Streamlight Sidewinder – angle head tactical hand-held LED flashlight

Sidewinder shines light on issued gear

The standard government issued flashlight is no longer. In comes the newest military tactical light, the Sidewinder Handheld Flashlight, which offers more capabilities and is more versatile than its bulky Vietnam-era predecessor. Light-weight and more practical, the HHFL has a 185-degree pivoting head that allows for hands-free operation with just a simple clip.

The small light presents Marines with many options. Packing 20 lights into just one, the HHFL contains four light-emitted diode light colors (white, blue, red, infrared) with four intensity settings for each color. The LED light colors can be changed with just the click of a button; Marines no longer have to manually replace the color lenses.

Prior to issuing the HHFL, Marines were expected to purchase their own flashlight at Marine Corps Recruit Depots and later in their MarineCorps careers if it needed replacing. The Sidewinder will be standard issue for active and reserve forces and issued at each Marine Expeditionary Force Consolidated Issue Facility.

According to Marine Corps Systems Command, 192,000 Sidewinders have been obtained, with 95,000 currently fielded to operational forces.

Related Posts

• Keeps Marines Hard-Headed

  December 28th, 2011 // By Marine Corps News

    If you held the Enhanced Combat Helmet in one hand and the Advanced Combat Helmet in the other, you’d hardly know the difference, or why the Marine Corps is looking to replace the ACH  [Read more...]

• Guard your Grill – Maxillofacial Shield

  March 11th, 2011 // By Marines Staff

  The Ballistic Protective Maxillofacial Shield, made by Gentex Corporation, is a piece of personal protective equipment made to shield a Marine’s face from shrapnel and other ballistic threats faced on today’s battlefield. The shield comes  [Read more...]

• Next Generation Vehicles

  December 23rd, 2009 // By Marines Staff

  To be successful in battle, the Marine Corps relies on sophisticated logistical support. Here are two of the Corps’ latest technologies paving the way for Marines in the fight. M-ATV – (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain  [Read more...]

• Glued-In

  July 20th, 2009 // By Marines Staff

  blast-proof wallpaper protects & beautifies Self-adhesive, blast-resistant wall covering can be applied to a primed surface. Engineer Research and Development Center, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Berry Plastics Corporation’s Engineered Protective Systems Division  [Read more...]

• Suit Up

  July 20th, 2009 // By Marines Staff

  THE NEWEST EDITION TO THE MARINE UNIFORM FAMILY What’s highly reflective, is made of moisture-wicking material, and is emblazoned with “Marines” on the back of the jacket? Not a new Marine “boot” fresh from Parris  [Read more...]