15-01-2009, 19:07
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חבר מתאריך: 19.09.05
הודעות: 1,280
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I agree with most of what Flatfoot writes here about the questionable wisdom of the infantry fighting in Gaza with large backpacks. As advanced or comfortable as the new backpacks may be, they are still heavy. To be effective, the soldiers should only be advancing with their fighting gear.
Historically the IDF infantry didn’t use large backpacks and only carried ammo or fighting equipment on their backs because in a war, the fighting was either not far from the border or the forces were mechanized or even if the infantry advanced on foot, the logistic convoys were never too far behind. I believe that the large backpacks started appearing for the long ambushes conducted in Lebanon in the 90s by special units, and like everything else used by special units during batash, like short-barreled M4s, mitznefet, forward handgrips, was adopted by the envious regular infantry
Of course this all changed in 2006 when the IDF decided to avoid logistic resupply due to the perceived AT threat. Even without a full backpack and only the “light” flak jackets, many of us –myself included--were close to exhaustion, especially marching back under the August sun after the ceasefire
I can’t help but think that all the brand new high quality backpacks are being issued to make it look like all the problems with IDF readiness and tactics that surfaced in 2006 are now fixed.
Perhaps the current slow and careful tactics are proving successful in Gaza, however when I saw the footage last night of the sniper shooting at Ronny Daniel and how slow the soldier next to him moved I can’t help but think what would have happened if the enemy were more capable.
Judging from the frequent daytime trips of the armored vehicles-and without using smoke screens-- the AT threat of the Hamas is apparently lower and resupply with vehicles shouldn’t be a problem here. Even in 2006, I think that regular M113s employed carefully could have been used for resupply without undue risk
During my sadir service starting in 1985 almost every soldier carried something on their back but it was either a specialized carrier for the 52mm mortar, rifle-grenades, RPG, LAW pakal or a canvas tadal72 packs for the MAG 250rnds, radio batteries or extra grenades.
The only time we actually carried the tadal72 filled with stuff like clothing, was when we marched to the shavua sadaut during tirunut, and this was on top of the assigned pakal. Carrying it over the RPG pack was of course impractical and torturous, which was probably the true intention of the march.
If we needed to carry extra food, water or equipment on exercises or in Lebanon then it would be tied on to the generic plastic minsa chir carrier. Warm clothing or rain gear would be tied to the back of the effod.
BTW, pictures of foreign troops with large backpacks, like Americans in Vietnam or Afghanistan, are quite common. But these are usually during long foot patrols with the idea that they are dropped during contact
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Sorry for the English... I was a bad student in Hebrew school
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