Russo-Ukrainian War - 2022 Edition - Part 7

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sefeddt

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Cosmik Debris said:
Of course. I didn't even go into the MAG gunners number two that carried his personal firearm and the spare belts. The rest of the team also carried spare belts for the MAG but less than number two did. If a PatMor (60mm Patrol Mortar) was carried by the team, everyone carried spare mortar bombs for it too.

I seriously doubt anyone who has not served has any idea of the weight carried on a week patrol including the radio, medical kit, ammunition, bedding food and water. Water weighs 1kg per liter and in waterless areas, a lot has to be carried.

Pic of the SA Special Forces operator Neves Matias with an 80kg pack before deploying into Angola on a long range infiltration:

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Although I was artillery we were also used at infantry, I twice ended up with a LMG as my weapon. 1st time was early 80's as NS with Operation Triangle Of Death where we were stationed at Tsumeb power plant and later 80's CF 1 1/2 months as LMG gunner on 4 day patrols around Ondangwa AFB, text book is you have a LMG side kick who carries additional ammo belts but we were only 7 in our unit (s/b 10-14) so I had none and carried the belts across my chest and in a bag, the guys did help with carrying some of my food and water. On our last patrol we decided to let off steam and do some shooting, turns out the LMG was faulty, fire 1 round, stuck, clear, fire 1 round stuck clear. Luckily we had a uneventful stint but I was still pretty miffed about it.
 
Cosmik Debris

Cosmik Debris

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Blu82 said:
Because its stupid idea but it is definitely possible if you have a single tank operating alone.
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So your soldier has to carry a can of spray paint in addition to all his other equipment just in case he finds an MBT operating on its own without infantry support? This is not a computer game where the equipment carried is unlimited. Guess which piece of equipment will be the first to be ditched?

Blu82 said:
Ask your son how effective a Challenger 2 is with all its optics shot out.
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I did. He spent two six month tours of Afghanistan. That never happened. He can't recall it ever happening. You don't take on a tank with a rifle. You come up short very quickly.
 
Mike Angelo

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sefeddt said:
Although I was artillery we were also used at infantry, I twice ended up with a LMG as my weapon. 1st time was early 80's as NS with Operation Triangle Of Death where we were stationed at Tsumeb power plant and later 80's CF 1 1/2 months as LMG gunner on 4 day patrols around Ondangwa AFB, text book is you have a LMG side kick who carries additional ammo belts but we were only 7 in our unit (s/b 10-14) so I had none and carried the belts across my chest and in a bag, the guys did help with carrying some of my food and water. On our last patrol we decided to let off steam and do some shooting, turns out the LMG was faulty, fire 1 round, stuck, clear, fire 1 round stuck clear. Luckily we had a uneventful stint but I was still pretty miffed about it.
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Long grass... Long grass always causes stoppages with an LMG as the belt draws the grass into into the breech mechanism. That is why you always needed a wake up no.2 to keep the belt clear and away from the grass otherwise you were fckd.
 
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sefeddt

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Mike Angelo said:
Long grass... Long grass always causes stoppages with an LMG as the belt draws the grass into into the breech mechanism. That is why you always needed a wake up no.2 to keep the belt clear and away from the grass otherwise you were fckd.
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Ondangwa is not known for lush green grass, mostly white powder sand with patches of dried grass sticking up.
 
Vorastra

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