Special Forces ActionLights?

[Anath]

check this out :

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/trade.center/gallery/special.forces.11.18.html

look at the things on the Rangers helmets in 3 of the pics on that page, what the hell are they? sort of looks like a militarized version of an HDS action light to me? maybe it's a battery pack or something.

 

[Daniel Abranko]

Thats the mount/batteries for their night vision goggles. The mounts have a hinge which flips down and locks on to the actual image enhancer units which are kept in nice padded cases till needed, the battery pack/mounts however are worn all the time.

Daniel

 

[Anath]

you're right, a bit of research turned this up. http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/an-pvs-14.jpg

 

[Doug]

I take it, theses can be binocular, as well as monocular?

Doug

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

looks like an upside down tin infundiblum (funnel) on one head, and the other looks like a conical felt hat with straw stuck in it -- oh, oops, wrong picture...

 

[Unicorn]

It's the helmet mount for the AN/PVS-14. It's the latest night vision goggle used by the military. It can also be mounted onto an M-1 or M-4 carbine. They're great when doing CQB in urban areas or anyplace that you are going into and out of dark and well lit places, since it only covers one eye. Use them when in the dark, use your other eye in the light. A former scout told me that he didn't like them as much as the older PVS-7B since they had to wear them all night, it caused a feeling of nausea because the eyes saw different things.
And to be able to shoot with the PVS-14 on, there is an infrared laser called the AN/PAQ-4 that is mounted to the front sight of the M-4/M16. The older version was much larger and had a mount to attach it to the carrying handle of the M-16.

 

[brightnorm]

Unicorn,

You seem knowledgeable in this area.

How and in what capacity are Surefires used in the military?(I assume mainly by Special Forces). Are they militarized versions of standard SF lights, or are they different animals altogether? (I guess this question really belongs in the Incandescent section; I apologize for being a little "off-Forum")

Regards,
Brightnorm