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Weight

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ericthej
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Ericthej

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Hey there,

I am an American high school student.... I'm doing some research for a persuasive essay.  I was hoping someone could tell me a guess of what the average weight carried into battle (on back) is....
 
Marching Order 70 Pounds Give or take I'd say.
Fighting Order...I'm sure one of the infanteers will be able to enlighten.
 
Are you looking for references from any particular conflicts?
 
During combat air assault operations in 2002, the basic rifleman's load within 3 PPCLI was a minimum of 150 lbs, but frequently more.  The rifleman's first-line personal equipment weighed roughly 90 lbs.  Known as "Fighting Order", this equipment consisted of the web-gear/tactical vest (with a basic load of ammo and water), a fragmentation vest with ballistic plates front and rear, the helmet, and a rifle/carbine.  Each soldier also carried a rucksack with his "sustainment" load of 24 hours worth of rations and water, ammo, spare socks, a jacket, minimal sleeping gear, etc.  The average rucksack weighed 60 to 80 pounds depending on whatever  additional mission-essential equipment and/or support weapons ammo was assigned to the soldier.  The rucksack combined with Fighting Order = "Marching Order", which is the soldier's basic deployment load.

You should note that the 150 to 170 lb average weight that I have quoted applies to a "bare-bones" rifleman.  The individual loads increased from that baseline figure, depending on a soldier's specific role as a support weapons gunner/crew member, signaller, reconnaissance patrolman, sniper, etc.  It was not uncommon for certain individuals to be carrying 200 lbs.  Bear in mind that these loads were carried at 10,000' elevation on the sides of mountains in an oxygen-deprived environment.  

I hope that this answers your question.  If you do a search on this site for "combat load" or "3 PPCLI BG" you should find responses which go into greater detail regarding basic ammunition loads, rucksack contents, etc.

 
Mark C, good post. I remember those loads quite fondly ;D. It just shows that with the right attitude troops can indeed carry some incredible loads. It sure makes the BFT look like a Sunday walk in the park now!
Have a good one!
 
Damn, A decent guesstimate I suppose.
I just went through the kit I have here and guessed its weight then added it together..

Oh I needs a hobby
 
A typical (OK I'll admit it, an extraordinary) Canadian Sgt and his load yomping up hill.

http://army.ca/cgi-bin/album.pl?photo=Operations/KA2003B015A_lg.jpg
 
Wow, that is one heck of a load. How one person can carry it, I dunno... super NCM maybe?
 
All NCM's are super my friend!
It's an unspoken of tradition (well perhaps not entirely unspoken of) that NCO's are simply God's when it comes to acts of bravery and extreme examples of exceptional soldering.


"Why us?"
"Because we'er 'ere lad."


 
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