November
30, 2006: American commanders are trying to get U.S. infantry to carry and use
a non-lethal paint ball gun, but the troops are not enthusiastic about it. The
FN 303 fires a 17mm plastic round at about 300 feet per second (pistol and
rifle bullets travel at speeds of 1,000-3,000 feet per second). The FN 303 is
only accurate to about a hundred meters, and the bullet can contain pepper
concentrate (that makes the victims skin feel like it's burning), or paint (to
mark the guy as someone of note). The FN 303 can be mounted under an M-16 (like
the 40mm grenade launcher), or handled as a separate weapon.
About
a thousand FN 303s have been shipped to Iraq so far this year, mainly for use
by military police. Commanders want the infantry to use the FN 303 because more
operations are taking place in Shia Arab areas controlled by radical militias
(who want the Americans to leave so Sunni Arabs can be driven out of the
country, or a coup can be attempted). The Shia civilians throw rocks at
American troops and stage rowdy demonstrations to block the movement of U.S.
soldiers. The Shia Arabs know that American ROE (Rules of Engagement) prohibit
troops from firing into crowds, unless someone in the crowd is holding weapons.
So it is believed that the FN 303 will allow troops to have some control over
these Shia mobs. Two soldiers in each nine man squad is being given an FN 303.
The Shia quickly figured out what the FN 303 is (a souped up paint-ball gun),
and are not very intimidated by it. Some troops would prefer to have shot guns,
which can also fire a non (or much less) lethal round, as well as stuff that
will kill or maim, and are more intimidating.
For
the moment, the troops and their officers continue to experiment with different
ways to use the FN 303, and grumble about the missing shotguns.
