Depending on which department of Wars'R Us you were in is whether you loved this bit of kit or not.
I do have to say I have seen tears of joy from the PBI when it turned up to do a few trenches and most of the work after was trying to bring the spoil it created, back from a radius of a mile or so.

If you were the driver/operator, Istr you were glad if it never broke down or got where it was meant to be going

Jeeez! Just noticed the winky pot on the cab roof! Elf n safety hadn't been invented when this was around!

Originally Posted by Oyibo

Love the pic of the Chieftains in urban cam.

No wonder rest of BAOR had no blank or pyro's!!!

Originally Posted by JT0475

^ Sewn in creases in lightweights were ok, but in any sort of DPM looked shite for some reason.

Oh, guilty as charged, always had one pair with sewn in's. The other, early 80s 'fashion' was to tailor combats so they were very narrow - wtf? Didn't do that particular one.


Sent from my iPhone using ARRSE so I should probably be working....

Pre-dates the 80s - had been going strong for years when Joined our 2nd Bn in early 1975. Partly, I think it was about getting stick man on guard, but also partly about making sure your cbt jkt wasn't uncomfortable under a flakky in NI.

The fashion began to die a death after the Falklands war: suddenly the alliest blokes on 2 legs were the ones with the baggiest (windproof) smocks, 'cos you needed all that room for ammo and warm clothing.

Paras took it to extremes, and it's from about this time that you start seeing their Toms in oversize para smocks without belts (imagine a bunch of blokes all about 5ft 7in, sidies, whippet-trainer-flat-cap-berets-with-badge-over-the-portside-lughole, all draped in knee-length in smocks that woulda fitted loosely on Darth Vader)

Originally Posted by Stonker

Pre-dates the 80s - had been going strong for years when Joined our 2nd Bn in early 1975. Partly, I think it was about getting stick man on guard, but also partly about making sure your cbt jkt wasn't uncomfortable under a flakky in NI.

The fashion began to die a death after the Falklands war: suddenly the alliest blokes on 2 legs were the ones with the baggiest (windproof) smocks, 'cos you needed all that room for ammo and warm clothing.

Paras took it to extremes, and it's from about this time that you start seeing their Toms in oversize para smocks without belts (imagine a bunch of blokes all about 5ft 7in, sidies, whippet-trainer-flat-cap-berets-with-badge-over-the-portside-lughole, all draped in knee-length in smocks that woulda fitted loosely on Darth Vader)

As to tailored combats was a bit of copy cat thing in my regt after we served with FFL, all a bit odd and looked bloody silly.

You last para, regarding PARA's, well just like tankies in Parkas then!

Originally Posted by Oyibo

Love the pic of the Chieftains in urban cam.

Invented in 1982, with the credit going to OC D Sqn 4th/7th DG.

It was a mishmash of colours left over from decorating (?) the interiors of barrack blocks and vehicle sheds.

It gave the twat Guardsman who was SO1 G1 (Bullshit) at Bde HQ a high old time at the next Queen's Birthday parade, because the asshole insisted that all armoured vehicles of a single type should be painted in an absolutely identical manner, which he then arbitrarily changed at each rehearsal. He must have had one hell of a time in his nursery days - he was clearly mentally disturbed, but O how the lads in Support Company chuckled at his spiffing wheeze.

Just for you, Stonker, your old Wombats being inspected by GOC Berlin (the one who made all Offrs and SNCOs wear collar and tie to drive down the corridor to Helmstedt). Maj Gen Gordon-Lennox. Brooke Bks, winter 1983.



Cheesy grins for the General, chaps.

Originally Posted by Brotherton Lad

Just for you, Stonker, your old Wombats being inspected by GOC Berlin (the one who made all Offrs and SNCOs wear collar and tie to drive down the corridor to Helmstedt). Maj Gen Gordon-Lennox. Brooke Bks, winter 1983.

Cheesy grins for the General, chaps.

Oi General where is your tie!!!

Never mind the cap badge issue, this "'orrible scrote" shall report to the guardroom at 6am tomorrow for a SHOW PARADE complete with all issue items including bed AND locker.

Item:

1) Creased Collar. Ironed with a house brick obviously.

2) The worst boxed blankets I have ever seen.

3) Turn that frown upside down Soldier. WE smile in this mans Army.

4) Hospital Corners son, hospital corners.

5) Incorrect spacing on boots / shoes/ plimmies.

6) Disrespecting the No2 uniform sonny Jim.

Originally Posted by Spank-it

Never mind the cap badge issue, this "'orrible scrote" shall report to the guardroom at 6am tomorrow for a SHOW PARADE complete with all issue items including bed AND locker.

Item:

1) Creased Collar. Ironed with a house brick obviously.

2) The worst boxed blankets I have ever seen.

3) Turn that frown upside down Soldier. WE smile in this mans Army.

4) Hospital Corners son, hospital corners.

5) Incorrect spacing on boots / shoes/ plimmies.

6) Disrespecting the No2 uniform sonny Jim.

Whilst I am concerned about your sanity I have to agree that is is a shite kit layout.

Originally Posted by bokkatankie

Whilst I am concerned about your sanity I have to agree that is is a shite kit layout.

And is that a skirt hanging beneath the No2 Jacket??