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General discussion

The new military gear

Jul 18, 2016 12:39PM PDT

Strange, that I posted a few wks. ago about the 782 gear we had in USMC many yrs. ago to what is now available. It just so happens a new book entered my library that explains much of this. The book:

GRUNT: the curious science of humans at war
by: Mary Roach

It covers whatever it takes to get new gear of any sort to become available. Some slivering thoughts are surely in this book. Anything from reducing injuries by IEDs, fire retardants, hearing protection and improvement as well as vehicles. So far it has proven to be well put t0ogether. Who knew "silk" was used to reduce injuries from "garment fragments" entering wounds causing infection. Of course, all this from vendors providing the lowest bids.

Understand, this is from a Marine that was issued woolen underwear for the cold, not the newer "Ninja PJs" offered now. Of course, in the jungle I didn't need PJs just fresh clean socks. Hey, anyone use the K-bar to pick at things: Wink -----Willy Happy

Discussion is locked

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I recently read a story about the evolution
Jul 18, 2016 1:53PM PDT

of the M-16 and the considerable amount of discussion and argument that went into adopting that type of weapon and that one in particular. I found the article to be quite interesting. From what I can gather, it became less necessary for soldiers to develop marksmanship skills and more necessary that they be able to spray lead. This, I understand, came from the Korean War where the Chinese army would flood the battlefield with bodies so that a few would make it to hand-to-hand fighting grounds. Sounds gruesome to me. As well, the worst that could happen to a soldier was for him to run out of ammo and the smaller projectile meant he could carry more of it. The article mentioned that some soldiers when packing would leave behind food to make more room for bullets. I would wonder how that survival mentality translated to how they'd pack for vacations when returning home from war. Happy

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Maybe same article
Jul 20, 2016 9:08AM PDT

I read or previewed an article that was in the process of refurbishing M4s into M4-1A?. These were to be going back to auto fire in continuous mode, better barrels, and stuff like that. No more 3-shot spurts, just auto and single fire. The barrels are heavier for prolonged fire in order cool and maintain shape. New orders will be forth-coming in similar fashion, but for now refurbished ones are re-issued back to wares. -----Willy Happy

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Maybe the Ka Bar?
Jul 18, 2016 1:58PM PDT

Anyhow the longest serving knife I owned was something similar to the Ka Bar but with a serrated edge on the non-knife edge. Where it went to I don't know but it did survive close to 20 years and it was great.

Post was last edited on July 20, 2016 9:20 AM PDT

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What I had...
Jul 20, 2016 11:59AM PDT

Understand the K-bar or any military knife has to be issued to you. For the most part, I didn't have one issued to me. So, I got a Buck knife popular in the day and kept it on my person. On maneuvers, I got my own K-bar which wasn't the same as a bayonet or rifle mounted one. I felt great having the K-bar not only because it was used for my own needs, i didn't have to account for it as it was mine. That may seem selfish, but when it comes to anything being issued, you certainly have to hold your breath until it becomes the defacto requirement like going to war, provided they have them in stores or awaits you once you arrive. Even then you maybe getting one returned and then re-issued, oh you gotta love the way things get done in the military. adios -----Willy Happy

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(NT) Silk was originally used so arrows wouldn't penetrate
Jul 19, 2016 9:30AM PDT
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Silk versus arrows, swords, etc.
Jul 19, 2016 11:38AM PDT

That's largely a myth. You can look it up. Arrows go right through silk but the fibers are said to be easier to remove. Who'd want a dead man to have threads hanging out of his wounds?

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just saw a documentary on this
Jul 19, 2016 11:48AM PDT

silk was used to prevented a lot of infections because it did not shred like other materials and go into the wound with the arrow.

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Japanese amour
Jul 19, 2016 3:07PM PDT

If I recall right, many bands of silk and cloth plus backed by some support frame and then "lacquered" the heck out of it. This provided the stiffness and resistance to arrows. As for anything metal, then seems to be more of a European thing. But, heck I'm sure back in the day, they tried anything that could be useful. Just like our guys today, would ride on the amour vest in a helicopter or Jeep before the newer stuff came out. These EIDs are nasty business because overall they could be several shells or lbs of explosive that can flip a tank, pity the poor soldier of flesh and blood and a vest. Gawd dang -----Willy Happy