Universal Trage Vorrichtung

Klappspatentashe UTV

Late 1980s

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The Icon Set is under Construction

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Here's the East German Universal Carrying Device,

which was part of NVA modernisation project.

Nomenclature

UTV Universaltragevorrichtung

NVA Spatentasche UTV

NVA Klappspatentasche

Klappspaten Armee

Take a Look Also : Here

History

The shovel cover is a "last-issue" UTV, (Universaltragevorrichtung ), pattern. This style of of attachment and webbing was was developed in the late 1980's as a replacement to the earlier pattern East German field gear. The UTV gear was produced and stored in large quantities, in warehouses, but was never issued out to the general troops. It was worn in the field by a few East German Army observers that were invited by NATO to a joint military maneuver around 1990, but aside from that, the UTV gear was never issued, and ended up being sold off as surplus after the reunification of East and West Germany.

The UTV gear (Universaltragevorrichtung ), was the East German equivalent to the US styled LBE, or Load Bearing Equipment. Basically the changes were a better combat harness-suspenders, green nylon webbing and a new attachment set up. The UTV items can also be recognized by their green metal fittings. There were also UTV grenade pouches, canteens, ammo pouches, gas mask bags, and pistol holsters produced in this style that were never issued, but are now found on the current surplus market.