MBSS

MBSS  Maritime Ballistic Survival System

2000 - 2003 (Allied)

2004 - 2010

 Then Eagle Industries in MJK

History of development

The modern tactical nylon gear system of the Navy SEAL is very similar to the USMC Force Recon FSBE II gear system. The system is modular and MOLLE compatible. Operator can custom equip himself for different operations. SEAL use two MOLLE gear systems, the Maritime Load Carriage System (MLCS) developed by Eagle industries, and the Maritime Ballistic Survivor System (MBSS) system. The MBSS system consists a plate carrier, various MOLLE pouches and a small backpack.

It consists of a cover for of the slab (Plate carrier, PC), a set of pouches for the assault rucksack ( MAP) and floating (flotation) panels.

Developed by Allied Industries. In the authors' minds this should be an easy "hold" bulletproof vest for operations to seize ships, oil platforms and other coastal infrastructure. The target audience was special forces of the Marine Corps and special forces of the fleet (Seals).

Naval Special Warfare Command LCS Kit


The kits were supported by another system, distributed separately and used specifically in DA (Direct Action) and VBSS (Visit Boarding Search Seizure) operations, the MBSS (Maritime Ballistic Survival System) kit, developed and built by Allied Industries (division of The Resource Centre) starting from 2002, consisted of a modular Plate Carrier, available in two sizes (referring to the size of the ballistic protections to be inserted) S/M and L/XL divided into at least 4 variants, an Admin Pouch w/light, a CHEMS Pouch, 2 single M4 Pouches, 1 double M4 pouch, 1 triple M4 Pouch, a MAP, a Spine MAP (usable with only the front panel of the fourth variant plate carrier) and a set of floatation inserts.

The individual kit includes the following items:

  

  

  

  

 

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MBSS : Maritime Ballistic Survival System


Includes 

(1) Backpack with flotation

(1) Front carrier with flotation

(1) Back carrier with flotation

(1) GP Pocket

(2) Single Mag Pocket

(1) Double Mag Pocket

(1) Triple Mag Pocket

(1) Liteholder

Num.	Description	NSN
1 (ea) 8470-00-NSH-0012 8470-00-NSH-0012-KH 8415-00-NSH-0012-RG	MAP Modular Assault Pack Spine MAP **	8470-01-516-8452 8465-01-529-1712 8465-01-529-2112
1 (ea) 8470-00-NSH-0005	Mbss plate carrier vest Small / medium	8470-01-516-8446
1 (ea) 8470-00-NSH-0006	Mbss plate carrier vest Large / Xlarge	8470-01-516-8447
1 (ea) 8470-00-NSH-0015 8470-00-NSH-0015-RG 8470-00-NSH-0015-KH	GP Pocket NO Light Holder	8470-01-516-8454 8465-01-529-1555 8465-01-529-1552
2 (ea)	Single Mag Pocket	---
1 (ea)	Double Mag Pocket	---
1 (ea)	Triple Mag Pocket	---
1 (ea) 8470-00-NSH-0016 8470-00-NSH-0016-RG 8470-00-NSH-0016-KH MS-ADMP-WL-KH	GP Pocket with Lite Holder	8470-01-516-8453 8465-01-529-1551 8465-01-529-1550 8465-01-519-5129

8470-00-NSH-0006
8470-01-516-8447 Vest, Small Arms Protective Body 

Special Features: Vest, mbss plate carrier, front and back, large/xlarge, coyote brown, component of full spectrum battle equipment (fsbe)
Color: Brown main body
Garment Size: Large-X-large



8470-00-NSH-0015
NSN : 8470-01-516-8454
Pocket GP MBSS ( without ) W/O Lightholder
Component of Full Spectrum Battle Equipment (FSBE)
Color: Coyote brown

8470-00-NSH-0016
NSN : 8470-01-516-8453
Pocket GP MBSS W / Light Holder
Component of Full Spectrum Battle Equipment (FSBE)
Color: Coyote brown




8470-00-NSH-0005
8470-01-516-8446 Vest, Small Arms Protective Body Special Features: Vest, mbss plate carrier, front and back, small/medium, coyote brown, component of full spectrum battle equipment (fsbe)
Color: Brown main body
Garment Size: Small medium
7P200

BODY ARMOUR:


Iniziamo con i più "comuni", ossia anche quelli che probabilmente arrivano dalle varie dotazioni ricevute dai Marsoc e che sono quindi tra i più indicati per riprodurre fedelmente tale load-out, in quanto sono quelli che compaiono nel maggior numero di ref pics:


I primi due sono quelli contenuti nel famoso e mitizzato kit "Marsoc-LCS" il cui corretto acronimo è "MCLCS" che poi non è altro che un kit in "khaki" della Eagle distribuito ai Marsoc nel 2008:


Eagle Industries Modular Body Armour Vest (MBAV) khaki;
Eagle Industries Rodhesian Recon Vest (RRV) khaki.


Questi altri provengono da altri kit… il MAR-CIRAS proviene dall'MLCS (i Marsocs hanno avuto accesso a questo kit ai tempi del Detachment One, quando lavoravano in Iraq assieme ai Seals nel 2004), l'RBAV a quanto pare è stato distribuito un po' a tutte le SF ma a quanto pare non fa parte di alcun kit… gli ultimi due all'FSBE2:


Eagle Industries Maritime Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System (MAR-CIRAS) khaki;
Speciality Defense System Special Forces Releasable Body Armor Vest (RBAV) in colorazione khaki;
Eagle Industries FSBE2 Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System (CIRAS FSBE2) coyote brown;
Eagle Industries Marine Corps Armour Vest (MCAV) coyote brown.


Come protezione "leggera" si è visto l'utilizzo del PACA (quasi sempre in colorazione tan ma va bene anche il modello FSBE2 in coyote brown).
Spesso si è visto anche il Safariland Low Vis Carrier.
Un bel utilizzo del Safariland Low Vis Carrier, visto appunto nelle "ref pics", è il suo impiego abbinato al chest MOLLE (RACK HARNESS) del primo kit FSBE in woodland.


Come altre "soluzioni" tattiche, probabilmente frutto del classico "acquisto personale e/o di reparto", oppure distribuiti a interi MSOB nei loro deployment quindi visti spesso "on field" abbiamo i seguenti:


Crye Precision Jumpable Plate Carrier (JPC) visto in tutte e tre le configurazioni in cui è stato prodotto, ovvero Multicam, coyote brown e ranger green;
Crye Precision LV-RBAV, utilizzato a volte assieme ad una sorta di "airlite chest rig" sempre della Crye, questo si è visto però solo in colorazione coyote brown (e comunque dal 2012 in avanti, distribuito ad un intero MSO
Crye Precision Cage Plate Carrier (CPC) (si è visto in uso ai Marsoc per ora solo in coyote brown);
Eagle Industries Plate Carrier w/Cummerbund (PC W/CUMM) in colorazione OD Green oppure anche Coyote Brown;
si è visto anche l'utilizzo dell'HSGI Wasatch (in tan) portato sopra ad un PACA;
del chest MOLLE (RACK HARNESS) del primo kit FSBE ho già detto poco sopra.


Per "dovere di cronaca" cito che si son visti utilizzare anche degli Eagle Industries Scalable Plate Carriers (SPC) in dotazione ai reparti di fanteria dei Marines, a volte indossati anche senza cummerbunds oppure degli Afghan-made plate carriers, a volte indossati sopra a dei PACA. Sono però casi più unici che rari, che sconsiglio a livello di un corretto reenacting Marsoc in quanto correreste il rischio, come per la GEN3 in Multicam, di non esser compresi dai cosiddetti "puristi" del reenacting.
Sul discorso degli SPC ad esempio si sono visti utilizzati da reparti "dog handlers" (K9) probabilmente aggregati ai Marsoc (non si hanno notizie certe purtroppo)… quindi siamo proprio al limite del rischio...
Ancora "per dover di cronaca" cito che esiste una famosa foto (attribuita a dei Marsoc) in cui un team sfoggiava appieno un bel mischione con RRV FSBE2 e MBSS FSBE2, idem come sopra, l'adozione di questi load-outs (seppur molto suggestivi) è molto rischiosa a livello di reenacting (anche perché la foto in questione se non sbaglio risale al 2007, quindi siamo agli albori dell'unità).

Armor Vest and Assault Pack Asse
8470-00-NSH-0013
NSN : 8470-01-516-8448

Special Features:

Carrier set, small/medium, coyote brown, includes mbss plate carrier vest, modular assault pack, pocket gp mbss with light holder, and pocket gp mbss without light holder, component of full spectrum battle equipment (FSBE)
Color: Brown
Procurement Group Code: Porter P L Co. (02953)
7P200

Armor Vest and Assault Pack Asse
8470-00-NSH-0014
NSN : 8470-01-516-8449

Special Features: 

Carrier set, large/xlarge, coyote brown, includes mbss plate carrier vest, modular assault pack, pocket gp mbss with light holder, and pocket gp mbss without light holder, component of full spectrum battle equipment (fsbe)
Color: Brown

Procurement Group Code: Porter P L Co. (02953)
7P200

The development of the Maritime Ballistic Survival System (MBSS) was a pivotal moment in tactical gear history, transitioning elite units from bulky "flak jackets" to the minimalist, modular plate carriers used today.

 

1. Origins: The Quest for Buoyancy (Late 1990s)

Before the MBSS, maritime units struggled with a "sink or swim" dilemma: wearing heavy ballistic plates provided protection but posed a drowning risk during water-borne insertions. In the late 1990s, the U.S. Navy SEALs sought a system that integrated flotation inserts directly into the armor carrier to ensure positive buoyancy while still supporting SAPI (Small Arms Protective Insert) plates. 

2. Allied vs. Eagle Industries (2000–2004)

The development was primarily handled by Allied Industries, which won the initial contracts for the system.

• The Allied Era: Early versions (pre-2003) were often produced by Allied Industries and are characterized by specific details like black hardware or older "Olive Drab" shades.
• The Eagle Transition: Around 2004, Eagle Industries—already a major supplier for the USSOCOM Load Carriage System (LCS)—took over large-scale production. This led to the widespread adoption of the MJK (Matt Johnson Khaki) color, which became the standard for Navy SEALs during the mid-2000s. 

3. Design Evolution: The "Red Wings" Standard

The MBSS reached its peak development during the Global War on Terror (2003–2008). Its design focused on two key pillars:

• Minimalism: It was one of the first "true" plate carriers—it had no built-in soft armor (fragmentation protection). Operators needing more protection would wear a separate soft armor vest underneath.
• The Modular Assault Pack (MAP): A key developmental success was the MAP, a backpack designed to zip or clip directly onto the back plate carrier, replacing the standard rear panel to create a unified, snag-free profile for cramped ship corridors or aircraft. 

4. Legacy and Modern Context

Though eventually superseded by systems like the LBT-6094 and Crye Precision carriers, the MBSS set the blueprint for "Maritime" variants of modern gear. Today, it is a high-value collector's item and is widely recognized in modern culture via its inclusion in military simulators like Escape from Tarkov. 

Would you like to explore the specific components of the full kit or the differences between Allied and Eagle production versions?

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The complete MBSS (Maritime Ballistic Survival System) kit by Allied Industries (1999–2002 era) was not just a plate carrier; it was a modular ecosystem designed to cover every operational need in a maritime environment.

Here is the list of components that form an original "Full Kit":

1. The Core (Chassis)

• Front & Rear Plate Panels: The two main panels designed to hold SAPI plates.
• Flotation Inserts: Four foam panels (two front, two rear) to be inserted into the internal compartments of the carrier.
• Shoulder Pads: Padded wraps for the shoulder straps, essential for managing the weight of the plates and ammunition.

2. The Iconic Backpack

• Modular Assault Pack (MAP): Perhaps the most famous piece of the kit. It is a small backpack that clips directly onto the rear MOLLE loops or via side buckles. It includes a compartment for a 3-liter hydration bladder, typically CamelBak Spartanat - MBSS Review.

3. Pouch Suite (Pouch Set)

A full set usually includes these coordinated pouches (in Woodland, Khaki, or OD):

• Triple Mag Pouch: A horizontal pouch for 3 M4/STANAG magazines.
• Double Mag Pouches (x2): Vertical pouches for 2 magazines each.
• Single Mag Pouches (x3): For individual magazines, often used on the cummerbund or sides.
• Admin Pouch: A flat pouch for maps, documents, and lights (often with velcro for patches).
• General Purpose (GP) Pouch: A square multi-purpose pouch for medical kits or tools.
• Flashbang/Grenade Pouches (x2): Specific pouches for stun grenades or smoke canisters.

4. Era-Specific Accessories (1999)

• Spine Plate: In some early versions, a rigid insert was included to stabilize the MAP backpack.
• Radio Pouch: Often configured for the AN/PRC-148 MBITR radio, the standard for SEALs during those years.