MTV, not music video, its Marine Tactical Vest---pix

[SMGLee]

I had the opportunity to test out a MTV, I took some picture for your viewing pleasure.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010603.jpg
Frontal view of the MTV, the vest is releasable and it is fully adjustable. this one is a size M. which fit my 200lbs, 5'8" frame very well.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010604.jpg
The rear view, the armor collar are removable. position of the buckles are located in the rear portion of the shoulder strap, I recall the Blackwater IO vest which had the buckles in the front which made with shouldering a weapon very uncomfortable. this shoulder vest on the MTV are very comfortable and carry the load of the vest well.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010622.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010623.jpg
Removable armor collar

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010606.jpg
side view of the MTV with the side plates. the side plate module have both the soft and hard armor in the pouch.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010625.jpg
A removable anti slip shoulder stop for your carbine butt.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010607.jpg
Removable rear buttocks protection. unlike the front groin protection, the pouch for the rear cannot be removed. this is a draw back since I have to fold the pouch back into the vest and creates some bulk.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010608.jpg
Cummerbund adjustment, this set up are not as optimal as the CIRAS setup. the cummerbund actually could slide around a bit during set up.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010609.jpg
Flap that covers the access to the cummerbund adjustment, and then the out cover Velcro into this cover to securely lock the cummerbund into place.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010617.jpg
The cummerbund come together in the front and secure by the front cover.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010619.jpg
Interior of the cummerbund has a thin sheet of plastic for rigidity.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010610.jpg
the front lower section cover that cover the cummerbund also have a velcro pocket that could be used a map or admin storage.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010611.jpg
Front section top flap gain access to your armor plate.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010612.jpg
Standard SAPI plate, single curve side cut.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010614.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010620.jpg

Interior of the vest.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010616.jpg
Notice the removable collar.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010615.jpg http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010624.jpg
Adjustable and releasable shoulder strap.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010618.jpg
Release pull tab.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010626.jpg
Notice the steel wire for the release pull tab that run along the cummerbund.

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010621.jpg
Interior access to the Lvl3a soft armor

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010627.jpg
Removable front groin protection

http://photos.imageevent.com/smglee/clt2/huge/P1010628.jpg
Compare to my trusty Eagle Ind. CIRAS-Land

Although the Armor is compatible between the two vest, the soft armor isn't. the MTV soft armor cut are different than the BALC-S or commercially known CIRAS cut.

[HollywoodMarine]

Let the bidding begin.

[USMC29]

Let the bidding begin.

Haha

"This fu*king thing sucks!"

[Super Sheep]

MMMM.. MTV looks pretty sweet and solid.

Compared to the your CIRAS-Land, the MTV seems to offer alot more protection area. The CIRAS doesn't even seem to cover your upper shoulders! Its seems to have spaghetti straps for men lol Maybe Something that I missed, SMGLee?

[phigment]

It's heavy and doesn't allow as much mobility as other armor. The shoulder stop, while it's a good idea, doesn't work very well.

[crazyman]

last week, a couple of the marines in my airborne class and I got to talking about armor and such, none of them were fans of the MTV. Specifically, that it wears pretty poorly around the hip area on long dismounted movements.

[SMGLee]

I did find this vest a vast improvement over the old Interceptor vest and it offers more protection than the FSBE. it does offer more protection than my CiRAS-L, but it also doing so with added weight, and bulk. the design is not as intricate as the CiRAS or the new BAE armor, but I did find some nice feature on it such as the added armor over the shoulders, easier access to the plates via exterior pockets, and easier adjustibility of the cummerbunds than my CiRAS but my CiRAS does have a more Secured cummerbund design.

the quick release are not exactly quick as the CiRAS but it is an added safety net for those hard fighting Marines during Maritime ops.

I am not an operator and I have not wore this vest on a two way range, but this is just my initial experience with running the MTV over a weekend course.

[phigment]

last week, a couple of the marines in my airborne class and I got to talking about armor and such, none of them were fans of the MTV. Specifically, that it wears pretty poorly around the hip area on long dismounted movements.We usually come back with some nasty chafing/bruising around the hips after humps of any decent distance. The main complaint in my unit is that and the side plates that fit into the cummerbund give added bulk and weight that nobody needs or wants. It doesn't seem like much when you're wearing it alone, but add a SAW with several drums of ammo and a 3L camelbak and you feel like a turtle hoping you don't fall on your back. I heard someone say to our platoon commander "I'd rather die because I made the wrong move than die because I couldn't make a move."

Then again just about every piece of tactical gear issued will be griped about in some way or another.

[Movieman]

Thing is a total POS, wear a plate carrier with a chest rig.

[dersammler]

Cool pics, thanks. But why did you cover up the labels?

[brainplay]

Thing is a total POS, wear a plate carrier with a chest rig.

Remember that scene from Saving Private Ryan as that soldier drowns while trying to get his gear off......? Marine=amphibious. Well official anyways.

[crazyman]

The only criticism I ever heard of the Army IOTV was people having issues with the longer retention cord coming loose and their side pieces becoming loose/partly detached as a result. What I found was the people who had that complaint either A: didn't put the vest together properly, yanking that cord down to its proper position, or B: they wore it incorrectly because they were lazy. Personally I love the IOTV for what it is made to do. That all being said I've never had to do anything like the dismounted movements common in A'stan, so when/if I go there, I'll surely be grateful for the plate carrier we're going to be issuing soon.

[Karaahmetoglu]

Thing is a total POS, wear a plate carrier with a chest rig.

If I am not mistaken most Plate Carriers do not need chest rigs?

http://www.eagleindustries.com/product.php?productid=344&cat=78&page=1

They have places to put your Mag holders Grenade holders, bags what not with MOLLE.

[DizBukHaPeter]

How does it fare in comparison to the army iotv?

[PhillyMobster]

There probably isn't an honest Marine grunt who has actually worn this damn thing on a deployment who likes it. I miss the OTV. Simple, easy to put on, and a helluva lot lighter. This thing is just an overweight monstrosity.

[crazyman]

I've never worn an MTV, but based on the gripes I've heard, it sounds like the IOTV wears much better. I went on some pretty darn long patrols last tour in the IOTV, and never had any of the chafing/wearing issues the MTV seems to have.

The only real issue with any body armor is balancing weight/survivability against the mission requirements, which is whats happening now in Afghanistan with the USA and USMC issuing plate carriers. The ideal is to be able to scale your level of protection to the mission. In Iraq where you aren't dismounted for days on end, and you work in mostly built up areas, survivability (aka protection) becomes a higher priority than mobility. In Afghanistan the reverse is true in some of the more austere environments, which is why Soldiers and Marines there are sacrificing some of their armor for mobility and weight.

Rant complete.

[mcantu]

what is the weight difference between the MTV and IOTV without plates? i know that the original OTV in medium with collar/throat/groin attachments was 8 pounds...

[Smitty_Damitty]

The MTV is a complete P.O.S.! If I could have had my old Interceptor during my last pump, then would have gladly float-tested that other f*cker. I don't know how many times I almost ripped my ears of trying to put that flak on in a hurry.

[kodiak22]

From what people have told me, Thank God for the SPC.

[KEEPER0311]

Thing is a total POS, wear a plate carrier with a chest rig.

I second that. I hated wearing the b!tch on dismounted patrols, just rubbed your hips raw, and it war heavier, and far more cumbersome then the OTV. It's great having extra protection, but when it's slowing you down as much as as this POS does...

[ebk187]

Mine's a piece of sh!t during training and deployment, but some reason it becomes fun during the weekends.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/_eVoL_/IMG00023-20090425-1547.jpg

[Red-Phos]

^^^^^What the ****.

[KEEPER0311]

That's moto...

[USMC29]

Mine's a piece of sh!t during training and deployment, but some reason it becomes fun during the weekends.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/_eVoL_/IMG00023-20090425-1547.jpg

I don't know how to tell you this but you motivate me. I once woke up and my flak was on the table and instead of mags in the pouches it was full of beer. There was also jungle juice in my camelback. Good times.

[PhillyMobster]

Mine's a piece of sh!t during training and deployment, but some reason it becomes fun during the weekends.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/_eVoL_/IMG00023-20090425-1547.jpg

I'm loling right now. I don't even want to know the occasion. I would also speak condescendingly to anyone who wears their gear while not at work, but I confess to being a motard myself. I am a closet gear queer. With a closet full of gear.