South African Battle Jacket

[Raw1]

Hi
I recently recieved this battle jacket and want to no a couple of things about it since it does not have its label on it.
1. When was it issued.
2. Is it still in operation today.
3. Pros
4. Cons
5. What type of ammo/ equipment is stored in the pouches.

Thanks

Front view
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x248/Raw1_photo/DSC09838.jpg

Back view
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x248/Raw1_photo/DSC09835.jpg

Side view
http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x248/Raw1_photo/DSC09836.jpg

[baboon6]

1. First issued in 1983 hence the name "Pattern 83"
2. Still used in the SANDF

[digrar]

M83, it was getting a fair bit of use in the Royal Australian Regiment back in the late 90's early 00's. Takes a 5.56 mag of various descriptions, could carry a fair bit of gear and was a nice little bit of kit.

[Raw1]

Do you no if they are planning on using something different in the near future or is the M83 design here to stay for a while?

[wilhelm]

Takes a bush hat or rolled up notebook in the waistband as well. Clipped goodies such as stun or teargas grenades I kept hooked in those straps at the front just above the 35 round 5.56mm magazine pouches.

I liked it.

[GETSOME]

*2 ,2 Litre square waterbottles on the bottom left and right side(which we never got)or 100 rounds of 7,62 LMG ammo
*radio in the top back
*rat pack in the back bottom
*1 60 mm mortor in tube on each side of the radio(using the straps supplied)
*or map in the waist band
its well made and the materal is tuff as ****p-)
The back bottom straps i used to carry a ground sheet,rolled up instead of a sleeping bag.

[Schad]

Chest webbing and bergen for those really, really long walks on the beach to go with it...orginal looked like it was on issue with the Brit Para's for a while there...

http://www.arrse.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic/t=53077.html

[GETSOME]

http://www.32battalion.net/water%20bottle%202lt.gif
Water bottles looked like this.p-)
http://roangouws.tripod.com/img/tn_Roan_Website_2774.jpg
Chest webbing.

[wilhelm]

*2 ,2 Litre square waterbottles on the bottom left and right side(which we never got)

Being a true officer and a gentleman, I was issued with the 2 Litre bottles.

I understand though that there have to be some holdbacks or special issue, so as to differentiate us from the unwashed masses.p-)

[Schad]

Just went and bought mine from ME Stores...

[The Evil Doctor Faustus]

the original sa ones are getting harder and harder to find these days; good bit of kit; absolutely great construction - totally bombers

[GETSOME]

Just went and bought mine from ME Stores...
X2 ,or steal them from the officers:)

[Mofreaka]

South African? Don't forget your Blood Diamond Pants to complete the loadout...

[Goldfishsoldier]

A very good rig. They were a good all round vest an were cheap and reasonable quality. A lot of the older digs used to kick around with them until the faggot's higher up decided that non-issued ammo pouches were evil.

[wilhelm]

X2 ,or steal them from the officers:)

Unwashed masses, common herd, ...... etc.p-)

[Royal]

orginal looked like it was on issue with the Brit Para's for a while there...

http://www.arrse.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic/t=53077.html

It was never on issue to any British unit - as with the Aussies (and other nations) it was used as a private purcahse item by those who couldn't get an ops vest issued to them.

[Raw1]

What does the "ops vest" look like?

[Royal]

What does the "ops vest" look like?

Like this....

http://www.cqc.co.uk/waistcoatmansgeneralops.asp

[MaverickCowboy]

South African? Don't forget your Blood Diamond Pants to complete the loadout...

and PKM's

1234567890

[Schad]

umm I know it wasn't on issue - duh - it appeared to be so as just about every pic of Brit Para's for a couple of years showed them wearing SADF gear - privately purchased.

To the OP where did you get it may we ask - though my days of running around in usch things are long gone by...

[digrar]

umm I know it wasn't on issue - duh -

The moderator you just bagged can only go on what you typed and it was open to interpretation. Watch it.

[Royal]

umm I know it wasn't on issue - duh - it appeared to be so as just about every pic of Brit Para's for a couple of years showed them wearing SADF gear - privately purchased.

The pic you linked to was taken on the move into Kosovo in 1999 - rather more than a couple of years ago.....


To the OP where did you get it may we ask - though my days of running around in usch things are long gone by...

The OP?

Observation Post - you carry it around in your bergan in the form of a shovel, sandbags and some chicken wire

Operation - dished out by pusser as and when required by Her Majesty's government (or NATO)

operation - which one? I had a few over the years

Waistcoat Mans Gen Ops - pusser again I'm afraid - if you needed it and were scaled for it you got it. The later desert versions (which have a nasty habit of falling apart) were given to every man and his dog over the past few years


As Dig pointed out, clarity is everything.

[Schad]

And I thought arrse had it's fair share of the anally retentive - if you want to get your knickers in a twist find something actually important to start lecturing about - if you are a mod as claimed feel free to give me the boot - too many wankers and 3rd world wannabee's for my liking.

[digrar]

Happy to accommodate.