SAS Belt Kit & Bergen 

Hi, it’s interesting to listen (read) to you youngsters! I was a soldier for 20 years, starting in Africa in 56 and ending in NZ in 77. I started with 37 webbing, then 44 webbing in Malaya & Hong Kong, then 58 webbing in 3 Para and finished of with a mix of gear in Nam. You could pick some good kit out of each pattern and I held on to the best of mine to this day. Luckily for me I was a lucky grunt and survived to fish and hunt in the South Pacific paradise. What a lot of present day soldiers forget that as a Para you pack what you will need with everything you can get hold of, and then you strip and re pack again and again. I have done 10 day patrols in Muscat with only one air re supply. We got 10 men ration packs for each soldier and they were all “ liver & Bacon” ! In Greece the re supply was a heavy drop and one of the chutes opened before the other, water bladder burst. We were drinking out of puddles for the next 24 hours! On advance to contact we all carried extra ammo, batteries, mortars and water. In the Radfan one company turned into sherpas caring jerry cans of water plus their musketry order. No such thing as sleeping bags. We used “acquired” gear that Norwegian and other foreign troops left behind on European exercises. Always we felt that we were the best with the worst gear. Now if you wanted to hear someone winge, you should have heard the American Airborne or Rangers complain about lack of vehicles and proper food. All good Brit squaddies learn to borrow or steal, sorry , acquired the gear we needed. The Kiwis were the best at acquiring gear, the Gunners came back from Nam with brand new guns! Anyways, cheers mate. Harera

I used Pattern 58 webbing in Alaska for years. Up until it rotted and I upped to PLCE.. P58 was amazing for a survival rig, IMO. Best I ever had.

I carried the ammo pouches you show during guard duty in 1973; our basic load was three mags per pouch plus one in the weapon so you had 140 rounds for each man. Thanks for the memory.

Not a soldier, but I definitely am going to shamelessly plagairise from this video for my hunting kit. I’ve been banging my head against the wall trying to figure out how to carry what I need or might need without getting too over the top or missing out anything important, and this gives me a ton of ideas. Thank you.

Fantastic video. I was intrigued by the title. My father Terry (Jickells) was 22 years in the regiment much of that with Lofty in A Sq and our shed was full of this kit once. Wished we'd kept it all - got some left but not much. Good to listen to your experience there - hats off you know your subject and I learned a few things. If dad were here I'd ask him but he's not. I still see Lofty and he's still full on - always got the brews on. Well, thanks for that. I was inspired. All the best. Mark P.S I did Junior Para in 84/85 and passed out. It was a weird twist of fate that saw me get out after that. Peace.

In my days in SBS we had the old 50s sack.Was glad to get the Bergen sack.Cheers for the memories.

Glad this one came into my feed again. I don’t get notified if someone replies to my comment (no computer, just a cellphone), so it was nice to read your reply. I carried my A.L.I.C.E. pack (is an acronym) for ten years after I got out of the Corps. Some disloyal bugtit broke into my house and stole it, with all my gear inside. That was 1993. I have lots of packs and bags now. Still plan to get another, but just never seem to have the time and money at the same time.

Good video, so long ago 70's, brings back memories, not in SAS, but some of the gear rings a bell. Most of the Canadian kit was US, helmet, water bottle and some pouches. We were using the 7.62 and two pouches plus rifle so five mags, spare ammo for 240 rounds. Still have the survival kit less cigarettes'.

You confirmed what I have always suspected: the survival tin is meant to augment whatever gear that a person has on oneself. I am glad that you mentioned that in your video. A lot of people have shown their survival tins in countless RU-vid videos, but I doubt if most of them know that, especially those who have never been in the military, much less SERE school.

Brings back memories but it was always 2 water bottles we carried on the belt kit. The survival tin was carried in your smock, rarely in a pouch. The med kit was a lot smaller and also we carried emergency rats on the belt, which were only used if you had lost your bergen, so you knew you always had some food available if you were on the run. In the bergen the patrol also carried spare batteries for the radio split down amongst them. We used to pad out the frame with foam and duct tape, and also on the underside of the straps to reduce it cutting in on the shoulders when you were carrying a full combat load.

Good video. Interesting comparison to the belt/harness my son carried as a combat MP in Iraq. He always had two canteens, an IFAK with tourniquet and combat dressing, and two large pouches for ammunition (he carried a Mossberg shotgun and a.45 ACP sidearm). Everything else he and his fire team needed was carried in their vehicle, a HumVee with a .50 Ma Duece on top).

That SAS/Para Bergan is beautiful

Another excellent and well thought out video. I've always appreciated how the Royal Army focuses on carrying bullets food and water first over fancy gear.

Excellent video. Thanks for the insights to how the kit was put together. Really liked hearing how things were layered. Cheers

Always interesting to get a completely different perspective on gear. Thanks from across the pond.

The 58 pattern kit was the best kit ever, I had a 32 piece kit list years ago & I was happy to hike many miles carrying that gear, also if packed right when you sat down you had a very comfortable arm chair. 58 cold weather smock is amazing, if you want a good hard wearing apocalypse jacket then it's for you, with a hood like a tent.

I'm always waiting for his videos... He is a great source of valuable information. ❤️This channel

Excellent! I’m glad you mentioned the squad gear, ie extra ammo, more food, extra batteries, etc. Seems today most are caught up in the spec ops in and out mission that might last a day but not much on the sustainability of being in the field for a several days. One of my pet peeves so again, well done!

Still own my SAS/para Bergen more for memories than anything else. Did pad the shoulders strap a little when I was in and once I left and used it once or twice for hillwalking bought a waist belt from silvermans. Glad I still have it though.

I go way back to the 1974 pattern webbing that we used in the canadian forces. Our next issue web kit was the 1982 pattern gear including the 82 pattern rucksack wich was a pile of garbage and never meant for long patrols. We much preferred the 62 pattern ruck for that. Dependiong on your unit, soldiers were allowed much lattitude in modifying or adding, deleating items from our webbing in the field. I'm 66 now and often reminice about my time on the pointy end of the stick. I miss those days...

Working my way through your videos, really interesting. Well presented, not been in the service but a avid interest in military history and kit that was used.

Nice to see Tom. Saw several versions of this belt kit in the mid eighties and even one fairly famous Captain who still used the old “Norge” style Bergen with the frame and straps COVERED in closed cell and tape(That was early nineties!) . I’ll look the pics out for you!

Banging videos Combat Cabbie, As veteran from long way back. I think the belt kit is the best option for all your needs,I think warfare is going back to basics,eat of the land and carry less.But there's always going to be some what of a issues with ammo could be drone amo drops. But when the technology goes down,what may come next. Sending blessings, keep ones good work up.

Thank you. I appreciate the description of how kits are combined to build up one's resources.

Excellent content Mate!!! Prior service 82nd Airborne Trooper here!! Thanks for your service Sir!!!

Great video, can't wait to see your break down of the survival tin. Keep it up.

We used to wax our 58 pattern webbing,used to help stop it soaking too much water.Big candle and a hot air gun.

Great video which took me back to a bollocking from my BSM in 1972 because he didn't like, "mixed webbing", i.e. 44 Pat water bottle pouches with on a 58 Pat yoke, and this was on exercise! One small point; the millbank bag is better suited to being carried in the small pocket in the back of the 44 water pouch with the water bottle and a few puri tablets, it saves having to open too many pouches at once.

I have never seen your channel until a couple of days ago when the video on Lofty's survival pouch came up in my feed. I have had his SAS Survival book for years. Fullsize and compact like the one you showed in your video. Nice to see one from someone with experience put that together. You Brits have never gotten much detailed exposure here beyond books like Immediate Action and Portrait of a Rebel and movies/docs. Then I ran into a copy of Combat and Survival in Chapters back in 1999 I think it was. Bought a heap of those until they were discontinued in 2018. Great magazine. Looking forward to your video on the survival tin. Merry Christmas from Toronto Canada.🎄 Subscribed.

Great interest video. Thanks for upload.

Love that main picture of G Squadrons Gordon mather . My troop OC is basic training in Catterick. Awesome on exercise wearing his blue cap comforter , a lot of 16 and 17 year olds with wide eyes knowing his background !

In the earlyish 80's we did a patrol bergan packing exercise just to see what we could get in based on being out in the field for 2 weeks. First we laid out what we thought we needed. 200 rounds each, radio and associated kit 2 spare batteries. Hand crank battery charger. Rations for 4 guys for 2 weeks. Sleeping bags, waterproofs. Trimmed carremats, ponchos for bashers. Mess tins etc dry kit etc. And then we tried to load up the bergans and it was impossible to get everything in, so we started pareing things down, taking 2 sleeping bags, and 2 ponchos etc

Another excellent and knowledgable video, delivered in our wonderful British military "EDIP" style, perfect and ready for us to practice. I recommend to our army cadets to follow your videos also. Many thanks to you and please keep them coming. #AspireToAchieve

Brings back memories. But we always carried two water bottles: 1 x 58 pattern bottle and 44 pattern mug for brewing up. 1 x 58 pattern and plastic mug. These were both carried in 44 pattern carriers. The 44 pattern water bottles were terrible and leaked so I got a legion 1 litre metal version when we exercised with them (The Legion are not half so good as they are cracked up to be). Our personal med packs were much smaller, we carried morphine in small green toothpaste type sureties on our I/d discs and shell dressings and not much more. So room on the belt for the extra w/bottle carrier. JRW 348

Very good video, thanks 🙂

Merry Christmas

I used an A frame in cadets! Then butyle in R UKSF in the 80,s not sure which but ended up with a fractured spine in 4 places L4/L5!! We did not have the kit. Of the last decade or so just got on with it and tabbed. I never understood why soldier 95 bergan only came in long or short back. No middle size option. Happy memories head down arse up.

Just found your Chanel, great instruction and advice. Thank you. Keep them coming!

Great video mate. Cant wait for the one on your Survival Tin. I have quite an interest in them lol.

Equipment layering works from personal equipment through to personal weapon systems, section equipment & scales. Enjoying the videos and can smell the 58 pattern canvas 🤣

Thanks for a really informative video, really good to watch. Brings back memories of my time as a Reservist. ATB - Simon

Awesome video and content. I am new to your channel, quality content and very informative. I'm currently going through your video library. Cheers 🍻 from East Coast Canada. Take care and stay frosty and happy holidays.🌲🇨🇦🎄🇬🇧🌲

The 44 Pattern Water Bottle was/is Aluminium with an Aluminium Mug and came with the Millbank Bag as standard issue for use in the Jungle as far as I recall, (I still have mine albeit the pouch is shredding and the bottle is well battered). Everything else on your belt looks very much 58 Pattern and we never had anything resembling 'Boil in the Bag', all our rations came in tins or packets and could be eaten cold. Hence the Aluminium Mess Tins. Those who think they can survive from an ALTOIDS tin, think again. Lofty's kit was more or less spot on for his time as there weren't any Survival Space Blankets and the suchlike during those times. Those Machetes/Parangs were usually and probably still are bashed out by local Brunei/Malay Blacksmiths from old car springs and placed in a Bamboo sheath. How the time flies.

Well done sir. I do appreciate the layman's terms.

Whats not been mentioned is until the late 80s are ration packs where all tins until the boil in the bag rations came about, i took part in the trials when posted to the falklands in 85, the difference in weight and choice of menu made a big difference.

I've always like this belt set up.

Thank´s for your Information! Merry Christmas from Germany!

Great video

Thanks Tom! I think in one of your videos you said you were in Northamptonshire. If you ever decided to run a weekend course to train people in land nav and everything else you cover; I'd definitely pay to attend and learn from your real world experience. Thanks for the videos! Stay safe and God bless. 👍🏻

Good stuff. Thanks.

Very informative and well placed video 👍🏼

Really enjoyable video that brought back some fond memories for me? My roll pin was riveted with copper rivets onto a 58 Pattern belt instead of stitched like yours, and I carried my 'Old Holborn' survival tin in my smock in case I got separated from the rest of my kit. The only thing I have left now is the survival tin that seems to fascinate my Grandchildren?

Have a very merry Christmas.

To continue. When every corner of the bergan was stuffed full. They weighed about 85lbs each not the 100lbs that everyone talks about. And we found that to last 2 weeks was not actually practical unsupported. Just thought you might be interested

Most been said, two water bottles. Rations came in tins, and then there was Biscuit Brown and the Swatted Fly biscuits. Grenade aluminium screw lid tin could be made into a pressure cooker for the tins, only needed an inch of water. Survival tin was home built or sewn into your smock and trousers, but there was also an issue drug/suncream issue tin with enough potions to blow your mind. Only the Medic carried a decent med kit, everyone else just some field dressings and personal admin blister stuff. Bergen built to take mortar bombs, ammo, and the stupid sized radio. Invariably everyone got one of those three to be carry. Nearly everyone got a spare battery too. Not much room for your own stuff. No chest clip or waist belt on the bergen because it was taken off and on so often; to get behind/stay low. Issue Clasp knife or Normad Swede folder, and issue Gollock. Anyone in a Recce Pln would have done something similar, just no drop down pouches just water bottle pouches; and an NBC bum-roll was carried too. Blast from the past..

58 Patt might have been not that good but it was better than the 37 Patt but time moves on and so does kit. Thanks for sharing. Stay safe. ATB. Nigel.

Nothing beats our SADF kit issued to us in the 80s

great video, really inspiring And just for clarification, SAS stands for Special Air Sevice and NOT the Saturdays And Sundays ;)

Yes, old but works.

I've been thinking about turning two Alice packs into paniers for a long bicycle tour. I guess I'll see what kind of deals I can get for British gear. Hello from San Diego California.

Good info,I also seen a type of Black assault vest the SAS used,I guess what you call a waist coat not a T shirt.even mI6 had an all black nylon suspender like vest that carried nothing but AR mags under the arm pits.The Brits have always been pretty creative or inovative with gear design but the US made the gear better.Although I still love my 82 pattern Canadian combats,webbing and winter kit I do like Brit para and SAS smocks.Would love to see wh at current SAS men carry in their webbing now.

I have one of the SAS/PARA bergens and have added a hip belt and combined that with a marine belt. It makes it much more comfortable. My bergen is green and not in such good condition as yours. I served in a nato regiment in the late 70's and our kit was very poor quality. We would try and swap kit with American and Dutch soldiers. Our boots had like a compressed sawdust in the heels and we had no winter gear. I remember freezing my nuts off in a guard box and my fingers sticking to my SLR barrel.

The Bolt Thrower album cover for Mercenary.

Poncho folded over top rail of bergan gave protection to the back and when the bergans were first issued had an extra strap higher up. Before then we used 58 pattern large packs in Bn but mostly 44 pattern packs in depot and training. Bergens came in around 78/79 I think along with the new smock. A frame bergans were only used by radio operators or on special ops depending on task.

Nice Loadout

The UK and Australian SAS/SASR now have a good bit of freedom to choose their own rucksacks these days, and due to the fact 'most' of their operations don't exceed 72 hours in recent years, many of the lads are choosing packs from companies like Tasmanian Tiger, Eberlestock and Crossfire, rather than standard issue rucksacks - Crossfire is a particular favourite with the Australian SASR and Commandos...

The deeper one dives into survival gear the more a cross-loading approach makes sense. I often think of a “dumping in white water” shake out. The kit I still have once out of the “washington machine” is the kit that will go to work on shore. Thus redundancy and planting eggs in many secured baskets. Great talk-through. Have a merry Christmas.

I had to subscribe, great channel.

retro always works :) very nice video.

Bergen, ALICE... whatever... forced marches and on the double stretches as a straight leg is a whole bucket of work - serious work indeed. So despite the lack of sophistication the men carried on still. As I recall in the bad bush of Jahor “perlahan dan perlahan”. Roughly translated slow and slowly or drive on with a... Best. FC

We take a lot of modern tech for granted. What was a roll mat like 40 years ago I dread to think! The kit was so much heavi to, did that cause any restrictions in the past compared to now on how much you could take? Surely it did, like a radio op then vs now must have had to sacrifice weight elsewhere?

What is the hand drawn image used for the title image of this video? Love it. Have you tried the RM Arctic bergen from the same era as this bag? It has that same nylon for the rucksack but it's based around an existing Karrimor external frame, and I believe they were manufactured Karrimor too. From what I heard, the belt from one of them often ended up on these SAS/GS bergen frames, and it made a big improvement.

That’s something I’ve not heard in a while Mucka G 😂😂..

A "kit pest" I felt that...

Top banana. As you were sir, carry on.

Yes, this Bergen does remind me a lot of our Alice pack ! It would be interesting to add a waist belt and sternum ( chest ) straps to this system.

The thumbnail image you're using for this video is a painting by my late father Peter Archer. It was commissioned by the Royal Signals in 1984 and is titled 'Contact; Wait Out'. I don't mind you using it without permission, because it's relevant to the content of your video, but you should credit this one and the other illustrations you're using in the video description.

I cant seem to find a good tin can for the survival kit, any tips? Or should i buy a survival kit tin and then drop a few items and replace them

The newer water bottles are of a thinner material than the older issue

Thanks.

Just a quick question, which of your videos covers your military survival tin ?

Does the bergen press or rest against the middle of your back? I’m assuming because you would be wearing webbing etc

I have the pocket SAS Survival Manual excellent to have.

Hi Bear sent me

9:17 - You're missing one of the Support Straps, there should be TWO - it'd make it a bit more comfortable. I have an Arctic Rucksack belt fitted to mine - helps a lot. Most of us cut a kip mat in its middle and folded and stuffed it into the frame cavity, I'm sure you've seen/done that. I still have and regularly use my SAS/Para - cycling, I often have to take DIY waste and garden waste to the council dump and it's a GREAT load carrier for that. Funnily enough, I need to go out NOW (cycling) and collect something big and heavy from a shop. If it doesn't fit inside, I can simply fold flat the bag and strap the box to the frame - can't do that with any other mil issue rucksack (the GS version is totally inadequate because of it's small capacity). Some things never leave you... Utrinque Paratus.

I have an official B.A.S.H.A. and a similar type machete (looks more like a bolo). Military surplus is almost always better quality and more useful than civilian gear. And I like the surplus from the 1960’s - 1970’s the best.

Thanks!

Awesome video and thanks for posting. What poncho liner is in the background?

Interesting that you carry your survival tin in your belt kit. Always carried mine in my smock for the same reason that you mentioned as to why you carried your parang on your person at all times. Like the thumbnail for your video!

BAAM! New Sub, Great content much thanx! I’ve just started making vids, posted 2 so far. Definitely have so much to learn

Not sure if it's been mentioned but wasn't each trooper trained in all four roles and rotated? Each could stand in for any other trooper if necessity dictated, another small detail that made the unit what it was/is.

Brew kit and snack always carried in the smock top left hand pocket

The knife or machete you show in this video (8:15), is it what you call a Gollok knife?

Great Vid. Question for you, as an Aussie, what do you think of of the “NAM Pack” that the Aussie’s used from 67-70….? Superior the Alice I believe and maybe even the Bergen….over to you…..

Loved it! Will you explain more about where the actual tin is sourced?

No waste straps and it Carrie's the load better than an Alice pack? 🤨 I find that statement highly suspect.

Survival AIDS catalog of the eighties, the last time I saw most of these pouches. Where are they now ?

Those ammo pouches are good for SLR mags too, no? I didn't realise they were made for M16. 👍

I don't understand_ what's the point of putting the tobacco can kit on your belt, if its main purpose is to serve when the equipment has been lost? It makes no sense, given that if we lose the belt we lose everything we had to survive. It is supposed to be carried in some pocket of your clothing...AN excellent video, by other hand. Thanks for sharing!

nice one.