Quote Originally Posted by David I Evans View Post
We were carrying HF as we were struggling with the VHF net, a problem found to be due to a fill for the VHF radios that had become corrupted.
The mind boggles...

The Bowman system continues to be a cock-up it seems. It is tempting to write off the British procurement cock-ups as due to idiots - both soldiers and civilians - in MoD but perhaps an investigation to look for possible corruption would seem to be the appropriate course going forward.

Breakdown

Weapon + 6 full mags 9kgs
HE, Smoke, WP, UGL+ link 5kgs
Radio + spare batteries 3kgs
Osprey + small plates 7kgs
12 hr ration pack + 2litres of water 3kgs
Commanders Kit + FIST 5Kgs

Topped out at 32kgs for a Section Cmd
You tell me where you can cut 10kg from that list. The alternative is to amend the role of the infantry to remove the ability to "close with and kill the enemy". So what role would the Michelin Men of the modern infantry have? To act as decoys to draw the enemy out for the purpose of putting in an airstrike?

FIST (future infantry soldier technology) is pretty much all the shiny new TI and HMNVS sights and LLM
Doesn't seem to have helped in Helmand...