New British Desert DPM Assualt Vest

[Beer Monster]

Saw this thread (http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/t=74401/postdays=0/postorder=asc/start=0.html) across on Arrse and thought it might be of interest.

This is the new design of British desert DPM assault vest. It's been made to address some if the issues that guys have had with the present vest.

Basically it's been designed to fit over the osprey body armour and it's a modular vest so it's covered in molle strips with a variety of pouches (17 in total) to fit on it in any way you deem fit for the mission at hand. On another note it appears that the osprey armour is also currently being re-designed to be more "weapon to the shoulder" friendly and larger area of molle strips, assault vest pouches will also fit on the armour.

Kitmonster across on arrse took the photos and has posted a lot more info in the thread, worth a read and probably best to direct any questions to him as he is in the know. Interesting from the photo also looks like a new under armour shirt ...... with those God awful huge patches of velcro.

With regards to the photos kitmonster said:


"Obviously these pics are on a mannequin so he doesn't stand very realistically! Especially when stuff goes under arm like vests so it will not sit 100% correctly. Most of the pouches have just been thrown on so it looks a bit messy but you get the general idea. Remember at its most basic level all you have is the multiple zipped side pockets."

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2205/asstvestside1ja7qh7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/7568/fronttr8bf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/2961/asstvestback1pt7ey7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Sabre]

Hmmm....

Could do with a bit of work. I'm not a fan of the lace-up sides. Not very sturdy, I'm sure a better method could have been utilised. I know that this is to go over the issue armour, but by the looks of things you wouldn't be able to wear it without armour as the back panel is now huge. There are still the straps to tighten the back up, but the vest would be extremely loose given those lace up sides.

Also, what is it with the black fittings on our dessie kit? The normal OG plastic from the DPM vests would be better. Not that it's a big deal, but when there's a more suitable colour already in use, why go for the black?

Also, the carry handle/drag strap on the back is as weak-looking as ever. There ought to be something like the bergan haul strap on the back, in case you need to drag someone in full kit.

Also, I understand that this is an intermediate bit of kit between PLCE and a modular version of said kit, however, would it not make sense to field a modular camelback pouch and bin the plastic clips? I always just cut my clips off as they get in the way and just put the camelback in my daysack or wear it with the straps.

Looks like an improvement over the previous vest (a POS), but still a way to go.

[Beer Monster]

Hmmm....

Could do with a bit of work. I'm not a fan of the lace-up sides. Not very sturdy, I'm sure a better method could have been utilised. I know that this is to go over the issue armour, but by the looks of things you wouldn't be able to wear it without armour as the back panel is now huge. There are still the straps to tighten the back up, but the vest would be extremely loose given those lace up sides.

Also, what is it with the black fittings on our dessie kit? The normal OG plastic from the DPM vests would be better. Not that it's a big deal, but when there's a more suitable colour already in use, why go for the black?

Also, the carry handle/drag strap on the back is as weak-looking as ever. There ought to be something like the bergan haul strap on the back, in case you need to drag someone in full kit.

Also, I understand that this is an intermediate bit of kit between PLCE and a modular version of said kit, however, would it not make sense to field a modular camelback pouch and bin the plastic clips? I always just cut my clips off as they get in the way and just put the camelback in my daysack or wear it with the straps.

Looks like an improvement over the previous vest (a POS), but still a way to go.

Apparently guys on Herrick/Telic have been slicing up their vests and adding the lacing in themselves and few have used elastic instead of string (which maybe the case here ...... can't tell) so that it isn't so restrictive. I think they've steered clear of Velcro as they found on the Osprey when full ammo pouches etc are added it has a tendency to come undone. Some buckles might be a good idea but then again they could dig into your side?

Yup not sure about using it without armour, does seem quite substantial but I guess we'll have to wait and see. Drag strap as far as I can see is almost non existent ...... depends on the stitching I suppose.

Aye, noted the black clips. Makes no sense ....... maybe they put in a bulk order for them by mistake and are just trying to use them all up p-)?!? ...... that probably goes for the camelbak clips too!

[andreen]

It remind me of the Norwegian bear vest from NFM.

[ratsappretnice]

Arghh, that IR flag looks awful

[bvvelzen]

The dutch does have something similar, and i hated it. Even the 20 year old webbing we have uses this system. And we needed to replace it with elastic.

Luckily I'm not to big, and i have a large size vest, so i redid the laces on the 3 parts of the vest, now it fits perfect, and even flexes a bit.

Heres a pic...

[Sabre]

What they should do is utilise the rear tightening straps as the means to connect the side panels to the back panel.

If you mounted the ladderlock buckles on the edge of the side panels instead of the edge of the back panel (you would probably need three instead of two) then the straps would pull the side panels together when tightened, overlapping the back panel instead of bunching it up. You could run a strip of webbing vertically at the edges of the back panel, sewn in a way that forms a channel for each of the tightening straps to pass through, that would stop the back panel from flopping around when donned/doffed. An identical vertical webbing strip 1/4 the way in from each edge would achieve the same when the vest is tightened in.

That's what I would do.

[muttbutt]

Little off topic, but is that a new style DPM shirt too?, it looks like it has the same type of upper arm pockets the American DPM's have

[DeltaWhisky58]

Little off topic, but is that a new style DPM shirt too?, it looks like it has the same type of upper arm pockets the American DPM's have

It's the new under armour cooling shirt which was discussed elsewhere in this section last week.

[muttbutt]

It's the new under armour colling shirt which was discussed elsewhere in this section last week.
Thanks DW, I'll have a look

[Lerch]

What they should do is utilise the rear tightening straps as the means to connect the side panels to the back panel.

If you mounted the ladderlock buckles on the edge of the side panels instead of the edge of the back panel (you would probably need three instead of two) then the straps would pull the side panels together when tightened, overlapping the back panel instead of bunching it up. You could run a strip of webbing vertically at the edges of the back panel, sewn in a way that forms a channel for each of the tightening straps to pass through, that would stop the back panel from flopping around when donned/doffed. An identical vertical webbing strip 1/4 the way in from each edge would achieve the same when the vest is tightened in.

That's what I would do.
I did almost exactly that with a current assault vest. One ladderlock at top and bottom, and one in the center. It lets the vest hang a bit more but when you sinch it up, it pulls the sides in so that they don't bounce.
I just didn't put the vertical webbing on the sides because when I sinch it up around me, the sides overlap the back...although I did put a foam insert at the base to keep it stiff.
Anyway, it's cool to see the British Army going modular like this, and the new undershirt looks top notch (even with that ugly IR flag ;) )

[Sabre]

Of course they could always have just redesigned the Osprey system to take the plates inside the main cover, turning it into a CIRAS type armour vest. Then the carrier itself would be your modular vest to fit pouches on. It would save bulk, not to mention the cost of materials.

[Beer Monster]

Of course they could always have just redesigned the Osprey system to take the plates inside the main cover, turning it into a CIRAS type armour vest. Then the carrier itself would be your modular vest to fit pouches on. It would save bulk, not to mention the cost of materials.

Now you've gone and done it. That’s far to intelligent ..... they're coming for you Sabre ....... p-)

[Sabre]

Oh shyte.....best don the tin foil then! :)

[Lerch]

Gonna go make your fort out of cardboard boxes? p-)

[Sabre]

New picture on arrse, some booties on predeployment training wearing the new vest:

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/t=74401/start=60.html

[Lerch]

So I just noticed this...but why are there two zippers on either side of the vest? Are there two internal dump pouches or does one give access to...something?

[Sabre]

Well, looks like somebody hasn't missed a trick...one set is already up on ebay!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRITISH-ARMY-OSPREY-ASSAULT-VEST-DESERT-CAMO-WEBBING_W0QQitemZ290170848139QQihZ019QQcategoryZ112476QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I wonder if the RMP are monitoring all these Osprey sales....



(Note for mods, it is not listed by myself nor any of my friends or family, so please don't consider this as soliciting custom!)

[DeltaWhisky58]

Well, looks like somebody hasn't missed a trick...one set is already up on ebay!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRITISH-ARMY-OSPREY-ASSAULT-VEST-DESERT-CAMO-WEBBING_W0QQitemZ290170848139QQihZ019QQcategoryZ112476QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I wonder if the RMP are monitoring all these Osprey sales....



(Note for mods, it is not listed by myself nor any of my friends or family, so please don't consider this as soliciting custom!)

No worries from our POV - I know that RMP do monitor ebay and there have been a number of service personnel/MoD civvies prosecuted as a result. One case I am aware of was a guy selling L85A2 parts and also complete SUSAT units.

Similarly there was a complete Osprey BA cover for sale a couple of weeks back.

N.B. Shouldn't the full set have 17 pouches and not 14?

[Sabre]

There seems to be a lot of Osprey covers/pouches on sale now. I'm sure that there have been more than a few toms in hot water over it too.

As for the number of pouches, I'm not up to doing maths now, I've been on nights and am forcibly staying up today to restore my body clock....hence I can barely manage to meet the minimal requirements of the internet: type and surf.....type and surf....

[Ubar]

i think there have been a number of osprey covers genuinley released as surplus/damaged now. There are at least 2 big online retailers who have them