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.
The inside of the pack is accessed through a large flap on the top of the pack, secured with both Velcro and press studs:
The inside of the pack is lined with a grey nylon and has the pack’s NSN number and designation printed on in black ink:
A simple open pocket is sewn to one side of the pack:
Whilst a shorter, but wider pocket is sewn to the opposite side, secured with a velcroed flap:
A third much larger pocket is attached to the base and secured with a zip:
The pack is designed to be worn over the shoulder and an adjustable strap is provided for this purpose, along with a steadying strap to pass around the waist:
This pack was never intended to be permanently attached to a web set, however a belt loop is provided for this purpose if so desired:
Underneath this are a pair of T-Clips to allow it to be securely attached to a PLCE belt:
This pack was short lived and quickly replaced with the similar but not identical MTP version we covered 
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 helmet has an upgraded liner that features a mesh top section and padded panels around the head:
The chin strap was also upgraded with a three point suspicion system. The chin straps start at the back of the helmet:
They then run forward to two adjusting straps, one on either side:
A leather chin cup is provided to hold the helmet in place:
This is fastened by passing the end strap through a metal loop and folding the tab back on itself. Two press studs secure it and prevent it coming undone:
Some troops upgraded their helmets by replacing the press studs with a quick release buckle. Other changes made by troops included adding a loop to the rear of the helmet straps to allow it to be secured to body armour with a carabineer.
Just one firm made the Mk 7 helmet, NP Aerospace Ltd who traded as Morgan Advanced Materials. The Daily Mail reported on the introduction of the Mk7 helmet back in 2009:
Whilst designed to make it easier for troops to shoot from a prone position, this was not to be the case in reality and just four years later the same newspaper reported that specialist troops, especially snipers, were having to remove the helmets in combat to make shots:
This bag is identical to the DDPM version and features the same external pouches. We have one large single pouch for a smoke grenade:
Two smaller pouches for fragmentation grenades:
And three pouches across the front for rifle magazines:
Each of these opens up to allow access to the interior, a piece of elastic helps hold the magazines in place until ready to be withdrawn:
The lid of the pouch features a velcroed easy access flap, the opening being surrounded by elastic to ensure it is easy to access the contents of the bag but there is no danger of anything falling out:
This particular bag has been issued and the original owner has written his name and number on the underside of this elastic portion:
The shoulder strap has a seperate MTP slider on it:
This has a rough fabric finish on the inside to prevent the bag from slipping as easily from the wearer’s shoulder:
A standard label is sewn into the inside, with a different NSN number compared to the DPM version:
One user of the grab bag says: