Aah, Yes, the Mad Minute - we love that.

But please note in the British Army the air might be full of bullets, but they're AIMED bullets.

That is probably accurate. The Brits carry a lot of stuff on their web-gear. A while back I posted a list of what our guys generally have, here it is (if the link works):

http://www.equipped.org/ubbthreads/showt...=true#Post14437

Just a question. Why carry one of them big and heavy right angles torches? I was given one of them myself from an ex SAS person - among a whole lot of other stuff - and found them obsolete compared to what is available today.
also this guy did he carry a PSK aswell? I doubt it looking at the list but i think it would have been a beter option in IMHO. Reason: you've got everything in one place - more control but of course more risk.

A good idea though is the compass(es) in addition to the GPS.

Just my 2 cents

Ryan

Angle torch attaches to the shoulder strap of your LCE and provides forward light during march without you holding it and also makes you more visible. Also the design is more natural to hold if you have to. It won't roll down the table and they can be stand upright. Also usually you have colored lenses already supplied with it so you don't have to go and hunt for them (aka spend extra cash). Something really usefull that I was told when training in urban warfare is that when peeking from the corner you expose your head (unless angle mirror is used) and your hand (if using regular flashlight). Enemy will aim at the source of light. Using angled torch allows you to see and not stick out your fighting hand. Also when signaling from the trench you don't have to expose your hand. I saw a AA version of those lights which were very cute.

Yes they are heavy and they need to be redisigned but they work so I don't think military is in the rush. Especially since so many soldiers go out and buy their own lighting systems out of their own pocket.

Matt

"you either carry to much ammo ( wenn you don't fight ) or you carry to little" or something like that...

Matt,
most useful thanks. Although I think that many jobs can be taken over nowadays with a head torch. But of couirse not in a tactical environment.

reinhardt

Minute I got out of the service I switched over to the mag light and photon LED. Now I use headlamps, and small flashlights. I think if the army went out of their way and utilized zipka LED headligth and packed it with set of lenses and web/belt/magnetic clip it would be a perfect solutions (and lightweight) for the troops.

That does sound more than reasonable, and probably cost-effective as well. The problem with a lot of military gear is they have the "not invented here" mentality. If it doesn't come out of Natick or Aberdeen (in the US) or some similar place, it gets ignored by the military bureaucracy, which forces the troops to buy the stuff they really need on the "civilian" market. Sad, but it has been that way for more than 200 years.

In reply to Reinhardt (good to see you back on the forum), he did carry a PSK as well. It was the BCB go-pack and some of the gear he listed was from that kit. This means that he did not infact list everything he carried.


Oh yes, the SAS are the creme de la creme of the British armed forces (Although i'm sure they're nothing compared to in the US, because all your forces are the special forces <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />).



The belt kit is pretty standard as it is mostly survival and escape and evasion gear so is therefore not mission specific. However lots of the rest of the kit was. The mission they were doing was an offensive OP (i.e. they were setting up an observation post but would react with force if needs by, in this example, a renegade general) this means that a lot of the gear they carried was specialist. e.g. spotting and night vision scopes, entrenching tools scrim and camoflage, chicken wire to hold camoflage and most importantly a A1 sniper rifle.

Hope this is all helpful.

Post deleted by Chris Kavanaugh