Overview
The slosh of water in a canteen, the rustle of a uniform, the jangle of extra clips of ammo, all the clinks and clanks of jostling packs of equipment—this is the soundtrack that accompanies fully loaded soldiers humping through the bush to their next assignment. Battle rattle is the stuff a soldier carries to get through the day, from mission-specific gear to general supplies. In short, what the soldiers on the ground affectionately call “our crap.”
This book takes a close look at the commercial revolution in military clothing, packs, and equipment—soldiers buying from civilian companies instead of settling for government issue, customizing their gear to perfectly fit their needs and preferences. From boots and gloves to helmets and eyewear, from ponchos and packs to knives and rifles, Battle Rattle shows what the modern warfighter is using to fight the fight.
Synopsis
With close-up photos and hands-on descriptions, Hans Halberstadt details the weapons, gear, and other supplies currently used by the men and women of the U.S. armed forces. Includes a foreword by Eric Graves and an afterword by Stephen Hilliard, both former soldiers who have since put their military experience to use in the gear industry, developing better battle rattle for those with their boots on the ground.
Editorials
From the Publisher
New Gun Week, March 2007"This 128-page hardbound volume details the equipment, not all of it issued, the US warfighter carries into combat...This tome is lavishly illustrated with color photographs. The photos are sharp and detailed, with excellent captions, and feature both gear and combatants wearing or using the gear...Anyone interested in learning more abou 'the stuff a soldier carries' should read this book. It provides a look behind the scenes at the preparations which never make the news."
IPMS Journal
"This hardcover volume offers a snapshot of American infantry uniforms and equipment of the Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom era. Modern figure modelers will find this book a neat addition to their reference libraries. Items of interest include the crisp, clear images of new uniform patterns, new weapons and gear, including some sourced from the civilian adventure market. Figure modelers who are benefiting from the release of several new OIF/OEF figures on the market from manufacturers and figure sculptors themselves will find this book to be a welcome reference, as will modern armor guys adding crew gear to their bustle racks. Although thousands of pictures are available from the Internet, nothing can beat big, clear photographs from a book. The text, while informative, does not mire the reader in what can be dry information ... I highly recommend this book to figure modelers and anyone with an interest in military uniforms and equipment."
Tactical Weapons, September 2007
“This is one of the first books I’ve read where the writer fully understands just how much weight a real infantryman carries … This is a great book that should be mandatory reading for anyone getting ready to deploy for the first time to a combat zone.”