Re: Cold Dead Hands

Zomby-Woof@cox.net wrote:

:On Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:02:26 -0700, Fred J. McCall
:<fmccall@earthlink.net> wrote:
:>
:>My knowledge is based on a lot of years carrying said weapons and even
:>more years involved in the trade (although I'm missiles rather than
:>small arms).
:>
:
:Well my "old" knowledge had nothing to do with carrying anything other
:then sometimes my ass in my hands.  F-4 Wild Weasels aren't even in
:the inventory anymore, although my beloved HARM Missile still is.
:

About the only thing that's still the same on that "beloved HARM
missile" is the body tube (and maybe the fins).  Pretty much
everything else is different.

:
:However, now being involved in certain "Systems" Project Management
:Functions i.e. the United States Army's Assault Weapon System Program
:I do know what some of the current parlance is on the "shop floor" so
:to speak.  
:
:There is also a  "Modular Weapon Systems" Program 
:

Yep.  There are indeed 'weapon systems'.  Been around for a long time.

:>:>:
:>:>:Assault rifles and shotguns capable of fully automatic fire,
:>:>:such as the Heckler & Koch CAWS, the XM8, and the Russian 7.62mm/40mm
:>:>:Assault Weapon System are also classified as assault weapon systems.
:>:>:
:>:>
:>:>No, they're referred to as assault rifles or combat shotguns, not
:>:>'assault weapons'.  You're letting the acronym CAWS confuse you.  It
:>:>is a Weapon System; it is used for Close Assault; that doesn't make it
:>:>an 'assault weapon'.
:>:>
:>:
:>:Again, you aren't up to date.  They are indeed Assault Weapon Systems.
:>:They are the combination of multi weapon platforms & functionality
:>:into one.  The XM8 is definitely refereed to as an Assault Weapon
:>:System by the designers because it is much more then just a "Rifle".
:>:
:>
:>Not so much, no.  There is a 'modular weapon system', which is a
:>FAMILY of weapons (in this case).  The XM8 is almost universally
:>referred to as either 'future combat rifle' or 'lightweight assault
:>rifle'.
:>
:Here are very specific examples of what "I" was trying to talk about:
:http://www.kitsune.addr.com/Firearms/Shotguns/HK_CAWS.htm

Shotgun.

:http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/smaw.htm

Rocket.

:http://www.gunslot.com/guns/hk-caws-close-assault-weapons-system

Shotgun.

Because something has a proper name that includes a phrase doesn't
make it that thing.  That "Close Assault Weapons System" should not be
parsed to mean that the 'System' referred to is an 'Assault Weapon'.
Rather it should be parsed to say that the thing is a 'Weapons System'
(pretty much everything is) used for 'Close Assault'.

Naming something 'Sheridan' doesn't make it a Civil War general.

:
:Also one can make the argument that Sturmkompagnien, A specialized
:German Company of storm-troopers; which often consisted solely of
:specialists in grenades, mortars, flame-throwers or machine-guns were
:the first deployers of "Assault Weapons" to attack fortified positions
:during WW I.
:

By this definition *ALL* weapons are 'assault weapons'.

-- 
"It's always different.  It's always complex.  But at some point,
 somebody has to draw the line.  And that somebody is always me....
 I am the law."
                               -- Buffy, The Vampire Slayer