The individual equipment of the US military now covers four aspects: personal protection, survival support, weapons and equipment, and night vision equipment. Take the loading capacity of American army riflemen as an example. In addition to individual weapons, he usually wears three-proof clothing, gloves and masks for nuclear and biochemical protection, as well as standard body armor, binoculars/sights for individual soldiers, night vision goggles and batteries. He also carries a sling-type vehicle on his shoulder, and the back frame is made of aluminum alloy, which contains bullets, kettles, GPS, PDA, reconnaissance equipment, biochemical weapon detectors and medical aid. By memorizing it, a soldier is equipped with more than 100 kinds, which is hard to describe as "armed to the teeth".
According to the current 1996 version of American soldiers' load standard, the load of American soldiers has doubled compared with that of World War II. Many individual equipment of the US military is multifunctional. The Kevlar helmet worn by the US military can not only resist the attack of bullets and shrapnel, but also become the "second brain" of soldiers. At present, the helmet worn by the US Marine Corps in Iraq contains the next micro radio equipment, a microphone and a pair of headphones, which is convenient for soldiers to contact their comrades-in-arms and commanders. The radar device on the top of the helmet will report the exact position of the soldiers. The military boots worn by American soldiers are no small matter. The desert combat boots equipped by the US troops stationed in Iraq contain 15 kinds of new inventions and technologies, which not only have strong sweat absorption, but also have good air permeability. Even the nail array set up by Iraqi anti-American armed forces can't help the US military's desert boots. Even the diaper underwear produced by Johnson & Johnson Company in the United States for the US military has a miraculous effect. Because the sand in the Iraqi desert is as fine as talcum powder, American soldiers stationed in Iraq put urine-blocking underwear on the muzzle to prevent these tiny sand from blocking the barrel.
In addition, American soldiers entering the information age are covered with various sensor materials. Motorola provided a microcomputer for American soldiers and even put a small mouse on the belt of military uniform. In this way, computers, communications and other technologies will become the most common weapons worn by soldiers on the waist, back, shoulders and head. These devices connect soldiers directly with the superior command and communication system.
China soldiers are generally only equipped with 8 1 95 assault rifles, 92 pistols and 40 rocket launchers. Optical sights are rarely used, night vision devices are less, bulletproof vests are not equipped much, and communication equipment and satellite positioning devices are only distributed to classes; Although the degree of mechanization is high, the technical content is low, and the individual soldier's load is light.
American soldiers are generally equipped with M4A 1+M203 Grenade launchers, M92 pistols and shoulder-fired multi-purpose individual weapons. All are equipped with optical sights, night vision devices, communication equipment and satellite positioning devices, and bulletproof vests are distributed to individual soldiers; Basically realized full armor and full digitalization; Personal load is heavy.
The American army is undoubtedly the best-equipped and best-paid army in the world. The us military has a variety of individual equipment, and each service has different equipment. Although the Iraq war has ended, the combat mission of the US military is more arduous and dangerous than before, which makes the individual equipment of the US military more important! This article can't completely summarize all the equipment, but simply introduce some important equipment that I am interested in. In order not to make the explanation boring, pictures are used in particular. As I am not a US soldier or a military expert, please advise me if there are any mistakes.
One: helmet, combat uniform, military boots
PASGT Kevlar helmet: it is a helmet widely used by the US military so far. It is made of Kevlar material. It is an aromatic polyamide composite material. This material has low density, high strength, good toughness, high temperature resistance and easy processing and molding, and is widely used in helmets and bulletproof vests. ) PASGT helmets are produced by several manufacturers according to the military standard MIL-H44099A. The design goal of the helmet is not to resist the direct fire of rifle bullets, but to resist the direct fire of fragmentation weapons such as grenades, mines, mortar shells and bombs, as well as 9mm pistol bullets and shotgun bullets. The PASGT helmet of the US Marine Corps has been made of Honeywell's Spectra fiber since the end of11990s. Spectra has better bulletproof performance than Kevlar, and its weight can be more than 30% lighter than Kevlar. However, this material is more difficult to form than Kevlar. When manufacturing helmets, it is necessary to laminate resin matrix and unidirectional fiberboard to form a hard and rigid plate structure. If the manufacturer doesn't handle it properly, the Sparcotra helmet is easy to delaminate in the wild environment. The appearance of PASGT helmet is quite rough, and it feels that there is a lot of sand mixed in the paint. According to the equipment survey of the US military in Afghanistan, 85% of the soldiers interviewed complained that the helmet was too heavy, which caused them long-term headache and neck pain. The ear protection of the helmet seemed to hinder their hearing. But this helmet has saved the lives of countless American soldiers.
ACH helmet: This helmet began to serve in the US special forces on 200 1, and it uses a new type of lightweight material. ACH helmet is lighter than the old helmet 1.5 pounds, and is equipped with a suspended foam pad similar to a football helmet and a four-point jaw strap for fixing the helmet. ACH helmet was originally used to resist 9 mm pistol bullets, but battlefield tests show that it can also resist AK-47 rifle bullets. Today, this helmet has been widely used by American soldiers in Iraq. After comparing the PASGT Kevlar helmet, the soldiers found it more comfortable and stable.
Combat uniform: On the battlefield in Iraq, US Army and Marine Corps soldiers wore their own combat uniforms, while most Marine Corps soldiers wore desert digital combat uniforms, while Army soldiers gradually changed into new ACU combat uniforms, and of course, many soldiers wore Sansha combat uniforms.
Military boots: Military boots are related to the health and combat effectiveness of soldiers. In this Iraq war, US Army soldiers and Marine Corps soldiers came standard with different desert boots, but Army soldiers were not satisfied with the performance of their boots. Panama soles are too soft and easy to wear, so many soldiers spend their own money to replace them with "Dupont" soles. In addition, army soldiers feel that the soles are too wet and hope to have air holes. Some soldiers complained that their boots pressed against their feet. Many soldiers don't tie up the hole under their shoes in order to relieve the pressure on their feet. However, the desert boots of the US Marine Corps are much better. They have a good reputation among soldiers, are breathable, and are comfortable and stable to wear!
Weapons and equipment:
1:m16a2m16am4a1:Because the M 16a2 and M 16A4 and M4 carbines used by the US military are well known, I don't want to explain them in detail. Relatively speaking, American soldiers are willing to take M4A 1, and it is indeed M66. It is also inconvenient to get on and off the bus, especially when shooting at the enemy inside the building. M 16 rifle can't guarantee the soldiers to fight back in time if American soldiers are attacked by anti-American armed forces in Hummer military vehicles. Although M4/M4A 1 is accurate enough in the infantry fighting range, the Marine Corps decided to choose M 16A4 with a longer range. M4A 1 has many advantages, but its short barrel brings low muzzle velocity, reduces the effective range of bullets and lacks lethality. On the battlefield in Iraq, it is inevitable that American army soldiers will be equipped with M4A 1 in large quantities, while the Marine Corps still uses M 16A4. However, when an investigation team composed of soldier plan execution office (PEO soldier), Army Ordnance Equipment Preparation Command (AMC) and Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDEC) investigated 10 1 82 and the Third Infantry Division, the soldiers were very satisfied with the performance of M4A 1, which performed well in harsh conditions, especially. Personally, I think M4A 1 looks cool!
) SOPMOD M4A 1 modular systems and components:
SOPM MOD M4A 1 project is a modular system introduced by American Knight Ordnance Company. It's all made in picatinny rail. Mounted on M4 carbine, it can improve the flexibility and adaptability of the weapon, without affecting the accuracy of the original weapon, and the heat dissipation performance is also improved. SOPMOD means "improved special operations". SOPMOD M4 is not just a carbine, but a modular assault rifle system based on M4A 1. The main modules include a RIS wooden fender with four standard guide rails M 19 13 (namely picatinny rail), a quick-release muffler, a Grenade launcher, and various sights and devices installed on the guide rails.
(2) picatinny rail: It is also the military standard guide rail of US Army M 19 13, and also the military standard of NATO tactical guide rail. Artillery using this guide rail can be equipped with various components independently or cooperatively, such as sight, tactical light, laser pointer, Grenade launcher and so on. , thus improving the combat effectiveness of weapons. Picatinny rail is universal, and various tactical components are tied to the rifles of American soldiers in Iraq. Although American soldiers are basically satisfied with these guide rail systems, it can be seen from the ropes and rubber bands tied to the guns that it is not easy for American soldiers to say that they love you to picatinny rail.
(3) Vision:
ACOG sight: This sight is made by American Trijicon company, which specializes in producing optical instruments. The shell of ACOG is made of aviation aluminum, which is firm, waterproof, cold-proof and corrosion-resistant. It can withstand various pressures and impacts of diving depth and field use while maintaining the accuracy of the sight. The research and development of the sight first began in 1987, which was established as part of the development plan of the "advanced combat rifle" ACR of the US Army. Now, the ACR plan of the US Army's "Advanced Combat Rifle" has been settled, M 16A4 has become the gun type of choice, and ACOG has also entered the US Army with M 16A4. ACOG enables riflemen to shoot accurately at a distance of 800 meters, which almost reaches the level of snipers. Unlike the sight used by snipers, ACOG can yield to the shooter's eyes open at the same time when shooting. In this way, the rifleman can keep the perception of the battlefield situation while achieving accurate shooting, which has strong practical significance. ACOG can not only help soldiers shoot accurately at a long distance, but also be very useful at a close distance of more than 50 meters. Some soldiers even use this sight as an observation tool, and it doesn't need batteries.
CCO melee sight: also known as M68 reflective sight, according to the investigation report of the "Iraqi Freedom Action" soldier plan implementation office, soldiers also appreciate this equipment. Most people say that the new design and battery are more advanced than the original CCO. The negative opinion is that the honeycomb mirror is difficult to clean and maintain zero position.
(4) PEEQ2 infrared laser pointer: The range of PEQ-2 infrared laser sight can reach 600m, and it has great advantages to equip infrared laser pointer and low-light-level night vision device for night combat. At night, you can clearly see the infrared rays emitted by the pointer, aim at the target, and achieve the effect of indicating shooting. In this way, American soldiers fighting in Iraq can see and accurately attack the enemy at night, while anti-American armed forces can't find American troops because of their backward weapons and equipment.
(5)M203 Grenade launcher: This is the most equipped Grenade launcher of the US military. It fires 40 mm grenades with a maximum range of 400 meters. The maximum effective distances of the opposite target and the point target are 350m and150m respectively. The launcher can launch a series of 40 mm grenades, such as high-speed grenades, armor-piercing bullets, tear gas bombs, smoke bombs, signal bombs, exercise bombs, flares and so on.
M249-class machine gun: M249 is the most equipped light small caliber machine gun of the US military, using 5.56X45M855 bullets. From the Iraq war to Afghanistan, M249 in the hands of American soldiers can be seen everywhere on the battlefield, which can effectively provide fire support for the US military with good accuracy and lethality. Judging from the reaction of American soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq, most of them are very satisfied and full of confidence. However, among American soldiers who used M249 in Afghanistan, 54% said that the cleaning and maintenance of M249 was too troublesome, and the ammunition box was not hung firmly and fell down by itself. M249 is a product of Belgian FN company. The test type at that time was XM249. In the selection test, XM249 carried out a wide range of bad tests, and then the actual operation test was carried out by the US military. The performance of XM249 is so good that the test troops don't think it is necessary to carry out the second stage of actual operation test. XM249 met the requirements of the Marine Corps when they chose their own operators to conduct the most thorough hit rate test at Aberdeen proving ground. 1982, the us military decided to adopt XM249 and officially named it M249. M249 was later improved according to our own needs. Compared with the original M249, the weight of PIP M249 is increased by about 590g, the total weight of empty guns is 7.465kg, and the total weight of loaded guns is 10.5kg. A spokesman for FN Company said that the service life of PIP M249 box can reach 65,438+10,000 rounds. A US military spokesman said that the PIP M249 machine gun can shoot 50,000 rounds without replacing all parts, and the average barrel life is 34,000 rounds. In addition, paratroopers with a barrel length of 347 mm were introduced and widely used in Iraq and Afghanistan. The short barrel of paratroopers reduces the lethality of bullets, but it is welcomed by American soldiers because of its convenient use and compact structure.
M240B and M240G machine guns: These two models are also products of Belgian FN company, and they are also substitutes for M60 machine guns of the US military. They are basically the same in appearance. M240B is named after the Army, while the Marine Corps is named M240G. The difference between the two is that the army's protective wood is equipped with a heat shield, while the Marine Corps does not. M240 caliber: 7,62x51mm NATO, length: 65438. For M240, the US Army and Marine Corps showed great satisfaction with this weapon. On the battlefield, this weapon can quickly and effectively suppress local firepower, and many photos of anti-American militants being hit by M240 in Iraq are circulated on the Internet. The scene is terrible and creepy.
M249 and M240 sights: M 145 MGO sights are products of a Canadian photoelectric instrument company named ELCAN. This kind of sight is compact, with a magnification of 3.4 times. The mirror body is very strong, and there is a rubber film outside. There is a spare simple mechanical sight at the top of the sight, which can be installed on the picatinny rail. The U.S. military found this kind of sight very suitable for light machine guns or general machine guns.
M- 136 AT-4 portable rocket launcher: this is a product of Swedish FFV ordnance company. In the light anti-tank weapon selection test conducted by the US Army in the summer of 1983, this rocket launcher was selected with excellent performance. 1985 ordered 270,000 pieces from Sweden in September. Later, the American Alien Special Technology and Equipment Company obtained the franchise right and named it M 136. Now equipped with the United States Army and Marine Corps. M- 136 belongs to the light anti-armor fire system, and the total combat weight of the whole system is only 6.7 kg, so it can be launched by single soldier. The caliber is 84 mm, the total weight is 6.7 kg, the flight speed is 380 m/s, the effective range is 300 m, and the armor-piercing and multi-purpose bombs are used. When Fallujah and Najaf dealt with anti-American militants, American soldiers used this weapon in large quantities in street fighting, effectively destroying the bunkers and hiding houses of anti-American militants, paving the way for American soldiers to move forward!
MK 153 SMAW shoulder-mounted multi-purpose attack weapon system; This is an 83mm caliber light rocket launcher. 1984 was equipped with the US Marine Corps. The total combat weight of the system is 13.85kg, with an effective range of 250m and a maximum range of 500m m. MK 3 HEDP dual-purpose Grenade and MK 6 HEAA anti-armor rocket can be launched, among which MK 3 HEDP dual-purpose Grenade can effectively attack solid bunkers and concrete structure targets.
Protective equipment: Interception body armor (IBA), commonly used by the US military. "Interceptor" bulletproof vest is made of Kevlar and Tervooren materials, which undoubtedly saved the lives of countless soldiers when fighting IBA equipped with SAPI bulletproof plates. Now the interceptor is more perfect, which provides greater protection for soldiers and increases the protection of shoulders, sides and crotch. However, because it is not easy for American soldiers to equip themselves individually, a full set of bulletproof vests undoubtedly increases the combat burden of soldiers, and their actions are very inflexible, making it very inconvenient to shoot in a prone position. In particular, street fighting often requires the cooperation of comrades-in-arms, resulting in many army soldiers not installing crotch guards and shin guards. However, I have seen a lot of photos of American soldiers performing tasks in Iraq, and found that the Marine Corps pays more attention to shin guards and crotch guards, and basically the Marine Corps can wear these ornaments.
Night vision equipment: AN/PVS- 14 night vision equipment, which was jointly developed by ITT and Litton in 1996 with R&D and Engineering Center of US Army Communications and Electronics Command. It combines the third generation super MX- 10 160 passive image intensifier and aviation night vision goggles An/AVS. Command and control ability, its resolution is higher, the weight is only 0.4kg, soldiers can wear it flexibly on the helmet, and the observation distance is greatly enhanced. AN/PVS- 14 night vision device has also been affirmed by US Army and Marine Corps soldiers, and it can really provide strong support for soldiers to find the enemy in the dark. The negative findings of the U.S. military investigation in Iraq are the soldiers' reaction to the steering problem of helmet bracket and the battery box problem.