THE PHILLIPS PACK SADDLE – MODEL 1924

This is a direct transcription of a small pamphlet printed by the
Quartermaster Dept, circa 1924.  It is the most concise and descriptive reference on
the Phillips Pack Saddle I’ve seen yet, so I’ve included it in it’s entirety.  This
document courtesy of the Rock Island Arsenal Museum.


 INTRODUCTION

Tests of pack saddles for the purpose
of replacing the cumbersome and crude Aparejo in combat organizations were started in 1908
when the War Department equipped one squad of each Machine Gun Platoon with the English
Pack Saddle and one squad with the Aparejo. The tests covered a period of three years.
Neither type of saddle was satisfactory, but much valuable information was obtained as a
result of these tests. The end of these tests was the starting point in the development of
the Phillips Pack Saddle.

The need for a suitable pack saddle
was keenly felt when our troops entered Mexico in 1916 and again when the World War came
upon us.

With the great increase in the number
of modern weapons of war, machine gun and machine rifle units; radio, wire and other
signal packs; demolition and pioneer packs, kitchen and other troop packs, there developed
the need for a pack saddle which would enable pack animals to accompany cavalry at all
gaits as well as a saddle suitable for cargo at slower gaits. Pack transportation at
Cavalry gaits was recognized as a different and bigger problem than pack transportation at
the pack train gaits of amble and walk.

Further tests of pack equipment begin
in earnest in 1919 upon the return of our troops from France. The World War demonstrated
the need for equipment simple in design, that could be used by National Army troops with a
short period of training. Practically all standard types of foreign pack saddles and
American types were tested by boards of the several services.

The Phillips Pack Saddle, as designed
by Lt. Col. Albert E. Phillips of the Cavalry, won each of the service tests in which this
saddle was entered. The Infantry test was conducted by the Infantry School at Camp Benning
in 1920. The Mountain Artillery test was conducted by the Pack Artillery Board, 4th
Artillery, in 1922-23, and consisted of over five hundred miles of marching. Three
separate tests were conducted in the Cavalry by the 1st Cavalry Division, covering eleven
hundred and fifty miles of marching, in each of which the Phillips Saddle won first place.

As a final result of all tests, the
Phillips Pack Saddle was adopted for the Cavalry service on July 26, 1924.

DESCRIPTION OF THE
SADDLE–GENERAL

The Phillips ‘Pack Saddle Model 1924
represents the highest development of the pack saddle. Briefly, the saddle consists of two
pads and a frame, with specially designed accessories of breeching, breast strap and
cinchas.

The back or outside of the pads is of
selected tan leather, reinforced with spring steel ribs, arranged longitudinally to assist
in maintaining the shape of the pads while the contact side is covered with the highest
grade woven felt or calf-skin as desired. The pads are stuffed with long curled hair,
which retains its resiliency indefinitely. The pads are molded to form and are rights and
lefts; new pads may be requisitioned as required. There are three handholes on the outside
or back of each pad for adjustments. The pads are equipped for attachment to the frame.

The frame is scientifically designed
so as to be light in weight, and to withstand hard usage; to lend itself readily for nil
pack purposes, such as carriers for top loads and hangers for side loads and is free of
all projections. A small hook on each bottom bar eliminates a lash cinch when the diamond
or other hitch loads are packed. This hook is used with foot-rests on the corners of each
pad, the rope passing around the foot-rests. These foot-rests also keep the pads off the
ground when the saddle Is removed from the animal in camp.

The pads are attached to the frame by
staple fasteners at the top of pads and by aluminum pockets at the bottom of the pads.
Brass locking pins through the pockets lock the pads to the frame. The pads are easily and
quickly attached to, or detached from the frame without the use of tools.

The saddle is equipped with two mohair
cinchas and is cinched principally with the front one. With cinchas properly adjusted this
method allows the hind quarters to travel through their natural swinging motion. The
cinchas are equipped with a specially designed but simple device for rapid cinching and
quick release of cinchas without tying or untying of knots.

The breeching was developed with the
saddle and differs from all other types of breechings. It was designed to function at all
gaits and satisfactorily fulfills requirements.

The breast collar is useful for fast
gaits and up hill work.

There is considerable flexibility to
the saddle and it is suitable for either horses or mules. The pack animal has considerable
freedom of movement under the saddle and can gallop with agility.

Tests have demonstrated that the
saddle will not only save animals, but insure the loads being present when needed. The
average soldier may be taught to handle the saddle in a short period of time.

The Cavalry saddle
weighs 50 pounds. The Artillery-Cargo saddle weighs 58 pounds. 94.5 June 20, 1929
[hand written note/correction to
manual in bold]

One Phillips woven mohair pad is
issued with each saddle. This pad shapes itself instantly to the contour of the animal’s
back; is durable, soft, cool, and easily cleaned. It replaces the woolen blanket and the
canvas lined corona. This pad has met the enthusiastic approval of every one who has used
it. The pad will not of itself cause an injury.

SADDLING

 

To Saddle

Place the woven mohair pad, or the
Corona, if the latter is used, upon the animal’s back and smooth out all folds.

The saddle is best handled by two men,
one on each side, taking hold of the foot-rests and lifting it. The saddle is raised over
the croup and placed in rear of its proper position to enable the breeching to be dropped
in place. When the breeching has been placed upon the croup, the saddle is raised and
moved forward to position, similar to the position of the riding saddle, that is, with the
forward edge of pads about four (4) inches in rear of the animal’s shoulder blades.

When the saddle is in its proper place
upon the animal’s back, the bottom bars should be level or inclined slightly downward and
forward; never downward and rearward. The conformation of the animal may require a slight
shifting of the position of the saddle.

When the saddle is finally positioned,
hook the cinching devices to the cinch rings of the saddle. Cinch the front cinch, then
the rear cinch. The saddle is cinched principally with the front cinch. The rear cinch
should be only sufficiently tight to hold the particular load. Connect the breast collar
and straighten out the breeching.

After cinching be sure to see that the
saddle is, “centered” right and left; if it inclines to one side, place a
forearm on the proper bottom bar and, with the hand of the other arm on the hanger bar,
move the saddle to place.

Final adjustment of cinchas is made
after, the load is placed upon the saddle, as the weight of load bears down the saddle and
this naturally releases the cinch pressure.

To Operate
the Cinching Device-To Cinch

If necessary to lengthen the running
strap in order to hook the cinching device to the cinch ring, pull downward on the metal
square and loosen the running strap. With the cinching device hooked to the cinch ring,
take up the slack of the running strap in the same manner as when cinching the McClellan
saddle, and when tight, pull the free end of the running strap until the metal square is
snug against the buckle. This latter operation positively locks the straps. For neatness,
place the free end of the running strap through the square and fold the strap back upon
itself.

To Uncinch

If the end of the running strap has
been passed through the metal square, remove it. Release the running strap by pressing
downward upon the square, keeping the hand close to the animal’s belly; with one hand
under the lower bar of the cinching device, pull outward which releases the straps; lift
the hook off the cinch ring. New straps should be worked back and forth until they operate
smoothly.

Adjustment of
Cinchas

After the animal is on the road for a
few miles its belly draws up and the saddle, under weight of load, settles in place. These
two movements usually require a further adjustment of cinchas, generally at the first
halt.

At each halt, when practicable, the
cinchas should be loosened and afterwards tightened before resuming the march.

At every halt see that the cinchas are
properly adjusted before resuming the march. Never cinch with either front or rear cinch
any tighter than necessary. Always have the rear cinch looser than the front cinch. Always
see that the saddle is “centered” after cinching.

Although a saddle may be correctly
designed and placed in its proper position, faulty cinching may cause injuries. An
excessively tight rear cinch will invariably cause injuries. Adjustment of cinchas is a
simple operation with the cinching device.

To Test the
Cinching Device

The settling of the saddle and the
contraction of the animal’s belly cause a looseness of cinch pressure, without movement of
the cinch straps. After the saddle is cinched, draw a pencil line across the running strap
under the lower cross bar of the buckle, and if the position of this line moves, the cinch
straps have slipped. This cinching device was tested under all service conditions, with
straps both wet and oiled and always passed a satisfactory test. The device is especially
valuable for rapid adjustment of cinchas during halts. The straps should be kept clean and
lightly oiled.

To Unsaddle

Release one side of the breast collar
before releasing the cinchas, and throw the collar on the saddle. Release the cinchas by
operating the cinching device and throw them over the saddle from the off side. Move the
saddle slightly toward the rear to free the breeching. Raise the breeching up over the
animal’s croup and place it upon the saddle. With a trooper on each side the saddle
is lifted and removed over the croup. Remove the mohair pad, fold it once with the wet
side in and place it upon the saddle.

If coronas are used in place of mohair
pads, they should always be folded with the wet side in. If the wet canvas of the corona
is exposed to the sun in drying, the canvas dries hard and rough.

The Breeching

The breeching issued with the Model
1924 saddle carries a modification of the breeching formerly used. The lower or pulling
straps now incline slightly downward from breeching to saddle. This modification insures
the breeching remaining in place at all times and, if properly adjusted, prevents the
possibility of the breeching pulling the saddle downward over the kidneys.

To Adjust the
Breeching

Place the breeching upon the animal’s
croup so that the croup piece will find a comfortable resting place a few inches above the
dock. Attach the hold up straps (top straps attached to saddle) and the lower or
“holding” straps to the saddle. The lower straps are then adjusted to allow an
easy and free movement of the animal’s hind quarters in travel.

The top straps are adjusted to hold
the breeching up and in place; they do not hold the saddle in place. These straps should
be looser than the holding straps.

The breeching “lead up”
straps in rear are adjusted to hold the breeching body horizontal. The metal buckle covers
on these straps prevent the mule’s tail getting caught in the tongues of the buckles.

While the adjustment of the breeching
is very simple it should be care-fully made. A poorly adjusted breeching may cause a
saddle to ride out of place and perhaps cause a saddle injury. In no case should the
breeching be too tight.

The Breast
Collar.

The breast collar has been found
useful on animals of poor conformation and also when moving up steep hills or at the
gallop. It is adjusted for extension of the animal at the gallop, consequently it is
comparatively loose at the walk and trot.

Breaking in
the Saddle

The Phillips Saddles are designed to
fit all mules and horses that measure up to or approach the specifications prescribed for
pack animals, without adjustment of pads. For extremely large animals the pads may be
adjusted. There is a tendency in some organizations to use very broad horses for pack
purposes; this type of animal is not suitable for pack transportation.

In the handling of a pack saddle it is
very important to see that the saddle does not tilt towards the rear. Tilting toward the
rear may be caused by: faulty position of the saddle upon the animal’s back; excess weight
of load on rear of saddle; too tight rear cinch.

Detaching and
Attaching Saddle Pads

The Model 1924 saddle is equipped with
newly designed features for attaching and detaching saddle pads. The pads of this saddle
are equipped with open aluminum pockets at the bottom of the pads and bronze staple
fasteners at the top of the pads, in place of key fasteners as used on earlier models. No
tools are now required either for attaching or detaching pads.

To Detach the
Pads

Press downward upon each brass locking
pin in turn, and revolve it to the left until the lug on the pin springs through the
keyway in the aluminum pocket. Remove the pin. Take hold of a cinch ring with one hand,
and with the other hand near the outer edge of the pad, push the pad away from the frame.
Swing the pad to the middle of the arches of the frame and remove it by lifting it off the
staple hooks of the frame. (Note: The pad cannot be detached until it is swung to the
middle of the arches.)

To Attach the
Pads

Turn the saddle frame over on its
“back,” put the canvas saddle cover in place, leaving room in the four openings
of the cover for attaching the pads. Attach the staples of a pad to the staple hooks of
the frame by holding the pad near a line through the middle of the arches-away from the
bottom bars-and engaging the hooks, lifting upward to secure them. Hold the pad engaged
and bring it against the bottom bar. (Note: By holding the pad against the bottom bar the
pad cannot become detached.) Repeat for the opposite pad. Turn the saddle “right side
up” and smooth out the canvas cover. The cover may easily be smoothed out by swinging
the pads toward the center of the frame to release the pressure between pads and the
frame. Swing the pads back against the bottom bars and snap the bottom bars Into the
pockets of the pads by a gentle pressure of the foot. To complete the fit of bottom bar
and pocket, hold one hand against a foot-rest of the pad and press the pad outward with
the other hand. Insert the brass locking pins in the holes of the pockets and engage them
by pressing down the spring and turning the lug on the pin to the right one quarter turn
when it should snap Into place.

Injuries

The report of the six months’ test of
the Phillips Saddle by the 1st Cavalry Division states: “No tail sore, side sore or
bunch occurred on any animal during the entire period of the test.” Pack saddle
injuries are generally caused by excessive pressure or by friction. Injuries are sometimes
caused by defects of design of material and infrequently by improper gaits. A faulty
position of the saddle or cinchas too tight, especially a rear cinch, may cause an injury.
A very loosely cinched saddle will move about on tile animal and cause the pad to wrinkle
and by friction rub the skin. Excess weight on one part of the saddle for several hours
may injure the animal.

The withers may be compressed by too
much material between the articles, such as two blankets, etc. Hangers that do not
properly position or balance the load; a poorly slung load; lumps of hair in the pads or
rough canvas coronas may cause injuries.

Rapid gaits, such as the extended trot
or gallop, may injure the pack animal as well as the riding animal. The condition of both
riding and pack animals will be conserved by regulating gaits on the pack animals. An over
extension of gaits can quickly be detected by observing the pack animals.

Bunches

As a “bunch” may occur
through excessively tight cinching and as this type of injury generally requires removal
of hair, it will be discussed here. A “bunch” is a puffy swelling caused by
excessive pressure which interferes with the free circulation of the blood. When it occurs
it usually appears about twenty minutes after unsaddling and, unless promptly attended to,
it will become hard and finally break into an open sore. As a precautionary measure to
prevent bunches as well as to avoid the risk of scalded backs, all loads should be removed
from the saddles when the command arrives in camp, cinchas loosened, but saddles left on
for twenty or thirty minutes. This measure admits a gradual resumption of normal blood
circulation and drying of backs.

When a bunch appears it should
promptly be relieved by first working it down by a rotating movement of the palm of the
hand, being careful not to break the animal’s skin. After rubbing for about twenty minutes
apply a cold patch and leave it on over night if necessary. If the swelling disappears It
generally is not necessary to remove hair from the pad unless the swelling was caused by a
lump in the pad.

Prevention of
Injuries

Careful saddling and proper balance of
loads are the two most important means of preventing injuries. Loads riding out of balance
should be corrected immediately. Never allow a saddle to incline downward toward the rear.
Do not wait until the regular halts to correctly position a pack saddle, as an injury may
occur during an hour’s march that would take a week to heal. No organization Commander
would allow a soldier to lounge in his saddle during an hour’s marching.

Keep. the hair on the animal’s back
under the saddle clipped. Long hair curls and knots and these knots frequently are pulled
out leaving a sore. The animal’s back should be well groomed and free of sand before
saddling. The mohair pad should be clean and free of dirt.

Adjustment of
Saddle Pads.

The pads of the Phillips Saddle are
molded to shape, and hair should not be removed or added unless actually necessary. Hair
may be removed to relieve pressure or. to fit an animal of abnormal size or shape; or
added to build up a saddle for an animal that has lost flesh In campaign. In either case,
the correct shape of the pads should be renewed as the animal regains its normal
condition.

Before deciding to adjust the pads
determine whether or not the injury may be corrected by other means. An injury likely to
become serious generally requires removal of hair from the pad over the injured spot. A
minor bruise would ordinarily not require removal of hair; nor would removal of hair be
necessary for a swelling which has subsided, unless the swelling was caused by a lump of
hair in the pad. It is often possible to relieve pressure. of a pad by tightening a thong
instead of removing hair. When an animal has lost flesh in campaign it will generally be
necessary to add hair to build up or level up the saddle.

As all adjustments of pads are through
the hand-holes on the, outside, the original smooth contact surface may be retained. The
leather slips covering the hand-holes may easily be pulled out of place. Any suitable
material handy may be used to build up the pads if curled hair is not available, such as
hay, grass, pieces of sacks or even paper.,

The exact part of the pad requiring
adjustment for an injury may be determined by wetting or marking the injury and then
carefully saddling without the mohair pad to transpose the marking to the saddle pad. Or,
the saddle pads may be detached from the frame and held in place on the animal’s back,
where the adjuster may determine the fitting required.

To retain the original shape of the
pads as far as practicable when adjustments are made, only the actual number of thongs
necessary should be loosened at one time or in one part of the pads. When a thong is
untied do not remove it, but tie a loose knot near its ends so as to avoid the necessity
of using the awl to replace it. Thongs must be tied tight after adjustments are made.
Before attaching pads to the frame after adjustments, place them on the animal for
observation of fit. And also observe the fit of the saddle after the pads are attached to
the frame.

The awl is used for pulling thongs
through the pad. To use It: push the awl through the proper hole in the leather back of
the pad, insert the point of a thong through the eye and then pull the awl out, bringing
the thong with it. The iron stuffing tool is used for replacing hair. The hair should be
loosened before stuffing, and it should be firmly compressed into place, being careful not
to push the tool through the contact material of the pad. The hair hook is used for
pulling hair out of the pad. It is easy to remove only a small amount of hair with each
handling of the hair hook.

A saddle tool kit is issued with each
lot of ten saddles, or smaller number of saddles shipped to separate organizations. Each
tool kit contains:

1-Awl, for thongs.
1-Hair hook, for pulling hair.
1-Iron stuffing tool, for compressing hair into place.
24-Thongs.

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 load1
this 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.

Rope Loads

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 Machine Gun Load

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 strapsshould 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.

Packing the
Machine Rifle 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.

To Secure the Rifle
to the Hanger.

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 of
Ammunition.

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.

To Secure the Box of
Ammunition to the Hanger.

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.

To Release the Box
of Ammunition.

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.

Spare Parts Box.

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.

Ammunition Boxes and Magazines.

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

Balance and Maintenance of Balance.

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

Packing the
Signal Corps Modified Radio Loads-No. 127

The Radio Generator Load

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.

Chest Load

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.

Kit Load

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.