natedog
Member
Just out of curiosity, are all of our soldiers in Iraq equipped with NVGs and body armor, or just certain units. Also, has the M-4 Carbine become standard Army issue?
Questions about US Military NVGs, body armor, etc.
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Nightcrawler
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Most of the front-line infantry guys have the interceptor body armor with the rifle plates.
A lot of rear and second-line units still have older Flak Jackets.
The M4 carbine is standard with Airborne and mechanized infantry units. Large portions of the Army use the M16A2 and M16A4. The M16A4 is the standard weapon of the USMC, though some of their units use the carbine as well.
NVGs are very common now, but I don't know if they're always individual issue.
A lot of rear and second-line units still have older Flak Jackets.
The M4 carbine is standard with Airborne and mechanized infantry units. Large portions of the Army use the M16A2 and M16A4. The M16A4 is the standard weapon of the USMC, though some of their units use the carbine as well.
NVGs are very common now, but I don't know if they're always individual issue.
Langenator
Member
Further notes:
Most Army Infantry and Cav units (I'm not sure about armor) use the PVS-14 NVGs (the monocular ones), and the supporting units generally have PVS-7Bs or -7Ds.
Army M-16A4s differ from Marine M-16A4s in that the Army version has rail system front handguards; the Marine version does not (this difference almost doubles the cost of the rifle.) A little tidbit I picked up while touring the FN plant in Columbia, SC. The handguard rail systems are made by a separate contractor, not FN.
Most Army Infantry and Cav units (I'm not sure about armor) use the PVS-14 NVGs (the monocular ones), and the supporting units generally have PVS-7Bs or -7Ds.
Army M-16A4s differ from Marine M-16A4s in that the Army version has rail system front handguards; the Marine version does not (this difference almost doubles the cost of the rifle.) A little tidbit I picked up while touring the FN plant in Columbia, SC. The handguard rail systems are made by a separate contractor, not FN.
Nightcrawler
Member
Not all Arm M16A4s have the rail handguards. I personally saw a bunch of them, carried by an infantry unit, that did not.
Honestly, other than an infra-red laser for use with NVGs, I don't know what all a standard infantryman would put on there anyway.
Honestly, other than an infra-red laser for use with NVGs, I don't know what all a standard infantryman would put on there anyway.
VaughnT
Member
What are those flat things I see attached to the handguard just aft of the front sight tower? It looks like a palm pilot has been glued onto the handguard, but I can't see why they would do that. 
I've seen enough of them in news footage and photographs to know that I'm not imagining it!
I've seen enough of them in news footage and photographs to know that I'm not imagining it!
Zak Smith
Member
The "palm-pilot" looking thing is most likely a AN/PEQ-2 infrared aiming and illuminating laser:
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