Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1000484
June 1978, the PASGT vest was qualified as Standard A and CM/ICM as Standard B, but without assigned NSNs. At that stage, the XS size was introduced as well, because women appeared in combat units. CM/ICM was never introduced to mass production, but only a certain amount was produced for Natick Labs in 1973-1975. Some of those vests were issued to Marines in Lebanon in 1982-1984, along with PASGT vests, and it is the only example of them being used in theathre. Serial-procuction PASGT vests: design The PASGT vest was finally standardized on 4 May 1980 in five sizes, with the following NSNs: X-Small: 8470-01-092-8497 Small: 8470-01-092-8498 Medium: 8470-01-092-8499 Large: 8470-01-092-8500 X-Large: 8470-01-092-8501 PASGT vest in most of the parts has 13 layers 14 oz. Kevlar fabric., while the collar and the remaining 2-3 cm near the front flaps, on each side – with six layers. The front consists of two ballistic panels, while the back is divided into the bottom part, made as one element, and the top consisting of three overlapping pieces joined with straps so that they do not move too extensively against each other. Such a solution greatly improves the user's movements while keeping the construction rigid. Each panel consists of elements cut from Kevlar fabric, in at least two different directions and generally in two slightly different shapes. Thanks to seams of layers at the edges, the ballistic material does not tend to delaminate and randomly shift, as it was the case in M69 and earlier models. The outershell is made of 8 oz. Nylon fabric in Woodland camouflage pattern on the outside and in solid OG106 on the inner side. The collar outershell is 3 oz. Nylon Oxford. The front panels of the vest overlap onto the back panel and they are connected with elastic OD7 straps on the inside and with rigid OG106 straps on the outside. It ensures some extent of expansion while, at the same time, will not let any gap to create due to excessive extension. The ballistic inserts and the outershell of the vest is water-proofed with Quarpel (Quartermaster Repellent), which provided some resistance to water. Despite that solution, the vest would soak after long- term exposure to water – the layer of Quarpel on the outershell of the vest can be easily removed during regular wiping with a damp cloth. EQUIPMENT