Soldier Combat Loads in the 21st century
During the last several decades we have seen huge improvements of the gear the soldier carries; quality has improved, weight has been reduced and advanced technology is more prominent. However, one factor has not changed: the soldier still has to carry the gear on his back.
Soldiers moving around the battlefield carrying their own gear is an integrated part of military operations. There is one danger; overloading our troops with too much equipment. This leads to more rapid exhaustion as well as inhibiting the individual soldier’s ability to fight properly.
I modern times there are several examples showing that the problem with overloading soldiers during operations has resulted in reduced combat performance, has caused casualties and resulted in lost battles; British soldiers during the Falkland’s War (1982), and Soldiers from the US Army both during the invasion of Grenada (1983) and during operations in Afghanistan (2001-present).
Are we able to adjust our loads according to mission requirements, in order to ensure sustained combat effectiveness over time?
A quick look back in time
I won’t spend much time focusing on numbers, but I will take the time to outline some historical findings regarding this issue, leading up to where we are today. Up until the 18th century it was rare for soldiers to carry more than approximately 15kg of gear on their body. Remaining equipment was carried by assistants, on horseback or loaded on to carts. After the 18th century the use of transport support was less prominent, and soldiers had to carry more gear themselves.
After the Crimean War in the middle of the 19th century a study on this subject was conducted in Britain, and the recommendation was that the soldier’s load should not exceed 21kg. A new study undertaken in Germany at the end of the 19th century recommended a load around 22kg. This load enabled soldiers of that time to march 24 kilometers in cool weather without issue. In warmer weather it only led to minor discomfort.
After WW1 the British military conducted yet another study, with the recommended maximum weight being somewhere between 18-20kg during marches. Between 1948 and 1950 the US Army did a study based on experiences accumulated during WW2, and identified that no concern had been given to the particular tasks related to occupational specialties during previous research on the subject. After the new study was complete, having taken into consideration energy use, individual tasks and stress exposure, the recommended weight for the soldiers load was 18kg for less than ideal circumstances, with 25kg defined as the absolute maximum. Around 1960 the Army did yet another study, recommending the same numbers; 18kg for a soldier in combat (approx. 30% of body weight) and 25kg for a soldier during road marches (approximately 45% of body weight).
In 1987 the US Army implemented a new term; Combat Load, defined as essential equipment necessary to fight, survive and conduct combat missions. The Combat Load was further divided into two different tiers; Fighting Load and Approach March Load. The Fighting Load is used when contact with the enemy is likely or when stealth and concealment is the most important factor, and consists of uniform, load carrying equipment, helmet, personal weapon, food, bayonet and ammunition. The Approach March Load was to be used on operations expected to last a bit longer, and consisted of the Fighting Load plus a pack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat extra clothes, extra food and extra ammunition. US Army doctrine today is approximately 22kg (30% of body weight) for the Fighting Load and approximately 33kg (45% of body weight) for the Approach March Load.
Norwegian standards for soldier loads
It has been quite difficult to find good data regarding this topic for the modern Norwegian soldier. We have an SOP for maneuver units of Brigade North covering PCCs/PCIs, but no weight estimate is provided for the load covered in the SOP.
I did find an old field manual for the infantry platoon, FR 6-4-8, from the 1970’s, and Appendix 1 of that manual lists the gear carried and weight of each member of the platoon. The interesting find is that the numbers listed for each member correlates with the results of the studies since the mid-19th century. A few examples:
Platoon Commander: Flashlight w/ red and green filter, lensatic compass, map case, binoculars, G3 w/100 rounds, weight of load carried 18,9kg summer/21,3kg winter
Platoon Sergeant: Flashlight w/ red and green filter, lensatic compass, map case, binoculars, IR indicator kit, G3 w/100 rounds, weight of load carried 19,4kg summer/21,8kg winter
Squad Leader: Flashlight, lensatic compass, G3 w/100 rounds, weight of load carried 17,7kg summer/20,2kg winter
Rifleman nr 1: G3 w/ 100 rounds, 2 M72 LAW’s, weight of load carried 20,0kg summer/22,4kg winter
Rifleman nr 2: First aid kit, G3 w/100 rounds, weight of load carried 17,3kg summer/19,7kg winter
The loads for machine gun crews and recoilless rifle crews are a bit heavier, naturally.
A soldier in balance
As shown earlier, the ideal weight for a soldier’s load has been defined; both for fighting and for marching. The purpose of not overloading the soldier is balancing the different requirements/needs.
For road marches/patrolling the balance needs are related to energy intake and energy use, and how quick fatigue sets in. It is obvious that the more you carry, the more energy you use and you are fatigued faster.
In combat the goal is to balance mobility, protection and firepower. You can have extra ammunition; increased firepower, or many layers of PPE; increased protection. This will negatively affect mobility, a factor that actually provides a degree of protection of its own. In addition, an increase in ammunition and protection will increase weight, resulting in increased or more rapid fatigue. Finally, it is not a given that an increase in ammunition will result in increased firepower. The effect of one’s fires is determined by accuracy, not volume.
The soldier also needs a certain ability to endure the elements while out on operations, for a given time period, depending on the mission.
How can we implement these principles in the best possible way? One tool is the packing requirement list.
Packing requirement list
The packing requirement list is a very good tool in my view, if used correctly. A packing requirement list is intended to list the equipment a soldier will need in order to sustain himself for a given time period, to include ammunition and mission essential gear, as well as where these items should be located; uniform, load bearing gear, assault pack.
When developing a packing requirement list one needs to be critical when adding items, in order to avoid the “nice-to-have” syndrome. If this syndrome is present, weight will quickly add up from bringing equipment that provides little to no added effect. Are two complete sets of thermals necessary for a 72 hour base line packing list?
The most important aspect of the packing requirement list is that it must be adaptable to the mission. If the list is just a static tool, to be adhered to with no changes, you will end up in situations where your ability to complete missions is reduced; either from carrying too much gear, or because you are not carrying the right gear for the mission at hand. It is, however, important that these changes are not made at the individual soldier level, but that they are made based on proper mission analysis. Leaders on every level have a responsibility to ensure that packing requirements are followed, and that changes are carried out according to orders, during PCCs/PCIs.
It is also important that each individual soldier configures his load bearing gear for optimal agility; running, negotiate obstacles, pass through windows and doorways, as well as ensuring easy and rapid access to combat critical items: ammunition, comms, medical gear, IFF, navigation gear and water. These items are crucial for soldier survivability.
During the last several decades we have seen huge improvements of the gear the soldier carries; quality has improved, weight has been reduced and advanced technology is more prominent. However, one factor has not changed: the soldier still has to carry the gear on his back.
Soldiers moving around the battlefield carrying their own gear is an integrated part of military operations. There is one danger; overloading our troops with too much equipment. This leads to more rapid exhaustion as well as inhibiting the individual soldier’s ability to fight properly.
I modern times there are several examples showing that the problem with overloading soldiers during operations has resulted in reduced combat performance, has caused casualties and resulted in lost battles; British soldiers during the Falkland’s War (1982), and Soldiers from the US Army both during the invasion of Grenada (1983) and during operations in Afghanistan (2001-present).
Are we able to adjust our loads according to mission requirements, in order to ensure sustained combat effectiveness over time?
A quick look back in time
I won’t spend much time focusing on numbers, but I will take the time to outline some historical findings regarding this issue, leading up to where we are today. Up until the 18th century it was rare for soldiers to carry more than approximately 15kg of gear on their body. Remaining equipment was carried by assistants, on horseback or loaded on to carts. After the 18th century the use of transport support was less prominent, and soldiers had to carry more gear themselves.
After the Crimean War in the middle of the 19th century a study on this subject was conducted in Britain, and the recommendation was that the soldier’s load should not exceed 21kg. A new study undertaken in Germany at the end of the 19th century recommended a load around 22kg. This load enabled soldiers of that time to march 24 kilometers in cool weather without issue. In warmer weather it only led to minor discomfort.
After WW1 the British military conducted yet another study, with the recommended maximum weight being somewhere between 18-20kg during marches. Between 1948 and 1950 the US Army did a study based on experiences accumulated during WW2, and identified that no concern had been given to the particular tasks related to occupational specialties during previous research on the subject. After the new study was complete, having taken into consideration energy use, individual tasks and stress exposure, the recommended weight for the soldiers load was 18kg for less than ideal circumstances, with 25kg defined as the absolute maximum. Around 1960 the Army did yet another study, recommending the same numbers; 18kg for a soldier in combat (approx. 30% of body weight) and 25kg for a soldier during road marches (approximately 45% of body weight).
In 1987 the US Army implemented a new term; Combat Load, defined as essential equipment necessary to fight, survive and conduct combat missions. The Combat Load was further divided into two different tiers; Fighting Load and Approach March Load. The Fighting Load is used when contact with the enemy is likely or when stealth and concealment is the most important factor, and consists of uniform, load carrying equipment, helmet, personal weapon, food, bayonet and ammunition. The Approach March Load was to be used on operations expected to last a bit longer, and consisted of the Fighting Load plus a pack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat extra clothes, extra food and extra ammunition. US Army doctrine today is approximately 22kg (30% of body weight) for the Fighting Load and approximately 33kg (45% of body weight) for the Approach March Load.
Norwegian standards for soldier loads
It has been quite difficult to find good data regarding this topic for the modern Norwegian soldier. We have an SOP for maneuver units of Brigade North covering PCCs/PCIs, but no weight estimate is provided for the load covered in the SOP.
I did find an old field manual for the infantry platoon, FR 6-4-8, from the 1970’s, and Appendix 1 of that manual lists the gear carried and weight of each member of the platoon. The interesting find is that the numbers listed for each member correlates with the results of the studies since the mid-19th century. A few examples:
Platoon Commander: Flashlight w/ red and green filter, lensatic compass, map case, binoculars, G3 w/100 rounds, weight of load carried 18,9kg summer/21,3kg winter
Platoon Sergeant: Flashlight w/ red and green filter, lensatic compass, map case, binoculars, IR indicator kit, G3 w/100 rounds, weight of load carried 19,4kg summer/21,8kg winter
Squad Leader: Flashlight, lensatic compass, G3 w/100 rounds, weight of load carried 17,7kg summer/20,2kg winter
Rifleman nr 1: G3 w/ 100 rounds, 2 M72 LAW’s, weight of load carried 20,0kg summer/22,4kg winter
Rifleman nr 2: First aid kit, G3 w/100 rounds, weight of load carried 17,3kg summer/19,7kg winter
The loads for machine gun crews and recoilless rifle crews are a bit heavier, naturally.
A soldier in balance
As shown earlier, the ideal weight for a soldier’s load has been defined; both for fighting and for marching. The purpose of not overloading the soldier is balancing the different requirements/needs.
For road marches/patrolling the balance needs are related to energy intake and energy use, and how quick fatigue sets in. It is obvious that the more you carry, the more energy you use and you are fatigued faster.
In combat the goal is to balance mobility, protection and firepower. You can have extra ammunition; increased firepower, or many layers of PPE; increased protection. This will negatively affect mobility, a factor that actually provides a degree of protection of its own. In addition, an increase in ammunition and protection will increase weight, resulting in increased or more rapid fatigue. Finally, it is not a given that an increase in ammunition will result in increased firepower. The effect of one’s fires is determined by accuracy, not volume.
The soldier also needs a certain ability to endure the elements while out on operations, for a given time period, depending on the mission.
How can we implement these principles in the best possible way? One tool is the packing requirement list.
Packing requirement list
The packing requirement list is a very good tool in my view, if used correctly. A packing requirement list is intended to list the equipment a soldier will need in order to sustain himself for a given time period, to include ammunition and mission essential gear, as well as where these items should be located; uniform, load bearing gear, assault pack.
When developing a packing requirement list one needs to be critical when adding items, in order to avoid the “nice-to-have” syndrome. If this syndrome is present, weight will quickly add up from bringing equipment that provides little to no added effect. Are two complete sets of thermals necessary for a 72 hour base line packing list?
The most important aspect of the packing requirement list is that it must be adaptable to the mission. If the list is just a static tool, to be adhered to with no changes, you will end up in situations where your ability to complete missions is reduced; either from carrying too much gear, or because you are not carrying the right gear for the mission at hand. It is, however, important that these changes are not made at the individual soldier level, but that they are made based on proper mission analysis. Leaders on every level have a responsibility to ensure that packing requirements are followed, and that changes are carried out according to orders, during PCCs/PCIs.
It is also important that each individual soldier configures his load bearing gear for optimal agility; running, negotiate obstacles, pass through windows and doorways, as well as ensuring easy and rapid access to combat critical items: ammunition, comms, medical gear, IFF, navigation gear and water. These items are crucial for soldier survivability.