Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/581692
All parts of this set are described in 'Infantry Training Volume I, Skill at Arms (Individual Training), Pamphlet No.2 Fieldcraft, Battle Lessons and Exercises'. This is an another stupid regulations book, which probably nobody will ever see or read as a whole, but you should know that such a thing exists. Start assembling your PLCE from belt (belt, main). Make sure that the two D-rings are located exactly in the middle of your back. The belt can be adjusted on the left side using a metal C-ring, which ends should be mounted in the vertical locator slots. On the right adjustments can be done with buckles. There are three sizes of belts - for fat people (86 cm), normal (81 cm) and for absolute anorexics (71 cm). Now for the pouches. Mounting them starts from the middle of the belt (centre of user's back). For optimal effect, all pouches should be placed on the user's sides, while the front remain empty space. Why? Because PLCE is an infantry webbing invented in the '80s, when the best way to avoid the hail of enemy bullets was lying on the ground, and the most common way to move - crawling. This is why the pouches are designed so as not to spill their content and so the soldier would not suffer from pressing hard angular objects into his guts. Right in the middle of the belt (between D-rings) there is a place for entrenching tool case (ETC) or utility pouch. The latter should be fastened using snap fasteners and velcro tape avoiding the outer straps. This solution is particularly handy when you need to detach your pouch quickly in emergency. Now put two water carrier pouches on both sides of the first pouch. Mind that these pieces have wider fastening than utility pouch. This design works more efficiently on the section of the belt lacking the support of shoulder straps. Then mount ammo pouches (ammunition pouch universal) on both sides. Similarly, to the utility pouch, use only the black T-rings. All pouches should be put adjacent to each other as tight as possible, even if it means bending the belt slightly.