Pack Transportation - FM 25-7 War Department Field Manual

a. There are two standard types of the Phillips pack saddle. (1) The smaller type, the cavalry pack saddle, is used for all cavalry and some infantry loads. It weighs 43 pounds (exclusive of breeching, cinches, and breast collar). Pads are 22 by 19 inches. (2) The larger type, the cargo pack saddle, is used for all pack artillery loads, all pack train loads, and the heavier infantry weapon cargo loads. It weighs 72 pounds (exclusive of breeching and cinches). Pads are 23 by 25 inches. b. A third type, the Phillips cavalry, modified (China special), is designed especially for smaller pack animals. The saddle, built to carry the same type of load as the larger cargo pack saddle, has the same external measurements as the cavalry pack saddle, but internally it is designed to fit an animal weighing approximately 800 pounds. 9. PHILLIPS CARGO PACK SADDLE. The saddle, consisting of a metal pack frame with detachable pads, is equipped with specially designed breeching, cinches, and woven pad. With these accessories, it weighs approximately 95 pounds. a. Pads. There are two separate pads attached to each frame. Their primary function is to cushion the weight of the frame and load against the animal's back. The pads are attached to the frame by means of two FIGURE 1. Phillips pack saddle, cavalry. bronze lock staples near the top of each pad and by bottom bar pockets in the lower corners. The staples engage two lock staple hooks near the top of the inside of the frame. The bottom bar of the frame fits into the bottom bar pockets of the pads and is secured by bottom bar pocket pins. The outside or back of these pads is of leather reinforced internally with aluminum alloy ribs. There are five handholes in the back of each pad through which the padding may be quickly adjusted. 1 The bearing surface (part that comes in contact with the animal) of the pad is woven felt which has considerable stretching and gripping qualities. The pads are stuffed with curled hair which retains its resiliency indefinitely. This curled hair is kept in place within the pad by means of spaced leather thongs which, passing through the felt bearing surface, are tied on the outside of the leather surface. Thongs may be removed quickly when it is desired to adjust padding. To each lower corner of the pad is attached an aluminum bot- FIGURE 2. Phillips pack saddle, cargo, assembled. torn bar pocket, an integral part of which is the footrest. These footrests protect the saddle pads by keeping them off the ground or floor when the saddle is not in use, and also they provide a hook over which to secure the quarter ropes of the hitches used in packing. b. Frame. The metal frame serves two main purposes. It makes of the saddle a single unit, and at the same time provides an appropriate structure on which to pack all types of loads. The frame consists of steel arches, hanger bars, aluminum side bars, spring steel ribs, and aluminum bottom bars on which are attached three staples and one hitch hook. (1) The arches are made especially strong to support heavy top loads. There are two holes in each arch proper for attaching the heavy type of arch or (he adapter used for carrying top loads. A third hole, in the de- FIGURE 3. Phillips pack saddle, cargo, disassembled. pression of the arch, facilitates attachment of the light type of load arch. (2) The hanger bars which connect the arches give additional stability to the frame and provide a place on which to hook hanger loads. (3) The side bars serve as a backbone for the entire frame and support most of the weight of the side loads.

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