US Army CTAPS Soft Shell Jacket Prototype : 無料・フリー素材/写真
US Army CTAPS Soft Shell Jacket Prototype / The Spadille
| ライセンス | クリエイティブ・コモンズ 表示-改変禁止 2.1 |
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| 説明 | On display here is one prototype component of a new five layer cold weather garment suite known as CTAPS which is currently undergoing user evaluation in the US Army. This is specifically the CTAPS Soft Shell Jacket Prototype, which is third layer in this new cold weather uniform suite. Here it is being worn by yours truly in a combative fashion with the lower half of the jacket tucked in to allow for unobstructed access to the battle belt. In this display showcase we will go over the history of the CTAPS suite as well as review the specifics of the soft shell prototype.The Natick US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, or DEVCOM SC, would begin development of this Cold Temperature and Arctic Protection System, or CTAPS, with the primary goal of offering several improvements over the existing Extended Cold Weather Clothing System, or ECWCS. This new cold weather uniform suite uses state of the art textiles and design features that improve upon the warfighters comfort while in arctic environments and improve upon the previous ECWCS design. Like the ECWCS, the CTAPS suite includes various cold weather garments that can be layered in levels to increase or decrease individual cold weather resistance. The CTAPS suite features five layers which include a base layer, insulated jacket, softshell uniform, cold/wet jacket and trouser, and an extreme-cold parka and trouser. The layers are specifically designed to function in tandem with one another, with outer layers featuring venting capabilities, pass through pockets, enhanced adjustability features, and expansion gussets for comfortable use with body armor and load carriage systems. This scalable plan allows for a singular uniform system to be used in variable cold weather.The five layers of the CTAPS suite are as follows:A base layer in the form of a no melt and no drip full long sleeve top and bottom next-to-skin layer with moisture wicking materialA Lightweight Insulated Layer which provides thermal insulation and has vented armpits for increased range of motion, moisture management, and active cooling during movement. This layer would be worn under outer shells in mildly cold climates.A Soft Shell Uniform which functions as the primary outer garment to be worn in place of the Army Combat Uniform, or ACU, in cold environments. This is the garment highlighted in this display.A Cold-Wet Weather Uniform in the form of a breathable hard-shell top and bottom rain layer designed for prolonged rain and cold/wet conditionsAn Extreme Cold Weather Parka/Trousers which is the outermost layer to provide maximum thermal insulation, and is designed for static missions, like standing guard in extreme cold weather during night time.The CTAPS suite can be worn in any combination of layers depending on the mission requirements and needs of the individual soldier. The overall uniform camouflage pattern is in OCP and the garment is produced in 15 different sizes, ranging from extra small and short to extra-extra-large and extra-long. In regards to the soft shell jacket, which is the highlight of this discussion, the overall cut and fit is very similar to the ACU as it is intended to be worn in place of the ACU in cold weather environments.The CTAPS project would first begin on paper in 2016 with the first sources-sought solicitation for the system published in 2017 calling for a lightweight and easily packable replacement to the legacy seven layer ECWCS. The first entries would be produced and would begin testing by 2018. Within 10 days of awarding the contract to two prime contractors, they were able to provide pre-production samples of the government designed CTAPS. All the components of CTAPS have their own unique supply chains, from the weaving and printing of material to unique snaps, button, zippers and insulation, and the actual cutting and sewing of each layer of the system.The suite is currently being tested in Alaska by units such as the U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK) 11th Airborne Division at Fort Wainwright and Anchorage. This testing requirement was codified in June 2022 and uniforms would begin to be issued out in February 2023. Two brigade combat teams within the 11th Airborne Division would receive their CTAPS uniforms before their large-scale cold weather training exercise in March 2023. In tandem to this order, around 30 10th Mountain Division (LI) soldiers had previously received prototype CTAPS uniforms in January 2020 for initial user evaluation testing over the winter season.The Marine Corps would also gain an interest in the system and would have similar prototype CTAPS garments produced in Coyote Brown in 2020.Currently vendors are producing between 250 to 400 sets of CTAPS per day and approximately 300 to 500 soldiers are being issued CTAPS uniforms every day. This of course may fluctuate over time, or production may stop altogether if something is brought up during user evaluation.The amount of CTAPS items being produced and issued out to US Army troops naturally means that a handful of these prototype pieces will find their way to the civilian militaria market. At the time of this display, there has been an influx of CTAPS prototypes on the rare contemporary US military section of this hobby all with varying prices. So far all CTAPS that have been produced have tags that label them as a prototype garment, and the history is still being written on exactly how many prototype tagged CTAPS uniforms have been produced. This will most likely determine the price of these items once they go into serial production, if they ever will.Depicted in this display photo is the CTAPS Soft Shell Jacket Prototype in its entirety and as it would be worn, with all pockets zipped up and hood deployed. As this garment can act like an outer layer, the front of the jacket has loop Velcro panels for name, branch, and rank tabs. There is also two large loop Velcro panels on each arm for unit and other morale patches. Above these panels is a Velcro panel for a sewn-in IR patch with a piece of webbing used to mask the IR patch when it is not needed. Speaking about the arm pockets, we can see they are closed using YKK brand zippers. Zippers tend to be the most popular method of closure for garments that have the goal of regulating body temperature in mind. These zippers can be opened for additional airflow on the arms. As Velcro is an 'airy' material, this would usually allow some airflow to pass through if there was no interior pocket lining, thus reducing the overall capabilities of this garment. In this case the pocket loop Velcro panels are lined with a similar polyester and cellulose material that is used on USGI tags. This material allows for no airflow to pass through the Velcro panel. The color of the Velcro pocket lining on this CTAPS Soft Shell is white. Lastly, there is an adjusting piece on the arm cuffs that uses Velcro. This will restrict any airflow entering through the cuffs when secured tightly around the wrist. |
| 撮影日 | 2023-12-21 20:23:07 |
| 撮影者 | The Spadille , Los Angeles |
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