CBA (Combat Body Armour) cover I got as part of a big purchase back in June of 2009. Sadly, this is only a vest cover and does not have the ballistic filler inside it. I filled the inside of the vest with a foam-rubber cutout that is shaped just like the filler to give it some shape.

Vest is in size 180/104 and label reads "Cover, Body Armour, Desert DPM"

Writing on plate pocket reads "CU7596, A POS UK"

WOW...very nice, I have never seen one of those around anywhere.

Steven

Thanks. It's one my favourite items because of its uniqueness.

They get kicked around eBay from time to time, but I ordered mine from a surplus shop in England...which I think has since shut down, as they no longer reply to inquiries.

I bet you can find the airsoft inserts online or at some UK based airsoft stores, Ive seen em for the US Intercepter vests. they are hard plastic and look identical to the real ones,
paul

Gulf War 1 issue flak vest with later added rank tab on the front.

As to my knowledge, the Granby-era vests had two pockets to the front and none on the back; it was the later editions which featured the front & rear pockets and the addition of tabs.

The very first issue did have a plate and a FFD pocket.

The above type did come in later & certainly Gulf War 2.

Can I bother you to write a small time line about the different versions of the vest Rob? Not super detailed, just in which order the different vests turned up? There's so many versions, would be lovely to have an idea of when they came out.

The two pockets on the front were issued for Op Granby.

The type with the front & rear plate carrier came in right at the end, I think??

I'll need to find out as I don't want to mislead you mate.

No probs, I can wait. Btw, during what the Americans called Operation Desert Storm, the invasion part (don't know what you called it), were you dressed in NBC suits like the Americans? And which colour, woodland or desert was the most common? That's the second thing I've been dying to find out about the Brits in Op Granby.

Temperate (woodland) dpm only.

Some front line & of course SF got desert dpm, but much later on.

Don't forget all the nations were caught out with the speed of the conflict so a mixture or no desert kit was the norm.

No desert boots, till after deployment as well.

I think the 1 front/1 rear pocketed combat body armour came in very shortly after Granby, but I don't know an exact timeframe.

However, here are some Op Grandby photos showing 2 front-pocketed vest:








Showing back of vest.

Ben,

Checked my issue list & your correct.

Two pocketed front one is Op Granby.

The front & back plate one is Iraq 2.

Sorry for the confusion.

Let me know if your after any kit as would be happy to deal / exchange.

In your pick, note the hand painted webbing (green) & the private purchase fashion desert boots (brothel creepers).

It's all good, no worries mate!

There's so much kit out there it's almost inevitable to get stuff confused; happens to me quite a bit with items from all over!

I've got cages full of it at work & home.

Then you get a call & you can never find the right bits.

Or the right kit, but not in the right camo !

rob8066 wrote:In your pick, note the hand painted webbing (green) & the private purchase fashion desert boots (brothel creepers).

Ought to thank you for that one Rob. I've always wondered what was up with that guy's gasmask bag, thought it looked like Flecktarn (didn't even notice the rest of his painted gear).

Kilroy.

There was no desert webbing, in fact only front line troops got any desert gear.

All others wore Jungles & the heavy leather boots worn in Europe.

Webbing, some guns, some helmets, vehicles etc all got desert paint splattered on them.

Some units didn't get paint so they either had green vehicles or went to a local diy shop & bought yellow paint!

The RAF painted theirs a banana yellow & were nicknamed the banana splits (a kids tv programme).

Glad i'm some use on here

He also has painted the forestock on the SA80 & has a grenade ring on his helmet chin strap so he can hang it from his belt.

Wow, talk about supply shortages

Wasn't so much supply shortages, people seem to forget that the conflict escalated so quick & the decision by the UN to act caught the participating powers off guard.

Up until then our main 'threat' was still Russia so all equipment was geared up for Europe.

Also Logistics comes into it & still does today.

Someone has to design it, trial it, evaluate it, manufacture it & put it on the front line.

This all takes times.

Imagine if a conflict kicked off in Arctic snow conditions; yes we have mountain & arctic trained troops, but little has been spent on evaluating new kit, so we would go to war with kit designed some 20 year ago.

The American's were the same in Op Desert Shield, most of their units came out of Germany so had woodland BDU's & green painted vehicles.

Alot of the desert gear didn't come in until after the first shots had been fired.

Design, money & the known threat; that's what it's about.