Personal equipment

On exercises and operations, soldiers carry their individual weapon, ammunition, water, food and protective clothing. Depending on the tactical situation, riflemen wear either fighting order or marching order. Fighting order weighs about ten kilos and includes all the equipment the soldier needs to survive for two to three days: individual weapon, extra ammunition, and grenades, webbing, digging tool, water bottle, combat rations and washing and shaving kit. Marching order weighs another seven kilos and includes a rucksack or Bergen, beret, gloves, sleeping bag, spare clothes and a towel. For protection, soldiers are issued with a Mark 6 combat helmet. In combat situations, soldiers may also be issued with body armour and a radio headset.

3.	Work in pairs. Ask and answer the questions.

1. In what situations do you think fighting order is worn?

2. How much does marching order weigh?

3. When do you think marching order is worn?

4. Is the list of equipment similar to your country’s armed forces?

4.



Work in pairs. Describe the weapons and equipment you carry on exercise.

5.	Read the text and complete the chart.

The SA80 is the standard individual weapon issued to British troops. The SA80 has a caliber of 5.56 mm and weighs approximately 5 kilos with a loaded magazine. The magazine holds 30 rounds of ammunition. The SA80 is very accurate and has a range of about 400 metres. Infantry sections are also issued with the Light Support Weapon (LSW), a version of SA80 designed as a light machine gun.

SA80

Calibre	………. mm
Barrel Length	518 mm
Weight	………. (with loaded magazine and sight)
Magazine	………. rounds
Length	785 mm
Effective Range	………. m
Rate of Fire	610-775 rounds/minute

6.	Translate the words into Ukrainian and learn them.

change lever
cocking handle
magazine
magazine catch
muzzle
rounds
safety catch
sights
trigger

7.	Study the examples, complete the instructions, using the words from the table.

E.g. First of all / firstly / secondly / next / after that / finally put the safety catch at the S position. When you release the cocking handle, make sure that you don’t push it forward.

finally

first of all

next

secondly

when

I will now explain how to unload the weapon. (1) ______ , put the safety catch to S and the change lever to R. (2) ______ , take the magazine with your left hand, press the magazine catch with your thumb and remove the magazine. (3) ______ the magazine is off the weapon, pull the cocking handle back to eject the round from the chamber. (4) ______ look to check that there is no round in the chamber. Make sure the weapon is pointing in a safe direction, put the safety catch to F and pull the trigger. (5) ______ , put the safety catch in the S position.

8.



Work in pairs. Tell your partner about a weapon or piece of equipment you know well.

9.



Describe the picture.