling Methods
Attack Formations
Crossing Danger areas
React to Ambush

Section IV: Defensive Procedures
Establish a Security Halt
Establish an ORP
Establish a Patrol Base
Establish a Hide Position
Establish a Defensive Line

Section V: Offensive Operations
The Reconnoiter
The Ambush
The Raid
The Attack

Section VI: Appendixes
Ambush Methods
Concept of the Offense vs. Defense
Glossary of Terms
Heirarchy of Command

Pete's posting reminded me of this, Six Ways In, Twelve Ways Out, "the definitive field manual for those who are serious about surviving an unplanned outdoor emergency situation."



And also this:

The Marine Corps issues a GUIDEBOOK FOR MARINES to all new recruits. This "bible" for Marines covers every conceivable facet of a Marine Warrior's life. It's all here: the USMC Battle History, Bayonet Fighting, Close Order Drill, Small Arms, Marksmanship, Combat Tactics. Also covered are Nuclear Warfare, Demolitions and Mines, Code of Conduct, Discipline, Leadership Principles, and much more. Everything from the eleven General Orders to the Marines' Hymn.

Among the the chapters are:

Military Security [guard duty, and more]
Drill
First Aid
Sanitation and Hygiene
Physical Fitness [aaahh, yes, P.T.]
Clothing and Equipment
Small Arms [general information]
Service Pistol [M-9 Pistol]
M16A2 [M-16 rifle]
Marksmanship
M240G Machine Gun
Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) [M-249]
Bayonet [fighting techniques and training]
M203 40mm Grenade Launcher
Infantry Battalion Weapons
Grenades and Accessories
Demolitions and Mine Warfare
Basic Communications [radio and wire]
Land Navigation
Combat Formations and Signals
Protective Measures [fighting holes and camouflage]
Squad Tactics
Individual Movement Techniques and Patrolling
NBC Defense [nuclear, biological, & chemical defense]
Common Military Terms

Last in our book list we have a volume reviewed by Pete at WRSA here.



The Last Hundred Yards- The NCO's Contribution to Warfare is by Gunnery Sergeant H.J. Poole, USMC (Ret.), who "translates the concepts of maneuver warfare into the tactics and techniques which are rightly the focus of NCO’s and Staff NCO’s." Currently unavailable from Amazon you can find it
here.

Also from Pete comes this handy little kit for escape and evasion. You remember the old bumper sticker, "When guns are outlawed, I'll be an outlaw"? This is what they were talking about. The "Escape from Custody Kit."



Finally we have this article from the Daily Mail of the UK entitled "Amazing solar-powered fridge invented by British student in a potting shed helps poverty-stricken Africans."



It strikes me that what works for poverty-stricken Africans might be handy for American minutemen during extended walks in the woods.