The Phillips Pack Saddle - Part III, Pack Loads

Custom derived from handling the Aparejo, which is cinched over its middle, led to an equal distribution of the weight of pack loads from front to rear of the saddle. The effect of this method of cinching and distribution of weights on the animal was similar to cinching a riding saddle at its middle and having the rider sit down in the saddle, except that the pack load, being a dead load, caused greater injuries.

It has been conclusively proven that the pack saddle should be equipped with both front and rear cinchas and that loads should be 'so placed that a slight excess of weight is forward, thus simulating a rider's position in the saddle. It is not practicable, however, considering the manner in which pack loads will be handled in the field, to design hangers for all loads which will not be reversed and thus cause an excess of weight on the rear of the saddle. As an illustration, the Machine Gun Ammunition load is equally balanced on the saddle, but, were the hangers designed to tilt the load slightly forward and through inadvertence they were changed to opposite sides of the saddle, the excess weight would be on the rear of the saddle.

This objection to the ideal can be overcome to considerable extent by cinching principally with the front cinch and regulating the pressure of the rear cinch by the requirements of the load. A high top load would require a tighter rear cinch than a snug side load. Fast gaits require comparatively tighter cinchas.

The machine gun load, however, is of a different type, as the loads are always on the same side of the saddle and hangers for this load may be, and are designed, to tilt the weight slightly forward. This load has one other important characteristic in that the weight of the load is variable; with the tripod on the off side of fixed weight and the weight of the gun and box of ammunition on the near side, depending on the amount of water in the gun water jacket and the rounds of ammunition carrier. Right and left balance is a primary consideration in handling this load.

In designing hangers for side loads of unequal weight, place the heavy and bulky loads where they will ride best and endeavor to fit lighter and less bulky loads so as to obtain the desired balance. Where there is but a slight difference in the weight and bulk of side loads, the heavier of the two loads will balance slightly above the lighter load. But where a bulky side load extends outward considerably from a side of the saddle, although somewhat lighter than the opposite load₁this type will generally balance higher on the saddle.

Correct balance should be maintained at all times. Heavy contents of box loads should be placed in forward partitions of boxes. All loads should be close to the saddle and not extend downward much below the middle of the saddle, if practicable.

The arches of the saddle frame are designed to admit the attachment of top carriers. Arches for top carriers should clear the saddle arches and rest on the wings of these arches; they should be bolted through the depression in the saddle arches, using a metal washer or filler piece of a size to fit the depression, through which the bolt should pass. High top loads should be avoided, unless the load be arranged horizontally, The weight of loads should be placed slightly forward of center, whether the load is carried horizontally or vertically.

Hooks for hangers should fit loosely. The design of hooks should admit proper positioning of the load and, when fastened to the hanger, box, etc., the pressure on the hooks should be in a line approximately parallel to the front face of the hanger bars of the saddle. All hangers, boxes, etc., should be equipped with distance pieces or rests riveted to the lower part of the box or hanger. The height of these pieces should be sufficient to clear the load from hooks to distance pieces. The load should never rest on the "swell of the ribs," if practicable to avoid it, as the animal may be injured and the hanger bars pulled out of place.

Either the "Diamond" or other type of hitch may be used. The saddle is equipped with a hook in the center of each bottom bar, which renders the lash cinch unnecessary when the diamond hitch is used. The lash rope in this case has a loop or ring on the near end which is passed under the hook on the near side in starting the diamond hitch. When the lash rope is thrown over the load to the off packer, it is passed under the hook on that side. The rope passes around the foot-rests on the four corners of the saddle.

The gun animal carries the tripod on the off side and the gun and one box of ammunition on the near side. The spare parts roll is a top load attached to the gun hanger. The prescribed amount of water is carried in the gun water jacket. The canvas gun cover is on the gun for marches and in camp. For drill, or when battle is expected, the gun cover is removed. this cover was developed to protect the gun from dust and dirt; for carrying hot guns; to prevent enemy gas from entering the gun mechanism and to assist in preventing the freezing of water in the water jackets, in winter campaigns.

The tripod is packed with the trunnion block against the inner side of the stud on the forward part of the hanger. The tripod carriage and all legs are unclamped, with the carriage pressed down upon the legs. The best position of the legs is one with the trail leg under the others. The straps pass over the tripod legs and the carriage and are secured by quick release levers. All straps should be tight.

Three boxes of ammunition are carried in each ammunition hanger. When less than three boxes are carried, the boxes should be packed horizon-tally. The hooks on the ammunition hangers are made of round steel to admit one box of ammunition between the hooks as an emergency top load.

1. One machine rifle with cover; nine hundred rounds of ammunition in magazines, packed in three ammunition boxes; a spare parts case with contents; one rifle hanger and one ammunition hanger constitutes the load.

The rifle hanger is carried on the right side and the ammunition hanger on the left side of the saddle. The hangers "hook" over the hanger bars of the saddle and are held down by buckling the straps on the lower part of the hanger, to corresponding staples on the bottom bars of the saddle.

2. The rifle, one box of ammunition and the spare parts case are carried in the rifle hanger. The rifle is carried with barrel up, stock to the front and trigger guard against its stop in the hanger. It is held in the hanger by two adjustable straps, with bar loops, which operate with two quick release levers on the hanger. A piece of asbestos webbing is riveted to the strap which passes over the barrel of the rifle.

The straps pass over the rifle and are adjusted in length so that some pressure is required to clamp the levers. The quick release levers are pushed upward and the bar loops then placed over the levers; the levers are then clamped. To release the rifle, the levers are pushed upward. If the straps have been correctly adjusted the bar loops will spring upward and free of the levers, when the levers are pushed up.

The box is carried below the rifle, top of box upward and lid fastening device outward. The box is held in the hanger by a strap equipped with a quick release device.

Open the quick release device by grasping the winged bronze loop with the fingers of the left hand and slide the loop off the lever to the left and lift up the lever. Place the bronze square in the opposite strap over the lever to position below the bend of the lever; clamp the lever and slip the winged loop over the end of it.

Grasp both wings of the bronze loop with the left hand and slide the loop off the lever by a quick movement to the left. A box of ammunition may instantly be removed by grasping the box cover strap with the right hand and operating the winged loop with the left hand. To assure the most efficient operation of the quick release device the straps should be buckled fairly tight.

This is a leather box with two compartments, one of which is for spare parts, oil, etc., and the other is for four magazine fillers. The box is carried in the top space of the rifle hanger and is secured to the hanger by a strap with buckle fastening.

The ammunition boxes are divided into three compartments, each compartment holding 100 rounds in five magazines. The magazines are placed in the compartments with cartridge opening downward and magazines staggered

The machine rifle load is an equally balanced load. longitudinal balance is maintained by always keeping "weight" in the front compartments of the ammunition boxes and, if all ammunition is expended, by placing the saved magazines in the front compartments.

Transversal balance is maintained by shifting boxes or magazines when ammunition is expended. The load is designed so that balance may be maintained at all times.

Weights.	Lbs	Oz.
Off Side
1 Machine Rifle, complete	22	14
1 box of ammunition in magazines (800 rds)	29	6
1 M. R. Hanger, complete	12	8
1 M. R. Cover	1	4
Total weight of equipment	61	--
Near Side
2 Boxes of ammunition in magazines (600 rds.)	58	12
1 M. R. Ammunition hanger, complete	9	8
Total weight of equipment	68	4
Top
Spare parts box	12
Contents of spare parts box	2
Total	2	12
Total weight of load	138
1 Phillips Pack Saddle, Cavalry type, less cinchas, breeching and breast collar	50
1 Woven mohair pad	4
Total	54
Total weight on the weight bearing parts of the animal	192

The load consists of the generator and canvas hood, tripod, two cranks, four bipods, one top mast section and four intermediate mast sections.

The generator is carried in a horizontal position as a top load with the head or base of the generator to the front; it is the first item of the load packed. The generator is packed from the near side, a soldier on the off-side assisting in placing it in the carriage. The hood is placed on after the generator is in the carriage. Two straps secure the generator to the carriage.

The tripod is carried as a side load in the hanger on the off-side of the saddle, with head of tripod to the front and against the stud of the hanger, the points of the two locking pins toward the saddle; The legs are unclamped with the trail leg under the others. The tripod is secured by two leather straps which fasten to quick release levers.

The two cranks, bipods and mast sections are carried on the near side of the saddle. The cranks are first packed, the handles extending toward the rear through the slot on the lower part of the hanger and the connecting ends resting on the support attached to the upper brace bar of the hanger. The four bipods are packed in the lower rack with the leather "indicators" outside of the vertical supports. (These indicators, as well as the metal indicators on the mast sections, mark the correct position of the articles in the hanger to maintain balance.) The bipods are secured by two leather straps. The mast sections are carried in the upper rack with ferrules to the front and metal indicators outside of the two securing straps. The straps operate with quick release levers. In placing the mast sections in the hanger, the last section is "rolled" into place, which pushes one section up and slightly under the generator.

To unpack the load, a soldier (or the team) works on each side of the saddle, unpacking the mast, bipods, cranks and the tripod. After the generator securing straps are unfastened, a soldier on the off-side pushes upward on the generator and rolls it over to the soldier on the near side, who takes hold as it leans toward him. This method permits the generator to come out of its carriage in an easy manner.

The load consists of the set box and the battery box with their contents. The set box is carried on the off-side of the saddle, balanced against the battery box on the near side. The hooks on the boxes are placed over the hanger bars of the saddle and the boxes are held to the saddle by straps which fasten to staples on the bottom bar. To maintain balance the weight carried in the battery box should be maintained.

The load consists of two boxes containing the antenna system, spare parts, cords, mast cop, hammers, stakes, tools, et., and the tent equipment. The tent equipment, wrapped in a canvas manta, is carried as a top load and secured by one strap, which passes over it from rear to front and is buckled in front. Two tent poles and one tent pole extension piece are placed on each side of the tent, with ferrules to the front; they are secured by straps which operate with quick release levers. The tent poles are first placed on the saddle.

The box with the four antenna reels and the tool roll is packed on the off-side of the saddle. The other articles are carried in the box on the near side. The boxes hook on the saddle and are secured by straps to staples on the bottom bars. The contents of the boxes may be removed without removing the boxes from the saddle. Likewise the two boxes may be removed from the saddle without disturbing the tent equipment.