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papajoad
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Posts: 22 		Administrative Annex 1, accompanying the First Special Service Force Field Order 29 (detailing the attack on the Iles d'Hyeres), gives good information concerning the basic combat loads of ammunition carried by Forcemen for offensive operations.  There are five general classifications for supplies, "Class 1" through "Class V."  Ammunition is the chief Class V supply.  The following excerpt from Field Order 29 may give Force re-enactors some idea of how much ammunition might be historically accurate to bring along with him to a tactical event.  Example:  According the Field Order, a Forceman carrying an M1 rifle would carry a cartridge belt containing ten 8-round en bloc clips, and three bandoleers containing six 8-round en bloc clips apiece.

1. AMMUNITION
    a. Initial load of ammunition, consisting of that carried on the back plus one (1) day of resupply, will be issued prior to embarkation.  Ammunition carried as initial load and furnished on resupply:

Allowance Per Weapon

Type of Weapon                                           Initial Load                D+1 resupply

Carbine, .30 caliber                                        90                           90
Rifle, .30 caliber M1                                       128                          96
Automatic Rifle, BAR                                      750                          750
Machine Gun, .30 caliber                                 1250                        1250
Submachine Gun, .45 caliber                            120                          120
Pistol, .45 caliber                                           21                            21
Hand Grenades, all types - per individual            4                              3
Yellow smoke Grenades - per section                 5                              2

   b.  Units may, if desired, redistribute above allowance as between basic load and D+1 resupply

credit:  "The Braves Bulletin, Edition 1, Number 1, April - June 2001", Published by Todd Ross
March 16, 2009 at 10:04 PM Flag Quote & Reply

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