The Manta Webbing Adapter from S&S Precision we mentioned during SHOT Show is now available for $14.95. The MWA allows you to mount your Manta Strobe to webbing such as MOLLE.
We’ve had a few incredulous readers contact us with doubts that the Army would actually alter the OCP/MultiCam pattern on their own so we thought it best to share this blast from the past. We broke this story on March 25th, 2011.
MultiCam was developed by Crye Precision and is currently one of the most popular camouflage patterns on the market. It’s been adopted by numerous countries including the US, UK, and Australia. Consequently, we run across MultiCam knockoffs all of the time. Readers send them to us often asking if they are authentic or not. In fact, we received one yesterday that really caught our eye. Generally, copycat patterns are intended for the MilSim or consumer markets which are often more driven by price than performance. But this one was different. It was developed by the US Army and oddly enough, for much the same reasons. Intended as a cost savings measure and yet still be MultiCam compatible, we’re not too sure they have succeeded at either goal. Take a look, and you’ll see what we mean.
Propper was awarded a contract to manufacture new MOLLE systems. At the last minute this procurement was switched to a reverse auction. Good thing Propper won because this could have been disastrous for the Soldier. Reverse auctions mean that your gear is literally made by the lowest bidder. In this instance, Propper is a great company with a commitment to quality. Congrats guys! But let’s hope that this doesn’t hurt them in the long run. These reverse auctions are a race to the bottom for both user and supplier.
Propper International Inc., Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, has been awarded a maximum $137,828,391 firm-fixed-price contract for modular lightweight load carrying equipment. This contract includes thirty-one contract line items with various minimum and maximum quantities for each. Location of performance is Puerto Rico, with a Sept. 5, 2014 performance completion date. Using military services are Army, and Air Force. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2014 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-13-D-1062).
Steel Flame has introduced these new MOLLE Bands. Made from copper, they take on a great patina and Derrick stamps various symbols into the MOLLE Band which fits a standard PALS bar. They are a little bit of a bear to get in place but once they’re there, they aren’t going anywhere.
In addition to what you see, Derrick shared that he plans to introduce Christian Crosses, Jewish Stars of David and Buddhist Wheels so that wearers can display their religious beliefs. He also mentioned working toward offering unit symbols as well. These are a great morale item whether military, LE or civilian.
It’s official, Zulu Nylon Gear has announced that they will be offering the MOLLE Quivers for sale that they originally developed as an April Fool’s gag. Stay tuned for more information on pricing and availability in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, check out the April Fools jokes from the previous two years. Since I know people will ask, the answer is no. Unfortunately the other items cannot be offered for sale.
I knew Rich Landry before he was cool. Before he had that awesome mustache. But even then that guy knew load carriage. Today, if you say ‘Army’ and ‘load carriage’ in the same sentence, you’d better add ‘Rich Landry’ to it.
Landry is an individual equipment designer with the Load Carriage Prototype Lab, Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment, at Natick Soldier Systems Center. Recently, Landry and another cool guy, but of the grey beard variety, Murray Hamlet began work on a device that would give Soldiers access to a packboard type of a platform. They took the frame and suspension from the Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment, or MOLLE, Medium rucksack and came up with a removable PALS panel.
“This is just a pack board, or a foundation for an entire range of tactical equipment beyond that of what we call the Soldier’s fighting load,” Landry said. “Anything that is MOLLE compatible, you’re going to have the ability to have a suspension system that’s designed to support upwards of 60 pounds that you can truly tailor specific to what your tactical mission is.”
The answer is the Modular Backpack Panel, or MBP, which increases the versatility of the MOLLE Medium. As it is, MOLLE Medium was developed to give the Soldier carriage for up to 60 pounds of essential gear for 72 hours.
“We’ve had calls from various organizations that carry all kinds of odd loads,” said Landry, adding that the rucksack sometimes was in the way. “Anybody who’s carrying large, crew-served weapons would find this application useful, the mortar guys, who are carrying a base plate, the tube, the various rounds, etcetera. They could utilize a modular setup to support those unusual loads.”
“It’s very basic load carriage capability,” Landry said. “They still need to carry their basic, critical individual equipment. So we will provide a set of larger pouches, which will attach to the panel but still allow the larger items to be carried.”
I saw a prototype months ago and look forward to hearing how the fielding goes and how Soldiers use it in the field.