Baret 3rd Special Forces Group

Pár odznaků DUI 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne). Uvedená cena je za pár odznaků.

Special Forces shoulder patch (without arc) from the Vietnam War. Variant with a hemmed edge.

Flash 1st Special Forces Group. Design with a thin edge.

Privately purchased beret from Morry Luxenbberg Co. New York. The plastic cover of the label still bears the original price tag. Unused condition. Size 7 1/8. The beret comes from the estate of a Special Forces member named Norton who served in the US. Army from Vietnam to the 1990s.

Nice 5-quart water bag. Slightly used condition. The bag and container were manufactured in 1968.

Colour patch of 199th Infantry Brigade (Light). Design with thin edge.

Used pants (TROUSERS, MAN'S, COTTON, WIND RESISTANT). Rip-Stop material. Year of manufacture 1969. Size Medium Long. Trousers have one small hole on the leg. Overall very nice condition.

Used USMC Field Pack, Canvas Combat. Used condition. One carrying strap is missing a buckle. Condition as shown in photo.

Used ERDL Coat, Man's, Tropical. On the shoulder is a patch 2nd B, 75th Infantry Ranger/Airborne. Above the pocket is a Basic parachutist badge. Size Medium Regular. Year of manufacture 1968.

Used Coat blouse, Men's, Tropical. Rip-Stop material. Size Large Regular. One sleeve is damaged, see photo.

This T61-5 body armor, officially designated MIL-A-43197, represents a fascinating chapter in military equipment history. Developed in the mid-1960s, the T61-5 was designed to be a more ergonomic and flexible successor to the older M1952A model. Its innovative construction featured over 100 individual titanium plates, intended to provide superior protection and comfort.

Although it officially became the U.S. Army's standard-issue vest "on paper" in 1965, it never saw widespread adoption in reality. With the escalation of the Vietnam War, the T61-5 proved too expensive and complex to manufacture for mass deployment. The Army instead opted for a simpler, cheaper, updated version of the M1952A (the "3/4 collar" model).

Despite being an Army design, the T61-5 found its primary use elsewhere. It became characteristic equipment for the U.S. Navy's "Brown Water Navy" units operating in the rivers and coastal areas of Vietnam from 1966 onwards. It was also used by some U.S. Army mechanized infantry, armor, and armored cavalry units between 1969-1971.

Key Features:

• Official Designation: MIL-A-43197

• Common Name: T61-5 Composite Armor

• Standard Publication Date: Feb. 10, 1964

• Construction: Composite material with over 100 titanium plates

• Historical Status: Superseded, cancelled in 1972 with no direct replacement

• Primary Users: US Navy ("Brown Water Navy"), US Army mechanized units in Vietnam

This vest is an exceptional and rare collector's item, documenting the push for innovation in personal protection during one of the most significant conflicts of the 20th century.