Paratroop Team Leader LT Sparks has uncased his M16A2 5.56mm rifle and slung it across his back, disconnected himself from his parachute harness and followed his Hook Pile Tape (velcro) Lowering Line (HPT LL) to the ATB in airdrop bag shown here. Pulling on each quick release fold on the outside case straps, the bag is quickly opened revealing the militarized folded All Terrain Bicycle ATB. One of the "off the shelf" components used to militarize the ATB include; Aerospoke composite, non-metallic wheels without spokes, clearly shown here and under the full size 26 inch diameter, 2.5 inch wide knobby tires, "No More Flats" solid foam inner tubes. Also visible in the C.O.M.E.T. Enterprises ATB bag is the prototype mesh Enhanced Tactical Load Bearing Vest built by Ron Schmitt's Loadmaster Systems of Janesville, Wisconsin, which 1st TSG (A) members demonstrated to Army/mc officials long before the non-mesh TLBV was even fielded and found after numerous Soldier complaints to be too hot for use. The basic ATB is a 21-speed Dahon Mountain Gold highly modified by all flat black paint, rear storage rack, and allen wrenches cut and attached to the frame and handlebar folding nuts to be hand tightening knobs. The knobs are then secured by elastic covers for camouflage/padding.
Other Human Powered Vehicles (HPVs) used for Operation Dark Claw include the Montague folding ATB with Rock-Shox front fork suspension system and the Roleez wheel system All-Terrain All-Purpose Cart (ATAC). Also on display for the operation's Special Forces Command audience, but not depicted here was the UT 2000 ATACS system as an overhead cover for a fighting position. The UT 2000 All-Terrain Wheel Set was not ready for Operation Dark Claw, so the Roleez "RATSC" ATAC was used for the capabilities exercise.
Remember we only list the parts used for Dark Claw, so YOU, the U.S. military leader can go out and build your own effective Human Powered Vehicles without replicating the same "learning curve" we experienced..
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