The US Army is fielding an updated version of the Army Combat Shirt called the Type II (still in OEF-CP). The ACS Type II has a narrower torso to accommodate the SPC which requires the shirt to offer more camo coverage on the yoke, chest, and sides. Massif is selling an ACS Type II, with slight fit modifications, but the same camo/solid configuration as the Army’s. As you can see it also incorporates a zippered, polo-style collar.
www.massif.com/military/combat-shirts/armycombatshirttypeii
Tags: Massif
Love the “still in OEF-CP” bit. Makes me wonder, rhetorically, what happens when OCP makes its full swing debut in all RFI goodness, and it in fact proves to be inferior to Multicam? Even anecdotally? Such as two joes sitting in the tree line and one of them is notably less hidden than the other, what kind of congressional can of worms is that go back open? Will it be 2009 UCP all over again?
They are all but indistinguishable on items like this with lots of small pieces of fabric sewn together.
Roger. That’s why I said anecdotal evidence vice empirical data. I think the vertical branch elements and beige slugs improve the cammo.
You know what might solve that problem more than fabric….. Field craft and discipline.
Says the Company Grade Officer :p.
Yup. If we can ever get that damn field-craft thing down again. Except I do t know too many junior NCOs and Officers that can so much as set up a correct poncho hooch ( seen some pretty stupid shit lately) let alone learn to cammo their faces and hands correctly and stay still. We do make decent overtures at face paint attempts, so much so that we’ll see many spectral, headless sets of UCP ACUs wandering around in the woods.
Although I can’t speak from experience because I haven’t been in long enough. I still think we’ve lost something during these last 14 years “at war”. I’m not sure that were moving in the right direction either.
CAV,
Its normal for certain combat skills that weren’t needed (much) in the recent conflicts to atrophy and have to be relearned.
We did a shit load of that relearning in the late 70s early 80s after Vietnam. Lots of combat veterans had to get re-blued in skills they hadn’t needed, had forgotten or had never learned.
Today’s troopers will have to do the same. It just takes time and focused effort mostly by NCOs and junior offices to get everyone back to the tactical fundamentals.
TLB
Agreed. I do think that on the small unit level were re-bluing and headed in the right direction. My whole original pint, albeit a sarcastic one was toward the type II combat shirt. I never thank Eric enough for his coverage on this issue, and often jump straight into the complaints. My whenpoint was I’m happy the Army wanted to go with a quarter zip. I agree with many others that the FROG or Crye G3 might have served as a better option, but hey, at least it’s a quarter zip. I was also just speculating about the possibility that OEF-CP may I. Fact prove to be superior, even just a little bit, to OCP, and how ironic would that be, since we’re here in 2015, dealing with all this cammo wars crap because UCP proved inferior in 2009.
Hey, look – the same modification that should have been standard from the beginning – a zipper! Unfortunately it still smells like cat piss.
Ugly, I just would have gone with the collar in the first pic I get the camo coverage might seem like a benefit, however, under the types of Body Armor fielded, it caused no real issue, this is just plain hard to look at.
When did combat become a fashion show?
Years ago
More like Centuries.
It’s the same collar, except the second picture is zipped all the way up.
Then that collar, like on the ACUs shall never be worn fully zipped by any sensible soldier.
Any pics of the back?
Looks like the front only its not. Also, no vestige of a modesty panel so it’s all the pointelle knit.
Anyone have an NSN on these or better yet a Safe-to-Fly letter? Thanks!
Issued through RFI.
A step in the right direction I supose. Comparable to the FROG, Drifire or Crye combat shirts yet?
Not at all. In typical army fashion, it has way too much unnecessary crap over it, and lacks the simplicity of the G3/FROG. A step in the completely wrong direction, by the looks of it. I am fairly biased towards Crye designs though.
Everyone who actually has an important job in the army has probably been using Cryes for the better part of the last decade. The only people who will be wearing crap like this are those who aren’t important enough to rate better stuff (pogues)
Uh, last time I check the only grunts that get issued Crye’s are in the 75th, so yes- we will be wearing this unless we buy G3’s out of pocket.
I notice you said it was designed for the SPCS. Does that mean we’re going to be keeping them? I was under the impression the Army was trying to get rid of them and make us wear that God Awful IOTV Gen III ( or IV or whatever it is still terrible).
Check out PEO soldier’s portflio. Soldier Plate Carrier System generation II. http://www.peosoldier.army.mil/portfolio/#85
Looks like this is suppose to replace both the SPCS and the IOTV
I believe the Soldier Protection System is what is intended to replace both the SPCS and IOTV: http://www.peosoldier.army.mil/portfolio/#95
I hope not. That looks like it will cook soldiers alive.
Hoping to hear a decision on this soon. Then, there’s hoping it will be placed in production.
SSD,
Any more info on the SPS? Pictures of the system? This is the first I have heard/seen it. It seems like it might be a pretty good system if it will work right.
I am definitely in favor of scalability. Only if “they” allow Company Commander’s decide on the configuration necessary for their missions and assume the risk of their decisions.
Thank God. I hate the IOTV. Utterly worthless.
yeah really. First time I ever put one of them monstrosities on, it was a major WTF moment for me.
Are the sleeve cuffs still narrow and un-rollable?
It’s an FR combat shirt…think about that
FR is secondary to looking cool.
come on, SSD, you know that.
I’ve thought about it, and I still want the option to roll sleeves up a bit to keep cool in hot temps. Commanders can always dictate how the uniform is to be worn.
If big army got the “combat” ensemble right, ARSOF wouldn’t have to spend so much on Crye and PCU level 9.
PCU level 9 is not FR except for the MARSOC version.
I know that much. I guess my point is that I prefer the sleeves of the combat shirt to be about the same, functionally, as a regular top, whether it’s FR or not. Crye figured it out, the Marines have it with the FROG.
I preferred my in-theater modified FRACU tops to the ACS when I had to wear UCP.
My old BN SGM got tired of seeing fat fucks roaming the FOB with the “Shirt of Truth” and instituted a 270 and above APFT score requirement to be able to wear it sans plate carrier.
You owe me a (diet) coke. And a keyboard.
+1!
my god, that is genius…
A steal for the army at only $199.99
How much are yours?
Army isn’t paying that for what it pushes through RFI.
And a GSA card gets you down to $152.
Will these be available to civilians?
I’m sure you’ll be able to find them on eBay or at surplus stores eventually, but right now, these are being issued and are still new. Personally, I don’t see the attraction to the additional fabric.
Agreed. I actually like the current ACS. I think it’s one of the few good uniform decisions that the Amry had made in the past few year. Plus with the SPCS, TAPS (which I also like) maybe a “war belt” and an assault pack covers the solid color well enough.
Why would you want this when you could have a functional proven shirt that breathes in a Crye G3?
We should just get rid of all ACUs and use this. Put velcro name and army tape on it. Put a velcro rank spot right above the name tape. Make both sleeves full velcro and there you go, no more ACUs needed.
Looks horrendous. Why can they not issue the FROG in OCP?
wish the Enyart Act would make for some sensible decisions, like taking the best features of the USMC ensemble, ACU, NWU etc and combine them into a stellar combat package.
No kidding. USMC frogs are freaking awesome.
More than just camo arms, falling short of full coverage because… material or cost?
I can’t imagine one more square foot of camo would put it out of the Army’s price range.
“Nobody will ever see that in full battle rattle.”, yet here we are at Type II.
Are you saying you’d prefer the entire thing camo? The point of the torso being a knit is that it is more breathable and wicking, making it cooler.