British infantry equipment 1984 (Exercise Lionheart) - Cold War Goes Hot

At #Tankfest I had the opportunity to talk to Bob from the Royal Union Rifles a reenactment group that present the British Army of 1984. He kindly agreed to do this video about what a British soldier would be wearing and carrying.
Details of the group can be found at: www.royalunionrifles.com/
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[@nealhyde7179]

Brings back memories of extras on Dr. Who episodes.

[@jameslangham9854]

Lol, although they had 60 pattern uniform.

[@MrPolicekarim]

I have soe videos about Excercise LionHeart on my channel!@@jameslangham9854

[@johnclarke9498]

Fab video, i remember wearing this stuff very well, Memory Lane, showing my age lol

[@jameslangham9854]

Thank you, glad it brought back memories

[@davel831]

This brings back a lot of memories , lionheart, then doing brave defender before deployment to BAOR. Where is your cup for your water bottle, we would have two mess tins, also you must have baconburgers which very popular for breakfast. You would have you bigger pack with your other gear in inside was a waterproof black back in that dry clothes and other items.

[@jameslangham9854]

Glad it brings back memories. Bob's cup is probably already full of tea in the tent behind me! While two mess tins were issued I know plenty who dropped to 1, especially if using water bottle pouches instead of kidney pouches (which the large ones didn't fit into). I miss the bacon burgers (and the cheese possessed).

[@anthonymorphet9328]

Sadly the rations aren't quite right. Compo 24hr packs in 84 were still almost all tins plus packets of biscuits AB and/or biscuits dead fly.

[@jameslangham9854]

True but as Bob actually eats them I don't think inflicting nearly 40 year old rations on him would be fair (although I'm not sure they would be less edible...). I still miss the cheese possessed from that era.

[@robertkeppel-spoor3735]

@@jameslangham9854 they're American pouches swapped for tins on exercise ;-)

[@andrewansell9685]

@@robertkeppel-spoor3735 They one's in the video are modern Brit boil in the bag, too big for Yank MRE. Also, in 1984 the Yanks are still using tinned MCI's, Meal Combat Individual, ie C Rations.

[@donnawill7963]

I was there in 1984 in married quarters in bergen hohne!!!

[@jameslangham9854]

Must have been an interesting time to be there

[@terrymaxwell9443]

British Army did not have Putties in 84 They were phased out after the Falklands in 82 I was in the. Army at the time

[@jameslangham9854]

Given the phased out part, it is quite possible they were in use with some units (especially TA) in 1984. The Army Cadet Force was still issuing up to 1991.

[@DavidFraser007]

Yep, I thought that, we were already in boots combat high in 1984. But we were still wearing KF shirts.

[@jameslangham9854]

I missed the KF shirts for warmth

[@dirkgently3019]

We had puttees in `76....hated the bloody things

[@davel831]

I was a regular and after the Falkland's the DMS boot was seen as crap and they brought in the high boot which was bloody painful to break in?! i went back to puttees and my DMS

[@_e_6456]

Cheers for making me a shopping list 😂

[@jameslangham9854]

Not the easiest of uniform to aquire any more unfortunately. The unit have a guide on their website from memory.

[@_e_6456]

@@jameslangham9854 got the clothes and most of the webbing, just need some of the smaller items and the chemical weapons stuff

[@olymartin]

Not bad at all, just a few observations. The NBC kit should be in a waterproof bag in the poncho holder (I and many others used a bin bag to do it). The poncho was usually/often carried in the bergan by then, so no lower poncho holder banging against your ass as you're running. At least some of your guys should wear combat high boots (of some sort) as many bought/aquired them themselves by 84 - that also goes for Norwegian shirts. 24hr ration packs were still tinned in 84, not 'boil in the bag'. Oh, and one cardinal sin - he left his rifle lying on the ground. If you must put it down, rest it on or against something, not directly on the ground. Our Pl Sjts wouls have reshaped your ass with their boot for doing that 😉.

[@jameslangham9854]

Some fair points but it's worth remembering Bob has to demo the kit and NBC suit sealed in a bin liner or poncho in a burgen makes it hard to show. German Para boots were a firm favourite but wearing the issue kit (including shirt) makes sense for showing the public - I know their instructions to joiners allows some flexibility with kit to show some variation (e.g. SAS or windproof smocks). Regarding rations I wouldn't want Bob to be eating 30 year old+ tins so I can see why he's got the later ones (although these will be aging out fast). Regarding the rifle, the plt sgt was busy elsewhere keeping kids away while we filmed! :-) One of the nice things about the SA80 sling was making it very easy to carry. Thanks for the points and taking the time to make them.

[@walkaboutgamez2502]

God this vid made me feel old lmao great stuff James

[@jameslangham9854]

I still have some of this and still use it...

[@chrisrose01]

No brew mug?

[@jameslangham9854]

In the tent next to the (authentically dated) Playboy....