A good way for the layman to visualize firepower in the Infantry Squad or Platoon is how many rounds each weapon has allocated to it.
Just on my person, when I was a SAW gunner, I would carry:
4) 100rd nut sacks in SAW pouches or gutted 30rd M16 mag pouches
2) 200rd drums on vest kit in SAW pouches
1) 200rd drum in my assault pack
The rest of my Fire Team mates would have at least 1 and sometimes 2 additional 200rd drums for my SAW, usually carried by the Rifleman and the Fire Team Leader in their assault packs. For 1 SAW, we're talking 800rds on the gunner, with an additional 200-400rds in the team.
For comparison, I would carry 8-14 mags for my M4, depending on METT-C. 240-420rds. Just 2 of my SAW pouches normally held twice as much ammo as all my M4 mag pouches on my LCE, vest, or IBA.
For the Weapons Squad (I held duty positions to include M60 gunner, AG, AB, M240 Gunner, and Weapons Squad Leader across 4 different units), we would carry at least 800rds for the pigs. It especially sucked when we had 2-man gun teams and I got to be AG and AB. We tried to have 800-1200rds for them, and we would cross-load within the Weapons Squad, while burdening some of the trail Rifle Squads with linked 7.62 as well, or whoever we were tasked to on Squad + task organization.
You learn the tensile strength of the stitching on your buttpacks, Assault packs, and rucks really quick.
The M240 is the center of the Infantry Rifle Platoon's firepower in practice, with the SAWs coming in a distant 2nd. Something about "thud thud thud thud thud" makes Joe happy when his Platoon vanquishes enemy with belt-fed 7.62 NATO.
But don't listen to me. Buy into PEO and Soldier Systems for more valid info. They clearly know what they are talking about.
Just on my person, when I was a SAW gunner, I would carry:
4) 100rd nut sacks in SAW pouches or gutted 30rd M16 mag pouches
2) 200rd drums on vest kit in SAW pouches
1) 200rd drum in my assault pack
The rest of my Fire Team mates would have at least 1 and sometimes 2 additional 200rd drums for my SAW, usually carried by the Rifleman and the Fire Team Leader in their assault packs. For 1 SAW, we're talking 800rds on the gunner, with an additional 200-400rds in the team.
For comparison, I would carry 8-14 mags for my M4, depending on METT-C. 240-420rds. Just 2 of my SAW pouches normally held twice as much ammo as all my M4 mag pouches on my LCE, vest, or IBA.
For the Weapons Squad (I held duty positions to include M60 gunner, AG, AB, M240 Gunner, and Weapons Squad Leader across 4 different units), we would carry at least 800rds for the pigs. It especially sucked when we had 2-man gun teams and I got to be AG and AB. We tried to have 800-1200rds for them, and we would cross-load within the Weapons Squad, while burdening some of the trail Rifle Squads with linked 7.62 as well, or whoever we were tasked to on Squad + task organization.
You learn the tensile strength of the stitching on your buttpacks, Assault packs, and rucks really quick.
The M240 is the center of the Infantry Rifle Platoon's firepower in practice, with the SAWs coming in a distant 2nd. Something about "thud thud thud thud thud" makes Joe happy when his Platoon vanquishes enemy with belt-fed 7.62 NATO.
But don't listen to me. Buy into PEO and Soldier Systems for more valid info. They clearly know what they are talking about.
NRA Basic, Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, RSO
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com
CCW, CQM, DM, Long Range Rifle Instructor
6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbooks & chamber brushes can be found here:
www.AR15buildbox.com