E&E/grab bags

[SwiftandSure]

Lads,

What would the opinions be of E&E bags/grab bags/murses/battle bags from the lads here? I see they're becoming increasingly popular on ops, particularly with vehicle-bound troops. But is there a place for them in the type of infantry work done within the DF?



I was thinking it could be handy if you're a 2FSG for carrying the tool belt, boxed ammo and with an LMG and smoke pouches attached to it for additional CEFO. It would be advantageous over a daysack insomuch that you can just swing the bag round to the front to access it, rather than take it off all together.
Or perhaps if you're a Pln/Coy runner, and need to bring mags and bombs up to the sections it would be handy?

I wouldn't think it ideal for long range patrols, given the uneven weight distribution on your back, but then again, from what I've seen so far, long range patrols aren't really done a lot in the RDF.

Thoughts please.....

[Truck Driver]

I' ve seen these in Brit DPM (or something similar) in a surplus shop in
Cambridge recently... Would be ideal for the latter use you quote
- i.e; the ammo runner

And I can't disagree with your suggestion for carrying a GPMG toolkit aswell

[X-RayOne]

I was thinking it could be handy if you're a 2FSG for carrying the tool belt, boxed ammo and with an LMG and smoke pouches attached to it for additional CEFO. It would be advantageous over a daysack insomuch that you can just swing the bag round to the front to access it, rather than take it off all together.

i would think it would just swing around the front of you every time you ran and went prone, went to crawl anywhere, getting over obsticles, etc. the time advantage of swinging it around to get stuff out without having to take off would be far outweighed by the annoyance od always shoving it around to the back time and time again.

the daysack works well, can be compacted down nicely if empty-ish, is in linw with your centre of gravity and streamlined behind you. better carrying capacity too. i think that bag would be on the small side for ammo resupply, runner, etc.

[ZULU]

Man bag

[Hello Alaska]

Lads,

What would the opinions be of E&E bags/grab bags/murses/battle bags from the lads here? I see they're becoming increasingly popular on ops, particularly with vehicle-bound troops. But is there a place for them in the type of infantry work done within the DF?



I was thinking it could be handy if you're a 2FSG for carrying the tool belt, boxed ammo and with an LMG and smoke pouches attached to it for additional CEFO. It would be advantageous over a daysack insomuch that you can just swing the bag round to the front to access it, rather than take it off all together.
Or perhaps if you're a Pln/Coy runner, and need to bring mags and bombs up to the sections it would be handy?

I wouldn't think it ideal for long range patrols, given the uneven weight distribution on your back, but then again, from what I've seen so far, long range patrols aren't really done a lot in the RDF.

Thoughts please.....

I'd rather keep the daysack personally.

Sure it'd be handy if you were 2 FSG on a SIA or runner during a PIA and you were working out of a billet or camp.

On ops though? Or while out for 48 hours or more?

No thanks, I'll stick with the daysack.

[Hello Alaska]

Man bag

Indiana Jones had one.

[greyfox]

looks like a good idea if you are primarily based out of a vehicle or driver but for day today work a grab sack would be far superior. with any weight in it id say it would bounce like a fat man on a trampoline , a bit like the large PLCE respirator pouch
as for the plt runner a sandbag will do the job and you don't have to worry about it if your position is changed .

[DeV]

Would be good for some ops but what if for example you want to carry more water, boxed & belted ammo, TAMs, wet gear etc

I was thinking of getting one coming up to Ogham Stone & the assessments but I've decided they are way too small for what I need.

[Truck Driver]

Just while on the subject of daysacks, a question for our PDF bretheren here....

Can you guys comfortably raise the head (so as to aim a rifle, for
instance) when prone and wearing a helmet, while wearing the issue (Lowe Alpine) daysack ?

[Hello Alaska]

Just while on the subject of daysacks, a question for our PDF bretheren here....

Can you guys comfortably raise the head (so as to aim a rifle, for
instance) when prone and wearing a helmet, while wearing the issue (Lowe Alpine) daysack ?

Never really had that problem so personally, I'd say yes.

Some lads have problems with it because they wear it too high up on there back.

[SwiftandSure]

i would think it would just swing around the front of you every time you ran and went prone, went to crawl anywhere, getting over obsticles, etc. the time advantage of swinging it around to get stuff out without having to take off would be far outweighed by the annoyance od always shoving it around to the back time and time again.

I suppose this would remedy the bouncing issue, as it can be strapped around your waist as well as your chest, but I see and agree with your point.

This is smaller than the manbag, but with some LMG pouches will hold around 300-600 rounds of link ammo.



Admittedly, I wear a chestrig, so the idea of wearing a manbag or bandolier slung beneath it seems more practical than if I were wearing a belt kit. I also tend to find myself on the FSG a lot too, so I suppose I'm looking more at accessible ammo solutions as well.

[SwiftandSure]

There's a video HERE promoting the use of a modular bandolier panel over the canadian assault vest. I don't think it looks too bad myself.

[Eddie Dillon]

If the daysack is very full it is hard to compress it down so it is hard to look up when lying prone. Not impossible though, just uncomfortable

[spaceghetti]

Well the only advantage this man bag yoke has over a daysack is that you can access it quickly. But really the only thing you'd have in a daysack that you'd need quick access to is reserve ammo.

For anything else (wet gear, maps, rations etc.) access as quick as that isn't necessary, because your not really going to be looking for them when under fire.

Considering it's lack of carrying capacity and that it would bounce all over the place it wouldn't be a good alternative to a daysack.

The modular bandoleer might work in conjunction with a daysack instead of an actual alternative. But the straps on the bandoleer might get caught up with the shoulder and waist straps of the daysack.

But it can't really be compared to a daysack, it's really more like an extension of your webbing or vest.

[fiannoglach]

Who makes the grab bag?