Irish Army Reserve soldier wearing an olive-green PLCE set in 2010; this style of set is essentially identical to initial British Armed Forces sets. Visible are the left-hand-side ammunition pouch and a utility or water bottle pouch. British Yorkshire Regiment soldier wearing a PLCE set in (faded) Disruptive Pattern Material; visible are the yoke, right-hand-side ammunition pouch, and water bottle and utility pouches; these latter pouches have been additionally secured together with a length of bungee cord and have had a sandbag externally mounted to them by this particular soldier.British Royal Bermuda Regiment soldier manipulating a magazine contained in the left-hand ammunition pouch of a Multi-Terrain Pattern PLCE set.
Personal load carrying equipment (PLCE) is one of several tactical webbing systems of the British Armed Forces.[1] Dependent upon the year of design, and the decade of introduction, the webbing system was named and is commonly referred to as the 85 Pattern, the 90 Pattern or the 95 Pattern webbing.[2]
The basic configuration consists of a belt, a shoulder harness and a number of pouches. Associated with the PLCE webbing system is a series of other similar load carrying equipment, individual items and rucksacks that are produced of the same materials and which are compatible.
Purpose
The purpose of the PLCE webbing system is to retain the means by which a soldier may operate for 48 hours or conduct a mission-specific task. Items and components may include a variety of munitions and weapon ancillaries, a three-fold entrenching tool, a bayonet, food and water (including a means to heat water and prepare food), chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protective clothing and communications equipment. Soldiers often carry other personal items such as waterproof clothing and spare socks.[1]
History
The PLCE webbing system replaced the 58 pattern webbing, which was olive drab/olive green (OD/OG) in colour and made of canvas.[3] This system, after having been introduced to the forces in 1960 and considered long obsolete by 1980, was still part of the standard-issue equipment of the British Armed Forces during the Falklands War in 1982.
To address the common issues with canvas materials, such as shrinking and accelerated degradation in damp climates, arctic conditions, or prolonged exposure to wet terrain, military load-bearing systems—beyond those used by the British Armed Forces—have been redesigned to include or be made from newer and more durable synthetic materials.
Following this influential lead and reconsidering the progression and renewal of military load bearing systems around the world, Britain developed 72 pattern webbing, which mainly consisted of two ammunition pouches, to be worn on the front and a field pack, to be worn on the back, made of Polyurethane-coated nylon and Butyl rubber. This system was never generally issued but was a Troop Trials Equipment.
The National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee) of the German Democratic Republic designed and introduced the Uniformtrageversuch 85–90 (UTV 85–90), resembling, with the exception of the clothing system, a modified duplicate of the British Type 58 Pattern webbing, inheriting very similar features in appearance and function. The shoulder harness was of identical design, the belt had featured the use of identical buckles and 58 Pattern C-hooks had been incorporated in all components. Complementary items, such as pouches, had been changed in design and size, to meet Warsaw Pact requirements. The webbing system and components were produced of more robust Nylon and featured the Strichtarn camouflage pattern. Whilst this late improvement was observed by the British Armed Forces and being found to be an affront, especially against the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR), no further considerations have been made, as the testing of prototypic PLCE equipment was already underway.
Developments resumed with the progression of the firearms development and introduction of the SA80 family of British small arms. Trials of experimental PLCE webbing and combat body armour (CBA) were conducted with selected units in 1984 and 1985. Being very similar to the first standard issue PLCE webbing system, it used snaps of proprietary design for closure on all pouches[citation needed].
90 pattern
Seven years after the Falklands War, the first standard issue PLCE webbing was introduced in 1989 as the 90 pattern webbing and was olive (OD/OG) in colour.
The original components used Type 58 pattern C-hooks for the belt attachment, and angled D-rings for the shoulder harness attachment on the ammunition pouches. There were separate left and right pouches. The first utility pouches in production had additional belt attachments for high mounting, similar to the ammunition pouches of the 1937 pattern web equipment or 44 pattern. Later produced PLCE webbing of the 90 pattern incorporates ambidextrous yoke fittings and the standard PLCE webbing belt attachments (see below).
The newest variant of the PLCE webbing system, of the 90 pattern, has been in production since 1992 and has the Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) camouflage pattern of the partially obsolete Combat Soldier 95 ("Soldier 95") clothing system.[3] The official name remained unchanged.
95 pattern
With the introduction of the Combat Soldier 95 (CS95 or "Soldier 95") clothing system in 1995, the common misconception arose that a complete revision of the 90 Pattern PLCE webbing system was taking place. The clothing system underwent final development and entered troop trials in between 1992 and 1995. Garments were manufactured for the trials, yet the PLCE webbing system issued, officially remained of the 90 Pattern.
Due to confusion, or for the sake of convenience, individual components of the webbing system, were by 1995, unofficially named, described and specified as the Type 95 pattern webbing, as having been widely understood to be part of the Combat Soldier 95 clothing system. No official name change had taken place. The only array of PLCE components that could be considered of the unofficial 95 pattern, are those components produced during or after that year.
Construction
The PLCE webbing system is produced from double-layered 1,000 Denier internally rubberised CorduraNylon, a long lasting and hard wearing fabric.[2]Olive webbing of the same material ("1000 D") is being incorporated, along with a variety of hard wearing plastic fasteners (ITW Nexus), Hook and loop fasteners (Velcro) and anti-magnetic press stud fasteners ("pull the dot").
The pouches are opened and closed with Spanish tab fasteners, they can be closed in two ways, quick release or secure. Small sections of Velcro, sewn on the inside of the lids of the pouches and the top front section of the pouches, allow for easy and effortless fastening. Added silencer strips allow them to be covered when not needed.
A standard ammunition pouch as issued ("pouch, ammunition, universal, DPM, IRR") has two pockets; single pocket versions ("pouch, ammunition (other arms), DPM, IRR") are available for those not required to carry as much ammunition. Pouches designated to hold ammunition initially contained a dividing strip to hold two magazines in separate compartments and eliminate rattle. Some soldiers, especially infantry soldiers, often removed these dividing strips to make it easier to insert and remove magazines. They also found that three magazines would then fit comfortably and without excessive noise, giving a total capacity of twelve magazines per person in a standard fighting configuration. Later issue ammunition pouches were manufactured without dividers, as eight magazines was not thought to be sufficient for sustained firefights. Without dividers, each pouch can alternatively contain one grenade.
Infrared reflective (IRR) coating and dyes are incorporated in all fabric and webbing of the PLCE webbing system, which replicates the near-infrared reflectance of natural foliage. For example, green foliage is highly reflective to near-infrared light and thus appears white when viewed through IR optics (or bright green through night vision). The IRR camouflage pattern therefore works correctly when viewed through infrared night vision optics just as it does in visible light. Non-IRR fabric would appear as a solid colour dependent on its reflectance and the camouflage pattern would be lost.
Order of dress
The Infantry Trials and Development Unit (ITDU), based in Warminster, conducted trials with the PLCE webbing system. It had decided for the system to be fit for purpose, and divided the system into three orders of dress:[2]
Assault Order.
The Assault Order consists of the essentials needed to conduct a military task in the theatre of war. Ammunition, the water bottle, the entrenching tool, the bayonet, the helmet, and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) protective clothing (stowed in one of the detachable side pouches of the rucksack) is to be carried on operations and patrols of only short duration.[2]
Combat Order.
The Combat Order is the Assault Order in addition to the means of stowage for rations and personal equipment, that enable the British soldier to live and fight for a period of 24 hours. The second side pouch of the rucksack is now carried. In practice, the patrol packs are used by many units and individual soldiers instead of the side pouches, as they are to be found larger in size and more convenient.[2]
Marching Order.
The Marching Order is the Combat Order in addition to the carrying of the rucksack (Bergen) and is the fighting load required for operations of up to the duration of two weeks, without means of resupply, except for ammunition, rations and water. The complete Bergen (with side pouches attached) is being carried.[2]
Configuration
The initial basis of the PLCE webbing system is the belt; it features two D-rings at the back to attach to the shoulder harness, and many rows of narrow vertical slots sewn into the fabric. Two or more front pouches (ammunition or utility) attach to the belt; these have belt loops and feature T-Bar plastic tab attachments to provide more stability and security when connected to the belt. Every major component of the PLCE webbing system features two T-Bar plastic tab attachments.
The six-point shoulder harness attaches to the two D-rings on the belt and the two A-rings on each front pouch chosen. This benefits the distribution of weight and allows for a more comfortable carry, than provided with the use of a four-point shoulder harness. Pouches that are to be worn on the back (field pack, utility, water bottle, respirator, wire cutter, entrenching tool) attach to the belt using the same loop and tab system.
The detachable side pouches of a Bergen (pouch, side, rucksack, DPM, IRR) can be attached to the dedicated shoulder harness (yoke, pouch side, rucksack, DPM, IRR) to construct a day-sack.
In 1997, the Defence Clothing and Textile Agency had decided that the issue of 1990 pattern (infantry)-type PLCE to individual soldiers was to be scaled as follows:[4]
The standard-issue accoutrement today, dependent upon the branch of service, was changed to the capacity of two front pouches (pouch, ammunition, universal, DPM, IRR) instead of one. To this, privately purchased water bottle or utility pouches and hip pads are often added. The entrenching tool pouch (carrier, entrenching tool case, DPM, IRR) is sometimes used as an alternative water bottle pouch.
Multi Terrain Pattern (MTP) PLCE is replacing all Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) PLCE as the core issued webbing equipment for the British Armed Forces, this program started in 2015.[3]
The following example of individual components, are all current issue items of the British Armed Forces, however many commercial variants are available.
11 round 40 mm grenade, bandolier, Woodland DPM. [NSN 1305-99-371-1332] (BCB International Limited)
waistcoat, mans, general purpose ops. [NSN 8405-99-527-1800] (All arms waistcoat with two ammunition pouches, four utility pouches, two general purpose pouches and two pockets.)
rucksack and frame, (INF) long convoluted back, DPM, IRR. [NSN 8465-99-978-9220] (Bergen) (Rucksack, infantry, or all arms in later manufacture.) (100 Litres)
rucksack and frame, (INF) short convoluted back, DPM, IRR. [NSN 8465-99-978-9221] (Bergen)
rucksack and frame, (INF) long convoluted back, MTP, IRR. [NSN 8465-99-361-7307] (Bergen)
rucksack, radio carrier, DPM, IRR. [NSN 5820-99-869-211] (Allows comfortable carry of Model 320, 350, 351, 352 and Cougar radios.)
rucksack, other arms, DPM, IRR. [NSN 8465-99-978-5364] (A smaller Bergen with holdall-style carrying handles and pack-away shoulder straps, designed to be carried in vehicles.)
field pack, air support back, DPM, IRR. [NSN 8485-99-380-6492] (Large rucksack with 6 external pouches on the rear, and provision for an extra side pouch to be attached across the top. This item has been issued to some SF, pathfinder and STA patrol troops of the British Armed Forces.)
A new standard-issue piece of equipment (Waistcoat, Mans, General Purpose Ops.) that was designed for carrying essential items on a more secure platform than the original webbing system.
This consists of a typical waistcoat design, fastened with three ITW Nexus clips. Two triple ammunition pouches are situated on the left hand side of the coat, along with a utility pouch, small utility pouch and a zippered pocket with an internal holster. The right side is similar but with three large utility pouches, along with a small utility pouch and again a zippered pocket with notepad holder. All pouches open and close with ITW Nexus clips as well as having storm seals.
The vest is adjusted through four ladderlock fasteners and webbing, the shoulders are adjustable with Velcro material. The concept is to gain a secure load carrying system that fits over body armour comfortably. There are various types of this vest depending upon the year of manufacture. The originals are as described above but newer models have loops on the left side for the bayonet frog, clips for a large hydration pouch, name patches on the left side, and a small utility pouch. Most recently, the Spanish tab fasteners are being incorporated again, instead of the ITW Nexus clips.
The standard-issue assault vest, depending on the operational requirements, is available in either the Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) camouflage pattern, or the Desert DPM (''DDPM'') camouflage pattern. Commercial variants are available in multiple colours, such as Black, Green, or the American Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU) camouflage pattern.
Criticism
The main criticism of the PLCE webbing system amongst members of the British Armed Forces is that the belt is prone to slipping. Some soldiers opt to change the plastic buckle for a Roll-Pin type, whereby the belt is threaded and tightened each time it is put on.
Future
In 2015, VIRTUS, the Personal Protective Equipment and Load Carriage System, began being issued to high readiness units.
Due to the introduction and constant improvement of protective equipment, such as the Osprey Body Armour (OBA), the PLCE webbing system is incompatible so Osprey Mk 4 has a MOLLE belt and under armour Yoke to allow Osprey pouches to be used as belt equipment.
After the first introduction in 1989, PLCE in its current MTP form is still Britain's core issue webbing equipment which is compatible with ECBA armour and Mk 6 and 7 helmet, with Osprey issued to non-deployed infantry, leaving Virtus issued to deployed Infantry Commando and Parachute Units.
A backpack—also called knapsack, rucksack, pack, booksack, bookbag, haversack or backsack—is, in its simplest frameless form, a fabric sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders; but it can have an external or internal frame, and there are bodypacks.
Modular lightweight load-carrying equipment, or MOLLE (pronounced MOL-lee,, is the current generation of load-bearing equipment and backpacks used by a number of NATO armed forces, especially the British Army and the United States Army.
A jerkin is a man's short close-fitting jacket, made usually of light-coloured leather, and often without sleeves, worn over the doublet in the 16th and 17th centuries. The term is also applied to a similar sleeveless garment worn by the British Army in the 20th century. A buff jerkin is an oiled oxhide jerkin, as worn by soldiers.
The all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment (ALICE) is a set of load-carrying equipment adopted as United States Army Standard A on 17 January 1973 to replace the M-1956 individual load-carrying equipment (ILCE) and M-1967 modernized load-carrying equipment (MLCE). Although since superseded by MOLLE, ALICE gear is still in some limited use with the U.S. Army National Guard, State Guard, also some ground units of the Navy and Air Force.
The Denison smock was a coverall jacket issued to Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents, the Parachute Regiment, the Glider Pilot Regiment, Air Landing Regiments, air observation post squadrons, Commando units, and other Commonwealth airborne units, to wear over their Battle Dress uniform during the Second World War, remaining in service with the British Army until the early 1970s when it was replaced by a version in the Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) smock. The garment was also issued as standard to the scout and sniper platoons of line infantry battalions.
Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform (DPCU), also nicknamed Auscam, jelly bean camo, or hearts and bunnies is a five-colour military camouflage pattern used by the Australian Defence Force. Replacing the jungle greens used from WWII, it was developed and tested during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The uniform was trialled in 1987, with it being slowly introduced in late 1989, with the last production and discontinuation of the jungle greens being in late 1990. Jungle greens were last issued in late 1991 for Australian Regular Army, and late 1994 for Australian Army Reserve.
The modernized load-carrying equipment, also known as M-1967 modernized load-carrying equipment or MLCE, was introduced into United States Army service in 1968 during the Vietnam War. The M-1967 MLCE was not specifically designed to replace the canvas and cotton duck M-1956 load-carrying equipment, but instead it was designed for use in tropical environments.
The IIFS was introduced in 1988, to serve as a fighting and existence carrying system—a possible replacement for the all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment (ALICE) employed and fielded by United States Armed Forces since 1973.
The improved load-bearing equipment (ILBE) is a United States Marine Corps program that had included individual load carriage equipment, individual hydration systems and individual water purification.
The M-1956 load-carrying equipment (LCE), also known as the individual load-carrying equipment (ILCE), was developed by the U.S. Army and first issued in the early 1960s. The M-1956 LCE was designed to replace the M-1945 Combat Pack, the M-1923 cartridge belt, the M-1936 pistol belt and the M-1937 BAR magazine belt. The M-1956 LCE was designed to be quickly configured, using no tools, to accommodate various mission and ammunition loads. The M-1956 LCE remained in service through the 1980s and set the standard for future United States military load-carrying equipment.
Osprey body armour is a system of body armour used by the British Armed Forces. The system is in its fourth iteration following extensive development and engagement with front line users.
1958 pattern web equipment was a modular personal equipment system issued to the British Armed Forces from 1959 up until the mid 90s. It replaced the 1937 pattern web equipment that had served the UK's Armed Forces through the Second World War and the first decade of the Cold War and also the 1944 pattern webbing which was used in jungle conditions starting from the mid-1960s.
The Pouch Attachment Ladder System or PALS is a grid of webbing invented and patented by United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center used to attach smaller equipment onto load-bearing platforms, such as vests and backpacks. It was first used on MOLLE rucksacks, but is now found on a variety of tactical equipment, such as the U.S. Improved Outer Tactical Vest, Interceptor body armor, USMC improved load-bearing equipment backpack and Modular Tactical Vest. It is used to attach items such as holsters, magazine pouches, radio pouches, knife sheathes, and other gear. A wide variety of pouches are commercially available, allowing soldiers to customize their kit. There is also a variety of attachment methods including the Alice Clip, the Natick snap, and soft, interwoven straps. The PALS system has begun to be adopted by other forces, such as the British Army, who use it on their Osprey body armor.
1937 pattern web equipment, officially known as "Equipment, Web 1937" and "Pattern 1937 Equipment" was the British military load-carrying equipment used during the Second World War. It replaced the 1908 pattern and 1925 pattern—on which it was based—and was standard issue for British and Commonwealth troops from its introduction in 1937, throughout World War II, and in the post-war period until it was superseded by 1958 pattern web equipment. It remained in limited use with Territorial Army and other second-line troops until the mid to late 1970s. Official use of the webbing in Community Cadet Forces and the Combined Cadet Force persisted into the 1980s.
The 1972 pattern webbing was intended to replace the 58 pattern webbing, but never got beyond user trials. It was made from PU-coated nylon to counter the Soviet NBC capability with a general look closer to a load-bearing vest. It was designed to be used in wide variety of environments such as jungles, deserts and was configurable for use, ranging from short-duration jungle patrols to general infantry use.
The 1961 pattern webbing equipment, also referred to as the 63 pattern and 61/64 pattern, was the first load-bearing equipment system of the Republic of South Africa, issued to the South African army. The system was copied by the Rhodesian army as the 69 pattern webbing.
The 1908 pattern web infantry equipment was an innovative type of webbing equipment adopted by the British Army before World War I.
Family of Improved Load Bearing Equipment (FILBE) is a series of equipment used by the United States Marine Corps for personal load carrying. It comprises the backpack and various attachments carried by an individual Marine in the field. The FILBE was designed as an improvement over the prior ILBE system that was not compatible with the newest body armor systems.
The Ephod Combat Vest, also designated variously the A10 Model Infantry Load-bearing Rig, Individual Carrying Equipment, and "New style" Load Bearing Equipment, is a personal equipment system issued to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of the State of Israel since the mid-1970s. It replaced the modular-based 1950s "Old style" tan-khaki cotton canvas equipment and a variety of load-carrying waistcoats and assault vests used by Israeli infantry and elite units during the 1967 Six-Day War, the 1967-1970 War of Attrition, and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
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