Frag Out! Magazine
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considered as an auxiliary subsystem, next to the ballistic nylon variant, but in the end, in the COEA (Cost Operational Effectiveness Analysis) prepared by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), it was indicated that it would be recommended to use only the Kevlar version in future tests, because production of vests that had similar performance to the basic versions had no sense, since it was possible to produce a more resistant one without increasing the weight. Besides, the ballistic nylon vest story dated back to 1945. It was redundant to introduce two similar types of vests in the future. On 17 December 1975, a project overview was conducted at Natick Labs which resulted in a decision that only Kevlar vests and three types of helmets would be developed in the future. The Army Department accepted the plans by NLABS on 20 January 1976, approving further research. Further development involved a set of tests concerning the compatibility of new vests with load bearing equipment and clothing, as well as complex psychomotoric tests to compare the new model with M69. The second batch of PASGT tests was published on 11 August 1976. Contrary to the helmet, which required sizing options for the first time, sample CM/ICM used standard sizes, with only four initially planned: S, M, L, and XL. In the case of earlier vests, there was a significant problem regarding using them with cold weather clothing. Starting from the earliest M1952 until mass-produced PASGT, the tag and the manual included information that the vest should be worn over a jacket but under a field coat. Guessing if there was anyone who managed to gather all the equipment pieces in correct size. In 1976, some tests were conducted to check whether the vest should be worn under the field jacket, over the field jacket, or under a parka directly over the vest put on a wool shirt. I did not manage to find any conclusions of those tests but bearing in mind the pointless information on the tag of the production vest, I think the problem remained unsolved and they let the soldiers decide on their own. Fortunately, US forces did not participate in any combat intervention in cold climate in the 1980s, so the problem was solely theoretical. The previously produced CM/ICMs were still used for tests, because the Kevlar ones were still not in production. Specification of the Kevlar vest was released in 1977 (LP/P. DES 19-77). The ballistic nylon was replaced with Kevlar that had identical weight. The weight of the vest slightly increased, but its performance improved thanks to 13 layers. Finally, in www.fragoutmag.com