Collection
...
The PCU takes cold-weather gear to the highest level
By Lance Cpl. Erik Villagran
This Image was released by the United States Marine Corps
with the ID 060818-M-4675V
.....
About
NATICK, Mass. -- Calling from a bomb crater in Afghanistan in the winter of 2002, the Special Forces Soldier had a pointed request for the Special Projects Team at the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Mass.: Send warm clothing.
About one year later, special operators working in frigid battle zones got what they wanted in the Protective Combat Uniform (PCU), an interchangeable 15-piece, seven-level ensemble that can be worn in layers appropriate for the mission.
About one year later, special operators working in frigid battle zones got what they wanted in the Protective Combat Uniform (PCU), an interchangeable 15-piece, seven-level ensemble that can be worn in layers appropriate for the mission.
Keep Readin : Here
Level 1
A durable, silkweight Polartec Power Dry fabric worn next to the skin wicks away moisture and dries fast. It consists of a crew neck Tshirt and boxer shorts, or is available in long-sleeve top with invisible zipper and pants, built for comfort and minimal weight.
Level 2
A long-sleeve shirt and pants made from Polartec Power Dry fabric are worn next to the skin for extra warmth in extreme conditions, but still wicks away moisture quickly from skin and dries fast. An inserted side panel of Polartec X-Static fabric enhances fit and flexibility. The top has a front 15-inch zip for extra venting and a soft lining around the collar. Comfort features include an articulated side seam on the pants to minimize chafe on the kneecap.
Level 3
An insulative mid-layer jacket made from Polartec Thermal Pro fabric is water-repellent yet breathable. It is worn as an outer jacket in mild temperatures or as a heavy insulative layer in extreme cold. Seamless shoulders minimize chafe, which are then lined for extra warmth and padding for heavy pack straps.
Level 4
The soft windshirt is made from an encapsulated microfiber that repels water but also breathes for a variety of conditions. It’s designed to pair with a next-to-skin layer for intense activity in cooler temperatures or with the Level 5 soft shell as a mid-layer. It stuffs into its own pocket for easy packing.
Level 5
The key to the entire system, this soft shell fabric jacket and pants are made with fibers encapsulated with silicone that are highly stretchable, windproof, water repellant and breathable. They are paired with Level 1 or 2 next-toskin layers, ready for any cold weather aerobic activity.
Level 6
A lightweight waterproof and coated nylon hard shell is slightly oversized to fit easily and quickly over gear. The jacket features water-resistant zippers and armpit zips for maximum ventilation, pocket openings to quickly access inside layers and a hood that incorporates a stiff brim. The pants borrow the same design from Level 5 but provide waterproof protection.
Level 7
For extreme conditions, this lightweight, loft-insulated level in a jacket, vest and pants has the feel of down but retains its warmth when wet. Silicone-encapsulated fabric sheds water and is paired with Primaloft insulation for maximum warmth while the liner pulls away moisture.
...
At the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, US forces were in extreme cold conditions, and the clothing systems they operated at that time were not suitable for such conditions.
In 2002, US Army Master Sergeant Tony Pryor, who later received a silver star, made a phone call from the Hindu Kush (a mountain system in Afghanistan and Pakistan) to Rick Elder, a specialist on the Natick Soldier Systems Special Projects team. Pryor demanded that Natick Soldier come up with a better solution to keep the soldiers in such conditions.
An experienced team has been assembled to tackle this problem, including Chief Petty Officer Scott Williams, a former officer in charge from the Naval Special Warfare Detachment based in Kodiak, Alaska, where the newly minted seals are trained in cold weather. The experienced team also included civilians with vast experience in cold conditions, such as Mark Twiet, and a year later they developed and released an interchangeable clothing system called PCU, or Protective Combat Uniform, which provided comprehensive cold weather protection options for the military. ...
By the 1980s, Natick was developing what would become the ECWCS (Extended Cold Weather Clothing System), which began to be issued to soldiers in 1986. While ECWCS will be modernized by new generations many years later, these changes will not reflect the pace at which civilian clothing for cold conditions has evolved. Because of all this, that very Pryor phone call was made from the mountains of Afghanistan.
The development of the PCU system was both a radical rethinking of the first prerequisites underlying the creation of such a clothing system, and the opportunity to apply new revolutionary materials, which, according to civil mountaineering, radically changed this area.
In 2002, US Army Master Sergeant Tony Pryor, who later received a silver star, made a phone call from the Hindu Kush (a mountain system in Afghanistan and Pakistan) to Rick Elder, a specialist on the Natick Soldier Systems Special Projects team. Pryor demanded that Natick Soldier come up with a better solution to keep the soldiers in such conditions.
An experienced team has been assembled to tackle this problem, including Chief Petty Officer Scott Williams, a former officer in charge from the Naval Special Warfare Detachment based in Kodiak, Alaska, where the newly minted seals are trained in cold weather. The experienced team also included civilians with vast experience in cold conditions, such as Mark Twiet, and a year later they developed and released an interchangeable clothing system called PCU, or Protective Combat Uniform, which provided comprehensive cold weather protection options for the military. ...
By the 1980s, Natick was developing what would become the ECWCS (Extended Cold Weather Clothing System), which began to be issued to soldiers in 1986. While ECWCS will be modernized by new generations many years later, these changes will not reflect the pace at which civilian clothing for cold conditions has evolved. Because of all this, that very Pryor phone call was made from the mountains of Afghanistan.
The development of the PCU system was both a radical rethinking of the first prerequisites underlying the creation of such a clothing system, and the opportunity to apply new revolutionary materials, which, according to civil mountaineering, radically changed this area.
Orc Industries PCU level 7 vest in a size Large Long. The First Gen is Orc Industries PCU was the first contract on PCU before Beyond or Patagonia.
No comments:
Post a Comment