United
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2012
- Messages
- 2,008
- Reaction score
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- Location
The Rapid Equipping Force (REF) on Bagram Airfield, harnesses current and emerging technologies to provide immediate solutions to the urgent challenges of US Army forces deployed in Afghanistan. The REF designed the prototype for the 500 Round Ammunition Pack System or "IRONMAN"
Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center initiated an Immediate-Action prototyping effort in support of Soldiers in Operation Enduring Freedom. The result is the High-Capacity Ammunition Carriage System which enables a machine gunner to carry and fire up to 500 rounds of linked ammunition from a rucksack-like carrier.
After Staff Sgt. Vincent Winkowski and fellow members of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment of the Iowa National Guard originally rigged their own prototype design, it took NSRDEC a mere 48 days to build and send their working High Capacity Ammunition Carrying System prototype back to the unit in Afghanistan for further field assessment.
The Research, Development, and Engineering Command Science and Technology Assistance Team (STAT), located in the field, which included Lt. Col. Scot Greig Sgt. 1st class and Clayton Vanlangendonck, who identified this capability being used in theatre and sent the Request for Information to NSRDEC's Quick Reaction Cell on March 31.
The initial concept was field-crafted in OEF by a Soldier who used obsolete load carriage frames and harnesses, spare parts, and readily available dunnage held together by bungee cords and nylon zip ties.
