USAF One-Man Survival Dinghy / Life-raft - 1967

Used LIFE PRESERVER YOKE inflatable vest. Year of manufacture: 1961. One snap fastener from the packaging is broken.

Used Trousers, Men's, Cotton Wind Resistant Poplin OG 107 - first model. Size Small Long. Year of manufacture 1964.

Hook M 1956 1st Pattern - Large

Cover for field bottle M 1967. The prints are plastic. Stock condition. All covers are dated 1968.

Adapter Modification kit, Packboard, Radio Carrying to place the radio on Lightweight backpacks. The AN/PRC 25/77 radio was placed on the top shelf. On the bottom was a spare battery or KY 38 encryption device.

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

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• Historical Status: Superseded, cancelled in 1972 with no direct replacement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 manual insecticide sprayer. Contract DSA-700-67-C-5518/FSN 3740-691-1776. Year of manufacture: 1967.