392: Chapter Three Hundred Ninety: Choice of Equipment 392: Chapter Three Hundred Ninety: Choice of Equipment Tommy’s primary weapon would certainly be a gun, but a rifle was also indispensable.
However, this time Tommy couldn’t just pick any rifle he liked; he had to choose one that was best suited for the operation.
Gao Yang shouted, “We’re going to engage in jungle warfare, so we must make some adjustments to our weapons.
Big Dog, you have experience, what adjustments do you think we should make?”
Glolov hesitated not a bit and said, “In jungle warfare, range is secondary, close-range firepower is more important.
I definitely need to switch my gun, trade the M60 for an M249.
Submachine guns and shotguns are best suited for jungle warfare.
We should have more people switch to submachine guns and shotguns.
As for Rabbit, I don’t think there’s any need for him to carry a large-caliber sniper rifle anymore.”
In the jungle, a 12.7 mm caliber Barrett was absolutely useless.
Cui Bo was well aware of this and nodded helplessly, “Alright, I’ll give up the sniper rifle and switch to an automatic rifle or a submachine gun.”
Li Jinfang said in a low voice, “We should also bring more hand grenades, a lot of them.
I haven’t undergone specific jungle warfare training, but the materials I’ve come across say that in jungle warfare, especially at night, hand grenades are more useful than any gun.
This was a lesson learned during the Vietnam self-defense counter-attacks.”
Glolov nodded and said, “That’s right, hand grenades, lots of hand grenades.
Shooting at night reveals your position, and at very close range, revealing your position means death.
Grenades don’t have that problem.
Given that we can’t be sure what kind of combat we’ll encounter, carrying plenty of hand grenades is a good choice.”
Frey raised his hand, “I won’t carry a rocket launcher.
I’ll use a submachine gun with hand grenades.
Submachine guns are lighter, and their ammo is much lighter, too.
I can save some weight to carry more grenades.”
Bruce also spoke in a low voice, “I’m not too great with a shotgun; I’ll use a submachine gun as well.”
Tommy said gravely, “I can use a shotgun, but I’m not very good with it.
If we want to strengthen close-quarter firepower, I’ll use a submachine gun as well.
The lighter submachine gun and ammo can allow me to carry two extra mortar shells.
I think I can take four high-explosive rounds.”
Cui Bo sighed helplessly, “Little Fly, Test Tube, and Worker Bee are carrying submachine guns, so I’ll use an assault rifle.
Toad and I, as the vanguard, will use rifles.”
Gao Yang pondered for a moment, then shook his head, “I’ll bring my sniper rifle and a shotgun to retain the ability to shoot at long distances.
Besides, each of us should carry a mortar shell for Worker Bee and bolster our hand grenades.
Rabbit, it’s time for you to use your specialty.”
Cui Bo looked puzzled, “I’m giving up my sniper rifle, what specialty can I still use?”
“You play the role of the beast of burden, Rabbit.
The heavy task of carrying weight will fall to you.
You’ll carry two mortar shells for Worker Bee, a few hand grenades for Little Fly, a couple of Claymores for me, and some machine gun ammo for Big Dog.
You know, our sustained firepower still depends on Big Dog.
Besides, if you have some space left, carry a laser rangefinder or something for me as well.
If there’s a chance for a long-range shot, it’ll be better for us to form a sniper duo,” Gao Yang proposed.
After giving Gao Yang a look of grievance, Cui Bo said helplessly, “Brother Yang, you’re using me as a pack mule again.
All right, if I’m to be the beast of burden, I’ll carry it for you all, but with so much gear, I can’t be the assault man anymore.”
Gao Yang was quite pleased, “No problem, I’m sure I won’t have much use for a rifle anyway.
My primary weapon this time will be the shotgun, and I’ll supplement the vanguard position partnering with Toad.”
Li Jinfang chuckled, “That settles it then.
I’ll carry a few extra rounds of hand grenades, and I don’t need to worry about anything else.”
Gao Yang waved his hand, “Alright, that settles our weapons.
Additionally, we need to change our clothes.
If we’re going into the rainforest, we must switch to camouflage gear.
Change into CP Company’s MARSOC Woodland Combat Uniform, replace the boots with jungle boots, and there’s also the anti-insect repellent.
Hmm, the combat vest and body armor will be troublesome.
This time we’ll have to use separate combat vests—ah, JPC can work.
As for the body armor, F**k, wearing it constantly will cook you alive.”
Glolov immediately said, “Lightweight, it must be lightweight.
I remember there’s a kind of lightweight body armor with a breathable mesh layer between it and the body.
If we can get that, we can use that type of armor.
Otherwise, there’s no real difference between lightweight and heavy body armor, both are stifling.”
Bruce exclaimed with a worried frown, “Can we just not wear body armor?
Lightweight armor is almost useless at close range, while the heavy kind is too heavy.
Whether it’s lightweight or heavy, wearing body armor is unbearably hot, and I’d rather go without.”
The choice of body armor was indeed a nuisance.
Combat in the rainforest was bound to be at close range, but lightweight body armor had limited effectiveness at such distances, and heavy body armor not only was very heavy, but wearing it all the time could indeed make one collapse.
After hesitating for a long while, Gao Yang finally sighed and said, “No, safety always comes first.
The level IV bulletproof vest must be brought along.
If it’s too much trouble, we could carry it without wearing it.
If we’re initiating an attack, we can put on the bulletproof vests temporarily.
If it’s an ambush, there might still be a chance to wear the vests.
In short, it’s better to carry a few extra kilograms than to go without the protection of a bulletproof vest.”
A level IV bulletproof vest typically comes with plates, and with those plates, the vest is not light—it weighs at least seven or eight kilograms.
However, this extra weight offers good protection for the torso.
It’s not an exaggeration to say it’s like having an extra life.
Gao Yang’s principle is to bring less offensive gear, such as grenade launchers and hand grenades, rather than to go without a bulletproof vest.
Once Gao Yang had made the decision that the bulletproof vests were necessary, there was no more discussion needed.
He turned to Uriyangko and asked, “Uri, do you have the stock we need?”
Uriyangko shrugged and said, “We’ve got guns in stock, whatever kind you need, I’m sure I can meet your requirements.
But as for clothing, boots, and bulletproof vests, I’m afraid I don’t have enough time to prepare them for you, so you’d better have your agent purchase them in the US.”
After pondering for a moment, Gao Yang said, “Alright, let Little Donnie buy them in the US and send them to Colombia.
It’s perfect for Morgan to help us with buying a set of electronic equipment for Tommy.
Besides Morgan, it’s really hard for others to acquire the same stuff we use.”
With an envious look on his face, Uriyangko said, “You’ve got a good friend.
Those devices aren’t easy to come by.
If it’s possible, could you ask your friend if I could procure some high-end goods from him?”
Gao Yang shook his head and replied, “I can’t promise you that, but I’ll ask him when I get the chance.
Now, concerning our assault rifles, we don’t need to replace them, but what about submachine guns, what do you guys want to use?”
Frey immediately said, “MP5, that’s what I’m most familiar with.”
Bruce also nodded and added, “Then I’ll take an MP5 too.
It’s a pretty good submachine gun, choosing this gun at least won’t be a mistake.”
After hesitating for a bit, Tommy said in a deep voice, “Alright, the MP5 will do.”
Gao Yang pointed at Tommy and asked, “What about your handgun?
What will you use?
You can choose whatever you want.”
Tommy hesitated again before saying awkwardly, “Sorry, sir, may I ask if my personal equipment is to be purchased by myself or by the Mercenary Group?
If it’s out of my own pocket, I’m afraid I can’t afford the items you mentioned.”
Tommy’s question stemmed from the fact that in most mercenary groups, aside from basic weapons and equipment provided by the group, all other personal gear is bought by the mercenaries themselves.
Of course, there are some groups that provide a full set of equipment, but the ownership of that equipment remains with the mercenary group or the military contractor, not the user.
The situation with Gao Yang and his team was somewhat unique.
As an exceedingly small Mercenary Group with very solid relations among its members, there was no chance that old members would leave, so they did not delineate the ownership of equipment as clearly as other groups.
Strictly speaking, the general equipment of the Satan Mercenary Corps and consumables like ammo and rocket launchers were purchased by the group’s communal funds.
However, personal weapons were bought out of their own pockets, such as Gao Yang’s Blade of Satan and Cui Bo’s sniper rifle.
The value of the equipment each member of the Satan Mercenary Corps carried amounted to at least one hundred thousand US dollars, but to Gao Yang and his team, the cost of purchasing equipment was negligible.
However, it was a different story for Tommy.
Even if the uniform and mortar were provided by the Satan Mercenaries, he needed to know whether to pay for his own electronic equipment and personal weapons or if they were provided by Satan.
Caught off guard for a moment, Gao Yang then smiled and said, “Oh, I forgot to tell you, your full set of gear will be provided by us.
You don’t have to worry about equipment.
Of course, if you decide to leave Satan or are expelled, you’ll have to return the equipment to us.”
Tommy smiled with relief and responded, “That’s good to hear.
I couldn’t afford the equipment you mentioned on my own.
I was just thinking, even just buying a submachine gun would be problematic.
If you weren’t providing the full set of equipment, I wouldn’t have planned on carrying a handgun.”
Gao Yang chuckled, patted Tommy on the shoulder, and said, “You’re overthinking it.
We’re different from other teams.
Now that you’ve joined us, you’re one of us.
If you have any difficulties, just bring them up.
I think once you get to know us, you’ll understand what kind of people we are and you’ll become familiar with Satan’s way of doing things.”
Tommy said, “Okay, I need a handgun, 9mm caliber, the model doesn’t matter, but I need a left-handed one.
I’m a southpaw.
Of course, it would be best if the submachine gun were also designed for left-handed use.” (To be continued.
If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian.com.
Your support is my greatest motivation.
Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)