a soldier and his ammo
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Topic: a soldier and his ammo
Posted By: unrealpara
Subject: a soldier and his ammo
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 9:39pm
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during WW1/2 how much ammunition would the average foot soldier have to cart around with him to suit a M1 or a enfield? im searching the net a bit with no luck, i can only guess it would be about 100 rounds but anyone with the extra wisdom please share. ------------- .303 lithgow No.4 Mk1* Imagine pure concentration and precision at 750 yards. That’s Me watching You! |
Replies:
Posted By: Smokey
Date Posted: July 05 2009 at 11:27pm
| I believe the WWII "Tommy" carried two bren magazines (30 rd ea.) in one of the two "Basic Pouches" and at least 60 rounds in the other. Additional rifle ammunition would be carried in bandoliers and in a pack. I think we're looking at more like 200 rounds each. |
Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 1:28am
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Plus grenades Smokey usually 2/3 Mills 36s.
------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: Smokey
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 3:04am
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Tony, maybe you can help settle this:
Did riflemen actually carry rifle ammunition in the "basic" pouches, or was it primarily Bren magazines and mills bombs?
If so, how was his basic rifle ammunition carried?
I don't see any other pouches for carrying ammo on charger clips:
http://imageevent.com/badgerdog/britishservicerifles/britishmilitaryaccessories/1937patternbritishsoldierswebset - http://imageevent.com/badgerdog/britishservicerifles/britishmilitaryaccessories/1937patternbritishsoldierswebset
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 6:21am
Ahhhhhh...........Dr Mills #36 "wonder Pill" ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Smokey
Date Posted: July 06 2009 at 11:57pm
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Put me down as ignorant, and willing to admit it!
How and where did the typical WWII British Rifleman carry his rifle ammunition?
Was it strictly in bandoliers?
Was it a combination of basic pouch and bandoliers?
I'm making the assumption that he actually used his rifle, and needed easy access to ammunition for reloads.
I have a Pattern 37 set, and it can hold a considerable amount of ammunition, but NOWHERE have I been able to find the manner in which it was supposed to be filled!
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Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 3:12am
Platoon is divided into 3 sections each section has a bren Paras usually had 4 brens/ platoon. Ammo is carried in the pouches plus genades, Spare mags for the bren carried in left hand pouch. Ammo was issued in clips placed in the right hand pouch (with the chocolate bars and fags  ) extra ammo was supplied in cotton bandoliers. Yes they hold a lot of ammo but when bren mags were empty they needed a refill 28 rounds/ mag leave 2 out to avoid jams and straining the spring. That equates to 5 clips/mag for the bren at 600 rounds/minute it can eat ammo.
------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 4:46am
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The M1 Garand bandoliers carried 6 eight round clips that equal 48 rounds. Now how many they carried? I was told was left up the the soldier up and above the min required. |
Posted By: Smokey
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 6:18am
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Tony, Thanks.
So the left pouch held two Bren magazines, was there any room left for a grenade?
In the right pouch, how was the stuff arranged?
Grenade on the bottom and rifle ammo on top (till the pouch was full)?
I get the impression the riflemen were there to guard the flanks and refill Bren magazines.
 The US cartridge belt had ten pockets, each held one Garand clip or two charger clips for the bolt actions. Add bandoliers to that for the US ammo load.
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Posted By: Tony
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 7:19pm
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Possibly. I'm not that old we didn't have the old issue gear!
------------- Rottie (PitBulls dad.) “If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons Born free taxed to death!!! |
Posted By: Smokey
Date Posted: July 07 2009 at 9:57pm
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Found an excellent site about British web gear, virtually everything you wanted to know seems to be here somewhere:
http://www.karkeeweb.com/ - http://www.karkeeweb.com/
(Including answers to my questions on what goes into the stuff)
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Posted By: Smokey
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 6:06am
| I have an E-Mail exchange going with the research team at the "Karkee" site. They're digging into the issues of the Pattern 37 kit as actually used (different from regulation in many cases). |