Tuesday, January 3, 2017

web gear 1 of 2


WEB GEAR
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Despite the existence of testing centers for the military, where gear is put through its paces under the assumption that Our Boys get only the best instruments of war ( such as Greenland [ or perhaps it was Alaska-don’t quote me on either one ] testing cold weather clothing ), without knowing any of the details I can still pretty much guess that politics and economics vastly skews the whole process.  I’ve seen too much being replaced with inferior designed materials.  Now, while in theory “Mil-Spec” might have better manufacturing and/or quality control, just because a hunk of crap is built with double stitching and can last twenty years doesn’t mean it isn’t still a piece of crap.  It just means it is not a poor quality item that while NOT breaking actually performs a function properly.  I bought an M60 fatigue jacket used and it is still going strong ten years later ( despite some areas becoming thin enough to slightly tear )-but by no means is it a very warm jacket even with a liner ( although I will admit that the wool sweater you wear under the BDU blouse-yes, I know I‘m behind on Army uniforms by three decades-is warmer than wearing the jacket at all but that doesn‘t invalidate my example ). 

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The Army ALICE gear I wore also never gained favor with me.  While in practice the shoulder straps should have distributed weight more efficiently, I never thought it comfortable.  The far worse sin was that whenever you were lying down you had gear digging into your hips AND the belt swung back and forth so that you never had the pouches or other gear in the correct places.  This might not have bothered the Generals who okayed this design, but as one who was trained to engage in firefights I took it a bit personally that my gear was NOT going to help me live and might actually even help kill me ( I won’t say one damn thing about the criminally deficient firearms being issued ).  One obvious solution to the ALICE suspender and belt wobbling back and forth like a Hoola-Hoop would have been to secure the web belt to the trouser belt.  But some mouth breather got rid of the OD fatigues and replaced them with the hideous blouse-outside-the-pant BDU’s which I can only imagine was meant to resemble camouflaged potato burlap sacks which rendered everyone into a formless blob of green which rather than for concealment was used to de-gender everyone and make us the first PC army.

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Now, I understand the MOLLIE system uses an upper chest rig for magazines, but I’m not familiar with that system other than occasional non-encompassing pictures of Super Ninja Tommy Tactical knock offs.  I like the concept, along the lines of the Chinese SKS chest gear.  When you are prone, you can elevate your upper body slightly for access rather than rolling to one hip as on the ALICE system.  I think an even better way would be to have front AND back belt pouches, basically at 2, 4, 8 and 10 o’clock.  That way, prone or in the vehicle, you have access.

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( I think one of the problems here is that while this would be a good idea, the folks not fighting-management-decide to have way too much other crap attached to your belt.  Such as an entrenching tool.  Which wouldn’t even be needed if the basic doctrine wasn’t “stay and die, we’ll send a replacement who will thank you for digging this hole and all he needs to do is shovel out your intestines with your E-tool because he doesn’t want that nasty crap on the equipment he has to clean for inspection before they will give him weekend leave” but rather something smart like “stay mobile, don’t worry about occupying ground where you become vulnerable”.  And what about that bulky ass gas mask?  Sure, in WWI it seemed like a good idea even if a better one was to NOT occupy low ground where the gas was ( yes, I know, I‘ve stipulated before that rail transport dictated entrenched fighting ), and MAYBIE, just perhaps, in the first Gulf War.  But it really is just one of those “well, I MIGHT need it one day” items that contributes to overburdening the soldiers.  We gave a lot of thought to training the average grunt in countering B/C with almost nothing in N, ( biological agents, chemical weapons, nuclear ) and then half assed most training in avoiding bullets.  And the average training on arty was to use that E-tool and keep your brain bucket on at all times ( much more strenuous emphasis on the helmet as if it were a magic talisman )!  

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Obviously, the gear must stay securely in place.  Which is the vast failing of most web gear ( here just used to mean any of the holders/holsters/pouches/containers on your body for your equipment ).  The black powder horns and cartridge boxes seemed to be on a shoulder strap in most illustrations ( I could be off here and I am sure there are re-enactor minions who can chime in here ).  So, they not only bounced up and down while running, they swayed side to side.  You dove in the dirt, and where did they end up?  Who knows?  No problem, you have plenty of time under the stress of combat to find what you need, right?  Now, bandoleers were not much better.  The cloth waist belt used to house the Garand clips could move around but at least it was an all-around pouch belt.  Not just pouches up front.  In theory, you could find a clip even if the belt did a 180.  The leather bandoleers for bolt guns had a front-only design.  That looks great on horsemen on parade-I’m not sure how well that worked out for infantrymen.  And those disposable cloth deals that both the British used for their ammo and the US used for the rechargeable strips for the M16?  Even more sad and pathetic, as a thin strip dug into your shoulder and the other end with the clips swung madly about.  I continue tomorrow, as we explore the system for the Apocalypse.

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8 comments:

  1. You brought back memories on carrying gas masks. We had the MCU-2P that rode pretty nice on the left leg after you got used to it, but had all kinds of straps, buckles and clips to make it fit right. The little bastard was the M258 decontamination kit we had to carry with it. About the size of two packs of cigarettes taped side by side, it was clipped to the gas mask holder and just dangled off a nylon ribbon that would wrap around anything you were trying to maneuver around and I suspect strong enough to rappel with. We had one girl get trapped upside down on a boat ladder because of that.

    I have had limited experience with alice gear, but prefer the ouick release buckle over the old metal one so I can shed the gear if need be just because of one piece of crap add on like that.

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    1. I've bought surplus metal latch buckles, but was issued the plastic quick release one, which I did prefer. Sometimes the military accidentally improves a piece of equipment.

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  2. The M60 jacket is one of my favorites, but I agree, not the warmest jacket out there. Wear a wool sweater underneath the jacket and you will get way more warmth from the dead air insulation. This of course dictates the jacket is sized to suit - I wear a 2XL on my XL frame, just for those occasions.

    Military Surp durability has become much more lax with late stuff. Those German wool jackets / pants that bend like sheet iron and wear like them too are much warmer and durable.

    I've had good luck with Swiss military surplus. That alpenflauge M70 jacket with pockets up the wazoo (even has a built-in sniper veil in collar zip pocket) is heavy, but damn, who needs a pack with that thing. I bought two of them, one with sleeves removed for spring / fall wear.

    Thanks for the post.

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    1. My Swiss surplus rain gear is awesome. But their mittens are NOT never warm. So a mixed bag with me.

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  3. I read somewhere about rifle magazines, specifically AR type magazines.

    The advice was that military magazines were made to be used and replaced on a regular basis. Fire away maybe drop the magazine whilst reloading to unleash more hell on the enemies of Democracy.

    Whereas for TEOTWAWKI survivalist, durability and reliability are vital. Maybe an endless supply of ammo but hey, the article / comment was just about magazines.

    I think that is something survivalists need to keep in mind. We / they are not the military. Don't have the same needs nor share the same supply chain.

    I read a comment on another forum and a group went out for training / a bit of fun for a few days. Stopped in for a bite to eat on their way home. One of the lads was all decked out in camo and he stood out and apparently it was a bit awkward. The other lads were in "normal" but at the same time, appropriate (earth tones, durable but civvy) and didn't stand out.

    I have a few bags (I should be a Sheila) and unfortunately more than a couple were purchased when I thought that "tactical" was the same as practical. However I think that they are a bit to much for what I want. Should SHTF they'll attract attention. Hell one of the bags isn't military, it's a high end hunting pack (BADLANDS) but it'd stick out as well.

    Sucks to be me :-P

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    1. With the military, everything does tend to be disposable by its very nature. This includes its people at the lower, non-management, level of things. Yet survivalists think their magazines need to last two lifetimes, as well as their ammunition and everything else. You don’t stockpile paper cups for the Apocalypse ( for long term use ), yet you want all other disposable items for defense and To Thrive ( being such a special snowflake ).

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    2. That whole "attract attention" nonsense bleeted about on every other "me too" survivalist blog is just plain retarded to anyone even slightly situationally aware of their surroundings. Is it not probable that a person with an everyday pack will have means of laying waste inside just like the person with the camo pack?

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    3. Look at Commander Zero. I love the dude, but he is SOOOO Survivalist Specific for all his tools. I mean, really, you can't think of a much cheaper alternate to a $35 candle lantern? He makes fun of the homemade alternates and never thinks five hours wages is insane for a low probability tool such as a broke down car heater. He revels in his expensive toys. Me thinks most preppers are just like this.

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