I'm a combat engineer also assigned as a gunner. I'm using the old tri-color Marine Corps LBV and it's not doing as good a job as I want it to. We provide our own security when on logistical convoys or route clearance and I'm in and out of the turret or on the move on the ground with COP building often so I've quickly found out that a good LBV would be worth its weight in gold since I'm taking it on and off all the time and find myself going from mounted to on foot at a moment's notice. I've been looking at some of London Bridge Trading Company's LBVs and they look top notch but I wanted to know if anyone had any particular recommendations. I have plenty of m16 mag pouches and the like but I wouldn't mind buying something that has them permanently attached, so either way...
Load bearing vest for a combat engineer
- Thread starter CE1371
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Re: Load bearing vest for a combat engineer
Check out
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1752608&page=1
OR if I fouled up the URL
search for A.U.L
I have 2 of them and though they have not seen combat (THANK YOU!) they fit and feel good roughing around in safety.
Check out
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1752608&page=1
OR if I fouled up the URL
search for A.U.L
I have 2 of them and though they have not seen combat (THANK YOU!) they fit and feel good roughing around in safety.
Re: Load bearing vest for a combat engineer
Thanks for the recommendation. One last detail, I switch between the MTV and the plate carrier depending on the mission so if you know that a particular LBV works well with armor, please include that detail. Thanks again.
Thanks for the recommendation. One last detail, I switch between the MTV and the plate carrier depending on the mission so if you know that a particular LBV works well with armor, please include that detail. Thanks again.
Re: Load bearing vest for a combat engineer
So you want a rig you can wear over both a standard carrier and a plate carrier? Personally, my loadout changed between both, obviously with the plate carrier taking the lighter load out. Traditional LBVs aren't exactly the best kit in these armor centric days. I would look into a chest rig like a Tactical Tailor MAV, Eagle Universal Chest Rig or a Mayflower rig.
For the plate carrier I would just attach a few pouches directly to it. The whole reason for switching to a PC in the first place is reducing weight and adding mobility at the cost of loadout and protection. My PC kit evolved into three double M4 mag pouches (often I only put one mag in each), an admin pouch and then moved my radio and GP pouches to my padded belt or cummerbund.
So you want a rig you can wear over both a standard carrier and a plate carrier? Personally, my loadout changed between both, obviously with the plate carrier taking the lighter load out. Traditional LBVs aren't exactly the best kit in these armor centric days. I would look into a chest rig like a Tactical Tailor MAV, Eagle Universal Chest Rig or a Mayflower rig.
For the plate carrier I would just attach a few pouches directly to it. The whole reason for switching to a PC in the first place is reducing weight and adding mobility at the cost of loadout and protection. My PC kit evolved into three double M4 mag pouches (often I only put one mag in each), an admin pouch and then moved my radio and GP pouches to my padded belt or cummerbund.
Re: Load bearing vest for a combat engineer
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dogtown</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So you want a rig you can wear over both a standard carrier and a plate carrier? Personally, my loadout changed between both, obviously with the plate carrier taking the lighter load out. Traditional LBVs aren't exactly the best kit in these armor centric days. I would look into a chest rig like a Tactical Tailor MAV, Eagle Universal Chest Rig or a Mayflower rig.
For the plate carrier I would just attach a few pouches directly to it. The whole reason for switching to a PC in the first place is reducing weight and adding mobility at the cost of loadout and protection. My PC kit evolved into three double M4 mag pouches (often I only put one mag in each), an admin pouch and then moved my radio and GP pouches to my padded belt or cummerbund. </div></div>
Good point, I'll put my mag pouches on the carrier and buy an LBV or chest rig that comes with the pouches.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dogtown</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So you want a rig you can wear over both a standard carrier and a plate carrier? Personally, my loadout changed between both, obviously with the plate carrier taking the lighter load out. Traditional LBVs aren't exactly the best kit in these armor centric days. I would look into a chest rig like a Tactical Tailor MAV, Eagle Universal Chest Rig or a Mayflower rig.
For the plate carrier I would just attach a few pouches directly to it. The whole reason for switching to a PC in the first place is reducing weight and adding mobility at the cost of loadout and protection. My PC kit evolved into three double M4 mag pouches (often I only put one mag in each), an admin pouch and then moved my radio and GP pouches to my padded belt or cummerbund. </div></div>
Good point, I'll put my mag pouches on the carrier and buy an LBV or chest rig that comes with the pouches.
Re: Load bearing vest for a combat engineer
In Iraq I rolled with a base MOLLE vest with a zipper up the front. I had two of them in the vehicle with me. The extended dismount option had a Camelback mounted to the back and helped offset the weight of the mag pouches on the front. placement of pounches and the desired loadout is somewhat personal and more specific mission dictated. The standard vest I wore in the vehicle over my body armor was lighter stripped down version that allowed more freedom of movement in the tight vehicle (cougar or RG). While conducting R2C I wore it about 90% of the time. While doing dismounted cache sweeps etc I went with the heavier full load but without a Vehicle it was necessary. I don't remember the exact brand but this in ACU pattern is pretty similar.
http://www.tactical-store.com/ts-t5-tv-58631.html
I could adjust ... move ... change ... set it up however I wanted and just slap it on over my Body Armor. Worked well for me with one downfall... I lighter the load the more it shifted. I used velcro loops to attach it at the bottom to my body armor for quick removal. The one hole in the plan is the quick dismount and need to swap vests. It was easily doable but attaching the velcro after the swap was not time friendly. It never gave me much of a problem but in the wrong situation it might. I just slide them on like a t shirt never messing with the zipper. Another SNAFU might be if you are wearing DAPS as a gunner ... might give you problems.
Good luck man ... the never ending problem for us combat engineers ... Grunt with Demo ... carry more ... do more ... all ways be prepared to accomplish the mission on your own without the combined arms fire team.
In Iraq I rolled with a base MOLLE vest with a zipper up the front. I had two of them in the vehicle with me. The extended dismount option had a Camelback mounted to the back and helped offset the weight of the mag pouches on the front. placement of pounches and the desired loadout is somewhat personal and more specific mission dictated. The standard vest I wore in the vehicle over my body armor was lighter stripped down version that allowed more freedom of movement in the tight vehicle (cougar or RG). While conducting R2C I wore it about 90% of the time. While doing dismounted cache sweeps etc I went with the heavier full load but without a Vehicle it was necessary. I don't remember the exact brand but this in ACU pattern is pretty similar.
http://www.tactical-store.com/ts-t5-tv-58631.html
I could adjust ... move ... change ... set it up however I wanted and just slap it on over my Body Armor. Worked well for me with one downfall... I lighter the load the more it shifted. I used velcro loops to attach it at the bottom to my body armor for quick removal. The one hole in the plan is the quick dismount and need to swap vests. It was easily doable but attaching the velcro after the swap was not time friendly. It never gave me much of a problem but in the wrong situation it might. I just slide them on like a t shirt never messing with the zipper. Another SNAFU might be if you are wearing DAPS as a gunner ... might give you problems.
Good luck man ... the never ending problem for us combat engineers ... Grunt with Demo ... carry more ... do more ... all ways be prepared to accomplish the mission on your own without the combined arms fire team.
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