US Tank Crew Personal Clothing and Equipment

What does the typical self-respecting US tanker wear, and why?
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[@thomasready7468]

Puts on a balaclava and talks in an Irish accent to a camera while sitting on a couch in a non-descript room.

[@GMan-yg1og]

a bit racist ..........

[@unteroffitzierschultz4288]

Secret IRA spy?

[@pstrap1311]

@@GlockamoleG17 I call them Irish Car Bumpers (rather than Bombs). I'm not worried about offending anyone, the name just sounds tacky and a bit cringe. Fucking delicious though, whatever you call them. Welp, I'ma head down to the store now and get some Guinness and Jameson. I've already got the Baileys so I might as well, what?

[@donnaghdineen1499]

@@GMan-yg1og Get back in your safe space snowflake

[@JoinMeInDeathBaby]

My little Armalite...

[@Hillbilly_Papist]

The main advantage of the tanker coveralls is going to a bar in them and convincing the ladies you're a Pilot.

[@deshonarnold2253]

@@tylerwenks1063 Are you the driver or the tc

[@andrewjersey3633]

Why the hell would you try and convince someone you're a pilot, when you're a tanker? Tanks are much better and more useful. Can you pick up your date in a tank? Yes. Is parking gonna be an issue? No, not really. What did you have in mind for our date? She might ask. Well I know of a very beautiful place on the bank of the Rhine and we could have a picnic on the engine deck and then use the magnified optics to look at the stars. Can you convince her dad that you'll return her safe and sound at 11? Look Bob, I have space for an Assistant Driver wanna come with?

[@jakublulek3261]

Depends on what army are you a member.

[@venkatreddy8545]

@@andrewjersey3633 pilots notoriously “clean up” as in they pull bitches more than most other service members.

[@cowgoesmoo3850]

@@andrewjersey3633 hmm could they really see the stars with the optics ?

[@karmasyke]

"when i played infantry obviously i'd switch to a leg holster" - spoken by a true IRL gamer

[@watchm4ker]

"Who would shoot me in the back in a tank?" Dunno. How much do you trust your crew?

[@willblucat3335]

True, however as the TC he was at the rear of the turret facing forward with no one behind him.

[@robbert-janmerk6783]

@@willblucat3335 Ah, so that's why he did wear the front plate :P

[@danielemmert6440]

As a former tank crewman, first thank you for pointing out that the black beret was ours long before the rangers stole it. Second, the "cooling vest" was more like a convection oven in Iraq. When the air you are pulling in is 120 degrees the air it moves around your body is 120. Third, the second reason for tanker boots was for blood circulation. CVC bag is the poggie bait bag. I don't think I ever carried anything but snacks in that thing. Still have my tanker jacket, my holster, my Stetson and my spurs.

[@jdunwoody100]

When I was in Iraq in 2008, we were issued a dark green t shirt that was cotton. The tan t shirts were still poly material, so at a glance the NCOs could tell if you had the correct uniform on or not.

[@Luca-gj4yi]

Why still poly material, are they now cotton?

[@Dafmeister1978]

The RN did indeed have flash hoods when they went to the Falklands. However, they (or the procurement bean-counters) hadn't learned the lesson about wearing nylon coveralls when your ship is on fire. Fortunately, it turns out that one of the most effective forms of first aid for having your uniform melt onto your skin is a quick dip in the South Atlantic.

[@ivancorey7389]

The US Navy didn’t ditch nylon uniforms until 2015.

[@jballew2239]

The small pocket on the inner thigh one finds on U.S. flight crew uniforms is for a shroud cutter. The line ties to the shroud cutter to reduce chances of loss.

[@letoubib21]

Thanks! Already thought that would be pretty ideal for a knife or such a thing, 'cause I miss it at the "normal" ACU, but didn't know it really...

[@imagifyer]

Am I correct in assuming that 'Shroud Cutter' is a parachute knife?

[@detritus1976]

@@imagifyer different designs have been called "Parachute Knife" over the years, but probably. last I knew the issue item was some variant of the Colonial "Auto-rescue" ( www.bladehq.com/item--Colonial-Knife-Company-M-724-Orange--9720 ). to be carried in that leg pocket, line secured to the bail, hook deployed, and the clip-point (automatic) blade stowed unless needed.

[@pstrap1311]

Yo! I've wondered why that long ass string was bundled up in there for like 20 years! Ha ha thanks. That makes perfect sense.

[@steveanderson9290]

Yup! I don't know what's issued now, but back in the 70s the shroud cutter was a common looking jackknife with orange scales and a "normal" knife blade on one end, and the hook shaped shroud cutter blade on the other. In typical military procurement idiocy, the normal knife blade was a switchblade, and the shroud cutter was not and had to be opened manually.

[@donoteventry4298]

Could be fun to have a breakdown of different era tank uniforms like ww1, ww2 etc

[@DamoBloggs]

Would defo like to see that

[@scottland8698]

Yes

[@danieldunlap4077]

That's a great request

[@gregsiska8599]

& what other countries wore.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

from what I understand the standard tanker uniform in ww1 was 1 pair underwear and 1 shirt as anything else would lead to severe heat exhaustion

[@spazbauer]

Mandatory Chuck Norris T-shirt, never change boss never change

[@a_random_tank_152mm7]

Zack Bauer How did you send this comment 2 days ago if it just got out?

[@spazbauer]

a_random_TANK_152mm Patreon

[@DIEGhostfish]

I can't upvote because you're at 69.

[@spazbauer]

Damn the 69 vote.. well this was unexpected

[@hauitsme5678]

The only thing to do when you see someone actually wearing one is to immediately beat them to the ground - pathetic losers.

[@alexanderpalmer2731]

As a current M1A2c operator, I can defiantly confirm those nomex suits get way too hot in the summer and not hot enough in the winter.

[@andersmaidment]

Unzip the ass flap and leave the Velcro done up. Get decent airflow.

[@colincampbell767]

In other words nothing's changed from when I was on M1A1's back in the 1990's.

[@andersmaidment]

Not exactly, The M1A2SEP has air-conditioning. It's for the computers, the tankers just get the benefit.

[@colincampbell767]

@@andersmaidment Trying to make me jealous? :)

[@andersmaidment]

Nah, they sent me to Korea after that. Had to go back to A1's.

[@memikell]

Well, at last, some decent gear for tankers! When I was a tanker in the 1960's we had nothing specific for tankers, were not even issued tanker helmets, had to do with como gear worn under a regular steel pot. So uncomfortable and unwieldy we usually wore only the liner in the field (useless for protection). Not in the field we wore the much hated "Patton or Hardee cap", which we had to buy, and as the como gear crushed it quickly, we had to buy them often. Uniforms were the same as infantry "fatigues" and as they quickly became so covered in grease stains (especially the "turret ring tattoo across the back) we had to buy replacements often (pay was less than $100 a month for privates then so that expense hurt) we could, however, put zippers for the boots and would haunt surplus stores for WW2 tanker jackets and raincoats (try wearing a poncho in a tank!) and even aircrew helmets we could wear. Two items from the German army were much envied, the black uniform that did not show the grease stains and the black beret with a bump cap inside for protection great for field use and for just working inside the tank. Love your vids, watch them all.

[@kenm4678]

Not a tanker, nor past military. Just a comment on the Wiley X glasses/goggles. Big thumbs up and mine saved my sight at work after taking an 8 inch aluminum hose coupling across the eyepiece. I have the wraparound gasket-ed set with interchangeable lenses, ear pieces and a stretch strap. Wore hearing protection muffs over them so the strap came in very comfortably. The fitting hit knocked me out for a short time an resulted in a gloriously blackened eye full circle where the gasket compressed, not a mark on the prescription lenses.

[@fwi1298]

oh yes, something simular hapened to me on a job site, was a face full of #2 desiel fuel. goes to show , the first time the eyepro keeps you out of the ER , you are a Beliver

[@Deathbyreality1]

Not as serious as your experience, me and my friend went ona range day and one of his 10mm case bounce off of the divider and straight into my eye. Had I not worn my eye pros i would have had hot 10mm brass in my eye.

[@WhatIsYourMalfunction]

I wore a similar pair motorcycling.

[@BattleRattle4x4]

I lost mine day 3 in Iraq. Had to use the big goggles.

[@kenm4678]

@Dennis Young Sure enough, but while looking cheap the Wiley X set offered me prescription tri-focal, inter-changeable, glasses with bows and googles with strap. Best thing the cushioned frame was flexible enough and yet strong enough to withstand the blow, save my eye and only bruise the skin.

[@caskwith]

The Royal Navy started using anti flash hoods in WW2 for some personnel such as gunners. By the time of the Falklands all crew were using them when at action stations. It wasn't until the Falklands though that they learned the hoods needed to be tucked into the overalls for the best protection as explosions can blow them off.

[@andraslibal]

I am guessing that when a tanker needs to rely on a camouflage suit, something has gone seriously wrong.

[@Scout19d19d]

The original US issue tanker boots had 1/4" straps that would stretch. In Germany we would buy the German version of the boot which had 1/2" straps and is now adopted by the US military. In the 11th ACR you never had to complete a gunnery table to own or wear them. The story and reason for the straps was in case of flash fire, fast donn/doff, and as you stated to keep laces from getting snagged. Glad to see they upgraded the "Earth, Wind, and Fire" googles.

[@johnstacy7902]

they have straps because DATs cant tie their own shoes....

[@anubis8181]

must be a scout

[@Scout19d19d]

John Stacy LOL, yes but today they are consider higher end models “CDATs”.

[@Scout19d19d]

Hate me tomorrow yep, which just means I’m an over qualified 11B.

[@johnstacy7902]

tomorrow uh 1 crew chief

[@nirfz]

You mentioning flame resistant clothing and balaclavas brought back a long gone memory: when we got our (conscript) infantery equipment we also got a balaclava (maybe for winter face camo) and it had a lable stating "schwer entflammbar" on it. Which basically means flame resistant. But you could also read it as "difficult to inflame". It is a german expression for something that can withstand fire for a bit. And when i entered the room in the barracks as second to last guy, one of my 11 new "roommates" was already holding a zippo to his balaclava to test if the label was true... He stopped after i told him that it doesn't mean it won't burn, just that it will take longer.

[@nazamroth8427]

My dad used to be in the army(like pretty much everyone in the soviet bloc), and one day, his mate comes in from fixing a truck or something. Sits down in front of the stove, and promptly proceeds to ignite. Turns out, Warsaw Pact issue uniforms soaked in oil and fuel are not exactly flame resistant.

[@AllisterCaine]

Reminds me of the story Ian told about attaching Mas 36s together via bayonet lug. Want to test the product? Give it to soldiers.

[@robertdonnell8114]

Ooooo finally! I know something that Manic does not. The hat cord is descended from a "Sword Knot" used to tie the saber to the wrist so as not to loose the sword during combat. As sabers became used less and less, the sword knots became more and more decorative. Until today where nobody know the origin.

[@RobinRobertsesq]

Looks like someone's unit bought commemorative Kimber 1911 railed pistols.... Nice.

[@Navyrifleshooter]

The Navy has used the thinner balaclava for at least 30 years

[@doogie38041]

It's a standard firefighter Nomex hood

[@gregsiska8599]

Navy firefighting gear circa 1978 = button your shirt collar & sleeves, and pull your socks over your pant leg cuffs. LOL. -Nice gear in today's Navy.

[@TheAirplaneDriver]

@Greg Siska - ditto for early to mid-70’s. Soon after I got to the fleet I went over to the Marine supply store at NOB Norfolk and bought myself a pair of black rubber sole Marine combat boots. They had great ankle support, were super comfortable and I wore them instead of boondockers. At GQ I would fold and tuck my pants into the boots.

[@JagerLange]

"Who's going to shoot me in the back in a tank?" - there speaks a popular officer :P

[@DmdShiva]

Well, given the position and facing of the seat for the TC in the turret, it would be difficult for a crew member to shoot them in the back. In the side, in the chest, in the hip, in the knees, but not the back.

[@redrb26dett]

Not that difficult (toilet time) ???

[@scottland8698]

“Couldn’t be arsed to clean of desk” My Brian: flashes back to the video where he had 40k tanks on his desk Me: I know why his desk his cluttered

[@raynscloud8072]

I can absolutely confirm that laces melt from the old shell casings: I had it happen to me during the early 90's on the old defensive live fire at NTC, with the M1IP and it's rifled 105. I was a driver who had been temporarily yanked to play loader for the rotation. As I recall we fired every main gun round we had aboard my tank (41 at the time). My laces melted when the casings went above my ankles. We started chucking them out the loader's hatch because one of them had rolled up against the gunner's leg and because I had no place left to stand. There's no aft cap catcher with a full casing coming out. Yes, we had to retrieve them from the ground after the live fire was done. The old 105 M1 carried a max of 55 rounds of main gun ammo but we only had 41 rounds on board. We didn't put the 8 rounds in the hull because no one wants a tank with live rounds aboard turning their turret past the range fans to get to them. We were also 6 shy of a full load in the turret, because (by unit SOP) we weren't allowed to use the 3 round turret floor storage (it tended to collect small debris that wouldn't let you get a round back out), nor the 3 outer stowage tubes on the ready rack's rotary rack. Too many loader's used to break a finger when that sucker spun around with the weight from the unused rounds. Do you remember that monstrosity? We used to joke about which unlucky bastard would end up flipping off everyone for a couple weeks with a finger cast.

[@thoso1973]

I'm sure Sofilein would have loved to stand in as a human mannequin, demonstrating how all these pieces are correctly worn. :)

[@EradWir]

I think she enjoys learning and talking about tanks but a bit of her enthusiasm is faked

[@lonnieholcomb2078]

2nd ACR back in 75 to 80 had berets, and when they had them they wore them in the tank and not cvc's understandably that's part of the reason the beret got yanked in 80 and swapped for Ranger Patrol Caps with a Border tab replacing the Ranger tab ,again to a lot of rangers distress. Also Stetsons in circa 1878 were supposed to be blocked pretty much like a fedora

[@snifnor]

F TRP 2/2 ACR, BAMBERG, WEST GERMANY. 79-81 THOSE WERE THE DAYS. " IF YOU WEREN'T CAV. YOU WERE SHH-HIT"!!!!!

[@lonnieholcomb2078]

@@snifnor yep thats a tu/tu cowboy talkin SH!t :P Ltrp 3/2 ACR 81-83, If you weren't CAV, you Weren't SHEEEE HIT! God Rest Terrible "T"

[@StephenEagles85]

Developed a thinner balaclava? My first thought was they'd procured Navy style anti-flash hoods. And seeing it worn, well... I wonder if they use the same supplier as the USN... Edit: And yep, there it is later.

[@billbrockman779]

Stephen Eagles I used nearly the same exact thing as a firefighter starting in the 1990’s.

[@LmgWarThunder]

This video gives you a real grasp at just how deeply the Chieftain cares about ergonomics

[@jamesluke7377]

WWI vs WWII vs Korean War vs Vietnam War and so on tanker uniforms? Maybe a short history or evolution. I would LOVE to learn.

[@booradley6832]

Idk if you care about other wartime iterations and advancements outside of tanks but if you check out the C&Rsenal video on the CSRG "Chauchat" machine rifle it explains the change the teams went through during the great war, from a pair of specialized weapons teams haphazardly scattered in to a division to a specialized half-platoon sized bunker and machine gun nest hunter detachment with very modern doctrine and combined arms tactics. Its fascinating. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnTLiJWhr6xgqMU&ab_channel=C%26Rsenal

[@StR8UpAnArChY]

Nice change of pace, very informative and insightful!

[@loneghostone6883]

Hey Nick, i bought your book and have been enjoying reading through it steadily!

[@JazzJaRa]

15:44 if the TC disconnects from the Intercom while the tank is driving backwards it means "Tank full stop" at least here in germany. Still prefer to wear a baret instead of a helmet inside a tank.

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

The problem is that we have no way of telling the driver that the intercom has been disconnected...

[@JazzJaRa]

@@TheChieftainsHatch on our tank you always hear the noise in the headset, once that disappears you know that he disconnected. Of course on the Leopard 2A5 you can drive backwards with out him telling where to go because of the rear camera.

[@birdmonster4586]

Nobody is buying the book? I quite liked it., and I'm hoping you've got plans for a couple more.

[@Dalroi1]

Yeah, I've got it. Well worth a read.

[@andersmaidment]

Eyewear: Wiley X SG-1 with the strap. Worked well for me.

[@reccecs4]

Yup. A few Wiley models come with the strap. The Sabers are great too under a headset.

[@danieledwards3376]

Another option might be the ESS Crossbow Suppressors - very thin arms designed for wear under ear defenders.

[@Tinblitz]

Kinda fitting that this video came out as I was wracking my brains about how to paint up my Imperial Guard Armoured crews. Very helpful. Also, I'm going to keep an eye out for your book when I've got some spending cash. I always love the way you explain and describe things.

[@emmanuelperez9490]

You're very good at explaining or showing things. Thanks a lot.

[@joebudde3302]

I just bought Can Openers (Merry Christmas), it had sat in my Amazon Wish List which I had forgotten so I advanced it to the cart for my enjoyment and education when it arrives.

[@jeffg1524]

Interesting vid, as always. Thanks for sharing Chief. Btw, love the cav hats.🤠

[@gmanky]

Brought back so many memories with this video: AOB 1CAV85 field testing that holster you showed and ordering one from the CAV STORE in West Germany prior to taking command of D/3-77AR in ‘90. Using the NBC over pressurize system hose shoved into your NBC suit to attempt to stay cool at Polk. Yes, the 105 casings, if the loader didn’t keep moving, stowing empties back into the ammo racks could melt bootlaces. I also tied a knot connecting the spaghetti cord to my CVC for the very reason you gave. And that knot damn near caused me neck injuries when a pine limb pulled me out of the cupola and into the bustle rack at Polk.

[@1337penguinman]

It's amazing to see how similar in design the tanker coveralls are to my old submarine coveralls. We had belt loops since we wore a belt with ours, and no "rear access hatch" but the 2 way zipper and general layout seems to be very similar. We also wore sneakers with ours underway, because quiet. Edit: Also, that lighter flash hood has been in standard use by the Navy since forever. Looks like they just started giving them to tanker types because it works for you guys too.

[@EliteAmmunition]

That holster was so much better then the old black leather ones we had. They where old worn out and if you had a bad clip on your Lt. Leska cord, I mean lanyard, you would feed your 1911 to the turret monster.

[@schlirf]

VERY happy to learn that the new CDATS have "Flash Protection" for their face and heads. Witnessed a few problems in the 1/1 CAV and 1/11 ACR in my day where these items could have prevented some bad injuries. Good Vid and info as always, and a Very Merry Christmas to you Chieftain; as well as everyone else on this page!

[@Wookie120]

Brings back some memories, we did not have tanker boots in the 80's though. My favorite piece of TA50 was my poncho liner!

[@KMac329]

All of your videos are interesting and informative. It's great that you're bringing all of your knowledge and experience to explain such things to us. We need more scholar-warriors. You gave a lecture and at it you asked: "What were the two greatest problems facing the United States at the start of World War Two?" Brilliant question. A recognition of basic geographical facts. You're a very well rounded man.

[@seumasnatuaighe]

I had the Revision wide frame goggles, (never worn,) and WileyX SG1's which were super ballistic but fogged up in the desert heat. Great to see what the poor people wore to work. We commuted by air and mostly worked the night shift.

[@adamskinner5868]

I did find it both interesting and informative so cheers for that.

[@NonyaDamnbusiness]

Fun fact: When I was in Dragon Company, 1/3ACR in the early-/mid-nineties, Clinton's SECDEF was cutting our budgets so fast that whenever we went out on maneuver field ops with the tanks (M1A1 Heavy) we were ordered to leave our NOMEX coveralls back in the rear. Why? Because they wear out *fast* and tear easily thus needing replacement before gunnery or real-world deployment. Since the squadron was pretty much broke for anything outside of fuel and critical parts we wore our OD green cotton mechanics coveralls instead as replacing those was "cheaper" than replacing a NOMEX coverall. Everyone's mechanics coveralls were frayed and had holes in them from checking the battery acid levels where a small drop of battery acid would just eat a hole through them. Even when we were road marching to gunnery at the Dona Ana Range we were in mechanics coveralls instead of NOMEX, which were kept in our duffle bags stowed in the rear bustle rack of the tank wrapped in a "taco" made from our tank's tarp. The only time we wore NOMEX was during actual gunnery. Also, the cooling vests didn't work unless the NBC system was running. Running the NBC system required the tank to be put into what's called "TAC IDLE" which keeps the engine revs up when in (N)eutral on the t-bar, usually whenever you're on the defense in a firing position because the first thing the enemy likes to do is "slime" you with gas/chemical/bio rounds. Running the engine in TAC IDLE burns a lot of fuel, resulting in more money having to be spent on fuel so we were ordered to *never* run the tank in TAC IDLE unless conducting a tank gunnery exercise in full MOPP-4 and even then most tank commanders left it off to conserve fuel. You see, the big problem was that in the desert the NBC system's filters tend to get clogged up so that when you turned it on, they would quickly heat up and catch fire and next thing you know, black smoke is pouring out of the NBC hoses inside the tank. And guess what is the one item on the tank that 19K are *not* authorized to mess with even to conduct detailed PMCS on? That's right - the NBC system. Only the tank mechanics could mess with it, which they never did. Friend of mine died this way out at NTC. We tried to get him out but the tank was shut down and we had to manually traverse the turret to get it over the back deck so we could access his driver's position (he had the hatch closed of course) and well, that's not a fast thing to do. I was one month out of 19K OSUT training at Ft. Knox. Needless to say, that while the tank itself was issued those vests we tended to leave them in the platoon CONEX in the motorpool because at Ft. Bliss on the El Paso/Juarez border there was nothing but dust clogging up everything. Many, many other things were bad for us U.S. tankers in the 90s thanks to the Clinton Administration but at least Bush plussed us all up in the 00s so we no longer had to go to NTC or do field maneuvers with 3-man tanks. My TC once busted his knee open on the TC's guard and we went down to a 2-man crew - me as the TC and our driver - when he was medivac'd to the rear during the middle of training exercises. You know it's gotten real bad when a tank is crewed by just two Specialists until a replacement NCO can be sent out from the REAR-D.

[@jeffho1727]

Loved the crew suit crawling around in my APC...Funny how much US kit we used north of the boarder..

[@osheape]

Great video, thanks for what you do. While in the USN in the early 1970s we were told to stuff our dungaree bottoms into our nylon socks and to roll down the sleeves on our cotton shirts for General Quarters. Some protection! Thankfully we didn't see any real combat.

[@Challis1989]

Pretty much identical to our uk fire service flash hood! Cool to see

[@paulmills6338]

In the early 70’s 1st Cav at Fort Hood, we had an even older CVC that was lacking. I do not remember ever seeing 4 in a tank. Most gunners that I knew used the chest mount headsets. Was more comfortable, and better space in the M60A1s but provided no protection. We also wore black berets in my brigade as it was the heavy brigade. Later in mid 70’s in 3ACR at Ft Bliss we had the version 1 CVC but that was with the fiberglass shell, black berets, leather belt with a US oval buckle. I dont remember getting kevlar shells until being in FRG in `1AD in the mid 80’s. And in normal Army fashion when we were getting ready to deploy to Desert Shield we were issued the winter nomes overalls that would be worn over the standard nomes, about the same material and density as the nomes tanker jacket. Wish I would of had in Korea and Germany.

[@wormyboot]

ESS makes a set of eye pro called the Crossbow Suppressor. They've got thin frames specifically for ear muff style ear pro. I even got prescription inserts for it. Also, the noise cancelling feature in the CVC takes a rechargeable battery. Plugging the CVC into the vehicle keeps that battery charged. When I was a Stryker crew member (11B), I had to buy my own rechargeable battery.

[@tylerklompien1356]

In regards to eyewear that doesn't dig into your head under a CVC, the ESS Suppressor frames are a life saver. The arms are thinner as they're designed for wear with hearing protection, and as such work great with CVCs for you tankers and Brad crews as well as headsets for gun truck crews.

[@fernandoi3389]

@The_Chieftain thank you sir for showing this information , I think it could be interesting if you can examine and compare tank crew clothing from other nations too. Regards and happy Christmas for you and your family .

[@R0ll0ver]

For the eyepro- there are a couple options out there that are more of a glasses form factor but have either no temple pieces or extremely short ones and are primarily held on by a strap. The Smith Optics Boogie, Revision Exoshield, and Wiley X SG-1come to mind.

[@swwy5]

During my brief military career, some 50+ years ago in US Army, I had to deal with two Majors. Looking back, I believe both were born as Majors and at no time during their lives had they ever experienced anything that could be described as "fun." I'm sure the same can't be said about the Chieftain.

[@gentlemachinist1970]

Im just glad to see the Chieftain uses a 1911. Or at least has one. Also, now I was never a tanker but I did get to crew an LAV and the attire is similar, though now the USMC issues the FROG uniform instead of the CVC coveralls (at least 4-5 years ago they did) for crewmen. The new ESS or Revision goggles are plenty comfortable for use with the CVC helmet but I still had the issue of headaches with glasses since I wore prescription glasses anyway.

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

Thanks for that, really appreciated.

[@REMIREZZ]

I’d love to hear more on the family crest sticker that you have on the front of your camera. That’s pretty awesome to see that you were allowed to have that.

[@KarlfMjolnir]

Having fired small arms (as a civilian) and gotten some unpleasant burns from casings (and a small scorch mark on my shirt at one point), I could absolutely see something a thousand times larger and more potent being hot enough to do some serious damage to laces if left there.

[@reconmodelsvaughn469]

I had a woodland version also in the late 80s and The good old OD Green. And I had all the same ones that you had in the video I still have everything I retired last year went in 1987 and retired last year.

[@joelduncan6967]

When shooting, i had the same problem with glasses frames under ear pieces. The best glasses ive found for that are gargoyle 85's. Also, i haven't tried it, but there is a product now that is replacement ear cushions with cutouts for glasses.

[@jimcross7938]

The cvc helmet you were showing also was used besides the M60A3. Was also used on the M1,M1IP and M1A2. I left AD in 94.

[@edward9674]

Chieftain is numero uno!

[@olafurmikaelsson4794]

The long pocket with the button on the top is for a shroud cutter but also used by many for a fixed head spanner and the button snaps through the ring end

[@d133710n]

"No one is gonna shoot me in the back in a tank" - The first guy to be shot in the back in a tank

[@craigmorris4083]

I know I am way late to this party, but damn, this has to be the most interesting vid since I saw that army civics one you gave. Thank you very much.

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

The information hasn't gone stale with age...

[@buffewo6386]

That bag... Bag, Flyer's Helmut. Love the content. Different slice than my world on B-52H's. "Good luck to our friends, and better sense to our enemies."

[@williamharvey8895]

Bringing back old memories

[@texasdeeslinglead2401]

Very well done , Nick . I guess I'm an old guy who likes this type of topic .

[@Omnihil777]

If that's the case, I'm an old guy too. Not feeling old though. Guess you don't either.

[@texasdeeslinglead2401]

@@Omnihil777 I'm 40 with three wild boys

[@rwool53]

Your goggles look like ours in the CAF. We use Revision glasses and goggles and they work pretty awesome.

[@beaker2000]

Thanks, I enjoyed that. My son is an active duty 19Kilo.

[@beardo52]

That lifting Strap arrangement, and all that fire protective gear would have been handy back in the M-60, and A1 days.

[@joekurtz8303]

Picked up a British tanker suit and its well made lots of tool pockets and a rather large zipper in rear for relief. Aramid blend for flash protection.

[@atfyoutubedivision955]

Holy cow. I work for the DoD and we have those exact same anti flash hoods for welding.

[@Kafkodesu]

The FREE system comes with Fire Resistant t-shirt and undergarments. Both of which are actually fairly comfy, even in the field. We were issued them when we went through RFI before a no-notice deployment to germany back in 2022.

[@luciusvorenus9445]

The new flash hoods look like Nomex PBI Gold hoods we used to use in the Fire Department before converting to ones that filter out carcinogens. I bet they're made to NFPA standards. Anyway, great video Chieftain and nice 1911 in the tanker holster. You need a tanker M1 Garand to go with it! 😁

[@davetilden68]

When I was in we had nomax body armor along with our standard issue vest.

[@moanderson6]

You and your family have a very merry Christmas........................................

[@johnberryhill8106]

Col. , this took me back in time ! I remember being a TC in a Sheridan 1st 11th Cav in Fulda Germany. We had the tradition of the black tankers boots and also a newbie had to tape his black barrett over the muzzle of the 152mm and send that rascal down range on Table 8 or 9.......ah yes......I can smell the diesel now !

[@libertycowboy2495]

Hey Chieftain, loving the m 1911!

[@quikstrike98]

As far as eyewear, I found military issue aviator glasses with the bayonet arm ends were comfortable both in a cranial on the flightline and with a CVC helmet.

[@A.J.K87]

Finances are tight, but when I get the chance I will definitely try to get a hold of a copy of can openers.

[@electrolytics]

Thank you!

[@russwoodward8251]

Good stuff. Thanks.

[@ferdinandjimenez346]

Being a Tanker from the 80-90's... (M48, M60A3 and M1). I remember when I started wearing tanker boots, My Co told me that it is mainly from tradition. Infantry would always ask tankers for shoe laces (since they broke often) and the tankers used their trouser belt to keep the boots tight. It made sense, and always good story to tell. 😀

[@T_81535]

Yeap. It was the battle of the bulge where that technique really picked up steam I believe

[@AndrewArndts]

Happy Holidays to ya Hero

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

And to you

[@deekim8164]

I used to wear tanker boots at my first unit in W. Germany in the mid-80's. Then Top said that we were in an infantry battalion, and to lose the boots before he sent my Platoon Sergeant to pull them off my feet and toss them in the trash. Loved my nomex. In Hoenfels and Graf my field uniform was usually drawers, tshirt, boots, cravat, goggles, MOPP gear, M203, k-pot/cap, and nomex. And ACUs sucked, but they were far better than the old summer BDU's.

[@taffdavies35]

Just found your site, I was in the British household cavalry on chieftain tanks.

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

Welcome aboard.

[@airsoftrebel234]

I'm not sure if anyone else has answered this, but I had the same small pocket on my CVC Suit while I was a crewman on an AAV. I was always told it was for holding a string that could be used to make an "IR Buzzsaw", the nighttime signal method that consisted of spinning an IR chemlight in a circle on a string for a pilot to see.

[@captjoe25]

Served in Kirchgons, Germany with 32nd Armor, I wore the field liner inside my nomex. Rolling out in the Autobahn next to my TC on a cold February in the wee hours of the morning. HEATER was broke. Froze my Ass off. Gunner got hypothermia. TC could careless as he was from Seattle. I came from the Philippines and Immigrated to southern cali. After the roadmarch. Went straight to the PX and bought Matterhorns Gortex boots. Eventually bought matterhorns tanker boots later. I also bought gortex socks as it came in handy when you go to the wash rack. Hated those CVC. I had a large noggin and was issued a medium. Lol. VICTORY OR DEATH!!! DELTA 2/32 ARMOR. "DESPERADOS".

[@DanielsPolitics1]

15:45 I’m not sure if the Chieftain or any other tanker will see this, but in UK rail, you have to give continuous confirmation of a live link when someone is talking a train backwards in to a position where the driver cannot see where the train is going. That is required to be done by either using a radio that injects beeps in the absence of speech, or by verbally confirming the instruction to proceed over and over. This seems like a safety technique that could usefully be applied to tanks if (as the chieftain suggests) comms can be lost during reversing.

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

If in a motor pool or the like, we're supposed to use people on the ground, front and rear, and hand signals to the driver. It's a little impractical to have folks on the ground in combat, though.

[@1999cbr600f4]

The long pocket is for a shroud cutter, for parachute lines or seatbelts. It was on all the green and tan flight suits since Viet Nam

[@828enigma6]

You have good taste in handguns. I have one of the brand new MARSOC 45's. Couldn't afford the combat used versions. Most appeared to have been dragged behind your M1A at high speed. Thank your for your enlightening video.

[@bobuk5722]

Never been a tanker, but it is interesting hearing how kit needs to be 'tailored' to the working envirionment. And the dry humor.BobUK.

[@thesalty_mandalorian1776]

If you shoot gunnery in Korea, you get a different version of the tanker boot (American version) by having 4 individual straps. You also forgot to mention the spall vest (chicken vest) that we had to wear underneath our NOMEX.

[@erwin669]

I was a FIST platoon leader/FSO in a cav scout squadron and we called the backs of our hats the "I love me" section because we put our qualification badges and former unit insignia there. I had my cannons, the badge of the artillery unit I deployed with (2/116 FA), and the cav unit's badge (1/153 CAV). I've worn it more since I've gotten out mostly because if I'm going to spend $200 on a hat I'm wearing the damn hat. Since military uniforms and historical fashion is a hobby of mine I did a little research on the Stetson. The hat made by Stetson is a wide brimmed fedora style hat that was made popular in the 1950s because of John Ford westerns. LTC Stockton, commander of 3/17 CAV during Vietnam, is credited with introducing the Stetson into the Calvary and the reason he chose it was (I'm not sure how true this is) that he was a huge fan of John Ford westerns and it resembled the hat that was issued in the mid-1870s.

[@WordBearer86]

Yes we love our Stetsons but deep down we all wanna wear that peaked visor cap cocked to one side like a G.

[@corpnut2906]

nice patch i was B co 1/149 Ar on M1IP's when we had them then went back to 2/162nd Inf in Oregon

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

You just pre-dated me, then. I went into C/1-149 just after the change to A1s.

[@corpnut2906]

@@TheChieftainsHatch nice, miss moving the tanks from Roberts to the ranges at Hungry Lizard. I even tried to drown one crossing the river. Had enough momentom when I hit the water the wave went over the tank. We saved the tank just had to dry out the filters and box. BUT the 1SG and XO had it on film. lol ever see the website for the unit?

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

@@corpnut2906 I don't believe that I have, no

[@robertmunsey]

Great Video and keep up the good work. From an old MG, the balaclava is a requirement for tank gunnery. If you were went down range without it, you might as well clear and elevate and go back and receive your DQ. If the standards fell so low that units allowed crews not to wear them, that is on them. The M1A1 with the 120mm and its semi-combustible ammunition is how the requirement for Nomex came about. Yes there was Nomex underwear, but the Army did not procure it. The flashhold was a godsend, but it seems it took the conflict in Iraq to get it into the supply system for units to order it.. Comment on the eyewear suggestion - The best I found was the Aviator sunglasses. Yes I had to purchase my own, take out the lens and send them to an eyeglasses shop to have my prescription put it, but it was worth it. Wiley's was to 'fishbowl' for me. The REF and APEL (www.peosoldier.army.mil/equipment/eyewear/) get you what you should need, so don't piss off supply and have it ordered. I had the older UVEX, but I still went to my old aviators otherwise I suffered like the Chieftain. Tanker boots - Nice! Your an officer Chieftain and you should be able to afford the Dehner's boots by now. You also hit the main reason for tanker boots, flex in the ankles while sitting in the tank for long periods of time. Good to see some old knowledge being distributed. I read below on protective masks and inserts. You should do a vid on that. From the older M-25 (the one with the hose and canister that someone was trying to remember) to the M42 and how that came about for the hose (remember requirements) and the new M-51 pro-mask. To the poster on the eye lens inserts on the mask, on the M-25 yes if you did not put them in right, you could poke something out. My experience is once a scratch my right temple...once. Made sure after that to always have lens insert put in properly. On the CVC cord and quick disconnect, yeah when it got old, it was not hold. so you took the clip and clipped the cords together. After Desert Storm we always seem to have a few CVC cords. When we got ready to go to Iraq, each tank had the boresight cord or the 25 ft version. On your plates and body armor. Some of my guys wore the plates in the chicken vest (aka Nomex Armor Vest), until 1st MARDIV said "No Army you cannot." Had to go back to the IBA. I don't know about removing back plates, but we had a little problem in the Fallujah- Ramadi area called snipers, so we wore plates. To each his own I guess. Of the CVC Gloves you did not show the older set with the black leather palms. When the REF clothing kicked in and everyone received Nomex gloves, It seemed the (www.armyproperty.com/nsn/8415-01-074-9432) these gloves were out of supply and the aviator's were accepted as the normal issue. Makes sense in big Army, why buy two different gloves when they are basically the same thing. Stay on the tank!

[@TheChieftainsHatch]

The sniper threat is the main reason I kept the front plate in. That said, I rarely stuck more than my nose out the top. And just as well, given a sniper put a round in one of my cupola periscopes. He was only a couple inches low.

[@clarkmyers8294]

For eye protection try Tactical rx in Denver. Loads of experience. Good as it gets.

[@Roblstar]

Cool! Nice vid! I see a good ammount of your perspective, but we are all different.... Keep them coming... ;)