Survival kits, just for interest.

[Retired Member southey]

Howdy chaps!

I got some new toys and just thought you might like to see what items are included in both our UK and the US forces kits( well one from each any how) the US kit is in two parts SURVIVAL and medical,

SURVIVAL first

Us survival module

CamoVat(digi cam cravat to use as head scarf, sling, immobilise limbs, its water proof to keep a wound or head dry)

Leatherman squirt p4,

handcuff pick key,

Heliograph,

brown plastic bag to keep kit in,

Two finger lights, one bright red other IR with Velcro squares to stick them to things for what ever reason,

Acme whistle

two light in the rain tinder blocks( in the little grey packets)

Aquamira chlorine water steri tabs( one tab per litre)

two safety pins,

a spark stick like the flint and wheel from a clipper lighter but tougher,

Sunto button compass

lifeboat matches

Water proof match tube with ferro rod in the base,



Then Medical

The US medical module

one pouch QuickClot granuals

alcohol wipes

sticking plasters

compression bandage

two antibacterial ointments for small cuts\wounds\blisters\broken skin,

one rehydrate powder(Orange Nom Nom NOm!)

four safety pins

sunscreen wipe

bug repellent wipe

digicam tape to cover the bandage,

one cylume to mark your location,

poly bag to store it all in,

then the UK No4 supplied by BCB

The instruction sheet is flammable and burn slower than paper

the UK kit consist of three sets of items, two in vac packed foil bags, one in a vac pac poly bag,

Vac pack poly bag,

one foil blanket, green one side silver on the other,

Foil bag one,

Fire lighting kit,

small tin, can be used to boil water in, though for any decent amount you would have it on a constant rota of fil,boil,drink,fil,boil,drink, lid is polished can use as heliograph,

three esbit blocks, scrape off powder for fire lighting,

ferrocium rod and hack saw blade scraper,

two tampons, these provide lots of cotton wool when fluffed up,

cotton wool ball,

two unlubed condoms, these are for water collection and storage, they hold upto a litre any more and they will be to fragile to be usefull, put in a sock to protect,

approx twenty chlorine puritabs, filter water through clothing then treat with puritabs

tape securing lid, use as plaster or tinder,

three needles


Foil bag two

large poly bag, sleeping bag or cut open to use as shelter sheet,

four stocking clips to use with cut open sheet as guy lines points

twenty meters of 2mm paracord, inner can be used to repair kit using the needles,

Silva mini compass

brass wire, for snares,

wire saw,

tea light candle,

instruction sheet, it burns good and hot,

razor blade,

fishing kit, two course hooks one re tied fly, use para cord inner for line,

Two elastic bands, uses various

Also got a finger light it is filtered to provide light visible to the naked eye and NVG without flashing the NVG out, has Dim, Bright and lock OFF functions, runs on three button batteries

Just thought you might like to see the kits, Any questions please ask!

Cheers!

 

[Man of Tanith]

nice one southey
any chance of listing individual items in both? just to compare what US and UK consider important

 

[Retired Member southey]

No probs,

Us survival module

CamoVat(digi cam cravat to use as head scarf, sling, immobilise limbs, its water proof to keep a wound or head dry)

Leatherman squirt p4,

handcuff pick key,

Heliograph,

brown plastic bag to keep kit in,

Two finger lights, one bright red other IR with Velcro squares to stick them to things for what ever reason,

Acme whistle

two light in the rain tinder blocks( in the little grey packets)

Aquamira chlorine water steri tabs( one tab per litre)

two safety pins,

a spark stick like the flint and wheel from a clipper lighter but tougher,

Sunto button compass

lifeboat matches

Water proof match tube with ferro rod in the base,


Will do the med kit next,

 

[ateallthepies]

Thanks for showing the kits.

If these are military based survival kits then to be brutally honest I think they are pretty poor. I admit that these views are from a civilian perspective and from someone who has pretty rigid views on what makes a good kit.

Are they supposed to supplement other kit you will have on your person or are they a 'ditch kit' designed for when you have nothing but the survival kit?

Sorry to be negative,

Steve.

 

[Retired Member southey]

They supplement your kit AND your training, civilian kits tend to be too heavy, too complicated and too depended upon, the UK kit is as good as it needs to be, you have fire, shelter and a means to provide water, even the means by which to try and catch food! what else do you need even if you don't have any other kit? the only addition I would make to the US one is some kind of shelter sheet be it a poly bag like the Brit one

 

[ateallthepies]

You said 'what else do you need...'

In reply, I would like a pocket locating beacon and hope all the time and money invested in my training would merit a helicopter rescue quick sharp

I think I may have watched 'Behind enemy lines' once too often

Steve.

 

[Stew]

Leatherman? I'm impressed by that on it's own!!

 

[Retired Member southey]

The US medical module

one pouch QuickClot granuals

alcohol wipes

sticking plasters

compression bandage

two antibacterial ointments for small cuts\wounds\blisters\broken skin,

one rehydrate powder(Orange Nom Nom NOm!)

four safety pins

sunscreen wipe

bug repellent wipe

digicam tape to cover the bandage,

one cylume to mark your location,

poly bag to store it all in,

 

[Retired Member southey]

the UK kit consist of three sets of items, two in vac packed foil bags, one in a vac pac poly bag,

Vac pack poly bag,

one foil blanket, green one side silver on the other,

Foil bag one,

Fire lighting kit,

small tin, can be used to boil water in, though for any decent amount you would have it on a constant rota of fil,boil,drink,fil,boil,drink, lid is polished can use as heliograph,

three esbit blocks, scrape off powder for fire lighting,

ferrocium rod and hack saw blade scraper,

two tampons, these provide lots of cotton wool when fluffed up,

cotton wool ball,

two unlubed condoms, these are for water collection and storage, they hold upto a litre any more and they will be to fragile to be usefull, put in a sock to protect,

approx twenty chlorine puritabs, filter water through clothing then treat with puritabs

tape securing lid, use as plaster or tinder,

three needles


Foil bag two

large poly bag, sleeping bag or cut open to use as shelter sheet,

four stocking clips to use with cut open sheet as guy lines points

twenty meters of 2mm paracord, inner can be used to repair kit using the needles,

Silva mini compass

brass wire, for snares,

wire saw,

tea light candle,

instruction sheet, it burns good and hot,

razor blade,

fishing kit, two course hooks one re tied fly, use para cord inner for line,

Two elastic bands, uses various

 

[Shewie]

Loo review ? .

 

[Retired Member southey]

Loo review ? .

definatly! if i can wrestle the leather man and torches back off Wifely!

 

[Limaed]

Your pretty much on the mark there Steve, I think the Brit kit Southey has put up is a fast jet one where the Aircrew have minimum space. A PLB along with a pistol is also carried on the person. Over the years there has been a shift from long term survival to anticipated quick recovery, although I've seen some Aircrew Survival Packs for Herc's etc that are pretty comprehensive covering both short and long term survival options.

 

[Retired Member southey]

yup your right Liamead, both kits are Aircrew kits, its interesting to see the differences in them, there isnt anything in the American kit that would suggest a long stay, where as the brit kit is very much geared to being used over a longer period than most aircrew would be on the ground for, but which would you rather have if it was a choice between them? obviously you still have the rest of your lcj too,

 

[ateallthepies]

I would go for the US version as it has the FAK which would probably be handy if you just crashed your Tornado! If there was no FAK it would be the UK version as it has a shelter unlike the US one.

Steve.