Carabinieri squadron. Calabrian hunters: from the armory to the shooting range

(To Lia Pasqualina Stani)
21/03/18

A sign, that of the Carabinieri of Sinopoli, riddled with just over ten 12 caliber pellets, hangs in the Armory Office, not as an heirloom: it is the emblem of a society of malaise, produced by the criminal phenomena of a land where 'ndrine and feud proliferate. An "overflowing" signage is an indicator that says something other than what is written above. The real target is not the sign, those blows against the Carabinieri signs is a gesture of recognition, as if to demonstrate that, in the Aspromontane lands, it is not those who seek to guarantee legality. Sinopoli is a small town that, like the rest of Calabria, suffers from the problem of the 'ndrangheta. From the 1943 to the 1945, both the Aspromonte and the Piana di Gioia Tauro, were struck by a clash between two 'ndrine located in Sinopoli and Sant'Eufemia d'Aspromonte, which bloodied the territory to take command in the Piana.

Shooting on that sign, is the emblematic gesture of some "test" Wes Hardin (among the most poisonous gunslingers of the West) that empties the magazine, firing several times, not even able to hit the target, perhaps riding a motorcycle or running from inside a car. It is often a "juvenile practice" that marks the "baptism" of the arms of adolescents who enter the world of the hard, and need blatant special effects of a pallettone on the name of the crippled Carabinieri, almost to want to cancel it.

That sign made subject to gunshots, is an exorcised symbol: it presupposes the possession of weapons, the ability to use them for taking under their own control of the territory. It's a provocation that starts and ends on that piece of sheet metal. It is a pleonastic sign that wants to discourage the presence of the State in these lands. It is a perverse game that costs, also, to the Administrations.

Shooting the signs is a fruitless affirmation against the "symbols" of the state. A challenge that with the State Carabinieri Hunters of Calabria, the State, contrasts daily to put an end to this silent "war".

In 'Armory Office, open 24 h on 24, the deputy brigadier "Dino" awaits the teams in turn at the 14.00. Perhaps he will see them come back before his turn ends. When each team arrives, all the carabinieri hunters who are part of it, wait for the deputy brigadier in the stock of special armaments, where he will deliver the service order related to their daily mission. In addition to the number of shovels, pickaxes, crowbars, the "special" tools such as thermal and night sensors, monocles, tripods, binoculars etc. In the Armory upon request, if necessary for the activity to be carried out, the teams are entrusted with the weapons necessary for a specific type of use or for operations such as the capture of a fugitive, Territorial Weapon Support Service (SAT), etc.

It is in the armory that the machine guns and the assault or pump rifles, designated as weapons of department in assignment. Being able to look closely at these weapons was, of course, only possible through specific authorizations.

The Beretta PM12 is an 9x19 mm Parabellum NATO machine gun, designed and manufactured by Beretta. Conceived in the 1959, adopted by the Italian Armed Forces in the 1961. It weighs 3,48 Kg, with loader (from 20, 30 and 40 cartridges), has a useful shot from 50-150m. The shooting cadence is 550 shots per minute.

The PM12 S, supplied to the Carabinieri hunters of Calabria, followed the modifications and replacement of the pull selector replaced by passing buttons like a crossbar to a single selector at 3 positions: safe, single shot, gust.

The PM 12, considered the symbol of the Arma patrols, is no longer considered adequate to the challenges of security and against possible terrorist attacks. The Beretta PMX 9x19 will be its heir, made of light alloys and polymers that reduce its weight. Barrel and bolt are made of steel. The surface treatment preserves the weapon mechanism from hostile environments. It fires with the bolt closed, which remains open with the last shot of the magazine, allowing the operator an immediate inspection of the chamber. The burst rate of fire is approximately 900 rounds per minute. The magazine release button is present on both sides of the weapon and ensures easy and immediate operation, even when wearing tactical gloves. The transparent plastic magazine allows a count of the remaining shots. It has a capacity of thirty cartridges. With empty magazine the weight is 2,5 kilograms. It can be equipped with a silencer that works with both subsonic and supersonic ammunition.

The Heckler & Koch MP5 (basic version of the weapon) is a submachine gun. The name MP5 derives from the use by the West German police force, i.e. from 5 Model Maschinenpistole.

Designed to use 9mm pistol ammunition Parabellum, placed in a removable curved magazine. The shooting modes are different: single shot, three-shot controlled burst and continuous burst. The original MP5 was available with fixed stock (A2) and with telescopic stock (A3) up to the MP5A5 supplied to the Calabrian carabinieri hunters. The first variants were not equipped with the "3-shot burst" mode. It has a drive with a metastable closure with roller opening delay. The rate of fire is 850 shots per minute. The power supply includes a 15/30 round magazine. It has an optional laser pointer as sights.

The Calabria hunting carabinieri are equipped with two variants of the MP5: the MP5A5 with telescopic stock with firing mode even with 3 shots, and the MP5SD3, with retractable stock, "Navy" / SEF "mechanics, and integrated silencer to reduce the speed of ammunition output to a value below that of sound. The weapon is inaudible at more than 15 meters. Precisely for this reason and for the reduced blaze of fire it is a weapon used by special forces.

In the metal lockers of the armory we also find two 12-gauge shotguns: the Franchi - Spas 15 and the Benelli M4 Super 90.

The Franchi - Spas 15 is a shotgun with smooth barrel, with bimodal functioning, that is able to shoot in semi-automatic or manual mode (with pump): through a selector consisting of a button positioned on the front handrail rod. It has the interchangeable prismatic charger with maximum capacity of 6 cartridges. The stock is tipping on the side. Changing the loading operation from semi-automatic to manual (pump) is the main feature of this rifle. The pump mechanism is used to fire non-lethal low-power shots.

The Benelli M4 Super 90 is a semi-automatic shotgun with self-adjusting gas grip (Benelli patent), designed specifically for military use. It is used to break down doors or to quell fights with the use of rubber bullets. The operating method is called “Argo” (Auto regulating gas operated) consisting of two stainless steel pistons, parallel and positioned on the barrel near the breech, making the rotating bolt work. The Argo system is self-regulating and allows automatic cleaning.

Shoot 12 caliber cartridges of all types (from dots, pellets, slugs, non-lethal, tear-gases, normal charge) in semi-automatic mode with gas recovery. Its range is quite small, it is difficult to effectively hit a target more than 30-40 m away, because by expanding the rosata, it can happen that no one or few pellets hit the target. The tank can contain six cartridges that with those in the barrel, can create a firing range of seven shots.

Among the weapons still available to the Carabinieri hunters of Calabria, in the armory in the lockers, to assign the department, there are the ARX 160 and the SCP 70 / 90.

The Beretta SCP 70 / 90 is an automatic assault rifle, with a 369mm barrel to facilitate its use.

The type of ammunition used is the 5,56x45mm, NATO ordinance caliber. It has a magazine with the capacity of 30 hits. It is a weapon with indirect exploitation of gases with a stable closure. It has a bilateral shooting selector that can be positioned on four positions: safe, single shot, controlled burst with three shots, burst. The SCP version is characterized by three safety devices: ordinary safety (safety that acts on the shutter lever preventing movement) when the selector is positioned on the S, safety against the premature opening of the shutter, which causes a delay in opening the shutter , allowing the gas to escape from the barrel and finally safety against premature firing.

The ARX 160 is an assault rifle, chambered with the caliber 5,56x45mm NATO, developed and produced by Beretta. The material used for the structure of the weapon are Polymers, which reduce the mass of the weapon (about 3 kg). Throughout the length, it uses a Picatinny aluminum sled, which increases its strength. Beretta on this weapon has designed a system of quick change of the barrel only by pressing two buttons and without the use of tools. It is also possible to make the weapon ambidextrous during its use, by rotating the cocking lever by 180 degrees.

The version supplied to the Calabrian Carabinieri squadron is the ARX 160 A3 (v.articolo), which is specific to special forces. In addition to the standard 16 inch barrel, it can be fitted with the 11 inch barrel (used by the Carabinieri Cacciatori di Calabria) and a silencer / suppressor. Also improved the telescopic system and streamlined soccer. Construct consecutive 13 loaders.

The technical characteristics of all these weapons supplied to the department of the squadron with the hunted carabinieri hunters of Calabria, are innumerable, they adapt to any type of use. All weapons are kept in steel lockers. The armory only has access to the armory in the armory office, the departmental commander, and the lieutenant platoon commanders.

The exercise, to which I will assist, provided in the shooting range, located within the operational logistic base of the "Luigi Razza" Military Airport, foresees the use of one of the two versions of the MP5 and a Beretta 92 FS.

(Continue)

(photo of the author)