The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Vaunted M4 & the 5.56mm need new Weapon & larger rounds 20% of Troops say.

tirod · March 8, 2011, 09:07 AM

The Combat Load of the Soldier has been a serious discussion since the 1930's. Things haven't improved at all with modern design and light materials. Please note the transistion to the M16 doubled the round count carried. That's the real world circumstance, moving back means pounds, not rounds. You don't get to keep the round count up, there's a limit to what the soldier carries. Being in green doesn't make you a supermachine, crikey, it's still a 125 pound 22 year old kid under all that gear, and he's carrying at least 80% body weight.

Those who need to get up to speed should try it. Load up with 80 pounds of gear and keep it on for twelve hours mowing the lawn, grilling on the deck, taking a walk with the kids down the rail trail; don't forget to put two pounds on your head.

Two weeks of that, you might be able to walk up six flights of stairs without stopping. Yes, you can get used to it, what that means is you got back to some semblance of normal - carrying 80 pounds of gear. You will still be lumbering along slow as dirt compared to someone in sandals and one chest pouch.

Vietnam was no different, we wore body armor, carried lots of ammo and defensive gear, rations, water, helmet, radio, some had NVG's, definitely binos in cooperative terrain, ad infinitum. The American Soldier isn't alone, modern Tier 1 armies all suffer too much gear in the field because they can afford it logistically. That doesn't mean you carry it every step on the way, but it's hard not to consider contingencies. The other guy keeps coming up with new ones.

Again, you don't switch to every soldier carrying a .308 to improve things, when the entire reason we dropped it was the newer weapons actually do.

March 8, 2011, 09:07 AM	#116
tirod Junior member Join Date: January 21, 2009 Posts: 1,672	The Combat Load of the Soldier has been a serious discussion since the 1930's. Things haven't improved at all with modern design and light materials. Please note the transistion to the M16 doubled the round count carried. That's the real world circumstance, moving back means pounds, not rounds. You don't get to keep the round count up, there's a limit to what the soldier carries. Being in green doesn't make you a supermachine, crikey, it's still a 125 pound 22 year old kid under all that gear, and he's carrying at least 80% body weight. Those who need to get up to speed should try it. Load up with 80 pounds of gear and keep it on for twelve hours mowing the lawn, grilling on the deck, taking a walk with the kids down the rail trail; don't forget to put two pounds on your head. Two weeks of that, you might be able to walk up six flights of stairs without stopping. Yes, you can get used to it, what that means is you got back to some semblance of normal - carrying 80 pounds of gear. You will still be lumbering along slow as dirt compared to someone in sandals and one chest pouch. Vietnam was no different, we wore body armor, carried lots of ammo and defensive gear, rations, water, helmet, radio, some had NVG's, definitely binos in cooperative terrain, ad infinitum. The American Soldier isn't alone, modern Tier 1 armies all suffer too much gear in the field because they can afford it logistically. That doesn't mean you carry it every step on the way, but it's hard not to consider contingencies. The other guy keeps coming up with new ones. Again, you don't switch to every soldier carrying a .308 to improve things, when the entire reason we dropped it was the newer weapons actually do.