BIG CHANGES IN ARMY CLOTHING

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30511, 5 August 1964, Page 20

BIG CHANGES IN ARMY CLOTHING

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 4. Radical clothing and equipment changes are projected for the Army. Calf-length boots will replace the traditional ankle boot, old style groundsheets will yield to bedroll covers with inflatable mattresses, and for field wear, heavy greatcoats and leather jerkins wilt be changed to waterproof parkas and leggings.

Battledress ski-type • hats will be replaced by smart berets in distinctive unit colours.;

A new gaberdine dress coat of belted design, of wool and synthetic fabric, has also been approved and a scale of issue is being fixed. However, the greatcoat will remain in use for some years for certain tasks.

Trousers’of the private soldiers’ walking-out uniform will have a hew line, with the cuffs tapered to l&in and slide fastener replacing the front buttons.

A special Army committee has been meeting daily for some weeks to prepare a change-over programme but it is likely to be some time, years in some cases, before re-equipment is achieved.

Some items are still under test, and it would be uneconomic to introduce others until the present issue is approaching the end of its useful life. Rejection of the ankle-type boot is probably the most radical change. The new one is basically the boot with moulded rubber soles introduced two years ago but will have extended tops reaching half-way up the calf. It will be waterproof to its full height, give protection against leeches in tropical climates and give better ankle support. The final design is undecided.

An extremely light synthetic waterproof coat with no shoulder seams will replace the oilskin coat. A slender braided tie in lieu of the broad style, is designed to make formal dress more attractive. The waterproof bedroll will have a three-section inflatable mattress.

The sections are slipped into pockets under the bedroll to give the soldier a comfortable sleep—the cover has snap fasteners for emergency quick release—and in river crossings can be used as a float.

Shelter sheets can be erected as individual shelter or clipped together to form a tent.

The sleeping equipment, including shelter sheet, weighs 71b—-half the weight of the blankets, “pup tent” section and groundsheet issued at present.

Other equipment being developed includes new design mess tins, synthetic rope which floats and a collapsible plastic one gallon water carrier.

The “boffins” are also investigating a- new American fabric claimed to overcome problems of ventilating waterproof clothing.