Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/929822
ALICE Small Arms Ammunition Case for three 30 round M16 magazines. Two grenade carrying pockets on the sides. M1967 Cover, Water Canteen with both vertical and horizontal reinforcement threads. It was incorporated into the system in 1973. Carrier, Entrechning Tool from molded EVA The horizontal webbing strap could be used to carry an angle-head flashlight The first aid dressing was usually worn on the right shoulder strap The belts had two rows of eyelets. The upper ones were used to attach the suspenders, while the bottom ones were used to attach equipment elements with hooks (M1910-M1956). In the 1970's, all bayonets were still at- tached with hooks. Such attachment was also used in wire cutters or arctic canteens, a significant number of which were Korean war over stocks. Many people classify the belts as LC-1, LC-2 and LC-3, associating the type of the belt with the main buckle. Such a classification is incorrect. Early belts with a metal buckle The early versions of ALICE belts were standard- ized 24 September 1972 and they were assigned the follow- ing FSNs: 8465-001-6487 (Large) and 8465-001-6488 (Medium). The new belt was described in MIL-B-43826 specification. At the beginning, the BELT, INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT, NYLON M-1972 designation was asigned and it was used in the belts manufactured in the 4Q1973 (DSA100-74-C-0412). The belts were made from OD7 web- bing and they had a "ball and socket" brass buckle known from M1956 LBE. Still as a part of the same contract, the belts were produced for a short time without the "M1972" as BELT, INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT, NYLON. Then, the name was expanded with the LC-1 marking at the turn of 1973- 1974. All early belts were produced by Eastern Canvas.In 1974, the FSN was changed to NSN and from that time on, the belts were assigned NSN 8465-00-001-6487 (Large) and 8465-00-001-6488 (Medium). The first ALICE belts produced in 1974 had defective length-adjustment buckles and the webbing would tear off from the buckles. There were attempts to solve that problem by expanding the space of the connection of the buckles with the belt without changing the width of the buckle. Such a modification was implement- ed in 1975. However, the buckles were still causing problems and that is why another modification was implemented at the end of 1976: the width of the adjustment buckles was de- creased and the over-press on the buckle was removed. That solved a problem. The LC-1 designation was then changed to LC-2. However, the NSN remained unchanged and the belts were still produced with a metal buckle. In general, LC-2 belts with a metal buckle were produced until the end of 1981. Production of belts with a metal buckle (but only in the large size) was resumed already during several contracts in 1986– 1988, since they were used with STABO harnesses, in the case of which newer belts with plastic buckles could not be used due to safety reasons. LC-2 belts with a metal buckle have been used until nowadays with STABO. Belts with a gray plastic QR buckle. Already during LINCLOE, there were efforts made to introduce one-hand operated buckle. The "aviation-style" Da- vis buckles used during the LINCLOE did not perform well and very often they unbuckled in the most unexpected moments. In 1979–1980, a new type of a Quick Release plastic buckle was tested, which was also introduced as the element of ALICE Packs waist belts. On 10 October 1981, a new LC-2 belt, with the exact quick-release buckle, was standardized. NSNs of the equipment