Auto Ordnance Keeps up the Nose Art 1911s

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I’ve dug what Pennsylvania-based Auto-Ordnance has done in the past with their WWII-themed M1911A1s, for instance, with their Black Sheep Squadron salute back in 2024.

A functional work of art, underneath the custom Cerakote finish, the Black Sheep 1911 is still an Auto-Ordnance Stainless 1911 in .45 ACP. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

Also, note the “belly” of the gun is left in “the white” to emulate the aluminum body of an F4U Corsair. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

Well, the company is back with two additions to its “Winged Warriors” series: the “Memphis Belle 1911” and the “Red Tails 1911”.  Artwork in Cerakote is hand-done by the artisans at Altered Arsenal.

Price is $1,500, making these limited editions something more for an aviation buff’s man cave or gift to grandpa kinda thing, but it is nice to see them around.

Locate, close with, and destroy

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You have to love this line of the Camp Lejeune-based 3/6 Marines in a slow-walk live-fire line while underway in the Caribbean.

Official caption:

Sighted In! U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/6, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), conduct live-fire drills aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Sep. 17, 2025, during Deployment 25-26. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the President’s priorities.

CARIBBEAN SEA - U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 3/6, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), conduct live fire drills aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Sep. 17, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tanner Bernat)

USMC Photo by Sgt. Tanner Bernat.

Rifles all seem to be the M27 IAR (HK 416 piston gun assembled in Georgia), almost all are seen with PEQ-15 target pointers, the Squad Common Optic (Trijicon VCOG 1-8×28), and KAC QDSS NT4 suppressors. Also note the near-universal use of a single belt-mounted mag carrier off-hand (in addition to the six on the plate carrier) as well as a left-rear SSE bag/dump pouch.

Formed 14 August 1917, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines deployed to France just two months later and earned its “Teufelhunden” (Devil Dogs) nickname against the Germans, fighting eyeball-to-eyeball at Aisne-Marne, Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse-Argonne with the 2nd U.S. Infantry Division– keeping an Indian Head on its patch to mark this time. They also earned a French Croix de Guerre and Fourragère for their war “Over There.”

Reactivated for WWII, the unit initially garrisoned Iceland, then was folded into the 2nd MarDiv for Guadalcanal, the Southern Solomons, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa. Cold War operations included Lebanon, the DR for Power Pack in 1962, Panama for Just Cause, Desert Sheild/Storm, Mogadishu in 94, the Haitan Vacation (also in 94), and numerous trips to the sandbox during GWOT.

As with every Marine unit, their stated mission is to

Locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver or repel the enemy’s assault with fire and close combat

Pour one out for John Smith, and Bruce

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Some 30 years ago this week, the ultimate Prohibition-era anti-hero hit the screen in Walter “every film I’ve ever done has been a Western” Hill’s Last Man Standing, featuring Bruce Willis as dual-1911-equipped John Smith, passing through the off-map Texas town of Jericho.

Twin shoulder holsters, 1911s, three-piece suits, and fedoras should be sold in sets

John/Bruce duly becomes caught between two rival bootlegging gangs, Strazi and the Italians vs. Doyle and the Irish.

The ensuing 1920s take on Yojimbo and A Fistful of Dollars is almost spectacularly over the top in terms of gunplay, but probably sold another million 1911s.

John Smith long ago hung up his crushed fedora, and Bill is, well, not Bill any more, but you have to love it.

 

Tinnitus with a universal adapter

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Some 85 years ago, during the epic eight-month siege of Sevastopol.

Wehrmacht soldiers of II/Artillerie-Regiment 814, 11th Army, Army Group Sud, cover their ears as a Czech-made Skoda 9.45-inch Howitzer Model 39 (24 cm Haubitze vz.39) fires at Red Army positions, probably during the siege of Perekop, on or about 24 September 1941.

The two-battalion/four-battery AR 814 was the only German unit to use the rare gun, of which only 16 were made for the Wehrmacht after two early tubes had been sent to the gun’s original customer, the Turkish Army, in early 1939.

Firing a 366-pound anti-concrete shell to 11 miles when all five bags were loaded behind them, these 35-ton beasts were only ever meant to be siege howitzers– making it likely the Turks planned to use them if needed against the Soviets in the Caucasus, as their other traditional enemy, the Greeks, had few such fortified positions worthy of such heavy ordnance.

The Germans used them at Sevastopol and at Leningrad.

A 24 cm Haubitze 39 of AR 814 in 1942 during the Siege of Leningrad.

They were withdrawn in 1944, and the guns were lost to history, although part of one may have been captured by the U.S. 79th Infantry Division in the Rhine in March 1945.

I/814 melted away near Königsberg in Wehrkreis I in early 1945, while II/814 was bagged by the Soviets as part of the 18th Army in Courland.

If anyone knows about the history of the two guns delivered to Turkey in 1939, please pass it on.

The Hog Slaughter Endures: Davis-Monthan A-10 Unit Inactivations

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On 18 September 2026, the 355th Wing inactivated the remaining A-10 Thunderbolt II units at Davis-Monthan: The 355th Operations Group, 357th Fighter Squadron (“Dragons”), 357th Fighter Generation Squadron, and 355th Training Squadron, capping a half-century of Warthog operations from the Arizona base and casing the unit’s colors.

They had a pair of 47-year-old Idaho Air National Guard and ANG Test Center A-10Cs fly in from Gowen Field and Morris ANGB, respectively, for the inactivation ceremony, as all of the 355th’s ‘Hogs had been retired back in July. The birds were 79-00142 (MSN 0406, former 47th FS “Salomey”) and 79-00185 (MSN 0449, formerly of the 511th TFS).

Two U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft assigned to the Idaho Air National Guard and Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center fly in formation at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Sept. 18, 2026. The aircraft flew during the A-10 Unit Inactivation Ceremony to honor the legacy of the Thunderbolt II and the Airmen who supported its mission at Davis-Monthan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Samantha Melecio)

The fact that planes had to be flown in was especially poignant.

At its peak, Davis-Monthan housed something like 85 A-10s assigned to its primary and training squadrons, not counting those in the Boneyard.

How about this sight just four years back:

A 355th Wing A-10 “elephant walk” at Davis-Monthan back in 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alex Miller)

These days, the USAF only has two active-duty A-10 squadrons (23rd FG’s 74th FS “Flying Tigers” and 75th FS “Tiger Sharks”) at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and one reserve squadron (442nd FW’s 303rd FS “KC Hawgs”) at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, with 54 primary airframes, and all three units are expected to be sunset by 2030.

The ANG has the 107th FS “Red Devils” in Michigan and the 190th “Skullbangers” in Idaho, which are expected to transition to F-15EXs and Block 40 F-16Cs by 2027-28.

Today, something like 150 A-10 retired airframes are in storage at the other end of the base under the care of AMARG.

The future of war?

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Kind of scary-looking, not going to lie.

Official caption: A drone swarm launches during the XVIII Airborne Corps’ Exercise Scarlet Dragon 26-3 at Fort Bragg, N.C., Sept. 16, 2026. The exercise used layered aerial attacks to test sensor, command-and-control, and air defense integration under realistic conditions.

Photo by Army Sgt. Noe Cork, VIRIN: 260916-A-UV759-1725

During the event:

Coordinated swarms of 25 to 100 drones flew in tactical formations to stress sensors, software, and air defense crews. Scarlet Dragon’s operational stress test stacked those threats with other unmanned aircraft system profiles to evaluate the network under battlefield-like pressure.

Drones synchronize before a swarm flight during the XVIII Airborne Corps’ Scarlet Dragon 26-3 at Fort Bragg, N.C., Sept. 16, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Noe Cork)

At least the Army is “looking to the sky,” so to speak.

Wouldn’t be a bad idea to take it nationwide, down to the USCG Aux, CAP, NWS SkyWarn Spotter, and JROTC level…

Fall 2026 issue of Armor Magazine is here

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The 64-page Fall 2026 issue of Armor magazine (the Mounted Maneuver Journal) is available online for free (read or download).

The cover article, “Indispensable Iron” by COL Bryan Bonnema, MAJ Aram Hatfield, and CSM Greg Swayer, describes the importance of the ABCT and cautions against the temptation to substitute lighter formation or standoff fires for the capabilities that the ABCT provides.

Enjoy!

Last ‘Hog Flys Last Air Weapons School Training Flight

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The end of an era, boys.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II SN 82-0665 completed its final training sortie with the 66th Weapons Squadron this week, flown by Lt. Col. Ridge Flick, the unit’s commander.

“The flight closed a chapter of providing graduate-level training in advanced close air support with the U.S. Air Weapons School,” as noted Nellis’s PAO.

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Alex Padilla, a crew chief assigned to the 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, conducts postflight maintenance on an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, August 18, 2026. Maintainers assigned to the 757th AMXS routinely inspect and service aircraft to ensure combat-ready airpower for the joint force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jennifer Nesbitt)

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Ridge Flick, 66th Weapons Squadron commander, conducts postflight procedures in an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, August 18, 2026. The 66th WPS completed the final A-10 training flight for the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jennifer Nesbitt)

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft taxis after its final training flight at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Aug. 18, 2026. The 66th Weapons Squadron conducted the final training flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jennifer Nesbitt)

Fitting that it was with 82-0665, the last ‘Hog built. According to Baugher’s sheets, 82-0665 (MSN 713) was delivered on 20 March 1984 to the 23rd FW, 74th TFS “Flying Tigers” at England AFB, Louisiana, and has had a full career.

An air-to-air right-side view of a 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft banking toward Cain Lake, a landmark near the base where pilots practice their combat flying tactics. The aircraft is armed with AGM-65 Maverick missiles and an AN/ALQ-119 electronic countermeasures pod. The last production A-10A Thunderbolt II built (S/N 82-0665) was delivered to the TAC’s 74th Fighter Squadron at England AFB. (TSgt Bill Thompson)

Wearing a woodland camo paint livery and EL tail code, 82-665 was part of the TAC A-10 Demo Team and was named “Cool Cat the Last Tiger” to mark the last production A-10A.

She was sent to the Boneyard at AMARC in 2001, then returned to service and converted to A-10C standard before being sent to the 66th WPS.

The 66th, as recently as March, was conducting austere landing training on a dry lake bed outside of Las Vegas. You know, the kind of stuff the A-10 was designed for, and virtually no other combat jet in the world can pull off with style.

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft assigned to the 66th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, performs an austere landing at Delamar Dry Lake near Alamo, Nevada, May 28, 2026. The 66th WPS provided close air support and forward air control during a Weapons School Integration mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jennifer Nesbitt)

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft assigned to the 66th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, deploys defensive flares during an evasive maneuver over the Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada, May 28, 2026. The 66th WPS participated in a Weapons School Integration mission, challenging students to develop tactically relevant plans integrating multiple mission partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jennifer Nesbitt)

The squadron is no stranger to change and flying icons.

Initially formed in 1940 as the 66th Pursuit Squadron, just seven months after Pearl Harbor, the outfit was flying its P-40 Warhawks as air cover for Monty’s British 8th Army’s drive across Egypt and Libya into Tunisia to kick the Afrika Korps off the continent.

Converted to the P-47 Thunderbolt, the 66th flew the big “Jug” all over Italy and Southern France for the rest of the war. They shifted airfields no less than 32 times during the war to keep up with the frontline.

Their mascot and emblem was cartoonist Al Walker’s cigar-chomping “Slug the Penguin.”

Cold War service saw the 66th fly F-51s, F-80s, F-94s, F-89s, F-105s, and later F-4s before transitioning to the A-10 in 1977. They have been based at Nellis since 1969 in support of the USAF Weapons School.

Nothing like that Northern Wedding

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Some 40 years ago, in the darkest stretch of the Cold War, Exercise Northern Wedding ’86 was a massive, three-week NATO maritime and amphibious exercise conducted from late August to mid-September 1986, involving 150 ships, 35,000 troops, and 500 aircraft from 10 Western nations.

The NARA has hundreds of pics from the exercise, and they really show off the might of the Western fleets at the time, including at least three carriers (Nimitz, America, and Ark Royal), the newly recommissioned battlewagon Iowa, and ‘phibs a-plenty, including LHA’s with their original 5-inch guns intact, LSTs, and LPHs.

There were FFGs. Remember how nice it was to have those?

Heck, there were even hydrofoils, with the PHMs out of Key West seen in a rare overseas deployment.

A port bow view of the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-ST-87-00986

A port bow view of the guided missile frigate USS Doyle (FFG-39) participating in an underway replenishment with the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61). The ships are participating in NATO exercise Northern Wedding 86, DN-ST-87-00322

Crew members aboard the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) secure a Helicopter Light Anti-Submarine Squadron 32 (HSL-32) SH-2F Seasprite helicopter on the ship’s fantail during NATO exercise Northern Wedding 86. Of note, BuNo 161642 was a brand-new airframe, having just entered service in 1985. Rebuilt as a SH-2G by Kaman, she was stricken off charge in 2003 and is in the National Naval Aviation Museum’s collection today. DN-ST-87-00325

The No. 1 Mark 7 16-inch/50-cal. gun turret aboard the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) is fired during a main battery firing exercise. The ship is participating in NATO exercise Northern Wedding 86, DN-ST-87-00324

An aerial port quarter view of the battleship USS Iowa (BB 61) firing her No. 3 Mark 7 16-inch/50-cal. guns during NATO exercise North Wedding 86. DN-ST-87-03747

Officers on the bridge of the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) observe the ship’s Mark 28 5-inch/38-cal. guns during a firing exercise. The ship is participating in NATO exercise North Wedding 86. DN-ST-87-00321

A port view of the patrol combatant missile hydrofoil USS Hercules (PHM-2) underway alongside the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) during NATO exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-ST-87-00316.

That’s a lot of Harpoons for a 133-foot PHM! Sadly, the 48-knot (not a misprint) USS Hercules (PHM-2) was retired after not quite 11 years of active service. DN-ST-87-00313.

A port quarter view of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) underway off the coast of Norway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. At the time, she shipped out with  CVW-8 (AJ tail code), including two F-14A Tomcat squadrons, two of A-7E Corsairs, one of A-6E Intruders, one of S-3A Vikings, plus Sea Kings, Prowlers, and Hawkeyes. DN-SC-87-02785

A starboard view of the amphibious assault ship USS Saipan (LHA 2) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, note her bow 5-inch Mk45. DN-ST-87-01034

An aerial starboard beam view of the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4) being escorted by four CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters flying in formation over the ship. Note her bow 5-inch Mk45. The ship is participating in NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-SC-88-00894

A port bow view of the amphibious assault ship USS Inchon (LPH 12) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. Note the little 19,000-ton helio carrier has at least seven CH-46 Sea Knights, four CH-53 Sea Stallions, and two UH-1Ns on her diminutive 592×104-foot flight deck. DN-ST-87-00975

A crew member mans an observation post aboard the tank landing ship USS Spartanburg County (LST 1192) above a Mark 32 3-inch/50-caliber twin gun mount during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-ST-87-00947

A port quarter view of the British light aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (R-09) underway during NATO exercise Northern Wedding ’86. Note the two Sea Harriers and at least five British Westland-built Sea Kings on her deck. DN-ST-87-00308

A port bow view of the British Type 42 (Sheffield) class destroyer HMS Liverpool (D 92) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-ST-87-01008

A bow view of the West German Type 101 (Hamburg) class destroyer FGS Schleswig-Holstein (D 182) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. Schleswig-Holstein was an old girl even at the time, having been ordered in 1958 and just eight years away from disposal. DN-ST-87-00960.

A port bow view of the West German Type 101 (Hamburg) class FGS Hessen (D 184) underway during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. Note her French armament, including DCN 100 mm/L55 guns and MM38 Exocets. DN-ST-87-01016

When it comes to Marines, you have battleship MarDets pulling shot correction, and M60A1s hitting the beach with snorks, both long-extinct things.

Members of the Marine detachment from the battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) act as naval gunfire spotters during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. You have to love the M81 BDUs, M65 jackets, ALICE gear, M1 helmets with cat eyes, double canteens, and the ciggy, DN-SC-87-04734

Shells fired from the battleship USS Iowa (BB 61) land near the shoreline during live-fire gunnery practice for NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. DN-ST-87-03458

A Marine M-60 main battle tank is driven ashore from Utility Landing Craft 1660 (LCU-1660) during the NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86. A folding snorkel is attached to the tank. DN-ST-85-00687

And you know, in a big NATO exercise conducted in Russia’s front yard, you had plenty of party crashers show up to observe, giving the Blue Team a good look at (and listen to) real-world Red Team assets.

You know the Leicas, Nikons, and Hasselblads were just clicking away.

A starboard bow view of the Soviet Sovremenny-class destroyer Bezuprechny observing NATO ships during Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-SC-87-04745

An elevated port beam view of the Soviet Krivak I-class frigate Druzhny underway. The ship is observing NATO ships participating in Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-SC-87-04469

A starboard bow view of the Soviet Krivak I-class frigate Zharky underway. The ship is following U.S. ships en route to exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-SN-87-04476

A Soviet Tu-20/Tu-95 Bear aircraft is escorted by a U.S. Navy F-14A Tomcat aircraft during NATO Exercise Northern Wedding ’86, DN-ST-87-01015

Good times.

A Rare Italian Storm Spotted

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Spotted aboard the 6,200-ton Italian Thaon di Revel-class patrol frigate Giovanni Delle Bande Nere (P 434) at sea on her way back from RIMPAC: Beretta Mx4 Storm 9mm SMGs.

Beretta introduced the 12-inch-barreled, 1,000 rpm Mx4 in 2003 for consideration in military/LE contracts to fill the place in the company’s catalog left when the PM12 burp gun and its semi-auto PM12-S2 brother were curtailed.

Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro (better known for his car designs including the Maserati MC12 and the DeLorean DMC-12), the Mx4/Cx4 was designed to use assorted grip-fed double-stack magazines with patterns including the Beretta 92, Beretta Cougar, and the Beretta Px4 Storm.

Beretta marketed the semi-auto Cx4 Storm tactical carbine with its 16-inch barrel for sporting purposes and as a patrol rifle in 9mm and .40S&W, and .45ACP in the U.S. and 9×21 overseas at the same time.

The Cx4 and Mx4 compared, seen at Beretta last year. Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com

Besides a good bit of movie, TV, and video game use (see Colonial Marines in Battlestar Galactica), the Cx4 never really garnered a lot of popularity, and the Mx4 got even less. Notably, and as witnessed above, the Italian Navy purchased a few hundred in 2013-14.

The Cx4 disappeared from Beretta USA’s website after April 2023, and neither it nor the Mx4 appears on Beretta Europe or Beretta Defense Technologies, replaced on the latter by the PMX.

The PMX is the new hotness for Beretta when it comes to SMGs these days.

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