21 Apr 2008
Visit, board, search and seizure team members from the guided-missile frigate USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) take control of Landing Craft Utility (LCU 1661) after boarding the vessel by rigid hull inflatable boat. Phoenix Express (PE) 2008 is the third annual exercise in a long-term effort to improve regional cooperation and maritime security. The principal aim is to increase interoperability by developing individual and collective maritime proficiencies of participating nations, as well as promoting friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation. Exercises like PE-08 enable participants to advance information sharing which is crucial to maintaining a region free from transnational threats, as well as enhance capability to conduct multinational peacekeeping missions. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amanda Clayton
Two shotguns and three four ARs. No cutlasses?
April 21st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Looks like four ARs to me. The cutlasses are probably collapsible.
April 21st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Check your muzzle count, thats 4 ARs.
April 21st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Ouch. Fixed.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I would have thought sawn-off shotguns would be more useful for a boarding party. Oh, that’s right, I’m sorry – as per the US Supreme Court sawn-offs have no useful military purpose.
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:26 am
Looks like 4-M4 carbines and 2-Ithica 12-gauge smoke poles. Ain’t nothin better that a shotgun at close quarters providing its barrel is a tad shorter than a 1957 Cadillac’s tail fin. Cutlasses?…….They’ve been called Ka-Bars since the BIG WW-2 Regards, Toejam…… who can’t figure how to ’sign-in’ to the comment section cause I’m a Yahoo dude and Google doesn’t like me!
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:05 am
Maybe they have rubber training cutlasses in their web gear somewhere…?
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I’d feel better holding a boarding pike whilst the bosun was screaming, ‘Stand by to repel boarders’…………….wait a minute! If I had a boarding pike, I’d be the boarder, and the other guy’s bosun would be screaming, ‘Stand by to repel boarders!’ Damn!
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Those muzzles don’t look like M4’s, there’s too little barrel from the front sight base forward. Dissipators?
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:43 am
Yes, the barrels are shorter than a standard M4. The carbines shown are known as the Mk 18 Mod 0 CQBR. FWIW: The shotguns appear to be Mossberg Model 500.