Field Pack, Combat With Shoulder Straps

History

With no dedicated field pack issued as part of the Singaporean nylon web equipment system of the mid-1980s and early 1990s, Singaporean troops had to rely on the Field Pack, Nylon issued with the system. While suitable for carrying larger loads, it was often too large and cumbersome for short-duration tasks and patrols.

This led local commercial companies to produce alternative field packs such as this example. Loosely based on the U.S. Field Pack, Combat, the design was enlarged and fitted with side pouches, giving it the appearance of a compressed version of the Field Pack, Nylon, while incorporating removable shoulder straps. These modifications made the pack considerably more versatile than the original U.S. design.

The pack could be attached to the rear of the web equipment as part of the soldier’s fighting order or worn independently as a small patrol pack. Its compact size also allowed it to be carried inside the main field pack and employed when the larger pack was left behind in a patrol harbour, vehicle, or other temporary position.

Description

The field pack is a square box-shaped design fabricated from deep bronze green nylon cloth that is laminated with green vinyl on the internal side for waterproofing.

The lid is sewn to the top rear of the field pack and has a generous cut that covers the front and sides of the main compartment opening. At the rear of the lid is a transparent vinyl identification window, forward of which is a woven nylon webbing carry handle. Each side of the lid has five metal O-rings that enable equipment fitted with U.S style M-10 wire hangers to be attached. The lid is secured by two webbing straps sewn to the front of the main compartment and closed with side-release buckles.

The underside of the lid is lined with a lightweight nylon cloth, although this appears to provide no additional waterproofing. The main compartment is also lined with the same lightweight nylon cloth and incorporates a snow collar that extends approximately 23 cm above the opening. The collar can be closed using a pair of nylon tape ties. The base of the main compartment has two nylon webbing straps that are secured at the front using U.S.-style four-bar buckles.

The side pouches are square in shape and occupy the full height and width of each side of the field pack. Their lids are secured by a webbing strap and four-bar buckle and are cut to fully cover the pouch openings when closed.

The rear of the field pack has two angled metal D-rings that allow the Suspenders, Individual Equipment to be attached when the field pack is worn as part of a webbing set. These D-rings may also be used to attach a shoulder strap or the upper ends of the field pack’s shoulder straps. Below this is a 50 mm nylon webbing strap sewn across the rear of the pack. This strap secures two British-style C-hooks (double hooks), a webbing belt loop on either side of the hooks, and the rear ends of the webbing straps fitted to the pack base.

The base of the field pack has two long angled webbing straps terminating in metal D-rings, which serve as the attachment points for the lower ends of the shoulder straps.
The removable shoulder straps are of simple construction and are fabricated from woven nylon webbing with a nylon cloth underside and foam padding sandwiched between the two layers. The upper end of each strap is fitted with paired metal D-rings and a webbing strap with a metal press stud, enabling attachment to the rear of the field pack. The lower end has paired metal D-rings and a long adjustment strap that allows the shoulder strap to be attached to the base of the field pack and adjusted to suit the wearer.

Examples

Example One

¹ Note 1: This is just a generic name, as we have yet to find its actual name.