by MHM
23 October 2018
For those serious about bugging out, what web gear will you use when the SHTF? From personal experience, I’m content with LC-1 and LC-2 web gear, having hauled it on my body during USAFE exercises in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s, and also for camping trips in the wilderness. With the advent of MOLLE gear, much of the LC gear has been declared surplus, and can be found in some surplus stores at low prices.
For those serious about bugging out, what web gear will you use when the SHTF? From personal experience, I’m content with LC-1 and LC-2 web gear, having hauled it on my body during USAFE exercises in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s, and also for camping trips in the wilderness. With the advent of MOLLE gear, much of the LC gear has been declared surplus, and can be found in some surplus stores at low prices.
When I first arrived in Germany mid 1988,
part of our in-processing involved numerous briefings and a trip to base
supply. My issue web gear was a well used M1956 cotton belt, an M-14 pouch, a
plastic canteen containing red dirt, an M1956 canteen cover, M1 helmet and
liner, used camo helmet cover and no helmet band, pouch for compass/first aid
bandage, and an M17 gas mask and hood. The longest I wore a mask continuously was for eight hours during an Alarm Red/Black.
Our gear included an exercise MOPP suit, cotton gloves, rubber outer gloves, and booties, in addition to mobility gear, stored in our mobility bag (a B4 bag). Real world gear was stored separately from the exercise stuff.
Our gear included an exercise MOPP suit, cotton gloves, rubber outer gloves, and booties, in addition to mobility gear, stored in our mobility bag (a B4 bag). Real world gear was stored separately from the exercise stuff.
Not content with this aged junk, during
in-processing in the shop we were briefed on our duties and were told where to
get new gear. Our duties including not only preparing for conflict with the
Warsaw Pact, but also working in a likely NBC environment, and emergency
destruction of munitions (meaning we trained to blow things up).
Not wasting any time, I arranged to travel to the AAFES Army clothing sales at Baumholder with some guys in the shop and pick up some new web gear (in addition to doing some sightseeing in the local area, and sampling the local beer).
Needless to say, the LC-1 or -2 web gear was a vast improvement over the older items. Since I volunteered for the “reentry team”, I was issued M2 crimpers and a demo knife in a nice black carrier, if the opportunity ever arose to blow up our munitions (along with the commies coming over the hill). We attended demo training conducted by the 461 conventional troops (2W0X1 in modern AF speak), and met EOD at the range for demo work with C4 at Bitburg and later Hahn.
Not wasting any time, I arranged to travel to the AAFES Army clothing sales at Baumholder with some guys in the shop and pick up some new web gear (in addition to doing some sightseeing in the local area, and sampling the local beer).
Needless to say, the LC-1 or -2 web gear was a vast improvement over the older items. Since I volunteered for the “reentry team”, I was issued M2 crimpers and a demo knife in a nice black carrier, if the opportunity ever arose to blow up our munitions (along with the commies coming over the hill). We attended demo training conducted by the 461 conventional troops (2W0X1 in modern AF speak), and met EOD at the range for demo work with C4 at Bitburg and later Hahn.
Our
gear in USAFE consisted of-
- LC-1 or -2 web belt and suspenders
- 1 M-16 pouch for bandages, dressings, etc.
- 1 M16 pouch with three mags (90 rounds) when contingencies required issue of M16 rifles (Model 601, 602, or 604). Rounds loaded 1 in 4 tracer, later removed. Clipped to the right or left hip for easy access when prone.
- Compass case for field dressing, worn on upper left suspender.
- LC-1 canteen and cover, worn on web belt (hip).
- Gas mask carrier with M17 mask/hood (later issued MCU-2/P mask), attached to web belt/thigh.
- MXU-991 flashlight.
- Optional Buck or Gerber knife- several of the 461 Ammo troops were wearing their MOPP gear and web gear with knives to the BX; this frightened the north side commandos and wives, and they had to remove these outside the exercise area.
- M1 helmet and liner, later replaced with Kevlar helmet (helmet cover and band bought separately).
- M1969 flak vest, later replaced with Kevlar vest- not issue gear, kept in shop, vehicle, or on person depending on contingency. During the first Gulf War, our sentries had to wear their helmet and gear.
- Training MOPP suit carried in duffel/B4 bag; worn during exercises. Also included white cotton gloves, black rubber overgloves, and black rubber booties. Pyridostigmine tablets and atropine injectors were to be issued if any crisis developed and got progressively worse.
- M2 crimpers/knife for demolitions work.
- Anti-C suit, gloves, booties, etc (for reentry team).
- LC-1 or -2 web belt and suspenders
- 1 M-16 pouch for bandages, dressings, etc.
- 1 M16 pouch with three mags (90 rounds) when contingencies required issue of M16 rifles (Model 601, 602, or 604). Rounds loaded 1 in 4 tracer, later removed. Clipped to the right or left hip for easy access when prone.
- Compass case for field dressing, worn on upper left suspender.
- LC-1 canteen and cover, worn on web belt (hip).
- Gas mask carrier with M17 mask/hood (later issued MCU-2/P mask), attached to web belt/thigh.
- MXU-991 flashlight.
- Optional Buck or Gerber knife- several of the 461 Ammo troops were wearing their MOPP gear and web gear with knives to the BX; this frightened the north side commandos and wives, and they had to remove these outside the exercise area.
- M1 helmet and liner, later replaced with Kevlar helmet (helmet cover and band bought separately).
- M1969 flak vest, later replaced with Kevlar vest- not issue gear, kept in shop, vehicle, or on person depending on contingency. During the first Gulf War, our sentries had to wear their helmet and gear.
- Training MOPP suit carried in duffel/B4 bag; worn during exercises. Also included white cotton gloves, black rubber overgloves, and black rubber booties. Pyridostigmine tablets and atropine injectors were to be issued if any crisis developed and got progressively worse.
- M2 crimpers/knife for demolitions work.
- Anti-C suit, gloves, booties, etc (for reentry team).
- Other gear as necessary with 461X0 personnel- galvanometer, blasting caps, shaped charges, C4, det cord, M60 ignitors, etc.
Before I PCS’d from Germany, I also picked up an LC-2 pack and frame, with shelf. This came in handy when camping in the wilds of Montana.
During one interesting tech op, we worked
with DOE NEST (Nuclear Emergency Search Team) and EOD. I spotted one of the EOD
troops wearing a new Gortex parka, and after chatting with him got the NSN of
the item. It would be several years until we would be issued the Gortex parka,
which I really wasn’t impressed with. I have to say I’m not overly impressed
with the current MOLLE gear and the annoyingly loud Velcro closures.
Some of the items I’ve collected over the years-
Some of the items I’ve collected over the years-
Chinese
Type 56 chest pouch- I obtained a few of these back in the ‘80’s (along with
some SKS pouches). They fit well and are used mainly for AK-47 and -74
magazines and cleaning equipment. Two additional items of equipment
include surplus three and four pocket belt pouches, which are pretty much
standard Combloc and made of sturdy material. Pick them up if you can find
them.
East German NVA web gear- Over the years I picked up a full issue of DDR NVA
clothing, web gear, pack, etc. Overall, I am not impressed with the belt and
suspenders, but the Fallschimjager boots were the best fitting I ever wore. The
NVA field jacket and liner are pretty good, along with the special forces vest
worn by paratroopers. I’ve found the four pocket rain drop pattern AK pouches
available for $4 each.
Soviet web gear- I obtained an RD-54 pack, 1988 pattern “lifchik” vest, and other gear. Vests made by SPLAV and SPOSN are also good, modeled much like MOLLE gear, but with Velcro closures.
For those with an M-14, H&K G91, FAL, etc., there are several companies selling 20 round pouches. I personally like the M-14 pouches, which can also be used for 20 round M-16 magazines.
Soviet web gear- I obtained an RD-54 pack, 1988 pattern “lifchik” vest, and other gear. Vests made by SPLAV and SPOSN are also good, modeled much like MOLLE gear, but with Velcro closures.
For those with an M-14, H&K G91, FAL, etc., there are several companies selling 20 round pouches. I personally like the M-14 pouches, which can also be used for 20 round M-16 magazines.
Rather than weigh yourself down with every
pouch and accoutrement known to mankind, test your gear and carry what works.
LC-1 web gear
Army troops in MOPP gear during Reforger 80
mhm
Old School Survival (OSS) blog
23 October 2018
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