Historical accuracy questions

[cunctator]

well excuse me, but I happen to be a US soldier, and recently returned from a year in Afghanistan, engaging in combat, in mountainous terrain. First of all, your standard interceptor vest is loaded with loads of nick-nacks, 12-15 magazines, compasses, GPS, various radios, medical kits, flashlights, flex cuffs, batons, etc, etc, etc. Youre also not counting your side plates, shoulder pads, crotch plate. We kept our rucks on more than we did not, you would never know when or if you would be able to retrieve it under fire.

Are you using any kind of baggage animals in mountain warfare (as the romans)? I know german and austrian mountain troops still have mules to carry the heavier stuff.

http://www.bundeswehr.de/portal/PA_1...itory=youatweb





The combatload of a late republican/early augustan legionary was around 29,4 Kg (64,76 Ibs), but including clothing. All weights based on reconstructed equippment.

Linen Tunic 0.55 Kg (underwear)
Tunic 1.1 Kg
Caliage 1.3 Kg
Lorica Hamata 8,3 Kg
2 Cingula 1.2 Kg (belts)
Gladius + tull 2.2 Kg (type Mainz)
Pugio +tull 1.1 Kg (dagger)
Montefortino Helmet 2.1 Kg (including Chrest)
oval Scutum 9.65 Kg (Fayoum type)
Pilum 1.9 Kg
___________________
29.4 Kg (64,76 ibs)

plus his baggage during marshs:


Food for 4 days 3.7 Kg
Sarcina 2.55 Kg (metall field bottle + 1.3l fluid inside)
Tools in leather bag 3 Kg (knifes, personal stuff, etc.)
bag with more clothing 3.9 Kg (Neck scarf, resreve tunic, )
leather shield tull + 1.85 Kg
bronze bucket 0.85 Kg
bronze Casserole 0.65 Kg
furca (carrying bar) 1.9 Kg
________________
18.4 Kg (40,53 Ibs)

The remainiong stuff (vallli, tent, heavier tools as colobra) had necessarly to be carried by mules.