Wilcox BOSS Xe
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Spot The Kit

This photo is awesome. Let’s see how much of the kit in this photo you can identify.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 7th, 2016 at 19:00 and is filed under History. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

25 Responses to “Spot The Kit”

  1. Luke says:
    February 7, 2016 at 19:22

    pattern 58 webbing

    AR180 and an L1A1

    drawing a blank on those sneakers and bergen…

  2. MRC says:
    February 7, 2016 at 19:25

    We own all of the webbing in the picture as part of our historical reference collection. 58 pattern on the right and a mix of 44 pattern and “SAS” webbing on the left.

  3. Protesilaos says:
    February 7, 2016 at 19:30

    Armalite AR-18, Pattern 58 webbing and I believe the pack is the SAS ”General Service Rucksack”.

  4. Asinine Name says:
    February 7, 2016 at 19:31

    Pic first seen in ‘Combat and Survival’ in the late ’80’s, which also came in a 28-volume hardcover set which I never owned, honest *whistles tunelessly*

  5. Low Speed Lower Drag says:
    February 7, 2016 at 20:05

    Camo seems to be British DPM in the 1985 pattern.

  6. R711 says:
    February 7, 2016 at 20:11

    Scarpa boots, Streling AR 180 with 40 rnd mag, L1A1 with optics SAS/PARA bergen, 58 pattern webbing, SAS Smocks, Crap hat, Norwegian winter hat and OG pants.

  7. Lasse says:
    February 7, 2016 at 20:13

    Where is the photog that can tell you what camera the left guy is using?

    As for my question, where did the whole single cargo pocket idea come from? Norway has it on their M75 pants as well.

    • Jonathan Ferguson says:
      February 7, 2016 at 20:22

      No uniform expert, but pretty sure the first combat trousers had only one, the second coming later.

      Do we know where/when this was taken? First possibly operational pic of an AR-18/180 I’ve seen.

    • Bjorn says:
      February 7, 2016 at 21:45

      The single cargo-pocket trend came about, because of the mindset that soldiers would be carrying a gas-mask on their person at all times in the field. You know, in case of a CBRN-attack.

      In Norway this was accomplished with a drop-leg bag, since this would obscure the pocket, it was probably deemed an excess, and subsequently dropped form the design.

  8. IanMcD says:
    February 7, 2016 at 20:36

    Ireland.

  9. Disco says:
    February 7, 2016 at 21:04

    These guys, who I guess are SAS, were pretty bleeding edge for the day.
    Scoped FALs, AR-18s w/40 rounders, and Go-Fast boots

  10. Stephen Cumming says:
    February 7, 2016 at 21:07

    Ref the combat trousers. They are both wearing trousers lightweight OG, often called denims. These only had one map pocket on the leg and one rear pocket. Obviously there was two normal front pockets. Worn mostly in barracks, they were worn with DPM combat jacket in Northern Ireland. later, full combats were worn as lightweights tended to melt when hit with petrol bombs. The webbing on the left seems to be one kidney pouch and the ever popular 44patt webbing water bottle.

    • Dave says:
      February 10, 2016 at 12:49

      I strongly suspect an SAS Escape Pouch rather than a single kidney pouch. Bloke on the right has gloves, possibly NI, and nylon respirator case. I believe the bergan is the taller SAS/Para variant rather than the shorter GS.

  11. 61575 says:
    February 8, 2016 at 00:49

    Don’t forget the black marlow (rope)

  12. Gerard says:
    February 8, 2016 at 01:21

    Given the gear, weather and terrain I’m betting this was in Northern Ireland

  13. boiseuzj100 says:
    February 8, 2016 at 01:41

    Those are EB Climbing shoes the guy one the left is wearing. I still have a pair. They were the cutting edge climbing shoe back in the 70’s. The OG Field Trousers are great. The DPM Field Cap is awesome and using bungees to bound the kit together so it doesn’t flop around on the move was SOP for the day. Looks like the guy on the left either cut his haversacks in half or is using a 58 patt Bino Pouch. The bergan appears to be a GS Bergan possibly in the butyl nylon. Having had most of this kit at various points in my life was alot of fun.

  14. Tony says:
    February 8, 2016 at 01:56

    Looks like a staged photo for Combat and Survival. It’s all circa 1980’s kit, 58 pattern webbing, DPM smocks and lightweights etc but I don’t know of any AR180’s being used by UK military (Although popular with PIRA) SF were on M16’s and never saw a scope mounted on the top cover of an L1A1.
    The semi-auto 180 was made by Stirling Arms (UK) under licence during this period and could be owned by private citizens on a Firearms certificate.

    • Keith says:
      February 8, 2016 at 08:19

      Patrols Platoon or SF late 70’s to mid 1980s. Bergen is GS Large, also known as Airborne Bergen because Para Bn’s got it as standard. Optics is a SUIT site. All manner of Armalites were used. I was never SF but I briefly carried a C15.

      Webbing as mentioned by others is a 58 /44 pattern mix

  15. Casey says:
    February 12, 2016 at 09:26

    I think I see a Mk2 Mod1 General purpose stone, granite