Canadian Navy War Games Simulator
Posted on 07/02/2005 9:48:09 PM PDT by quidnunc
Ottawa – Canadian soldiers testing their fighting skills in a rare urban exercise were forced to rent commercial paintball weapons because they couldn't get proper army gear, a newly disclosed document shows.
The unusual paintball battle was fought in the Halifax area last February, as the army practised helicopter evacuations in a hostile urban setting.
Four Griffon helicopters ferried troops from the Halifax Commons across the harbour to an unused military housing complex in Dartmouth, N.S., where room-to-room searches were conducted.
The dramatic training included some civilian participants, and drew curious citizens who were quick to snap souvenir pictures.
An internal report on Exercise Sky Trooper says the "venues provided the maximum amount of realism achievable for a contemporary operation."
But the faux evacuation was marred when soldiers were unable to use their army-issue practice ammunition, which fits into their rifles but fires only low-speed powder balls, leaving a harmless mark on the target.
Known under the trade name Simunition, the 5.56-calibre soft bullets are manufactured by SNC Technologies Inc.
Soldiers need to wear special protective gear when using Simunition, including helmets with face protectors, but a shortage of supplies meant there was none available for Exercise Sky Trooper.
So troops were forced to lay down their C-7 rifles, and pick up commercial paintball guns, rented locally. They also rented commercial paintball helmets, with face masks and neck protectors.
"The paintball did add limited realism to room clearing, (but) Simunition is clearly superior and will hopefully be available for future exercises," says the report, obtained under the Access to Information Act.
The army's limited supplies of Simunition protective gear had been reserved for higher-priority training operations in other parts of the country, the document says.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at recorder.ca ...
Actually, thats a very good idea.
I agree. Written like a hit peice...anti-military.
Here's that Simunition manufactured by SNC Technologies Inc.
http://www.simunition.com/index.php?section_id=70&secure=0&lang=en
At least they weren't spitballs.
Witnessing what the leftists have done to Canada --- should horrify all Americans....and be foremost in their minds at the polls..
Semper Fi
While paint ball guns might be of some value in urban-warfare training, there's no way they would be as realistic as the troops' own weapons.
One of the big problems with using paintball guns and equipment for combat training is that a paintball can be stopped by thick brush, and induces people to mistake concealment for cover. A very fatal mistake.
I'm working my way through Dallaire's book. The whole thing is hair-raising, but as hair-raising as anything is his description of the Canadian military, of which he is very proud. I don't think even he realizes how inept they sound to an outsider.
Of course, his description of the UN management is a must read for everyone, especially for people who love the UN, who are probably the least likely ever to read it.
And then there's the US military's MILES gear, which is arguably better and discourages "cheating".
"BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP" "You're dead!"
You beat me to the punch. Canada is profile of Europe and soon to be us if the public doesn't wise up.
*sobs* Stop, stop. I can't bear any more. I want my country back, dammit! And I want it back now!
Canadian Navy War Games Simulator
Another serious problem is that paintball guns can be heard before the balls reach their target which encourages players to expose themselves until they hear shots fired. When you see two paintballers shooting at each other from a distance of 30 yards or more, invariably they will take turns popping their heads up and shooting until they hear their opponents gun firing back at them. In real life that would get you killed.
I prefer the paint-ball method..
Reason?
Brandon Lee
Killed when real ammunition was mixed with blanks..
Soldiers in a training exercise, using standard issue weapons that are capable of firing real ammo, is a recipe for disaster..
How then, does the government explain to the parents that some functionally illiterate soldier "mistook" the real ammo for the "powder ball" training ammo.. and the resultant deaths..
I'm not sure I follow. Are you saying soldiers at ASPs don't know the difference between M855 and, er ... don't know the difference between green tip and scrunchy tip? Or you're mocking some liberal somewhere who believes that?
FWIW, paintball training is better than pointing your weapon and saying, "Bang, bang." All too often US soldiers must do the latter.
Now I've finally found a use for all those leftover beebee pellets. I'm sending out my first batch tomorrow.
"Fortunately I'm not at the mercy of the Canadian army to come to my rescue."
FYI
"Canadian snipers unofficially were credited with killing 20 Al-Qaeda members during Operation Anaconda in the Shahi Kot Valley. Two sniper teams also were recommended for the U.S. Bronze Star."
National Defense Magazine, January 2004
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
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