US Marine load bearing gear of the 70s-90s

US Marine load bearing gear of the 70s-90s
going over my old Marine deuce gear and looking toward modernizing it.

[@MotherGunner]

Army called it LBE or LCE as part of TA-50 (ARMY)/782 Gear (USMC). The little pouches (one issued, one checked out for the day in the field) were used for a field dressing and compass respectively. To your point, we "acquired" extra gear when possible. =]

[@terrysmith4831]

I was Army Aviation (67-U) from Nov '86 to June '91. We, like everyone else, used ALICE gear. L.B.E. load bearing equipment or L.C.E. load carrying equipment. We were not issued a butt pack or 1st. Aid kit through basic and A.I.T. Once we got go our active duty station we were allowed to augment our kit. I purchased my own set of duplicate gear plus two more magazine pouches, a butt pack and a 1st aid kit before I left Ft. Eustis and used them through out the rest of my time in the Army, I still have them. 🇺🇸

[@casualreclaimer5239]

I was Army in the early to mid eighties. You are correct, we used the small pouch on the left side of the shoulder harness with a single field dressing as our first aid pouch.

[@Brent0331]

Great video brother.

[@RealitySurvival]

In some ways the old gear was better and has some advantages for sure!

[@Nowhere888]

I bought my deuce gear back in the 80s when I was 13 years old and I am still using it. This gear is nearly indestructible compared to the cheap stuff sold from overseas and you can buy it now cheap on the surplus market. I only use water in my canteens and have switched to the Nalgene see through canteens for easier cleaning. Gatorade goes into the canteen cup with the water for easy clean up. I wrap my ammo pouches in Gorilla camo tape to stow the grenade pouch straps, waterproof the pouches, and make the pouches camouflaged in a modern pattern like mossy oak. Those ammo pouches work fine for my M-14 20 to 25 round mags since I never liked the reliability of the AR/M-16/M4 rifle. Guys are coming back from the "sandbox" were saying the M4s were jamming but the old M-14 still worked fine even in a sandstorm. I bought a German waterproof pack cover in flecktarn to waterproof the but pack and to make camouflaged. Thanks for letting everybody know how to use and the history of this great surplus equipment.

[@Concerned_Citizen]

Put a nickel Teflon coated bolt in your AR15 and it’ll run in the sand like an AK

[@socaljarhead7670]

The original dump pouch was your cargo pocket.😉

[@nickgomez6272]

just bought a gorgeous south korean Rothco, the belt, ammo pouches, compass, and pistol pouch are in woodland camo, very rare! lol so rare i found it on ebay.

[@Phoenix_OP]

I have a complete ALICE LBE and I love it to death.. Weight is balanced, and can be a great addition for those running either the Plate carrier or Chest rig. I personally pair this with my ChiCom Chest rig.

[@thefucrew9865]

Bringing back old memories, Brother. Thank you !

[@tylewis6115]

USMC infantry/MP/fleet security forces from ‘84 to ‘94 then on and off reserve. Video info aligns 95% with my experience; I’ll offer some additional notes. My buttpack contents included extra socks x2, foot powder, weapons cleaning kit, MRE, cordage, thermal shirt, rope for Swiss seat attached to the bottom. Compass was kept in the breast pocket with a dummy cord. Used a SAW pouch on weak side for binoculars, log book and leather gloves. Most guys carried a KaBar but I had (and still do) a Gerber Guardian attached to my suspenders. If (and this is a big if) I had a sidearm, it was in the M7 shoulder holster. Lastly, as referenced, I usually put an extra magazine pouch on my pack and a 2-quart canteen on the opposite side. Cheers!

[@PatrickKniesler]

Solid vid

[@jamesbridges7750]

Right about the first aid pouch. First time I saw one was a friend who got one second phase of SEAL pipeline. The compass/ first-aid pouch was always your off shoulder with 1 muslin pressure dressing issued, but we always wrapped it, a triangle bandage ,a dowel and split-ring in two wraps of duct tape . Another interesting thing- those old canteen cups, the slots on the handle are the same size as a bayonet blade.

[@rnman99]

AF security police lived with this gear, we called it LBE like the Army. Still have mine from the 80s complete with canvas butt pack

[@JohnDoe-mt8rf]

Im rocking it right now

[@jamesthomas5895]

When I was in the Marines (69 to 73) we would put our compression bandages in the grenade holders that way they were easy to get to in a hurry.

[@gabrielschultz89]

This was unbelievably helpful for me. I've always loved that old gear

[@ARID-APACHE]

I’d still wear that to this day cool kit.

[@billp5292]

The mess kits was mainly used at the field kitchen. Thanks it brought back memories.

[@survivetolife]

The Army referred to it as a compass pouch but 2 were issued and one was used to carry a field dressing. Probably depended on the unit. I was in the 82nd Airborne Division in the early 1980’s. Still have, love and use my LC-1 ALICE gear.

[@tantoBass]

Love the explanation.

[@rotgut14]

I was Army Infantry in 92'-96'. When I got out of infantry school, I was issued that first aid kit along with my other gear. The buttpacks, we all had, but they were issued to us, we all just procured our own.

[@collectornick4270]

Awesome video! I just recently found out Timothy McVeigh wore an M1967 belt backwards in the Persian Gulf.

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

not exactly someone to emulate. why wear it backwards?

[@collectornick4270]

@renaissancemarinetv3536 The only thing I can think of is that he wore it like that because of the Davis buckle opening on it's own.

[@jaikelmartinez4865]

I love this favorite system Alice

[@d.l.hemmingway3758]

Had similar gear when I was in the Kansas Army National Guard. Yes we carried a compression bandage in 1 compass/ 1st Aid pouch, but Team Leaders, Squad Leaders, Section Chiefs, Platoon Leaders and other leaders carried a second pouch with a Lensatic Compus on a lanyard on the opposite suspender from the 1st Aid dressing.

[@BosvarkDelta]

SADF The Battle jacket I wore 84 to 92 was so far ahead of its time

[@RiflemanMoore]

Very interesting stuff.

[@RuffCut]

interesting and good explanation

[@CorsairTrainers]

Good stuff! Got a few sets around here.

[@TheUnchosenOne]

thank you sir, Im looking forward to the next video! Ive put together a version of this for a theoretical recon loadout as a companion to my plate carrier setup myself. I found that just by grabbing a butt pack and cannibalizing one of the plentiful surplus brittish combat vests, you can outfit one of those surplus H harnesses pretty nicely. I'll try to get around to making a video going over it soon, Id love to see what you think.

[@DinsmoreOutdoors]

Just thought I would share, I am a Navy Seabee joined in 2002 and still in today. We called it 782 gear too! We still got issued it all the way up to 2008! Then we finally started getting molle gear.

[@TheTyrial86]

The SAW pouches for 782 gear are really useful.

[@reddevilparatrooper]

I had the same set up back when I was in Airborne Infantry in the late 80s and 90s. Mech infantry was stupid, I hated the no butt pack and only one canteen set up. I had 2 sets of LBE or TA-50 in Army term. One was for field and the other for garrison inspection. On my field gear I had 4 mag pouches which was secured with 550 cord on the Y or H harness, took off all the metal ALICE clips and secured them with zip ties, it saved weight and won't dig into you while humping a heavy ruck sack. I managed to get lucky to find extra gear and made use of it. I still have my field set up in my field locker at home till this day. Back then I saw SF in Panama set their gear up like this. This was unauthorized by the Army by removing the metal hardware off the harness as modifications or having extra magazine pouches as extra TA-50 which is stealing. We hid our extra stuff off base or garrison. But nobody gave a shit if we used them in the field. The First Aid Kit was issued to every Paratrooper in an Airborne unit, it was a rare issue item. Butt packs were not issued in Mech infantry, I got mines from a surplus store which were Vietnam era M1956 when I was in high school and my Dad mailed it to me in Germany.

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

i did the same thing, slowly acquired extra gear for the junk on the bunk inspections

[@socaljarhead7670]

We always just carried two pouches, and then if we had to a bandolier.

[@johngayley2588]

Love the deuce set I have. Only different thing I did was get rid of the old metal alice clips for some aussie plastic alice clips made by Fastex.

[@895austin]

I was in the Marines from 97' to 01'. I was an O352 TOW Gunner. We were not issued the H or Y harness. We were issued the LBV. All the other ALICE gear we were issued, including the universal holster for our M9.

[@theburniethompsonshow1938]

Paraphrasing: I'm not a collector, I just have a problem. LOL. Thank you for this content, and for your service.

[@jameshayden8789]

The front was kept clear so that you could low crawl. If you did have gear up front near the buckle then you could open the buckle and let the rig hang to the sides. Most times this was done on long patrols and not during a raid or ambush.

[@gundog4314]

Our form was TA-50 hence that what we called it in the Army. Most of us kept the stuff we were issued pristine for inspections and perfect to turn in. We all went out to a pawn shop, army navy store and bought your field kit. I wore all the stuff you did except the first aid kit. One alteration I made (and many others) we cut off the suspender buckle clips ran 550 cord through the hole and tied it to your web belt. Same thing with all those alice clips, tossed out and tied on with 550. We used the “first aid pouch” for compasses to. I think the main reason we all didn’t carry those first aid kits like you guys is at least 2 guys were combat lifesavers (CLS) trained for IVs, plugging holes, and airway. We had a pretty extensive kit. In my section of 11 guys 7 of us were CLS’s. Plus each gun platoon had a medic with his big assed bag. That being said everyone else was issues a field dressing, triangular bandage that instantly became a high speed rag.

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

GOOD STUFF! thanks for the insight.

[@appalachianbushcraft6335]

I used 550 cord but also used the heavy duty zip ties . Cheers

[@ludlowfalls8856]

I like it.

[@Vladviking]

I was never issued a butt pack. I bought one and was allowed to carry it. I started out with the old canvas haversack. Sometime later the ALICE replaced it. I was on Sea Duty at the time so when exactly I couldn't say. Like the M14 lots of gear made it to the FMF long before other units got them.

[@jojoemcgeejoe457]

I was an 0351/0352 from '79 through 85. We didn't get issued the butt packs. For us, the first aid pouch was center of the back of the belt and flanked each side by a canteen. What we did get issued and often had to have on our was an e-tool in a hard plastic sheath. It was funny how such a relatively minor change in weight to the load out by the addition of the e-tool could totally fubar balance when moving in situations of no light (weren't issued NODs either) in rough terrain.

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

im surprised a ground pounder wasnt issued a buttpack. but every unit was different. and we both know how bad the supply system was. i honestly cant recall if we were issued buttpacks or just allowed to wear them in the field if we procured them ourselves. i know i bought one just for SULC school.

[@jojoemcgeejoe457]

@@renaissancemarinetv3536 Heh. When I was with 2/4 weps co in Okinawa, the gear issue didn't have warbelt suspenders. None in supply. Had to wait until playing aggressors against a visiting unit in NTA jungle warfare school to "find" some for ourselves.

[@22vampyre]

USMC 1371, 1991-1997. Same gear, but I ran two canteens on the right, and one on the left. Two mag pouches on the left, one on the right, all had the grenade shit hacked off.

[@patrickeckhard7958]

I was 1371 too, FIRE IN THE HOLE!

[@LandseerNorth]

Forgot to say, looking forward to the next video.

[@patrickeckhard7958]

My understanding was army airborne and Marine combat arms were issued type of 1st aid kit. FYI if you remove the plastic insert it fits a box of 12 gag shells.

[@FlyingAxblade_D20]

I have a small right angle flashlight from "Ghost Viper", it's got a swivel head, and magnetic base...VERY bright, 4 light settings. since I bought it from a magazine and didn't know it was quality gear yet, I only bought one. It's metal framed, all the other features and it was super inexpensive at BudK. I would not hesitate to bash someone in the wrist or nose with it.

[@FlyingAxblade_D20]

not tested against water though.

[@josephdixon1827]

I was with B. 1/3 and we had to purchase a butt pack if we wanted one, which I did because I wanted one in lieu of its utility, what through me was that Battalion had tons of them in the supply warehouse. They just simply didn't issue them at that time, why is beyond me?" But yeah, my 782 gear was set up like yours. By the way I still have my old butt pack from that time period. hey, I bought it, its mine.

[@adlerarmory8382]

First Aid Pouch: We would carry two of the vacuum packed plastic wrapped pressure dressings and the camo face paint tube in it, both being inspectable items. The Lensatic Compass, if you were issued one by duty position (Squad/Team/Plt Leaders) or weapon assigned (mortars, M60/M240) it came with its own pouch. Its cool you have that late M1967 model canteen carrier on your left hand side. I don't know why Marines always bitch about Army Hand Me Downs, I believe the M-1 Abrams Tank was the only piece of equipment the Marines got from the Army. The M-1 Garand, att the beginning of the war, the USMC, every Marine a Rifleman, thought the M-1 would waste ammunition, they preferred the M1903 Springfield Rifles, at least until Guadalcanal, then they would follow behing Army Doggies trying to snatch up M-1s if Army was wounded or killed. Your Deuce Gear, its amazing the USMC went from the M1941 Haversack and Cargo Bag of WWII design right to the Medium Alice Rucksack. I don't count the M1967 Combat Pack and Cargo Bag in nylon as they were not widespread issue as a system.

[@froginthewaves8450]

Nice

[@895austin]

As far as cooking. We had no way of heating our meals other than MRE heater. Each of our vehicles had a Coleman stove. But, we were never allowed to use it due to the fact an enemy with NVGs could see it from a mile away.

[@fernandorosales4569]

Yes it worked very well when you have air support and resupply but if we get in some shit there might not work for a regular dude dealing what might be at hand

[@trentnichols5075]

The chicken 🐔 got you a thumbs up lol

[@dh2006dh]

Damn Mountain Rucks.

[@LandseerNorth]

Thanks for taking me back RM. 77-97. EOD from 80 to 88 as I've mentioned previously. Though you better secure that compass to your web gear with the lanyard! With my (then) 28 inch waist my war belt was full from either side of the buckle. Not so much a problem nowadays...I have a couple canvas ass packs I bought at guns shows in CA in the early 80's. Would you like one? Who the hell needs two? S/F.

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

i appreciate it brother, but as you will see when i drop the second part of this video tomorrow, i am trying to divest myself.

[@LandseerNorth]

@@renaissancemarinetv3536 Roger that. So am I. It's just not working out as planned. Imagine that...

[@jimmymarsh2489]

Did your canteen cup have a date on the bottom? Im just curious and love military gear. I just started collecting the M1 army helmets a few months ago, and I have 5 now. I also have a lot of WW2 and Korean, Vietnam Era packs, canteens, hammock, and quiet a few otber things. You have a nice setup. Thank you for your service, sir

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

i will check next time i am out in the shed and let you know.

[@leatherneckprepper4477]

Ahhhh the good ole moonbeam. We called it misappropriation.

[@socaljarhead7670]

I remember being in the Marine Corps in 1995, 21 years old and tripping out that the shit I was using was designed and possibly even made in the year that I was born. It sure as fuck look like it was made in 1975. I’ll tell you that.

[@user-rm9rp3no2j]

One wants to be light but lethal

[@patrickeckhard7958]

If you put the heat tab in the c- rat peanut butter it would burn a lot longer.

[@appalachianbushcraft6335]

Bringing back some memories. Any chance of getting the address for the military thrift store you go to? You seem to get killer deals there. Semper Fi Mack!!

[@docback63]

Wow, he even has The "Davis" belt, (His pistol belt) which was part of the Army M-1967 gear. The canteen cover to our (the viewers) left is the 3rd pattern M-1967 canteen pouch. Old school stuff!

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

this is all stuff i just had left over from my time in. but the main surplus store i go to is H &B army navy in fort walton beach florida.

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

@@docback63 you know your gear. make sure you watch the part two to this video.

[@ContraIsBased]

in your experience, ¿is alice nylon stronger that 1000D cordura nylon or the other way aroud?

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

1000 cordura, even 500, is stronger than alice nylon but it is much much thicker also. while alice nylon isnt "bombproof" it always seemed more than good enough.

[@OrthoDebo]

How do the medium/large ALICE packs interface with the harness?

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

you have to play with it a little but you can get it to work together. and if you have a butt pack your alice can rest on your lbe in a pretty nice way.

[@stipsniper796]

you mention a poncho in the butt pack; was that the woobie style liner, or a waterproof poncho?

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

i meant poncho. good catch.

[@stipsniper796]

@@renaissancemarinetv3536 absolutely top video, off to buy alice kit now 😁

[@cyconlon908]

I also have a problem

[@kevinmiller6154]

They called it load carrying equipment in the eighty’s. Army anyway

[@garylawton8636]

Question, the suspenders which was better or more comfortable. The single strap down the center of your back or the H straps on the back. Sorry forget what the suspenders are technically called.

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

they are called suspenders. i think the h harness is better because the y harness could tend to sway if you wore it with the belt undone. which was common in down times.

[@garylawton8636]

@@renaissancemarinetv3536 ok so what are the H suspenders real name, I heard it once before but forgot, would love to get some You really got some great info

[@robertbates6057]

@@garylawton8636 H harness.

[@terrysmith4831]

"H" suspenders are ALICE-I, "Y" suspenders are ALICE- II

[@gijr2003]

@@terrysmith4831 H was M1956 canvas and M1967 nylon. Y is ALICE now. There were several LCE systems from M1956 to ALICE.

[@pfcparts7728]

3:08 That IS the old style, the 80s were 30 years ago man.

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

did you happen to notice the title of the video, Mr. Obvious?

[@gijr2003]

782 gear changed every decade. or less. Why is your belt inside out? Will the Davis buckle even latch with it like that?

[@caraca5760]

Any clue where i could get one of these? I cant find them anywhere.

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

surplus stores, thrift stores, ebay.

[@caraca5760]

@@renaissancemarinetv3536 thanks!

[@thomasbEvans]

heat tabs

[@Mr_Z_Man_417]

Bro nobody told me the Marines called this Deuce I thought it was just called alice

[@manuelserrano1428]

Yo quiero uno de esos equipos para el futuro pos a pocaliptico q se avecina

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

Puedes conseguirlos en las tiendas de excedentes bastante comunes

[@yogsothoth5370]

Am I crazy or is the belt inside out?

[@renaissancemarinetv3536]

that is how i wore it. that way you didnt get pinched by the part that came back around.

[@fernandorosales4569]

With

[@tony7106]

Gear whore 😂 I must admit, so am I. I have one of these sets in OD and woodland camo too lol.