58 pattern webbing

1958 pattern webbing was a modular based personal equipment system issued to the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom from the 1950s up until the mid 80s. It replaced the 1937 Pattern Web Equipment that had served the UK's Armed Forces through the Second World War and the first decade of the cold war. It was in turn gradually replaced in the 1990s by the current issue '90 Pattern Personal Load Carrying Equipment(PLCE), though today it can still be seen in use by the UK's Cadet Forces.

Components

A general issue of 58 pattern webbing consisted of a Belt, Yoke, Ammunition Pouches (left and right), Water Bottle and Pouch,two Kidney Pouches and a poncho roll. The were a number of ancillary pouches for specialist tasks, e.g pistol holster, compass pouch.

The equipment was worn in a series of combinations. Weapon Training Order (or Skeleton Webbing) consisted of Belt, Yoke and Ammunition pouches. Complete Equipment Fighting Order (CEFO), was the term used for the full webbing system and once the Large Pack was attached, it became Complete Equipment Marching Order (CEMO).

Over the course of its service, there were a number of developments and modifications. When the system was originally designed, little scope was given to Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical warfare and when this was addressed, the system gained a respirator haversack to house the then issue S6 NBC Respirator. The were a number of ancillary pouches for specialist tasks, e.g pistol holster, compass pouch.

Problems

When originally issued, the system was a huge improvement over its predecessor, offering a larger amount of equipment and ammunition to be carried in greater comfort. However by the 1970s, certain disadvantages with the system had started to become apparent. This was especially evident when compared to other nation's webbing systems, such as the United States All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment.

The main problems with 58 pattern webbing were that it was uncomfortable, heavy and shrank when it got wet, and difficult to decontaminate after exposure to chemical agents. The buckle system on the pouches were also not very effective as the kidney pouches at the back continuously came undone.

The issue Large Pack soon gained the reputation of being worse than useless and incapable of carrying the equipment required. Many instead chose to use a privately purchased civilian Bergen instead. By the end of the 1980s, the large pack was an item rarely seen outside training depots.

The Pattern in its original form became impractical as time went on and this was evident in the amount of customisation that prevailed in the British Armed Forces, beginning in the late 1970s and continuing till it was eventually withdrawn from use in the 1990s. This varied from unit to unit and was largely dependent on its Standard Operating Procedures.

Common modifications included mounting the Poncho Roll on top of the Kidney Pouches rather than its usual location. Also common was to remove the clip on back of the yoke for the issue shovel, mainly because it made wearing the Large Pack or any Bergen uncomfortable. Another common adaptation was to remove the rear Kidney Pouches and instead replace them with three Ammunition or Water Bottle pouches. Many individual soldiers, in an attempt to stop excessive movement of pouches whilst running tied bungees round the system terminating at each ammunition pouch to keep the webbing tight together.

Current uses

The system was still on issue to Support Arms during the 1991 Gulf War. It was largely withdrawn not long after but was still in use with some Territorial Army units as late as 1996.

58 Pattern is held in stores by a number of County Cadet Forces to replace aging stocks of 37 Pattern webbing which were still on issue in the late 1990s. The belt in particular seems to survive as an unofficial form of dress (replacing the general issue Working Belt) by older soldiers when worn with Combat 95 clothing.

MikeatCQMS: For the Canadian Military, patterns discontinued in 1993 when they became "Generations." The last known Canadian pattern on the Market was known as (and is still used today even in Afghanistan) the 82 Pattern webbing. Along its highly respected value as a servicable piece of equipment was also the 1964 Pattern Webbing, which was mainly used by the Airborne troops.