Soviet Webbing/LBE

[Mahatatain]

OK, this is possibly a little over the top in terms of detail but I have a question about Soviet webbing in the T2k timeline.

I assume that most Soviet troops would be issued with lifchik type webbing, as shown in the image below, that holds 6x mags, 4x grenades and a few other bits and pieces.



My question is when did the Soviet/Russian military start issuing Combat Vests like the V-95 Tactical Assault Vest that holds 8x mags, 4x hand grenades, 8x 40mmS grenades & 1x personal med kit.



Essentially I can find out lot of info about different types of Russian LBE but I'm uncertain how much of it is recent Russian gear and how much of it is Soviet era in origin and would therefore exist in the T2k universe.

Thanks for any help people can give me.

[pmulcahy11b]

I can only give you a general sort of answer. It seems that, except in the Israeli and South African Armies and a few other countries, general issue of those kind of assault vests didn't start until the mid-to-late-1990s. Special ops units may have had them earlier, but they're always trying out new stuff and are often allowed to use what works best instead of general issue.

[HorseSoldier]

I'd guess that maybe the Cat A guys would have the Lifchiks/Rhodesian rig, with the lower readiness guys probably at least starting the war with the less well set up Soviet Y harness (and scrounging for better -- probably a lot of Chinese chest rigs getting used by units that served on that front). Not 100% sure but also think the assault vest deals were post Communist.

[Raellus]

In my T2K universe, most Soviet troops (Cat. B-C and subsequent levies) are equiped mostly with simple Y-harnesses fitted with belt pouches holding 2-3 AK mags per. Cat. A, some Cat. B, and others lucky enough to scavenge them, are equiped with "Lifchik"/Chicom chest harnesses. My guess is that the Soviets would have found the Chinese style harness superior during the war in China and would have begun mass-producing them for the Red Army.

In my T2KU, only Spetznaz are issued with assault vests.

[HorseSoldier]

The Chicom vests and Soviet deals aren't much different anyway -- I'm not sure on the lineage of both, but think the Soviets copied the Chinese vests in the first place. The Chicom vests figured prominently in Vietnam, Rhodesia and other wars from the 1960s/70s time frame, but the first Soviet use I'm aware of is in Afghanistan. (Where, I seem to recall, most Soviet troops also wore locally purchased Chinese athletic shoes since Soviet Army issue boots were not suitable for patrolling on foot.)

[Adm.Lee]

The number in the "V-95" might indicate a 1995 adoption date?