I already show you my IBA/OTV with its rare shoulder pads, now here's a topics about these shoulder pads (APES). This item is a small parts of the book I'm currently writing about "US Military Ballistic protections since the American Civil war to present".

So, the US Army developped in 2004 a system called DAPS (dorsal Axilary Protection System) that is compatible with OTV/IBA. The USMC try to do the same and developped another system called APES (Armor Protection Enhancement System). there's some difference between both model;

- the DAPS is in two distinct parts (Dorsal protector, and axilary protector) / APES is in one part.
- DAPS is available in desert camo and ACU (and also a woodland version, but never worn by soldier) / APES is only available in coyote tan.
- DAPS was developped for all troops (infantry,...)/ APES was developped principaly for turret gunners.
- the soft inserts in DAPS can be removed / the soft inserts in APES aren't moveable.
- DAPS is still used by US Army soldier / APES was then replaced by another system called "Quadgard".

Both are made by Point Blank. But one was a success, other absolutely not and quickly replaced.



But well, this topics is only about APES (I'll speak you about Quadgard in another topics later, when I'll receive my set that's currently now in the plane for Belgium ).

So here's APES ;









Here's the APES installed on my IBA/OTV ;





Here's the only one picture of 'use and care' paper sheet I ever seen (and I still search the original one for my collection !!!! if someone can find this paper sheet, please tell me your price !) ;



What you can see here ; the name of manufacturer and all step for its installation on the OTV.

Now, here's some pictures of soldiers wearing them (I only see soldier with it in Iraq, not Afghanistan) :







































(on this picture, there's both APES & Quadgard !!!)



Hope you love it !

Regards,

P-E

And there's also official pictures showing them ;