Border Wall Models Thwart US Commandos, seriously, commandos?

**Team Sergeant** · 01-20-2018, 12:31

Commandos? Really?

And who were these "commandos"? You can tell us cause you know we're going to find out............

A wall stopped Special Forces soldiers, sorry, "commandos".

Times are changing.

Border Wall Models Thwart US Commandos In Tests
January 19, 2018 at 12:08 pm

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Recent assaults by tactical teams on prototypes of President Donald Trump’s proposed wall with Mexico indicate their imposing heights should stop border crossers, a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the rigorous assessment told The Associated Press.

Military special forces based in Florida and U.S. Customs and Border Protection special units spent three weeks trying to breach and scale the eight models in San Diego, using jackhammers, saws, torches and other tools and climbing devices, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was not authorized for public release.

A Customs and Border Protection report on the tests identifies strengths and flaws of each design but does not pick an overall winner or rank them, though it does point to see-through steel barriers topped by concrete as the best overall design, the official said.
The report recommends combining elements of each, depending on the terrain. The official likened it to a Lego design, pulling pieces from different prototypes.
Carlos Diaz, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, said the agency is still in “the testing phase” and that results are being evaluated. He said combining elements of different prototypes instead of picking a winner is consistent with previous statements by officials. He noted that the agency said in its bidding guidelines that a minimum height of 18 feet (5.4 meters) would be a key characteristic. He said he did not have additional details on test results.
Contractors were awarded between $300,000 and $500,000 for each prototype. Prototypes were built last fall to guide future construction of one of Trump’s signature campaign pledges. Four were concrete and four were made of other materials.

commandos cont:
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2018/01/19/b...ilitary-tests/

**Pete** · 01-20-2018, 15:05

30 foot?

I guess they don't think they sell ladders in Mexico.

An obstacle that is not under some form of observation is only an obstacle to the unprepared.

miclo18d · 01-20-2018, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

30 foot?

I guess they don't think they sell ladders in Mexico.

An obstacle that is not under some form of observation is only an obstacle to the unprepared.

I’d bet if they had put a methhead secretary on the other side, one of them would have figured a way....

**Peregrino** · 01-20-2018, 15:35

There was more to this than the article puts out. BLUF - the methods and time allowed had to fall within the parameters specified and they weren't allowed to go "full on, heavy breach". Not that the results are more than marginally relevant given that "anything is better than nothing" (the current status); and no matter what, the taxpayers will still be paying millions of dollars per mile.

Scimitar · 01-20-2018, 17:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by miclo18d

I’d bet if they had put a methhead secretary on the other side, one of them would have figured a way....

Oooo.....Buuuurrrn!

S

CSB · 01-20-2018, 23:38

I remember a series of "scientific" tests being done in the 1970's with 7th SF Group providing the subject penetrators. [Any comments about 7th Group penetrators that involve the S1 shop at Eglin AFB will be disallowed on this thread].

Anyway, the idea was to make an objective test of the resistance to known standard obstacles, from triple strand, apron fence, single/triple/six concertina; chain link with barbed wire top, the Berlin Wall, etc.

Turned out that most "walls" or "barriers" weren't very effective at all in slowing down the time required for an entire 12 man A team to pass to the far side. Two of the most effective tools were an aluminum extension ladder, and a heavy blanket/carpet (for the barbed wire). Also useful was a fiberglass pole, like a pole vaulters pole, that could get at least the first and lightest member of the team over the barrier, there to drop to the ground and assist from the far side in bringing the rest of the team across.

I'm sure that similar tests are being conducted, with pride and bragging rights to the team who can "American Ninja" over Mr. Trump's wall without breaking stride.

And this former combat engineer remembers the expression as: "an obstacle without observation AND FIREPOWER is useless."

**Team Sergeant** · 01-21-2018, 10:41

I was just wondering if it was in fact "Special Forces" or just another idiot writer that thinks anyone in special operations is "special forces". And where did the word commando come from? Only the AF (and hollyweird) uses the word commando.

And trust me, the South American drug runner is already planning and executing breaching methods to our proposed wall. Want to bet we see a large buy/sale in drones to South America/mexico?

They don't need to get humans over the wall, just product. And they have all the time in the world to do that.

CloseDanger · 01-21-2018, 19:06

They probably have video of all the prototypes right now.

Mustang Man · 01-21-2018, 19:24

Journalism nowadays is about using click bait buzzwords to generate ad revenue. Journalists recognize this with name's like "Special Forces" and "Commandos," plastering it all over their titles and articles...

**Joker** · 01-21-2018, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

I was just wondering if it was in fact "Special Forces" or just another idiot writer that thinks anyone in special operations is "special forces". And where did the word commando come from? Only the AF (and hollyweird) uses the word commando.

And trust me, the South American drug runner is already planning and executing breaching methods to our proposed wall. Want to bet we see a large buy/sale in drones to South America/mexico?

They don't need to get humans over the wall, just product. And they have all the time in the world to do that.

They don't need them, they already have/used unmanned ultralights.

**Team Sergeant** · 01-22-2018, 08:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joker

They don't need them, they already have/used unmanned ultralights.

Makes sense, can carry a buttload of product. And they already have millions of mules here already.

mojaveman · 01-22-2018, 23:21

Quote:

And they have all the time in the world to do that.

Yep.

Bleed Green · 01-24-2018, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team Sergeant

I was just wondering if it was in fact "Special Forces" or just another idiot writer that thinks anyone in special operations is "special forces". And where did the word commando come from? Only the AF (and hollyweird) uses the word commando.

And trust me, the South American drug runner is already planning and executing breaching methods to our proposed wall. Want to bet we see a large buy/sale in drones to South America/mexico?

They don't need to get humans over the wall, just product. And they have all the time in the world to do that.

I have tried cutting some sign on your question but so far they are being very tight lipped about who actually did the testing. It was timed to try breaching it with common methods to see what type of damage they could do in order to gauge reaction times to attempts of this nature.

I will let you know if they consulted any QPs if I find out.

sfshooter · 01-24-2018, 22:31

Do any of you remember the border between Iraq and Kuwait circa 2003 timeframe?
Consisted of a straight up and down deep ass tank ditch, 100 yards or so after that a high voltage 10-12 ft chain link, then 100 yards or so another steep, straight up and down tank ditch. There was not much crossing that border fence. I even met a Bedouin family (dude and about 8 kids, wife died) in Iraq who got stuck on the wrong side of the border.
Of course it can be breached with the proper planning and time but the average haji that wanted to got to Kuwait for a job wasn't going to happen except through border control.

sfshooter · 01-24-2018, 22:58

I don't recall land mines......the high voltage fence was noticeable though.....granted the thing sits in a desert and not much in the way of tumbleweeds, greasewood, sagebrush, and cactus as our desert southwest. Just looking at it made you think that was not something to cross unless you were really committed.
I don't pretend to know how to come up with the same or similar in this country but it did present itself as a great obstacle if you were just looking to get across without going through border control.
The Bedouin I spoke of (a really nice old guy whos tent was so full of flies I declined to go in, but did partake of an offered cigarette which I later learned was laced with opium

) did not have a passport and could not get back through the border into Kuwait. He would have much rather been in the wide open desert in Kuwait where there was no soldiers, than where he currently was (south of Basra). The border fence there prevented him from crossing over and going back......what a concept a fence has to just the mundane people that are looking for the easy simple way!