tis the only way of getting some truly covert wild camping south of the border, only down side is the twenty or so other chaps in the stick screeming in behind you, all folded ankles and war faces!
What's that thin bit of cotton webbing on the back of the British Army PLCE Bergen?
- Thread starter RAPPLEBY2000
- Start date
i believe its for "Molle" equipment just found some stuff out for it its a very awesome concept check it out theres are some tactical belts and rucksacks made with hundred of those things on for that purpose look it up on google
I know this is an old thread but...
1)
We're talking about that near stretchy, flappy 15mm width strap that's sewn (at it's centre) onto the front of the rucksack 8cm above the front pouch, inline with the left side of that pouch?
You were right, RappelBy2000, it's for tying around the antenna of the Clansman PRC249 radio when it's kept in that front pouch. It secures the radio, preventing it from bouncing out if you have to run/jump about.
- or do cartwheels.
The PRC349:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clansman...=item238d38c8cb:g:RQcAAOSw2AFZr8ho:rk:25:pf:0
Clansman's been replaced by Bowman which I know nothing much about (after my time). I'd be interested to know if the flappy strap is still on the latest (MTP) incarnation of the PLCE Rucksack Infantry (Pattern 2011?).
2)
The two loops at the kidneys (when worn) don't often get used but they are an important feature of the rucksack. On the original Trials 1983 and Trials 1985 rucksacks, they formed part of the waistbelt assembly: the waistbelt was detachable and it slid in and secured to the main rucksack by snapper studs. The full production models retained the loops after the permanent attaching of the waistbelt, both on the Pattern 1990 (green) and Pattern 1995 (DPM). It's also on the Pattern 1995 Patrol Pack.
The loops are for abseiling. The belt of the army issue abseil harness is undone, the rucksack is inverted and the harness is then fed through these loops. The rucksack then dangles DOWNWARD from the waist, creating a more stable body position - ESSENTIAL for heli abseiling. You'd tip upside down, otherwise. I've cliff abseiled with rucksacks (SAS/PARA and PLCE) on my back and dangling off the harness and I've found the latter to be much more stable and preferable with heavier loads.
You might think "why not simply clip the waistbelt around the waist?". The 40mm plastic Fastex buckle isn't designed to take the full weight of the rucksack and it eventually would break - to the chagrin of anyone on the ground below...
The bogstandard army issue abseil harness:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-SAS...h=item1a5f2a30ee:g:jnQAAOSwTmJav3B4:rk:2:pf:0
I GUARANTEE that the loops are MOST CERTAINLY NOT for parachuting. Whether low level static line, HALO or HAHO. If someone claims to be a Paratrooper or military parachutist and they tell you this, they're telling you jackanory! (To put it politely)
The CSPEP (Carrying Straps, Personal Equipment, Parachutist) came into service in the early/mid 1960s (Mk1 - before my time) - decades before PLCE was born. "Guest" is refering to the current version (Mk3 - after my time). There are different bundle straps for HALO/HAHO but it attaches and releases in the same principle as the CSPEP.
With the CSPEP, soldier's main weapon can be carried in one of three ways, one of which has it attached to the side of the rucksack bundle. The CSPEP is still used even if no weapon is attached to it. After exiting the aircraft, the bundle is released to hang on the 15' rope so that it lands close to but separately to the soldier. You really wouldn't want to land with the rucksack still attached to you... (Been there, done that - if you didn't release both hooks on the Mk2 together at the same moment, the weight of the bundle could jam the second hook...)
US Paras use a similar system - they release their bundle then, when it's hanging, they release their weapon case which slides down the line to join the bundle.
3)
I think the two small loops by the zips of the Side Pouches are for when you carry items that are too long for the pouch. When you cannot close the lid using the zip, you tie the item/s down using these loops and the accessory loops on the front of the pouch. (I doubt that the designers would incorporate a feature for if/when their product breaks - that's severe lack of self-belief!)
##
I'm working on a full explanation/demonstration of the PLCE Rucksack Infantry on YouTube. Once done (don't hold your breath!) I'll post a link to it here.
But to add some fuel to the fire, there's a 25mm width short loop type fob sewn into the base of the rucksack, inline with the left side of the front pouch. I'm guessing that it's a general purpose thing. The military being quite (rightly) fanatical about dangling kit off of rucksacks, I doubt that it's for an ice axe or the like (there are easily far better ways of securing them onto the rucksack without need of cord, bungees, etc).
But does anyone have any ideas on it?
1)
We're talking about that near stretchy, flappy 15mm width strap that's sewn (at it's centre) onto the front of the rucksack 8cm above the front pouch, inline with the left side of that pouch?
You were right, RappelBy2000, it's for tying around the antenna of the Clansman PRC249 radio when it's kept in that front pouch. It secures the radio, preventing it from bouncing out if you have to run/jump about.
- or do cartwheels.
The PRC349:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clansman...=item238d38c8cb:g:RQcAAOSw2AFZr8ho:rk:25:pf:0
Clansman's been replaced by Bowman which I know nothing much about (after my time). I'd be interested to know if the flappy strap is still on the latest (MTP) incarnation of the PLCE Rucksack Infantry (Pattern 2011?).
2)
The two loops at the kidneys (when worn) don't often get used but they are an important feature of the rucksack. On the original Trials 1983 and Trials 1985 rucksacks, they formed part of the waistbelt assembly: the waistbelt was detachable and it slid in and secured to the main rucksack by snapper studs. The full production models retained the loops after the permanent attaching of the waistbelt, both on the Pattern 1990 (green) and Pattern 1995 (DPM). It's also on the Pattern 1995 Patrol Pack.
The loops are for abseiling. The belt of the army issue abseil harness is undone, the rucksack is inverted and the harness is then fed through these loops. The rucksack then dangles DOWNWARD from the waist, creating a more stable body position - ESSENTIAL for heli abseiling. You'd tip upside down, otherwise. I've cliff abseiled with rucksacks (SAS/PARA and PLCE) on my back and dangling off the harness and I've found the latter to be much more stable and preferable with heavier loads.
You might think "why not simply clip the waistbelt around the waist?". The 40mm plastic Fastex buckle isn't designed to take the full weight of the rucksack and it eventually would break - to the chagrin of anyone on the ground below...
The bogstandard army issue abseil harness:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-SAS...h=item1a5f2a30ee:g:jnQAAOSwTmJav3B4:rk:2:pf:0
I GUARANTEE that the loops are MOST CERTAINLY NOT for parachuting. Whether low level static line, HALO or HAHO. If someone claims to be a Paratrooper or military parachutist and they tell you this, they're telling you jackanory! (To put it politely)
The CSPEP (Carrying Straps, Personal Equipment, Parachutist) came into service in the early/mid 1960s (Mk1 - before my time) - decades before PLCE was born. "Guest" is refering to the current version (Mk3 - after my time). There are different bundle straps for HALO/HAHO but it attaches and releases in the same principle as the CSPEP.
With the CSPEP, soldier's main weapon can be carried in one of three ways, one of which has it attached to the side of the rucksack bundle. The CSPEP is still used even if no weapon is attached to it. After exiting the aircraft, the bundle is released to hang on the 15' rope so that it lands close to but separately to the soldier. You really wouldn't want to land with the rucksack still attached to you... (Been there, done that - if you didn't release both hooks on the Mk2 together at the same moment, the weight of the bundle could jam the second hook...)
US Paras use a similar system - they release their bundle then, when it's hanging, they release their weapon case which slides down the line to join the bundle.
3)
I think the two small loops by the zips of the Side Pouches are for when you carry items that are too long for the pouch. When you cannot close the lid using the zip, you tie the item/s down using these loops and the accessory loops on the front of the pouch. (I doubt that the designers would incorporate a feature for if/when their product breaks - that's severe lack of self-belief!)
##
I'm working on a full explanation/demonstration of the PLCE Rucksack Infantry on YouTube. Once done (don't hold your breath!) I'll post a link to it here.
But to add some fuel to the fire, there's a 25mm width short loop type fob sewn into the base of the rucksack, inline with the left side of the front pouch. I'm guessing that it's a general purpose thing. The military being quite (rightly) fanatical about dangling kit off of rucksacks, I doubt that it's for an ice axe or the like (there are easily far better ways of securing them onto the rucksack without need of cord, bungees, etc).
But does anyone have any ideas on it?
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