Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1086092
Mass-produced 1st gene- ration VTLB had D-rings and horizontal webbing on shoulder harness for patrol pack attachment. Most soldiers never did that. new vest wasn't a muddle of interconnected straps, but the IFLS had no height adjustment at all and it resembled a bastard child of later VTLB and old Grenadier Vest of 1960s. What should be noted, the LINCLOE vest design was abandoned because of too much nylon non-breathable fabric used. Suddenly, after 15 years later, the same idea was back from the dead! US Army Infantry Board had concluded first trials of HDECS part in Yakima Training Center in summer of 1983. There were two 12-days trial cycles conducted by Army and Marines. The data and forms after tests were collected and the conclusion was, that scope of HDECS should be extended with new individual equipment for all climate conditions. The idea of new vest received positive feedback, but the MELS pack was abandoned. The opinion was, that ALICE Medium Field Pack has similar capacity and better performance. It was decided that HDCES will be expanded with new mountain and arctic warfare pack compatible with vest. Between 1960s and 1983 a huge leap was made in hiking industry, so NLABS decided to invite company with knowledge and experience in this area. HOW LOWE ALPINE SAVED IIFS Lowe Alpine hiking company was established in 1967 by Greg Lowe an avid hiker and SOF veteran. In 1967 he built first hiking packs with internal frame and since 1972 was working on the large pack with internal frame and detachable top lid which could be used as stand-alone pack. In 1978 he launched Vector Pack Systems were some military packs were announced. Some of them were tested by US Army, USMC, SWAT and SAR teams. In the end of 1983, NLABS invited Lowe to provide necessary support in order to develop new large pack for use in mountain and arctic conditions. Lowe had such pack almost readily available. The company used all top-notch solutions. The pack was built from 8 oz. Cordura in Olive Green, which didn't shine as ALICE nylon. It featured an internal Paralux frame of two shaped aluminum stays EQUIPMENT