Was that the rubberised stuff? Which the S6 respirator came in?
1914 Pattern here: 1914 Pattern Equipment Overview – Tales from the Supply Depot
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Basically 58 but synthetic material so it was easier to decontaminate in a NBC (as it was then) situation.
Bought the belt for my greens without realising it was a bit of a rarity so I’ve kept it to one side!
Did the actual Osprey issue series have any standard bergens or day sacks then?
I don’t think so, the PLCE kit soldiered on and was supplemented on ops by the Motherlode then the DCC bag.
As far as I know the bergens weren’t replaced until Virtus with the weight distribution system and talking to the Army folk they don’t much like them and try to use the old PLCE, or the airborne bergens if they can get old of them.
FWIW the Virtus bergen is now on mk3!
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The ‘44 pattern water bottle carriers were still very popular right up until ‘58 pattern was replaced with PLCE.
Some of the late ‘58 pattern webbing was quite highly modified, with quick release buckles and adjustable straps in lieu of the buckles, the double mess tin pouch at the back replaced with multiple ‘58 pattern water bottle pouches (used as utility pouches), ‘44 pattern water bottle carriers either side, and a PLCE bayonet frog.
The ‘large pack’ wasn’t used much towards the end of life either, with a mix of SAS / Para / Berghaus bergens taking their place.
Large pack was gash (and not even large) but the poncho roll was a good bit of kit.
Out of curiosity when did SOPs change from carrying mess tins in belt kit to, err, not?
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Exactly! if you put a ‘58 pattern sleeping bag in it then you weren’t carrying anything else.
By the time I joined in ‘96 we were only carrying water and ammunition in belt kit and privately purchased metal mugs in lieu of mess tins. (Although we were always on hard routine, using body heat to cook boil in the bag meals.)
There were several UOR bags issued around that time. The mist well known was the PRI(Karrimor) 45 litre. But there was also the ECM Bergen and another one I forget the name of. (Bowman I think?)
One of them was popular because it came with PLCE compatible side pouches which had floating lids and drawstrings. Far superior to the zipped ones.
After Afghan wound down, the army went back to PLCE for a bit for training, issuing new MTP PLCE, including all the old Bergen designs and side pouches. A step backwards really from the UOR stuff.
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With use well beyond the poncho! Definitely held my basha kit for many years!
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Bonjour
I’m looking for some PLCE Ammo pouches
The issued ones have those daft pull tabs so ideally looking for ones with clips, anyone know if they exist or where I can get them?
I’m fairly sure some of the after market ones have IWT (rather than Spanish?) clips.
But if you don’t mind Velcro these look the part (and Nick’s Kit is reliable)
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