| Dave,
I didn't have the foggiest notion of what you were talking about.
I'm sure others on this side of the pond didn't either. I happened
to take a second look at a mail order catalogue last week. Its a
company called 'Brigade Quartermaster'. I was looking at an item
that 'I thought' made a lot of sense and it suddenly dawned on
me that it was called a 'Bivy' bag. They state that they import
them from the manufacturer in England. Apparently, your Special
Services units are the only user. For my fellow countrymen, this
is a combination sleeping bag and shelter that is made of light-
weight material. It has supports to hold up the shelter at the
head and foot end. It can be rolled up into a small package and
the total weight of the combination is less than the weight of
our sleeping bag, not figuring in the standard shelter half with
rope, poles and stakes. It looks to me like an extremely sensible
set-up and that is probably why the USArmy doesn't have them. I
would probably consider buying one for myself, but they seem expensive.
As for your last question Dave. If your ambushed in your sleeping
bag, you'd better hope that you can crawl to cover while returning
fire from your own weapon. If you beat back the ambush, you'll
have lots of time to collect your kit. If you don't beat back the
ambush, what difference does it make?
|
| It never occurred to me that Bivvi bags were not know over there,
sorry about that.
You've describe one type of bag. There is another type that does
not have the supports etc. Also, the zips can be horizontal( around
about "head" height) or vertical. The bags are large enough to contain
a man plus equipment comfortably. As you said they are very light,
waterproof and warm. The best ones are made of Gore-Tex.
There is another type of bag that has an entrance decsribed as a
"Cobra mouth".
/\
|--GORE-TEX MATERIAL >/ \ <mosquito netting
V / \
________________________________/ \ SIDE-ON PICTURE
| person plus equiment sleeps here \ OF THE "COBRA"
|________________________________________\
-----------------------------------------------
GROUND
An ex-sailor suggested that in the event of any interruption whilst
sleeping you grab hold of the weapon, throw the bag(plus contents)
over your shoulder and run.
Over here the Gore-tex bags cost between 85 and 130 pounds as far
as I know. The non-Goretex bags are cheaper, but then condensation
becomes a problem I'm told.
Anyway, I'm going to save my pennies and hopefully buy one later
this year.
Thanks,
Dave
|