"Carrying weapons." Topic

We rend ro allow say 1 LAW 72 to be carried by a trooper without him having any restrictions on him, as its realtively light. However if he carries more or heavier weapons we restrict his gun ammo so he can only fire in self defence.

What do you do?

He should be able to carry a rifle and ammo for that, plus a LAW, with no issues.

I suspect, if available, two LAWs could also be carried relatively easily, especially since many troops aren't ever far from their vehicles during the Cold War, so don't have to walk far.

From what I've seen of pictures, the LAW's are pretty easy to carry, they seem to pretty much just be strapped on to your backpack or kit.

Wikipedia says it weighs 5 and a half pounds, so I don't think I'd count a single LAW against a man, though I will admit, we tend to assume that machine gunners and such don't carry them in any event.

Mako is right. It's not heavy but could be a pain to carry more than one.

I'd say that every trooper with an MG (or SAW) wouldn't carry a LAW, but everyone else could pack at least one (which makes for 6-7 per squad if they're at full strength).

Then again, I wouldn't have the Dragon team packing LAWs in addition to their rifles, they have a bigger AT weapon in the Dragon.

Agree with much posted here. Basically the way we'd issue LAWs was if you were not packing a Hvy Wpn. You'd get a LAW.

As far as game purposes, there should be no real penalty for carrying the 5.5lbs M-72. You'd have to fire while briefly stopped. But then could continue to move. The expended LAW tube would be dropped, crushed and then trooper would than move on.

With the 11 man Mech squad. With 2 being left in the track. The 9 dismounts would be broken down into two 4 man Fire Tms, with 1 SL.

Where the Light Inf Squad like in the 101, you'd have full 11 man Squads.

Regardless, The M60 Ammo Bearer could carry a LAW. As well as the TL or SL. Even the M203 GL & M249 SAW Gunners could carry one in need be. As noted of course the M-47 Dragon Gunner had his hands full just packing the missile and track. And this too is only one shot. And expended tube crushed and left behind.

The one advantage Mech has is it can carry more ammo in the track. However, even Mech troops would do long dismounted movement leaving the track TCs & drivers behind. With the tracks being under the XOs or 1SG command. The tracks would then called to move and link up with the dismounts. Or e.g. for a dismounted patrol, day or night, the patrol could also return to the tracks Defensive location. Once their mission was complete. Ana as always it depends on the terrain & situation.

But as noted, in many cases track was near by. The Light Infantry did not have that advantage. Something else to be aware. Mech still has to do it's job on the ground. You can't be too wedded completely to the track.

E.g., the Russian's doctrine in many case requires the BMP, etc., and the dismounts to remain fairly close. But that again comes down to terrain & situation. If need be if the terrain is not good for vehicular movement. The Infantry will dismount and move on it's own. And link-up with the tracks later.

But again it pretty much depends on terrain & situation.

In the UK forces we trained with weighted tubes (previously fired and sand weighted), usually with one strapped to our webbing and two more strapped to Bergen's…..we were told to expect to have loads of them if things ever got hot. Like above, only the gpmg gunner was exempt from carrying them……..I recall a pig of a march with 3 tubes,ammo, bergen, sf tripod and a tin of 200 for the gpmg!

Edit- from memory there was a 'carrier' webbing thing that held 4 x66's in a bundle….whether it was official or a local fix? Only saw it a couple of times with our unit.

Yes, especially in Light Infantry units like the 101, 82d, etc. if need be you might hump a few LAWs. Never saw that LAW carrier though, probably was not standard issue ?

And as you noted … with a combat load, there is nothing Light about "Light Infantry" ! But just because you're in a Mech unit. Does not mean you are not going to have to do some long dismounted movements.

For all US ARMY Infantrymen the standard was 12 miles in 3 hours. And at times that could be a very long distance and a very long time.

And that's why I went with Tanks! (Although wrestling with a thrown track has an allure all its own…).

We had an ex-tankie……"Didn't you ever run Jones?"
'No, I had a tank!'

Having been in both Light & Mech Infantry … they Both have an "allure" … all their own …

Either one … one way or another … it is going to suck at times … many times …

What is that saying ?

"Get comfortable with being uncomfortable."

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

LOL!! Isn't that the unofficial motto of the US Army?

Or, as a SGT once told me, "Its not a matter of whether it gonna suck or not, its just the degree of suck involved".

And whether the suck is equally distributed.

Ah … the good old days …