Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/929822
Early M1967 Case, Field First Aid Dressing with snap smaller than required (1973-1974) OG106 LC-1 Case, Field First Aid Dressing (1976-1989) CG483 Case, Field First Aid Dressing (since 1999) interlocking slide. Pouches could be attached to the suspender's snap hook through a short webbing with eyelet as they were designed as a connecting element between the belt and suspenders which would stabilize them. In some cases, the pouches were attached directly to the belt, mostly when a grenade carrying vest was used and the pouches had to be arranged in a way that did not make them collide with the grenades in the bottom pockets. The M1972 designation was changed to Case, Small Arms Ammuni- tion, LC-1 at the end of 1973, while the FSN was replaced with NSN 8465-00-001-6482 in 1975. Both the NSN and the LC-1 desig- nation remained unchanged until the end of the production. MIL- C-43827D specification of 30 March 1990 has been applied until now. However, two (temporary) changes were introduced. On 18 September 1990, the color of the 12.5 oz. nylon was changed from OG106 to CG483. The result was that some of the pouches pro- duced in 1991 for 1990 contracts were manufactured from CG483 nylon, but they still had OD7 trims. The colors of the pouches are very distinctive and the basic color is more of a shade of gray rath- er than green. After 1990, the production was withheld for some time – it was not resumed until 1996 (SPO100-96-F-EE07). From that moment, UNICOR was the sole manufacturer of the magazine pouches. The pouches produced from 1996 did not have the inter- nal webbing straps. The color since 1996 is CG483. The last ALICE magazine pouches were delivered on 31 March 2009 (SPM1C1- 08-D-C107). Cover, Water Canteen The 1qt canteen cover was not a brand-new element, but it was included in ALICE since the LINCLOE non-lined variant was re- jected (it had nylon webbing bottom). The LINCLOE canteen cover lost its rigidity, which made it harder to put the canteen inside. It also lacked insulation properties and, which is even worse, the canteen cup could be seen from the outside due to the lack of a full bottom what could cause light reflections. The full EVA-plastic cover was tested simultaneously, but it also did not perform well. It was uncomfortable, stiff, and too heavy. The history of the nylon cover started on 10 July 1967 when a "Limited Procurement" nylon canteen cover was classified by US- ARV. On 11 October 1967, the canteen cover was assigned FSN 8465-860-0256. The Cover, Water Canteen, Nylon, 1 Quart was modeled after M1956 cover. It was made of lightweight OG106 4 oz. Nylon fabric. A small pocket for bottle with wa- ter purification tablets was added on the outside, while metal snaps were replaced with plastic ones. On the back of the case, there was a nylon webbing with two belt-strap keepers with interlocking slides. Those covers were produced under several contracts awarded in FY1968 and FY1969 and the majority of them was delivered to Vietnam. There was rather no chance to use them after ALICE was issued, since the major part of them was used in war. However, brand new covers can still be found. The canteen covers had some shortcomings. The biggest issue were the fragile plastic snaps that would wear down very quick- ly. On 21 June 1971, MIL-C-43742 spec was published where metal snaps and the M1967 designation were introduced, without any other changes. Such canteen covers were pro- duced in 1971-973, and one contract was awarded in FY1974. www.fragoutmag.com