Modernized Load-Carrying Equipment, also known as M-1967 Modernized Load-Carrying Equipment or MLCE, was introduced into

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

service in 1968 during the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

. The M-1967 MLCE was not specifically designed to replace the canvas and cotton duck

M-1956 Load-Carrying Equipment The M-1956 Load-Carrying Equipment (LCE), also known as the Individual Load-Carrying Equipment (ILCE), was developed by the U.S. Army and first issued in the early 1960s. The M-1956 LCE was designed to replace the M-1945 Combat Pack, the M-1923 c ...

(which was the then-current

load-carrying system), but instead it was designed for use in tropical environments.

History

The

entered the conflict in

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...

with the canvas and cotton duck M-1956 Load-Carrying Equipment (LCE). Developed in the early 1950s, the LCE was designed for use with all small arms then in service with the Army. Deficiencies with the LCE were immediately realized once fielded in the tropical climates of Vietnam. Canvas, cotton duck and webbing, even when treated to prevent mildew, is still affected by it, along with dry rot due to constant wetting and drying. Cotton also absorbed a great deal of water, adding to its weight, and was slow drying; it also withstood abrasion poorly. As with just about everything else in use in Vietnam by the Army, from boots to field dressings to ammunition packaging, the design of load-carrying equipment was also changed in an effort to provide lightweight individual equipment that could better withstand the rigours of a tropical environment. Nylon duck and webbing proved to be lightweight, unaffected by mildew, fast-drying as it absorbed little water, and resisted abrasion well. It did have limitations; it was shiny when new; being somewhat stiff, it made a rustling noise against vegetation; and it melted when exposed to high heat. The M-1967 Modernized Load-Carrying Equipment (MLCE), initially termed Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment (LLCE), was developed specifically for use in Southeast Asia. Its issue began in 1968, but never fully replaced the LCE nor was it issued in complete sets. The MLCE consisted essentially of the same items of similar design as the LCE, but substituted nylon for cotton, and aluminum and plastic for steel and brass hardware where possible. Nylon's light weight and durable qualities led the United States Army to consider the MLCE for Army-wide adoption. A study was undertaken in the early 1970s to identify any shortcomings and to propose improvements for a new load-carrying equipment system to replace the LCE and MLCE. The MLCE continued to serve the Army well into the 1970s until replaced by the ALICE.

Components

The M-1967 MLCE has the following components: * Belt, Individual Equipment Medium SN 8465-00-935-6815* Belt, Individual Equipment Large SN 8465-00-935-6816* Carrier, Intrenching Tool SN 8465-00-935-6826* Carrier, Sleeping Equipment SN 8465-00-935-6813* Case, Field First Aid Dressing - Unmounted Magnetic Compass SN 8465-00-935-6814* Case, Small Arms Ammunition SN 8465-00-935-6780* Cover, Water Canteen SN 8465-00-860-0256* Field Pack SN 8465-00-935-6825* Suspenders, Individual Equipment Belt SN 8465-00-935-6830 The following individual equipment items are issued alongside the ''M-1967 MLCE'': * Cover, Water Canteen, 2-Quart, Collapsible SN 8465-00-927-7485* Rucksack, Tropical SN 8465-00-935-6673* Vest, Ammunition Carrying, 40mm SN 8465-00-141-0926-series In ''1969'' a new version of the "Case, Small Arms Ammunition" is introduced for use with the 30-round cartridge magazine for the Rifle, 5.56 Millimeter, M16A1: * Case, Small Arms Ammunition SN 8465-00-926-6610 NOTE: all component items that utilize snap fasteners for closure have plastic snaps. After ''1969'' these are replaced with metal versions.

External links

M1967 Load Carrying Equipment

{{US Army uniforms Military equipment of the United States Personal military carrying equipment Military equipment introduced in the 1960s

History

Components

See also

External links