To you military men, how important is weight in your system?

**roffelskates** · 10 Nov 09, 21:20

It kinda irratates me that whenever my friends talk about weapon systems, they always seem to put the weight of a weapon or any part of your gear for that matter as a secondary thing. It always seems like they feel like military members or themselves are some sort of "supermen" capable of carrying 80 pound packs without much penalty. Obviously my friends have never done any military service. On the flip side, I have yet to enter my first year of military service but from hiking experiences and experiences from other military members they always explain to me "Weight is VERY VERY important". My friends though say if carrying 60-80 pound packs is heavy they say "Suck it up, your in the army!" And would proceed to list off their ideal combat system involving M60 machine guns with level 4 body armor.

I don't think my friends know that from documentries as well as interviews with special forces members that those men rarely if ever opt to wear body armor, and use much lighter equipment than their ordinary military counterparts. Here we have some of the toughest trained men in the world like Navy Seals, Spestnaz, and Green Berets asking for weapons that are much lighter, and equipment that is much lighter or absent at all.

I subscribe to the idea that heavy system=slow movement=easy target=dead target.

As men who have actually served in the army, how important is weight to your system?

**Kernow** · 10 Nov 09, 22:09

Infantry men carry an awful lot of equipment to fulfill their role and it will vary from operation to operation. If you are out on a fairly short footpatrol you could wear belt order only i.e. Magazines (Ammo), Water, Food, Body Armour, Helmet, Personal Weapon, P228 Pistol, Spare Ammo for the GPMG, Grenades, Smoke, Spare Mortar Rounds, Light Anti-Structures Missile, Personal Radio, Mine detectors, ladders. The list goes on.

If you are out on a lengthy operation you would be carry packs up to 80lbs in weight (This is his house). Bear in mind that in the Stan they are operating in temps up to 50 degress C, therefore they will be drinking a minimum of 6 litres of water a day, now thats an awful lot of water to carry, Rations, First Aid, Morphine, Batteries, NVG, bIVVY, Bivvy, Bivvy Bag, Clothing.

Basically there is no way you can get away from weight. The British Army Body Armour can be reduced by removing some parts as you feel fit, i.e. Neck protection or arms.

**tankie** · 11 Nov 09, 12:39

One of he best achievements ever (MODERN TIMES ) was done by the Paras in the Falklands punch up , marched (yomped) full kit thro mud bog and cold app 20 miles + and at the end fought .

**Blue** · 11 Nov 09, 16:10

Originally Posted by roffelskates

As men who have actually served in the army, how important is weight to your system?

It is all mission specific. Doing a short patrol in a hostile area you need armor and bullets. Going on a nice LRP you need food, clothing, bullets and you don't want to be humping the pig(an M60) and a bunch of armor. Its really pretty simple to figure out.

Although you are in peak physical condition, your feet still have thier limitations.

**dave lukins** · 11 Nov 09, 19:46

Originally Posted by Chaobam Armour

Infantry men carry an awful lot of equipment to fulfill their role and it will vary from operation to operation. If you are out on a fairly short footpatrol you could wear belt order only i.e. Magazines (Ammo), Water, Food, Body Armour, Helmet, Personal Weapon, P228 Pistol, Spare Ammo for the GPMG, Grenades, Smoke, Spare Mortar Rounds, Light Anti-Structures Missile, Personal Radio, Mine detectors, ladders. The list goes on.

If you are out on a lengthy operation you would be carry packs up to 80lbs in weight (This is his house). Bear in mind that in the Stan they are operating in temps up to 50 degress C, therefore they will be drinking a minimum of 6 litres of water a day, now thats an awful lot of water to carry, Rations, First Aid, Morphine, Batteries, NVG, bIVVY, Bivvy, Bivvy Bag, Clothing.

Basically there is no way you can get away from weight. The British Army Body Armour can be reduced by removing some parts as you feel fit, i.e. Neck protection or arms.

I just knew you'd forget the Soxmix Card tut tut

)
(no stickman for you)

**Kernow** · 11 Nov 09, 19:50

Soxmix, damn you're old 'BATCO' my man 'BATCO'.

**tankie** · 11 Nov 09, 19:56

Originally Posted by Chaobam Armour

Soxmix, damn you're old 'BATCO' my man 'BATCO'.

I still have my soxmis card , and orders for firing in N/I , and a ration card

**Kernow** · 11 Nov 09, 20:53

"I have no live rounds or empty cases my possession, rockets in my pockets schermullies in my goullies SIR".

**dave lukins** · 11 Nov 09, 21:09

Originally Posted by tankie

I still have my soxmis card , and orders for firing in N/I , and a ration card

My ration card is from 1949.. My mother kept it all those years..did she know something we don't

**Shek** · 11 Nov 09, 22:35

As someone told us when I was a lieutenant - technology now allows us to carry 100lbs of lightweight sh!t.

**Maxor** · 12 Nov 09, 04:09

Depends on what you are doing and what it is that you want heavy. Stateside marching for field manuevers, I want a bunch of mre's a bunch of water, my poncho and my sleeping bag. Thats it. The rest am I mechanized of foot? If foot how long am I supposed to be out, how hostile is it? I'm not an infantry guy though so those people would know better.

**Blue** · 12 Nov 09, 04:40

Originally Posted by Shek

As someone told us when I was a lieutenant - technology now allows us to carry 100lbs of lightweight sh!t.

Absolutely!! Best put so far!

S2 · 12 Nov 09, 05:38

Or you can join the artillery, shoot big guns, carry anything you want, eat nothing but the best, have lots of hot water to wash and shave, and ride to war.

There's always a way around these nasty thingys like humping the boonies...

...unless you're an F.O.

Then it REALLY sucks.

)

**dave lukins** · 12 Nov 09, 10:17

Originally Posted by S-2

Or you can join the artillery, shoot big guns, carry anything you want, eat nothing but the best, have lots of hot water to wash and shave, and ride to war.

There's always a way around these nasty thingys like humping the boonies...

...unless you're an F.O.

Then it REALLY sucks.

)

Same with Tanks...anything heavier than a case of beer is carried on the vehicle

**tankie** · 12 Nov 09, 14:24

Originally Posted by dave lukins

Same with Tanks...anything heavier than a case of beer is carried on the vehicle

The beer was carried inside ammo racks dave as ya knows , or when the NBC pack was removed on simmies

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