Belt, Individual Equipment: Nylon Webbing

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General Information

Name: Belt, Individual Eqpt: Nylon Webbing.
Country of Origin: Singapore.
Date of Manufacture: 1990.
Manufacturer: Johsen Equipment Co, PTE LTD.
Singapore Stock Number (SSN): 8465-32-001-1942B.
Contract Number: CMM 9000530 AL.
Colour: Deep Bronze Green.
Equipment Family: Yet to be identified.
Size: OSFA (One Size Fits All).
Weight: 210g.
Dimensions (cm): 65cm-1m (L) × 5.5 (W).

History

The Belt, Individual Equipment was issued by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) from the early 1980s into the early 1990s. The belt formed part of the SAF nylon individual equipment system and represented a modernization of the earlier webbing belt it replaced.

Of note, the belt was manufactured with the body of the cinching buckle facing inward toward the wearer. When worn tightly this arrangement would likely have caused discomfort or webbing sores during prolonged use. It is possible that some soldiers reversed the cinching buckle so that it faced away from the body, similar to the U.S. Belt, Individual Equipment, although this has not been confirmed.

Description

The web belt is 1 m long, can be reduced to 65 cm, and is 5.5 cm wide. It is fabricated from deep bronze green woven nylon webbing, with metal grommets evenly spaced around the top and bottom edges. The upper row allows the Suspenders, Individual Equipment to be fitted, while the lower row allows items with U.S style M-10 wire hangers to be attached.

The belt closes at the front with a metal buckle similar in style to those found on Pattern 1937, Pattern 1944, and Pattern 1958 web belts. Adjustment is made at the sides using a cinch-style adjustment buckle similar to that used on the ALICE Belt, Individual Equipment. Positioned between the belt buckle and adjustment buckle are two metal sliding keepers that keep the overlapping belt sections flat once adjusted.

At the centre rear of the belt is a 25 mm nylon webbing loop. This secures the lower end of the entrenching tool when it is fitted to the back of the Suspenders, Individual Equipment, preventing it from flailing around during movement or running.