Special Forces Use of Pack Animals

[Rifleman]

He will load 70-80lbs in some cases. Usually that's for a short trip. Often not so much for longer multi-day trips. The animals have to pack off and on all summer so it becomes an issue of sustainment.

So you can see, it's similar to a man with a rucksack. Someone in shape can often do 70-80lbs, but not usually for any great distance day after day.

[John T. Fishel]

llamas traditionally pack up to 100 pounds.

Cheers

JohnT

[Rifleman]

Something regarding the difference I've alluded to between what an animal can do a few times and what an animal can sustain: an excerpt from Norman Maclean's excellent short story "USFS 1919: The Ranger, the Cook, and a Hole in the Sky":

"...each of the side packs has to weigh the same and together (with the top pack) they shouldn't weigh more than 175 pounds for a horse and 225 for a mule - at least, those were the Forest Service regulations then, but they were twenty-five pounds too heavy if the animals weren't to be bone heaps by the middle of the summer."

Montana author Norman Maclean, some may remember, also wrote "A River Runs through It."

[Tom Odom]

Something regarding the difference I've alluded to between what an animal can do a few times and what an animal can sustain: an excerpt from Norman Maclean's excellent short story "USFS 1919: The Ranger, the Cook, and a Hole in the Sky":

"...each of the side packs has to weigh the same and together (with the top pack) they shouldn't weigh more than 175 pounds for a horse and 225 for a mule - at least, those were the Forest Service regulations then, but they were twenty-five pounds too heavy if the animals weren't to be bone heaps by the middle of the summer."

Montana author Norman Maclean, some may remember, was also wrote "A River Runs through It."

They made a movie out of it with Sam Elliot--pretty good but went to video straight away

[Jedburgh]

llamas traditionally pack up to 100 pounds.

Kings of War, 17 Jan 09: Llamas, Airborne

Last week I spent a day in the Galilee with the chief llama trainer of the Israeli army......

[Firn]

The Austrians still like them blond

In Italy, on the other hand the last mulis were discarded with onore and sold

Il 7 settembre 1993 presso la caserma D'Angelo di Belluno, vennero venduti all'asta per ordine del Ministero della Difesa, gli ultimi 24 muli in forza agli alpini.[1]

Firn

[davidbfpo]

Jedburgh,

You missed the link to the German Bundeswehr mule: http://www.panzerbaer.de/helper/pix/..._muli-002i.jpg

It was alongside the Israeli llama trainer.

[JarodParker]

I think this guy misunderstood the term "pack animal"...

[Firn]

If you look closely enough you will see that the guy unterstood that term and his role just too well, as did over 2000 years ago certain soldiers


Firn

P.S: Perhaps I'm just spoiled by some practical jokers

[Pete]

I heard that during the 1960s the Golden Knights, the U.S. Army parachute team, made use of a 75mm pack howitzer, a weapon designed to be disassembled and transported by pack mules. When headquarters at Fort Detrick, Maryland abruptly cancelled a planned parachute demonstration by the Golden Knights, the next evening at Retreat ceremony when the post howitzer next to the flag pole was fired using a blank the air was filled with the contents of several feather pillows, which floated lazily down onto the drill field.

[Uboat509]

I think this guy misunderstood the term "pack animal"...

I am thinking brand new 2LT, fresh out of OBC.

SFC W

[William F. Owen]

I think this guy misunderstood the term "pack animal"...

You got issued it. I guess you are supposed to carry it. Right?
- a bit like the WW1 wire cutters and wire gloves they give you to carry on the UK Junior Commanders course!

[Ken White]

couldn't cope with post-1950 hardened and annealed wires much less barbed tape. Stupid wire cutters would chip and flake off if you even tried to cut the wire in anyone's Concertina. Yet they got carried around for years...

[E6TLS0369]

I was the SNOCIC of the Animal Pack Program (MCMWTC) Bridgeport Ca. in the mid 80's. Training Blts would send me 8 - 10 Marines to train. I recieved my training from Bud Nelsons Packing in Jackson Hole Wy. (that old drunk guy) I packed Mules all year round. Summer and Winter. I ran a Bell Mare and a eight (8) Mule string. At that time I was the only school trained "Mule Skinner" in the Marine Corps. I haven't been back in years, would like to know if it is still going ?

[Schmedlap]

See also: http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=7510

[Rifleman]

I recieved my training from Bud Nelsons Packing in Jackson Hole Wy. (that old drunk guy)

Funny you should mention Uncle Bud.

http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...60&postcount=2

Now who do you reckon I was talking about?

[E6TLS0369]

You mentioned that you worked for Nelson, when was that ?

[Rifleman]

PM inbound

[kaur]

Trained bucks (?) in Soviet army.

http://www.popmech.ru/article/6840-rogataya-kavaleriya/

Ps this is Fools Day edition