Pouch Attachment Ladder System

Last updated
The PALS grid is easily visible in this image of the US Marine Corps' Interceptor Body Armor; note the pouches attached to the system in the background (2005) USMC-01024.jpg
The PALS grid is easily visible in this image of the US Marine Corps' Interceptor Body Armor; note the pouches attached to the system in the background (2005)

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. [1] [2] 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. [1] 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. [3] The PALS system has begun to be adopted by other forces, such as the British Army, who use it on their Osprey body armor.

Contents

PALS consists of webbing sewn onto the load-bearing equipment and corresponding webbing and straps on the attachment. The straps are interwoven between the webbing on each of two pieces and finally snapped into place, making for a very secure fit which can be detached with moderate effort. New types are laser cut out of single piece fabric rather than webbing straps sewn onto fabric. This is common on many new tactical items from backpacks to chest rigs. The spacing is the same standard so new lasercut ladders are 100% backwards compatible with older pouches made for webbing strap construction rigs.

Specifications

Pattern for PALS and MOLLE grids of webbing, which are based on 25 mm (1 in) wide webbing with 38 mm (1.5 in) spacing between each sewing point. PALS webbing size.svg
Pattern for PALS and MOLLE grids of webbing, which are based on 25 mm (1 in) wide webbing with 38 mm (1.5 in) spacing between each sewing point.

The PALS grid consists of horizontal rows of 25 mm (1 in) commercial item descriptions (CID) A-A-55301A (replacing Mil-W-43668 [4] ) Type III nylon webbing (most commercial vendors use Type IIIa), spaced 25 mm apart, and reattached to the backing at 38 mm (1.5 in) intervals. [5] The stitchings are spaced 38 mm (1.5 in) apart, with a range of 35–40 mm (1.4–1.6 in) considered acceptable in practice.[ citation needed ]

Newer styles come in various laser cut fabric, most commonly 1000D cordura nylon (some vendors use 500D–600D). The benefits often quoted for laser cut single piece style is significant weight saving especially on plate carriers/rigs and items with large amount of ladder area as well as less bulk. Another consideration is fabrics can be made in new popular patterns without need to source webbing in compatible shades including viewing conditions under night vision devices. Many of these specialist patterns are also available in NIR treated forms for optimal camouflage viewed through such night vision devices.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backpack</span> Bag carried on ones back

A backpack—also called knapsack, schoolbag, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Webbing</span> Strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube used instead of rope

Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibres, often used in place of rope. It is a versatile component used in climbing, slacklining, furniture manufacturing, automobile safety, auto racing, towing, parachuting, military apparel, load securing, and many other fields.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MOLLE</span> Load-bearing equipment and backpacks used by a number of NATO armed forces

Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment, or MOLLE, is the current generation of load-bearing equipment used by a number of NATO armed forces, especially the British Army and the United States Army since the late 1990s. MOLLE uses the Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) webbing equipment – rows of heavy-duty nylon stitched onto the gear – to attach equipment. This method has found use on civilian gear, and as a result, the term MOLLE is used outside the military for PALS-type webbing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal Load Carrying Equipment</span> Tactical webbing systems of the British Armed Forces

Personal load carrying equipment (PLCE) is one of several tactical webbing systems of the British Armed Forces. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalions</span> Reconnaissance assets of Marine Air-Ground Task Force

The United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalions are the special operations assets of Marine Air-Ground Task Force that provide division-level ground and amphibious reconnaissance to the Ground Combat Element within the United States Marine Corps. Division reconnaissance teams are employed to observe and report on enemy activity and other information of military significance in close operations. The Military Occupational Specialty code for Reconnaissance Marine is 0321.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment</span> Military personal equipment system

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Individual integrated fighting system</span> US Armed Forces IIFS

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape (dog)</span> Identifying article worn by working dogs

A cape, jacket, or vest is an article worn by a working dog to identify or assist them in their job.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Improved load-bearing equipment</span> United States Marine Corps program

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modular Tactical Vest</span> Body armor developed by the United States Marine Corps

The Modular Tactical Vest is a ballistic vest originally adopted by the United States Marine Corps in 2006. The MTV was designed as a solution to shortcomings in the Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) and was selected after a rigorous proposal and examination process by the Marine Corps. The MTV provides better protection levels than the IBA, although it uses the same Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) plates. The MTV weighs 30 pounds (14 kg), three pounds more than the IBA, but is designed to more effectively distribute its weight throughout the wearer's torso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System</span>

CIRAS is a modular protective vest designed for US Special Operations Forces by Eagle Industries. The vest is currently the new FSBE II system and has replaced the FSBE AAVs. It features PALS webbing, making it MOLLE-compatible and allowing the attachment of various pouches or accessories. Two versions of the vest are available, known as the "land" and "maritime" versions. The vest consists of front and rear panels with pockets for BALCS or SPEAR-cut soft armor panels and standard-issue SAPI plates. This gives the wearer up to NIJ Level IV protection on the front and back and Level IIIA protection on the sides. On the lower rear side of the front of the vest, there are two quick-releasable buckles for attaching groin protection. The wearer's sides are covered by an external cummerbund, which is also covered with PALS webbing. The vest body is constructed of 1000-denier Cordura Nylon, and the interior is lined with heavy-duty mesh to aid in cooling the wearer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M-1956 load-carrying equipment</span> Equipment

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osprey body armour</span> System of body armour used by the British Armed Forces

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.

The Amphibious Assault Vest, Quick-Release, or FSBE AAV QR, is a light-weight assault vest system that incorporates both protection and cargo retention. Protection includes soft armor coupled with hard ballistic inserts. Cargo retention capabilities include various pouches and pockets attached via standard PALS webbing. The entire FSBE kit includes the vest body, a throat protector, a groin protector and an assortment of load bearing pouches. A fully loaded vest with armor plates can prove quite heavy, and is typically used only in high-risk direct action (DA) missions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soldier Plate Carrier System</span> US Army SPCS or KDH Magnum TAC-1

The Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS), known commercially as the KDH Magnum TAC-1, is a plate carrier developed for the U.S. Army which provides protection in accordance with if not greater than, the Improved Outer Tactical Vest. The SPCS is a lighter alternative to the IOTV, with increased mobility and comfort. The MSV, part of the US Army's SPS, is intended to replace all currently fielded body armor systems.

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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ephod Combat Vest</span>

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.

References

  1. 1 2 Halberstadt, H. Battle Rattle. Zenith Imprint. p. 7. ISBN   9781610600828 . Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  2. ↑ "Molle Care And Use Manual" (PDF). campingsurvivalgearreviews.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  3. ↑ MALICE Clip Archived 2007-11-23 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "MIL-W-43668 C Notice-1 Webbing Textile Textured or Nylon". everyspec.com. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  5. ↑ "diytactical.com - Webbing & Tape". diytactical.com. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.