Personal load carrying equipment (PLCE) is one of several tactical webbing systems of the British Armed Forces. Dependent upon the year of design, and the decade of introduction, the webbing system was named and is commonly referred to as the 85 Pattern, the 90 Pattern or the 95 Pattern webbing.

The basic configuration consists of a belt, a shoulder harness and a number of pouches. Associated with the PLCE webbing system is a series of other similar load carrying equipment, individual items and rucksacks that are produced of the same materials and which are compatible.

Purpose

The purpose of the PLCE webbing system is to retain the means by which a soldier may operate for 48 hours or conduct a mission-specific task. Items and components may include a variety of munitions and weapon ancillaries, a three-fold entrenching tool, a bayonet, food and water (including a means to heat water and prepare food), chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protective clothing and communications equipment. Soldiers often carry other personal items such as waterproof clothing and spare socks. This system, after having been introduced to the forces in 1960 and considered long obsolete by 1980, was still part of the standard-issue equipment of the British Armed Forces during the Falklands War in 1982.

To address the common issues with canvas materials, such as shrinking and accelerated degradation in damp climates, arctic conditions, or prolonged exposure to wet terrain, military load-bearing systems—beyond those used by the British Armed Forces—have been redesigned to include or be made from newer and more durable synthetic materials.

During the Vietnam War, the United States Armed Forces had introduced and serviced the M-1967 modernized load-carrying equipment (MLCE) in 1968 and later the all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment (ALICE) in 1974. Both systems had incorporated non-decomposing synthetic fabrics and were produced of highly durable nylon.

Following this influential lead and reconsidering the progression and renewal of military load bearing systems around the world, Britain developed 72 pattern webbing, which mainly consisted of two ammunition pouches, to be worn on the front and a field pack, to be worn on the back, made of Polyurethane-coated nylon and Butyl rubber. This system was never generally issued but was a Troop Trials Equipment.

The National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee) of the German Democratic Republic designed and introduced the Uniformtrageversuch 85–90 (UTV 85–90), resembling, with the exception of the clothing system, a modified duplicate of the British Type 58 Pattern webbing, inheriting very similar features in appearance and function. The shoulder harness was of identical design, the belt had featured the use of identical buckles and 58 Pattern C-hooks had been incorporated in all components. Complementary items, such as pouches, had been changed in design and size, to meet Warsaw Pact requirements. The webbing system and components were produced of more robust nylon and featured the Strichtarn camouflage pattern. Whilst this late improvement was observed by the British Armed Forces and being found to be an affront, especially against the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR), no further considerations have been made, as the testing of prototypic PLCE equipment was already underway.

Variants

85 pattern

Developments resumed with the progression of the firearms development and introduction of the SA80 family of British small arms. Trials of experimental PLCE webbing and combat body armour (CBA) were conducted with selected units in 1984 and 1985. Being very similar to the first standard issue PLCE webbing system, it used snaps of proprietary design for closure on all pouches.

90 pattern

Seven years after the Falklands War, the first standard issue PLCE webbing was introduced in 1989 as the 90 pattern webbing and was olive (OD/OG) in colour.

The original components used Type 58 pattern C-hooks for the belt attachment, and angled D-rings for the shoulder harness attachment on the ammunition pouches. There were separate left and right pouches. The first utility pouches in production had additional belt attachments for high mounting, similar to the ammunition pouches of the 1937 pattern web equipment or 44 pattern. Later produced PLCE webbing of the 90 pattern incorporates ambidextrous yoke fittings and the standard PLCE webbing belt attachments (see below).

The PLCE webbing system was also adopted by the Danish Defence Forces (Forsvaret) in the M84 camouflage pattern and by the Defence Forces of Ireland (Óglaigh na hÉireann) in olive drab. The permanent and reserve defence forces now employ the integrated protection and load-carrying system (IPLCS).

Many other countries still issue or have issued similar load bearing systems. By way of example, in its year of introduction to the forces, the United States Armed Forces have adopted the individual integrated fighting system (IIFS).

The newest variant of the PLCE webbing system, of the 90 pattern, has been in production since 1992 and has the Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) camouflage pattern of the partially obsolete Combat Soldier 95 ("Soldier 95") clothing system.

  • 01. 1x carrier, entrenching tool
  • 02. 2x pouch side, rucksack
  • 03. 1x carrier, water canteen
  • 04. 2x pouch, ammunition, universal
  • 05. 1x pouch, utility
  • 06. 1x haversack, respirator
  • 07. 1x yoke, main
  • 08. 1x yoke, pouch side, rucksack
  • 09. 2x strap, pouch side, yoke
  • 10. 1x belt, waist (of appropriate size)
  • 11. 2x strap, utility, O/D, IRR
  • 12. 1x bayonet, frog, DPM, IRR
  • 13. 1x rucksack (infantry) (of appropriate size)
  • 14. 1x bag, insertion, rucksack
  • 15. 2x bag, insertion, pouch, side, rucksack
  • 16. 1x bag, transparent, PLCE, rucksack
  • 17. 2x bag, transparent, PLCE, pouch, side, rucksack

The standard-issue accoutrement today, dependent upon the branch of service, was changed to the capacity of two front pouches (pouch, ammunition, universal, DPM, IRR) instead of one. To this, privately purchased water bottle or utility pouches and hip pads are often added. The entrenching tool pouch (carrier, entrenching tool case, DPM, IRR) is sometimes used as an alternative water bottle pouch.

Multi Terrain Pattern (MTP) PLCE is replacing all Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) PLCE as the core issued webbing equipment for the British Armed Forces, this program started in 2015.

  • : digital desert version -PLCE assault vest

References

Further reading

  • PLCE on the 'Army Rumour Service' Encyclopedia