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Archive for the ‘Multicam’ Category

We Told You OCP = MultiCam

Thursday, January 8th, 2015

From Chief of Staff of the Army GEN Ray Odierno’s lips to our ears during a Virtual Town Hall earlier this week, we learn that the Army is adopting MultiCam. That’s not really true, but it’s gold like this that undermines the Army’s assertion that the Operational Camouflage Pattern (developed as Scorpion W2) Army recently adopted by the Army is distinctly different from the MultiCam it replaces. As you know, the MultiCam camouflage pattern was developed for commercial use by Crye Precision and adopted initially by USSOCOM for worldwide use and then later by the Army and US Air Force specifically for wear in Afghanistan starting in 2010. The CSA was right about that part.

Unfortunately, licensing negotiations between the Army and Crye Precision to field MultiCam to the entire force stalled last Spring due to Army inaction, resulting instead in the Army choosing to field a home brewed variant of the Scorpion pattern developed by Crye Associates in the early 2000s. This pattern, referred to as Operational Camouflage Pattern features coloration and shapes similar to MultiCam although the Army has asserted that it is a distinctly different pattern. Below we see the two patterns together with the MultiCam atop Scorpion W2.

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Remember, in Army parlance OCP is OCP, regardless if it is the MultiCam variant or the new Scorpion W2 version. MultiCam will continued to be fielded by the Army under the name OCP. However, MultiCam is a brand name of a commercially available pattern, that the US Army did not select as its new camouflage. Mistake or not, the Army should not be referring to OCP as MultiCam. Otherwise, they are misleading Soldiers and applying the proven effectiveness of MultiCam to the as-yet-unproven Scorpion W2. If GEN Odierno’s comments were in fact a mistake, then it shows that there’s really no difference between the two and calls into question the Army’s actions to field a pattern without paying for it.

1947 LLC Announces New MultiCam Fabrics

Wednesday, January 7th, 2015

1947 LLC, international distributor of MultiCam and responsible for new fabric development has announced three new stocked fabrics which will be available for inspection (along with the entire MultiCam fabric line) at Crye Precision’s booth (#32403) at this month’s SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

MULTICAM “ALPHA TERRY” – a fleeced backed soft-shell
ALPINE “PATRIOT LITE” – a 2oz Textured nylon
ALPINE “500-DENIER” – an INVISTA CORDURA

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That’s right, a lightweight fabric for Overwhites and Cordura for packs, carries and other kit is now available in MultiCam Alpine.

For further information please contact: Ben.Galpen@1947LLC.com

Velocity Systems Range Shorts Now Available

Tuesday, December 30th, 2014

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Velocity Systems’ Range Shorts have finally arrived! Made from 50/50 NyCo fabric, the Range Shorts feature waist belt adjustment for use without a belt, and slit leg opening for full articulation. The front pockets are slanted to prevent contents from digging into the leg when kneeling, and the side pockets are sized to hold rifle or pistol mags. The rear pockets are deep for additional storage, and the Range Shorts also feature dual external dump pockets with Velcro tab closure.

Available in Tan and MultiCam. Made in the USA.

www.velsyst.com/store/0/182/Range-Shorts

You Never Know Where They Are Going To Show Up

Sunday, December 28th, 2014

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How about Kidal, Mali?

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Thanks Bill!

Sneak Peek – Velocity Systems Range Shorts

Wednesday, December 24th, 2014

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Coming soon in Tan and MultiCam.

www.velsyst.com

Crib Gogh – Malaysian Jungle Combat Shirt

Sunday, December 21st, 2014

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This combat shirt was developed for the Malaysian military as a jungle uniform by UK specialist manufacturer Crib Gogh. It incorporates a padded shawl-style collar and take up tabs through ought the design. In fact, you may notice padding in several sections of the shirt. This is D3O. Additionally, the back of the shirt features a mesh strip to mitigate overheating while wearing a pack.

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Sneak Peek – Velocity Systems BOSS Rugby In MultiCam

Thursday, December 18th, 2014

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My favorite range shirt is coming very soon in MultiCam. I’m told these will be limited supply.

UPDATED – SOMA – CTOMS – Temba Pack

Wednesday, December 10th, 2014

The Temba Pack from CTOMS was designed for military assault climbers but is quite adaptable to a wide range of applications including use as a medical kit container. As you can see, the top loading basic pack has very clean lines with no snag hazards. A year in the making, Chris K has gone through seven iterations of the Temba to get here.

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Constructed from a combination of MultiCam LiteLok with 4-way stretch Softshell side panels. The rear of the pack worn against the back is Drilux for comfort.

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The top flap features a simple envelope style pocket with a removable daisy chain which can be accessed even with the zipper closed.

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The top has a helmet retention fly feature, made from 4-way stretch.

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The hooks for the removable helmet fly are inset on the lid in small garages.

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It’s the little features that count. For instance, rather than using grommets, they’re using small burn holes for drainage.

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The pack comes with three removable compression straps that can be used to really crank the load down within the pack.

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The side pocket panel loading zippers along both sides incorporate backup split at SR Buckles. These side pockets also have hydration bladder hangers as well as a port hose.

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The Temba pack gains its internal structure from strategically placed sheets of HDPE and foam along each side, at the rear and along the bottom. The foam panels in the side pockets can be used as a moldable splint. Additionally, if you pull the foam panels from the pack, they can be inserted into a sleeve that can be used as a rudimentary casualty insulator, or a sleeping pad. Since this sleeve is also a pocket, you can stuff leaves or pinestraw into it for additional insulation.

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There are handles on all four edges of the back of the pack which also features the suspension. The pads are removable and can be replaced with a developmental pad sets that better accommodates the wearing of rear armor plates. There are also cable routing ports.

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The bottom of the pack has a flat pocket that fits a new Sil Tarp for shelter building or other expedient uses.

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One thing I love about the Temba is that you can remove the waist belt. It is padded and clips on, attaching at three separate points and can be released from any one of those points if you find yourself fouled in some way and need to jettison the pack. Additionally, the pack is configured to allow you to use a trouser or warbelt for the pack when used with Surface Mounted SR Buckles.

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The shoulder straps, while simple to use, incorporate a lot of thought. To begin with, the removable sternum strap has a small, removable admin pouch with Velcro front.

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The shoulder straps can be worn alone and are also compatible with CTOMS’ Pack to Armor Rapid Integration System which allows you to connect this pack directly to your armor carrier with quick donning and doffing capability. This really frees up the motion in your shoulders.

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The entire inside of the Temba is Velcro compatible and will accept the pockets from CTOMS line of second line packs. Items such as the TRaCE kit will mount for easy access right to the top row of PALs webbing.

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The Temba opens completely for full access to the contents. It opens so much that you can place a casualty into the bag and use it as a littler to extract a casualty by using the handles found inside both side pockets.

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There are currently three piggyback panels available. The first is the Alpine panel which accepts a shovel, probe, crampons and two ice axes.

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Next, is a PALS panel.

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Finally, there’s an accessory pocket piggyback panel.

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There’s also a pack cover in MultiCam Alpine pattern coming.

Update: here’s the cover.

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Although CTOMS is a Canadian company, the Temba is Made in USA.

Learn more at www.ctoms.ca.