M-1942 Machete - 1966

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.

Pack of disposable earplugs. Production 1962. For collecting purposes - functionality is not guaranteed.

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.

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• Historical Status: Superseded, cancelled in 1972 with no direct replacement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

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

Unused blouse in ERDL Brown Dominant camouflage. Locally made. Size corresponds to Medium Regular. Pockets have a classic cut, but they are flat. There is a button closure at the sides.

Bomber Jacket, Flying, Man's Intermediate, MA-1. Year of manufacture 1966. Size Large. Overall very nice condition. There are small holes in the knitting, see photo.

The HT-2A radio from The Hallicrafters is from the OPS family of radios. The HT-2A is one of the first models delivered under the CIA-funded Village Radio program sponsored by the Office of Public Safety (OPS) to provide local forces with short-range radios to report Viet Cong movements. The retractable antenna is undamaged. The plastic knob for volume control and transmission switching is missing. See photo for condition. Functionality is not guaranteed.

Used jacket (Coat, Man's, Camouflage Cotton, Wind Resistant Poplin, Class 2) in ERDL Brown Dominant camouflage. Size Medium Regular. Label with year of manufacture and production missing.