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Thanks to : Karkeeweb
Thanks to : Karkeeweb
The particular requirements of the Special Air Service required items peculiar to them alone. Between the 1965 C.C.N. and 1976 C.O.S.A., a consecutively coded block of six items was added. The S.A.S. was deployed in the Indonesian Confrontation in Borneo (1962-66). The border with adjacent Indonesian territory is very mountainous (e.g. Mt. Kinabalu). In such an area, accurate navigation means an altimeter becomes essential. It is perhaps “2+2”, but perhaps this requirement, with an early use of the Armalite and the need for jungle survival techniques led to this block of S.A.S. specific items?
An interesting feature of these is the use of Patt. ’44 metal fittings. Where Patt. ’58 QR fasteners had rounded, drawn wire links, the QR fasteners here had the blanked, “squared” links that typify Patt. ’44 fittings. However, with the exception of the two Ammunition pouches, which include the words in their nomenclature, the C.O.S.A. Detail column gave them all Pattern 1958 W.E. nomenclatures. This inconsistency is assumed to be sloppiness in preparing the C.O.S.A., but does not answer why they were not “Patt. ‘44”.
The Detail column also specifically includes the abbreviation “SAS”..
As first described, the Belt was fairly full-up, especially on someone of small girth. However, the Pack was above the cluttered belt. S.A.S. personnel were required to carry greater loads, for largely un-supported patrols over several days. They therefore employed the later developments of the Bergen “A” framed Rucksack. This had a lumbar support strap, stretched across the horns of the lower frame and this unfortunately coincided with where the Waist belt was. Therefore all these S.A.S. items had dropped loops, placing the Pouches below the Belt, with some having secondary loops, which allowed for wear on the Belt, if needed.
Troopers also developed their own personalised “Belt Order”, mixing the items below, with Patt. ’44 Water bottles and Carriers and Patt. ’44 Ammunition pouches, as well as Patt. ’58 standard items.
Pattern 44 Webbing Pouches
44 Pattern Shoulder Bag/Haversack
Pattern 1958 Web Equipment, - S.A.S. Add-on Items
Braces Individual Equipment 8465-99-130-0246
Pouch Ammonition 8465-99-130-0247
Double magazine pouch 8465-99-130-0248*
Pouch Ration Escape 8465-99-130-0249
Altimeter Pouch 8465-99130-0250*
Sheath Knife 8465-99-130-0251 *
Braces Individual Equipment
Pocket Clasp Knife / Multitool Pouch
Pouch Altimeter
M16/ Armalite 30rd Magazines Pouches
Pouch Ammonition 4 x 30rd
Escape - Evasion Ration Pouch
RAF 12 ft Cargo Belt Unmodifed (Roll Pin Belt)
PLCE Low Riding SAS Pouches
PLCE AR15 / SLR Mag Pouch
PLCE Escape Ration Pouch
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