Australian Load Bearing Equipment of the Global War against Terror

AFAIK Govt. issue desert cam (known as 'Disruptive Pattern Desert Uniform' - DPDU) webbing has only been available since 2005 - previously soldiers would make do with whatever issue and private purchase rigs available and hand paint them either in DPDU colours or plain khaki wash.




Above two pics show Auscam Arktis-type chest rig hand camo'ed in DPDU colours

The 'Peacekeeper' chest rig is from Platypus Outdoors (under the brand 'Plat-a-tac') - at the outbreak of Australia's involvement in the 'Global War on Terror', they were contracted to do an emergency batch for SF but could only find Brit Desert DPM material at short notice. Hence DDPM chest rigs were feature of early SASR operations in the GWoT and DDPM 'Swimmer' vests likewise were characteristic of Naval Clearance Divers of the same period. This is hard intel from someone working in the company at the time.

Subsequently, the 'Peacekeeper' (and their other LBE rigs) were manufactured in Plat-a-tac's version of 2nd Pattern DPDU (as DoD had copyright on pattern) which were picked up by individuals on subsequent rotations.


The Plat-a-tac 'Peacekeeper' chest rig in faux 2nd Pattern Desert Auscam. Pics indicate that this chest rig was very popular.


November 2003 - Then Aust. Defence Minister visits RAAF ADG's in Iraq. Note that two sport Auscam webbing, two wear hand-camo'ed vests and one has the Desert Auscam 'Peacekeeper'.


April 2005 - Infantry Section Commander on patrol in Iraq. He wears standard Auscam webbing which has been modified and expertly hand-painted to replicate 3rd Pattern Desert Auscam. Study of pics on the ADF website would indicate that the first issues of 'Land 125' webbing in DPDU would occur later in the year.

Currently the LBE being worn is a webbing/vest system under the 'Land 125' program which is MOLLE compatible and fully modular. For more info on this new LBE see here: Land 125 ICLCE







DPDU 'Land 125' Webbing Vest
Recent pictures and discussion with serving grunts seem to indicate that 'Land 125' is not overly popular and that khaki LBE developed by SORD seem to be the preferred choice




The ADF issue pistol drop-holster and magazine carriers from Land 125 system (note that it is for a left-handed pistol!)

Great pics and excellant kit, I particularly like the hand painted cam on the chest rig and I think it looks really effective

GR

Cool stuff! I agree with GR, I really like painted camo rig. It looks cool and unique.

Is it just me, DPDU appeared to be too white, is it photography? Also, I wonder why they have purple colour in their camo pattern, not like it's effective since it's not "natural" color?

I guess it really is photography, coz having the vest myself the colours are quite luscious.
But it also might be the material the manufacturer used.
As for the chest rigg (not hand-painted) the colours are really like this (no fading by photography)
From my memory this CR is a pretty early version by Pla-A-Tac.

WOW,Great scores !!!! the colors are fantastic !

That hand-painted chest rig is neat. A truly functional work of art.

Fifth pic down, the Digger with F88 resting on his right hand pouch. That pouch is a modified 37 Pattern large ammunition pouch, sometimes known in Aussie circles as a Bren Pouch. Its got a pull down Fastex buckle and strap closure on it and has a strip of what looks like commercial Chinese copy pistol belt sewn around the bottom of it. Great utilisation of old kit in a modern scenario