What is the difference between light and mechanized infantry?

“Light” infantry usually simply walks during operations, while mechanized infantry Is equipped with some form of motorized transportation. It is usually armored, such as APC, or a IFV.

What does light infantry carry?

Light infantry sometimes carried lighter muskets than ordinary infantrymen while others carried rifles and wore rifle green uniforms.

How much weight do infantrymen carry?

A 2007 Marine study revealed an average load of 97 to 135 pounds in combat. A 2017 Government Accountability Office report identified Marine loads of 90 to 159 pounds, with an average of 117 pounds, and Army loads of 96 to 140 pounds, with an average of 119 pounds.

What units are light infantry?

Light infantry now stands for those units of soldiers who have no attached tank units or armored personnel carriers, and fewer artillery pieces and helicopters than the heavy, mechanized infantry divisions. Once transported, they will tend to walk to war, rather than ride to it.

How does an infantryman carry gear in combat?

When a U.S. Army infantryman is in combat, he carries his life with him–literally. Gear is carried on his back, slung over his shoulders, strapped to his thigh, tied to his head. One might think that the U.S. Army would have developed a way to lighten the load over the last century.

How much weight can an infantryman carry?

An average Marine Corps infantry officer should to be physically able to carry 152 lbs. for nine miles. That load might sound extreme, but even official documents describe carrying a 100 lbs. as standard.

What is a ‘infantryman lean’?

And then there is the infamous “infantryman lean,” what DeGay describes as the off-duty soldier leaning forward as if bearing a heavy weight, even when he is not. Sacrificing comfort for duty is not a new phenomenon.

How do armies deal with the problem of infantry in combat?

With the advent of the combustion engine armies turned to trucks and other combat vehicles. The problem is these solutions tie the infantryman to roadways, restricting movement. Getting the infantry away from roads is vital to their ability to effectively maneuver against the enemy requiring innovative solutions.