Equipment layers
The equipment layers ("lines of gear") are a model of infantry equipment as combat equipment in order to use military personal equipment effectively and to have reserve equipment available even after the loss of original equipment. The scheme has been tried and tested by the armed forces and security forces for a number of years and has established itself. The concept envisages three layers of equipment. Just like trekking, military clothing is differentiated according to climatic zones and worn according to the onion skin principle .
Man equipment
The general equipment of the soldier can be divided into:
- Handguns with the associated ammunition in magazines and ordnance such as hand grenades , smoke throats and ground flares
- Equipment for self and comrade help
- Combat, command and orientation equipment, etc. a. Marching compass , tactical map , DF , map protractor / plan pointer
- Field and bivouac equipment with cookware , Emergency Cooker , cutlery, water bottle / water bag and emergency rations ,
and is packed in the Bundeswehr in clothing, in a belt carrying frame or chest rig with various bags and in a combat backpack.
First layer of equipment
The essential equipment forms the first layer of equipment. The objects of this "first line of gear" were carried in the pockets of the field uniform - pocket knife , bandages , rescue blanket and tourniquet for self and comrade help, identity papers, management documents, wallets, gloves, emergency food, etc. a. Today mostly on or in the chest rig or the belt carrying frame, as this could otherwise no longer be used under a protective vest or would cause additional injuries when hit.
Second layer of equipment
The combat equipment forms the second equipment layer. This includes carrying equipment such as a belt with belt carrying aid - also a battle belt, optionally also a chest carry set (“Chest Rig”), ordnance vest or plate carrier (“Plate Carrier”) with magazine and accessory pockets. The “second line of gear” includes ammunition and ordnance , radios, GPS receivers, water and extended first aid equipment (Individual First Aid Kit IFAK). According to the principle “a tourniquet is not one”, a second should be attached as centrally as possible to the carrying equipment.
Today, a break-away pack or small rucksack is used in addition to the large rucksack and contains the equipment for survival and penetration with wind / moisture protection clothing, "first" warm clothing with long underwear and a second pair of socks, the water bag and reserve food as well as cookware and Emergency cooker. Additional ammunition, ordnance and batteries, tent sheet, these also as wound cover, and bivouac sack.
Third layer of equipment
The third equipment layer in the large rucksack includes field and bivouac equipment for life in the field . The “third line of gear” is disrespectfully referred to as “luxury” and consists of a sleeping bag and tent, a change of clothes, wet and cold protective clothing, cooking and eating utensils as well as food - unless the second layer of equipment is used.
Further equipment
Armament and ballistic protective equipment do not fall into the model of equipment layers. According to popular belief, main and secondary weapons ( pistols ) belong to the first shift. Nevertheless, it can be useful to carry the handgun, depending on the position, on the carrying equipment - for example in front of the chest when mounted. The ballistic protection equipment is worn under the equipment layers.
Personal combat equipment Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr differentiates between equipment according to the ordered method of carrying that which is to be carried in clothing such as equipment for personal self-help and comrade help (left leg pocket), equipment for small items in the trouser and back pockets such as the head net repellants or the handkerchief, which is also for the Coarse filtration of water from natural water sources is used. The equipment that is on and in the belt carrying frame or combat vest as well as the field and bivouac equipment that is packed in the combat backpack - everything else with tent sheet, sleeping bag, folding sleeping mat, cookware and Esbit cooker, field and emergency food, etc. a.
As equipment pockets on the coupling carrier frame or on the vest are the soldier pockets (usually two) hand grenades DM51 , smoke pots / -topf, Signal smoke body orange, (usually 2 × 2 or 3 × 2) Magazine in magazine pockets rifle, pistol and magazine pocket gun, knife, Pocket knife / multi-tool, flashlight, dump bag for empty magazines, personal medical equipment (mostly water bottle bag), multi-purpose bag (also for guidance and orientation equipment), compass bag, ABC mask bag (or on the backpack) and bag for small radio equipment / SEM etc. a. carried.
Pi package
This self-assembled equipment is the soldier's small parts equipment for a life in the field , is intended to offer him aids in survival and penetration and complements the general clothing, basic and field equipment of soldiers, in which items of equipment such as the mosquito net for life, Survival and penetration in the field are present. This basic compilation is supplemented in different ways. Components can be:
- a candle for makeshift lighting in the hiding place
- Lighter (s) and storm matches
- Grill lighter, Esbit or tube of shoe polish
- Roll of bricklayer's cord for measuring distances and as a connecting line
- Roll of brass (flower) wire 6 m
- Roll of braided cord (100 kp cord)
- small and large nails as well as U-staples
- cable ties
- Camouflage make-up and bottle corks
- Fishing line with floats and hooks for fishing and creating hidden loads .
- Whistle and clicker / clicker for guidance signals or emergency signal
Equipment distribution to other armies
IDF
The army of the Israel Defense Forces divides its equipment only into clothing with small parts and hand weapons as well as the other combat, field and bivouac equipment in a combat backpack, on which all other equipment is also packed in pockets . The advantage of this division is that the entire combat equipment with the field and bivouac equipment can be removed and put on again in one, and this can be completely picked up with one handle. Small equipment in clothing, especially under the protective vest, is not accessible, causes pressure points from the protective vest and can cause additional injuries if a bullet hits.
literature
- Jan-Phillipp Weisswange: A key role . In: Strategy & Technology , March 2011 ( ISSN 1860-5311 ), p. 59 ff.