Navy cap/barette blue

Unused Parka M-65 (Field Jacket). Size Medium Regular. Year of manufacture 1969. Manufacturer Alpha Industries, Inc. Contract DSA 100-69-C-0762.

Unused Armor Body ballistic shorts, Fragmentation Protective (For the Groin). Size 38 /Army) 44 (Navy). Contract DSA-100-4677. Unused condition. for collector's purposes only.

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• Historical Status: Superseded, cancelled in 1972 with no direct replacement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.

Original BUAER (Bureau of Aeronautics) protective set made of ballistic nylon and used by US Navy and USMC helicopter crews at the beginning of the Vietnam War. Includes:

BUAER Flak Vest: protected the upper torso from low-velocity shrapnel. Zipper closure with snap cover, durable and authentic period construction.

BUAER Flak Shorts (groin protector): protected the lower abdomen and groin area. Front zipper closure with cover, adjustable crotch strap.

Details:

Size of both pieces: 40

Condition: lightly used, no damage, zippers and fasteners functional

Used pants (TROUSERS, MAN'S, COTTON, WIND RESISTANT). Rip-Stop material. Year of manufacture 1969. Size Medium Long. Trousers have one small hole on the leg. Overall very nice condition.

Book Uniforms & Equipment of U.S. Military Advisors in Vietnam: 1957-1972 (Schiffer Military History). This new, extensively produced volume (the second volume in the series) is a comprehensive guide to the history, development, and use of uniforms and equipment during the participation of U.S. military advisors in the Vietnam War. Included are insignia, headgear, camouflage uniforms, modified items, body armor, boots, clothing accessories, documentary items, and personal effects from 1957-1972, which are examined in great detail. Using reconstructions and period photographs, the author presents the look and feel of U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps advisors in Vietnam. There is a separate chapter on ARVN Ranger, Airborne, and ARVN Infantry advisors, as well as Junk Force, RAG Force, and South Vietnamese Navy and Marine Corps advisors.