South African Pattern 83
The South African Pattern 83 gear is a scalable load bearing system used by the South African Defense Force in various bush wars all around southern Africa. Made of tough water resistant cordura fabric, Pattern 83 consists of a chest rig, “battle jacket” assault vest, and the “grootsak” rucksack. This gear is versatile, adaptable, and perfect for campers, hikers, bushwackers, hunters, competitive shooters, and Bush War enthusiasts alike.
Breakdown
Gear type: Load Bearing System
Pattern: “Nutria” Brown
Value at time of writing: $100-250 USD
Manufacturer: Various Southern African sporting goods manufacturers
Primary users: South African Defense Forces
First use: 1983, South African Border War
Practical Use
The Pattern 83 webbing consists of three parts: the chest rig, rucksack, and assault vest. This design allows the user to scale their loadout for short missions, 2-3 day reconnaissance, or even indefinite patrols with the right accompaniment. The chest rig can be used on its own for fast lightweight use, or in conjunction with the rucksack for long range patrol and reconnaissance. The assault vest is meant to be used on its own and can be configured to be used to either carry additional equipment such as radios or as a 3-day assault pack.
Chest Rig
Derived from the ubiquitous Chinese Type 56 or “Chicom” chest rig, the Pattern 83 chest rig is meant to hold up to six rifle magazines, one fragmentation grenade, one smoke grenade, individual first aid supplies, and various maps or other documents. The magazine pouches are situated in the middle of the carrier, and are designed around 35 round R4 (Galil) magazines but can easily hold AR, AK, FAL, or G3 mags. A newer “universal” pattern comes equipped with “ejector straps” that work like the battery remover in a smoke detector. Simply pull up on the strap to assist with extracting shorter 20 round 7.62 magazines. Users with the more ubiquitous older pattern may opt to put spacers made out of wood or plastic onto their mag pouches if they plan on mainly running battle rifles. The auxiliary pouches are located on either side of the magazine pouches, with the smoke grenade pouch on the right side, and the first aid pouch placed under the frag grenade pouch on the left side. The document pocket is on the “inside” against the wearer’s chest, providing adequate protection for maps and other important items. The shoulder harness is arranged in an X pattern, which frequent users of H harnesses may find uncomfortable. The adjustment is generous, but the lower strap has a maximum size of 46 inches (116 cm), so users with a larger chest circumference will have to find an extension or make one out of spare buckles and webbing. The best and most obvious use for the chest rig is combat or competition use, but with some creativity the piece can easily be repurposed for quick hikes or even tool carrying.
Rucksack
The rucksack or “Grootsak” as it’s known in the SADF, is a 60 liter backpack designed to carry everything the wearer may need to sustain a long hike or patrol. Technically, it is what the British would call a “Bergen Rucksack,” and has its genesis in a similar bag issued to Special Air Service (SAS) troops in the Second World War. The pack was quite popular and the name quickly spread to apply to any alpine-style backpack. The grootsak is large and comfortable, but is equally at home in a combat setting. Like in the Vietnam War (or Second Indochina War), motorized transportation was often burdensome in the South African bush, so foot patrols were where it was at for most units. A strong, utilitarian, comfortable backpack was essential for this type of patrol-oriented cat and mouse warfare, and the Pattern 83 easily made a name for itself. The field pack was specifically designed to be worn with the chest rig, and is equipped with a quick-release belt for the purpose of quickly ditching the pack in the event of an ambush. The main pack has a 60L capacity, and there are four smaller storage areas on the outside designed for the standard 2 liter SADF canteen. There is also a document pouch in the top flap, and a separate compartment in the lower area of the pack to accommodate items such as rations or other equipment that needs to be easily accessible. Purpose built to sustain an individual on a patrol lasting anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, this pack is right at home in almost any environment from bushwacking to international travel. The pack can easily accommodate several days worth of water, food, and clothing with extra space left over for camp essentials like a sleeping bag, hammock, or small tent.
Battle Jacket
The Pattern 83 Battle Jacket is perhaps the most iconic and sought-after piece of the Pattern 83 system. In terms of fixed, non-modular load bearing vests, the battle jacket is widely considered one of the best and is definitely the most modern. The vast amount of equipment that can be carried comfortably at one time makes this assault vest great for almost any outdoor activity or competition. The pouches and compartments are laid out to carry eight 35 round R4 magazines, two fragmentation grenades, two smoke grenades, four liters of water, an individual first aid kit, and various camp and survival supplies. Each side has two of the double magazine pouches, one frag pouch, and one water pouch. The left side has the pouch for the first aid kit and a hidden compartment for documents or maps, and the right side has the long pouches for smoke grenades. The rear “backpack” portion is divided into an upper and lower part, but the divider was commonly taken out to make more room. Some gear can be displaced to fit an A53, A72, or A73 field radio in either one of the water pouches or the upper part of the backpack. One of the uses for the many webbing straps on the jacket is to secure the antenna of the radio, preventing it from being caught in the brush. The layout of the pouches evenly distributes weight across the body of the wearer, making long journeys more comfortable. Someone wearing a Pattern 83 vest will actually exert less energy to move the same distance over someone wearing a traditional belt and suspenders such as US ALICE gear, according to a 2002 study by the Centre for Human Movement. The battle jacket is almost begging to be used by modern users for light camping or long hiking trips. The backpack area can easily fit rations, a hammock, and lightweight rain gear. The straps on the back, originally meant for carrying mortars, can be used to carry tarps, bedrolls, or other gear too large to be stuffed in the back. Other survival and navigation gear, along with plenty of water for a full day, can be distributed throughout the remaining pockets to be easily at hand when needed. For shotgun users, a standard box of shotgun shells fits perfectly in the first aid pouch. Be aware however: the magazine pouches in the battle jacket are not as forgiving as those in the chest rig. AR, R4, and Galil magazines will fit well, but each pouch will only fit one battle rifle or Kalashnikov magazine and still be able to close the top flap. Some users report that they cannot even fit one battle rifle magazine into the pouches without removing the divider.
A E S T H E T I C
“The Browns,” as the standard uniform was called by SADF troops, thoroughly compliment the utilitarian aesthetic of the Pattern 83 set. For the authentic Border War look, be sure to wear any nutria brown gear outside in the sun often, or for faster results, just leave it out to fade for a couple of days. As it comes unissued, the fabric is made to fade into a lighter shade of brown to better blend in with grassland and scrub environments. The subdued look of Pattern 83 doesn’t steal the spotlight from other gear or clothing, so more complex patterns like flannels, Hawaiian shirts, and other camouflage patterns will blend right in with the simple brown and black thanks to the fact that these colors are very common in most non-tropical patterns. The solid color will also draw less attention on hiking trails and public campgrounds than a high tech multicam rucksack and vest. Surplus is often a less expensive but still rigorously tested alternative to brand new gear, and Pattern 83 is no exception, however the price has increased dramatically since the battle jacket was featured in District 9 and Mad Max: Fury Road. The entire Pattern 83 set is just good, simple, rugged gear that was years ahead of its time when it was introduced, and is still viable for a variety of uses today.
Rating: 83/10
