20 Aug 2007
25 Million Rounds of Ammunition (7.62 x 39mm)
Presolicitation notice for a bunch of 7.62 Russian ammo. Probably for the Iraqis.
25 million rounds sounds like a lot, of course, but if you factor in an Iraqi army size of around 200,000 by the end of the year, that’s only 125 rounds per man. Four mags. Is that even enough to zero your weapon and complete qualification?
The troops over there are going through ammo like you wouldn’t believe.
Hat tip to IraqSlogger and DJ Elliott.
August 20th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
I think Kim du Toit could put a dent in that request by himself. Not that that’s a bad thing…
August 20th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Is that even enough to zero your weapon and complete qualification? It’s enough to zero a weapon. You can qualify with 50 rounds on the Known Distance course. This is not enough to make you proficient of course.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
The real question is, how many zombies are you going to be able to kill after you zero your weapon?
August 21st, 2007 at 6:47 am
I think you guys are neglecting all the ‘other security forces’ who’ll receive issue out of this ammo lot. It won’t just be the Iraqi Army. Of course, this may not be the only lot this year/next too. I don’t think it’s really that much ammo per man. If the supply/political/command situation in Iraq is anything like the Palestinian Security Forces or Afghani National (Auxiliary) Police I worked with the last three years, they’ll each get one magazine with 15 to 17 rounds! LOL! Let’s the Unit Commander: A: Keep the troops from pissing it away shooting at shadows, celebratory gunfire, or selling it. B: Let’s the Commander sell it. C: Really helps the Military Industrial Complex; who needs to send more of their children to Harvard (or buy more Mercedes Benzes).
August 21st, 2007 at 9:03 am
http://www.dsca.osd.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2006/Iraq_06-69.pdf There was more ammo in this order and it got less play… Two ‘t’s please. I am not an englishman…
August 21st, 2007 at 4:08 pm
Sorry DJ. Fixed it.