- Extended Cold Weather Clothing System
The Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS; pronounced "EK-wax") is a protective clothing system developed in the 1980s by the
United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center ,Natick, Massachusetts . The first generation ECWCS consisted ofparka andtrouser s plus 20 other individual clothing, handwear,headwear andfootwear items which are used in various combinations to meet the cold weather environmental requirements of theUS military (and others). The ECWCS is designed to maintain adequate environmental protection in temperatures ranging between +40 and -60degrees Fahrenheit (about +4 and -51degrees Celsius )Components
The entire ECWCS ensemble (1st generation) consists of
polypropylene (1) undershirt and (2) drawers,polyester fiberpile (3) shirt and (4) bib, (5) nylon/cotton trousers,Gore-Tex (6) parka and (7) trousers, liners for the (8) parka and (9) trousers, (10) white (snow camouflage) parka/trousers cover, (11) gloves, (12) glove inserts, (13) mittens, (14) mitten inserts, (15) mitten shells, (16) white mitten shells (snow camouflage), (17) cap, (18)balaclava , (19) nylon socks, boots—both (20) cold weather and (21) extreme cold weather—and (22) M-1950 trouser suspenders. The system is to be used in an insulated, triple-layering fashion, with the polypropylene undergarments as Layer 1, the polyester shirt/bib, liners and cotton/nylon trousers as Layer 2, and the Gortex-Tex outer garments as Layer 3.The parka and trousers (which have been adapted to the civilian outdoor clothing market) are themselves constructed in a three-layer fashion consisting of an outer layer of abrasion-resistant
taslan nylon, an intermediate layer of durably waterproof, windproof, and breathable Gore-Tex membrane (protected with a layer of nylontricot and originally in a four-colorcamouflage print), and a hung inner layer of unlaminated nylon. The whole is seam-sealed with Gore-Seam tape.The ECWCS parka
The parka — which is a particularly popular component — is characterized by a
cobra hood which fits over acombat helmet ) with woven nylon drawstring adjustable pulls and an attachment piece that allows fastening of a fur ruff (early models of the parka lacked this attachment piece). There is a two-way, full-front slide fastener to provide full-face protection, leaving only the eyes uncovered. The parka has Raglan shoulders/sleeves, a non-freezing, double-pull zipper withstorm flap and seven snap closure, a flap-covered pocket on the left sleeve withhook and loop (Velcro ) closure, adjustable hook and loop wrist cuffs, armpit ventilation zippers and double reinforced elbows. A badge/insignia tab with snap is located on the storm flap. There is an interior back ventilation opening, two slash (handwarmer)cargo pocket s on the lower front (with extra large flaps and double hook and loop single snap closure on each) and an inside draft skirt (windskirt ) with elasticdrawcord s andbarrel-lock s at the waist (without pulls). There are also two concealedmap pockets at the front zipper with hook and loop closures that can be opened without unzipping the parka.2nd Generation
The second generation (2G) ECWCS includes two different layers made with
Polartec fabrics: the Polartec Classic 300 shirt and the Polartec Classic 200 overalls. When used in combination with other layers in the ECWCS system, the system provides protection between +40°F and -40°F (+4°C and -40°C). 2G ECWCS is currently being worn by the US Marines, US Special Forces, US Army and US Air Force soldiers stationed in extreme environments from Norway and Bosnia to Afghanistan.3rd Generation
The third generation (3G or GEN III) ECWCS is a radical re-design of the system. It will feature seven new layers of insulation including three Polartec fabrics: two layers of Polartec Power Dry and a layer of Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft. The 12 components of the GEN III ECWCS include a lightweight undershirt and drawers, midweight shirt and drawers, fleece cold weather jacket, wind cold weather jacket, soft shell jacket and trousers, extreme cold/wet weather jacket and trousers, extreme cold weather parka and trousers. Initial fielding of the system began in
August 2007 to the 73rd Cavalry Regiment in Afghanistan. [ [https://www.peosoldier.army.mil/factsheets/SEQ_CIE_ECWCS.pdf "Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)" at the Program Executive Office Soldier website] ]References
External links
*
United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center , Natick, MA, [http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA190226 "Use and Care of the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)"] , January 1986.
* [http://coldweatherclothing.info/ECWCS.html ECWCS information]
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