BRITISH INFANTRY EQUIPMENT
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During the 1980's the British Army under took its most comprehensive re-equipment program ever; from Boots to Tanks, nearly every piece of infantry equipment was replaced or upgraded. Due to the nature of supply and issue which could never keep up with demand the old and new was in use together well into the early 1990's.
Below are some of the items you will see on our display. All Weapons are either deactivated or are replicas and are not capable of firing real bullets.
Helmets:
No.4 Steel Helmet - designed in 1944 this robust helmet changed little over the years and finally was phased out by the late 1980's. The No.4 had a black leather liner which was replaced with a foam liner with the added comforter and re-designated Mk.5
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Marine Pattern Helmet - WWII tankers helmet with updated liner. Similar in appearance to the WWII Para helmet.
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Mk.6 Ballistic Helmet - Similar to the Rural Patrol Helmet used in Northern Ireland in the early eighties, introduced in 1985 onwards to replace the No.4 Steel Helmet. The Mk.6 was lighter and made from Glass-reinforced plastic.
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Vest fragmentation, M1952 (Mk.9 Cover):
Introduced mainly for use in Northern Ireland. The vest is made of ballistic nylon fabric which weighs just one pound per square foot - light enough to let soldiers to move freely. It saves injury from 'bricks and stones' and even low-velocity bullets. Later vests had a rubber pad sewn to the shoulder to stop rifle butts slipping when being fired.
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Webbing:
The '58 pattern webbing system was developed to make it more suitable for mechanized infantry and was issued from the 1960's and was still being issued to TA units in the late 1990's. It was eventually replaced by a lighter more versatile system called PLCE from the Mid 1980's onwards.
The '58 pattern webbing consists of a Belt, Yolk, Left Ammo Pouch, Right Ammo Pouch, Water bottle Pouch, Kidney Pouches and Poncho Roll.
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Bergen and Large Packs:
The '58 Pattern Large pack which is designed to fix onto the basic webbing was the main back pack for the British Forces until the introduction of the GS Bergen's. The GS Bergen could be fitted to a Clansman PRC 351 Frame to aid comfort but could also be carried normally. The Gs Bergen saw extensive use throughout the Falklands campaign, there were also a Para/SAS style Bergen which had extra carrying capacity.
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Weapons:
NBC kit:
Ration Packs:
Radios:
Tents:
We mainly use 4 man 7'x9' Ridge tents for our accommodation of which we have 3, but have found that they are really only suitable for two people and their belongings. The earliest is dated 1972 and the latest 1983. We also have several 2 man Pup Tents which are mainly used for display.
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Trailer:
Not strictly a piece of Infantry equipment, but it is worth mentioning the trailer we use to carry the above items around in as without it we would be scuppered. Since purchasing the trailer the internal storage and top box has been removed which reduced the weight by 160Kg.
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Besides various roles such as Radio repair, mobile workshops, BDR these trailers were
also used to house the Bruin system
Radio Relay Station C50/R236 which was used by the BAOR from the 1970's until
the mid 80's when it was phased out. It is my intention to try and obtain
over a period of time the 4 radio units that would have been fitted within the
trailer at which point it will become the main center of the display.....But all
this relies on me being able to obtain the correct information and bits.
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