Steve James wrote:Between optics, flashlights, night vision devices, GPS (DAGR), and radio and the lack of interchangeable batteries on many of these devices, 16 pounds of batteries had to be carried—or the equivalent of an unloaded SAW machinegun.
And who would want to carry an unloaded SAW? So, if the batteries were eliminated, that'd be a SAW + the needed ammunition.
You seem to have missed the part were he is describing his basic load out, why would he not carry what
he is required to carrry? That wouldn't make the load any lighter. But, the question is what does the guy who's carrying the equipment (thinks he) needs to carry on/out a mission. It would obviously be best if he carried the least possible. How much is that...?
How much is that...?
Turns out its how much you are required to carry is what you need to carry, depending on mission and functional role in the squad.
Imagine that?
@everything,
Dont know why anyone would want to carry so much as a hobby,,,To each his own I guess.
In the military as some have mentioned people do what ever they need to do to make things easier
the problem with this approach is that most methods are based on known practices and requirements.
If one eliminates something that turns out to be needed because it's to heavy, not going to be a happy ending..
On the other hand if something is carried that is never used and documented as such, it soon gets dropped
from the load out....
Training, is what enables one to be able to function within the mission requirements. The training itself
is quite demanding and hard designed to weed out those that can not meet the requirements.
The military doesn't always get the best and lightest gear..a large part of this is due to cost...maybe the elite operators did or do,
but IME grunt units "infantry" got what was functional and cheap ie low cost..
In my day they still had C-rations "canned food" in a box...
which transitioned to MRES later on..
Like the new uniforms very cool, these troops will never know what blood stripes mean...time goes on...
For example batteries, with all the electronic gear it would really suck not to be able to use it because
of no power source we didnt have all the high teach stuff that they carry but the batteries for the PRC 77 RT
had to be carried along with the radio itself.
@peacedog or others, I noted no mention of MOPP gear...or gas mask...