Just as it had done with the desert DPM rucksack covers, the British Army introduced MTP pattern rucksack covers when that camouflage became standard issue to allow its DPM patterned bergens to continue in service. Bergens are a relatively expensive item of military kit, whilst a simple cloth cover is comparatively cheap and a simple way to ensure that supply chains were not clogged up waiting for replacement kit to replace serviceable bergens that just happened to be in the old camouflage.
The rucksack cover consists of a large piece of MTP fabric:
This has a drawstring around its edges that allow it to be secured over the bergen:
A plastic slider buckle allows the string to be tensioned to give a secure fit:
As usual, a small white label is sewn inside with details of the item’s NSN number and date of manufacture:
Two MTP covers can be found, a smaller version designed to cover packs such as the daysack; here modelled by a Ghurkha on exercise:
And a larger bergen cover like the example above, which can be seen here being used by a fusilier:
Shorts were not initially issued to troops going out to Iraq and Afghanistan, however men quickly started cutting down spare pairs of DDPM trousers to create their own pairs for wearing off duty and the army decided to formalise this practice with an issue garment. The shorts are identical to the CS95 trousers, but cut off under the pockets, with a hem at the bottom of the leg:
The pockets are bellows design, with a triangular top flap. Note the small flap of fabric that allows the pocket to be completely sealed off when closed to help prevent sand getting in:
A set of belt loops is provided at the waist:
A standard white label is sewn into the rear of the shorts:
One interesting point is that the fabric used to make British army desert kit was a poly-cotton blend, as was the material used to make temperate clothing. The difference was that the desert kit was 75% Cotton to 25% polyester, the temperate clothing 75% polyester to 25% cotton. This meant that the desert kit was cooler, but more prone to wearing out quickly.
These trousers are made of the standard desert camouflage with a dark brown pattern printed over a lighter coloured sand background. The trousers are generously cut for comfort and sport two large buttoned patch pockets on the thighs:
A further pair of slash pockets are available at the waist:
And a single buttoned rear pocket over the right buttock:
The fly is secured with a zip, whilst the waist is secured with both a drawstring and a button:
Waist adjustment can also be made through a pair of button tabs on each hip:
Note also the belt loops to pass a trouser belt through. The bottom of each trouser leg has a drawstring to allow them to be drawn in and bloused over the boot:
As is usual a white stores and sizing label is sewn to the trousers:
This design and pattern of trouser was ubiquitous for many years and can be seen in numerous photographs of troops deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. The introduction of MTP made them obsolete, but they survive in huge quantities and e collector should have no difficulty in finding a pair for the collection.
Having spoken with various Australian collectors, it seems the patterns changed over around 1990 to 1991 and it was a gradual roll out of the new pattern, with the old design slowly being phased out as shirts became too tatty for service. This earlier pattern shirt was issued to the Australian Army from about 1988 for just a few years and this example has an embroidered badge sewn on the sleeve:
It is interesting to place the earlier pattern shirt alongside the later variation to compare the two patterns. On the left is the later pattern, on the right the earlier pattern. The most obvious difference is in the breast pockets, the earlier pattern has far more square pockets, the later pattern has them attached on a slant:
The sleeves are also different, the earlier pattern has a reinforcement panel along the forearm, which was deleted on the later pattern. The shape of the cuff securing tab also changed. The earlier design is pointed, the later pattern is cut square on the end:
The final difference between the two patterns is that the later pattern has added a pen pocket to the upper left hand sleeve:
This early pattern shirt is dated 1990 and the label inside indicates that it was made in Victoria and has an NSN printed on as well as a sizes, 100L:
William Dytes recalls:
Inside are three colours, green, brown and black; these matching the DPM camouflage used until recent years. A small mirror is fitted under the lid to help the soldier apply his camo:
The top of the lid shows that these were manufactured by Camtech:
Camtech produce a wide range of camouflage for both the British Army and other militaries, their website explains:
This was delivered from the factory in a sealed plastic bag:
A stores label is stuck to the outside of the bag, indicating that like so much modern British military equipment this cover was manufactured in China by the Cooneen Defence Ltd company:
Inside the packet is the MTP cover, laid out the revised shape is visible, designed to fit over the more PASGAT shape of the Mk7. The elastic straps for the scrim are also revised, just having two rings of elastic:
A tab with a press stud is attached to the rear to help secure helmet mounted equipment such as goggles:
Like all the other helmet covers issued over the years, this one is adjusted and secured by a drawstring:
The inside of the cover has a standard label:
Unlike other helmet covers, this one includes a small bag of MTP scrim:
These are wedge shaped pieces of fabric about eighteen inches long that can be threaded through the elastic straps to break up the outline of the helmet:
Although I have used these strips as they came, looking at service issued examples it seems as though it was common to cut the strips of MTP scrim lengthways to make them narrower and give the soldier more of them to thread through the helmet cover, providing a more scrimmed effect:
The trousers are made of poly-cotton, with the distinctive DPCU pattern printed on it, a little faded but still clear and serviceable. The trousers sport a large pocket on each thigh, secured with concealed buttons:
A third pocket is sewn over the right buttock:
Note also the belt loops, each of which fastens with a button on the bottom of the loop. Waist adjustment is by a pair of buttoning tabs on each hip:
The flies are secured with a zip and a button tab:
The bottom of each trouser leg is elasticated, drawing the leg in tight around the ankle where the trousers meet the wearer’s boots:
The Australian Army’s dress regulations indicate that the trousers are to be worn bloused over the boots:
Sadly the interior label is badly degraded from repeated washing so it is not possible to exactly date these trousers, but I suspect they date to the early 1990s. With the matching jacket and the 88 pattern webbing in my collection I have almost completed a full, if basic, set of Australian combat uniform and equipment from the end of the twentieth century, boots and hat are the last two major components now…