There was a discussion going on about this that I though warranted starting a new discussion about ammo loadouts and gear configurations:
This is the best site and video I could find:
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When I was in a Marine Rifle Company in the early 1970s we still had mostly WWII web gear, helmet, metal canteen, and packs. Officially called M782 Pack System. We called it Deuce Gear.
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M14s were still issued to non-infantry units. In ITR we trained with M1919s and M60s. Our 60 and 81mm mortars and flamethrowers were WWII vintage. We had the 3.5" Super Bazooka. Our Battalion level anti-tank weapons was a 106mm RR mounted on a Mechanical Mule. The US Army had the TOW system. Armor support was the M48A3 with the same 90mm gun as used in WWII. The US Army had the M60 with a 105mm gun. So I'm pretty familiar with WWII gear and weapons.
Yes, we were expected to go up against Russian T-72s and BMPs with these and the M72 LAW. On deployment starting in 1974, we did have AV-8 Harriers and Cobra gunships on our LPH plus 8" cruiser naval gunfire.
Each platoon had an attached FO to get naval and air support. IIRC, we received no training or information of Russian and WARSAW Pact weapons and tactics. Fortunately, I took it on myself to get educated before deployment.
Being a Grunt in any Army or period of history what you carry, where and how much is what your life revolves around.
Other than your pack, which you often would leave behind, you had the web belt and suspenders. These were specially made unlike the WWII ones. You could attach various items like ammo and first aid pouches, canteens, holster, etc. You absolutely needed the suspenders. I attached a US Army butt pack that I had as a civilian to the rear of my belt to carry more stuff. We were never issued them.
As the platoon radioman, I could fit my PRC-25 radio into my pack and wrap the tape antenna around the outside of my helmet, for obvious reasons.
Ammo loadouts are interesting but in combat, you'd assign people to be ammo carriers to resupply. These could be runners from the HQ guys that would evacuate wounded would come back with ammo. This was especially true in the island fighting. Unlike war games, you always wanted to conserve ammo and the squad leader normally controlled targeting and rate of fire with the idea to not give away your units position. I have an island warfare game I designed where the player needs to take guys and establish a supply run. This gets harder as you take causalities but I don't track rounds.
Japanese knee mortars were always a problem and very accurate. As long as you could get your head below ground level you were comparatively safe.
Ammo loadout choices:
An M1 bandolier with 48 rounds weights 3.5 pounds.
M8 Ammo can: 192 rounds total (four M1 bandoleers of 48 rounds each). Weighted about 23 pounds.
Packing: Two M8 cans were shipped in one M9 wooden crate (384 rounds total), which weighed around 46 lbs.
I imagine you could strap 5 bandoliers over your neck on each side for 35 pounds and hand carry two 23 pound ammo cans for a loadout of 864 rounds weighting 81 pounds. How far you could run in the sand, 100 degree temperature and under fire depends on how desperate you are. Two guys could easily carry an M9 wooded crate over a fair distance.
It should be fairly easy for one guy to carry two M8 cans. For their PFT the Marines carry two 30-pound ammunition cans. They carry the cans in the sand for a distance of 75 yards, zigzagging through a series of cones. After throwing a dummy grenade and performing push-ups, they pick the cans up again and sprint to the finish line. Your Drill Instructor may trip you along the way and kick sand in your face. I'm pretty sure they have loudspeakers playing combat sounds too. You can use that as a baseline in your games.
FYI: When I was in we didn't have that one but my son has related to me how difficult it is.
Wolfhag
paints a machinegun emplacement, and realizes he needs more...
