Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/901315
last contract for baisc frames was awarded on 1 September 1993 (DLA100-93-D4136) and finished on 29 March 1996. Frames produced by CCM were manufactured in both shades of green. Usually, the color looks like dark green or grayish green and those are, more or less, the colors from the specs. During the contracts of CCM, there was a change in the color of nylon fabric, from OG106 to CG483. However, one may easily find some elements made in old colors in the last contract from 1993 despite the fact that the color was changed in 1990-1991. What is more, I own some pieces from 1996 in which the webbing straps are OG106 but the base fabric is CG483. The square-shaped shoulder harness was still produced for contracts in 1996-2000 time frame and then, they were made in CG483. In 2000- 2003 era, such harness was also produced by DPSC for their contracts, but I am not able to confirm what their purpose was since new frames were combined with a new model of shoulder harness (it is possible that the production was for export or as spare parts for the old models). On 1 October 1997, the first contract of the last series of procurement for frames was awarded – SPO100- 98-C-4000 for North American Manufacturing as a sole contractor. Those frames were slightly modified. First of all, the black plastic protective ring in the bottom side of the frame was removed and, from now on, it was simply formed on a press, so that the hole did not damage the straps of the harness. In theory, frames were produced in FS 34087, but in fact the color rather looked like olive- gray. The waist belt did not change. However, the shoulder harness was once more modified. The foam part was extended in bottom part where QR buckle was located and the outer fabric was replaced with Woodland camouflage pattern Cordura fabric. The left and right shoulder straps were assigned single NSN 8465-01-478-3013. Also, a chest strap was included in the shoulder harness. In models from various years, the tensioner of the waist strap consisted of a 1" webbing strap with a Fastex buckle. However, a standard type tensioner was also used as a substitute and it depended on the year and a particular contract (so they tried to save money whenever it was possible, because the Fastex variant did not work too well). The last frames in that form were procured on 11 January 2007 under SPO100-04-D-4068 contract and order no. 0011. Shelf, Cargo Support (Lightweight) LC-1 FSN: 8465-001-6476 Shelf was made of a properly molded piece of aluminum alloy. It could be fixed to the rod in the middle or the bottom part of the frame to change the frame into a packboard system for carrying heavy items, such as canisters, crates, or a radio. The shelf was attached by tucking and it was impossible to attach it to a bent frame. The main load bearing part had a set of holes for water drainage, lowering the weight, and used for fixing straps etc. Initially, shelves were coated with FS 37038 black paint (also used for camouflage of vehicles). Later versions of MIL-F-43834 specs allowed FS 34087 color (MIL-S-43835 spec referred to a complete frame with shoulder straps). There were contracts for shelves than for frames. Judging by the preserved information, one may speculate that shelves were produced in long intervals. Currently available sources specify only two last contracts, DLA100-89-C-4306 and SPO100-97- M-ED27, but the first shelves were produced just after the introduction of ALICE into service in the 1970s. Probably there were not too many contracts in the 1980s since databases include practically all contracts from 1983. Strap, Cargo, Tie-down Made from a 52-inch long 1" nylon webbing . At one end of the strap, there was a small grip that was attached to a steel, galvanized, and powder- coated black buckle. Up to the contract in 1983, the straps were designated as M1972. The designation LC-1 was used on straps since 1984. In 1988, the production was ceased after DLA100-88-F-EH24 contract and then the production was resumed in 2004-2006 under SPO100-05-F4028 and SPO100- 06-D-4061. Most of the contracts were awarded for Travis Association for the Blind, which produced almost all trouser's belts used by the US Army. Cover, Field Pack Along with introduction of plain color ALICE field packs, there was also a need for introducing camouflage covers. A cover was designed as a round piece of material with a flexible drawcord. The diameter of the whole sheet was 49 inches, but the diameter of the case decreased after mounting the drawcord and proper forming. www.fragoutmag.com