How the typical soldier's kit has changed over the centuries. From 1066 to 2014.
http://www.lifebuzz.com/military-kits/

EDITED: Full description of items, and original article...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/worl ... lmand.html

Sample:

I've seen this before. Two things are common to all, a spoon and the overall weight.

An army marches on it's stomach!
I want the brown bess, though, bad!

nigel wrote:I've seen this before. Two things are common to all, a spoon and the overall weight.

There's no way that Helmand photo is entirely accurate
When we deployed in 2008 we went over with 4 duffle bags of personal gear, let alone the units weapons and other gear
Nice sort of generalized cross reference of period gear
Up til the last few decades the typical Soldier carried a load of about 30 pounds of gear
Its up around 100 lbs now
The WW2 guys were known as the hearing aid generation of vets
My generation will be known as the bad back/ bad knees generation of vets

I like the Battle of the Somme "trench club," "for breaking heavy ground for trenching into and for fighting the enemy at close quarters." A mace is a mace is a mace.

tc556guy wrote:There's no way that Helmand photo is entirely accurate
<snippage>

When you deployed, did you go as US or UK?.. That's UK-style Helmand kit.

Not questioning, or trying to be combative, just pointing out that there may be a difference in country's kit.