WEBBING AND BERGENS

1958 PATTERN WEBBING

1958 pattern webbing was a modular based personal equipment system issued to the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom from the 1950s until the mid 1980s.

A general issue of 1958 Pattern webbing consisted of a belt, yoke, ammunition pouches (left, with provision for an SLR bayonet, and right, with a pouch to the rear for a rifle grenade), a water bottle pouch, a pair of kidney pouches, a poncho roll and a large pack.

1958 PATTERN AMMO POUCHES

1958 PATTERN KIDNEY POUCHES

1958 PATTERN PONCHO ROLL

1958 PATTERN WATERBOTTLE POUCH

1958 PATTERN WATERBOTTLE & CUP

1958 PATTERN LARGE PACK

There were a number of ancillary pouches available for specialist tasks, e.g pistol holster to hold the issue Browning Hi-Power, compass pouch and binocular pouch, there was also a special pouch for the "SUIT", "Sight Unit Infantry Trilux".

1958 PATTERN PISTOL HOLSTER

1958 PATTERN MAP CASE

1958 PATTERN MAP CASE LABEL

1958 PATTERN BINOCULAR POUCH FRONT

1958 PATTERN BINOCULAR POUCH REAR

All components in the system are made from a sturdy and tight-woven canvas fabric in a dark olive green. The metal fittings are aluminium, anodised dark green.

1958 PATTERN WEBBING & Mk6 HELMET

The equipment was worn in a series of combinations:

Weapon Training Order (or Skeleton Order), consisted of Belt, Yoke and Ammunition pouches.

Combat Equipment Fighting Order (CEFO), consisted of Belt, Yoke, Ammunition pouches, Kidney pouches, Water Bottle pouch and Poncho Roll.

Combat Equipment Marching Order (CEMO), CEFO and Large Pack (or Bergan GS). Over the course of its service, there were a number of developments and modifications. When the system was originally designed, little scope was given to Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical warfare and when this was addressed, the system gained a respirator haversack to house the S6 Respirator.

1958 PATTERN OPERATIONAL LOAD

BERGEN GS

In 1972, trials of a new webbing pattern was begun, to replace the 1958 pattern set, although the 1972 pattern set was not generally issued to the British Army, the trials rucksack was modified and then issued as the "Rucksack GS". (NSN 8465-99-132-2813) to replace the 1958 pattern Large Pack, with a load capacity of approximately 75 litres.

BERGEN 1972 SAS/PARA

At the same time the 1972 Pattern "Rucksack SAS" - also known as the "SAS/PARA" Bergen. (NSN 8465-99-136-1886) was issued to the British Special Forces. This had a square external frame which was also used for carrying the Clansman PRC 351 and 352 radio sets. This Bergen had a much greater load capacity of approximately 125 litres.

1972 PATTERN BERGEN GS & 1958 PATTERN WEBBING

BERGENS GS, 58 WEBBING & L1A1 SLRs

BERGENS GS & SAS

BERGEN, PARA, 1972 PATTERN OPERATIONAL LOAD

The British Army 1958 Pattern Sleeping Bag was a 4 Season down filled, mummy style bag, rated to -12c. It featured a drawstring hood, full length zip, oversized insulated draft tube, nylon shell with waterproof rubberised bottom and hood. Conveniently rolls up into the waterproof hood. The bag was available in two lengths, standard and long.

Features:

1) Outer, Inner: 190T Polyester W/P,W/R
2) Dimensions: (175 body + 30 hood) x 85 x70cm
3) Filling: Duck Down
4) Weight: 2500g
5) Color: olive green
6) Pack size: 40 x35cm

1958 PATTERN SLEEPING BAG 1985 ISSUE

1958 PATTERN SLEEPING BAG LABEL 1985 ISSUE

The 1958 Pattern Poncho was a foul Weather protection cape. It had a draw string hood and two ponchos could be joined together by using the press studs down each side to make a two-man bivvy.

Features:

1) Olive Green
2) PVC Backed Nylon
3) Draw String Hood