DIY Weapons of the Libyan Rebels (amazing photos of rebel weaponsmiths)

The Atlantic ^ | 19 JUN 11 | Alan Taylor

[DCBryan1]

For the past four months in Libya, rebel forces made up of civilians and army defectors have been waging battles against Muammar Qaddafi's armed forces, holding their own and sometimes advancing with the assistance of NATO air strikes. Scrambling to arm themselves against mercenaries and a professional army, rebels have been making use of everything they can -- from using captured weapons and munitions to rigging anti-aircraft guns and aircraft rocket launchers to the backs of civilian pickup trucks. Collected here are recent images of some of this weaponry used by the Libyan rebels.

[DCBryan1]

Full auto, high explosive, darwin award, DIY explosive PING BANG!

[Maverick68]

arent’ many of these “rebels” former Al-Qaida?

[bossmechanic]

Dang! They get all the cool toys!

[RC one]

That’s funny. I can totally hear it having dealt with a few Koreans myself. anyways, I wonder if they’re hitting anything with their rockets. It looks like they’re being used as an indirect fire weapon.

[SJSAMPLE]

I’m absolutely 100% positive that every ARFCOMer who saw that last photo immeidately thought, “ammo fort”.

[thefactor]

You can see the serial # on the bull pup S&W in the first photo. Would love to track that purchase!

[from occupied ga]

Damn! I wish that last picture was my basement.

[org.whodat]

More crap blowing by the CIA, where is the work of all those bet special forces, they were only checking primers with rocks until the special forces showed up in the illegal war. Did not see any thank you notes for the chines money that you borrowed to pay for all that crap.

[Tucsonican]

I always wondered who would be crazy enough to shell out for an FN F2000.

[Avid Coug]

Looks like the nation of Toyota has gone to war.

[Perdogg]

That is an FNC2000.

[Sidebar Moderator]

AP Images can be problematic.

Check attribution before posting, thanks.

[donozark]

On a serious note...Have you/others noted the plethora of FN FALs that have recently emerged in Libya? On Alzeera I saw what was essentially a 12 man squad of "rebels," all fitted with new FALs. Synthetic furniture,etc. Obviously not leftovers from other nations, but brand new issue.

Just curious about "source?"

[thefactor]

Ah, I just took a quick look at the logo and thought it was S&W.

[Two Kids' Dad]

#23 talks about a “Russian-made UB32 multiple rocket launcher” that has English writing all over it. Oops! Doesn’t look very Russian to me.

[Mr. Silverback]

Self-ping for later review.

Regarding photo number 4...

Have a Coke and a smile.
Have a Pepsi and massive third degree burns.