Body Armor, Ground Troops, Variable Type - Medium Long

CIB colour patch used.

M1 helmet liner manufactured by Firestone with commemorative 1st Cavalry painting and An Khe 1965 inscription.

Medium Short, late Vietnam or early 70's dress, 101st ABN with hemmed edge, name tag and "army" silk.

Two pieces of M1956 Universal Small Arms Ammunition Pouch 1st Pattern. Used condition without damage.

Original "shrapnel vest" Armor, Body, Fragmentation Protective with 3/4 Collar (RVNAF). This type of vest was made in the USA for ARVN needs. The size is marked M, but according to the sizing for the ARVN. Contract DSA 100-70-C-0126. Stock condition.

For collector's purposes only - ballistic protection is not guaranteed.

Used trousers (Trousers, Man's, Cotton WR Poplin OG 107 RIP STOP ). Size Medium Regular. Year of manufacture 1967. Trousers have a few stains but are undamaged. There is still a laundry tag on the hem.

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• Historical Status: Superseded, cancelled in 1972 with no direct replacement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

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

Original unused blanket US. Army from the Vietnam War. Blankets are from 1968 and 1970 crates. FSN: 7210-282-7950.

Unused USMC Field Pack, Canvas Combat. There are small spots on the back, see photo.

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