Marines with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, take cover behind a berm after receiving small-arms fire on Feb. 13 in Marjah, Helmand province, Afghanistan. MARINE CORPSMattis Pushed For 6.8mm Ammo -- Marine Times
Before Marines in Afghanistan received enhanced 5.56mm rounds last month, an influential four-star general advocated behind the scenes for an option that packs even more punch: 6.8mm ammunition.
Three sources with knowledge of the Marine Corps’ acquisitions process confirmed Gen. James Mattis’ interest in the 6.8mm round, saying the head of Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., lobbied for it as recently as December while pushing broadly for better service-rifle ammo.
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My Comment: What caught my eye in this report is in the second to last paragraph.
Brig. Gen. Michael Brogan, commander of Marine Corps Systems Command, told Marine Corps Times in mid-February that “there’s a long-going argument about the stopping power of 5.56 in general.” But he said even Marines don’t always fall after they’ve been shot by insurgents with multiple 7.62mm rounds, citing Navy Cross recipient Sgt. Maj. Brad Kasal, who was hit with seven 7.62mm rounds in Iraq in 2004 but survived and kept fighting.
Wow ... being hit 7 times but still able to fight .... that's one tough (and lucky to be alive) soldier.
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