Rucksacks and assault packs

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Why do regular infantry not use rucksacks like mountain troops?

[Hans1906]

The two german designations "Tornister" and "Sturmgepäck" will cover 90% of your question(s):

Tornister https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornister

The so-called "Rucksack" for the "Gebirgsjäger" units would be another question...


Hans

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The so-called "Rucksack" for the "Gebirgsjäger" units would be another question...

I am aware that the German Army had backpacks however period photographs show them to be rarely employed. Most typical are various items dangling from a harness.

The Rucksack of the Mountain troops come across as more practical. However I know that backpacks can bounce back and forth when one is running.

Not sure what was the experience of the German harness.

[Seppo Koivisto]

The German Army probably had enough horses and trucks to carry their gear most of the time. The Mountain troops probably had this luxury less often. It is not a good idea to carry a backpack in battle.

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The German Army probably had enough horses and trucks to carry their gear most of the time. The Mountain troops probably had this luxury less often. It is not a good idea to carry a backpack in battle.

I was thinking not only of personal items but also ammunition. Modern soldiers do carry backpacks of various kinds. I know that American troops equipped with M249 type weapons have additional ammo boxes in their backpack.

Since the German troops carried so many boxes of ammunition, it would seem like a backpack would help a lot.