THE SOLDIER'S LOAD From Major-General I. R. Hartwell SIR,-1 feel
it is important to correct the unavoidable impression given in your article 'The War Which Cannot Be Won' that the weight of pack carried by the soldier during jungle operations is 90 lb. I have now received from my old British Gurkha unit in Borneo details of weights and give them for what they are worth: I. The large '37' pack or Bergen rucksack, filled, weighs a maximum of 30 lb. This includes every- thing except arms and ammunition, and some specialist (e.g. signalling) equipment.
2. Arms, ammunition, approximately 30 lb.—ex- cluding specialist equipment—say on an average not more than 60-65 lb.
3. Apart from arms and ammunition all the above are either 'A' or 'B' echelon equipment, and are only manhandled from, for instance, vehicle to base, a matter of a few yards.
4. For patrol or ambush operation two days' rations and one reserve ration only are carried—total 71 lb. For more extended operations mosquito nets and ponchos are carried together with such items as spare socks, vest, pants, slacks, gym shoes, cigar- ettes, etc.—maximum total weight, 20 lb.
This figure of 20 lb., and not 90 lb., seems to be the maximum weight carried on actual operations, in rucksack or small pack.
J. R. HARTWELL 4a de Walden Court, Meads, Eastbourne
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