SADF '83 Pattern 'Patrol Order' Nutria Assault Vest

Supposedly an abbreviated version of the standard Pattern '83 Battle Vest, differences are:

a.) Less magazine pockets

b.) Flat pocket for morphine syringe holder on left shoulder

c.) Open-topped 2 lit. waterbottle carrier/utility pouches

d.) Clip-removable cargo carrying rear pouches for patrol radio and poncho

Also note the existence of DPM camouflage nylon lining - same material used in a number of specialist SADF SF webbing rigs.

That one looks very cool. I like the removable pouches on the back.

Gotta love that nutria

Hi Filupe,

Nice vest in great shape! However, it's not SADF. That is a South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) Pattern 83 vest. This particular one is a first pattern type. Later versions deleted the pen flare pocket on the shoulder, and had the rear pack sewn to the vest. On a side note, the removeable pack was also designed to attach to the back of the SWATF rucksack. So, you could take the pack off the vest, put it on your rucksack, and then use the rucksack and vest together.

These vests were made by the South African firm Three Spears on behalf of the SWATF. Many found use with SADF troops operating on the Border, and they saw extensive use with 32 Bn. Once in a while you'll find a photo of one of these still in use with SADF reserve troops, but that's rare, as the SADF Pat 83 holds a lot more kit.

As you've noted, the DPM fabric used on the shoulder pads and map pockets is the same type as used on early 32 Bn and Recce kit.

Cheers,

Mike

Mike,

Many, many thanks for your input! The 'patrol order' story I got was from someone who went to South Africa brought back a job lot of Patt.83 vests - there was one of these in the pile and that was the story he got from the vendor. Would you happen to know what the open topped, outer pouches on either side of the (I assume) radio compartment are supposed to carry?

Unlike the Patt. 83 vest this one is not adjustable for size and I seem to have a small/medium sized one.

Cheers,

AL

You're very welcome. Ahh, that's a typical "vendor story". Most surplus guys don't really know what this stuff is. They just buy it in large job lots and try and move it as quick as possible. The majority of mis-identified South African kit is a result of this. There was a large lot of light green SA webbing that hit the surplus market years ago, and the UK vendors were all calling it "Pattern 95" SADF kit. There is no such thing, and all this kit was in fact webbing from the former Homeland of Bophuthatswana. Anyway, I digress.....

Those two tubular pouches are most likely for rifle grenades or mortar bombs, as I've never heard of any other specific use for them. The Bophuthatswana light green M83 vests have a similar arrangement, but the pouches are horizontaly placed on the kidney pouch. Same purpose. The main upper pouch can be used for a radio, or any other gear as required.

Yep, these are non adjustable, and since most indiginous African troops are a bit on the small and skinny side, the resultant sizes are most often encountered.

Cheers,

Mike

Back in the day I managed to snag several of these from an officer in 32 bn.
Chris