24 MEUSOC just hit the beach in Kuwait

[Boats]

According to Fox News. They will apparently head North to secure the rear of the 1st MEF and suppress the Iraqi irregulars along the route to Bagdhad. So now it appears that the 1911 will be carried in numbers in yet another American campaign. Not too shabby for a pistol officially retired 19 years ago.

God bless the USMC and everyone else in uniform in theater.

 

[Soap]

Oh no! That fragile target pistol is going to break!

 

[Nightcrawler]

Yeah, they should be carrying Glocks! 1911s only hold 8+1 rounds and that's not enough.

Hee hee.

 

[Destructo6]

Uh, how many Recon Marines are in a 2,200-member MEU(SOC)?

Everybody else who needs a pistol will be carrying the M9, most likely.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Yes, but the MEU(SOC) guys, who are much more likely to use their pistols in combat, chose the 1911.

 

[mons meg]

OK, for reference, the ground combat element of a MEU as per the usmc.mil website, is a reinforced battalion. At least half of the 2200 are going to be support assets including helo pilots, docs, you name it.

FWIW, I haven't seen any 1911s in the news clips when 15th MEU was house clearing.

 

[dsk]

I'm sure there are M1911's in use in the Gulf, but in all likelihood more of them are being used by the Iraqis than the Americans. Remember that for a time during the 1980's Iraq was a US ally and received its fair share of military aid and equipment. Unlike the fashion-concious Americans, the Iraqis are dealing with a much smaller military budget and are using just about every conceivable weapon they can get their hands on.

 

[Ian11]

I'm sure the 1911's are working just fine for those brave Marines and Delta Force. As the 1911 has been these many years. But so are the ubiquitous (ahem) Berettas and SIGs being used over there. All great weapons with proper care that is specific to each of those weapons.