USMC actually issued drum mags quite often. Army didn't. But we all know that USMC > Army, and the USMC had to deal with massed charge attacks.
USMC actually issued drum mags quite often. Army didn't. But we all know that USMC > Army, and the USMC had to deal with massed charge attacks.
I'd take the army in the WW Deuce. far more organized, better leadership, etc. Not having fucking McArthur as your general will take you far.Originally Posted by Warsaw
Question about modern individual armor...
How come no one makes or uses bullet/fragmentation resistant greaves? I realize that greaves pretty much went out back with the Roman's, but they were actually a fairly good design. A greave acted as armor for the shins, which are prone to taking shrapnel and getting banged around, and also acts as a knee pad.
I think a fragmentation/small arms resistant greave could be useful for certain "shock troop" style units in the current generation. SWAT teams could also benefit (I've actually seen photos of the RCMP ERT wearing some kind of greaves). Weight is the only downside, so issuing them to forces that rely on quick insertions and extractions could be useful.
Oh boy, you should love the soldiers in my story (I've posted 'em around), because they have helmets (wide-brimmed like brodie helms to protect against shrapnel, but also having side pieces to protect the ears and back of the head), greaves (with hinged knee-plates), bracers, shoulder bells, chest plate (actually, two chest plates), back plates, and some segmented stomach armour. Everywhere important.
Granted, they are WWI-styled, but they have it where it counts.
Hinged knee-plates you say?
http://www.ctoms.ca/products/knee-pads?cat=13
Just discovered those when I was ordering my Multicam Crye G3 Combat Pants last December. Thought it was pretty neat and was actually my initial spark into searching around for some modern greaves. I think greaves that are tall enough to extend past the top of the knee when you're standing would be sufficient, no need for a hinged design since when you take a knee the greave itself would act as a knee-pad. When kneeling your knee would be exposed, but it's at ground level so not a HUGE issue.
Its an interesting idea. Do many guys get shot in the shins though?
Not having been deployed as a medic/medical staff I can't say, I've talked to some friends who have been deployed and heard of people taking shots to pretty much everywhere. Fragmentation doesn't discriminate though.
FYI, those CTOMS guys would know. They're the ex-military/law enforcement civilians that Canada contracts to for military/law enforcement field medical standards and training.
A quote from their site:
Effective Medical Training = Force Multiplication
Mission Essential Training™ started here. Even before CTOMS existed, it was the initiation and development of the TCCC program by its founders within the Canadian Forces that sparked the beginnings of what has turned into a world class set of programs. Each program is custom tailored for the client agency and their specific requirements providing customized solutions maximizing training efficiency.
Our military programs cover a spectrum of requirements, from individual soldier TCCC training to advanced Special Operations Force medics or Search and Rescue Technicians. These are not cookie cutter courses but rather end user, environment and scope of practice specific training.
Last edited by Cortexian; February 23rd, 2012 at 04:12 AM.
Lol, not quite what I meant by hinged. It's essentially a part of the greave (well, sits in top-ish), but it can bend inwards just below the knee. It does not bend outwards; furthest it goes outwards is in line with the rest of the leg.
Kevin is the very definition of gear queer, so no surprise he's suggesting something like that; I'm pretty much the opposite. I'm willing to go with less protection if it means I'm faster and able to move more freely. Even if you're wearing the best armour in the world you'll still be killed by concussion from nearby explosions or bullets finding their way through your armour, so I don't put a huge amount of faith in that shit. A light vest and a decent helmet are really all you need, any more than that and you're just miring yourself down in pointless what-ifs.
There's no right or wrong answer I guess, but personally, I know what I'd go with. We spend so much time obsessing over the newest technology that we tend to forget the essentials - which is why infantry in NATO countries are still using a lacklustre cartridge, usually from lacklustre weapons, and don't know how to use some of their most essential pieces of kit. I would consider it a safe estimate that more than half of any given Western nation's infantry don't know how to navigate with a map and compass, let alone without anything at all, because of the advent of the goddamn GPS. Entrenching tools are just tools now, nobody seems to see them as a weapon (and a potent one at that). People are actually arguing that bayonets are obsolete (which will literally never be the case). Fuck fancy armour setups, fuck computerised fire control for infantry weapons. Give soldiers a good, solid rifle they can't break, firing a round which sits in the comfortable zone between 5.56 and 7.62, a bayonet and some light protection.
This. Try running with some heavier gear when you've already got a 200 pound-ish ruck plus ammo, a gun, and yourself. Being able to move, relatively quickly and for relatively long distances, is more important for survival at this point than fancy armour. Easy mobility of the appendages is pretty important too, and more gear just fucks it all up.
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