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Survival

Combat Survival Kit

The Combat Survival Kit is probably the best know survival kit about, and with good reason. Based on individual survival kits assembled by members of the British SAS for escape and evasion in most environments it is probably the most comprehensive kit for the space that it takes up (the Combat Survival kit is stored in a tobacco tin (4 1/4 x 3 1/8 x 1 1/8 in. or 10.8 x 7.94 x 2.86 cm) and they generally weigh in at 200 - 300 g (7 - 10.5 oz).

These small kit is loosely modeled after that described by John Wiseman in his well know survival book, "S.A.S. Survival Guide."

Typical contents include:

1	Commando wire saw (with rings that act as finger pulls)
1	Penknife (generally quite blunt - either sharpen or replace with a better penknife (such as the Spyderco Ladybug)
1	Flint and steel striker (saw blade)
1	Razor blade
1	Small stub candle
1	Button compass (brass button is best but plastic will suffice
6 m	Brass snare wire
1	Brass snare
2 m	Fishing line
5	Fish hooks
4	Fishing weights
4	Fishing swivel
10	Waterproof matches
10	Water purification tables (chlorine based)
1	Candle
1	Whistle
6	Safety pins
1	Pencil
1	Sewing kit
5 g	Potassium permanganate crystals
40 cm	Insulating tape (for wrapping around outside of tin to make it watertight)
1	Condom - for carrying water (apart from other obvious uses!)
1	Tampon - great tinder for taking a spark when firelighting as well as the other obvious use.
4	Adhesive plasters
1	Waterproof survival instructions
1	Storage tin (tin lid serves as signaling mirror)

With a kit like this you have most of the bases covered ... signaling, water collection/purification, food gathering and preparation and fire. Some items, such as adhesive plasters or the sewing kit, might seem a bit trivial but in a survival situation the ability to stem the blood flow from a small cut on your hand while you are trying to light a fire or being able to fix ripped or torn clothing could be vital.

Feel free to add to or modify your kit. Make it personal to yourself and the environments you are likely to find yourself in.

Do remember that a Combat Survival kit is a survival tool designed to be something you have on you when all else s lost - don't rely on items from it (such as the button compass) from day to day in the outdoors. However, do practice! Lighting a fire with a flint and steel isn't something you want to be doing for the first time when you've had to ditch your Bergen and are soaking wet and it's raining!

In upcoming articles we'll look at how to make use of some of these items, as well as how you can improvise certain items out in the field.

Combat Survival kits are available from Penrith Survival.

Also see our articles:

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes