Science Kits
Expanded NBC Independent Field Kit Weight: 20kg
This kit consists of two complete environment units and a smallish, fully automated “receptor”. Soil, water and other “solid” samples are fed into the receptor and, within five minutes, an amazing amount of data can be obtained from the sample. When connected to a computer, it will report the presence in the samples of radioactivity and its intensity, any extraordinary chemical contamination and any unusual biological presences. It will also report the relative lethality of radiological or chemical contamination and assign a “best guess” of any biological contamination found.
In depth analysis of chemical or biological specimens by a lab will still be necessary to acquire precise information. This kit is not a magic box. It is an expanded version of the standard issue NBC kit that is keyed to look for particular traces and report on certain anomalies. Without a computer and its database, it will simply provide a readout of certain percentages of various chemical, radiological and biological measurements. Even with the computer, its “guesses” may well be wrong and they are limited to checks for expected contamination caused by The War. It may indicate that a water sample is clean when in fact, it is contaminated with giardia. This is because it is not looking for this infestation since it is unlikely that this usually non-fatal bacteria would be used as a bio agent.
Geologic Sampling Field Kit Weight: 7kg
To the casual observer, this kit looks like a glorified rock-hound’s set up. It contains the tools and other paraphernalia needed to acquire mineral samples from their native environment. In addition, it has the necessary instruments for charting slope, dip, strike and the like for geologic formations. This includes a Brunton compass, strike and dip measuring equipment, etc. With this equipment, and the Survey Kit mentioned below, and the proper training, the user will be able to construct a geologic map of the area.
Meteorological Independent Field Kit Weight: 25kg
Within this kit are instruments which can be used to determine air, land and water temperatures, determine wind speed and direction, humidity, air pressure, rainfall amounts, and so on. To be used effectively, this kit must be set up somewhere and monitored. The gear cannot predict the weather, but information collected can be useful in formulating an “educated guess”, especially with the help of a computer. As with everything else, training also helps. The kit is most useful in collecting a database on which later predictions can be based.
Soil Analysis Field Kit Weight: 5kg
This kit contains everything necessary to collect soil samples and prevent cross-contamination. There is a limited amount of analytic capability inherent to the kit, but in-depth results require the use of a lab. Included in the kit are soil-boring equipment, sample containers, a few chemicals for testing soil acidity and the like and sieves for separating soil materials.
Survey Independent Field Kit Weight: 20kg
This is a land surveyors outfit reduced to the bare essentials. An optic scope and tripod, “range” stakes and poles, plumb lines, chart paper, solar powered calculator, flags, targets and markers are included as well as a collapsible plane table. With this kit and a lot of time you could lay out a road, river system, dam, bridge site or what have you. With even more time you can make a fairly accurate map.
Tree Boring and Bio Sampling Field Kit Weight: 7kg
The “Tree Butcher’s” rig is designed to acquire live samples and keep them fresh for a reasonable period of time. It is just about useless without lab back-up. Equipment included in this kit are tree samplers of various sizes, specimen jars for samples of wood, bugs, beetles, leaves, needles, bark, etc., and a digital camera to take pictures.
Water Analysis Field Kit Weight: 3kg
This kit functions in the same way as the soil kit. It can tell you immediately whether or not a sample is fit to drink. However, anything more detailed (such as why it is not) requires a lab. Included in this kit are sealed containers for keeping samples, biological contamination testing equipment, and some simple chemicals for testing the chemical purity of the water.
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The reason that the American Army does so well in wartime, is that war is chaos, and the American Army practices chaos on a daily basis.
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