Wonderbread said:
Jimmy P.On, that's alot of gear man.
On my tour, those who humped manpacks carried considerably less then that. From your bottom pic, I wouldn't bother carrying the pistol, bayonet, 1 of the frags and 1 smoke, and that bandoleer. You could probably shave at least 10 lbs from your load right there. I don't want to tell you how to do your job, but what you've got in the pic seems excessive.
A signaller's job (not specifically a Sig Op, but signallers in general) is to help co-ordinate the fight. He should be squeezing the PTT, not the trigger. IMHO even 10 mags is probably more weight then necessary. At least on the infantry side of the house, our signallers need to be very careful not to overburden themselves. Manpacks are stupid heavy, and you gotta be able to get that thing where it needs to be. Shaving off weight in your other gear is important.
Wonderbread;
Its not a lot of gear....its an epic @#$% ton...
If I was humping the man-pack I'd be tracking down the 1st experienced 031 Pl sig I find and getting advice.
I was in the turret 75% of the time. For anything dismounted I lightened up a fair amount.
Working with the US however, I only had to carry an MBITR when out on foot, but I still lightened the load almost exactly as you stated.
The chest rig lasted about 3 months,
Bayonet lasted about a week. (heavy and useless)
pistol I kept with 1 mag (i didnt feel right leaving in my locker @ BAF/Kabul for weeks at a time)
Kept both frags, but dropped a smoke.
went down to 8 mags (incl on on the rifle)
The bandoleer was full of U.S 20 Rd mags, I just left it in the turret it was NEVER carried on foot.
(Im Cbt Sp, but not a masochist)
In the turrett I had a borrowed and "Can-ofladged" (read spray painted) DCU FLCV. It was pretty nice.
On that I carried
First aid kit
2X rifle mag ( back up )
1X frag
1X smoke
pistol, loaded
rolly polly ( small one with a pop flare)
Thanks for addressing that though Wonder, It was just the only pic I had of the "standard" loadout.
When in doubt
"Semper Gumby"
(always flexible)