Weapons of the US Special Operations Command

Osprey Weapons #69

by Chris McNab, Johnny Shumate (Illustrator), Alan Gilliland (Illustrator)

Since 1987 the US Special Operations Command has used a wide array of sophisticated weapons in action around the world. Fully illustrated with specially commissioned artwork, this absorbing study explores the origins, development, and combat record of the distinctive weaponry carried by these elite forces, from pistols to assault rifles.

Assessing the technology and capabilities of these combat weapons, as well as how they have been used in modern combat, this fully illustrated study lifts the veil on some of the most distinctive hand-held weapon systems of US special operations forces since 1987.

The units and formations of the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) have privileged access to the finest weaponry in the world's arsenal. Whether Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines, the SOCOM troops select weapons that match their mission requirements, but which also sit at the cutting edge of combat technology.

This means that, while SOCOM troops frequently use standard-issue weaponry, they also adopt many specialist pieces of kit that are not so accessible to the broader armed services, including sniper rifles, battle rifles, and machine guns, as well as high-tech tactical accessories used to transform standard weaponry into something exceptional.

80 pages, Paperback

Published July 23, 2019

About the author

Dr Chris McNab has written over a hundred books in a career spanning over two decades. He is a historian with a specialisation in military history.

Reviews

[Jeff]

Wow, I found this book extremely informative and fascinating. I'm not a firearms aficionado, but I knew just enough on the subject to fully understand the descriptions of the weapons and training methods being described. My only criticism is that this book could really use an acronym list, as the author makes extensive use of them. It's easy to forget what a "DM rifle" means, for example, if you read the book on and off over a period of a week or two, like I did. (It means Designated Marksman rifle, in case you were wondering.)

This is one of the best Osprey books I've ever read.