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View Full Version : Vietnam era M69 Flak vest , are the side laces made of para cord or elastic?


mike force
10-18-2008, 01:39 PM
anybody own a Vietnam era M69 flak vest like this type? I have one missing the side laces, and need to know if they originally have elastic laces or standard olive green para cord laces?


http://camuflado.com/shop/images/viet_flack.jpg
LineDoggie
10-18-2008, 01:49 PM
anybody own a Vietnam era M69 flak vest like this type? I have one missing the side laces, and need to know if they originally have elastic laces or standard olive green para cord laces?


http://camuflado.com/shop/images/viet_flack.jpg


Elastic, like the ones in an Issue M65 Field Jackets waist and Hem. Havent worn one since 1987
mike force
10-18-2008, 01:54 PM
Elastic, like the ones in an Issue M65 Field Jackets waist and Hem. Havent worn one since 1987

thanks, then they would be easy to replace
LillaMy
10-20-2008, 12:31 PM
How effective where those vests? What did they stop?

Edit: I found some info on Google Books...
http://books.google.co.uk/books?pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=m69+flak+vest+effective&sig=XCUBI3SsQ-IY8Q-e_1g9J8z6H3Q&ct=result&id=PqwkBF27nsgC&ots=MsVdgNOBMi

Seems like they where effective against shrapnel..
Antimatty
10-20-2008, 12:32 PM
as far as i know, just shrapnel .
LineDoggie
10-20-2008, 01:54 PM
How effective where those vests? What did they stop?

Edit: I found some info on Google Books...
http://books.google.co.uk/books?pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=m69+flak+vest+effective&sig=XCUBI3SsQ-IY8Q-e_1g9J8z6H3Q&ct=result&id=PqwkBF27nsgC&ots=MsVdgNOBMi

Seems like they where effective against shrapnel..

It's just layers of thick Mil plastic sheeting heat bonded, plus the problem with them was "Bunching". ---- The Panels would fold over on themselves leaving areas completely unprotected. I hated them, especially as you were usually issued it an Condition that left one to think a Homeless person had used the collar for toilet paper. So you wound up taking them to the wash rack to hose them down before you could wear them.
Hitman86
10-20-2008, 03:03 PM
as far as i know, just shrapnel .

I'm curious, would the term "flak" mean only fragments of projectiles?

and is this the beginning of body armor?
Connaught Ranger
10-20-2008, 03:17 PM
It's just layers of thick Mil plastic sheeting heat bonded, plus the problem with them was "Bunching". ---- The Panels would fold over on themselves leaving areas completely unprotected. I hated them, especially as you were usually issued it an Condition that left one to think a Homeless person had used the collar for toilet paper. So you wound up taking them to the wash rack to hose them down before you could wear them.

We used these in the Irish Army, circa 1976 - to at least 1989 (unless I am mistaken.)

They came complete with a cloth cover which could be removed for washing.

The side panels were usually laced together with black boot laceswoot

Connaught Ranger:)
LineDoggie
10-20-2008, 03:50 PM
I'm curious, would the term "flak" mean only fragments of projectiles?

and is this the beginning of body armor? Yes, th original vests were made for Aircrew of the USAAF. In the Korean War, the first large scale issue of Body Armor for Ground Forces took place. M1951 Body Armor evolved into this vest.
Mike Keenan
10-20-2008, 03:58 PM
We used these in the Irish Army, circa 1976 - to at least 1989 (unless I am mistaken.)

They came complete with a cloth cover which could be removed for washing.

The side panels were usually laced together with black boot laceswoot

Connaught Ranger:)

My dad has one in the attic that he bought back from Lebanon.
The vests are also still in RDF stocks as I seen a pile of them in a storeroom.
Connaught Ranger
10-20-2008, 04:43 PM
My dad has one in the attic that he bought back from Lebanon.
The vests are also still in RDF stocks as I seen a pile of them in a storeroom.

As protection, it rates virtually zero, except for light shrapnel or bird shot

but, as an improvised isolation kip mat on a cold floor 100%rofl

Connaught Ranger.:)
mike force
10-20-2008, 10:53 PM
I bet the soldiers in VIETNAM must have been over heated wearing one of these vests on a hot humid day in VN, carrying all that gear could easily cause heat exaustion.
El Diablo Rojo
07-07-2009, 03:57 AM
A bit late to the game, but FWIW I've seen tests of NOS M69 vests stopping #4 buck and .44 Magnum hollowpoints when put over ballistic clay (to simulate flesh, etc). The Box of Truth comes to mind, but I've seen one or two more, as well.
oldsoak
07-08-2009, 04:53 PM
IIRC, original specs for the vest called for it to resist a .45 cal at the muzzle, all the fragments of a M61 grenade, 75% of a 81mm mortar round at 3 metres and a bayonet thrust - and no, not all at once !
Not bad for 35 bucks in Vietnamn war era dollars.
digrar
07-08-2009, 09:41 PM
and is this the beginning of body armor?

Remember these blokes?

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5681/ar008whiteknightarmor36.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/i/ar008whiteknightarmor36.jpg/)

They were running around a bit before the 60's.
kongman
07-08-2009, 11:19 PM
Remember these blokes?

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5681/ar008whiteknightarmor36.jpg (http://img9.imageshack.us/i/ar008whiteknightarmor36.jpg/)

They were running around a bit before the 60's.


i know that body armour , i wear it when the GF is pissed at me roflrofl
El Diablo Rojo
07-12-2009, 04:24 AM
IIRC, original specs for the vest called for it to resist a .45 cal at the muzzle, all the fragments of a M61 grenade, 75% of a 81mm mortar round at 3 metres and a bayonet thrust - and no, not all at once !
Not bad for 35 bucks in Vietnamn war era dollars.
Nothing to sneeze at considering the M69 is (AFAIK) essentially the same as the M52 vest, which is (obvious) from 1952.