PLCE
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Personal Load Carrying Equipment (PLCE)
PLCE is a system for carrying the equipment that a soldier needs in the field. It consists of a belt, yoke (shoulder harness) and a number of different types of pouches. Optionally integrated with the PLCE is a series of other load carrying equipment including rucksacks/bergens.
The purpose of PLCE is to hold everything a soldier needs to operate for 48 hours. This includes ammunition/weapon ancillaries, entrenching tool, bayonet/combat knife, food and water and a means to prepare it, Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) protection, and communications equipment. Soldiers will also often carry other items such as waterproof clothing and spare socks.
Configuration
The PLCE is designed to support three "orders" of usage:
- Assault Order.
- Combat Order.
- Marching Order.
Assault Order consists of the essentials ammunition, waterbottle, entrenching tool hand, helmet and NBC clothing (carried in one of the detachable side pouches of the rucksack) for operations and patrols of only short duration.
Combat Order takes Assault Order and adds means of stowage for rations and personal equipment to enable a soldier to live and fight for 24 hours. In addition to assault order, the second side pouch of the rucksack is carried. In practice the patrol pack is used by many units and individual soldiers instead of the side pouches as it is larger and more convenient.
Marching Order is Combat Order plus rucksack and contents. This is a load which will be required for an operation of up to two weeks’ duration without resupply except for ammunition, rations and water. The complete Bergen is carried.
External links
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