Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Abstract
From the loads carried by the armies of antiquity to today’s modern forces, this article explores and critically analyses soldier load carriage over two millennia. Historical misconceptions appearing in some military documents and literature regarding the context and weight of the soldier’s load are also discussed. The author looks at how, even with changes in logistic practices, technology and the very nature of warfare, the soldier is still a beast of burden and suggests that relying on improved load carriage logistical aides and changes to equipment may not be the answer to this age-old problem.
abstract = "From the loads carried by the armies of antiquity to today’s modern forces, this articleexplores and critically analyses soldier load carriage over two millennia. Historical misconceptionsappearing in some military documents and literature regarding the context andweight of the soldier’s load are also discussed. The author looks at how, even with changesin logistic practices, technology and the very nature of warfare, the soldier is still a beast ofburden and suggests that relying on improved load carriage logistical aides and changes toequipment may not be the answer to this age-old problem.",
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - The history of the soldier's load
AU - Orr, Rob Marc
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - From the loads carried by the armies of antiquity to today’s modern forces, this articleexplores and critically analyses soldier load carriage over two millennia. Historical misconceptionsappearing in some military documents and literature regarding the context andweight of the soldier’s load are also discussed. The author looks at how, even with changesin logistic practices, technology and the very nature of warfare, the soldier is still a beast ofburden and suggests that relying on improved load carriage logistical aides and changes toequipment may not be the answer to this age-old problem.
AB - From the loads carried by the armies of antiquity to today’s modern forces, this articleexplores and critically analyses soldier load carriage over two millennia. Historical misconceptionsappearing in some military documents and literature regarding the context andweight of the soldier’s load are also discussed. The author looks at how, even with changesin logistic practices, technology and the very nature of warfare, the soldier is still a beast ofburden and suggests that relying on improved load carriage logistical aides and changes toequipment may not be the answer to this age-old problem.