SEAL Afghanistan-used AK47 Mags

[Mr. Scratch]

This came up with a former NAVSOF personnel during a discussion about unusual AK magazines. 

The sailor said he obtained these scarce Russian aluminum mags in Kunar Valley, and then repurposed them for his own use in-country by applying camouflage, as the black finish had mostly worn off and "they were too shiny."

I was very curious about whether SEAL use of Kalashnikovs was an official thing, or if it was just a matter of having an unofficial backup weapon around in a vehicle or at the FOB. But he wasn't super talkative about any of this, and I didn't want to pry. All he said was that they had this stuff around for "going out in the daylight"; the conversation was really about the magazines themselves.

Is anyone more familiar with how these would be put to use in Afghanistan?



 

[mohawkALSE]

Those are beautiful aluminum waffle mags.  Very cool.  Cant be many of those on the whole globe someone would re purpose and paint like that.  Very very unique.

[CNY Militaria]

Probably when they wore civvies, riding in civilian vehicles around the local populace. Not well advertised, but happened and you needed to "blend in."

[Mr. Scratch]

5 minutes ago, CNY Militaria said:

Probably when they wore civvies, riding in civilian vehicles around the local populace. Not well advertised, but happened and you needed to "blend in."

This is kind of how I interpreted the "going out in daylight" remark. I'd imagine there are some places where you don't want the local shepherds seeing a bunch of guys on the nearby hillside carrying American weapons, and scurrying off to tell the village chief about it. 

[Doctorofwar]

A lot of guys working for the CIA in the early months of the war on terror had AKs, a lot of these personnel were former SF, or on loan from SF units.  Further info and pictures can be found in books like “First In” and “Jawbreaker”.