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In reply to the discussion: Russian and Ukraine troops battle in south, prompting fears that invasion has begun [View all]happyslug
(14,779 posts)What a soldier can carry is restricted by something called "The laws of physics", basically you can carry up to 50 pounds into combat, anything more your combat effectiveness drops drastically. Given your clothes weigh about 10 pounds and your boots about 8 pounds your rife 10 pounds, your entrenching tool about 2 pounds, you up to 30 pounds before you know it. Your helmet weigh about two pounds, and your canteen another three pounds (if you include the water in the Canteen). First aid kit weigh around one pound thus you have about 14 pounds left over for ammunition.
Basic Combat load of ammunition is around 600 rounds (Most troops carry LESS, but that is 20 30 round magazines). That comes to only 15 minutes of shooting in semiautomatic mode (40 rounds minutes for 15 minutes). No commander ever wants to run out of ammunition so in most combat situation you plan for a firefight of about 20 minutes (This is compatible with modern air support, since Vietnam US and other armies have worked in combat environments where Air Support can arrived within 20 minutes).
Thus modern combat is generally under 20 minutes, you either get artillery support, Air support, fresh troops OR you run out of ammunition within that time frame. Thus there is "NO COMBAT for 2-3 hours" and thus where did you get that report?