A toast to the Marina de Guerra del Peru

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As part of my curiosity when it comes to everything naval, I follow a lot of fleets around the world, and the Peruvian Navy has been very busy in the past few months.

Besides the Caribbean cruise of the tall ship BAP Union to participate in Operation Sail 250 (which is what I am enjoying in New Orleans this week!), the fleet has been getting it done.

Submarino BAP Chipana

Peru has a rich 100+ year submarine tradition and operates a six-pack of German-made Type 209/1100 (Islay-class) and 209/1200 series (Angamos-class) SSKs delivered in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

One of these, the Angamos-class BAP Chipana (SS-34), recently left her homeport headed West to join U.S. forces in RIMPAC and SUBDIEX, both of which she has participated in in the past.

Commissioned in October 1982, Chipana gave 35 years of dedicated service without incident in the first half of her career.

I say “first half” because Chipana last year completed an intensive 7.5-year (December 2017 to June 2025) reconstruction and modernization by SIMA in Callao. This consisted of the installation of the new Kallpa fire control and combat system, 480 new high-performance batteries, four new Rolls-Royce-MTU engines, a new Siemens electric motor, a new Hensoldt SERO 250 optronic mast, the Elbit Timmes II ESM system, and the ability to launch SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles and AEG DM2A4 Seehecht (SeaHake Mod 4) and Leonardo WASS Black Shark torpedoes.

She was essentially hauled on dry land, cut open, scooped out, and refilled with all new stuff, then put back together and refurbished, all under the watchful gaze of ThyssenKrupp advisers sent from Germany.

This is expected to give her at least another 15 years of service life, and her three Type 209/1200 sisters will follow in similar modernizations. This should buy enough time to develop a local submarine production line (with assistance from HHI) at SIMA.

Peruvian Type 209s have deployed to California’s Naval Base Point Loma as part of the U.S. Navy’s Diesel-Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) program no less than 20 times since 2001, typically a 2-3 month deployment that sees the submarino both serve as a “target” for ASW forces and work alongside surface assets to better interoperate in multi-national task forces.

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 1, 2019) An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from the Magicians of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35 conducts a hoist exercise with the Peruvian navy submarine BAP Angamos (SS-31) off the coast of San Clemente Island. HSM-35 is conducting antisubmarine warfare training to maintain readiness by utilizing a live submarine. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Patrick W. Menah Jr./Released)

Meanwhile, in the green inferno

The Peruvian Naval Infantry brigade (Infantería de Marina del Perú) has also been heavily involved with the Army’s 2a Brigada de Protección de la Amazonía along the country’s Amazon border regions with Colombia and Brazil in counter-narco operations and in wrapping up illegal mining operations and general banditry.

The IMP (unfortunate acronym) is distinctly armed with a combination of FN 2000 “Tactical Tuna” rifles, IMI Galils, and FN SCARs, so they stand out.

And, of interest to all the gun nerds that follow this page, the captured weaponry taken off aforementioned narcos and banditos is amazing, including homemade MAC-10s, condemned FALs, shorty Galils, and the occasional MP5K and M1A1.

 

Luminaries, via Regia Marina

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This black and white photograph captures unidentified Italian cruisers illuminating the La Foce suburb of Genoa, with searchlights in May 1938.

Photo credits, Giorgio Parodi, naviearmatori.net.

Occasion: The scene was part of a display for an official visit by El Duce to the city, during which much of the Italian battle fleet was moored in the harbor from mid to late May as part of a fleet review.

Regia Marina cruiser Zara departing Genoa on 30 May 1938.

Harrier Sunset

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The final USMC AV-8B Harrier deployment with a Marine Expeditionary Unit, a det of VMA-223 “Bulldogs” with the 22nd MEU aboard the USS Iwo Jima, earlier this month returned home to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina.

A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), prepares to land aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) during flight operations while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Nov. 26, 2025. 

U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II aircraft with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly over the coast of North Carolina, May 15, 2026. The “sundown” of the AV-8B, an iconic aircraft that has supported joint and Marine Corps operations for over 40 years, also represents the dawn of a new era; it paves the way for 2nd MAW’s full transition to the F-35B and C Lightning II. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Ornelas Baeza)

U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II aircraft with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 223, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, fly over the coast of North Carolina, May 15, 2026. The “sundown” of the AV-8B, an iconic aircraft that has supported joint and Marine Corps operations for over 40 years, also represents the dawn of a new era; it paves the way for 2nd MAW’s full transition to the F-35B and C Lightning II. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Ornelas Baeza)

The first deployed Marine Harriers, 14 AV-8As of VMA-231, went to sea in October 1976 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42) for a Mediterranean deployment with the Sixth Fleet, thus bookending an almost perfect 50 years of Devil Dog jump jet operations underway and 55 years, counting the first at-sea evaluations aboard USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7) in 1971.

USMC AV-8A Harrier Evaluation Onboard USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7), March 1971. Now that’s a beautiful aircraft

Now, the AV-8B in Marine service will be retired.

VMA-223 will host a Sundown Ceremony at Cherry Point from 2 – 4 June 2026.

That just leaves the navies of Spain (12 EAV-8B Plus and 1 TAV-8B operated by 9. Escuadrilla) and Italy (14 AV-8B Plus and 1 TAV-8B of Gruppo Aerei Imbarcati along with 15 stored airframes) as the keeper of the Harrier flame outside of the U.S. with the Spanish planning on putting the type to bed in 2030 and the Italians doing the same in 2028. Both allies will undoubtedly be inheriting the final couple of pallets of parts from the USMC.

Just 824 Harrier models of all types were produced, making the bird a rare one, with only about 60 airframes preserved worldwide.

So yeah, at this point, there are more jump jets in museums than in active service.

The Harrier line-up at Pima

Kirkwall by Night

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Warship Wednesday will be back next week! I am on the road with limited access to the interwebs.

Until then, enjoy this shot, some 115 years ago this evening.

How about this great shot of the RN’s 1st Destroyer Flotilla illuminated at anchor in Orkney’s Kirkwall Bay, 27 May 1911, on the lead up to HM George V’s coronation. The greyhounds in attendance include HMS Amazon, HMS Blenheim, HMS Swift, HMS Tartar, and others.

At the time, the 1st Destroyer Flotilla’s flag was held by Commodore (Capt, D) Robert Keith Arbuthnot. Arbuthnot, 47 when the above photo was snapped, was a career officer and the eldest son of Sir William Wedderburn Arbuthnot, Third Baronet, late a major in the 18th Hussars.

Passing his cadetship exam 42nd out of 46, the younger Arbuthnot walked onto the training ship Britannia at age 13 and was soon serving as a midshipman on service around the globe. Earning high marks, he was one of Lord Fisher’s favorite mids and picked up his first command, that of H.M. T.B. 59, in 1889. By 1910, he was commander of the battleship HMS Lord Nelson and would soon become ADC to George V himself.

Arbuthnot

Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Keith Arbuthnot, Fourth Baronet, K.C.B., M.V.O., Royal Navy, perished at Jutland at the head of his rushing First Cruiser Squadron, which was one of the most terribly mauled British units at the battle, going down with HMS Defence, his flagship. Only 10 of Defence’s 903-man crew survived the clash.

Sir Rosslyn E. Wemyss, then Commander-in-Chief on the East Indies Station, wrote to Captain Roger J. B. Keyes on 17 July:

It is difficult to judge what Robert Arbuthnot & all those cruisers were doing—Poor Robert—anyway, I expect he died perfectly happy in a blaze of glory and gallantry.

Dynamic Mongoose 26 Snaps

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How about this PhotoEx from NATO High North ASW exercise Dynamic Mongoose 26 off Trondheim, Norway, last week.

Centered around the 65,000-ton carrier HMS Prince of Wales escorted by the Type 45 (Daring) class AAW destroyer HMS Duncan (D 37), the other escorts seen are the Danish Absalon-class frigate HDMS Esbern Snare (F 342), the German frigate FGS Sachsen (F 220), and the Portuguese Bartholomeu Dias-class frigate NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida (F 334).

Submarines include the German U-35 (S 185), the Dutch Walrus-class HNLMS Zeeleeuw (S 803), and the Tridente-class NRP Tridente (S 160).

There is also a bit of an unofficial OPFOR, as NRP Francisco De Almeida and Merlin Mk2s from HMS Prince of Wales have been closely monitoring a Russian ship, Yuri Ivanov, a (Project 18280) intelligence-gathering vessel, which is getting SIGINT close to the exercise zone.

Looking back at Sandy and the 602nd

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Below, we see Sandy at work, just 60 years ago.

U.S. Air Force Douglas A-1G (AD-5N) four-seat night attack Skyraider (ex-Navy BuNo 132619) nicknamed “Carolyn’s Folly” from the 602nd Fighter Squadron (Commando), call sign Firefly, flying out of Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, seen escorting an HH-3C Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopter during a Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission in 1966.

Note the ‘Raiders” jolly roger. VIRIN: 100426-F-1234S-004

This circa 1952 aircraft began service in the Navy and was noted aboard USS Hancock (CV-19) on 21 August 1958 with VA(AW)-35 Det. D before transfer to the USAF. Struck off charge at NAS Alameda on 29 October 1964 after a 12 year Navy career, 132619 was transferred to the USAF– one of 330 Skyraiders to the Air Force including the A-1E, G, H, and J models. After flying with the 602nd and later the 1st ACS/SOS, 132619 was transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Force’s 516th Squadron in February 1971 when the USAF divested themselves of the type.

She was one of the rare ex-USN Raiders that survived USAF service in Southeast Asia, with more than 200 lost across 90,000 combat sorties in their nine-year (1963-72) stint

The aircraft is available as a Scalemates decal set.

The 602nd (designated a Special Operations Squadron in 1968) alone amazingly had 140 different AH-1E/G/H/J Skyraiders pass through their hands during Vietnam between 1964 and December 1970.

Here are a few.

USAF A-1E Skyraider (s/n 52-133885) of the 602nd Air Commando Squadron flies over a fortified hamlet in Vietnam, in 1964. In 1964-1965, USAF aircraft in Vietnam often flew with Vietnamese markings due to political reasons. This aircraft was shot down over Laos on 15 February 1966. U.S. Air Force photo scanned from Dana Bell: Air War over Vietnam. Volume IV. (Warbirds Illustrated 26). Arms and Armour Press, London 1984, p. 38, ISBN 0853686351.

USAF A-1E Skyraider (s/n 52-132423) of the 602nd Air Commando Squadron escorts a Sikorsky HH-3C Jolly Green Giant, in 1966. 132423 was shot down by small arms fire 40km north-west of Sam Neua, Houaphan Province, Laos on 6 July 1966. The pilot, Capt. J.R. Crane was able to fly about 30km north of Udorn, Thailand, and bailed out. He was rescued by a USAF helicopter. USAF Museum Photo  101117-F-1234S-104

USAF A-1E Skyraider (s/n 52-132425) of the 602nd Air Commando Squadron in South Vietnam, January 1966. Note the Douglas C-47 and the Grumman HU-16 Albatross in the background. 132425 was shot down by ground fire near Na Pho, Khammouan Province, Laos, on 19 April 1966. The pilot, Capt. Richard J. Robbins, was killed. National Museum of the U.S. Air Force photo 051123-F-1234P-016

U.S. Air Force “Tropic Moon I” Douglas A-1E Skyraider (s/n 52-135195) of the 602nd Special Operations Squadron in flight with a Low-Light-Level-Televison (LLLTV) pod on the left wing, 1 June 1968. This aircraft was later shot down on 11 February 1970 while in service with the 22nd SOS. The pilot, Colonel William L. Kieffer, was killed.

A U.S. Air Force Douglas A-1H Skyraider (s/n 52-134555) of the 602nd Special Operations Squadron sits on the ramp at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base (“NKP”), Thailand, circa in 1968. This was the first USAF A-1H to be named “The Proud American”. 134555 was operated by the U.S. Navy until 9 January 1968. It was then transferred to the USAF, where it operated with the 602nd, 22nd, and 1st SOS before being transferred to the Vietnam Air Force. Here it operated with the 515th and 518th Fighter Squadrons until it was lost on 3 April 1972. 221109-F-IO108-002

U.S. Air Force “Tropic Moon I” officers and airmen of the 602nd Special Operations Squadron at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base on 1 June 1968, showing the Low-Light-Level-Televison (LLLTV) pod on the wing of one of the four Douglas A-1E Skyraiders that made up the unit (s/n 52-135177, -135187, -135195, -135211).

USAF HC-130P Combat King recovery aircraft refuels a Sikorsky HH-3E Jolly Green Giant of the 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron in flight near Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, between 10 and 23 February 1969. Visible are another HH-3E and two Douglas A-1 Skyraider (A-1H 135314, A-1J 142023) of the 602nd Special Operations Squadron. The A-1H 135314 was later shot down by ground fire near Ban Na, Laos, on 18 June 1971 while in service with the 1st SOS. The pilot was killed. The A-1J 142023 was shot down by ground fire over Laos on 1 March 1969. The pilot was killed. 342-C-KE-60922

USAF A-1H Skyraider (s/n 52-139778, “Bubbles’n Bust”) of the 602nd Special Operations Squadron on final approach before landing at Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, 15 March 1970. NARA 176246880

The Air Force lost 102 pilots, killed, while flying A-1s in combat with USAF Skyraider drivers earning two Medals of Honor, 14 Air Force Crosses, and many other awards for valor.

The two Skyraiders in the collection the National Museum of the Air Force, Bu Nos. 132649 and 134600 are both former Navy planes that served with the 1st Special Operations Squadron during Vietnam.

Of note, 649 was the aircraft that Major Bernard Fisher earned his MoH in in 1966, having rescued a fellow pilot shot down over South Vietnam by landing in enemy territory under heavy fire and personally flying him to safety.

Douglas A-1E Skyraider Bu No. 132649 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. A 1952 Navy plane, she was struck off at Alameda in April 1964 and transferred to the USAF, serving with the 1st ACS in Vietnam. (U.S. Air Force photo 071030-F-1234S-020)

The aircraft on display represents Captain Ronald Smith’s A-1H The Proud American (Serial Number 52-139738) as it appeared during his SAR mission in June 1972 as part of the 1st Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Phanom (NKP) Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. Captain Smith was awarded the Air Force Cross for the rescue of a downed F-4 Phantom crewman near a North Vietnamese airfield. The Proud American had a long and storied record in Southeast Asia. Although many pilots flew the plane, it is renowned for three separate episodes: Lt Col William Jones’ Medal of Honor mission in 1968, Capt Ronald Smith’s Air Force Cross mission in June 1972, and for being the last US Air Force A-1 lost in combat in Southeast Asia in September 1972. This aircraft (U.S. Navy BuNo 134600) was modified and painted by the Museum’s Restoration Division to represent Capt Smith’s Air Force Cross aircraft and placed on display at the National Museum of the Air Force in 2022. It was part of OPERATION FARM GATE and flown by the South Vietnamese Air Force from 1965 to 1975. (U.S. Air Force photo 221114-F-AU145-1305 by Ty Greenlees)

Beautiful Cincy

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A period photograph of USS Cincinnati (Cruiser Number 7), which served between 1894 and 1921. The image, showing the graceful 3,200-ton cruiser in gleaming white with her original ornate bow crest, would likely have been taken before 1911 when she picked up a more 20th-century haze gray.

Courtesy of Mr. H.L. Chapelle, Smithsonian Institution. NHHC Photograph Collection. NR&L (OLD) 20432-A

If you note, the photo is signed by Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance (USNA 1906), who served on board between 1911 and 1913 as a lieutenant J.G, holding down an engineering officer post while deployed on the Asiatic Station.

Cincinnati, who fought in the Spanish American War and served as flagship of the American Patrol Detachment, Atlantic Fleet from 1 February 1918 to 28 March 1919 on convoy duty around the Caribbean, carried single 6-inch gun, 10 5″/, eight 6-pounders, 2 1-pounders, and four 18-inch torpedo tubes as built.

USS Cincinnati (C-7) unofficial plans, published in the Transactions of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, 1893. NH 70107

Following her 25-year career, she was decommissioned at New Orleans on 20 April 1919 and sold on 4 August 1921 for scrap so that her tonnage wouldn’t count against the U.S. in naval treaty allowances.

The Whisper of, ‘Remember’

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Remember your friends, relatives, and those who gave their last full measure today, gents. It’s not about saving 25 percent on bedding.

Official caption: “USS Saratoga (CV-3), 5 November 1943, during the raid on Rabaul, New Britain. The gunner in this Navy bomber was killed by a Japanese 20mm shell from a Japanese “Zero” [Mitsubishi A6M2] during the raid from Rabaul. Upon the plane’s return to the carrier, the dead gunner’s finger was still clasped on the trigger of his 50 cal. machine gun. Saratoga also participated in the second Navy raid on Rabaul on November 11, 1943, and saw action in the bloody taking of Tarawa.”

Official U.S. Navy photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. 80-G-44094

No more posts today.

The Snuff Film of the Emperor’s Final Submarines

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Some 80 years ago this week, Operation Road’s End saw the U.S. Navy deep-six no less than five large, captured Imperial Japanese Navy submarines off Hawaii.

These included I-203, sunk by USS Caiman (SS-323) on 21 May; I-201 by USS Queenfish (SS-393) on 23 May; I-14 by USS Bugara (SS-331) on 28 May; I-401 by USS Cabezon (SS-334) on 31 May, and I-400 by USS Trumpetfish (SS-425).

An amazing color film exists of this operation.

Video description via NARA:

Sinking of Japanese sub I 201, 5/23/46, by USS Queenfish: 1) MS Japanese submarine exploding on surface after being hit by torpedoes from USS Queenfish, large column of smoke and water rising into air. 2) LS GV periscope shot showing Japanese submarine on surface, torpedo track in foreground. Japanese submarine exploding after being hit by a torpedo. MV. 3) MCU DA bow of US submarine, torpedo track in background, Japanese sub exploding in background. 4) LS DA AV Japanese submarine on the surface of the water exploding, a large column of water and smoke rising into the air after the Japanese sub has been hit by a torpedo from a US submarine. 5) LS DA AV large oil slick.

Sinking of Japanese sub I-14, 5/28/46, by USS Bugara: 1) MCU DA stern of US sub. 2) LS Japanese sub exploding, a large column of water and black smoke rising into the air. 3) MCU DA stern of US sub, torpedo track in background, large column of water and smoke rising into air, US flag in foreground. MV. 4) LS DA AV Japanese sub on surface. 5) LS DAAV Japanese sub exploding after being hit by a torpedo from a US sub. A large column of water and smoke rising into the air, a Japanese submarine sinking, leaving a large oil slick on the water. MV.

Sinking of Japanese sub I-401, 5/31/46, by USS Cabezon, SS 334: 1) LS Japanese sub on surface. 2) MCU DA stern of US sub as it fires torpedo, follow through of track to Japanese sub showing sub exploding, large column of water rising into air. MV. 3) LS DA AV Japanese sub on surface exploding, white spray and smoke rising from surface after Japanese sub has been hit by a torpedo from a US sub. 4) LS DA AV Japanese sub sinking, leaving a large oil slick on the water.

Sinking of Japanese submarine I-441, 5/31/46, by US submarine: 1) LS Japanese sub exploding after being hit by a torpedo from a US sub. MV. 2) LS DA AV Japanese sub on surface exploding after being hit by a torpedo from a US sub. MV.

Sinking of Japanese sub I-400 by USS Trumpet Fish: 1) LS Japanese sub exploding after being hit by a torpedo fired from US sub; exploding. MV. 2) LS DA AV torpedo tracks showing same hitting Japanese sub, the Japanese sub exploding after being hit by torpedoes from a US sub. MV. 3) NCY DA Stern of US submarine after firing torpedoes at Japanese sub, Japanese sub exploding after being hit by torpedoes from US sub. MV. 4) LS DA AV large slicks on water about sub after being hit; also, large explosions. 5) MCU DA stern of US submarine; Japanese submarine exploding in the background.

This followed up on the sinking of 24 captured IJN boats still capable of sailing on their own power assembled at “Point Deep Six” in Japan in April 1946 by demo charges and gunfire from the sub tender USS Nereus (AS-17) and the destroyer USS Everette F. Larson (DD-830). Those boats were I-36, I-47, I-53, I-58, I-156, I-157, I-158, I-159, I-162, I-366, I-367, I-402, RO-50, HA-103, HA-105, HA-106, HA-107, HA-108, HA-109, HA-111, HA-201, HA-202, HA-203 and HA-208.

As further detailed by Combined Fleet:

General MacArthur’s Report recorded by October 1946, all captured Japanese submarines (a total of 15,1) had been disposed of. The Report quotes a June 1949 in the Tokyo “Pacific Stars and Stripes” newspaarticle per article dated that when the IJN disposal task was, stating 42 submarines had been scrapped, and a further 104 had been sunk. Thus, in addition to the disposal of the 49 IJN submarines that surrendered, some 100 other submarines were subjected to the disposal process as outlined in the Potsdam Protocol.

New and Beautiful: Meet the Beretta 92G Elite Combat LTT

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Beretta and Ernest Langdon have teamed up on what could be the penultimate Model 92 series defensive pistol.

The new 92G Elite Combat LTT is just stacked with competition-grade features. Standard is an Elite LTT slide and frame, LTT G10 grips, and a chrome trigger with an ambidextrous G-series slide-mounted decocking lever. Then comes the Toni System improvements in the form of a single-port compensator and flared magwell, along with a trio of Toni System +4 magazine extensions to give the user three 22-round magazines out of the box.

But as the man says, “wait, there’s more.”

Additional features include a black threaded barrel, a fiber-optic front sight, an extended disassembly lever, and DLC-coated hammer and sear. Lots of attention is put to updated ergos, with enhanced frame beveling and front strap checkering, some very aggressive front slide serrations, an extended mag release, and an accessory rail.

Roll those images.

The overall length of the new Beretta 92G Elite Combat LTT is 9 inches with the Toni comp installed on the 5.1-inch barrel, giving it a sight radius of 6.1 inches.

Weight is 36.2 ounces, unloaded.

Grip width is 1.3 inches, while overall height is 6.45 inches.

The compensator and flared magwell work together with Toni System +4 magazine extensions to enhance recoil control and increase reload speed.

The Toni System comp is removable, leaving an extended threaded barrel that is suppressor-ready

The new Beretta 92G Elite Combat LTT ships in a clamshell plastic box with three magazines, each with TS +4 extensions.

So how much does all this functional beauty cost?

The MSRP on the new Beretta 92G Elite Combat LTT is $1,299, closer to $1,198 at dealers.

That’s actually a screaming deal when you consider the much more vanilla 92G Elite LTT II has an MSRP of $1,249 and does not come with the three Toni System mag extensions (which run $45 a pop), the TS comp runs another $100, and the magwell another $100.

Just saying.

Nice to see this as a factory option.

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