Original South African 83 Pattern Battle Jacket

Original South African 83 Pattern Battle Jacket.

The M83 South African webbing system was a comfortable, lightweight solution to the needs of the South African military, replacing the 70 Pattern webbing. Outsourced to the private camping and outdoor industry for design, as a result the M83 webbing was immensely popular due to its advanced design. It is not uncommon to find 83 Pattern equipment still in use in South Africa today, despite being officially discontinued in 2015. Many foreign forces also made unofficial use of the M83 webbing, including the SAS in the Gulf Wars and Australian forces in Afghanistan.

The 83 Pattern webbing has been popular in recent years in the entertainment industry, being used in films such as Blood Diamond (2006) and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), as well as the Metal Gear Solid series of video games.

This M83 Battle Jacket features six double magazine pouches designed for the R4 assault rifle across the chest and waist. On each hip is a large pouch for carrying water, bandages, tools or more ammunition, while small pockets are designed for grenades or other small items of kit. On the rear of the webbing are two more pouches secured by zippers, one of which has an opening for a hydration system hose. There is additional strapping for securing a bed roll or larger pack to the rear.

The M83 Assault Vest is made from condura nylon, which is both durable and waterproof. It is finished in naturia brown and is designed to hold dirt, allowing it to build a natural camouflage. Two quick release belts around the waist mean that the battle jacket can quickly be removed, while padding along the adjustable shoulder, hip and back straps ensure a comfortable fit.

Surplus South African 83 Pattern Battle Jacket in an excellent condition that is ready for use.

Please note that due to their surplus nature there may be some signs of wear or some variation in design.