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i have one of these older load bearing vests.
http://minutemanoutfitters.com/wp-co...2/06/LBV-2.png
i am trying to determine what was ment to be attached to the back of them. just below the suspender straps on the back are two hoops. and on the front part of the shoulder pads just above the suspender straps are straps that with a button. one each side.
i would like to rig this thing out with period items.
the label is hardly readable. only the large print can be read.
Working on one myself.The LBV butt pack goes in the rear.Military Field Pack Training Waist Butt Pack Accessory Bag General Pouch LBE LBV | eBay .And if I am not mistaken the compass/first aid pouch/Fulton angle head flashlights attach to horozonial snap straps up front. They also make ideal attachment points for micophones.
Add a belt and a canteen or two and you are good to go.
ah yes. totaly forgot about those angled flashlights. any idea what was kept in the butt pack?
I don't believe those are real load bearing vests. I think they're made up as a civilian eye catcher.
pleanty of men who claimed to be in the service in the 80's and 90's have told of these vests. i dont have contact with any of them so i cant ask them directly how it was compleated and what it carried. the pic i have does not match exactly the one i am in posesion of. if that is what you are refering to.
If you say so, but I was army from '74 to '08 and never saw anyone wearing those...
all i can do is shrug. perhaps not army issued? what did you see the guys wearing? actual names of the gear would be very helpfull to tracking it down on the internet. so much info on the internet and nothing that i am looking for. or "water water everywhere and not a drop to drink"
I think these are made and peddled as an "Issue" item for money sake. If you look for Load Bearing Vests, or Tactical Vests from the '80s...you find these things. I worked in a surplus store for a year and we had these come in from various sources as new. Military equipment isn't as frail as the material on those. The troops went from belts and yokes to molle gear virtually overnight. Just because these have US on them doesn't mean they're issue. Or just because the dealer says so. My boss used to peddle BDU clothing as "The real thing", but it was made by Propper International in various countries...not even US made.
Thing is, we have lots of troops right here on this site. SOMEONE will know if they ever wore this stuff...
I am a bit curious about actual usage myself as I have been unable to find a designation EX:pattern 56 or 67. While scrounging through some used butt packs at a local army surplus store many were marked with names and numbers. My vest is used and has a tag. ill try and post a photo.
I'd like to hear from someone that says they personally wore this. You can't find pics of US troops wearing anything but either belts and yokes or Molle...straight transition.
Had a few extra min. to search and this may be it. Transitional between ALICE & MOLLE ?Individual Integrated Fighting System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. M1988 LBV OR LBV 88.
Maybe, but show me anyone using it...?
I couldn't open the link to see the pictures, but I can tell you, I was in the Army between 1981 and 2001, and there was FOR SURE a LBV between H and Y harness, and MOLLE gear. Sure wish someone would post a picture of what is being discussed here. I have mine still, but not sure if it the same item.
Then post a pic of that...Quote:
Originally Posted by Steinmeister1
Can someone post a picture of this LBV? The link doesnt seem to work anymore.
I wore all these models of LBE/LBV between 1981 and 2001
Attachment 54687Attachment 54686Attachment 54688
I think the last one is being refered to.
Here is a link to most US Forces load bearing equipment since Vietnam
equipment/loadbearing directory listing - CIE Hub
You are correct, that's the one they refer to. Who wore it and how long was it in use? I still didn't even see that. No pics in use or anything...?Quote:
Originally Posted by Steinmeister1
Looked over some pictures online from Grenada (83) & Panama (89) and the web gear apperas to be M56 & or M67 ALICE gear.
That's my point...I saw those also. Maybe he's got some of him and the crew wearing this stuff...What was your unit Steinmeister1?
When I saw the image of the vest here, I had a sort of flashback to Ft. Polk around 1995 I saw one soldier, who I recall was a general officer, wearing the vest which I identified at the time as a component of the IIFS test equipment. I didn't ask him about it so I don't know if he was using as a matter of personal preference or still testing it, but he was the only individual using the equipment at the time. I recall he had no other equipment attached to the rear so the laces at the sides were plainly visible and was drawn tight so it appeared he was using it as a sort of back support. It is likely he was assigned to the unit that tested the IIFS, and continued to use it as a matter of personal preference.
The only equipment I am familiar with that was a component of the IIFS test was the canteen covers, which were manufactured in 1988 on regular contracts, substituting Battle Dress Uniform material for the OG nylon material normally used for canteen cover LC-2. Although I am always suspect of wikipedia you may get enough information from that article to determine what components you need to complete the vest. I think it an interesting project to put together a set of IIFS equipment.
If I had to guess it was issued on a trial basis and discarded in short order. This might account for its avaliability currently ,cheap and in good condition. The placement of the mag pouches seems less than ideal but the infinate torso adjustment seems useful. Perhaps its fate was sealed by Velcro.
This vest was not a "flash in the pan" thing. I am sure I have pictures somewhere of me wearing it (in Germany, circa 1996) along with others. I am trying to nail down when I was first issued it, and I believe it was 1992, in 4-8 Infantry, Coleman Barracks, Germany. And I know I had it until I retired at Ft Hood, in Jan 2001. Shortly thereafter, the MOLLE came out, right about the time of "the second Gulf War".
Attachment 54694Attachment 54695Attachment 54696Attachment 54697Attachment 54698
I found a few pictures, and I would agree that LBE and LBV exsisted at the same time.
And another link
Individual Integrated Fighting System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thats it. Where is Rumsfields LBV?
Strangely enough, the caption of the picture didnt even mention Rumsfeld...lol
I see...Germany...
I was given one of these in 1982 by a high school friend who was in the Air Force as a Air Base Ground Defense troop (ABGD). He was in from 1980 till 1990 and said he used them through his stint.
I'll chime in as a new member and current Army. I used the H and Y style LBE during my active duty (81-85), had a big break in service and joined the Reserve side of the house in 1996. By that time the Army was using a combination of Y harness LBE and the new IIFS, what your unit was issued for TA-50 was determined by your unit's status at that time. I moved to MI in 2001, all I've since has been the IIFS vest, up to and after my deployment to Iraq in (03-04). Since then has been the MOLLE system, I used it in AfghanLand in 2011-2012. The IIFS had it's pro's and con's, I'm glad it went away, yet I still like the old H or Y harness.
Those BDU buttpacks were issued back in the 80's/90's, I remember seeing them in the supply cages, I did make up a set of LBE based on the H harness with an old OD buttpack I've had for years, wore that in the late 90's for range time. The buttpack was attached to the pistol belt, the H or Y straps are attached to the eyelets on top of the pack. The H harness also had a couple of straps higher up, those were used to attach a bedroll/sleeping bag above and supported by the buttpack. Kind of a patrol set up, hope this helps.