USMC FSBE AAV |
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. (April 14) -- A better, safer and easier to use personal battle equipment system has been created for Marine reconnaissance units. The Full Spectrum Battle Equipment (FSBE) replaces the previously-used system with many improvements which make movement underwater easier for Marines. AAV is the body armor of the FSBE system. Many readers expressed interest in the system. It is the reason we make this special report. We asked noted gear queer murphquake to examine two versions of the AAV and comment:
"It seems that there are some pre Quick Release (QR) versions of the FSBE AAV. We were able to examine one of these rare vests to see the differences from the standard QR vests and compare them. The vests are almost identical in most aspects. The PALS layout is identical although the QR components interfere slightly in some areas.. The sides of both types close with velcro and Fastex buckles but the QR vest has it's female buckle built in to the QR system, the Non-QR vest has pull tabs at the edges of the panels to facilitate opening the velcro and the buckle is attached to the PALS webbing. The shoulder closures are velcro but again the Non-QR vest has pull tabs as well as snap closed loops like the Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) presumably for securing shoulder straps, slings and such, whereas the QR version has its QR arrangement in this area, partly covering the 3 PALS bars on each shoulder, which are available for use on the Non-QR version. The Non-QR version also has an internal cummerbund or belly band for securing the vest. The QR version goes without one because it would interfere with the release mechanism by holding the rear panel in place after jettison. At the bottom center of the QR version is the Pull handle which actuates the system, this is obviously absent on the Non-QR version. The differences in these two designs provide and insight into the processes which bring these items to fruition in their final forms. The manufacturer of the AAV is Point Blank."
-bill
P.S. I'd like to thank Pat Rogers (especially for his excellent FSBE article in the October 2001 S.W.A.T. Magazine), Brad Nelson and Lightfighter.com , Basicload, Point Blank Body Armor Inc, Natick Labs and of course all the people who've shared info on the various gear, military and gun boards for all the info on the FSBE AAV they've helped me gather."
murphquake
Bill Murphy NREMT-B
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Body Top Left: QR AAV Front. Note the white color cables at the lower sides and top shoulders going through the black webbing and grommet system which releases the vest when the loop at the bottom center is pulled. Also see the small webbing pockets at the lateral area where the QR cable holds the Fastex buckle to the body which is where the end of the cable can be stowed to keep it from poking the operator. Top Right: QR AAV Rear. The only notable point is the black webbing attachment points at the shoulders for the QR cable. You can also see the QR pull handle at the bottom front. Bottom Left: Non-QR AAV Front. The lateral attachment Fastex is merely attached with an extension of the PALS webbing on the body of the vest. As with the QR this is backed with velcro. The shoulders are merely secured with overlapping velcro Top Right: Non-QR AAV Rear. Aside from the lack of the QR device at the top the rear of the vest is identical to the QR variant.
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Panels Top Left: QR AAV Front Panel. Note the lack of pull tabs at the sides and shoulders for separating the velcro. Top Right: QR AAV Rear Panel. Note the lack of belly band to enable QR feature Bottom Left: Non-QR AAV Front Panel. Visible in the lateral area are pull tabs for separating the velcro closures as well as at the shoulders Bottom Right: Non-QR AAV Rear Panel. At the sides are clearly shown the belly band for securing the vest about the waist. The shoulders have a snap closed strap like the Interceptor, presumably to secure vest or pack shoulder straps.
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Neck Opening Green Top Left: QR AAV closed neck front. Note the QR cables and the black webbing arrangement for QR and internal attachments for the Interceptor collar and neck yoke armor. Also visible under the QR system are the 3 PALS bars which correspond to those on the Non-QR AAV. Green Top Right: QR AAV closed neck rear. The details of the rear of the QR system are clearly seen as are the rescue handle. Green Bottom Left: QR AAV opened neck. Detail of the QR system. Green Bottom Right: QR AAV opened. Blue Top Left: Non-QR AAV part opened neck front. Note the pull tab and strap retaining band. The right side is opened to show these more clearly Blue Top Right: Non-QR AAV closed neck rear. Note the shoulder pull tabs, rescue handle and space where QR system would be. Blue Bottom Left: Non-QR AAV opened neck. Shows the retaining straps and pull tabs from above Blue Bottom Right: Non-QR AAV interior neck. Shows the IBA Yoke and Collar attachments of webbing and velcro. Note that these accessories don't line up properly with the top of the AAV and in the QR version interfere with the QR system. The Groin armor doesn't have this problem and integrates normally.
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Release System Green Top Left: QR AAV Shoulder Release Detail. Green Top Right: QR AAV Release Loop Detail. Green Bottom Left: QR AAV Side Release Detail. Green Bottom Right: QR AAV Inside Opened with IBA Groin Armor. Note placement of release handle outside the Groin protection for access when worn. Blue Top Left: Non-QR AAV Side Fastex Detail. Blue Top Right: Non-QR AAV Rear Panel Inside with Belly Band affixed. Blue Top Left: Non-QR AAV Inside Opened. |
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©2000 Special gear group. All information contained herein applies to U.S. Please contact us if you want to use our pictures.
