So what gets air-dropped?
So let's say there Is some semblance of a functioning government. The U.S., U.K., etc. have suffered terrible damage, but they Can start basic support/recovery operations.
The Proof of Concept Limits are:
No Ground Rescue (as of yet)
Air drops Are being conducted. The size limit of the object is whatever you can push out of the back of a C-130 in a Low cost, low-altitude aerial resupply: 200-700 lbs.
See article: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0PAI/is_2_40/ai_n27870260
Rule out High Altitude drops because GPS and good weather data are unlikely to be up and running mid-Zed-crisis. 43,000 lbs. of gear would be great... until it lands somewhere over the horizon.
Keep in mind that your camp should be large enough to merit an air drop-- at least 20-30 people (?).
If you're going to mention the obvious: food, water, weapons, ammo, meds be specific and/or creative. Add something to the discussion.
I've got one for example: Could the government drop Ultra-Lite kits, along with some instructions, such as a hand-held game demo (Gameboys drafted for the cause), video/dvd/illustrations? This may be a bit grandiose, considering the challenges of learning to fly. But if it worked, survivor camps could slowly link up, avoiding high-risk ground missions.
Even dropping kits for remote-control air planes with cameras would allow survivors a huge advantage of being able to see outside of their camp borders without having to risk life and limb. So, thoughts?
EDIT: Found a LCLA drop on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Latb2FFWVs
The most interesting stuff happens around the five minute mark. Tremendous accuracy!
You'll see in the credits: Special Thanks to Black Water Aviation?! How much did we outsource?
I'm checking to see what kind of plane that was... apparently a CASA 212
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CASA_C.212_Aviocar
I messed with Texas. |
I'd want a couple of strippers..mmmmmmmmm strippers *drool
On a less serious not, the plane with camera idea sounds sweet!! Id make some homemade bombs for it!!
Charged - The MC wannabee Ninja
Here are the parts that I liked the most out of that article:
"Can be airdropped from fixed-wing airplanes, helicopters, or unmanned aerial vehicles.
* Can deliver 350-pound loads of supplies from altitudes below 500 feet and can be clustered to increase weight capacity as needed.
* Can deliver loads within 75 meters of a predesignated DZ impact point, with no damage to supplies and in a condition that allows recovery by three Soldiers operating without MHE in less than 5 minutes per load."
Just, wow, that is an awesome idea. I think the main problem would be getting one's hands on military hardware. However, considering one "could" I think that the Ultralite kits would be nice. Considering my own survival bug out bag is only about 15 pounds and they can deliver 350 pounds...well, that's a lot of ultralite packs. How much does the average military machete weigh? I am sure that a bunch of those babies would do some great good. Heck, if the military for some reason was airdropping the equipment to us themselves, then I would ask for some firepower in the form of handguns and rifles (with plenty of ammo). More specifically, a nice set M14, M4, M16, and of course a couple of combat shotguns. Water, definitely water, and food in the form of MREs.
I especially liked the part about the material to be dropped carried in by Unmanned aerial vehicles. That would be epic. I mean, seriously, just one UAV that can drop all that equipment and then disappear back to base. No one gets hurt, everyone gets their stuff, and everyone is happier. I like the idea, although I do think it is a long shot, it's better than no shot at all.
"They drew first blood not me..." (Stallone in Rambo: First Blood)
Water... This is where things start to suck. According to Human Rights Watch, the bare minimum for daily water consumption is: 72 fluid oz (68 for drinking 4 for dental hygiene)
72 fluid oz = a little over 2 liters = 2.19 times two = About 4.5 pounds (including the tooth brushing)
For each survivor: a week of water rations = 31.5 pounds
With 20 survivors you are pretty much consuming the entire drop load in water every week! 630 lbs.
Bummer. Other than the obvious issue of perimeter security, the lack of potable water is what could wipe out most survivor camps.
The ad hoc air corps better drop a purifier, a sturdy pump and a long hose. Otherwise...
I messed with Texas.
First I would ask for people, doctors, soldiers, and engineers. Then it would be weapons building materials and tools. Next it would be farming equipment then generators (preferably one of the new style wind turbines). After I get the construction equipment I can work on building a perimeter and then creating an air strip so small planes could land.
Have a nice day!
I like knives.
I'm a cat! MEOW
I don't think the military could afford to air drop a doctor to you. It's possible with Ultralites and very small planes and about 100-200 feet of clear ground for a doctor to come visit. I remember landing on a beach in Alaska in a Super Cub. Surprisingly easy for these small planes (as long as they aren't at full payload).
But your second set of requests makes a lot of sense, especially tools. That's going to be the cause of a lot of sleepless nights for survivors: "If I only had that part/tool, then we could..."
If they're air-dropping construction equipment, I think that'd be over the 700 lb. limit. And your base would have to be of some critical importance in the eventual war to retake land from zed.
I messed with Texas.
Food rations, first and foremost.
Water filters/purifiers.
Replacement tools, for lost/broken/worn implements.
Gasoline would be nice, for running a generator or vehicle.
Whatever else is running low/lost. Hard to say without actually being in the situation.
Close to the coast, getting water isn't a big deal. Digging a well would be one of my first goals upon establishing a permanent base.
uhm..this ones tought
depending on the state of my camp i will ask for different things. If the camp is in bad shape i will ask for materials and tools to help fortify, and of course theres your obvious ammo,weapons, etc.
If my camp is fairly well fortified, i would ask for seeds, farm animals(chickens,cows,horse,oxen) I would also asdk for stihl equipment and several car and auto parts to convert our cars to ethanol running.
I would also ask for books,maunuals, any kind of information that could aid us
just your resident communist!!
Me? I would ask for water purification tablets some 240b machine guns (there allot easier to use then the 249 or the .50 and they don't jam after 300 rounds like a M4 or M16) and about 10'000 rounds of 7.62 link. If I haven't already gone over my limit then I would also request some Army communication (radio's and antenna's) gear as well as the instructions to operate and maintain it as well as a Blue Force Tracker with a manual on operation and maintenance and (is we don't have power) a diesel generator with as much fuel as the UAV can carry.
Side note: The Blue Force Tracker is something that shows a map of the surrounding area with little blue dots for friendly BFT's and red dot's for confirmed or suspected enemy strong points.
Will you hold me back? If need be I will leave you behind...
forgive me for thinking so but if i were to be a military commander. the last thing i would want to do would be to give weaponry and ammunition to a bunch of civilians that could be any one of or together: scared, desperate, angry towards the government, insane, or watched Postman a few times and got a power trip. I wouldn't want an Ironman moment and have my own rockets shot at me (analogy of course) so i strongly doubt that the survivors would really be in any situation to ask for anything, especially weaponry related equipment. We'd probably just get some essentials, stale/expired MREs from the Korean conflict, water, and other miscellaneous survival equipment, but to entertain your idea
food and water for the first drop, maybe some ammunition and weaponry if we beg nicely
then for the second drop a willys jeep (they're about 500 lb's [1/4 ton] and are 4 wheel drive) with a full tank of gas to get around.I'll disperse the other 280 or so pounds among food, water, ammunition; probably cold weather/hot weather clothing depending on our needs, shoes more than likely, socks definitely!!!!
Like the jeep idea. They're that light?
Clothing. F-n smart, Box and I'm not being sarcastic. Crucial to overall health and morale.
I messed with Texas.