{"id":13103,"date":"2023-10-03T20:43:53","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T20:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/?p=13103"},"modified":"2023-10-03T20:55:35","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T20:55:35","slug":"guns-of-black-hawk-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/guns-of-black-hawk-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Guns Of Black Hawk Down"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we approach another anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu, let’s take a look at the guns of Black Hawk Down. This American military operation in Somalia was part of the wider Somali civil war, which had been going on since 1991. Meant as a raid to capture self-proclaimed president Mohammed Farah Aideed and two of his lieutenants, the attack was supposed to be a 90-minute mission. By the end of the 14-hour \u201croutine\u201d operation, eighteen Americans were dead, 84 were wounded, and one pilot had gone MIA. It would become the most intense U.S. military operation since Vietnam and before Afghanistan.<\/span><\/p>\n

It all began on October 3, 1993, when 160 U.S. Army Rangers and other special forces launched the raid. However, it started badly as two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters went down early in the operation via rocket-propelled grenades (RPG). The soldiers defended the downed helicopters as we sent in additional American troops to protect survivors of the crashes. The fighting dragged on through the night as U.S. forces were overwhelmed by thousands of heavily armed Somali militia.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A battle ensued to save the survivors, and enemy gunfire killed two Delta Force soldiers, Sgt. Gary Gordon and Sgt. First Class Randall Shughart. They posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 1994. The following day, a U.N. armored convoy fought to the helicopters, suffering more casualties but rescuing the surviving troops. Our guys eventually captured Aidid\u2019s lieutenants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Commemorating the Battle of Mogadishu<\/b><\/h2>\n

In 1999, journalist Mark Bowden documented the Unified Task Force\u2019s attempts to capture Aideed and his lieutenants in <\/span>Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War<\/span><\/i><\/a>. The well-received book was a finalist for the 1999 National Book Award for Nonfiction.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 2001 movie version, directed by Ridley Scott, featured notable actors such as Josh Harnett, Sam Shepard, Tom Sizemore, and Eric Bana. Nicolaj Coster-Waldau portrayed Gary Gordan, and Johnny Strong played Randy Shughart. A host of rifles, handguns, machine guns, grenades, and launchers accompanied the cast.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although over thirty various types of weapons appear in the film, we\u2019ll focus on the following six:<\/span><\/p>\n

Guns Of Black Hawk Down<\/h2>\n

Colt Model 733\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Several Army Rangers and Delta Force operators carry the short-barreled (11.5\u201d) 5.56x45mm Colt Model 733. Some are standard models, while others have camouflage paint and Aimpoint red-dot sights. Gary Gordon used the latter weapon while defending the second helicopter\u2019s crash site, and CWO3 Mike Durant (Ron Eldard) fired it after Gordon died. Some of the other 733s have an XM177-style flash-hider instead of the standard barrel with an A2 flash-hider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For historical accuracy, Gary Gordon\u2019s carbine would have been a Model 723 with an OPSINC suppressor sleeved over the barrel. It\u2019s the model all US Force Deltas used back then. The 723 features a 14.5″ barrel, (M4 or pencil profile), thin CAR-15 handguards, and a collapsible stock. If you want to find out more about the model 723, check out this great video<\/a> covering all the features.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

M14\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"a<\/p>\n

Delta Force SFC Randy Shughart carried the M14 and used it to defend the second crash site at Mogadishu. The successor to the M1 Garand<\/a>, the M-14 stayed the U.S. armed force\u2019s standard-issue rifle from 1959 to 1964, when the M-16 replaced it. Shughart\u2019s M14 has camouflage paint and an Aimpoint CompM2\/M68 reflex sight. Its legend lives on and Fulton Armory makes a M14 Black Hawk DMR Tribute<\/a> rifle for those wanting to own a similar gun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The M14 has a mixed history on the battlefield. It’s a long, heavy rifle that fell from favor during the jungle fighting in Vietnam. Its original form was ill-suited for the country\u2019s moist environment as the wooden stocks swelled, affecting the rifle\u2019s accuracy. However, 7.62x51mm NATO\u2019s firepower and long range were ideal for the Somalian desert. The updated polymer stock, accessory rail, and 20-round magazines made it a force to be reckoned with in Somalia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Guns Of Black Hawk Down: Colt M16A2<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"a<\/p>\n

Although Randy Shughart mostly carried an M14, he switched briefly to the Colt M16A2 while defending the downed Black Hawk. Rangers using the rifle include Sergeants Eversmann, Goodale, Yurek, Joyce, and PFC Blackburn.<\/span><\/p>\n

The US Marine Corps requested the 5.56x45mm<\/a> Colt M16A2\u2019s development due to combat experience in Vietnam. The modifications adopted in 1982 were extensive. They included:<\/span><\/p>\n