FYI the switch from 7.62 to 5.56 was in 1986.
Thanks for all the input.
ST
----- Original Message -----
From: Pat Osborne
To: staylor@herald.ca
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 7:57 PM
Subject: Your article ref: Cpl Beaulieu
Mr. Taylor,
I would hope that you will take the time to educate yourself on a few points in your article:
1. The C7 magazines in fact hold 30 rounds of 5.56mm. Normally we are issued with five of these magazines, which means a total of 150 rounds. On paper, we are supposed to carry a bandolier of 100 rounds on stripper clips for reloading. This is a practice that was probably started back in the cold war. I've yet to actually see one of these bandoliers, let alone be issued one of them for fighting in the course of my 3 years as an Infantry Officer.
2. Granted, I don't have operational experience, but I am fortunate to talk in person to members of my unit who have in fact served in Afghanistan. Soldiers leaving the wire are required to carry ten (10) magazines, minimum. You might question the wisdom of doing this given the fact that most of our casualties are indeed from IEDs etc; however, all of the Afghanistan veterans i have talked to have repeated to me the common sense and the basic wisdom in having more ammunition on hand. "It is better to have it and not use it than to not have it and want it when you need it" comes to mind.
3. You condescendingly suggest that the good Cpl wear a vest designed to carry the 15 magazines, extra sidearm magazines, and force him to wear it all the time. Load carriage is an issue of great contention between the soldiers on the ground who fight with the vest and those in charge of issuing the vest. Modular, combat proven vests have been in existence for some time that allow soldiers to tailor the pouches on their vest for whatever combat task they are assigned. You make it seem like the CF needs to design a vest for the Cpl since no vest exists that could possibly carry those horrific loads... when in fact finding a vest that can carry 15 magazines and 2x 9mm magazines plus all the rest is not only easy; it's very likely that the vest in question is more durable and much more comfortable than the issue vest. And that doesn't even touch on how much more versatile the modular vest is in comparison. I have worn a chest rig that carried 10 loaded C7 magazines, three pistol magazines, two smoke grenades, maps, message pad, compass, gps and radio PLUS 6L of water, and it was actually quite snug and comfortable. If i was allowed to wear it during my training and into combat, i certainly would, without a second thought.
4. Soldiers loads weigh quite a bit. This is a fact of life. I don't mind carrying extra ammunition and I don't mind the weight involved either, provided at least that the load carriage system is up to the task. In case it needs stating, the Tactical Vest being issued certainly is not.
5. With regard to the Bianchi UM-84 holster in question; it isn't actually designed for the Browning Hi-Power. It's designed to fit the larger M9 Beretta. As such, the fit is not perfect and the pistol isn't secured properly, nor is it seated in such a way that it prevents people (other than the wearer) from drawing the pistol. A modern holster like the Safariland 6004 or the Blackhawk Serpa holster are sized to fit the pistol and have locking mechanisms that hold the pistol in place and prevent someone from wresting the pistol from the holster unless they're wearing it. Military thinking with regards to pistols is always behind the curve, usually a decade or two. Pistols, by the way, can also be used for more than simple self-defence. As an example: If police officers can conduct cordon and search operations in side a building, there's no reason a soldier can't (provided he is properly trained for the task). In a confined space, a pistol is sometimes preferable to the rifle.
I hope you would take the time to educate yourself on the above points. It kind of hurts your credibility when you write articles as an expert on the subject - and you haven't done your homework. FYI - we stopped using the 20rd magazines back in 1982 when we first got the C7s.
