ARVN-Rucksack
The ARVN rucksack is a lightweight backpack made of canvas with integrated frame that was manufactured in the USA and supplied as military aid during the Vietnam War to the armed forces of South Vietnam.
History
In 1961, Combat Development and Test Center of the United States Army commissioned to develop a backpack for the Ranger units of the ARVN ( Army of the Republic of Vietnam). The intention was to create a backpack that was produced using locally available resources in Vietnam.
The actual design made Eldon C. Butcher Natick Laboratories, based on his observation of the ability südvietnamischer soldiers, food and ammunition to be able to wear for a mission duration of 3 to 10 days.
The resulting " Ranger Pack " also known as "Indigenous Pack" ( " natives backpack" ) was first prepared from the 31 August 1964 in limited quantities. After a military trial, which was successfully concluded on October 7, 1964, mass production began. By 1969, 1.5 million units were produced. In 1970 the name was changed to " ARVN rucksack". Production continued until the fall of Saigon on. A production in Vietnam itself did not materialize.
A special version with slightly different dimensions has been developed for the armed forces of Thailand and launched in November 1965.
Description
The ARVN rucksack is made of olive green cotton fabric. It has a large main compartment which is sealed at the top by means of a reinforced with metal eyelets holes out drawcord and additionally features a large rain protection cover.
For this, the backpack has two outside pockets which are closed with flaps. Between the rear of the outer slots and the outer side of the main compartment, there are "tunnel" can be pushed by the longer equipment.
At the top of the main compartment below the cord pull is two short straps with two metal eyelets on which equipment the M1956 - carrying equipment or the wire hook of the M1910 equipment of the U.S. Army can be attached. Such a belt is also located on the edge of the rain protection cover and one each in the middle of the sides of the main compartment. The webbing at the rain protection cover is used in conjunction with a belt at the bottom of the main compartment to mount the folding spade. There are still two Gurtbandösen which serve for the attachment of short lashing straps for bedroll on the sides of the main compartment. The belt of the rain protection cover it possible to fix a ceiling role on the flap.
The integrated framework of the backpack should initially consist of rattan, but was then made of flat steel. The frame is X-shaped, each with a transverse strut at the upper and lower ends. Two vertical straps and a waist belt keep dan frame bent slightly to allow air circulation between the backpack and the wearer's back. The odere end of the frame sits in the " pocket " at the top of the main compartment; which is hooked into two wire bracket down on the main compartment under the end.
The shoulder straps are sewn on top of the backpack; the lower end is hooked with a snap hook into a metal eye on the backpack.
In use
The ARVN rucksack was not only used by the ARVN. Also, units of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps used this backpack as a replacement for their to little fight pockets and Lightweight backpack, although the frame and shoulder straps that were tailored to the smaller average size of the South Vietnamese soldiers, mostly right for the larger U.S. soldiers small or haberdashery.
The biggest drawback of the ARVN rucksack is certainly that the cotton material used is not water-resistant. Nevertheless, the ARVN is a compact, rugged backpack that could be produced by the simplest means.