News

September 2006
NEW AMMUNITION POCKETS BOOST TACTICAL WAISTCOAT VERSATILITY

Three new ammunition pockets have been introduced to the range available for use with the successful Mk 2 Tactical Waistcoat from International Safety Products Ltd (ISPL) of the UK. New pockets have been developed which can now accommodate HE Grenades, Small Grenades and an integrated 9mm mag pouch and Minimi ammunition boxes. These are expected to be of particular value to special forces personnel as they enable significant loads to be distributed evenly and comfortably about the body without restricting movement. They can be seen on the ISPL stand at DSEi (No 291).

The new pockets are the latest additions to the range of accessories available for the ISPL Mk 2 Tactical Waistcoat which is now widely used by the UK’s military and police forces. The waistcoats can already support most types of personal equipment and weaponry needed and a pocket for accommodating the X-26 Taser was also introduced recently in recognition of its increasing significance within police forces in the UK.

The use of removable pockets on tactical waistcoats is now recognised as an important boost to the efficiency of the modern soldier as well as to the budget of his procurement department. Tools or weapons that are assigned their own dedicated pocket or binding become more accessible, more secure and easier to use. The introduction of new items of equipment or the needs of a specialist to carry specific personal kit do not render a tactical waistcoat obsolete as would happen when a garment is manufactured with permanent pockets.

ISPL already has a wide range of pockets available and can quickly develop others to accommodate new items of equipment. All are designed to be attached using a combination of Velcro and webbing. The strength of the attachment is vital to ensure that it cannot become detached in normal use or during combat and this has resulted in a design that could, if necessary, take the wearer’s entire weight without the pocket coming free. Because the company is also the world’s largest manufacturer of lifejackets, it has considerable expertise in the development of safety clothing. The Mk 2 Tactical Waistcoat can, consequently, also be fitted with a range of lifejackets, including that developed in conjunction with the UK MoD. The ISPL pedigree consequently gives the wearer confidence in the safety and reliability of the lifejacket, the design of which does not restrict access to the equipment being carried on the waistcoat.

ISPL expertise has also been applied to the problem faced by procurement officers needing to over-order to ensure an adequate stock of different waistcoat sizes. This shortcoming has been eliminated on the Mk 2 waistcoat with the simple but ingenious solution of side lacing. This enables wearers of vastly different physiques to use the same standard waistcoat and tighten or loosen the fit as necessary. After extensive prototype development and testing, the outcome was a design that has received the approval of the UK armed forces and organisations such as the Royal Navy Institute of Naval Medicine. ISPL now anticipates that its design will be in use for many years and that the regular introduction of new equipment pockets will guarantee its future.

Press enquiries:   Paul Eastaugh 

Tel: +44 (0)118 934 1101 Fax: +44 (0)118 934 1137 Mobile +44 (0)7889 432014

Email:  [email protected]

Sales enquiries:   Jenny Slater,

International Safety Products Ltd

Orrell Mount, 159 Hawthorne Road,

Bootle, Merseyside, L20 6JU

Tel: +44 (0)151 922 2202  Fax: +44 (0)151 922 5874

Email: [email protected]

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