PLCE review

[@simonsignolet5632]

It's nice to see the perspective from a North American! There are actually THREE different CORRECT ways of closing the Spanish fasteners. When PLCE (1990 Patt - green) was first issued (1990/91) we were taught to close amm pouches as you've done. The other way, as mentioned below by "Rumbers" was the optional method for pouches that didn't need to be opened in a hurry. The third optional method was simply to feed only the long tab through the "staple" when you hadn't time to mess around with kit (and when the velcro was covered). On the previous load bearing kit ('58 Patt webbing), switched on soldiers used to stitch velcro to the flaps of ammo pouches so that they'd be secure enough without having to fiddle with the tab and staple closure. Remove a magazine and slap the lid of the pouch. In the first year of having PLCE, we weren't allowed to customise nor tape excess straps back then so you'd roll back strap surplus through the ladder buckle and secure with an elastic band. Eventually, they relaxed how the kit was worn. On PLCE ('90 Patt and '95 Patt [DPM]) there's a difference between the Waterbottle Pouch and Utility Pouch. Also, there are a few variations of belt attachments.

[@richardrumbelow2711]

You've got a couple of things done wrong there, but they're easy mistakes to make. 1, Spanish buckles (the British Army refer to them as Citex) should be fastened by placing the long tab through, pulling it, then pushing the short tab through, and 2, the ladder locks on all straps should be locked off by passing them through where the ladder locks connescts to the main body, then taped off.

[@andrewosborne8993]

I think the drag handle and shoulder straps are so low profile is so they can go under the issues body armour.