Field Pack, Onward

Similar Objects

Field Pack, Large, With Internal Frame

History

Having issued the Field Pack, Combat, Olive Drab (Modified) for a number of years, the New Zealand army realized it needed a larger field pack that was designed better and fabricated with modern fabrics. In the meantime, the large Alice pack was issued out to troops.

With input from NZ alpine clubs, a completely new design of field pack was created, one that could be used by standard soldiers and special forces. It had to have a large capacity, be modular with parts that could be easily replaced when needed.

Working with Hallmark New Zealand, a leading outdoor equipment brand at the time, the Onward field pack and patrol pack (a small pack that was attached to the top of the field pack) were developed. Simultaneously, a commercial version of the field pack was also produced in olive drab, Woodland pattern, and an “Auscam” style pattern. Though somewhat different in design, it is often referred to as an Onward pack.

By the time it was produced, the Onward pack was ahead of its time when compared to field packs issued by other armies at the time. However, this didn’t stop the Onward pack from having problems: the quick-release buckles would release by themselves, due to their unique design. This was fixed by taping them, rendering them somewhat useless for their original purpose. Additionally, the closed-cell foam frame concept made the field pack uncomfortable to carry in the South Pacific and jungles of Asia, chiefly in Singapore, all areas that New Zealand forces operated in at the time.

Unfortunately, the New Zealand army never got the opportunity to fully solve these problems and refine the field pack further, as the manufacturer went into receivership and was no more. At this stage, the Onward pack design was shelved, and the large ALICE was purchased and adopted as the standard-issue field pack of the New Zealand army.

However, the Onward pack continued to live on in New Zealand as the remaining stocks were sent to be used by the New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) at the time. The patrol became a favorite amongst SIGs/RTOs, and the side pouches were occasionally found on web sets up until the late 1990s.

Description

The Onward pack features a large, shaped lid that closes securely over the main compartment using two plastic quick-release buckles and webbing straps, both of which are adjustable at both ends. Additionally, the lid is equipped with two small radio aerial ports, each fitted with a snow collar. When not in use, these ports can be covered with a small hook-and-loop secured cover.

Inside the Onward pack, there is a large snow collar with a nylon draw-cord to provide additional protection against snow and moisture. Further down, the pack is equipped with straps designed specifically to secure a field radio in place. Below this section, there is a large panel that can be zipped up, effectively dividing the Onward pack into top and bottom compartments.

The front of the pack features two sets of nylon loops at the top and bottom, to which the front pouch is attached using webbing straps and plastic buckles positioned at each corner. Additionally, the pack’s front is equipped with a webbing framework designed to securely hold a US M-1952 entrenching tool (E-tool). The E-tool is fastened in place with a webbing strap and buckle, allowing for easy removal even when the front pouch is attached.

At the back of the pack, there is a series of four dome ends positioned at the top where the patrol pack attaches. Between the shoulder strap buckles, there is a nylon carrying handle with a plastic ID window located above it. The Onward pack utilizes a closed-cell foam pad as a frame, which is folded up and stored in an external purpose-built pouch sewn onto the back. The main body of this pouch is constructed with sweat-absorbing fabric and features a 3/4 length double runner zipper, further secured with Velcro tabs at the top corners.

The bottom section of the pack is constructed with pack fabric and features two horizontal webbing straps to which the waistband is attached. These straps are secured at the sides using plastic ladder lock buckles.

The sides of the pack are equipped with nylon webbing cargo straps sewn at the top and bottom. Additionally, in the middle of the pack, there are four metal dome sections that serve to attach the side pouches to the pack.

The shoulder straps are made of nylon cloth and internally padded with closed-cell foam, shaped to fit as left and right straps. They are connected to the field pack and patrol pack using plastic quick-release buckles. Additionally, each strap features two small metal O-rings positioned in the middle.

Examples

Example One

The waistband is adjustable on one side only and is most often found with an aluminum “Davis” type aircraft buckle. However, some versions have side-release buckles. The waistband is made from nylon cloth and is internally padded with closed-cell foam. The back has two sets of nylon webbing loops, enabling it to be fitted to the back of the pack. The waistband can be removed from the pack, allowing the side and front pouches to be added to it to create a “light” assault order.

Front And Side Pouches

The front pouch is a larger variant of the side pouches, featuring a lid that extends downward to fully cover the opening. At the back of the pouch, there are two nylon webbing loops positioned at the top, along with a short webbing strap equipped with a ladder-lock buckle at each corner. These features allow the pouch to be easily attached to either the field pack or patrol pack.

The side pouches are medium-sized and close with a webbing strap and quick-release buckle. Their lids are shaped to seal the mouth of the pouches securely. Each side of the pouches is equipped with unidirectional metal dome sections for attachment to the pack. At the back of the pouches, there are wide web belt loops that allow for attachment to the waistband. These loops are spacious enough to accommodate a flat pocket that closes with a Velcro-secured lid.

Related Objects

Pack, Patrol, Onward