Troop List

[Abbott Shaull]

Favorite GIs antitank weapon was a Panzerfaust! Just like the GIs perferred the MP-40 over the M-3 SMG and liked to wear jackboots and carry the German Army's shelter half, it was better than the issue crap!

Yeah well all seemed to be in endless supply by capturing the enemy.

The Panzerfaust was more effective than what was issued.

The MP-40 was decent weapon to pick up. It still boggles my mind at time the amount of submachine guns that one could find with infantry units. Yeah I know the basic rifles were you had to pull the trigger for each shot, regardless if it was old bolt action or semi-auto load.

Then again it boggles my mind that M-3 was kept in the armories for as long as it was. Talk about gun literally pressed stamped, granted many of the submachine guns were, but they took the M-3 to the extreme. Like the US Army couldn't find a more suitable replacement until the M4 carbine.

As for the Jackboot and shelter half well it doesn't surprise me. I remember when I was in we were always required to take our sleeping bag and shelter half. Which seemed to be waste of time since we weren't ever allowed to use the shelter half, and dragging out your sleeping bag meant you had to waste time in the morning rolling the damn thing up. Especially when you had poncho and it liner to use for shelter and sleeping in. Sadly, never used the poncho as such. Much like the field jackets we were issued, but never allowed to used, but the liners use with a sweater under your bdu blouse almost kept you as warm on those cold days...lol

[Legbreaker]

Issued but not used! What madness is that! :O
I made a point of at least trying every issued item, even those that had developed a bad reputation. Uncovered a few gems that way such as the light weight sleeping bag (and cover) aka "horse blanket". Most didn't use them (ok, everyone except me) because they were rough and scratchy. Well, after a run through the wash to clean it, it was soft, warm, compact, and above all, light! Awesome piece of kit. Even better, it was the perfect size to fit over the heavy winter sleeping bag as an additional layer of warm goodness!

In my opinion, if it's issued, it's there to be used!

[pmulcahy11b]

Just think about the massive amount of TA-50 (or "kit") you were issued at every duty station. You used maybe a quarter of it, and the rest stayed home, to be taken out every so often to make sure it's still serviceable. An air mattress What knucklehead thought of that...

The most TA-50 I used was in Korea, and the extra stuff was mainly cold-weather items.

[Fusilier]

An air mattress

Depends on where you are I suppose. It can be vital in the cold.

[Abbott Shaull]

Yeah it was amazing the amount of the equipment that would spend more time in storage locker then with you in the field for example the Gas Mask... While at Bragg I think we only dragged it out for IG, the training days for MOPP gear, and Corps FXs where we could be sent anywhere along the coast or to Fort Campbell depending on the exercise. Otherwise the bulk thing stayed tucked away.

Now that has me chuckling thinking about the new load bearing system is set up, it would make it impossible for left hand shooter to have leg hoster for their side arm...lol

[Abbott Shaull]

Issued but not used! What madness is that! :O
I made a point of at least trying ever issue item, even thought that had developed a bad reputation. Uncovered a few gems that way such as the light weight sleeping bag (and cover) aka "horse blanket". Most didn't use them (ok, everyone except me) because they were rough and scratchy. Well, after a run through the wash to clean it, it was soft, warm, compact, and above all, light! Awesome piece of kit. Even better, it was the perfect size to fit over the heavy winter sleeping bag as an additional layer of warm goodness!

In my opinion, if it's issued, it's there to be used!

Yeah well that why many of used the poncho liners to sleep in and the poncho to set up shelter to sleep under than drag out the sleeping bag and shelter half. They were both hell lot easier to pick up/take down and stow away than those two bulky things. Silly thing of it was of the large rucksacks we had those two items took up the bottom of third of everyone.

[Legbreaker]

You were issued a gas mask permanently :O

Over here you got a basic issue. Items such as gas masks, entrenching tools, compasses, even (early on anyway) winter sleeping bags were issued on an as need, per exercise basis. It kept the crap you had to cart around to a minimum and the QM always had whatever was needed, in the quantity actually needed.

All we really kept, at least as far as field gear anyway, was uniforms, webbing, pack and about another 15-20kgs of gear.

Non-field gear issued consisted of little more than a few sets of "poly's" (polyester khaki uniforms for on base or parade ground). My Company was unique in the Army being also issued a kilt for ceremonial duties.

I've got a list of my issued items floating about somewhere. I'll post when I can find it.

[Fusilier]

Yeah it was amazing the amount of the equipment that would spend more time in storage locker then with you in the field for example the Gas Mask...

To me it seems strange that American units wouldn't have their gas mask with them at all times while in the field. We consider it to be life saving equipment - being no different than your rifle, helmet, and kevlar.

[Abbott Shaull]

The sad thing for many exercise it and the rest of mopp gear were in the rucksack.

Yes I agree it would seem that it is valuable piece of defensive equipment, I am also including day trips out to this range or that range where we had to have load bearing equipment, kevlar, and weapon.

[Abbott Shaull]

While we were in we had duffle bag overflowing of gear that spent more time in the locker than in use...

[helbent4]

Group,

Following is a link to the NATO OOB for 1989. It's not the complete document, but interesting nonetheless.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/37695/NATO...of-Battle-1989

Tony

[pmulcahy11b]

Unfortunately impossible to save without signing up for a Scribd or Facebook account.

[pmulcahy11b]

To me it seems strange that American units wouldn't have their gas mask with them at all times while in the field. We consider it to be life saving equipment - being no different than your rifle, helmet, and kevlar.

Every unit I've ever been, including the National Guard, required the carriage of the protective mask.

[pmulcahy11b]

Items such as gas masks, entrenching tools, compasses, even (early on anyway) winter sleeping bags were issued on an as need, per exercise basis. It kept the crap you had to cart around to a minimum and the QM always had whatever was needed, in the quantity actually needed.

The only unit where we were issued the protective mask as basic issue was in Korea. At all the other units, it was issued only when we went to the field or for special training. In Korea, we also had to keep real MOPP suits and filters in vacuum-packed foil in out vehicles, and they were checked more-or-less monthly by one of the NBC sergeants to make sure the seal was intact and that the mask was being kept in working order.

[helbent4]

Unfortunately impossible to save without signing up for a Scribd or Facebook account.

Paul,

Can you read it okay

Tony