Coat, Man's, Tropical - Small Short

Bag, Patient's Effects - 1965 - NIB

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

Used MACV patch—design with a thin edge.

Used M69 vest in size Large. Year of manufacture 1969. The vest is marked with the name of the original owner and the inscription US Coast Guard. The ballistics are not broken. For collector's purposes only, ballistic protection is not guaranteed.

Used Blouse Coat, Man's Combat, Tropical 3rd pattern. Size Medium Regular. The blouse is sewn with "in country-made" patches. US tape. Army and name tag are directly sewn into the uniform. The 1st Air Cavalry patch is mass-produced in a color with a thin border, additionally dyed to a darker shade. The jacket has a few stains and holes 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• Historical Status: Superseded, cancelled in 1972 with no direct replacement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.

Utility Fighting Knife from Camillus. The blade is not sharpened.

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

Unused Blouse Coat, Man's, Cotton W/R Rip-stop Poplin, OG 107. Size XL Regular. Year of manufacture 1968 - 1969.

Unused Waterproof Backpack Bag, Waterproof, Clothing. Date of manufacture 1967 and 1968.

Bandolier for SKS ammunition. Locally produced. Purchased from the estate of a veteran.