Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/958224
demand for a significant quantity. Some covers from 1991 did not have slits – it was budget/war time ver- sion. I also was not able to find information whether they were produced in the XL size (XL helmets were a still something new at that time and they were pro- duced on a small scale). What is interesting, some of the covers manufactured just after the war did not have slits, while those supplied during operations could be produced with slits. As always, it resulted from late decisions. When someone is looking for a good cover from the period of the 1st Gulf War, he or she should either seek for a cover from the 1980s or one the con- tract of which could be awarded and delivered to the area of operations. A high number of contracts for 6-color desert equipment was signed in January 1991. The last contract for M/L covers, DLA100-93-C-4095, was awarded on 1 April 1993, while the production of XS-sized covers ceased with the contract DLA100-91- F-EA91 (7 May 1991). The 3-color desert cover was standardized on 16 October 1990 in all three sizes under the following NSNs: 8415-01-327-4824 (XS/S), 8415-01-327-4825 (M/L), and 8415-01-327-4826 (XL). The first contract was signed in February 1991 and the covers were produced continuously in all sizes until the contract SPO100-04-D-4028 (9 December 2003). Depending on the contract, there were standard covers – 50/50 NYCO Twill with slits, without slits, as well as covers made of 50/50 NYCO rip-stop fabric. The use of other materials or removal of the slits mainly depended on the demands in a particular period. The attachmement bands in newer covers produced since 1988 were slightly longer. For arctic and winter operations, white covers were developed and standardized on 15 December 1982 under NSN 8415-01-144-1860 (XS/S) and 8415-01- 144-1861 (M/L). The covers were made of white ox- ford fabric (80% cotton and 20% nylon). It was the same material that the one used for Arctic parkas, M65 parkas, and BDU hats. The material was highly hydrophobic, which made the cover waterproof. Cov- ers had camouflage slits. In such a form, they were manufactured only in several contracts by 1990. After that, the production was ceased. On 13 February 2002, the covers were standardized once again in three sizes under NSNs 8415-01-494-4591 (XS/S), 8415-01-494- 4605 (M/L), and 8415-01-494-4607 (XL) and they were produced until the contract SPO100-06-M-4043 (3 De- cember 2005). In 1998, as a part of a trial program of USMC, there were also covers in experimental Urban T-pattern camo. Covers were produced for an external contract of Natick Labs (DAAN02-98-P-8959). The NSN for M/L cover is 8415-00-NSH-0423. Nowadays, those covers are hardly available and may cost even more than $500 on Ebay. Due to the adoption of ACU uniforms on 7 Octo- ber 2004, PASGT helmets received covers in UCP The NSNs were the following: 8415-01-524-5957 (XS/S), 8415-01-524-6027 (M/L), and 8415-01-524-6028 (XL). Covers were produced under two contracts: SPO100- 06-D-4119 and SPO100-06-D-4120. All the purchases being a part of those contracts were submitted be- tween 22 June 2006 and 25 April 2007. HELMET bAND The PASGT helmets in the 1980s-1990s used only one type of elastic bands – the so-called cat eyes. Such bands were made of an OD7 elastic band under NSN 8415-01-110-9981, which was standardized on 9 April 1981. In the 1990s, the color was changed at a certain stage from OD7 to CG483, but such bands were supplied to soldiers no sooner than at the end of the 1990s. After 1990, bands could also be made from a neoprene band in a polyester wrap. In 1990, the specification was expanded with bands in Tan color, but the new variant of bands did not receive an NSN and they were not introduced to production. Bands from the 1980s and the 1990s are differentiat- ed by description. The latter, due do to the expanded specification, had also CL-1 or CLASS 1 added to the description BAND, HELMET, CAMOUFLAGE US. Ol- ive Drab helmet bands were produced under SPO100- 05-D-4350 (1 September 2005). Throughout the whole period of use, soldiers also applied bands purchased at PXs. The range of colors of the original bands was also quite significant, so one would find olive, green, brownish, or grayish, depending on the batch. Although the band in Sand color intended for hel- mets with desert covers was already described in the 1990 specification, it was standardized no sooner than on 22 March 2002 under NSN 8415-01-495-6714. The first contract, SPO100-01-D-EC85, was signed on 1 equipment