1st Commando Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 well dont hold your breath i cannot see most regular units seeing it for a while yet but i know a few UKSF that have got it prior to going away Link to post Share on other sites
umbra Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 cool wonder how long it will be till the cadets get it ill probly be in the army by then <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Why would cadets be issued with armour? Link to post Share on other sites
1st Commando Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 i think he meant the new pattern combats Link to post Share on other sites
sadigh Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 I saw these new Osprey molle plate carriers on the news the other day, on BBC2 I think it was. A few bits of footage they showed of british soldiers in Iraq had me stunned, as I saw a few squaddies wearing it. I almost passed out in shock after shouting out ''Those squaddies are wearing Molle!'' Looks like really gucci kit, and certainly makes the army look alot more modern. Its a great bonus that it offers more protection too Link to post Share on other sites
Belladonna Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 cool wonder how long it will be till the cadets get it ill probly be in the army by then <{POST_SNAPBACK}> im TA, we wont be seeing ANY new kit for a good few years, you certainly wont, think 10 years for the combats, then 20 for the molle, dont even think about the m249s, we JUST got those , love em. Link to post Share on other sites
rageman Posted June 28, 2006 Report Share Posted June 28, 2006 That is most odd as the goverment spent a fair bit of money updating the desert DPM last year. Why would they do that if they was going to get rid of it 2 years later? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Issue kit comes along in huge leaps and bounds in major long term campaigns. This is due to getting feedback from soldiers about whats actually required in the current combat enviroment. Most webbing was made for european style campaigns where you carried all you needed to live on your back. Now we're operating from fixed bases on patrols/combat recce operations. Assualt vests where initially deployed, now feedback is coming in on how to improve on it. Modularity is the next logical step. If they do intend to change camoflage designs now is also the best time to do it. Link to post Share on other sites
Lance Jackass Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 im TA, we wont be seeing ANY new kit for a good few years, you certainly wont, think 10 years for the combats, then 20 for the molle, dont even think about the m249s, we JUST got those , love em. Didn't the brit army get the minimi in 2003 at the start of op telic 1? 3 years isn't bad waiting time. When i left th cadets in 2005, 95 trousers were just starting to be issued to the area i was in. Scopey as regards to the "comfort of your own home" argument. Having had a muck about with the EBA before now i would have thought that any system built up around it would be even more cumbersome. The EBA is awkward to bend or look down in, heavy, sweaty (all of which you'll allready know) and to build a system where that HAS to be worn (albeit it in a new guise) seems silly to me. For example if they phased out PLCE so that everyone had to wear osprey, i think it would be unpopular-for exercises and non tactical situations at least. Link to post Share on other sites
Eddie182 Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 Full plate CBA is certainly a good thing, but I still wouldn't wear the MOLLE pouches on it. I'd much rather stick to the webbing or Arktis vest I'm in a wagon. Link to post Share on other sites
mgyz3 Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 i still like plce better than molle more comfey and better for long ops but molle is good for short ops Link to post Share on other sites
CobaltSky Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 Damn, now I'm gonna have to get a MOLLE vest for my brit kit loadout. I just spent a lot on PLCE. Maybe I'll just leave it as is and get black kit (stealthy ) EDIT: Not forgetting the SpecAm I'm getting at the end of the summer. Link to post Share on other sites
Belladonna Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 Full plate CBA is certainly a good thing, but I still wouldn't wear the MOLLE pouches on it. I'd much rather stick to the webbing or Arktis vest I'm in a wagon. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> webbing over the armour? plce is bulky enough as it is, and especially in fibua, the osprey seems to combine the 2 and reduce the bulk of 2 systems a tad. Link to post Share on other sites
Kipper Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 Like LJ said it would be better to keep the armour and load carrying system separate. That way you can still carry your kit if you need to but dont need the armour, or you can ditch the kit should you need to, but still have the bullet protection EDIT: I hope they dont make this a woodland thing as well, could you imagine having to dive on ammo and grenade pouches? I forsee lots of pain and broken mags Link to post Share on other sites
Eddie182 Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 webbing over the armour? plce is bulky enough as it is, and especially in fibua, the osprey seems to combine the 2 and reduce the bulk of 2 systems a tad. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well it's what I've been doing for the past 7 years mate, and as kipper said, 2 systems is far more flexible. I'll admit, there are situations when having your ammo pouches on your CBA would be handy, eg. short patrols, standing around at VCP's and the like. But for anything else, I'd rather stick with PLCE. I mean hell, the current CBA is bulky and restrictive enough as it is, not to mention the weight, why make it worse. Link to post Share on other sites
Lance Jackass Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 I mean hell, the current CBA is bulky and restrictive enough as it is, not to mention the weight, why make it worse. That's kind of what i was getting at. Personally i've never felt that PLCE was bad for OBUA. For crawling through pipes etc a la TA2 then maybe, but for normal room to room skirmishing it's fine. But then i never understood the whole CQB "everything must be short" argument. Brits were doing room clearing with bolt action, stupidly long enfields back in the 40's... The americans used M16s and webbing *gasp* in the 'nam urban battles... Link to post Share on other sites
Chimpy Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 We should of stuck with lines of men facing off and those fancy red uniforms as well. Flintlocks FTW! Things change and it's always worthwhile to experiment. After all MOLLE rigs come in all shapes and sizes. However equipment should always be suited to task and not visa versa. Link to post Share on other sites
doc_newstead Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 This smells like a stop-gap to me. I reckon it'll be replaced by something a bit more practical near the end of the decade. Just a feeling I have... Link to post Share on other sites
Eddie182 Posted June 30, 2006 Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 That's kind of what i was getting at. Personally i've never felt that PLCE was bad for OBUA. For crawling through pipes etc a la TA2 then maybe, but for normal room to room skirmishing it's fine. But then i never understood the whole CQB "everything must be short" argument. Brits were doing room clearing with bolt action, stupidly long enfields back in the 40's... The americans used M16s and webbing *gasp* in the 'nam urban battles... <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Very good point as usual LJ. My main doubt when it come to this stuff is, it's all fine and dandy in the heat, but when it comes to temperate climates or iraq in winter or at night when most people wear their CBA UNDER their smocks (thus enabling the use of pockets and shoving of empty mags down the frot of your smock) it ain't gonna be much use really is it. Link to post Share on other sites
Kipper Posted June 30, 2006 Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 The way i see it, and im not really that sure about if its even possible but i think the best move would have been to just get new armour carriers that can carry full sized plates, and have kept the armour and webbing separate Link to post Share on other sites
Lance Jackass Posted June 30, 2006 Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 I honestly don't think that plate carriers will be the way forwards anyway. Putting on a MOLLE plate carrier was like stepping into a sauna for me. Brit ops vests with a mesh back and open front, fine. But 2 layers of ballistic nylon front and rear.... ecspecially for use in the sandbox, i just don't get it. EBA with PLCE or ops vest over. Restrictive and hot, but still probably better than this new thing will be. I would have thought that the way forwards would have been to issue MOLLE ops vests, with a new type of EBA that takes SAPIs. Edit: kipper came up with the same idea at the same time. Walt. Link to post Share on other sites
DazJW Posted June 30, 2006 Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 Who's to say this is a replacement? It's possible they're just bringing this in as an extra so it can be issued for troops on short patrols that need armour and don't need the carrying ability of PLCE. Link to post Share on other sites
1st Commando Posted June 30, 2006 Report Share Posted June 30, 2006 this principal IS the replacement unfortunately oh yes the Bergan attaches directly to the load bearing unit via clips too from what i can gather and it's all tied in for the new radio,helmet and headset kind of like a plug together set Link to post Share on other sites
scopey_uk Posted July 1, 2006 Report Share Posted July 1, 2006 you lot are not getting it....it is a TOTALLY different vest to the EBA and IEBA - it has a newer form of kevlar filler - lighter and lower profile but increased protection , the spai size plates are made in the US by DYNEEMA - good kit . It has an extra collar and shoulder ATTACHMENTS - completely removable unlike IEBA. As i said in my post - i personally believe in the flexibility of keeping my armour n pouches seperate ( i run a plate carrier styel vest and modular chest rig with some custom pouches ) the issue modular pouches are shoddy to say the least but the army is moving in the right direction - Flexible. Wait till you see some people blown to bits ( and i have ) and you will not worry to much about the heat generated by your armour - need more mobility and lighter weight - look at what you are carrying not reduce protection. I have seen far too many soldiers going out on a three hr patrol in 50 degree heat carrying the kind of *beep* they carry back here in the uk - full EnE kits, brew kit etc - madness...... For the youngsters here with intent on joining up there will be no " i ain't wearing this *beep*" - news flash unless you are SF you WILL wear ISSUE armour - it's a poxy H&S issue Link to post Share on other sites
scopey_uk Posted July 1, 2006 Report Share Posted July 1, 2006 Oh and guys as for wearing it under a smock...... when the collar and shoulders are not attached - apart from the obviously larger plates the new Osprey vest is less bulky than EBA - just chuck your smock on then belt kit, ops vest whatever floats your boat over the top....problem solved. Alot of guys are using the issue modular ammo pouches on guard when all you need are mags for your weapon - saves standing around with full webbing n vest on . Link to post Share on other sites
tinkle60 Posted July 1, 2006 Report Share Posted July 1, 2006 Does it look something like this? Link to post Share on other sites
scopey_uk Posted July 1, 2006 Report Share Posted July 1, 2006 thats it mate with collar and sleeves attached - most remove them as they are too cumbersome - good for top cover and standing around front gate of camp etc where you are exposed. BTW the army just ordered 9000 sets of osprey for the infantry after successful trials in Iraq and it's an armour replacement NOT a PLCE replacement - the molle aspect just gives you more options Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.