Waterproof, bivie and floatation aid; all in one! 😂 We all bought our own waterproofs and were told we had to wear them under our smocks, because - the enemy will hear us coming - in the hissing rain and wind...!🤔😂
I joined up in 1976. The only things absolutely waterproof were the toilet paper and the towels! The ponchos were waterproof. If you got a rubberized WW2 one. The other problem with them was condensation. Rain on the outside and sweat on the inside. There was a green one side white other side waterproof that worked pretty well. We got these at some point during the Falklands war. The trousers came with them. Aircrew survival suits were made from ventile. A cotton type of material that expands when wet. Keeping the wearer dry. Why this wasn't adopted instead of ripstop I don't know. Goretex worked great and was going o be adopted as the NBC or nuclear, biological and chemical warfare protective clothing. A better " noddy suit". The now common welding helmet lenses were going to be fitted into respirators to counter the nuclear flash. NBC is called something else now. Great video. I'm looking forward to the next one.
There are some stories and rare pics of cotton wax jackets from a certain brand being used in the Falklands. Some in DPM pattern. Best regards from Germany.
1974-1982 was issued the poncho no other type of waterproofs or Bergens, good old 58 pattern webbing lol. I was home in Scotland at the end of Guards Depot Recruit Training, prior to moving to 2SG up the road. Popped in to a local outdoorsy store and the only light green waterproof jacket they had was a “Peter Storm”. Best waterproof I ever owned, the only issue was when I wore it in uniform (on base or in the field) it had to be under my combat jacket. It all worked out. Had not seen a Peter Storm jacket since then, till I was in Scotland last October 2023 found two my size on sale in the local Black’s win win lol. Canadian Forces (CF) had the same issue, crappy waterproofs, but they issued us a Shelter half which had a zip on it, you and your buddy zipped two together and made a tent or a Leanto with a floor attached. Kit got better over the years but Im pretty sure from 1994-2009 I was the only CF soldier who was wearing Green PLCE webbing because the CF webbing was crap. Only got told to get rid of it twice during that period, first time from and English ex BA who was a Sgt in my unit in Calgary, think he was jealous he didn’t have a set 😂 …💂♂️🪖⛑️🏴🇨🇦
I learned fairly quick that whatever outdoors kit the MOD issued you, you would pack it away and go out and purchase some of your own kit that actually worked, or if you were lucky enough to be working with yanks 'borrow' there kit because chances are it would knock spots off the British stuff 😮
I remember waterproofs before the gore-tex kit was like a thick pvc material…but worse than that as a young cadet in the 80’s they still had gas capes and 37 pattern webbing in the stores ! that stuff was great when it got wet. Gucci kit to us young cadet’s was buying our own ponchos and 58 webbing 😂 good times.
When we were in the junior bleeders Regt we had in the 60’s 2 man Bivvy tent….. plus a rap around wartime style ground sheets…weighed a bloody ton and even made us carry the pegs…… an when it got wet and you packed it into your Bergen…… you felt like a worn out donkey🙄🤣 the one night while on a march an was told to have 4 hour gonk I got my sleeping bag out got into it rolled my ground sheet round me…. An rolled under the nearest hedge……….best sleep ever 😎💪🏼
I purchased a lightweight barbour jacket early 80's for exercise. Got a proper bollocking, forbidden to wear it. I was told only officers were allowed to wear Barbour jackets!😡
Waterproof under the smock always. The Javelin detachments were issued a couple of sets of DPM Waterproofs from the mid 80s for the guys on the system. Certainly not issued for everyone, ponchos for the rest.
I remember back in the late 80's when I was a Bootneck up at Bisley wearing the issue pussers tea bag ( what we called the waterproof jackets cause you just brewed up in them) and a group of WAAFs strolled by wearing DPM gortex. We couldn't believe that office staff (REMFS) got the best outdoor kit and we had to put up with out of date kit. Most of us used to go down to a supplier in Guz who'd cottoned on to this problem and sold us really good DPM wax jackets. No crisp bag noises from wax cotton. Mind you, we didn't take the goretex to Norway. When it froze the ice crystals in the clothing destroyed the ultra fine layers and rendered it useless from then on. Cheers, Chris in Cornwall.
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd We were young, disgustingly fit, well fed and equipped, extremely well trained and up for adventure, and there was an element of reality with the climate and mountain conditions to make it real enough for the element of exercise unreality to not be a consideration. And paid to go to a beautiful part of the world. What's not to look forward to? You'd have loved it too.
I’m lucky enough to never have slept under an infantry type bivvy except for two nights in basic. We were lucky enough to have a 56 ton gypsy”s caravan with all mod cons including two bvs and or the option of a toaster made from a box of 200 7.62 , a pair of tin snips and a spare bv element plus a car hifi wired into the ic , usually Formel Eins or Bfbs radio. We used the cvr t bivouac which were indented via the Sims. For full Hilton hotel experience we would, time permitting, lower a bazooka plate to horizontal with staves as legs giving you the full glamping experience with both twin gas stove and the pressure pump burner too. A spice rack in my turret and selection of chilled beers in the cooled ammo bins and a choice of Bushmills single malt, cherry brandy and stolen or pilfered fresh eggs and potatoes made life very comfortable depending on notice to move. Roman style underneath heating and drying facilities were available on the back decks with the gun elevated over the back decks and the rubberised cvr t tank sheet which gave you almost immediate notice to move and overnight heating from the engine underneath which would stay warm overnight. We often had the infantry over to the hide to offer some shelter in bad weather depending on if their Coy Cmdr was laid back , the GG were not overly impressed with our Glamping style but they had to suffer it. Oh and the obligatory Sqn Smoker and Sqn Skits were a brilliant opportunity to slag off the hierarchy, which could get a bit out of hand at times. We had folded camp beds, fishing umbrellas and never really had to rough it. We tended to use the very good plain green foul weather proofs or Barbour or Belstaff motorcycling bib and braces if it was really foul weather depending on who else was around.
I loved your US jackets in 1978 very smart used to go to your px but we werent allowed to go in and buy them but alaways found your guys very obliging.fired M60s on your ranges to killing machines great days
i never served in the military,but come from a long line of family that did,listening to this gentleman brings back things that my grandad used to tell me about Dunkirk,and my father serving in cyprus,the one thing they could all do was sort any situation that was thrown at them,keep these great opinions and videos coming,it makes a change to listen and learn from someone who has actually done a bit
Got issued gortex socks for my first NI tour in co Tyrone in 91. Excellent bit of kit . I remember being socked through, on rural patrols regulatory, boots were waterlogged, but my feet and socks were bone dry.
I remember going on "first night" when I was in Juniors in Bassingbourn in 1983. My Sec Commander (a really good guy named Clements from the Queens) did an outstanding demonstration of the perfect basher - he then sent us off to make ours and he was less than impressed with my "Corporal I've only got 3 trees" comment - this was before we had issue bungees and had to buy them - they weren't green so we had to colour them in with marker pens - the problem being when they expanded they went back to luminous yellow - good days (apart from putees - what were they about?)
I was at Bassingbourn in 89-90,Royal Anglian Reg, good memories 👍, we could buy green bungees then, standard kit has come along way since our day, glad to say I didn't have to experience puttys or DMS boots 😂
My foul weather kit in the 70/80’s consisted of a Milk Marketing board waterproof trousers and jacket. I got bollocked by the RSM for wearing it and he was kitted out in a golf waterproof, which wouldnt have been too bad except where as mine was olive green with a small MMB logo his was mid blue and he looked like the ESSO symbol. Fortunately during a posting at SHAPE i was able to blag an RAF foul weather jacket that was the dogs!!!! I kept it even after de-kit, it was superb
Over the years I must have spent two or three grand on "Waterproof" clothing during my sailing career and all of it has let water in. You can easily blow a thousand on HPX or MPX clothing from the big brands. In the end I followed the trawlermens lead and bought a set of Guy Cotton waterproofs. Not breathable but kept me dry in any weather. Only problem is they are bright yellow so probably not the best choice if you don't want to be noticed.
Hi. Love your vids and find them really interesting when you talk about how things were done, back in the day. I was never in the military but as a young kid, I was always outdoors. Joined the cubs at 9 and then the Scouts, so from an early age,I was advantaged with outdoor skills, fire making, shelter building and basic survival skills. School holidays, I would often grab an old rucksack and disappear for a few days off on my own. Now I’m an adult with 3 children, two are which adults, I find myself doing pretty much exactly the same thing again, only this time the locations are further away and I can drive to them, instead of trying to ride a Raleigh chopper with basic kit strapped to the rack with old bits of rope! Liked and subscribe, fella, and more importantly, thank you, to your and your friends, for your service to our country. All the best and please keep going off on your tabs and making these videos. 👍🏾😉🇬🇧
The bungees were excellent trip wires in the harbour area, the goretex issued was like wearing a bin bag, let no water in, but let no sweat out, so you were just as wet!! Happy memories sir, stay safe, and keep your powder dry. Paul.
I don't remember ever sleeping under a basher in 3 years. In basic training at Stamford I slept under a KIP (Kit Indiv. Protection) a poncho type sheet of plastic spread over a zig zag of nylon para chord stretched by tent pegs over a 2' wide slit and then covered with soil for overhead protection, but in the Bn. (when not on Op Banner) we were in 432s. I got into the Int Section before the summer training season and when we slept it would be beside the vehicle under a tarp. tied along the side of the vehicle (not the exhaust side) by the float screen and then stretched out. We NEVER used the proper command post fancy gazebo tent as utterly too complicated to put up in the dark in a wood and carried some steel pipes and more tarps. We parked our 432 back to back with the Adj. and put the poles and tarps up before opening the doors and letting light out. My worst night trying to be smart and too lazy to set up the tarp was in a wood where we were parked on a brick road. My dad had told me of tank crews being crushed sleeping under their vehicles during the war, but the brick road was firm so I got in my bag and caterpiller wiggled under for a kip. Brick roads don't accomodate your back well. And a 432's ground clearance didn't allow me to roll over. After a long time of misery I wiggled out, rolled over and wiggled back to lie on my front. It wasn't much better and almost a relief when pulled out to do a stag.
You can double up the ponchos by using the press studs and ur old sleeping bag has press studs that allow you to attach them to the ur poncho. So get in ur scatcker with a hot choco and dig in for the night.
Hi just subscribed! I used to deal in military surplus. When I stopped trading I kept what stock I had left. I had bought a large batch of desert cammo waterproof jackets and trousers, they sold like hot cakes to the biker fraternity. Often after buying and trying they would come back and buy a second set, they were so impressed with them! Never managed to buy another batch of these wholesale though. It has been great over the last few years to go to my storeroom and just pick my next set of waterproofs off the shelf even though they are woodland cammo. I found the standard issue water proof trousers a pain to get on and off over a pair of boots but found quite a few variants both in the jackets and trousers. The trousers I use at the moment have a concealed zip at the bottom of each leg which when unzipped opens the bottom of the trousers enabling them to be quickly put on or taken off while wearing boots, there is also a velcro tab which when used closes the bottom of the waterproof around the boot making a snug fit. I wear one of the larger size matching jackets which I find excellent for keeping out the wind and rain, it is just a shame they did not put a few more pockets in the design. I believe I may still have a couple of pairs of the older issue pvc Jackets and trousers still in the store, the difference in weight between the old and the new is unbelievable!
My first issue of green water proofs was 1977. Liberated from the RAF. Green DPM First issue also from the RAF was in 1980. Really thin and noisy. First gortex was in 1984 issued by regiment. Good old days.
Ha ! I remember those jackets and trousers. -you could hear us coming 300 metres away ;) We called the jackets 'crisp packets' the rain just travelled down to your trousers. You'd take them off later and have lost half a stone in sweat ;)
The joyus of cadet's who think their smock is waterproof, end up like a drowned rat in staff size waterproof to keep them warm, as you said, if it is not raining, it is not training, and if it is not snowing, there is no point in going🤣🤣🤣
Basic training on your very first exercise, dossing under your basher having the sweetest of dreams then WALLOP - around about 4 am you get bumped and all hell breaks loose. Terrific days they were - NOT!! 😵💫
Evening Sir, a fantastic bunch lads you have here, with your support and guidance, we can take on the world. We might just have to work that little bit harder on the weather (mother nature 😮😂😂😂😂). I see nowone has mentioned the outstanding SAS smock, German Para boots fittedwitha laced in zip, with dfab green Berghaus Gators with zips. Absolutely bulletproof, in any weather or mud 😊😊😊. NI gloves, great too.
Very good video Tab, - Gaiters and Puttees, Water Proofing Bootlaces, leaving on Cherry Blossom or Kiwi polish without bringing the boots to a shine, using tent wax on things...there's so many aspects to everything, you probably won't run out of topics, besides it's like a job doing videos and will keep you young and fit. In those days I mostly just got wet and cold, now people get cold because the heating bill is too high. I bought a genuine MTP tarp a few years ago then sold it, handles can also be used as a stretcher, another thing, military grade kit.... usually means heavy and hard wearing. I had a thought, you walking around in that Beret, you want to watch out as you might get conscripted haha.
The first waterproofs I got in 1988 they were crisp packets later on we were issued proper goretex, yes we got issued goretex socks in CS95 and for South Armagh we got proper goretex boots
I can remember many years ago being on some map reading exercise, it was the middle of the night and in torrential rain. We bashered up in a field and got our heads down. I was suddenly awoken by my legs dropping downwards and hastily grabbing onto the ground. I crawled like a caterpillar back to the basha and continued my slumber. When I woke up in the light of day I wanted to find out what had happened during the night. I then realised that we were on a sloping field and I had slid down the hill from under the shelter, gone under a barbed wire fence and my legs had gone over a sodding great big cliff! It was only the sudden waking up that saved my life 🤣 absolutely true story which I will remember forever
I was once detailed to guide in our troop vehicles to a new location. I was told they were delayed and I could get my head down for an hour. I rolled up in my hootchie on the side of the raod and woke up with a Mack 6x6 a foot from my head rumbling by, someone had laid Don10 telephone cable over me and my mate was shaking me saying we were standing to and hurry back to the position! While I slept the troop had arrived, harboured up and nobody had missed me. I got back, boss never found out and I dodged a bullet for sure. Just so bloody exhausted! I know all who served can relate.
Another stroke of luck for me was on another exercise where I was in a trench, we got into a firefight and there was a little sizzling light at the edge of the trench, in the morning I saw that it was a thunder flash which had failed to activate, some knob from the enemy had thrown bloody thunder flashes at us and this one landed right next my f##king face! I must be part cat I reckon 😂
I’ve probably used up another six on various other stupid things I’ve done while under the influence of considerable amounts of alcohol during the ‘80s and ‘90s so I’ve slowed down a lot now, I don’t even like to climb a ladder these days 😂
Nice one Keith 👍 I always have a laugh when I hear on the news, etc. Someone or a Company have made a purchase and state, ‘it’s military grade’, we just know that it will be cheapo, crapo and it ain’t going to be any use. 👍🇬🇧
I am enjoying these videos and they demonstrate how much learning and experience is taken onboard in the British Army and how we tended to learn subconsciously by watching others and gradually the Eureka moment when you start to see the bigger picture and how all the different Arms fit in to make it all work.
Still got my green N.i nylon waterproof jacket think they were originally RAF issue ? But cant be 100%. Noisy as F*** and stiff as a board if i remember correctly. Private purchase bungees and 58 poncho. And as someone above mentioned the joys of having a bungee twang you in the middle of the night 😂 what fun. Keep up the good work tab 59 brings back so many memories. ATB Rob 👍
I joined in 1976 and left in 1989 and the most waterproof kit on issue I ever had was the poncho. Now I ride motorbikes and what do I wear british army surplus MVP ( goretex ) great kit just buy a size larger to fit over your riding gear, wish we had it on sunny Soltau in the 80's there are two versions a lightweight and slighlty heavier DPM colour pattern the lightweight is best for the bike .
As a cadet in the Air Training corps we had these old 1940 issue oil skin rain capes aka gas capes. They weighed more than the average cadet. In the regs, circa 1978 we were issued a nylon trenchcoat style raincoat for every day use and a great coat for cold weather. I officially wore the great coat maybe twice but it was handy as an extra blanket. The raincoat was issued new and stank. You had to hang them in a spare locker in your hut and let them pong for a week before they were fit to wear without knocking you out. I also had a Vietnam War era issued camouflage raincoat that was useless as it made you sweat like a rapist but looked really cool in tiger stripe camo. I could only wear it on exercise as it wasn't official issue for us at that time. We slept under a hootchie, a basha about 180x230 you could button together to make a double or if you had four or five of you it was a 'Taj Mahal'. After I left the apprentice School for the Engineers in 1979 we had the Coats Mans, Field, OG M65 and that was it for wet weather gear. Young soldiers today don't know how lucky they is!
The first waterproof I was issued with was a lightweight DPM rubberized thing that was just about shower proof The Gortex stuff was a godsend compared to what went before The 58 partern webbing when soaked weighted a ton the 90 pattern wasn't very robust definitely not squaddie proof
"If it aint raining, it aint training...." & "Your skins waterproof...." such were the motivation phrases we heard..... now get away like a herd of startled gazzles......
I bought a buffalo mountain shirt to go under my smock which isn't waterproof, but repels moisture and keeps you warm even when wet. I worked in an outdoor shop for a few years and some of my customers were gobsmacked when I explained that the goretex boots/jackets/gloves etc weren't totally waterproof, they would look puzzled and ask why....my answer was always "because there's massive holes in them.....where your legs/ankles/arms/ head etc poke out 🤣 tbh, I think gore Tex is over rated these days, especially with the "environmentally friendly PFC free (not so) durable water repellent finish" one of my customers made me chuckle when I was explaining the 2 different types of re-proofers we sold, I explained that one was deemed more environmentally friendly than the other, but the less environmentally friendly one worked better. His response was...."Fu¢k the environment.....it's the environment that makes me wet in the first place" 🤣
@@andy84251 I'll be buying a new one soon, I currently have the Montana extreme smock which is similar, but not quite as good as a buffalo. The price has more than doubled since I bought my last one though 😬my old one wore out after years of being hammered, I spilt rifle oil down the front of it, so it was stained, the pile had thinned over the years, I definitely got my money's worth out of it lol.
As a former avid skier and cyclist, G/tex works best in big temp differences between body and outside. Otherwise moisture stays in and you get wet from inside. For a lot of money! Snow and G/tex is to some point ok. But if you use two layers of DWR and some thermal base imo you get slightly wet but stay much warmer and dry quicker. Like my old style poncho for hiking if its pouring down.
Just catching up with your uploads Keith so this is a late post. Great vid. #1. Poncho - best waterproof for static situations. Can break up shape if used correctly too; #2. Those mid weight PVC coated waterproofs were sweaty! #3. I also came across an issue, plain dark olive waterproof set which were Falkland weatherproof. IIRC they had a really good collar/face protector; #4. Our officers back in the 70s/80s often used the unlined Barbour Durham on exercise/ops for recces. They rolled up nicely into the rear internal pocket of the combat jacket. Too expensive for me at the time but used them mesen years later for CROPs.
I remember one fella had an Australian Army “bash” which was the same colour but slightly bigger and seemed more waterproof. Not sure how he got hold of it though. Interestingly the French word for a waterproof cover like a tarpaulin is bâche. I wonder who nicked the word from who? Remember how we preattached the bungees and paracord and tied the pegs to the eyelets?
We were issued the rubberised gas cape in green. Could lay as ground sheet or half a roof. A few small holes around the edge for string or comms wire, no reinforcing rings. Same problems as poncho. Nothing else to keep you dry unless you wore plastic under combats, then you sweat and get wet anyway. No win situation. Battle dress horrendous in the wet. The all green combats were shower proof when new. Useless once washed. Said they should be dry cleaned, I ask you, were you gonna find a launderette in the middle Hohne Ranges or Luner Heider.
It wasn't an accident that Silverman's (Civvy Gucci kit supplier) started providing DPM Gore-Tex - we all bought it. The only kit we were issued was the plastic 'crisp packets' which you only ever wore in camp, never in the field. Just used to spend weeks on end being wet and asking the universal squaddie question: "WTF am I doing here"?, lol.
We used to “acquire” gortex kit and decent high legs the Rocks and Aircrew had, and spent most of our time sneaking around so the SWO didn’t catch or the RAF Police didn’t catch us.
I have a poncho in my collection and the old 'crisp packet' DPM jacket. I still wear a DDPM mvp jacket which which keeps me really dry.. and bought it from here in Poland for 15 quid !!
Thanks, finding your videos really interesting. There's probably an endless list of topics to talk about? MREs and heating methods might be interesting, also if you have anything to say about fibua, such as villages and towns cleared for that purpose.
I Have a couple of ponchos- still use them, one particularly is a game changer for cycling when the rain is pissistent and gale driven up here in the Pennines. Dodger n out.
Think it was 1985 they issued 2 oz pu coated dpm waterproofs, the pu coating pealed off in the armpits after about two days . These were quickly withdrawn and replaced with 4oz pu coated waterproofs with taped seams which were much better but so noisy and did not breath so became a sauna suit. Best waterproofs are double ventile , the material is the finest 2% of cotton production and was developed for immersion suits in the second world war . Its fibers swell up stopping rain, it is breathable and quiet, two layer is best to keep you dryer as damp layer not next to you!
Sir, 🙏, what was you getting a grip of 😮😊😂😂. Sorry Sir, no offence ment just my bad sense of humour. Ps do you recall the egg banjo. A staple diet in British army, when time was limited, for cooking up some scran and a cup of char (tea). The 24 hour ration pack, for me, was broken down to sweers nut and Mars bar/Martham bar to carry on route in a poket. Muesili ( taste like damp cardboard 😮) for breakfast and then mix what was left for an evening meal. I used a small gas stove not the hexy stove (shooty every were and hard to clean).
Ww ussd to put a bin liner in our 58 backpack to try keep at least some dry kit. I went to put the waterproof jacket and trousers on under my combats after hearing that it kept the noise down but was told not to bother as you got just as wet from sweating. This turned out to be so as my mate did and he was soaked. Lightweight trousers were the way to go if you could get away with it. They dried so much quicker.
It was a 58 PATT which also fitted the sleeping bag as an early bivi bag, the first waterproofs wear not garys but thick plastic type, now they glow in the dark... hope your well K.P.
Never forget walking round 94 Loc Regt in celle on guard duty in the pouring rain under my poncho, soaking wet underneath. Anybody that has walked round that camp at night would agree what a scary intimidating place it was 😮
In fallingbostel we were accomadated the old wermact blocks in St babara bks come in pissed Early hours of morning old doors would swing behind you😢 again when you were about 20 yds away and your tape players volume would go up and down 😂😂😂😂 old orderly room did a stint in their turn the toilet light off back.on again noises in the corridor on your own locked in 2nd floor .paranormal m8 my favourite thing 24 years in the job seen and heard some spooky things foot steps on the gravel great my relief is here NOPE 👻
@@LetsTab59-bd4fdthats creepy keith may be another subject to talk about just replied to David their told him.my story.mind you talked to plenty of spirits in the NAAFI wrong type 😂😂😂
There was an issue DPM waterproof jacket and trousers in early/mid eighties well before Goretex was issued. It was thick, not very breathable and noisy. I didn't use it and went out and bought my own jacket
Canadian Forces (CF) started issuing Bivvie Bags around mid 90s. At first you carried your shelter half and bivvy bag for night routines. One weekend in Wainright Alberta we were sooo bagged I threw my bivvie bag on the ground with sleeping bag and crawled inside. Lots of you will be sorry it’s going to rain. Got up the morning I was bone dry, lots of guys in there shelter halves were soaked lol. Never carried my shelter half again. 2 year later I get a 9 month tasking to CFB Suffield/BATUS which turned into 12 years with a Medical release at the end of it. No field time, Base hospital with week of duty medic every 6 weeks with my field medic stuff M-F 0900 - 1600. BATUS eventually said Brit medics were not doing duty medic anymore due to liability issues? Most of the ambulance calls were for BATUS or there Dependents?, what liability?. lol no problem all the more real life experience for me especially in the ambulance work.💂♂️🪖⛑️🏴🇨🇦
@@Wardog-rf1tx did med man 7 in October November 78 what an experience live firing great food good nights in alberta AT THE SIN BIN watched Oliver Reid dance on a table 😂
Just come back from a walk down to the small river near my estate, the step son came with me,he loves to walk , he is autistic and we were looking at the pussy willows starting to come on the trees and out of no where he asked me "why do people go to war? Why dont people let other people from other countries visit then go back home? " So i have been spending the last teo hours trying to explain to him that things arnt black and white and follow logic in the real world, and some foreign countries dont want to just visit snd go home they are bad people that want to steal all the oil and gas and crops from countries yhat cant defend themselves. "Then he said "like russia in Ukraine " then he said he wants to be a soldier to protect people in Ukraine. What a great lad, he has learning difficulties but he has the mindset to protect people who need help to fight bad actors. i felt proud as fk of the lad.
That's awesome what a fantastic young man you have. You explained it well to him. Hopefully you two will be enjoying more walks out especially as the weather picks up, spring won't be far now. All the best and thanks for commenting 👍
Never got ponchos in Rn mafines may had had thdm. All got was heavy weather gear, but belonged to the ship, you had to hand it back when you left the ship. Heavy plastic çoat and jacket and trousers. Then we had a once only suits if ship sank red in colour mad of nylon or rubber. Keeps you wRm and boyant in water.
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd remember being in the cadets early 70s going for a tab had to get some gear together not much cash about my dad borrowed a ruck sack I borrowed some blankets x2 from the drill Hall and strapped them to the outside didn't know the score then my CSM ex RRW went ape said I was a swanky tramp 😂 also said he would cut my hair for me if he had to stand on it anymore 😂 promoted to cpl in 6 months 1st promotion.
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd hi m8 thx for reply not too far away I live in Sleaford but from Boston, my 2 lads in forces, one in army pti the other Royal Marines so understand the tab/yomp thing lol, I think your great for what your doing, more should be getting out there, I’m not forces but always trained and do lot tabbing which I thinks best exercise going me and lads go wales Yorkshire peaks lakes and keeps me well fit so keep doing what your doing m8 an inspiration to us older lot and loving the channel m8 so don’t give it up lol👍
@Nofixedabode859 thanks so much it's really appreciated and so nice to get positive feedback. Hope you're two lads are well you must be so very proud of them. All the best 👍
😂😂😂 the NZ Kit when I first joined in 1992 was the shittest 😂😂😂 not even good for sentry 😂 then they went to a Cheaper version of Gortex Gorflax 😂😂😂 1997, which was much superior I brought a pair of Matterhorn Gortex boots from the UK 🇬🇧 in 95 best $890 I ever spent now they are issued 😂😂😂 the NZ Army always had the 2 man Hootchie/Basha that I can remember in 92 which was DPM of course and were fantastic bit o kit 😂 🔥 🔥 🔥 P.s DPM Disruptive Pattern Material was the best camouflage EVER then new ones look like something a Ken doll would wear 😂😂😂
Nothing wakes you up more than a stretched bungee hitting your face in the middle of the night as you haven't put it round the tree properly.
Funny how a smack in the night always ties in with the dream you were having
😂😂😂😂😂
If it ain't raining it ain't training.... If it's not snowing I am not going...
😅
Waterproof, bivie and floatation aid; all in one! 😂 We all bought our own waterproofs and were told we had to wear them under our smocks, because - the enemy will hear us coming - in the hissing rain and wind...!🤔😂
Totally agree, issued kit was garbage 😂
I joined up in 1976. The only things absolutely waterproof were the toilet paper and the towels! The ponchos were waterproof. If you got a rubberized WW2 one. The other problem with them was condensation. Rain on the outside and sweat on the inside. There was a green one side white other side waterproof that worked pretty well. We got these at some point during the Falklands war. The trousers came with them. Aircrew survival suits were made from ventile. A cotton type of material that expands when wet. Keeping the wearer dry. Why this wasn't adopted instead of ripstop I don't know. Goretex worked great and was going o be adopted as the NBC or nuclear, biological and chemical warfare protective clothing. A better " noddy suit". The now common welding helmet lenses were going to be fitted into respirators to counter the nuclear flash. NBC is called something else now. Great video. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Cheers Keith thanks for your support 🙏
There are some stories and rare pics of cotton wax jackets from a certain brand being used in the Falklands. Some in DPM pattern. Best regards from Germany.
Some senior ranks and officers bought their own @@silentandproud882
1974-1982 was issued the poncho no other type of waterproofs or Bergens, good old 58 pattern webbing lol. I was home in Scotland at the end of Guards Depot Recruit Training, prior to moving to 2SG up the road. Popped in to a local outdoorsy store and the only light green waterproof jacket they had was a “Peter Storm”. Best waterproof I ever owned, the only issue was when I wore it in uniform (on base or in the field) it had to be under my combat jacket. It all worked out. Had not seen a Peter Storm jacket since then, till I was in Scotland last October 2023 found two my size on sale in the local Black’s win win lol. Canadian Forces (CF) had the same issue, crappy waterproofs, but they issued us a Shelter half which had a zip on it, you and your buddy zipped two together and made a tent or a Leanto with a floor attached. Kit got better over the years but Im pretty sure from 1994-2009 I was the only CF soldier who was wearing Green PLCE webbing because the CF webbing was crap. Only got told to get rid of it twice during that period, first time from and English ex BA who was a Sgt in my unit in Calgary, think he was jealous he didn’t have a set 😂 …💂♂️🪖⛑️🏴🇨🇦
Cracking story mate 👍 many thanks
I learned fairly quick that whatever outdoors kit the MOD issued you, you would pack it away and go out and purchase some of your own kit that actually worked, or if you were lucky enough to be working with yanks 'borrow' there kit because chances are it would knock spots off the British stuff 😮
I remember waterproofs before the gore-tex kit was like a thick pvc material…but worse than that as a young cadet in the 80’s they still had gas capes and 37 pattern webbing in the stores ! that stuff was great when it got wet. Gucci kit to us young cadet’s was buying our own ponchos and 58 webbing 😂 good times.
I had forgotten about the ponchos, now its all coming back, including the smell 😅.
When we were in the junior bleeders Regt we had in the 60’s 2 man Bivvy tent….. plus a rap around wartime style ground sheets…weighed a bloody ton and even made us carry the pegs…… an when it got wet and you packed it into your Bergen…… you felt like a worn out donkey🙄🤣 the one night while on a march an was told to have 4 hour gonk
I got my sleeping bag out got into it rolled my ground sheet round me…. An rolled under the nearest hedge……….best sleep ever 😎💪🏼
Awesome Colin thanks mate 👍
Thank god for the PRI shop for smocks,camo bashers, twists(elastics),boot zips ( exercise only). Cheers for the flashbacks, I mean memories lol.
🤣🤣
Tabbing half a day under the poncho you'd be as wet as if you'd been out in the rain - it was just your own sweat! But at least it was warm(ish.)
Very true mucker
I purchased a lightweight barbour jacket early 80's for exercise. Got a proper bollocking, forbidden to wear it. I was told only officers were allowed to wear Barbour jackets!😡
Late 80s/early 90s those were popular off-duty for other ranks too. As were Ron Hill tracksters, and dessy wellies.
Come on old chap. Can't have or's wearing Barbours
Ah yes, I remember it well.
Waterproof under the smock always. The Javelin detachments were issued a couple of sets of DPM Waterproofs from the mid 80s for the guys on the system. Certainly not issued for everyone, ponchos for the rest.
I remember back in the late 80's when I was a Bootneck up at Bisley wearing the issue pussers tea bag ( what we called the waterproof jackets cause you just brewed up in them) and a group of WAAFs strolled by wearing DPM gortex.
We couldn't believe that office staff (REMFS) got the best outdoor kit and we had to put up with out of date kit.
Most of us used to go down to a supplier in Guz who'd cottoned on to this problem and sold us really good DPM wax jackets. No crisp bag noises from wax cotton.
Mind you, we didn't take the goretex to Norway. When it froze the ice crystals in the clothing destroyed the ultra fine layers and rendered it useless from then on.
Cheers, Chris in Cornwall.
Thanks Chris, I can't imagine how you RMs operated up there, I know it's one of your many specialised roles. Cheers for commenting 👍
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd
We were young, disgustingly fit, well fed and equipped, extremely well trained and up for adventure, and there was an element of reality with the climate and mountain conditions to make it real enough for the element of exercise unreality to not be a consideration.
And paid to go to a beautiful part of the world.
What's not to look forward to?
You'd have loved it too.
Frozen tents sheets strapped to the top of your chacon/bergen!! Character building!! Loved Norway though. Fittest I've ever been.
@@grahambarber2766
👍
I’m lucky enough to never have slept under an infantry type bivvy except for two nights in basic.
We were lucky enough to have a 56 ton gypsy”s caravan with all mod cons including two bvs and or the option of a toaster made from a box of 200 7.62 , a pair of tin snips and a spare bv element plus a car hifi wired into the ic , usually Formel Eins or Bfbs radio.
We used the cvr t bivouac which were indented via the Sims.
For full Hilton hotel experience we would, time permitting, lower a bazooka plate to horizontal with staves as legs giving you the full glamping experience with both twin gas stove and the pressure pump burner too.
A spice rack in my turret and selection of chilled beers in the cooled ammo bins and a choice of Bushmills single malt, cherry brandy and stolen or pilfered fresh eggs and potatoes made life very comfortable depending on notice to move. Roman style underneath heating and drying facilities were available on the back decks with the gun elevated over the back decks and the rubberised cvr t tank sheet which gave you almost immediate notice to move and overnight heating from the engine underneath which would stay warm overnight.
We often had the infantry over to the hide to offer some shelter in bad weather depending on if their Coy Cmdr was laid back , the GG were not overly impressed with our Glamping style but they had to suffer it.
Oh and the obligatory Sqn Smoker and Sqn Skits were a brilliant opportunity to slag off the hierarchy, which could get a bit out of hand at times.
We had folded camp beds, fishing umbrellas and never really had to rough it.
We tended to use the very good plain green foul weather proofs or Barbour or Belstaff motorcycling bib and braces if it was really foul weather depending on who else was around.
What a fantastic set up. A great description thank you
Bungees great invention
Brother I am a retired US Army Infantry soldier ..I use british equipment and concepts ..love my wool head over and messtins..Vince g 11B infantry
I loved your US jackets in 1978 very smart used to go to your px but we werent allowed to go in and buy them but alaways found your guys very obliging.fired M60s on your ranges to killing machines great days
Good old US Infantry. Cheers fo commenting Brother.
Moving like a bunch of f--'kers from saving private ryan😂😂😂🎉
i never served in the military,but come from a long line of family that did,listening to this gentleman brings back things that my grandad used to tell me about Dunkirk,and my father serving in cyprus,the one thing they could all do was sort any situation that was thrown at them,keep these great opinions and videos coming,it makes a change to listen and learn from someone who has actually done a bit
That's very kind and thanks for your support it's very much appreciated 👍
Got issued gortex socks for my first NI tour in co Tyrone in 91. Excellent bit of kit . I remember being socked through, on rural patrols regulatory, boots were waterlogged, but my feet and socks were bone dry.
Great job. Onwards and upwards ✌️
Thank you for your support 🙏
I remember going on "first night" when I was in Juniors in Bassingbourn in 1983. My Sec Commander (a really good guy named Clements from the Queens) did an outstanding demonstration of the perfect basher - he then sent us off to make ours and he was less than impressed with my "Corporal I've only got 3 trees" comment - this was before we had issue bungees and had to buy them - they weren't green so we had to colour them in with marker pens - the problem being when they expanded they went back to luminous yellow - good days (apart from putees - what were they about?)
Nice one Mick, 👍.
I was at Bassingbourn in 89-90,Royal Anglian Reg, good memories 👍, we could buy green bungees then, standard kit has come along way since our day, glad to say I didn't have to experience puttys or DMS boots 😂
Watched a guy wearing waterproof trousers crossing a river in South armagh they inflated 😂😂😂😂
😂
@@arcturusguardian he was advised not to do it he was an nco but common sense didn't prevail
One of our corporals had a German wife who did a roaring trade making DPM waterproofs🙂
I have a Swiss army wife 😂 😂
How many users does she have 🤔😂
How many users does she have 🤔😂
@@northwalesmod she can do anything multi tasking
Very sharp to 😂
My foul weather kit in the 70/80’s consisted of a Milk Marketing board waterproof trousers and jacket. I got bollocked by the RSM for wearing it and he was kitted out in a golf waterproof, which wouldnt have been too bad except where as mine was olive green with a small MMB logo his was mid blue and he looked like the ESSO symbol. Fortunately during a posting at SHAPE i was able to blag an RAF foul weather jacket that was the dogs!!!! I kept it even after de-kit, it was superb
Typical RSM keith would never take the piss like that 😂
Over the years I must have spent two or three grand on "Waterproof" clothing during my sailing career and all of it has let water in. You can easily blow a thousand on HPX or MPX clothing from the big brands. In the end I followed the trawlermens lead and bought a set of Guy Cotton waterproofs. Not breathable but kept me dry in any weather. Only problem is they are bright yellow so probably not the best choice if you don't want to be noticed.
Hi.
Love your vids and find them really interesting when you talk about how things were done, back in the day.
I was never in the military but as a young kid, I was always outdoors.
Joined the cubs at 9 and then the Scouts, so from an early age,I was advantaged with outdoor skills, fire making, shelter building and basic survival skills. School holidays, I would often grab an old rucksack and disappear for a few days off on my own.
Now I’m an adult with 3 children, two are which adults, I find myself doing pretty much exactly the same thing again, only this time the locations are further away and I can drive to them, instead of trying to ride a Raleigh chopper with basic kit strapped to the rack with old bits of rope!
Liked and subscribe, fella, and more importantly, thank you, to your and your friends, for your service to our country.
All the best and please keep going off on your tabs and making these videos.
👍🏾😉🇬🇧
Thanks for commenting and your support it's very much appreciated mate 👍
The bungees were excellent trip wires in the harbour area, the goretex issued was like wearing a bin bag, let no water in, but let no sweat out, so you were just as wet!! Happy memories sir, stay safe, and keep your powder dry.
Paul.
I don't remember ever sleeping under a basher in 3 years. In basic training at Stamford I slept under a KIP (Kit Indiv. Protection) a poncho type sheet of plastic spread over a zig zag of nylon para chord stretched by tent pegs over a 2' wide slit and then covered with soil for overhead protection, but in the Bn. (when not on Op Banner) we were in 432s. I got into the Int Section before the summer training season and when we slept it would be beside the vehicle under a tarp. tied along the side of the vehicle (not the exhaust side) by the float screen and then stretched out. We NEVER used the proper command post fancy gazebo tent as utterly too complicated to put up in the dark in a wood and carried some steel pipes and more tarps. We parked our 432 back to back with the Adj. and put the poles and tarps up before opening the doors and letting light out.
My worst night trying to be smart and too lazy to set up the tarp was in a wood where we were parked on a brick road. My dad had told me of tank crews being crushed sleeping under their vehicles during the war, but the brick road was firm so I got in my bag and caterpiller wiggled under for a kip. Brick roads don't accomodate your back well. And a 432's ground clearance didn't allow me to roll over. After a long time of misery I wiggled out, rolled over and wiggled back to lie on my front. It wasn't much better and almost a relief when pulled out to do a stag.
Great story thank you for sharing it. I've slept under vehicles also, I know it's wrong but I was young and lazy .thank you for commenting 👍
You can double up the ponchos by using the press studs and ur old sleeping bag has press studs that allow you to attach them to the ur poncho. So get in ur scatcker with a hot choco and dig in for the night.
Hi just subscribed! I used to deal in military surplus. When I stopped trading I kept what stock I had left. I had bought a large batch of desert cammo waterproof jackets and trousers, they sold like hot cakes to the biker fraternity. Often after buying and trying they would come back and buy a second set, they were so impressed with them! Never managed to buy another batch of these wholesale though. It has been great over the last few years to go to my storeroom and just pick my next set of waterproofs off the shelf even though they are woodland cammo. I found the standard issue water proof trousers a pain to get on and off over a pair of boots but found quite a few variants both in the jackets and trousers. The trousers I use at the moment have a concealed zip at the bottom of each leg which when unzipped opens the bottom of the trousers enabling them to be quickly put on or taken off while wearing boots, there is also a velcro tab which when used closes the bottom of the waterproof around the boot making a snug fit. I wear one of the larger size matching jackets which I find excellent for keeping out the wind and rain, it is just a shame they did not put a few more pockets in the design. I believe I may still have a couple of pairs of the older issue pvc Jackets and trousers still in the store, the difference in weight between the old and the new is unbelievable!
Brilliant, thank you for your support Davy, much appreciated mate.
one of the nest bits about being in the infantry is drying out :P
My first issue of green water proofs was 1977. Liberated from the RAF. Green DPM First issue also from the RAF was in 1980. Really thin and noisy. First gortex was in 1984 issued by regiment. Good old days.
Ha ! I remember those jackets and trousers. -you could hear us coming 300 metres away ;) We called the jackets 'crisp packets' the rain just travelled down to your trousers. You'd take them off later and have lost half a stone in sweat ;)
The joyus of cadet's who think their smock is waterproof, end up like a drowned rat in staff size waterproof to keep them warm, as you said, if it is not raining, it is not training, and if it is not snowing, there is no point in going🤣🤣🤣
Remember having to buy our own except poncho.
Basic training on your very first exercise, dossing under your basher having the sweetest of dreams then WALLOP - around about 4 am you get bumped and all hell breaks loose. Terrific days they were - NOT!! 😵💫
I used to love the old 58 webbing ,when I was a cadet in early 70s it was really useful on night exercises ect.
58 was not so good when soaked with water as weight grows, develops musty smell and gains in weight !
@@peterwait641 but when your 12 58 webbing is like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Brilliant insight 👏 thanks Harry
🤣Love it, 'Harry' got nicknamed that by my recruits .
Remember the joy of being piss wet through for days on exercise in Thetford forest ,but ohh the delight of putting on a dry pair of socks ,happy days😂
The best thing ever....dry socks
Evening Sir, a fantastic bunch lads you have here, with your support and guidance, we can take on the world. We might just have to work that little bit harder on the weather (mother nature 😮😂😂😂😂). I see nowone has mentioned the outstanding SAS smock, German Para boots fittedwitha laced in zip, with dfab green Berghaus Gators with zips. Absolutely bulletproof, in any weather or mud 😊😊😊. NI gloves, great too.
Thank you so much Dave for your kind words 🙏
I always remember stores people walking around in the new parkas while we had to suffer with the old ines😮😮😮
That was always the way Rob.
Very good video Tab, - Gaiters and Puttees, Water Proofing Bootlaces, leaving on Cherry Blossom or Kiwi polish without bringing the boots to a shine, using tent wax on things...there's so many aspects to everything, you probably won't run out of topics, besides it's like a job doing videos and will keep you young and fit. In those days I mostly just got wet and cold, now people get cold because the heating bill is too high.
I bought a genuine MTP tarp a few years ago then sold it, handles can also be used as a stretcher, another thing, military grade kit.... usually means heavy and hard wearing. I had a thought, you walking around in that Beret, you want to watch out as you might get conscripted haha.
Brilliant comment 👏 thanks so much made me giggle 😃
The first waterproofs I got in 1988 they were crisp packets later on we were issued proper goretex, yes we got issued goretex socks in CS95 and for South Armagh we got proper goretex boots
Yeah those gortex socks weren't great.
I can remember many years ago being on some map reading exercise, it was the middle of the night and in torrential rain. We bashered up in a field and got our heads down. I was suddenly awoken by my legs dropping downwards and hastily grabbing onto the ground. I crawled like a caterpillar back to the basha and continued my slumber. When I woke up in the light of day I wanted to find out what had happened during the night. I then realised that we were on a sloping field and I had slid down the hill from under the shelter, gone under a barbed wire fence and my legs had gone over a sodding great big cliff! It was only the sudden waking up that saved my life 🤣 absolutely true story which I will remember forever
I was once detailed to guide in our troop vehicles to a new location. I was told they were delayed and I could get my head down for an hour. I rolled up in my hootchie on the side of the raod and woke up with a Mack 6x6 a foot from my head rumbling by, someone had laid Don10 telephone cable over me and my mate was shaking me saying we were standing to and hurry back to the position! While I slept the troop had arrived, harboured up and nobody had missed me. I got back, boss never found out and I dodged a bullet for sure. Just so bloody exhausted! I know all who served can relate.
How lucky were you Roger wow.
Another stroke of luck for me was on another exercise where I was in a trench, we got into a firefight and there was a little sizzling light at the edge of the trench, in the morning I saw that it was a thunder flash which had failed to activate, some knob from the enemy had thrown bloody thunder flashes at us and this one landed right next my f##king face! I must be part cat I reckon 😂
@rogerhandley644 bloody hell mate you do have 9 lives.
I’ve probably used up another six on various other stupid things I’ve done while under the influence of considerable amounts of alcohol during the ‘80s and ‘90s so I’ve slowed down a lot now, I don’t even like to climb a ladder these days 😂
Nice one Keith 👍 I always have a laugh when I hear on the news, etc. Someone or a Company have made a purchase and state, ‘it’s military grade’, we just know that it will be cheapo, crapo and it ain’t going to be any use. 👍🇬🇧
Right enough there Ricky.
If you could get both the NBC suit and Poncho in the 58 pattern bumroll it was good going!
Almost impossible 😆
I am enjoying these videos and they demonstrate how much learning and experience is taken onboard in the British Army and how we tended to learn subconsciously by watching others and gradually the Eureka moment when you start to see the bigger picture and how all the different Arms fit in to make it all work.
Thanks for your support James it's very much appreciated mate 👍
Still got my green N.i nylon waterproof jacket think they were originally RAF issue ? But cant be 100%. Noisy as F*** and stiff as a board if i remember correctly. Private purchase bungees and 58 poncho. And as someone above mentioned the joys of having a bungee twang you in the middle of the night 😂 what fun. Keep up the good work tab 59 brings back so many memories. ATB Rob 👍
Thank you Rob great memories 😊
My plt commander a csgt had all the kit pertex jacket the works great guy no bullshit
A poncho with a hood? You were lucky!
😁
I joined in 1976 and left in 1989 and the most waterproof kit on issue I ever had was the poncho. Now I ride motorbikes and what do I wear british army surplus MVP ( goretex ) great kit just buy a size larger to fit over your riding gear, wish we had it on sunny Soltau in the 80's there are two versions a lightweight and slighlty heavier DPM colour pattern the lightweight is best for the bike .
Cheers William, I remember digging in on Soltau on an NCO Cadre.
As a cadet in the Air Training corps we had these old 1940 issue oil skin rain capes aka gas capes. They weighed more than the average cadet. In the regs, circa 1978 we were issued a nylon trenchcoat style raincoat for every day use and a great coat for cold weather. I officially wore the great coat maybe twice but it was handy as an extra blanket. The raincoat was issued new and stank. You had to hang them in a spare locker in your hut and let them pong for a week before they were fit to wear without knocking you out. I also had a Vietnam War era issued camouflage raincoat that was useless as it made you sweat like a rapist but looked really cool in tiger stripe camo. I could only wear it on exercise as it wasn't official issue for us at that time. We slept under a hootchie, a basha about 180x230 you could button together to make a double or if you had four or five of you it was a 'Taj Mahal'. After I left the apprentice School for the Engineers in 1979 we had the Coats Mans, Field, OG M65 and that was it for wet weather gear. Young soldiers today don't know how lucky they is!
Great videos thank you 🎉🎉🎉🎉
You are so welcome!
The first waterproof I was issued with was a lightweight DPM rubberized thing that was just about shower proof The Gortex stuff was a godsend compared to what went before The 58 partern webbing when soaked weighted a ton the 90 pattern wasn't very robust definitely not squaddie proof
"If it aint raining, it aint training...." & "Your skins waterproof...." such were the motivation phrases we heard..... now get away like a herd of startled gazzles......
Brilliant Dave, thanks mate made me giggle reading that. 😆 🤣 😂
Most of are kits in US Forces back in my day look like your gear wet weathwe etc
I bought a buffalo mountain shirt to go under my smock which isn't waterproof, but repels moisture and keeps you warm even when wet. I worked in an outdoor shop for a few years and some of my customers were gobsmacked when I explained that the goretex boots/jackets/gloves etc weren't totally waterproof, they would look puzzled and ask why....my answer was always "because there's massive holes in them.....where your legs/ankles/arms/ head etc poke out 🤣 tbh, I think gore Tex is over rated these days, especially with the "environmentally friendly PFC free (not so) durable water repellent finish" one of my customers made me chuckle when I was explaining the 2 different types of re-proofers we sold, I explained that one was deemed more environmentally friendly than the other, but the less environmentally friendly one worked better. His response was...."Fu¢k the environment.....it's the environment that makes me wet in the first place" 🤣
buffalo mountain shirts were amazing - still have mine.
@@andy84251 I'll be buying a new one soon, I currently have the Montana extreme smock which is similar, but not quite as good as a buffalo. The price has more than doubled since I bought my last one though 😬my old one wore out after years of being hammered, I spilt rifle oil down the front of it, so it was stained, the pile had thinned over the years, I definitely got my money's worth out of it lol.
As a former avid skier and cyclist, G/tex works best in big temp differences between body and outside. Otherwise moisture stays in and you get wet from inside. For a lot of money! Snow and G/tex is to some point ok. But if you use two layers of DWR and some thermal base imo you get slightly wet but stay much warmer and dry quicker. Like my old style poncho for hiking if its pouring down.
Just catching up with your uploads Keith so this is a late post. Great vid.
#1. Poncho - best waterproof for static situations. Can break up shape if used correctly too;
#2. Those mid weight PVC coated waterproofs were sweaty!
#3. I also came across an issue, plain dark olive waterproof set which were Falkland weatherproof. IIRC they had a really good collar/face protector;
#4. Our officers back in the 70s/80s often used the unlined Barbour Durham on exercise/ops for recces. They rolled up nicely into the rear internal pocket of the combat jacket. Too expensive for me at the time but used them mesen years later for CROPs.
Thanks for your support. Yeah you've reminded me I remember some of our officer's donning Barbour jackets. All the best amigo
Talking about noise when youre out on patrol or on stag, is all the velcro on modern kit, waterproof or whatever. That makes a hell of a noise.
It really does. Thank you for commenting 👍
I remember one fella had an Australian Army “bash” which was the same colour but slightly bigger and seemed more waterproof.
Not sure how he got hold of it though.
Interestingly the French word for a waterproof cover like a tarpaulin is
bâche.
I wonder who nicked the word from who?
Remember how we preattached the bungees and paracord and tied the pegs to the eyelets?
Yes I remember doing that. Thank you for commenting 👍
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd 😊👍🏼
We were issued the rubberised gas cape in green. Could lay as ground sheet or half a roof. A few small holes around the edge for string or comms wire, no reinforcing rings. Same problems as poncho.
Nothing else to keep you dry unless you wore plastic under combats, then you sweat and get wet anyway. No win situation. Battle dress horrendous in the wet. The all green combats were shower proof when new. Useless once washed. Said they should be dry cleaned, I ask you, were you gonna find a launderette in the middle Hohne Ranges or Luner Heider.
Cheers Barry great comment 👍
It wasn't an accident that Silverman's (Civvy Gucci kit supplier) started providing DPM Gore-Tex - we all bought it. The only kit we were issued was the plastic 'crisp packets' which you only ever wore in camp, never in the field. Just used to spend weeks on end being wet and asking the universal squaddie question: "WTF am I doing here"?, lol.
How true is that mate.
We used to “acquire” gortex kit and decent high legs the Rocks and Aircrew had, and spent most of our time sneaking around so the SWO didn’t catch or the RAF Police didn’t catch us.
Sneaky Donna well done 👏
I have a poncho in my collection and the old 'crisp packet' DPM jacket. I still wear a DDPM mvp jacket which which keeps me really dry.. and bought it from here in Poland for 15 quid !!
Nice one Jim, hope you're well over there in Poland 🇵🇱 👍
Thanks, finding your videos really interesting. There's probably an endless list of topics to talk about?
MREs and heating methods might be interesting, also if you have anything to say about fibua, such as villages and towns cleared for that purpose.
Nice one Dave 👍 given me lots to think about.
I Have a couple of ponchos- still use them, one particularly is a game changer for cycling when the rain is pissistent and gale driven up here in the Pennines. Dodger n out.
Its pissin down here in Worcestershire mate
It never rains in southern california 😂😂😂❤❤
@@roberthewer2268 I bet rain is a novelty lol
@@matthewbishop9342 going to stay for another month then come back to manky UK weather
@roberthewer2268 lol, stay there till easter, you'll be dryer 🤣
😂I think looking back
I can't remember being dry ever on any exercise in Germany . You were either Wet , soaking Wet or Drenched. And muddy 😂
Yes all of the above for me 😆
When I joined army cadets early 80.s kit tripled in weight when it rained
Webbing would shrink lol horrible
The only time I ever saw British Army proper equipment was in the recruitment brochures!
You're right there 😆
Called them hooches in my day and they weren't meant to be higher then a bayonet length above ground
I did once have to complain to the concierge at my hotel about the constant dripping noise from my shower (ex RAF) hehe.
🤣🤣🤣
nice one agree them elf socks never used them sure we got issued them Ireland 85
Any old excuse keith 😂😂😂 grab a pick elf and get out on stag😂😂😂
Tracer Round is on now I'm on two hours off 😆
Think it was 1985 they issued 2 oz pu coated dpm waterproofs, the pu coating pealed off in the armpits after about two days . These were quickly withdrawn and replaced with 4oz pu coated waterproofs with taped seams which were much better but so noisy and did not breath so became a sauna suit. Best waterproofs are double ventile , the material is the finest 2% of cotton production and was developed for immersion suits in the second world war . Its fibers swell up stopping rain, it is breathable and quiet, two layer is best to keep you dryer as damp layer not next to you!
Boil in the bags they called em ,sweat ya bollocks off in em and got wetter than if they leaked 😂😂
Thanks Pete, 👍
Sir, 🙏, what was you getting a grip of 😮😊😂😂. Sorry Sir, no offence ment just my bad sense of humour. Ps do you recall the egg banjo. A staple diet in British army, when time was limited, for cooking up some scran and a cup of char (tea). The 24 hour ration pack, for me, was broken down to sweers nut and Mars bar/Martham bar to carry on route in a poket. Muesili ( taste like damp cardboard 😮) for breakfast and then mix what was left for an evening meal. I used a small gas stove not the hexy stove (shooty every were and hard to clean).
Ww ussd to put a bin liner in our 58 backpack to try keep at least some dry kit. I went to put the waterproof jacket and trousers on under my combats after hearing that it kept the noise down but was told not to bother as you got just as wet from sweating. This turned out to be so as my mate did and he was soaked. Lightweight trousers were the way to go if you could get away with it. They dried so much quicker.
I kept a set of the old jungle combats as you say they dry out pretty quickly
It was a 58 PATT which also fitted the sleeping bag as an early bivi bag, the first waterproofs wear not garys but thick plastic type, now they glow in the dark... hope your well K.P.
Cheers Andy, I do remember getting in my gonk bag and rolling myself into the poncho. Still got wet of course 😆 thank you for commenting 👍
Never forget walking round 94 Loc Regt in celle on guard duty in the pouring rain under my poncho, soaking wet underneath. Anybody that has walked round that camp at night would agree what a scary intimidating place it was 😮
It was a very creepy place with lots of stories about what may be in the basements?
In fallingbostel we were accomadated the old wermact blocks in St babara bks come in pissed Early hours of morning old doors would swing behind you😢 again when you were about 20 yds away and your tape players volume would go up and down 😂😂😂😂 old orderly room did a stint in their turn the toilet light off back.on again noises in the corridor on your own locked in 2nd floor .paranormal m8 my favourite thing 24 years in the job seen and heard some spooky things foot steps on the gravel great my relief is here NOPE 👻
@@LetsTab59-bd4fdthats creepy keith may be another subject to talk about just replied to David their told him.my story.mind you talked to plenty of spirits in the NAAFI wrong type 😂😂😂
Stretch poncho over your trench or shell scrape
Great as always.
There was an issue DPM waterproof jacket and trousers in early/mid eighties well before Goretex was issued. It was thick, not very breathable and noisy. I didn't use it and went out and bought my own jacket
Army issued waterproofs, guaranteed to get you drenched!
😂🤣😂🤣
Many time I used my webbing has a pillow and put poncho over me
Canadian Forces (CF) started issuing Bivvie Bags around mid 90s. At first you carried your shelter half and bivvy bag for night routines. One weekend in Wainright Alberta we were sooo bagged I threw my bivvie bag on the ground with sleeping bag and crawled inside. Lots of you will be sorry it’s going to rain. Got up the morning I was bone dry, lots of guys in there shelter halves were soaked lol. Never carried my shelter half again. 2 year later I get a 9 month tasking to CFB Suffield/BATUS which turned into 12 years with a Medical release at the end of it. No field time, Base hospital with week of duty medic every 6 weeks with my field medic stuff M-F 0900 - 1600. BATUS eventually said Brit medics were not doing duty medic anymore due to liability issues? Most of the ambulance calls were for BATUS or there Dependents?, what liability?. lol no problem all the more real life experience for me especially in the ambulance work.💂♂️🪖⛑️🏴🇨🇦
@@Wardog-rf1tx did med man 7 in October November 78 what an experience live firing great food good nights in alberta AT THE SIN BIN watched Oliver Reid dance on a table 😂
@@roberthewer2268 I did med man 4 or 5 (July/aug) in 1977. SINBIN long gone.
What waterproofs lol 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Keep Tabbing!
Thank you
Just come back from a walk down to the small river near my estate, the step son came with me,he loves to walk , he is autistic and we were looking at the pussy willows starting to come on the trees and out of no where he asked me "why do people go to war? Why dont people let other people from other countries visit then go back home? " So i have been spending the last teo hours trying to explain to him that things arnt black and white and follow logic in the real world, and some foreign countries dont want to just visit snd go home they are bad people that want to steal all the oil and gas and crops from countries yhat cant defend themselves.
"Then he said "like russia in Ukraine " then he said he wants to be a soldier to protect people in Ukraine. What a great lad, he has learning difficulties but he has the mindset to protect people who need help to fight bad actors. i felt proud as fk of the lad.
That's awesome what a fantastic young man you have. You explained it well to him. Hopefully you two will be enjoying more walks out especially as the weather picks up, spring won't be far now. All the best and thanks for commenting 👍
Gary goretex and crispy waterproofs that was only good for boxing training.
Still wild camp with my young son with my trusty basher (dpm type )
PONCHO?WHAT LUXURY
😂🤣
Still got my combat gloves from the 90s bloody useless green things like sponge wellies 😂😂😂
🤣😂
I don't know about today but in my day the sleeping bags were rubbish.
Not the best bit of kit were they lol 😆
Never got ponchos in Rn mafines may had had thdm. All got was heavy weather gear, but belonged to the ship, you had to hand it back when you left the ship.
Heavy plastic çoat and jacket and trousers. Then we had a once only suits if ship sank red in colour mad of nylon or rubber. Keeps you wRm and boyant in water.
Hi m8 did they have roll mats in early days, I know bivvybags weren’t around?
No roll mats m8 70s 80s
No roll mats issued then but I do remember some lads did buy some. Thank you for commenting 👍
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd remember being in the cadets early 70s going for a tab had to get some gear together not much cash about my dad borrowed a ruck sack I borrowed some blankets x2 from the drill Hall and strapped them to the outside didn't know the score then my CSM ex RRW went ape said I was a swanky tramp 😂 also said he would cut my hair for me if he had to stand on it anymore 😂 promoted to cpl in 6 months 1st promotion.
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd hi m8 thx for reply not too far away I live in Sleaford but from Boston, my 2 lads in forces, one in army pti the other Royal Marines so understand the tab/yomp thing lol, I think your great for what your doing, more should be getting out there, I’m not forces but always trained and do lot tabbing which I thinks best exercise going me and lads go wales Yorkshire peaks lakes and keeps me well fit so keep doing what your doing m8 an inspiration to us older lot and loving the channel m8 so don’t give it up lol👍
@Nofixedabode859 thanks so much it's really appreciated and so nice to get positive feedback. Hope you're two lads are well you must be so very proud of them. All the best 👍
Have you ever done a job for someone who was such a thwunt he went on about your coat not being water proof?
LOL, can't say I have lol.
😂😂😂 the NZ Kit when I first joined in 1992 was the shittest 😂😂😂 not even good for sentry 😂 then they went to a Cheaper version of Gortex Gorflax 😂😂😂 1997, which was much superior I brought a pair of Matterhorn Gortex boots from the UK 🇬🇧 in 95 best $890 I ever spent now they are issued 😂😂😂 the NZ Army always had the 2 man Hootchie/Basha that I can remember in 92 which was DPM of course and were fantastic bit o kit 😂 🔥 🔥 🔥
P.s DPM Disruptive Pattern Material was the best camouflage EVER then new ones look like something a Ken doll would wear 😂😂😂
I agree about DPM being a better pattern than the MTP which seems not to blend in so well especially around last light.
Black Mafia is Royal Tank Regiment
No such a thing as bad weather just bad clothing !!🤔
Bang on there