E.R. Campbell said:I thought I would add this just to remind us all of how far we have come in 50 years.
This picture, taken in 1956, shows soldiers from an operational, combat ready unit, in the field - dressed for training as they planned to fight. The rifle is the good old SMLE .303 bolt action, 10 round mag; I'm less sure of the SMG - I though we got the 'new' Sterling SMG around then but the folding stock looks like the 'old' Sten.
I dressed much the same up until about 1965 except that, by circa 1960 we no longer had to wear ties in the field.
BTW, for other old timers, Art Tompkins (2nd from the left, then a pte) was my platoon sergeant in 2RCR in 1967.
Old Sweat said:Edward,
The soldier is carrying a Sten which stayed in service in the regular army for a few more years. I fired annual classification on the Sten in 4 RCHA in Petawawa in September 1960, but then encountered the SMG for the first time on officer training a few weeks later.
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but we made up for it by excessive chicken sxxx in garrision.
BinRat55 said:Wow, i'm actually feeling a little young here!!
I remember the "cool" thing to have in the late 80's early 90's was the poncho liner ('mercan)along with the rain jacket. I had one US Army cat offer me his M-16 for my sleeping bag on RV once... needless to say I kept my bag and he was charged for losing his weapon on the ex...
ArmyVern said:Ha!! That's the same one where I talked my US buddy out of his fatigue jacket ... just because we shared the same last name!! It didn't cost me anything but a 'lil Vern angellic smile!! ;D
I still have that damn thing.
ArmyVern said:Are you inferring that I am somehow evil??
Panzer Grenadier said:Is it safe to come out now or is lightning still coming down?
Loachman said:Please do.
However the 2 RCR battle group command completely nixed unissued load carriage systems.... I will not bother to print the hilarious reasons for this, as it would require a new thread.
GregC said:We were first informed that chest rigs were not allowed on 1-07 because it interrupted your ability to properly adopt a firing position in the prone. As anyone who has carried 10 mags as a rifleman, or 4 boxes as a C9 gunner, or 2 belts as a C6 gunner, there is not a comfortable prone position......
GregC said:We also had it passed on to us by Army lesson learned that the tac vest held your guts in in the event of evisceration.
Also, if you had your tacvest contaminated or damaged, it could be immediately be replaced. 90% of our company had broken vests, and mine was not replaced for a month. In the meantime it was held together by guntape and paracord.
We also had it passed on to us by Army lesson learned that the tac vest held your guts in in the event of evisceration. He also informed us that death was imminent in the event of wearing an oregon aero kit in your helmet.