"How many rounds of ammo does / did an infantry man carry ?" Topic

I have seen WW1-era film of an American soldier using a BAR for "marching fire". Not very impressive, really, since any soldier could manage the same with a bolt-action rifle - sort of "leftFIRE-rightFIRE-leftFIRE-rightRIRE" etc. Possibly a tactic approved by General Pershing in 1917, but not really relevant by 1939+.

BAR only came to use in 1918.

As for doing marching fire with bolt-action, working the bolt fast enough might be a problem.

Griefbringer

I thought it was built earlier, just not issued till 1918 (command didnt want it to fall in the hands of zeh germans)

I think the stopping power of the BAR was based on putting multiple hits a target

Hmmm

BAR versus Bolt action... 1rnd every 3 seconds and reload every 5 shots versus 3rnd/sec and 20 shots, reload by pushing a button and popping in another magazine(2 seconds).

No comparison.

R

In WW2 the British infantry had 50-60 .303 rounds from the beginning. No more as 1. it's heavy, 2. The British government has always been known for its meaness and penny pinching. In reality, however this was used up quite quickly. Extra ammo was carried for replenishment in vehicles or simply lugged in boxes. MANY times the infantry were low on ammo, especialy in North Africa, hence the fixed bayonet.

The Bren (later made into the NATO .762 light machine gun MKIV) used ammo very quickly indeed. One short burp and the curved mag is empty. I know as I've tried one out. You realy need a loader to carry the ammo needed.

In medeival times an Archer would carry a quiver of............ !! LOL

Straight from the Infantry Pam a British Soldier gets 330 rounds plus a few extra tracer for target indication and spotting.

The 330 rounds is split between 6 x 30 round magazines and a bandolier of 150. 4 x magazines are for the infantryman himself, the other 2 are for the Light Support Weapon (LSW) however if necessary those two magazines can be used by the soldier carrying them.

It may seam a lot but as the Major says one burp and its an empty mag. Generally following the fighting troops are the Compant Sergeant Majors and Quartermaster with extra ammunition to keep the boys topped up.

As for WWII Bren, a rifle section was supposed to be equipped with around 25 magazines for their Bren gun. That is quite a number of burbs.

Griefbringer

25 mags is a lot to carry as the rifle section also had their own kit and ammo as well. In a defensive situation like the paras often had in WW2, 25 mags isn't very much.
It may sound like a lot of ammo, but remember that the gunner didn't always get a group of targets with one burst and could often miss. So after the 25 mags were used up (God knows there the section carried thenm all) somebody had to go back for more if any were to be had. Wargamers note.

The one I fired had been re-calibered to take the standard 7.62mm used by NATO. The curved mag even fitted the SLR of the times which was handy as they held more rounds.

I did use one on manouvers as well as firing at the range. It would maybe stop a section attack and pin them down, but like I said before you need a second man to change mags to keep up a reasonable rate of fire to keep them pinned.
A couple of sections and your history.

I don't know where the figure manufacturers got the idea that a man can fire the thing from the hip while running. 1. The thing has a recoil worse than the old Lee Enfield without its support and 2. it's doubtfull whether you'd hit anything at all. 3. Are you going to stop running and stand there fiddling with the next mag?

Another point which I was reminded of.
The fig. manufacturers often have figures firing the Sterling SMG fron the hip while running. I used the modern version (9mm) which incidently jammed with a full magazine and had to fire it from the shoulder held something like a rifle, but leaning slightly forward. It was difficult to hit anything with it at all as it moved upwards as you fired it. On single rounds wih the stock folded as a pistol grip was better. The magazine rests on the left arm and is never held like in the war movies. It loosens and comes out! The idea was to spray your target at closer quarters that a rifle. Another ammo thirsty weapon.