Custom Made AUSCAM LBV (1999~2000)A Classic piece of Operation Astute East Timor in 1999. Lot of Australian soldiers of (INTERFET) were custom made to order of an Auscam version LBV during their time in East Timor. It's not hard to understand of having a simple US style LBV in such a hot wet tropical weather was way far better than an issued heavy webbing. There's some soldiers were directly hand-painted a US LBV. I have been looking for an original AUSCAM one to put into my collection nearly 9 years and i'm happy finally got one and it also came with a spare 40mm ammo carrying platform.
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Custom Made SAAV (Unknown)An absolutely Interesting piece i found, it's a heavy custom vest made based on South African M83 Vest. Pre owner turned the vest to be molle and attached pouches from Black Hawk industrial and SORD and also Packman and hand painted the whole vest into auscam. I know there's some missing pieces in other collector's hand but basic set up are included.
Platypus Desert Cam Chest Rig Mk1 (2004~2005)Very well known lightweight chest rig made by Platypus Ltd (the old name of Platatac ) with unique Platypus Desert Cam. A self-purchased rig used by ADF and SOTG in Iraq around 2004-2005. Modified a 40mm ammo pouch on the right utility pouch.
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PACKMAN Molle Chest Webbing (2006) |
Custom Made 3RAR Para Webbing |
Very Interesting and rare seen molle chest rig made and design by PACKMAN. The rig was used by 1CDO in East Timor 2006. Interesting Removable upper front molle platform design, and quick released zipper at left hand side, unknown hidden pocket at the front right. Came with several classic Packman design minimi pouches and custom made dump pouches etc.
Custom Made Lightweight Chest Rig
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A custom made para webbing came from an officer in 3RAR. The webbing have paracord buckle , M9 bayonet buckle and unknown snap button at the surface of right pouch.
SF Mountain Ops RIGGER Chest Webbing
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Painted desert CCA Trooper Vest (2001~2002)Very classic Combat Clothing Australia made Trooper vest but painted into sand color. Very famous and common act on it used by SOTG in Operation Anaconda in 2001-2002.
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80's-90's SASR Custom made Water Ops Chest WebbingA Custom made water ops chest rig , simply sew four diver mag pouches on canvas, pouches similar as the pouches on UK SBS used MCT vest. This rig was used by an SASR operator during water ops in 80's - 90's. Very classic collection.
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SOS MARINE (SOS Tactical) CDT Chest Webbing v2 (2003)First seen the similar chest webbing in iraq 2003 issued to CDT4. And this one should be the second version of it, more features. It have two labels , SOS MARINE and SOS Tactical, i have heard that SOS tactical was a production line or sub brand developing tactical gear by SOS marine, but it was gone already. Rare to have photos to seen it used.
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East Timor SF Custom made Vestm a collector who crazy with custom made vest, full of personality, only one in the world, loads of awesome story behind the design. This custom vest belonged to a man who served in both the SASR and 4 RAR, he went away to timor and the vest was used there on different tours, he also had a few other trips. It was simply sewing the pouches on the tough net, 4 mag pouches for M4, with Utility pouch and touch pouches, it looks like designed for using on vehicle, 4 pockets of admin or paper or map. Painted sand color on the surface to lower the brightness. This must be in my number 1 treasure collection.
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EDE Experimental Tanker Combat Vest (1999)A rare seen trial combat vest for tanker and first seen in East Timor, 1999. Combat vest made by normal Auscam fabric, 3 single mag pouches on right side, no idea why on right side but interesting design of the bottom 2 single mag pouches , magazines can be drawn by either hand from right side or left side horizontally. 1 wound dressing on upper left, notebook, map & pen pocket on bottom left. 1 female velcro on upper right i guess for name tape, and male velcro i guess it's for holding and organizing the headset cable. Label at the collar shown "Engineering Development Establishment" & "Developed by XXXX Clothing , Design & Development Group". Velcro attachment on both waist side, can't be adjusted for sizing but i think it design for quick release.
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"BDS Tactical" tactical assault vest (2005)"This webbing was originally bought in 2005 and used by a Recon soldier in an Infantry Battalion.It was used in 2006 in Timor Leste during the unrest there. In 2007 it was used in Afghanistan where it received its current paint job.
This kind of webbing was and still is typical of Australian Army, due to not receiving adequate equipment. Most soldiers particularly amongst Recon and other specialist role buy their own kit. This practice is dying out a little due to recent advances in equipment and direct orders not to use some kinds of webbing and equipment overseas." |
4RAR Modified Combat Vest Type A (2003)Another found of the 4RAR modified vest , seems it's advance design than above one. Top flip on mag pouch can't put inside for faster withdrawing for this one but more during than using just wide elastic band. Sew the old school webbing harness polyester small pack at the left bottom to be a dump pouch. Velcro attachment platform have Pistol Holster, Shotgun ammo, horizontal and vertical molle pal. Adjustable strap at the back hydration pouch can tighter the pack to avoid shaking during movement.
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4RAR Modified Combat Vest Type B. (2003) A modified combat vest based on the Pre Land125 First issued modular vest. I can say this modification bring the worst design to be one of the best combat vest. On top sewing 4 M4 mag pouches with 2 grenade pouches, Velcro plate from for different various pouch attachment. Elastic back strap and shoulder velcro strap well fitted for anyone. First seen of this vest in 2003 on 4RAR operators and before i got this one hand. I though it was some commercial products but after checking carefully it should be some modified products by professional tailoring and designing. The vest can be adjusted tightly on body, mag pouch top flip can put inside the pouch for faster withdrawing the magazines, added pulling handle on top back. 2 side smoke grenade pouches. These are seem like modified for CQB operation.
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Platatac DDPM SASR Trooper Chest Rig (2003)Not much info about this chest rig, rumor has it that this rig only 50pcs made and issued to SASR only in 2003. This one had been cut away of the buckle on the mag pouches. No different on design with Platatac Auscam trooper chest rig. But i have no idea who it was made into DDPM when DPDP were deployed already. It was the earliest seen of rip-stop fabric. Light-weight, comfortable, simple but practical, nothing more "SASR" than this rig...
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Early Version SASR Patrol Vest
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80's DPCU Canvas Webbing (Commercial Product)
Interesting rig and very advanced gear in 80's. Heard that it was the first DPCU canvas webbing while Green webbing still issued in that period. It's a commercial item with no marking in it. And because the price is around $200AUD in 1980's, that's why not famous in army camp. But some soldier or SASR bought the harness and getting more popular in early 90's. Although it have some bugs on the design but still pretty awesome especially everyone were using green heavy canvas webbing with SLR in that time .
2 types of minimi pouches. Velcro at the front can be attached velcro backed ammo pouches.
Drop leg mag pouch fit for M16, F88.
L1A1 SLR Ammo pouch?? Can be roll and spare more room to become utility pouch. Cool, isn't ?
Thigh strap for drop leg mag pouch ?? Inside Velcro for holding the pouch and not moving around.
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Different types of velrco platform pouches. Just reckon one is ammo pouch another one i can't tell because it's too small for F88 or M16. Not really sure what other use for.
Shooting shoulder pad/ Field Dressing/ Compass/ Grenade Pouch. Can be attached on the suspender and change whenever you want, pretty advance idea in 80's
H Harness/ Suspender, Velcro attachment on front shoulder with form padded which is much more comfortable and the issued one. Lighter weight and with camo.
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Early Version SAS Patrol Vest (1999~2002)
This is the early version of SAS Patrol Vest made by Combat Clothing Austarlia. Original, no any modification. 2nd version of the vest is Auscam mesh on back and 1st version is Tan . First seen in 1999 East timor and mostly until 2002. I have no idea this is Issued or Private purchase. This vest not just made for SASR , even the regular soldiers were like this because it's very lightweight, comfortable and tough. But it also have a drawback of the vest, the pouches was made by canvas, the auscam printing on canvas is easy to fade out which means it was not durable of coloring, So it's hard to find good quality on market.
Unknown SASR Vest (Selling)
This is a unknown vest. The seller claimed it was modified by SASR soldier. All the marking was painted to cover it and painted some green colour on it to make the auscam more greener. I had shown this vest to my friend who knows much about Special Force. He said it's possible modified by SF soldier because this vest is very very good for patroling on Land Rover, it's easy to pull out the magzines, simple and comfortable design. And i just think the last owner make it greener because old version of DPCU was too much yellow colour tone in East Timor enviroment. But anyway, we don't know much about this vest.
SAAV
South Africa Assault Vest. I can say this is the ancestor of all Australian army chest webbing. Or maybe i can say this is the best tactical vest design in the chest webbing history in the World ! This SAAV designs influence many ADF using chest webbing. Even you still can find some similar SAAV style design in Land125 Chest webbing and pouches. In 90's, mand soldier will buy their own SAAV when ADF still issued them the simply webbing. They will modify by themselves or painted. And mine one was hand-painted Auscam on it by pre-owner.
Modular Chest webbing (Pre Land125) (2002~2004)
This is the first modular design chest webbing issued by department. First appeared in 2002 and issued a large number to soldiers in 2003. I can say this vest is the Worst design in the world !! It was using the specialized plastic screws to attach the pouches, the screws are very tight and you have to make it very hard and make it by some tools which means it is extremely inconvenient. So most of the soldiers will just use the plastic cable tie to tie up the pouches and cut the end shorter, but it have another problem. The cutting edge was very sharp and you will get scratched easily. So even this vest was issued but not much soldiers were willing to use that.
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Hellweg DPCU Recovery Vest (1999~2003)
I have not much information about this vest. It's made by Hellweg in 1999. Same design pouch for PTT with Platypus body armour. Velcro on right side lower parts for attach different pouches on it and as you can see mine one attached one for three M4 magzines. Back pouches for hydration and radio. Mesh platform design make it very lightweight and not heavy even get wet on speed-boating. As i know this vest was issued to special force boarding team (TAG ?? ) not for CDT and Navy Boarding party. This vest only seen on Tampa Affair in August 2001 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_affairand I don't know much about this vest and i just have 1 or 2 picture to show. If you have more pictures of that , please share with me.
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TAG Recovery Vest
TAG Black Lightweight Chest webbing / CDT Vest
There are 2 types of the Lightweight Tactical chest webbing , Black colour for TAG Operator. Possiblely made for Boating team for Amphib Ops Or sniper. It should have another Auscam version made for Clearance Diver team.
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Custom made Vest
It's a custom made vest. Common to see in Australia army. Before molle systems appeared, soldiers like to custom made their own vest, and it's always seen in Special force.
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SOS Marines Floating Vest
(Selling)
It's a SOS Marines made Floating vest. it can be attached the inflatable life preserver on it. 4 inflatable life preservers are now using in Army and Navy . As i known , the Blue and Auscam one for Navy boarding party and Army are made by SOS marines , Black and OD green one are made by RFD , 60B is OD green one and Black are is 60C. And this Black floating vest with life preserver usually are used by Special force and sometimes used by Army in boating operation.
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Obsoleted marking Platypus Trooper vest
Are famous non-issued Vest in early 2002. This one was painted by a former 4RAR commando soldier. Painted colour was used for in desert environment because in early 2002 it doesn't appeared any DPDU chest webbing.
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SADF M83 Chest rig
Another famous and well-known SADF chest rig. Light weight, simple design and no fancy make it becomes a famous personal gear in global military force.
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Auscam Chest rig used in East Timor
Chest rig is good gear using in East timor because of their hot weather. Big magzines pouches design can be used for every weapons magzines.
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Bronze Wing made Molle system Vest 1999
It's first Molle system design of non-issued vest. Made by Bronze Wing which is closed already in 1999. Land125 Hydration Pack was copied from this vest. Pouches attached by Velcro and plastic screw. One of the famous vest used by Special Froce in 2001.
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