Republic Army Equipment Annex

This annex preserves the Army's detailed equipment history and present equipment catalogue. Command, personnel, readiness, training, logistics, welfare and political oversight are covered in Republic Army.

Army Equipment System, 1900-Present

The Republic Army treats equipment as a system rather than a shopping list. A rifle, a boot, a field kitchen, a bridge layer, a battery charger and a tank transport trailer are all considered part of combat power because each determines how long a formation can move, fight and recover without outside help. The Army Procurement Board therefore records equipment by era, role, manufacturer, sustainment burden and compatibility with the National Logistics Service.

The Army has never relied on a single arsenal. It has usually divided production between state arsenals, private heavy industry and specialist suppliers. This has kept competition alive while ensuring that factories can be expanded during emergencies. The principal land-equipment manufacturers are:

• Crown Arsenal Works: state-owned small arms, artillery barrels, ammunition inspection and wartime surge production.
• Rook & Vale Defence: rifles, carbines, machine guns, pistols and optical sights.
• Blackstone Land Systems: tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, recovery vehicles and armoured engineering vehicles.
• Millstone Heavy Automotive: trucks, staff cars, tank transporters, trailers and diesel generators.
• Ironvale Mechanical Works: artillery carriages, mortars, field kitchens, stoves, entrenching tools and containerised workshops.
• Ironvale Medical Works: medical panniers, surgical shelters, blood refrigerators, oxygen concentrators and casualty evacuation fittings.
• Orion Systems: armoured-vehicle engines, transmissions, final drives and auxiliary power units.
• MetalMind Materials: armour steel, light alloys, ceramic armour tiles, ballistic fabrics and specialist fasteners.
• CoreTech Systems: radios, vehicle computers, rugged tablets, battle-management terminals and encryption modules.
• SecureWing Avionics Land Division: targeting electronics, thermal sights, laser rangefinders and navigation units.
• SynthoPolymers: rubberised fabrics, boot soles, fuel bladders, poncho coatings, cable insulation and polymer rifle furniture.
• FrictionLess Technologies: wheel bearings, suspension bushings, lubricants, track pins and low-temperature greases.
• National Textile Combine: uniforms, webbing, tents, sleeping bags, helmet covers and ceremonial cloth.
• North Ridge Footwear: combat boots, cold-weather boots, desert boots, gaiters and replacement laces.
• Silver Bay Tyre and Rubber: pneumatic tyres, run-flat inserts, inner tubes, track pads and anti-static refuelling hoses.
• Dart Precision Instruments: compasses, map tools, artillery calculators, survey gear and later handheld rangefinders.

Equipment Generations

The following registers list the principal accepted models by period. Minor workshop modifications, theatre conversions and training-only substitutes existed in every period, but Army stores used these names for procurement, manuals and replacement parts.

Accepted model register, 1900-1918

Accepted model register, 1919-1939

Accepted model register, 1940-1959

Accepted model register, 1960-1979

Accepted model register, 1980-1999

Accepted model register, 2000-2019

Accepted model register, 2020-present

1900-1918: Rifle columns and horse logistics

The Army of 1900 was a rifle-and-horse force with a small professional core. Its standard infantry weapon was the Rook & Vale M00 bolt-action rifle, a long, five-round magazine rifle with a walnut stock, ladder sight, polished bolt and socket bayonet. Soldiers carried it with a leather sling, oiled pull-through, brass muzzle cover and two-piece cleaning rod kept in the barrack-room kit. The Crown M03 cavalry carbine shortened the same action for mounted troops and artillery drivers. Officers and military police carried the Rook & Vale P04 service revolver, usually in a flap holster with a separate cartridge pouch.

The infantryman's clothing was wool, leather and brass. The M01 service tunic was a high-collared khaki wool garment with reinforced elbows, brass buttons and internal field-dressing pocket. Trousers were straight-legged, held by braces, and tucked into ankle boots or puttees. The M02 field cap was soft, cheap and easy to stuff into a pocket; steel helmets appeared only late in the period as shellfire casualties rose. Web equipment was still transitional. The Crown Pattern 1905 leather set used a broad waist belt, two ammunition pouches, bayonet frog, haversack, water-bottle carrier and mess-tin strap. It creaked, stretched when soaked and required constant dubbing, but it could be repaired by any saddler.

Boots were treated as a strategic article. The North Ridge M01 ankle boot used blackened full-grain leather, hobnailed soles, a stacked leather heel, iron heel plates and twelve brass eyelets. The issued lace was a flat waxed cotton lace with metal aglets; soldiers were expected to carry one spare pair wound around the boot brush in the holdall. Infantry on wet ground added canvas gaiters or wool puttees. Cold-weather troops received a larger boot with felt inner socks, while colonial garrisons used a tan version with fewer hobnails to reduce heat transfer through the sole.

Artillery was built around the Ironvale M02 75 mm field gun, the Crown M06 105 mm howitzer and horse-drawn ammunition limbers. Gun wheels were wood-spoked with iron tyres until rubber-tyred limbers appeared late in the war. Shells travelled in wicker-lined crates to prevent fuze damage. Communications were flags, runners, field telephones and cable carts. The CoreTech Telegraph Set No. 1 used dry batteries, a hand generator and cloth-insulated wire on wooden reels.

Transport remained mostly animal-powered. A standard infantry battalion used riding horses for officers, draught horses for ammunition wagons, water carts, medical carts, field kitchens and baggage wagons. The Millstone M08 staff car entered service in small numbers for headquarters. It had a ladder frame, two-wheel rear drive, acetylene lamps, canvas roof, mechanical brakes and narrow high-pressure tyres supplied by Silver Bay. Tyres were bias-ply, ribbed for road use, carried on detachable rims and frequently strapped in pairs to the running boards.

1919-1939: Motorisation, steel helmets and controlled fire

The interwar Army kept the rifle but rebuilt the equipment around mobility. The M19 steel helmet became universal: a shallow pressed-steel shell with rolled edge, leather liner, cork spacers, adjustable chinstrap and hessian cover for field use. The M21 battledress replaced the long tunic with a shorter wool blouse, map pocket, covered buttons and trousers designed for marching and vehicle work. National Textile Combine mills produced several weights for temperate, mountain and hot-weather stations.

The standard rifle became the Rook & Vale M24 short rifle, still bolt-action but shorter, handier and built for mass training. The Crown M27 light machine gun gave each section automatic fire from a top-mounted magazine and folding bipod. Platoons added the Ironvale M29 50 mm light mortar, a simple smoothbore weapon carried in three loads. Officers moved from revolvers to the Rook & Vale P31 self-loading pistol, although revolvers remained common in stores and training units.

The Army standardised personal equipment with the Pattern 1923 woven web set. It used cotton webbing, brass hooks, two front ammunition pouches, bayonet frog, water bottle, small pack and large pack. The web set could be blancoed for inspection or darkened for field use. The water bottle was enamelled steel with a cork stopper, wool cover and web cradle. The mess tin nested in the small pack beside a clasp knife, sewing kit, spare socks, boot laces and a tin of dubbin.

Boots improved but remained heavy. The North Ridge M22 marching boot used a stitched leather upper, cap toe, heel stiffener, replaceable leather sole, hobnails and a round waxed cotton lace. Mountain battalions received a nailed boot with a reinforced rand and thicker wool sock. Drivers received an unhobnailed boot with a smoother sole to avoid slipping on pedals.

Motorisation changed the appearance of the Army. The Millstone M25 3-ton truck became the standard cargo vehicle. It used a petrol engine, four-speed gearbox, wooden cargo body, canvas tilt, split rims and 34-inch cross-country tyres with a block tread. The M28 light utility car served as the staff car, reconnaissance runabout and signals vehicle. Its tyres were narrower than later types, with a road-biased tread and two spares carried on the rear. Silver Bay introduced reinforced sidewalls after early field trials showed that gravel roads destroyed civilian tyres.

Armour arrived as a separate branch. The Blackstone M30 light tank had riveted armour, a two-man turret, machine gun and small cannon. It was fast, cramped and mechanically fussy, but it forced the Army to create fuel companies, recovery sections, driver schools and armoured workshops. Artillery modernised around rubber-tyred carriages, motor tractors and the Ironvale M34 25-pounder field gun-howitzer, which could fire direct or indirect and became the symbol of interwar gunnery discipline.

1940-1959: Mechanised war and standardisation

The mechanised period made equipment simpler, stronger and easier to produce. The infantryman's basic weapon changed to the Rook & Vale M41 semi-automatic rifle, a gas-operated eight-round rifle with aperture sights and a short bayonet. Submachine guns filled vehicle crews, scouts and assault sections. The Crown M42 submachine gun was crude, stamped and reliable, with a folding wire stock and thirty-round box magazine. The Crown M43 general-purpose machine gun replaced several older weapons by using quick-change barrels, belt feed and a tripod for sustained fire.

Uniforms shifted to layered field clothing. The M41 combat jacket had large chest pockets, a concealed button front, drawcord waist and detachable hood. Wool shirts, cotton undershirts, long drawers and knitted caps were issued according to climate. The M44 steel helmet had a deeper shell, separate fibre liner, camouflage net, elastic foliage band and a two-point chinstrap. Body armour remained rare and was mostly issued to assault engineers and vehicle crews as heavy flak vests.

The Pattern 1942 web equipment introduced quick-release shoulder braces, larger ammunition pouches and a shovel carrier. The entrenching tool was the Ironvale M40 folding spade, with a forged head, pick option and ash handle. Each rifleman carried two bandoliers or pouch loads, two fragmentation grenades when ordered, water bottle, mess tin, groundsheet, cleaning roll, spare boot laces, socks and emergency ration. Shoelaces were now round braided cotton with a tar-wax finish; supply tables treated them as expendable because broken laces caused more foot casualties than quartermasters liked to admit.

Boots became more specialised. The North Ridge M41 combat boot used rough-out brown leather, a stitched-and-nailed sole, rubber heel and nine pairs of eyelets. The late-war M46 double-buckle boot added an integral leather cuff to replace separate gaiters. Jungle forces used canvas-and-leather boots with drain eyelets and anti-fungal insoles. Armoured crews used ankle boots with smooth rubber soles and no exterior hobnails to reduce sparks and prevent snagging in cramped vehicles.

Vehicles were standardised into families. The Millstone M40 quarter-ton utility car used a simple petrol engine, selectable four-wheel drive, folding windscreen, canvas top and 6.00-16 non-directional tyres. The M41 2.5-ton truck became the Army's universal cargo vehicle, with dual rear wheels, blackout lights, pioneer-tool rack and wooden troop benches. Silver Bay's wartime tyre used a chevron tread, heavy bead and thick sidewall; it was hard-riding but tolerated overloads and bad roads. Tank transporters used multi-axle trailers with detachable goosenecks and low-pressure tyres to spread weight.

The main armoured vehicles were the Blackstone M42 medium tank, M45 infantry tank, M47 armoured carrier and M50 self-propelled gun. The M42 combined sloped welded armour, a three-man turret, radio in every tank and a diesel engine supplied by Orion Systems. Tracks used replaceable rubber pads for road marches and steel grousers for mud. Maintenance crews carried track jacks, spare pins, road wheels, tow cables, grease guns, track hammers and engine pre-heaters. Recovery used the Blackstone M44 armoured recovery vehicle, with winch, A-frame crane and welding set.

1960-1979: Reactor-age dispersion and professional infantry

The Army of the 1960s expected fast movement, dispersed logistics and chemical or radiological hazards from damaged power and industrial sites. Nuclear weapons had not been developed, and planning assumptions remained conventional, but nuclear power stations, research reactors and fuel-cycle facilities made radiological safety a normal part of field doctrine. The Rook & Vale M62 battle rifle replaced the semi-automatic rifle with a selective-fire 7 mm weapon using a twenty-round magazine, carrying handle and robust aperture sight. It was powerful and accurate but heavy in automatic fire. The Crown M64 belt-fed machine gun served at section and platoon level, while the Ironvale M66 81 mm mortar gave infantry battalions reliable indirect fire. Anti-armour teams received the Crown M68 recoilless rifle and later the SecureWing Dartline guided missile, which used a wire-guided sight unit, tripod and battery box.

The M60 combat uniform adopted cotton-sateen cloth, slanted pockets, reinforced knees and elbows, and separate cold-weather liners. Chemical protection entered normal stores: overboots, gloves, charcoal-lined suits, detector paper, decontamination powder and the CoreTech M65 field telephone and warning receiver. The M67 helmet used manganese steel with a better suspension system and a cloth cover matched to seasonal camouflage.

Load carriage improved with the Pattern 1964 nylon webbing set. It used plastic buckles, quick-adjust straps, waterproof ammunition pouches, a kidney pad, canteen covers and a lightweight poncho roll. The individual shelter half gave way to a nylon basha sheet with aluminium pegs. The sleeping system used a wool blanket in garrison and a synthetic-filled bag in field units. Soldiers still carried boot polish, spare laces and a foot-care tin because commanders considered feet a readiness item.

The North Ridge M63 combat boot was the first standard boot with a moulded rubber sole. It had black full-grain leather, padded ankle collar, speed hooks above five eyelets, a steel shank and oil-resistant outsole. Laces were round nylon-cotton blend with heat-sealed aglets. The Army issued separate brown leather desert boots with crepe-pattern soles and white cold-weather boots with removable felt liners.

Vehicles shifted to diesel power and sealed systems. The Millstone M61 4x4 utility truck replaced wartime light cars; it had portal axles, central tyre inflation on later marks, blackout convoy lights, fording kit and 9.00-16 all-terrain tyres. The M64 5-ton truck became the logistic backbone, with flatbed, tanker, workshop, van-body, wrecker and shelter-carrier variants. Silver Bay introduced directional mud tyres, sand tyres and run-flat beadlock inserts for reconnaissance cars.

Armour centred on the Blackstone M60 main battle tank, with cast-and-welded armour, stabilised gun, infrared night sight and Orion multi-fuel engine. Mechanised infantry used the Blackstone M65 armoured personnel carrier, a tracked box with rear ramp, roof hatches and pintle machine gun. Artillery adopted the Ironvale M67 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, supported by ammunition carriers and survey vehicles. Engineers used armoured bulldozers, bridge layers, mine ploughs and explosive line charges.

1980-1999: Digital fire control and modular sustainment

The late-century Army became recognisably modern. The Rook & Vale M82 assault rifle replaced the battle rifle with a lighter intermediate-calibre weapon, thirty-round polymer magazine, optical sight rail and folding back-up sights. The M84 squad automatic weapon used the same ammunition for mobile section fire. Snipers received the Rook & Vale M86 precision rifle, a bolt-action weapon with free-floating barrel, adjustable stock and Dart optical sight. The P88 pistol became the standard sidearm for officers, crews, police and specialists.

The M83 combat uniform used ripstop cloth, printed camouflage, covered buttons and rank slides. The M87 ballistic helmet introduced aramid fibre, a four-point chinstrap and a night-vision mounting plate. Fragmentation vests became common; plate carriers remained specialist issue. Gloves, knee pads and ballistic eyewear entered the scale of issue for mechanised infantry, engineers and urban operations.

The Pattern 1985 load-carrying system combined belt kit, detachable yoke, nylon pouches and a framed rucksack. Pouches were no longer sewn for one ammunition type; they could carry magazines, grenades, radios, smoke, medical dressings or water bottles. The individual first-aid kit expanded to include pressure dressing, tourniquet, airway adjunct and casualty card. CoreTech personal radios began appearing at squad level by the 1990s.

The North Ridge M85 combat boot used black leather and woven nylon panels, a padded tongue, brass speed hooks, shock-absorbing midsole and lugged rubber outsole. The lace was round black nylon with a woven core; airborne troops used extra-long laces wrapped around the ankle to secure the boot during parachute exits. Desert units received tan suede boots with ventilation eyelets and non-marking soles. Mountain units received stiff crampon-compatible boots with lace locks and deep rand protection.

Vehicles were built around modularity. The Millstone M80 tactical utility vehicle had a diesel engine, automatic gearbox, independent suspension, run-flat tyres and shelter, ambulance, weapons-carrier and command variants. The M83 8x8 heavy truck hauled containers, fuel pods, bridging pallets and ammunition flats. Silver Bay's run-flat insert allowed a truck to drive after several punctures, while FrictionLess hubs reduced wheel-bearing failures during long convoys.

The main combat vehicles were the Blackstone M84 main battle tank, M88 infantry fighting vehicle, M90 reconnaissance vehicle and Ironvale M92 multiple rocket launcher. The M84 used composite armour, thermal sights, laser rangefinder, digital ballistic computer and an Orion compact diesel. The M88 carried an infantry section, stabilised cannon, anti-armour missiles and spall liners. SecureWing and CoreTech supplied fire-control computers, thermal imagers, encrypted radios and early battlefield-data terminals.

2000-2019: Networked brigades and protected mobility

Operations after 2000 pushed the Army toward protected patrol vehicles, electronic countermeasures and persistent logistics tracking. The Rook & Vale M05 modular rifle replaced the M82 in front-line units. It used interchangeable barrel lengths, ambidextrous controls, free-floating handguard, suppressor-ready muzzle device, day optic, night sight clip-on and thirty-round translucent magazine. The M07 compact carbine served vehicle crews and support troops. The M09 marksman rifle provided accurate fire beyond ordinary rifle range, while the Crown M10 general-purpose machine gun modernised belt-fed support with lighter materials and quick optic mounts.

Uniforms became flame-resistant and theatre-specific. The M04 combat uniform used a universal cut with temperate, arid and urban patterns. The M08 integrated body armour combined soft armour, front and rear plates, side plates, shoulder protectors, groin flap and quick-release cable. The M11 helmet used advanced aramid and ceramic reinforcement, side rails, night-vision shroud and mandible guard for vehicle gunners. Eye protection, electronic hearing protection, flame-resistant gloves and knee protection became routine.

Load carriage moved to modular attachment. The Pattern 2006 soldier carriage suite used a plate carrier, battle belt, hydration carrier, assault pack and large rucksack. Pouches attached by woven tabs and press studs. Every soldier's kit included rifle magazines, multitool, cleaning kit, water purification tablets, tourniquets, marker panel, notebook, waterproof bags, spare batteries, boot laces and foot powder. Laces changed to abrasion-resistant polyester with a low-friction sheath because the new boots had fabric eyelets and speed hooks that cut older laces.

The North Ridge M06 all-climate combat boot used tan rough-out leather, breathable textile panels, composite shank, shock-absorbing midsole and an oil-resistant rubber outsole. The sole pattern had self-cleaning lugs, heel brake and rope-climbing instep. Hot-weather boots added drainage vents and anti-microbial linings. Cold-weather boots used removable vapour-barrier liners and insulated midsoles. The Army stopped polishing combat boots, but still inspected stitching, sole separation, lace wear and insole condition.

Vehicles responded to mines and roadside explosives. The Millstone M03 protected patrol vehicle used a V-shaped hull, blast seats, run-flat tyres, roof weapon station and electronic jammers. The M06 medium tactical truck had an armoured cab, anti-lock brakes, central tyre inflation, self-recovery winch and load-handling crane. Silver Bay produced three tyre families: highway rib tyres for rear areas, all-terrain block tyres for mixed routes and mine-resistant run-flat assemblies with bead locks and sacrificial outer shoulders.

Armoured formations fielded the Blackstone M04A2 main battle tank, upgraded from the M84 with modular armour, hunter-killer sights, digital radios and active protection trial kits. Mechanised infantry used the M08 infantry fighting vehicle, with improved mine protection, remote weapon station, thermal commander sight and digital troop compartment display. Artillery used the Ironvale M12 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, precision-guided shells and counter-battery radar. Uncrewed systems entered common service: the SkyNet Kestrel Scout micro-UAV, CoreTech ground sensor kit and Ironvale remote explosive-ordnance vehicle.

2020-present: Integrated soldier systems and resilient manoeuvre

The present Army issues equipment as connected families. The standard rifle is the Rook & Vale M22 adaptive rifle, a short-stroke piston weapon with adjustable gas system, suppressor interface, sealed optic rail, smart-round counter and ruggedised fire-control optic. The M22C carbine equips crews, medics and signallers. The M24 automatic rifle provides section fire from a heavier barrel and drum or box magazines. The Crown M25 medium machine gun remains belt-fed but uses a titanium receiver insert, polymer ammunition boxes and a suppressor sleeve to reduce signature. Snipers use the Rook & Vale M21 precision family, with interchangeable barrels and secure ballistic tablets from CoreTech.

The M23 field uniform uses flame-resistant, quick-drying cloth with insect treatment, reinforced stretch panels and low-profile closures. It is issued in temperate, arid, alpine and littoral patterns. The M22 combat helmet is a high-cut composite shell with modular rails, hearing protection mounts, night-vision bridge, counterweight pouch and optional face protection. The M24 body armour system uses scalable soft armour, ceramic-composite plates from MetalMind, cable routing channels, cooling spacer mesh and quick-release buckles that medics can open without cutting the carrier apart.

The present load system is the Integrated Soldier Carriage Set. It includes a plate carrier, mission belt, small assault pack, patrol pack, large sustainment rucksack, hydration bladder, insulated bottle, modular pouches, cable guides, solar trickle charger and battery organiser. Every rifle section carries encrypted CoreTech handsets, a squad tablet, laser rangefinder, thermal monocular, compact drone, breaching strip, trauma kit and water test strips. The Army still records mundane items carefully: socks are merino-synthetic blends with left-right shaping; underwear is flame-resistant; gloves come in contact, cold-weather and cut-resistant patterns; boot laces are issued in standard, cold-weather and quick-repair lengths.

The North Ridge M23 combat boot is a family rather than a single boot. The temperate boot has rough-out leather, abrasion-resistant textile, waterproof-breathable lining, composite toe cap, puncture-resistant midsole and a deep self-cleaning lug pattern made domestically by SynthoPolymers. The hot-weather boot removes the waterproof lining, adds mesh vents and uses an anti-microbial footbed. The cold-weather boot uses a double-layer construction with removable insulated liner, snow-shedding outsole and lace locks that can be operated with gloves. Laces are oval woven polyester-aramid with moulded polymer tips; the repair kit includes two spare laces, lace anchors, blister pads, foot powder, needle, thread and adhesive sole patches.

Current vehicles are designed for survivability, electronics and field repair. The Millstone M21 Joint Light Vehicle has a diesel-electric auxiliary power unit, independent suspension, central tyre inflation, blast seats, modular armour, remote weapon station and health-monitoring sensors. Tyres are Silver Bay 395-series run-flats with replaceable tread blocks for mud, rock or road. The Millstone M24 Common Tactical Truck is built in 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 versions, using common cabs, engines, wheels, brakes and electronics. Its tyres have embedded pressure and temperature sensors that feed the dashboard and convoy-control network.

The current armoured fleet is led by the Blackstone M22A1 main battle tank, with modular composite armour, active protection, panoramic sights, hybrid auxiliary power, encrypted vehicle network and Orion V12 diesel. The Blackstone M23 infantry fighting vehicle carries a full section under armour, uses a remote turret, active protection, anti-drone sensors and dismount charging ports. The M20 armoured multi-role vehicle provides ambulance, command, mortar carrier, engineer, air-defence and repair variants. Engineers use the Blackstone M18 breacher, M19 bridge layer, mine rollers, route-clearance drones and robotic excavators.

Artillery and air defence are treated as networked arms. The Ironvale M22 155 mm automated howitzer uses a crew-protected turret, autoloader, modular charges and digital fire missions from CoreTech fire-control servers. The Ironvale M24 rocket system fires guided rockets and theatre missiles from a wheeled launcher. Air defence units use the SecureWing Shieldpost short-range missile, CoreTech Sentinel radar, cannon-based counter-drone mounts and electronic defeat systems. Logistics units field containerised armouries, water purification plants, additive-manufacturing repair shops, mobile battery-charging trailers and autonomous pallet movers.

Present-Day Equipment by Soldier and Unit

Individual soldier scale

A front-line rifle soldier is normally issued an M22 rifle, seven loaded magazines, optical sight, sling, suppressor when authorised, bayonet or field knife, M23 uniform, M22 helmet, M24 body armour, hearing protection, ballistic eyewear, gloves, knee protection, boots, spare laces, two pairs of socks, waterproof notebook, identity tags, individual first-aid kit, tourniquets, water system, rations, entrenching tool, poncho, sleeping layer, cold-weather layer when required, weapon cleaning kit, battery pack, hand torch, camouflage cream, insect repellent, hygiene roll, boot-care kit and personal data card.

The small objects are deliberately standardised. The boot brush is stiff on one side and soft on the other. The sewing kit contains pre-cut thread in uniform colours. The field towel is quick-drying and marked with a woven ownership panel. The eating set nests a metal cup, polymer bowl, spoon, fuel tab holder and folding stove. The issued laces are long enough to double-knot after passing through all hooks; short-lacing boots is treated as a preventable injury risk during basic training.

Rifle section and platoon equipment

A rifle section adds an automatic rifle, under-barrel grenade launchers, disposable anti-armour weapons, smoke, fragmentation and stun grenades, thermal imager, laser rangefinder, micro-UAV, encrypted radio, breaching tools and a compact casualty extraction sheet. A platoon adds medium machine guns, mortars or loitering munitions depending on role, electronic warfare detector, combat medic pack, platoon drone kit, demolition stores, extra batteries and a CoreTech battle-management tablet.

Company and battalion equipment

A rifle company carries protected trucks or infantry fighting vehicles, command posts, mortar carriers, anti-armour teams, medics, mechanics, armourers, cooks, water trailers and battery-charging equipment. Battalion stores include mobile workshops, recovery vehicles, fuel tankers, ammunition trucks, field kitchens, containerised armouries, refrigerated medical stores, spare tyres, track blocks, road wheels, oils, lubricants, radio masts, generators, tents, showers, laundry units and waste-management trailers.

Armoured and mechanised unit equipment

A tank squadron requires more than tanks. Its daily equipment includes fuel bowsers, ammunition loaders, armoured recovery vehicles, bridge classification signs, track-pin presses, engine packs, thermal-sight calibration boards, bore-sighting gear, camouflage nets, decoy emitters, welding sets, hydraulic jacks, road-wheel racks, spare track, tow bars and vehicle washdown kits. The same logic applies to mechanised infantry, which must maintain vehicle weapons, dismount weapons, radios, optics, troop-compartment chargers, ramps, hatches, tyres, tracks and electronic self-protection systems.

Logistics, medical and service equipment

The Army's service units use palletised stores, refrigerated ration containers, water purification trailers, fuel bladders, folding pipelines, expeditionary bakeries, field laundries, shower tents, deployable dental rooms, surgical shelters, oxygen concentrators, blood refrigerators and mortuary affairs kits. Field kitchens from Ironvale use diesel burners, insulated food containers, folding preparation tables and washable floor mats. The standard ration range includes hot-box meals, patrol rations, cold-weather high-calorie packs, halal and vegetarian packs, medical liquid diets and emergency survival bars.