The Mk 3 NBC suit we looked at last month was very good for its day, but in the mid 1980s the British Army decided to update the design to accompany the new S10 respirator it was introducing. The Mk 3 was only available in olive green fabric, so a small batch of Mk3a suits were produced in DPM (we will look at an example of these at a later date). Whilst this was a definite improvement, the smock still needed to be pulled on over the head and it was felt that having a conventional zipped fastening up the front was a better design. This led to the next major version of the NBC suit, the Mk 4 and tonight we are looking at the smock:
Whilst the camouflage fabric and front opening are the most obvious changes to the suit, perhaps more importantly was an improved fabric that was more effective at repelling chemical agents. The outer layer of the smock has a silicon treatment that helps waterproof the fabric from rain and allows liquid agents to spread over the surface rather than sinking in, aiding evaporation. A fluorocarbon finish was also applied which acts as an oil repellent, increasing its effectiveness against liquid agents. The suits were also designed to be fire retardant. Despite all this protection, the suit remains breathable preventing the wearer from overheating. When it was introduced this was one of the most effective NBC suits in the world and it remains in use to this day, underlining the general strength of its design.
Returning to the Mk 4 smock then, we can see that it opens up the front, with a metal zip that is covered by a Velcro flap:
A piece of elastic is sewn around the edge of the hood to ensure a tight face seal with the respirator:
Velcro tabs allow the sleeves to be adjusted:
And the waist:
A pair of large angled bellows pockets are sewn over each breast:
The stitching of these pockets only penetrates the first layer of fabric so it doesn’t compromise the suit. Another small pocket is fitted to one sleeve to carry pens etc.:
A label is sewn into the collar giving sizing:
In all six different NSN codes are allocated to the DPM smock based on sizing:
160/092 Extra Small 8415-99-130-6921
170/100 Small 8415-99-130-6922
180/100 Medium 8415-99-130-6923
190/108 Large 8415-99-130-6924
200/116 Extra Large 8415-99-130-6940
Special Fitting 8415-99-130-6925
The underside of the label indicates that it was made by Remploy:
This suit was also produced in desert DPM fabric and at some point I will pick up one of those to accompany this example.
In the mid nineteenth century printed etchings gave a way for art to be enjoyed by the masses. Photography was still in its infancy and true paintings were beyond the pocket of most. Etchings could be mass produced and were very affordable. The more wealthy had them framed and hung on the wall, emulating the paintings of the wealthy. The poor decorated their houses by pulling the etchings from magazines and sticking them to the walls, much like the posters of today. Most of these etchings were in fact copies of actual paintings, the engraver’s skill being to translate this image onto metal for reproduction. Consequently some etchings are crude, others like this one are remarkably detailed. As well as scenes from history and famous people, current events and especially British military victories particularly appealed to the Victorians. This particular engraving dates to 1860 and judging by the large number of copies for sale online was a very popular print.
And always the order was “Forward!” Shells burst and round shot and grape thinned the advancing ranks; a 24-pounder held them until it was blown up by Maude’s guns from the flank; then a howitzer from the enemy centre ranged on the charging 78th, forcing them to take cover behind a causeway carrying the road.
I have previously looked at an example of a signals satchel 
The lid is secured with a single strap and brass buckle to secure it:
The inside of the satchel is lined with cotton-drill fabric to help protect the contents:
Two variations of the signals satchel can be found, one with the shoulder strap sewn to the satchel itself, and the more common variety such as this one that has a standard 37-pattern shoulder brace secured with brass buckles:
The top of the satchel is printed with ‘SATCHEL SIGNALS’:
The inside of the top lid is clearly marked with the date 1942 and the manufacturer ‘MECo’:
The strap is also stamped:
According to the instruction card the signals satchel should hold:
These are made of white knitted wool and fit over the wrist to keep it warm, a hole being provided for the thumb to fit through:
Note the cloth binding to protect the edges from catching and unravelling. A simple cloth label is sewn into each wristlet, with a crude /|\ mark on it:
These wristlets have been in service for many years, and the page in the MoD’s Black Book of Kit gives a date into service of before 1991:
One serviceman who was issued them reports: Wristlets are pretty good if you can get some. Keeps the blood flowing to your fingers warm.
In design they are virtually identical to the equivalent British made binoculars. There are a few detail differences compared to other sets I have. For instance on my British made binoculars the loops for the carrying strap are little brackets soldered onto the body of the binoculars. This Indian pair have a slightly expanded top plate with two cut outs through them instead for the straps to secure into:
The focus of the binoculars is adjusted by twisting the eyepieces to move them in and out and this changes the focal length, the eyepieces have knurling on them to make it easier to twist:
The two parts of the main body have a textured lacquer to aid grip:
And the angle of the two halves is adjustable, around a central brass rod:
A small guide is marked on the end to show the relative angle of the two eyepieces:
There are two sets of markings on the binoculars, one indicates that they are ‘Binoculars, Prism, No2. Mk II’ and they have six times magnification:
The other set of markings indicate they were made in Calcutta in 1944 by ‘M.I.O’:
MIO was the ‘Mathematical Instrument Office. The 1944 History of the Indian Supply Department provides some interesting background:
These shorts are designed to be worn in conjunction with the other two tiers, but are designed for use by those on patrol who need greater levels of protection- the lead man of a patrol or the metal detector operator sweeping for IEDs. Design trials of this armour took place in 2011 and they were then quickly distributed to troops in Afghanistan as an Urgent Operational Requirement. The shorts have separate soft armour fillers that fit inside special pockets around them, Unfortunately I do not have these filler plates, but this illustration shows their shape, as well as the little bag that can be used to store them in:
The cover was issued in a sealed clear plastic bag:
With a sticker giving stores details:
As the shorts are designed to be worn over other clothing, the cut is generous, with a tie strap at the waist to fasten them:
Reinforced knee pads are sewn into the cover:
The groin region has a piece of mesh to encourage ventilation into an area that can easily overheat:
A long pocket with soft armour runs down the outside of each leg:
This opens with press studs to reveal a long zip to ease getting into and out of the shorts:
The shorts and their armour inserts help to protect, amongst other things, some of the major arteries in the leg, such as the femoral artery. If this artery is severed a soldier can bleed to death very quickly, these shorts are designed to help minimise the risk. The garment was designed to be worn with the tier two armour so a large flexible gusset of plain green material is sewn into the front and back of the shorts over the groin:
As with the tier two armour, a standard green label is sewn inside the tier three armour, with a note to ensure it is worn the correct way round:
Due to its more specialist nature, fewer sets of shorts were produced than other elements of the pelvic armour system. They were used however, as can be seen in this photograph of a private:
My thanks to Michael Fletcher for his help in adding this one to the collection.
These boxers are worn as a bottom layer beneath all the other layers of uniform and armour and are made of black ballistic silk. This ancient fabric is remarkably strong and is excellent at repelling tiny fragments of shrapnel, as witnessed by this still from a video of the shorts in action:
The shorts have a simple elastic waistband:
And a white label (here very faded) sewn into the back:
The MOD published some information about the shorts in 2010:
