DShK — Afghanistan GearPorn, part I

By

Staff

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft assigned to the 18th Aggressor Squadron takes off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 6, 2014, during RED FLAG-Alaska 15-1. RF-A is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces, providing combined offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joseph Swafford Jr./Released)

Alongside US infantrymen, I found security contractors from Asia Security Group (ASG) manning observation posts surrounding US COPS and FOBS . They have some serious firepower at their disposal. I went up to one of the OPs surrounding FOB Blessing and saw DShK (a.k.a.  “DishKa”). It’s like an M2 but it seemed a little more compact. It fires12.7×107 mm cartridges that seem like they’d hurt every bit as much as a .50 cal.

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