Waistcoat, AFV Crewman
General Information
Name: Waistcoat, AFV Crewman.
Country of Origin: The United Kingdom.
Manufacturer: Yet to be identified.
Date of manufacture: 2001.
NATO Stock Number (NSN): 8470-99-996-1160.
Contract Number: CC2/1548.
Camouflage pattern: Temperature disruptive camouflage pattern (DPM).
Equipment Family: Yet to be identified.
Size: 180/116.
NATO Size: 7080/1020.
Number Of Pockets: Seven (not including the Filler pockets or the Pad).
Volume Capacity: 14.6L.
(see additional information below)
Weight:
Windproof: Yes.
Waterproof: Yes
Similar Objects
History
The Waistcoat, AFV Crewman (Vest) was a protective vest designed give tank crewmen ballistic protection and allow them to carry equipment outside of the tank for a limited time. Previously, crewmen would secure their web sets to the outside of the tank or hang them off the cupola lid, with the intention of grabbing them as they exited the tank.
Description
The vest is made of fire-resistant olive green nylon cloth and textured nylon cloth with a temperature DPM pattern printed on the external side. The internal side has a triple layer of Polyurethane (PU) for waterproofing. The vest is designed to be a cover that allowed crewman to wear standard soft, Kevlar Combat Body Armour fillers used with the infantry Combat Body Armour. The neckline of the Vest has a couple of webbing loops on the left side that hold the helmets communication cord and the tube from a hydration bladder.
The Vest has a zip-up front that uses a large full-length nylon zip with a storm cover secured over the zip with hook and loop tape. The storm cover ends at the neckline with a snap-dome, and the front of the storm cover has a vertical fabric loop sewn into it that held a rank slide. The Vest adjusts at the sides with three 25-mm webbing straps and ladder lock buckles, and next to these are webbing straps that secure the Vest’s shroud covers when the pouches are being used. The back of the shoulders has a 25mm webbing loop on each side, which are used to help remove a wounded crewman.
The Vest has several external pouches sewn onto the left and right panels. The left panel has a utility pouch with an ID pocket, a multi-tool pouch, and a set of torch loops. Below these pouches is a lattice of hook and loop tape and unidirectional snap-domes that enable one of two types of interchangeable pads to be fitted to the Vest. One (shown)has two magazine pouches for a 5.56mm SA80 Assault Rifle, the other style of pad has a holster for a 9-mm Browning High Power pistol and two magazine pouches.
The right panel has a small utility pouch at the top and a much larger one below. Both panels have large full-size utility pockets that close with full-length nylon zips. The internal side of the right-hand pocket has a horizontal strip of hook and loop tape sewn to it, which would enable a map board or a fabric panel to be attached to the internal side of the pocket. The external pouches can be covered with an olive green cloth shroud that zips around each of the panels to give them a smooth front, which prevents the pouches from getting hooked on the interior of the vehicle.
When it’s time to use the pouches, the shrouds can be easily rolled up and secured out of the way to the sides of the Vest with hook and loop straps.
Examples
Example One
Volume Capacity: 14.6L.
Top utility pouches- 500mls and 350mls.
Bottom utility Pouch- 1.5L.
Side utility pouch- 250mls.
Multi-tool pouch- N/A.
Large internal pockets- 6L each.
Object Number: 2457-826-37189.
