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Archive for the ‘FR’ Category

Armored Releasable Carrier & Concealment

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

The A.R.C.C. (Armored Releasable Carrier & Concealment) from Battleline Industries has been in development for about a year-and-a-half. It is a modular armored carrier that accepts the popular BALCS cut soft armor and any standard SAPI, ESAPI or steel plate. According to Battleline Industries there are six distinct features that set it apart from its competitors.

1. It’s ability to take modular lightweight concealment “ghillie” panels which consist of two sleeve sections and a torso hooded section for the back that can be set up for different environments utilizing multiple sets of panels that are purchased separately. This way the sniper doesn’t have to make a new ‘ghillie suit” every time he goes somewhere new. This allows the sniper the ability to add more concealment than his regular carrier provides him depending on the mission specific need.

2. The A.R.C.C.’s one cable pull release system is very unique in the sense that the whole release action happens on the front panel. There is no more cable running to the back of the carrier system like most versions and no 3’ cable pull to get the carrier to cutaway. Another issue the A.R.C.C. solves is that the cable on the front panel only has a 10″ pull and runs very little risk of binding or getting pinched where the medic would be unable to pull the release like other variations. The problem with other products is the solider goes down and all his armor, gear and body weight is pinching the release cable in the back because of the release design.

3. The A.R.C.C. uses no Velcro in crucial spots. The ONLY Velcro on the A.R.C.C. is used to close the plate harness and soft armor compartment which is against the operator’s body. This feature insures noise discipline and a carrier that won’t fall apart because it was held together by Velcro and the combat field conditions destroyed it from ever sticking together again.

4. The A.R.C.C. has a feature to accept a modular/removable 2″ leg sub-load adapter which allows the user to attach a holster or sub-load to the carrier and not the belt holding his pants up. This distributes the weight across the carrier and shoulders for a more comfortable feel without the operator having to pull up on his pants every five minutes.

5. The A.R.C.C. has a fully adjustable modular plate harness that accepts multiple sizes and thickness of hard armor.

6. The A.R.C.C. has an extremely durable; two layer Kevlar / Nomex fire resistant liner which protects the operator in a flame environment from the Cordura nylon from melting and dripping on his skin.

Made in USA!

Unheard of until recently, Battleline Industries has been hitting it hard, releasing new product after new product. We look forward to hearing about their next undertaking.

www.battlelineindustries.com

Firestorm Combat Shirt from ICE Tactical

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

About a year ago we introduced the Firestorm Combat Shirt from ICE Tactical to you. We were able to purchase one from GSS. We have to tell you, this is one seriously nice combat shirt. Consider this. It’s FR, it’s printed completely in MultiCam, and it’s currently $99 from ICE Tactical. Read our write up. Everything still applies. It’s comfortable, roomy considering that it’s a combat shirt and well made.

www.icetactical.com

MARSOC Purchases Additional Woodland FROG

Saturday, December 10th, 2011

Earlier this year, Marine Corps Special Operations Command purchased Fire Resistant Operational Gear uniforms in the old Woodland camouflage pattern under a sole source contract from Crye Precision. Interestingly, the old Woodland pattern was specified so that MARSOC personnel would blend in with their Afghan (ANA Commandos) counterparts.

Unfortunately, MARSOC asked for the uniforms in an older variant of the FR Defender-M fabric. A little over a year ago, the Marine Corps had adopted an improved version of TenCate’s Defender-M fabric for their FROG ensembles that is more abrasion resistant and the US Army followed suit soon after. We’re still unsure why MARSOC didn’t specify the newer Defender-M from jump street but by late summer KitUp! had broken the story that the special versions of FROG were falling apart. Around the same time, a similar fate befell Australian MultiCam uniforms called Operational Combat Uniforms which also relied on the older fabric.

Since then, both MARSOC and the Australians have purchased new uniforms in the latest, more robust 6.5 oz version of Defender-M which boasts twice the tear strength of the previous variant.

Canada Adopts TenCate FR Fabrics

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

While not a wholesale of TenCate’s fabric solutions, or of FR in general, two recent Canadian procurements will result in the use of TenCate fabrics by Canadian troops.

First, the Advance Combat Ensemble (ACE) used by the Canadian Air Force will be manufactured with Nomex FR fabric from TenCate’s Brigade product portfolio. Additionally, new tents will incorprate the Nomex-based TenCate Campshield FR liner fabric.

www.tencate.com

Australia Purchases Additional OCUs

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Australia is purchasing an additional 10,000 Operational Combat Uniforms. These “test” items will be manufactured from TenCate’s 6.5 oz Defender M fabric. This is the improved fabric used by the US Army and Marine Corps rather than than the earlier fabric used in the first run of ODUs. The ODU is essentially a Crye Precision combat uniform. Apparently, someone at Department of Defence has determined that there is a need for FR protection for the Australian Soldier.

Photo: ABIS Jo Dilorenzo, 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit, Australia DoD

ADS Publishes a Great FREE Primer ADS Tactical

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

ADS has just published a new document on their website. Not only is it free, but it’s about FREE, the Army’s Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble. It is a Fire Resistant, layered clothing system, designed to protect the Soldier from the effects of flame threats while serving in adverse weather conditions down to -40 deg F.

In my opinion, FREE is a well built, well designed system. It’s only major issue, is the basis of issue. While the Army recently expanded the recipients of the system, it is still restricted to Soldiers actually assigned to operate aircraft or vehicle. This means, those who ride as passengers are not afforded the same level of protection as those operating the platform. During long transits to insertion points, whether via vehicle or aircraft, passengers are often exposed to the elements. Standard warmies including the issue ECWCS Gen III, are not FR (with the exception of the most recent Level 5 softshells). This oversight poses a danger to those passengers. I encourage the Army to expand the use of FR cold and inclement clothing systems to ALL Soldiers who operate outside the wire. They already receive FR ACUs, Army Combat Shirts and now Pants as well, so why not cold weather clothing?

But, enough of my editorializing. Head on over to the new and improved ADS website to see what FREE is all about. (I actually know that the article is pretty good, because I wrote it.)

FREE – Keeping You Warm In Spite of the Heat

Army Combat Pant in OCP

Friday, October 21st, 2011

Here is an example of the Army Combat Pant in the Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (MultiCam). New readers should check out the article we posted earlier this month on the Propper variant of the ACP.

As you can see they integrate the patented Crye Precision knee pad. Crye has this IP locked up pretty tight with not only the knee pad but also how it integrates into the trouser.

20 Additional ACW Fireloc Products Earn UL Rating

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

20 Additional Fireloc products from American Cord & Webbing have earned ratings from Underwriter Laboratories.

Primarily designed for high-heat applications, these Fireloc products have been tested and approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for use in the United States and Canada. In addition to Fireloc, ACW also provides complimentary webbing manufactured from Kevlar, Nomex, and PBI.

In a press release, Mark Krauss, president of ACW stated, “We are very pleased to bring 20 more UL approved products to the marketplace. The expansion of the “Fireloc “ line of heat-resistant products is a direct result of how our highly skilled and knowledgeable staff along with the efficiency of our manufacturing facility allow us to meet the demands of our customers.”

www.acw1.com