[sneakypete]

Man, you will need 3 people to hump that Grenade Launcher!!

No kidding! I laughed out loud at their "lightweight" description. "Lightweight" compared to what,a Bradley?

BTW,am I the only one wondering why any ground troops would want or need a full-auto 40mm grenade launcher? ESPECIALLY one with programable munitions that are laser-guided. Seems like somebody is forgetting the infantry carries their ammo on their backs,doesn't it?

[Squantos]

Ditto that lightweight comment......SP ! I do know that ,checkpoints, fixed defensive positions, ramp of a HH53 or Sh&thook or mounted on humvees , ect ect the Mk-19's is/was a GOOD THING...... I never got used to trippin that bolt with a stick though :o)

Stay Safe !

[JasonC]

Actually, our guys are getting dramatically low in the firepower department, and it is showing. The emphasis on "light" has led to mere squads getting pinned down by MGs in simple bunkers, with nothing to take them out short of calling for an F-16 and trying to get it to see a pimple on the side of K-2. Attack helos aren't working well at high altitude and they take rotor hits in a heartbeat.

Guys in Afghanistan are reporting the 5.56mm fails outright against adobe huts. They are using AT-4s on huts, bunkers, and cave entrances because it is the only thing they have with enough punch - at 15 lbs per round and with only about 250 meter range. They also report always bringing their 60mm mortars - WW II era light weapons with tiny punch and no smart anything - because any long ranged direct fire support they can actually bring with them up and down mountains is better than none.

Incidentally, they aren't fighting light enough, either. They are hauling up to 80 lbs each, even leaving behind their bags and freezing at night in consequence. Above 8000 ft that is way too much weight. UH-60s can resupply them tactically because they can't fly that high. CH-47s can, but were never meant to be used so close to hot LZs and their numbers are limited.

Above all they are short on firepower. Enemies with 82mm mortars, HMGs, and RPGs pin us down until the air force arrives. Our much vaunted high tech uber-guys have nothing heavier than SAWs, and when they've thought to bring them AT-4s with very limited range, or pip-squeak 60mm mortars. They should be hauling Javelin ATGMs and Mk-19 auto GLs with 1 km plus range to take out enemy heavy weapons and fortified positions, but they flat aren't.

Why? Overreliance on CAS, overemphasis on "light", tiny sections, flattened unit structures that leave the heavy weapons sections behind, an overall snake-eater and maneuver element ethos that looks down on fire support elements. Our ATGMs are at the battalion level, for pete's sake. Meanwhile, 1000 men are expected to encircle 70 square miles of 8000 foot mountains. With just SAWs.

[VaBthang4]

Jesus how old are you two?

You dont hump an automatic grenade launcher like the stryker or the Mk19....though you could [and we did in SOI].

We have these things today...they're called Helicopters and HUMVEES. You put gas in them and they bring the heavy stuff to you. Just like ammo and hot chow. Or you can mount them onto the HUMVEES or Armour.

~Grin~

[Vic3O3]

My guess is they forgot to include the Heinlein power armor for the grunt! Only way I can forsee anyone hauling all that stuff around!