UK Kit Gurus Extraordinaire Special Air Sea Services have updated their website. The new site is more user friendly and continues to feature their excellent line of customizable Smocks and other combat clothing as well as alternatives to British issue webbing and packs. One example is the current issue British Special Forces Smock.
Visit them at www.sasskit.co.uk.
Like their website says, “What’s old is new again”. Smocks? What can I say? I love them. I’ve been wearing them since I traded a poncho liner for an SAS smock on an exercise in Belgium in 89. We’ve never had anything like them here in the US. The closest we can claim comes from our northern neighbors; Canada, where Drop Zone has embraced the concept and taken it to the next level with their Recce Smock.
There are a lot of features here. A full multitude of pockets and a generous cut allow for layering.
Sized in Small through XX-Large, the Recce Smock is generously cut. It is available in a multitude of colors including: CadPatâ„¢ Tw, CadPatâ„¢ Ar, Multicamâ„¢, Tan, Olive Drab, Police Navy Blue, and Swat Black. Additionally, special patterns such as UCP can be produced by special order. This is an attractive option, especially for those downrange as it can still be a little bit of the wild west for outer garments as the Army comes to grips with providing sufficient foul weather garments in UCP.
To order, contact Drop Zone.
Luggage manufacturer Tumi has just released their camouflage line, The Alpha Collection. Consisting of the Digital Camouflage Airforce Bag, Sundance Taos Tote, and Sundance Gallup Flap Body Bag, the term “Alpha” was chosen to signify the very best in travel and business.
Looks CADPATish to me.
What with Congress prompting the Army to adopt a new camouflage pattern specifically for operations in Afghanistan this is the perfect opportunity to procure equipment that is tuned for use in harsh mountainous and high desert regions.
Since it seems that they will likely end up doing something in the camo arena, we certainly hope that the Army will look at this as an opportunity to procure some innovative products and not just buy more standard issue equipment in a new color. In addition to providing the Soldier with equipment that is as appropriate to the environment as the camouflage this would also give the industry a little bit of a kick in the pants since much of the out-of-the-box thinking happens in the smaller companies who are better suited to such smaller procurements.
While the American Warrior is better protected than ever, it has come at a price. Since the beginning of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM the load for the individual Soldier has increased over ten pounds. The Army is already working towards this goal with programs such as the Releasable Plate Carrier but other products can be manufactured from lighterweight fabrics such as 500D Cordura and multi-purpose equipment should also be considered.
After a discussion I had earlier today a thought struck me. Why did Congress tell the Army that UCP was unfit for service in Afghanistan yet give the Air Force a free pass with it’s Digitized tiger Stripe pattern? The colorway remains the same with one exception. The Air Force added Slate Blue to the Army’s three other colors. Sure it darkens the pattern up a bit but both patterns look all but indistinguishable at distances of more than 100 meters. So what gives? Is Air Force DTS good but Army UCP bad? And if so, what is this based on? See for yourself.
Ever since Congress told the Army that the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) used on the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) wasn’t cutting it in Afghanistan, rumors and just plain old bad info has been swirling about the internet so I thought I’d share a few thoughts on the subject.
Urban Legend 1 -Multicam Uber Alles. Despite internet hype and the military version of an urban legend, Multicam is not replacing UCP in 2011 or 2012. As best I can tell this rumor came about because the Future Force Warrior program was supposed to be fielded in, you guessed it, 2011. It so happens that all of the photos of guys suited up in the FFW garb were swathed in Multicam goodness. For some odd reason, folks couldn’t divorce the concept of FFW from Multicam. Hence the urban legend. Naturally, this new round of Congressionally driven controversy has only fanned the flames of this untruth. Think about it. The Army just spent a gazillion dollars changing everything to UCP. In fact, fielding isn’t even complete. So ask yourself this question. Why would the Army spend a “gazillion” dollars on a new camo pattern and turn right around a field a new one mid-stream? The answer? It wouldn’t. They want to buy FCS not new uniforms.
Urban Legend 2 – UCP is going away completely. It isn’t. The Congressional “suggestion” is only for forces in Afghanistan not the whole shebang.
Urban Legend 3 – The Marine Corps offered MARPAT to the Army and they turned it down. Total Fantasy. Here is a truth. These patterns are about branding. When you see MARPAT, you think “Marine”. When you see UCP you think “Soldier”. MARPAT was developed for the Marine Corps. General Jones, former Commandant of the Marine Corps wanted a uniform that would let his enemies know when Marines were in town. He got one.
Urban Legend 4 – The Army didn’t adopt Multicam because they would have to pay a license for Multicam / it was too expensive. Once again; False. The Army helped pay for the development of Multicam. There is no “license”. Also, the more Multicam printed, the cheaper it gets. The more you buy, the less you pay.
I feel for the Army. What a big poop sandwich. “Hey Army, UCP stinks, issue something else. But use the money we already gave you for OTHER stuff.” You can’t just change out uniforms. You have to replace all of the Soldier’s other kit as well or the contrast will just highlight the guy. So the Army is going to have to compute this huge cost for one theater. That was the point of UCP in the first place. One camo…universal. No more issuing two different patterns to guys…economize.
I feel even worse for the poor action officer at PEO-Soldier who has to develop the decision brief on this one. For example:
COA 1 – Do nothing…Tell Congress “Nuts”, I mean after all, UCP does work in some parts of Afghanistan.
COA 2 – Do Nothing…Beg Congress for cash
COA 3 – Stall…conduct study (Attn PEO-Soldier, I am available for contract to conduct said study)
COA 4 – Issue Woodland or Three-Color Desert
COA 5 – Adopt all new pattern – See pic above
Option 5? That is the fantasy option. Or is it? There are select US forces rocking Multicam all over the place. Oddly enough, so are Snipers. Aside from that, the Army spent a great deal of time and effort developing and testing several patterns any of which could be dusted off including the one in the photo.
However, I am voting for some combo of one or more of the first three with COA 4 as the ultimate outcome. There is already precedence with the Army’s G1 permitting USASOC forces to wear Woodland camo. Plus, there are stock of the older patterns that can be drawn from to get this thing rolling.
Do we love Multicam at Soldier Systems Daily? You’re damned right we do. Will it be adopted for use in Afghanistan? Who knows at this point, but it sure will be interesting watching whatever ultimately happens.
The enhanced Mark 7 helmet and Osprey Assault body armor, which will provide equivalent ballistic protection to current systems but with a lighter weight and an improved fit were unveiled at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) equipment show this week in Millbrook.
The MOD has ordered over 10,000 sets of the new helmets and armor under initial contracts worth £16m, with companies including NP Aerospace, Morgan Armour Ltd, Aegis Engineering Ltd, Seyntex and Solo International Ltd. The 10,000 sets are reported to go to Infantry, Engineers, and medical with all other general purpose forces retaining the Mk6a helmet and current Osprey armor.
Just as in the case of the MICH becoming the general issue ACH here in the US, the new Mk 7 is a variant of the AC900/600 helmet worn by UKSF on CT role. Of further evidence of SOF influence over kit design, the new armor carrier is supplied by Solo International located near Hereford, home of the British SAS. However, based on information we have received in the past we do not believe that this new equipment is a part of the PECOC program but rather an interim solution to solve an urgent operation requirement. This would also account for the relatively small procurement.
The new Mk 7 helmet features a four point chin strap for enhanced stability, particularly while wearing helmet mounted night vision devices. Additionally, the front lip has been cut back in order to increase visibility while in the prone and is reported to include configurable pads like the US ACH.
While we did say that the new Osprey carrier is being supplied by Solo International, it is interesting to note that they outsource their manufacture. Additionally, the UK does not have an equivalent of the Berry Amendment to ensure domestic production of defense textile articles so at this point we are unsure where the carriers will actually be produced. In addition to the carrier, a new, lighter armor plate is reported to be on it’s way to the troops.
Pictures: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009
Mayflower Research and Consulting LLC in conjunction with Velocity Systems LLC has just released the first of their new Armor Line. The Low-Vis Assault Armor Carrier comes with Level III-A soft armor and was created by Mayflower to provide the wearer with a high degree of mobility while still providing an acceptable amount of armor coverage. The adjustable cummerbund has integral pockets for 6″ x 6″ hard armor side plates and is held in place in the front by a wide velcro flap that is wider than a hard plate. The flap also features pull tabs at the corners. The hard plates fit into pockets attached to the outside of the soft armor carrier. While the carrier is not a cutaway design, the shoulder flaps facilitate rapid donning and doffing yet remain secure during wear.
The Level IIIA Soft Armor panels are manufactured by Velocity Systems LLC and are certified to NIJ 2005 Interim Requirements for Bullet-Resistant Armor. They also meet or exceed the USASOC Fragmentation requirements and meet or exceed the DEA test protocol.
Manufactured from 500D Cordura the Low-Vis Assault Armor Carrier is Berry compliant and available in Coyote Brown, Multicam, and UCP.
The new Low-Vis Assault Armor Carrier is available for order now at www.mayflower-rc.com.
