9781422287774

Extreme Survival In the Military SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT

Extreme Survival In the Military Learning Mental Endurance for Survival Ropes & Knots for Survival Survival at Sea Survival Equipment Survival First Aid Survival in the Wilderness Surviving by Trapping, Fishing, & Eating Plants Surviving Captivity Surviving Hostage Rescue Missions Surviving Natural Disasters Surviving the World’s Extreme Regions: Desert, Arctic, Mountains, & Jungle Surviving with Navigation & Signaling

Extreme Survival In the Military SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT

PATRICK WILSON Introduction by Colonel John T. Carney. Jr., USAF-Ret. President, Special Operations Warrior Foundation

MASON CREST

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, PA 19008 www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2015 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher. Printed and bound in the United States of America. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-3081-7 ISBN: 978-1-4222-3085-5 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-8777-4 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress. Picture Credits Ardea: 58 Corbis: 29, 44, 46, 50, 52, 54, 56, 59; Lars Johansson | Fotolia.com: 47; Military Picture Library: 8, 10, 14, 15, 20, 24, 27, 34. 36, 39, 41, 42, 48; TRH: 6, 11, 16, 18, 22, 25, 30, 31, 38 Illustrations courtesy of Amber Books

IMPORTANT NOTICE The survival techniques and information described in this publication are for educational use only. The publisher is not responsible for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages as a result of the uses or misuses of the techniques and information within. DEDICATION This book is dedicated to those who perished in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and to the Special Forces soldiers who continually serve to defend freedom. ACKNOWLEDGMENT For authenticating this book, the Publishers would like to thank the Public Affairs Offices of the U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, FL.; Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.; Navy Special Warfare Command, Coronado, CA.; and the Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlbert Field, FL.

CONTENTS

Introduction

7 9

Clothing

Equipment

19 35 45 49 60 61 62 63 64

Hostile Terrains

Making Their Own Clothes

Making Tools

Series Glossary of Key Terms Equipment Requirements

Useful Websites

Further Reading/About the Author

Index

7

INTRODUCTION Elite forces are the tip of Freedom’s spear. These small, special units are universally the first to engage, whether on reconnaissance missions into denied territory for larger, conventional forces or in direct action, surgical operations, preemptive strikes, retaliatory action, and hostage rescues. They lead the way in today’s war on terrorism, the war on drugs, the war on transnational unrest, and in humanitarian operations as well as nation building. When large scale warfare erupts, they offer theater commanders a wide variety of unique, unconventional options. Most such units are regionally oriented, acclimated to the culture and conversant in the languages of the areas where they operate. Since they deploy to those areas regularly, often for combined training exercises with indigenous forces, these elite units also serve as peacetime “global scouts” and “diplomacy multipliers,” a beacon of hope for the democratic aspirations of oppressed peoples all over the globe. Elite forces are truly “quiet professionals”: their actions speak louder than words. They are self-motivated, self-confident, versatile, seasoned, mature individuals who rely on teamwork more than daring-do. Unfortunately, theirs is dangerous work. Since “Desert One”—the 1980 attempt to rescue hostages from the U.S. embassy in Tehran, for instance—American special operations forces have suffered casualties in real world operations at close to fifteen times the rate of U.S. conventional forces. By the very nature of the challenges which face special operations forces, training for these elite units has proven even more hazardous. Thus it’s with special pride that I join you in saluting the brave men and women who volunteer to serve in and support these magnificent units and who face such difficult challenges ahead.

Colonel John T. Carney, Jr., USAF-Ret. President, Special Operations Warrior Foundation

Basic survival equipment such as dried food, drinking water, medical supplies, and heating materials can be packed neatly into a backpack.

Words to Understand essential: Necessary; having to do with what is a most basic part of something. insulation: Material that stops the loss of heat. synthetic: Manmade rather than natural.

ventilation: Letting in air. compact: Closely and neatly packed together. bergen: Another word for a backpack.

9

CLOTHING

Clothing protects troops from hostile weather. It is essential for their well-being. Here are the principles that members of elite units follow when selecting clothing for wild areas.

Elite troops use the layer principle. This offers maximum protection and is suitable in all types of climate. The principle is very simple: air is the best form of insulation and the best way of creating it is to trap it between layers of clothing. The more layers soldiers wear, the warmer they will be. If soldiers are too hot, they remove a layer. If they are cold, they add a layer. In a cold climate, it is important that soldiers do not get too hot. This can be as much of a problem as being cold. This is because, if they sweat, the sweat will then cool, drawing away body heat into the air. The first layer a soldier wears is next to the skin. It is called thermal underwear or “long johns.” This is the base layer. The idea is that a thin layer of usually synthetic material will help the soldier remain reasonably dry even if the conditions outside are very wet. A woolen or wool mixture shirt is worn over this. On top of this will be a woolen or good woven fiber sweater or jacket. (Woven fiber tends to be better because it is warmer and more windproof.) The latest and most effective insulating material used by troops is fleece. A soldier’s fleece would be thick and have ventilation zippers. Then the soldier

This British Royal Marine is wearing modern Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) camouflage with scrim netting on his head and chest.

10 SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT

will have a fiber-filled jacket. The final layer must be windproof and water- proof. U.S. Air Force tips—Clothing USAF pilots learn the following for when they are stranded in hostile terrain with only their jumpsuits for protection.

C Keep clothing C lean. O Avoid O verheating. L Wear clothing L oose and in layers. D Keep clothing D ry. E E xamine clothing for defects in wear. R Keep clothing R epaired.

Elite troops have a standard way of packing their bergen (backpack). Note the plastic bag used to keep this soldier’s clothes dry.

CLOTHING 11

A soldier must take good care of his or her feet. As

part of their everyday training Royal Marines are made to march long distances (called “yomping”), which, at the end of a long day, can take a heavy toll on feet. Boots need to be comfortable and well looked after.

Footwear Most elite troops wear a pair of waterproof boots. Running or sports shoes are never worn, because they will not protect soldiers from the cold and wet. A soldier knows how important his or her boots are and will always look after them. A soldier’s boots will always be coated with wax or polish to keep them soft. It is vital that they are checked before using them. Broken seals, worn-out treads, cracked leather, and rotten stitching can all be a problem. Members of the elite forces know that if they look after their boots, their boots will look after them. Socks are another important item of footwear, and most soldiers wear two pairs on their feet for comfort and to prevent blisters. Whether they wear a thin pair and a thick pair, two thin pairs, or two thick pairs does not matter. The main thing is that the soldiers are comfortable with their footwear before undertaking any serious walking.

12 SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT

As they have to yomp everywhere on foot, often over long distances, Britain’s Royal Marines have tried-and-tested rules for the care of boots. They stuff wet boots with newspapers and dry them in a warm, airy place, though not in direct heat, which will bake and then crack the leather. In winter, they rub silicone or wax over the laces to stop them from freezing when they get wet. They make sure their boots are big enough to let themwear two or three pairs of socks. They are aware that socks which are too tight will restrict the circulation. They always carry a spare pair of socks. Whenever their feet get wet, they should change their socks as quickly as possible. Boots must always be dried as best they can. Note: A member of an elite regiment never forgets to carry spare shoelaces. Pants Elite troops wear pants that are compact , light, windproof, and extremely quick to dry, even after being soaked. In addition, these pants usually have around five pockets with zippers, making them excellent for carrying items securely. They also have fully waterproof pants that fit over them. These either have a side zipper or they are wide enough to let them be put on when a soldier is wearing boots. Jackets A jacket is the most important item of clothing for the elite forces. A good Gore-Tex ® jacket that is hard-wearing could be the matter of life and death. This material is used by all the elite troops. It is an excellent material for outdoor clothing. It is “breathable” and lets sweat escape but does not let in water and wind. This clothing is expensive, but it saves lives.

CLOTHING 13

Make Connections: MILITARY UNIFORM

A jacket is vital for troops because it forms their outer shell, and so it must be windproof and waterproof. A covered zipper prevents the wind and wet from entering. It is also a backup if the zipper fails. The jacket should have a deep hood, large enough to let the soldier wear a helmet or beret. The jacket will come up to the lower part of the face. The sleeves cover the hands and the jacket will have wrist fasteners. It should also be big enough to let the soldier wear a number of layers underneath. (This also promotes the flow of air in warm weather.) The jacket would also have at least two pockets on the outside with waterproof flaps and one inside that can hold a map. Troops wear olive green or camouflage jackets. This makes it difficult for the enemy to see them. A soldier’s uniform has many functions: it must help regulate body heat, provide rapid access to the various tools and supplies of war, and provide protection against dangerous weapons. A large part of a soldier’s ability to function effectively is dictated by the uniform he or she wears. Camouflage is very important. A soldier fighting in the desert will need to wear sandy colored clothing to blend into the background; similarly, jungle-based troops will need to wear dark green.

14 SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT

Gore-Tex ® jackets are standard issue for the British Army. This soldier poses with a Heckler and Koch MP5 submachine gun.

Gloves There are many different types of woolen and ski gloves used by the elite forces. In cold weather they are extremely important to the stranded soldier. Mittens are the best at keeping the heat but they make it difficult for troops to use their fingers, which is vital for firing a rifle. Headgear A good deal of heat can be lost through the head, especially when the rest of a soldier’s body is appropriately insulated in cold conditions. Troops therefore