Newjarheaddean
Banned
AHOY, here is some information to consider,
Canadian Army used small unit support vehicles (SUSV) (quad runners) to move over the terrain at high-altitude, allowing the infantry to ride or transport their loads into battle. These vehicles afforded some small arms protection.Trucks are important to logistics support and gasoline-powered trucks are preferred over diesel. With altitude the amount of oxygen available is reduced and the engine efficiency drops off i.e. climbing capability decline as fuel usage soars. Diesel engines may need to be fitted with turbochargers and gasoline engines may need their carburetors adjusted. In the mountains on average, vehicles lose 20 to 25 % of their rated carrying capability and use up to 75 % more fuel. Generators and vehicles are often diesel-powered, but standard diesel engines lose efficiency at 10 k ft & eventually stop functioning altogether due to insufficient oxygen.
Trucks, helicopters, snowmobiles (capable of climbing 40 degree slopes) and mules are key to mountain logistics, but above 13,000 feet, the logistics effort shifts to the backs of mules and porters. Traditional pack animals, including elephants, camels, the yak, reindeer, goats, water buffalo, llama, Alpacas and mules used to pack loads on the back, pull wagons, and or some could be ridden. Mules had more stamina and were more sure-footed than horses and were resistant to disease. Oxen could be slaughtered and eaten when meat was low and wild game impossible to find or tactical situation prevented hunting (horse meat is eatable but tuff). George Washington; "Horses eat too much, work too little, and die too young." Mules are 12 to 17.5 hands (50 to 70 in high and weigh 600 to 1,500 lbs. The average donkey stands about 40 in. high at the shoulders, but breeds range from 24 to 66 in. Mule’s travel at 2½ mph. Oxen are slower, at 2 m.p.h. The ½ mile faster speed could save a week or more over long distances. Oxen could graze along the trail, but mules had to be fed grain to supplement the grazing. American mules require 10 lbs of grain and 14 pounds of hay per day, which also becomes part of the logistics load therefore, less paying/combat freight could be hauled.. The smaller mules of Argentina require 8 lbs of grain and 8 lbs of hay per day. Mules could go 24 hrs without water when they had a light load i.e. under 300 lbs. Mules can consume 25 to 30 liters of water a day and up to 50 liters in desert terrain. They also require a daily ounce of salt.The standard army mule load was about 150 lbs. American mules can carry up to 20 % of their body weight (150-300 pounds) for 15 to 20 miles per day in mountains. Smaller mules in other locales will carry less. The maximum carrying weight for an Argentine mule is between 200 and 250 lbs. However, this is for low- and medium-altitudes. At high altitude, the maximum carrying weight drops below 200 lbs.
Organized mule cargo units, rather than ad hoc teams led by local teamsters, are the preferred option, but local mules are always preferred over deployed mules. Equipage is a horse drawn carriage usually with its attendant servants. Like humans, mules require time to acclimate to altitude. Muleteers and mules require about a month's training to get them ready to work above 3,000 meters. Like humans, mules tire easily above 4,000 meters and need to be rested frequently. Mules also have to be trained not to fear the noise of firearms and explosives so that they do not run off during a patrol. Mules are subject to colic, heat exhaustion, injuries, and wounds. Most injuries and wounds result from poorly adjusted saddles, pack frames and harnesses. Stones, rocks, and debris on the trail can also wound a mule's hoof. Local mules are more immune to disease at altitude than humans and all mules have a keen sense of self-preservation that keeps them alive in mountain storms. Mules require a great deal of daily care and training. Muleteers, farriers, blacksmiths, and large animal veterinarians, who have been absent from many armies for decades, are essential for mule-borne logistics. Mules need new shoes every 30 days and there are special mule shoes for snow and ice.
Porters; short, wiry soldiers are preferred to tall, muscular soldiers. Selected soldiers should have above-average intelligence to allow them to more-readily adapt to the trying terrain. Although a porter cannot carry as much as a mule, they can move in places where mules cannot. Even mules cannot reach the higher elevations, and porters must haul the supplies forward. However, porters will probably be reluctant to work too far away from their homes and villages. There is always a security consideration when using local porters.
G-day!
Canadian Army used small unit support vehicles (SUSV) (quad runners) to move over the terrain at high-altitude, allowing the infantry to ride or transport their loads into battle. These vehicles afforded some small arms protection.Trucks are important to logistics support and gasoline-powered trucks are preferred over diesel. With altitude the amount of oxygen available is reduced and the engine efficiency drops off i.e. climbing capability decline as fuel usage soars. Diesel engines may need to be fitted with turbochargers and gasoline engines may need their carburetors adjusted. In the mountains on average, vehicles lose 20 to 25 % of their rated carrying capability and use up to 75 % more fuel. Generators and vehicles are often diesel-powered, but standard diesel engines lose efficiency at 10 k ft & eventually stop functioning altogether due to insufficient oxygen.
Trucks, helicopters, snowmobiles (capable of climbing 40 degree slopes) and mules are key to mountain logistics, but above 13,000 feet, the logistics effort shifts to the backs of mules and porters. Traditional pack animals, including elephants, camels, the yak, reindeer, goats, water buffalo, llama, Alpacas and mules used to pack loads on the back, pull wagons, and or some could be ridden. Mules had more stamina and were more sure-footed than horses and were resistant to disease. Oxen could be slaughtered and eaten when meat was low and wild game impossible to find or tactical situation prevented hunting (horse meat is eatable but tuff). George Washington; "Horses eat too much, work too little, and die too young." Mules are 12 to 17.5 hands (50 to 70 in high and weigh 600 to 1,500 lbs. The average donkey stands about 40 in. high at the shoulders, but breeds range from 24 to 66 in. Mule’s travel at 2½ mph. Oxen are slower, at 2 m.p.h. The ½ mile faster speed could save a week or more over long distances. Oxen could graze along the trail, but mules had to be fed grain to supplement the grazing. American mules require 10 lbs of grain and 14 pounds of hay per day, which also becomes part of the logistics load therefore, less paying/combat freight could be hauled.. The smaller mules of Argentina require 8 lbs of grain and 8 lbs of hay per day. Mules could go 24 hrs without water when they had a light load i.e. under 300 lbs. Mules can consume 25 to 30 liters of water a day and up to 50 liters in desert terrain. They also require a daily ounce of salt.The standard army mule load was about 150 lbs. American mules can carry up to 20 % of their body weight (150-300 pounds) for 15 to 20 miles per day in mountains. Smaller mules in other locales will carry less. The maximum carrying weight for an Argentine mule is between 200 and 250 lbs. However, this is for low- and medium-altitudes. At high altitude, the maximum carrying weight drops below 200 lbs.
Organized mule cargo units, rather than ad hoc teams led by local teamsters, are the preferred option, but local mules are always preferred over deployed mules. Equipage is a horse drawn carriage usually with its attendant servants. Like humans, mules require time to acclimate to altitude. Muleteers and mules require about a month's training to get them ready to work above 3,000 meters. Like humans, mules tire easily above 4,000 meters and need to be rested frequently. Mules also have to be trained not to fear the noise of firearms and explosives so that they do not run off during a patrol. Mules are subject to colic, heat exhaustion, injuries, and wounds. Most injuries and wounds result from poorly adjusted saddles, pack frames and harnesses. Stones, rocks, and debris on the trail can also wound a mule's hoof. Local mules are more immune to disease at altitude than humans and all mules have a keen sense of self-preservation that keeps them alive in mountain storms. Mules require a great deal of daily care and training. Muleteers, farriers, blacksmiths, and large animal veterinarians, who have been absent from many armies for decades, are essential for mule-borne logistics. Mules need new shoes every 30 days and there are special mule shoes for snow and ice.
Porters; short, wiry soldiers are preferred to tall, muscular soldiers. Selected soldiers should have above-average intelligence to allow them to more-readily adapt to the trying terrain. Although a porter cannot carry as much as a mule, they can move in places where mules cannot. Even mules cannot reach the higher elevations, and porters must haul the supplies forward. However, porters will probably be reluctant to work too far away from their homes and villages. There is always a security consideration when using local porters.
G-day!