Jungle Boots 12R - 1968 - NOS (2)

Unopened C ration accessory pack.

Used Tropical Rucksack. Contract FSN 8465-935-6673. Year of manufacture 1968. Very good condition. One metal eyelet is missing, see photo. The backpack has two equipment straps.

Unused Armor Body ballistic shorts, Fragmentation Protective (For the Groin). Size 38 /Army) 44 (Navy). Contract DSA-100-4677. Unused condition. for collector's purposes only.

M9A1 gas mask in an original unopened can.

Cover for 2qt water bag Canteen Collapsible 2 Quart Capacity. FSN 8465-J22-0002. Manufactured by Latex Corp. Contract No. DA 19-129-QM-2044. The bag has rust stains on it but is otherwise undamaged.

Trousers in ERDL camouflage. Size Medium Regular. Contract DSA 100-70-C-0137. Perfect almost unused condition. Colours are rich and unwashed. This piece comes from the estate of a Special Forces member named Norton who served in the US. Army from Vietnam to the 1990s.

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

Gas mask case XM 28 in original packaging.

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• Historical Status: Superseded, cancelled in 1972 with no direct replacement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

Blouse in ERDL camouflage. Worse condition with most of the original patches. Labels missing but size is Medium - Regular. Blouse comes from the estate of a Special Forces member named Norton who served in the US. Army from Vietnam to the 1990s.

USAF Coverall, Flying, Man's, Very Light K-2B flight suit in perfect condition. The jumpsuit has a unit patch and name tag on the shoulder (Withington, Nathan N. The jumpsuit is from 1966.