British First Issue 90 Pattern PLCE - Part I

A look at the first issued version of the British 90 Pattern Personal Load Carrying Equipment.
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[@Wardog-rf1tx]

I was in the Canadian Forces (CF) with the UN in Cambodia in 1993. I got copies of the Soldier magazine from a British WO2 who came to our camp to use our above ground swimming pool lol. Soldier magazines had ads for PLCE webbing for sale might have been Webtex?, that I ended up buying some webbing for while in the CF as they were still wearing OD uniforms and 82 pattern webbing. The webbing was crap and you could not ad any British or USA kit due to the belt that came with that style of webbing. Basically I had some 58 pattern left over from my British service, i used the 58 pattern belt with cloth tabs sewn onto the front of the belt for a plastic belt similiar to the one on your webbing. I bought the OD coloured yoke, 2 water bottle pouches, 1 commanders/admin pouch for the right side, and 1 double magazine pouch on my left side. In the back I attached a CF Butt pack. I’m an old school infantryman so that means I loved my 58 webbing even when wet lol. I really liked the new setup I had and wore it from late 93 till the CF started issuing cadpat Tac vests (they were crap). `Not sure why I was always getting a hard time with my choice in webbing 😂😂😎😎. I now have a mix of the original OD and 2 DMP water bottle pouches that I got from an unmentionable source (wink wink 😉😉) as somewhere along the years I lost the OD water bottle pouches. Been medically retired since 09 but still us it for camping or hiking when I can get out and about. 💂‍♂️🪖⛑️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇨🇦

[@geordiewishart1683]

I joined the army reserve in 1994. We used the 58 pattern webbing until 1997.

[@karood-dog3584]

Yes the Tri fold entrenching tool is a thing of torture for the user. It was common to remove it from the nylon open top carrier and carry a water bottle in the carrier instead.

[@66kbm]

Trifold was a NATO thing but never a UK thing. Not knowing about the UK model, was the HARD case the same as US/NATO design with Alice Clips?...Yes there are NSN 99 shovels out there, they do not appear often though, were they actually used often in amounts?

[@zaynevanday142]

It was and is utter shite we all acquired the Vietnam and Korean era ETools with the pick and wooden handle

[@karood-dog3584]

@@66kbm yes the same as the ALICE plastic cover , the tri fold was the same as the US one and everyone got to have one all of their own :/

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

That’s what I’ve heard

[@sgtmajorparker4181]

@@karood-dog3584 it was not the same as the ALICE entrenching tool. US version was black. UK/NATO version was green.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

I’ve got a small collection of various sets of soldier built up PLCE acquired from surplus shops. I find the mods done by the user fascinating.

[@paladinmaid2334]

Your videos on PLCE are great! Had a feeling I'd see you in the comments of this one :P

[@wingaard]

'58 pattern was great for mods, as officers recognised it was poor and allowed us to make changes.

[@OldNavajoTricks]

^One of our greatest strengths, as an American General remarked; "Everyone else buys topline gear and trains people to use it, the British train soldiers and say 'Use what you can..." Paraphrased ofc but the last time I mentioned it I was informed that a founder member of the S.A.S. also said similar. 🤘🙂

[@SafetyProMalta]

Nice series, still have my set spanking new checked and all dated '90. And marked "IRR"

[@mikel6517]

I remember the belt wasn’t strong enough especially at the back and the entrenching tool/shovel was a complete waste of time. Great if you wanted a bad back. We all used the 58 ptn shovel which was then attached to the Bergen. Also the lack of being able to have enough pouches on the belt was probably the main reason soldiers began to get hold of the assault vests a few years later.

[@mrspudly1]

I remember as soon as PLCE came out Amac the Gov disposal company in Manchester had tons of the stuff within weeks and were selling it to surplus shops around the country, some TA units had it privately bought before some regular units.

[@geordiewishart1683]

I almost didn't recognise the helmet as it was minus the black tape required to keep the cover on!

[@chrisarnold4709]

Bayonet frog often worn flat across the back within the ubiquitous sandbag to stop it digging into your leg in various fire positions - and easier to withdraw as well in my experience. The utility pouch replaced mag pouches on either LH side for link or RH side as a commanders pouch, mostly wearing 2 ammo pouches were for LSW gunners. Shovel pouch either binned or used for a water bottle but not really big enough in my experience for a metal mug and brew kit as well but also often used to carry a 349. HIPPO pad and bungees to stop chafing and pouch bounch. Rocket packs never really worked on belt kit in my view so a berghaus munro the day sack of choice

[@davidleonard1813]

I use this as hiking kit in Australia. More keyed to water, a brew and light snack lunch. I use ALICE gear we were issued too. Just harness belt Depend on heat 3 or 4 water bottles. I grabbed some PLCE off a guy that was seconded yrs ago. I like 58 bottles because of the cup lol. And plce I can pack 1 X 58 the rest Alice bottles in plce pouches. Leaves enough room in for brew kit can of something crackers for a light lunch. Bit of a mix and match and use an Australian harness that threads through perfectly. That's my summer 15 20km day hike gear. The ALICE harness no mesh more air and hiking in high 30s to 40c (100f and up) that's what it's all about. Good kit lasts forever

[@mattvye9228]

I quite liked the 90 many did not,the entrenching tool was immediately binned to the rocket packs and its pouch became a water bottle pouch most of us tried to get hold of one to two water bottle/utility pouches so you had 3 similar pouches to the rear the respirator pouch was worn around and over the webbing and the strap pulled tight as digging a trench your webbing and rifle were within hands reach but your ressie was attached to you also helped when going for a dump 😄

[@sgtmajorparker4181]

the PLCE entrenching tool cover was a copy of the American ALICE plastic cover. it was lighter in colour and made by seyntex without ALICE clip attachments so to fit into the nylon cover. hope you talk about the bergan in your next episode an excellent element of the full PLCE kit supplied to British forces.

[@haroldvonschwartzenstien3581]

I still have my green PLCE Bergan, a few repairs but still ticking 😃

[@gorbalsboy]

I think the rubber cover inside the nylon one was to stop the tool from clanking as they grow loose with use, great vid sir

[@chrissheppard5068]

It was getting better with this issue of webbing, I could say more but it was far better than the 58 garbage. The helmet on the other hand was a disaster. It fell forward when taking cover in the prone as the nape of the neck pushed it up and over the eyes. What dimmy trialed it and approved it. The only thing they ever got right completely was the rifle sling attachment to the toy shop SA80.

[@66kbm]

As stated on Facebook, i was never privy to this gear, but however, back in 1987 19 Sqn RCT, 4ADTR, BAOR, were given similar to test. At 12 Sqn, same location, we were very envious of it when we saw it. Unfortunately never got any feedback from the guys. I think it was good that a Transport Squadron/other arms unit was given the chance to trial gear instead of just Infantry. That combination in my belief made it possible for the initial PLCE to be put into production.

[@blacksmith67]

Another excellent presentation. I left the reserves (Canadian) just as we were switching to nylon webbing. I never used it, but I did get a chance to look closely at the stuff we were adopting and I thought it seemed flimsy and cheap because of the reduction in weight. Of course, not having been deployed and not being in the regular forces I had never had to use it on a daily basis for more than a week at a time a couple times a year.. In retrospect it makes more sense.

[@guywithhisownopinion]

Served 81 to 2002 Infantry . Plce belt was crap I replaced mine with my drop belt I used on my 58 pattern. I acquired an excellent tra water bottle pouch never attached the entrenching tool, used a cut of my roll mat attached in front of the belt to stop rubbing issues. The yoke was OK used the rear belt loops to hold a sand bag. Used straps etc to keep the pouches tight together bunges where useless. We discovered whilst going thru NITAT we discovered the PLCE shown up like a beacon under IR light. The pouches from the bergen where useless and we started using day sacks. The velcro on the ammo pouches where just a pain in the ars e . The problem with all webbing systems though is that the main design feature is not usefulness adaptability it's there to look uniform Never in the 23 years I served did my webbing ever conform to any laid down uniform method

[@supervivet911]

Great one mate! Been hoping you'd do a proper run down of the PLCE complete kit. Can't wait for episode 2! Cheers!

[@keithdurose7057]

Great video. You hit the nail on the head about the size of the pouches. Huge but didn't hold the stuff that previously fit into the 58 pattern. A bit like reversed TARDIS's. Big on the outside and small on the inside. Someone witha 58 inch waist could have made it work, maybe?

[@guerrillashadowman]

Never understood the need for two yokes. Ive only ever used the side pouch yoke and find it supports the weight just fine, and more versatile. Looking forward to the next instalment.

[@JoshNaylor4118]

Gleaming video mate, gonna be a good reference point for my gulf war impression of kit along with your older videos

[@Danny-zi6xw]

Love these videos chap!

[@RiflemanMoore]

Glad you like them!

[@simonh6371]

I only ever used 58 pattern although I served in BAOR in the early 90s, but wasn't attached to an Inf Bde, presumably those Sig Sqns would have been issued this. This may not be perfect but its inherently superior to 58 ptn which has more in common with 2nd Anglo Boer War webbing than it does with modern equipment.

[@seanr2968]

I remember being issued this in 1991. It was amazing after so many years using '58 pattern. Along with the new helmet and a new rifle, it finally felt like we were part of a modern army. Being reservists, some guys purchased their own sets (which means you can keep it packed at home and saves lots of time being issued it and packing it for each exercise), but imagine their horror when, in 1995 it was all withdrawn and we were issued with the DPM version! I always wondered how much it cost to scrap all the green stuff and just 4-5 years later, issue a whole new set to what was then a large army? Was it really worth the hurry? I actually preferred the look of the green stuff - although by the time the DPM version was issued there were some useful improvements. Does anyone know why the MOD incurred the high cost of scrapping and replacing after just 5 years?

[@dewiowen4538]

Green PLCE shone like hi viz on thermal imaging, DPM was IRR.

[@SafetyProMalta]

@@dewiowen4538 Strange my '90 pouches (issued but never worn) state IRR on them, just looked at them through my flir thermal rifle scope and nothing comes back shiny?

[@cujimmy1366]

I used the ETH pouch for a water bottle pouch.

[@flatmoon6359]

Very nice, looking forward to part 2.More modern webbing please.

[@TokenChineseGuy]

Is PLCE still being produced?