How much ammo do soldiers carry?

[C.R.Sam]

This thread makin my well used high mile body ache just from readin and rememberin.

B Bear...snap straps.

Sam

 

[Animal]

Heres a different perspective. As a machinegunner this is probably an average load: gunner has 400 to maybe 800 rounds (800 only if moving a short distance) usually somewhere in between, ammoman has another 400 to 800 (usually about one can more than the gunner which is 200 rnds) team leader has probably another 400 or so. on top of that there is personal weapons. we usually go pretty light with those 6 mags 5.56 and 2 9mm, loads are different for every op however.

And I have to disagree with Teufelhunden, grunts and engineers are very different Not to say bad, not at all, just different.
Have you guys really had molle packs break? we have been pretty rough with ours and I don't think I've ever seen one break!

 

[SapperLeader]

i feel a need to pipe in as a combat engineer too. Our combat load is pretty standard at 210 rounds in 7 magazines, but im fairly confident, that my squad tends to carry a little more when we can get away wit hit. (Oh, and by the way, as a saw gunner for my first three years in, never had a a gunner and was carrying 800 rounds in drums and 200 rounds in the 100 round pouches).

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

One of the guys I worked with over the summer is a former Ranger. He said he usually carried 17 mags, with 30 rounds in each.

 

[OEF_VET]

Up until I got out last fall, my LBV was configured to hold up to a total of 24 x 30 round mags, plus one in my weapon. I had the 6 on the chest, plus 4 x 3 mag pouches on my belt, and another 2 mag pouches attached to my buttpack. Of course, more often than not, these pouches were occupied by map marker pens, camo sticks, 550 cord, spare batteries, and other assorted junk needed by a FO.

Chindo, welcome to THR. What group are you with?

Frank

 

[Moparmike]

That depends entirely on how one situates the ammo in his HMMWV. I imagine quite alot. Personally, I dont want it in cans, I want it pre-magazined.

 

[Chindo18Z]

OEF: 10th (Mostly), 19th, 5th, 11th, USASFC. Formerly at TFL, registered THR first day...don't post much. I've read some of your posts over the months. I was w/ 5th Jump TOC at Bagram when you were east of the Whale. Were you at Chapman/Khost later in the summer (Jun-Jul)?

 

[Nightcrawler]

OEF_VET: I hear you! I don't know what I'm going to do if I get deployed, and I start actually having to carry ammo and grenades in my LBV pouches instead of my camo paint, my notebook and pens, a little snacks to munch on sometimes, and the million other things you decide you could use at some point when you're out in the field.

(Being a SAW gunner, I don't have anything to put in the M16 mag pouches anyway, so I'd keep my glasses case and other things in them. I bought aftermarket belt pouches from FMCO to hold the SAW drums, and they're of much higher quality than the ones that come in the barrel bag.)

 

[OEF_VET]

Chindo,

I spent my entire two months at Kandahar as the BDE Fire Support NCO (Rear) for the Rakkasans. Never got to see so much as Kandahar city, much less Bagram or Khost. I got there the end of January and left latter half of March. My LT and I went over to be the BDE Information Ops OIC and NCOIC, but ended up filling in for the BDE FSE while they went up to the Shah-i-Kowt. They sent us home after Anaconda was over.

 

[Chindo18Z]

OEF: A belated welcome back from the 12th Century. I think I was confusing posts (without reviewing) from Blackhawk6. In any event, I was with some Rakkasans at Khost (I forgot which Bn...will have to check out a picture of some unit logo art work they left behind). You and your guys did real good over there... Hope all is well with you my brother. JDAMs for all my fundamentalist AK toting friends!