Army Kit.

Thinking this morning about when I was serving, and how much money the guys used to spend on buying various bits of kit to make life easier when they were on ops or in the field. Over the fullness of time this must have run into thousands and thousands of pounds in the Royal Welch/Welsh alone. I did spend quite a lot of money on various things however one of the best bits of kit I had was loaned to me by Paul Gwilym, (a HALO jacket). I was wondering what fellow forum members thought was the best bit of kit they ever brought? By the way, thanks Paul, that Jacket did the business for me in Fermanagh!

Good topic Paul.

For me, a Cyclops Roc Bergan.....bought after wearing those ironing board bergans in the Falklands, I thought "Enough is Enough", it cost about £80 in 1985, with a 70ltr capacity, and after having it reinforced by some Reme bloke(Design fault, the join between the shoulder straps and the bergan had a dodgy connection), it did me a treat on Brecon and Cop in 87-89.

Second best bit of kit...metal mug, bought prior to the Falklands, cheap and cheerful, but allowed me to ditch the dreaded messtins.

Three bits of kit made all the difference for me. First when the dreaded canvas capes were replaced by ponchos. Second when I “acquired" a Bergen and I could bin the 58 large pack and finally when I bought myself some bungees, this was before they were issued.I agree with Al, my metal mug was a godsend.I also remember being issued with 2 blankets U/S in training in lieu of green maggot and freezing my nuts off on Battle camp in SENTA Jan 67.

Best bits of kit Metal Mug and a packet of fags what else do you need

Remember being in the back of a land rover in the 80s trying to drink a brew which proved unsuccessful due to lack of suspension, I then glanced at Robby Hunt who was happily enjoying his tea from a baby beaker. No spillage. Them new beakers are everywhere now. Oh and the second best bit of kit for me has to be the bivi bag. Cant understand how we lived without it.

I think the best piece of kit was the 58 webbing, which replaced the 37 webbing - no more blanco and brasso work on a Fri night before OC's inspection on the Sat morning.

Best bit for me,sad i know.
my brush and polish kit.
still have te brushes,marked polish and shine in marker pen.
as i said ...sad lol..

has to be my softy sleeping bag and softy jacket bought especialy for bosnia, the amount of room they saved in your kit to get other essentials in was untrue. O and my trusty frying pan and burner. I could have a hot brew with in 2 mins. I also managed to aquire a cammo poncho years b4 we where issued that was a good bit of kit.

Good thread Paul ,
There has to be several bits of good kit , they were ;
Scotchbright , cleaning the gas parts on the GPMG was a doddle with this .
I think the next item was called Amarello or something like that , you just painted it on your best boots and they were immaculate . Problem was that Mouse could spot it at twenty paces .
I also had a cut down KF shirt which consisted of a collar , the shoulders and two buttons . This was for wearing under the jumper when in long sleeve order . We were on the ranges one day and in long sleeve order when at about 1200 , Mouse Cooper ordered everyone to change dress into short sleeve order . I avoided him as much as possible and when he eventually caught up with me and asked why I was not in short sleeve order I had to come clean . Fair play , he laughed , then he 252d me for defacing military equipment . Good times .
Of course , most things that were luxuries then are common now , like space blankets , NI boots , lightweight combats , skiing goggles when commanding 432s in Soltau , tent poles for building bashas and who can forget the ten man ration pack teabag for cleaning your mess tins . For christsakes why did we go through all that ? Little luxuries but , they made our lives a lot easier .

I lost my boot brushes when I left Crickhowell to join the Battalion in Tidworth in 74. I was on guard with Paddy the taylor & went into the clothing store where I saw a pair of brushes & i asked if i could have then & I still have them. & as for the metal mug I got mine from the ordinance depot in Hereford when I did a run there from Lichfield depot

My new DII laptop which allows me to work from home and connect to UNICOM to do demands, JPA to do my claims, UAMS to demand ammunition and receive and send my work emails anywere there is a telephone line.

It puts keeping your pencil sharp at both ends in the shade

Working from home Mike, well i dont miss that about the army thats for sure, i could have done with 1 of those as RQ in aldershot for those late nights. But i bet you didnt buy it?

Well Sox,
Loads has changed since you got out of the army didn't the POL point used to be a hay stack? anyway the best bit of kit at the mo is a jet boil no more mess tins and it has a self contained gas cooker MAGIC

Interesting thread I agree with most but for me it has to be the Gortex Bivvy Bag I got from the Falklands best right off i had, the Flight Gloves came in handy too, The Hot Cans that the RUC use to bin they were bulky but on the ball, Lumi lane marker (Arrow) used it quite often, Cam Set from PX and of course the Light Weight Patrol Boots from Army Surp and last but not least Chest Webbing when with Arm Inf in Germany.

God what a list why did we not get supplied this stuff is my question ???

All the metal mugs and frying pans in the world become useless without your trusted HOOGY (probably a variation of the spelling!!!). An individual blend of whatever your Mrs had in the kitchen cupboard, curry powder, paprika, chilli powder and any other herbs that you could find. Could turn any range stew into a gourmet meal. Tasted many in my time, I think Jinks 38 had a particularly good one.

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Originally Posted by Barry69

Interesting thread I agree with most but for me it has to be the Gortex Bivvy Bag I got from the Falklands best right off i had, the Flight Gloves came in handy too, The Hot Cans that the RUC use to bin they were bulky but on the ball, Lumi lane marker (Arrow) used it quite often, Cam Set from PX and of course the Light Weight Patrol Boots from Army Surp and last but not least Chest Webbing when with Arm Inf in Germany.

God what a list why did we not get supplied this stuff is my question ???

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Barry you must have got really hot in the CP with that bivvy bag, but at least you had plenty of room in the FFR and trailor to lug all that kit around with you!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike how could you mate and you a Std 2 Signaler too, don't forget your early days, and FFR not as often as some aye m8, although any transport is fair game in love and war lol