Letter Re: Small Unit Tactics in a Post Collapse Environment

Captain Rawles, In addition to the points you made in reference to stealth and scarce ammunition supplies post collapse, in your commentary on the named article, I would make a second point: While the squad level tactics described have proven to be rather effective for active duty military in offense;  the average Joe and his family unit will most likely not have those kinds of numbers.  The average familial size seems to be right around four, these days.  So unless one is lucky enough to have found/joined/founded a group for this purpose, when it gets to be Schumer time the …




Notes from JWR:

I received an e-mail on Friday morning from Brian Camden of Hardened Structures, alerting me that an F-18 fighter jet had just crashed, quite near their headquarters, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Thankfully, no one was killed. Here is one minute of raw post facto video. — Today we present two more entries for Round 40 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. …




How to Eat the Abundance Around You, by Linda Runyon

Long before the days of supermarkets and organized agriculture, people lived.  We are the evidence.  They lived in small groups and even alone as hunter gatherers.  And remember, this was in the days before language!  How did we do it?  Trial and error?  Instinct?  If so, the instinct has been lost, but with some simple rules, it may be regained. The good news is we don’t have to watch Uncle Ogg keel over in agony after grazing on a patch of poison hemlock to know that it’s something to stay away from. Solutions to common problems such as what to …




The Evolution of Radio Technology, Part 1, by Roger R.

Many preppers and other radio communications enthusiasts want to be well equipped for receiving and transmitting under adverse conditions, but most modern hams, shortwave listeners (SWLs), preppers and observers are not familiar with the evolution of receiver and transmitter designs and how that progression can give us a useful advantage in gearing up for different scenarios. Old tech is, after all, appropriate tech when the going gets rough-the rougher, the older in many instances. I want to start with receivers because a transmitter without a receiver is useful only for broadcasting, and in our endeavors broadcasting is generally our last …




Two Letters Re: Military Surplus G.O.O.D. Vehicles

James: I just read the SurvivalBlog post “Letter Re: Military Surplus G.O.O.D. Vehicles.” Here’s a web site for any of your readers in or near West Virginia looking for a Humvee, Deuce and a half or 5 ton trucks: Clark Trucks. With My Regards, – Aaron K.   Sir, Reference military surplus vehicles, I would like to recommend that for those seriously interested in something other than a “deuce” that there are several places here in the US where former Swiss or Austrian “Pinzguaers” are available.  These are very versatile, high ground clearance, 4×4 or 6×6 trucks.  They have 4-cylinder, …




Letter Re: Small Unit Tactics in a Post Collapse Environment

Hi Jim,  I agree 100% with your addenda to Gunfighter’s article, Small Unit Tactics in a Post Collapse Environment. As a consultant myself, I have had to stress (particularly to the younger crowd of OIF and OEF veterans) that Survivalists have to operate differently than Soldiers, due to the military’s reliance on body armor, advanced medical resources, et cetera. If anything, I seek out Vietnam Vets as consulting associates, for their experience in individual techniques (usually all from the prone position), from the pre-Kevlar, pre-IBA, pre-MOLLE days. I met many of them when I attended Jungle Warfare school back in 1983. …




Economics and Investing:

C.D.V. highlighted this piece by Richard Lehmann, over at Forbes: Ben Bernanke’s Secret Inflation Plan Destruction of Spain’s Economy Duplicates Greece Ron in Florida mentioned this at Zero Hedge: The Second Foreclosure Tsunami Is Coming, And Is About To Kill Any Hopes Of A “Housing Bottom” James K. sent this: Production of presidential dollars reduced G.G. flagegd this nes item: Government records 40th straight deficit month in March Items from The Economatrix: Crude Ends Higher Pre-Holiday, Posts Weekly Gain S&P Posts Worst Week an 2012 as Bulls Waver March Sales Brighten Retailers’ Profit Prospects




Odds ‘n Sods:

30 Canned Foods You Never Knew Existed. (Thanks to Joseph R. for the link.)    o o o More charming news: Gearing Up: DHS Purchases Bullet Resistant Checkpoint Booths Amid Large Scale Ammo Buildup. (Thanks to S.K. for the link.)    o o o Be careful out on the roads, folks. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.)    o o o David S. flagged this article: Handheld Plasma Flashlight Rids Skin of Notorious Pathogens