Maybe strain is too strong a word however our resources are utilized which does cause a drain on supplies and manpower when we are the only ones treating enemy wounded.Originally Posted by Cavguy
My resource from this has been from various briefings that I have attended. In the whole big picture it probably is a small measure however to the medical teams it can be a different story entirely.
The "designed to wound, because X amount of people are required to take care of a WIA" is basically an "old sergeants' tale" and is factually and historically incorrect.
But, it's been passed around long enough to gain currency among those who don't use rigor in determining accuracy.
The 5.56 round is capable of both incredible wounding/killing and also poking a nice neat hole through someone they don't even notice until later. And it's very difficult to determine why.
I witnessed two nearly complete limb amputations caused by 5.56. But that was at extremely close range.
All true and to which I'd add
that the 5.56 was originally selected because it would tumble in tissue, not fragment (any fragmentation by a FMJ military bullet is theoretically not by design) but that tumbling never worked as good as it was supposed to and the Army required powder change lowered even the incidence of that.
As you say "...it's very difficult to determine why."
But there sure are a lot of myths out there. Hard to determine why that is, too...
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