Just use one of these monsters!
I stopped by the booth displaying Yates climbing gear at the SHOT show, my eyes instantly drawn to the evil looking device above. Yates makes both large and small Afghan hooks and an additional Special Ops hook for Law Enforcement use. These hooks were designed from the get-go to help soldiers scale the thick, high, mud walls typically found surrounding compounds in Afghanistan. After it is hooked on the wall, the operator can pull down on the caving type ladder attached to it, which releases a swing arm atop the hook. That secondary hook comes down to snag on the wall to create a secure anchor point before soldiers begin climbing.
Here is the inventor, John Yates, showing off the "small" Afghan hook. Back in the day, SEALs were going through walls with 40-pound platter charges, rather than over them, but it's cool to see some more...subtle techniques being used. Be sure to swing by their website as well, they make all manner of tactical climbing gear, fast ropes, SPIES ropes, caving ladders, and other cool stuff.
Kit Up! contributor Jack Murphy is a former Ranger, Special Forces Soldier and is the author of the military thriller Reflexive Fire.
