I stopped by the NDIA SOLIC symposium in DC this week to hear a couple of the panels and ran into the guys from Catoma.
It’s a zippered Pouch with removable molded polymer insert which will accept a 300 round belt of 7.62mm.
The Pouch is part of their Switchblade Heavy Weapon’s Carriage System, currently under evaluation with the 82nd. Although the Switchblade MOLLE Panel will accept three of these pouches, It’s recommended to only use two due to ammunition weight.
The Pouch can also be used on its own to organize belts and features two D rings for use with a sling.
That flap on the right of the photo allows the gunner to fold the first few rounds of the belt over and hold them in place at the ready, so it’s quicker to get the belt into the gun.
“I’m the 82nd Airborne, and this is as far as the bastards are going!”
Curious on the weight of this loaded with a 300 rnd belt. Anyone?
7.62×51 = 24g per cartridge
Machine Gun Link = 4g
28g x 300 = 8.4kg / 18.48lbs in belted 7.62
Then theres the Catoma pouch weight, which I don’t know. For simplicity, say 1.5lbs, so 20lbs loaded with 300rds as a safe estimate.
interesting to see this design- quite a change from most ammo carriage solutions I’ve seen for MGs
Hey lighter and more convenient than three ammo cans shoved into the bottom of your ruck. And that is only one of these pouches. But honest question. When happens when you turn it vertical do all the rounds crinkle to the bottom of this pouch,thus forcing you you find the seating end?
I would imagine as long as it is full, that wouldn’t be an issue, but with a partially expended pouch, I could see this being an issue. Curious to hear from the guys who’re playing with em right now.
There’s no evaluation going on, 2-505, 1-325, 1/75 and 3/75 are the CSM/1SG/Wpn SLs and multiple LFX created the Switchblade system. One of the only things outside of a CDD made actually by the input and corrections made by Soldiers. Started out as a one man carry it all for Regt, morphed into 60mm/81mm, Carl G, modular system it is today from all the other units. There’s an entire 25th BCT already procured them, 1-502nd has them, 2-503rd has them, and so on and so forth. It’s like a VTAC sling, doesn’t need testing, the hooahs who made it already did that. Units just need to get smart on using a MIPR in getting the equipment they need. Those who use MIPRs are truly stewards of the profession. Everyone else are risk averse as hell. No, there isn’t an NSN, you wouldn’t know the half how long that’ll take. Use a MIPR and get what you need.