Not sure what plates are being ran these days but I know the older sapi’s were not ‘stand alone’ plates. Meaning they were only rated to what they were, in conjunction with soft armor. Never remove your soft armor. Great videos, keep it up…SFMF
Also worth mentioning… the HEDP rounds are issued in a bandolier containing two x3 “pockets” for a total of six HEDP rounds. These bandoliers work great for carriage of additional rounds. Just as you might carry loose 5.56 in stripper clips in the bandoliers they come out of the ammo box in slung around the body. In addition you can pull out the plastic inserts from the bandolier (holding three HEDP rounds) and use this to slide into a bag or a pouch for organization, easy of withdrawal/use, and as a safety consideration… so you don’t just have loose HE floating around in a dump pouch or assault pack.
I was a Marine Infantryman. Did three combat deployments. Took part in the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 and did two more deployments. During my day… they didn’t issue us any 40 mm carriage options. Even if you drew out an M4/203 M16A4/203 from the armory. I always had a 203 during all three deployments. So I ordered from Blackhawk two “triple pouches” that could fit standard HEDP or smoke or the longer star clusters and star parachute or “riot control” rounds like the foam baton round. What I ended up doing for the bulk of my HEDP was just use the standard MOLLE frag pouches. Each frag pouch will hold two HEDP rounds. And it will “snap” securely holding the rounds fairly well. This is an option.
I would affix all my HEDP onto my interceptor vest. A total of 8 HEDP (in four frag pouches as that’s all I could bum or trade for) and 6 signaling rounds (whatever I needed. Smoke heavy and star clusters during the day and parachutes mostly for illumination and clusters in the night). Bc I no longer had frag pouches, I carried the old school ALICE magazine pouches that could accommodate three mags and two frags each. So I’d have my six magazines (plus a single in the weapon or a double in the weapon (with magazines affixed together with 100 mph tape and MRE cardboard) and four M67 fragmentations. I would sometimes attach my mags directly onto my vest or I could take them off for normal carriage on ALICE webbing (which also carried my 2 quarts, canteen cup, Kbar, IFAK, sometimes a butt pack/poncho and liner). Part of my considerations for load carriage is we were fighting out of the LAV-25… and the scout hatches/vehicle hatches limited how you could wear gear. Most of the time we just hung most items internally or externally onto the vehicle and fought off of what was affixed to the armor/vest and would grab our webbing if we needed to conduct dismounted operations/in extremis or emergency. Most people don’t consider how they’re going to be fighting. It’s not always dismounted. And you gear/equipment needs to be tailored accordingly.
I’ve seen danglers serve as a decent solution for a lot of grenadier’s, it offers a bit of extra ammunition storage. I know your feelings about danglers but for those who like danglers, it’s an option.
I agree with you. I carried a 40mm as a grenadier and as a team leader. I don't mind carrying another 40mm on my rifle, but the grenadier should be the grenadier.
@@TheGruntPerspective would like to know their place in the gear architecture. When and where they are appropriate? How much can you get away using them as a secondary source of ammo rather than tertiary. Is it worth using more durable version vs the canvas one’s that come packed in the ammo cans.
In regards to the hydration carrier on your back, how well does that interface with a ruck or assault pack? Is it quickly removable or is it MOLLE'd in? I've considered getting one for for my Spiritus LV-119, but being in a line infantry unit I am regularly donning & doffing my ruck. I'm concerned the addition of extra water / gear on my back plate would disrupt proper fitment with a ruck. It would be a nice addition though for patrols or range days where no pack is required. Each one of these vids gives insight on what I ought to be doing as a new PVT, keep em coming
What I do is take my water out and put it in my hydration carrier in my ruck, and when I leave my ruck I make that transfer. Not ideal but it’s the only way I’ve found that works.
