IIFS

The integrated individual fighting system (IIFS), often appropriated as "individual integrated fighting system" by collectors, is a load-carrying equipment and existence system, introduced in 1988 as a possible replacement for the ALICE ( all-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment) system that was employed by the United States military since 1973.

IIFS components are the ITLBV (individual tactical load-bearing vest) – later replaced by the ETLBV (enhanced tactical load-bearing vest), the 40mm grenade vest aka grenade carrier vest (GCV), the FPLIF (field pack, large with internal frame) pack, and the ECWSS (extreme cold weather sleeping system) sleeping bag, cover, and sleep accessories. Sourced from

The vest is known officially as the ITLBV (individual tactical load-bearing vest), though it's sometimes shortened to TLBV (tactical load-bearing vest), and unofficially referred to as the 'M-1988 LBV' or 'LBV-88'. An upgrade to the vest, the ETLBV (enhanced tactical load-bearing vest), was a mid-1990s redesign for the TLBV to address problems with ventilation and access of magazines, now having slanted ammunition pockets attached to mesh panels.

Replacing the ALICE and IIFS systems, the MOLLE (modular lightweight load-carrying equipment) and subsequent MOLLE II generation were phased into U.S. Army and Marine Corps service during the late 1990s to early 2000s.

History

Background

The IIFS has conceptual roots in combat and load carrying vests designed by Natick Laboratories for the employment and use by United States Navy SEALs during the Vietnam War. The concept of a load carrying vest is that the weight of the equipment carried by the infantry rifleman is more evenly distributed over the body than with the employment of a load carrying concept of older design.

The IIFS load carrying vest, as having been a major conceptual improvement over precuring load-bearing systems, was designed to replace the individual equipment belt, individual equipment belt suspenders, and small arms ammunition cases. These components have been an integral part of the ALICE system. The small arms ammunition cases continue to be utilized with the IIFS concept, to enable the carriage of additional small arms munitions.

Development

Trial variants of the IIFS have utilized both the ALICE water canteen cover and ALICE field first aid dressing case in the woodland camouflage pattern. The entrenching tool cover had remained unchanged and was also utilized during testing.

In the original design, as well as during troops trials, the TLBV incorporated panels made of Kevlar, to improve the protection of the infantry rifleman, when worn in conjunction with the PASGT flak vest. The weight of this prototypic vest was considered to be too excessive to continue to consider this concept.

Replacement

The IIFS has been phased out in the United States Armed Forces, and has been replaced with MOLLE and MOLLE II during the 2000s.

Fighting load components

Like the ALICE system, the IIFS can be broken down into a fighting load and an existence load. The entire system consists of eight separate components.

The IIFS fighting load consists of the following standard issue components:

*Vest, ammunition carrying. SN 8415-01-317-1622*Vest, tactical load bearing. SN 8415-01-296-8878

Tactical load-bearing vest

The primary component of the IIFS, the tactical load-bearing vest – TLBV (''vest, tactical load bearing SN 8415-01-296-8878'), is constructed of a seven-ounce nylon fabric printed in the woodland camouflage pattern, and weighs 1.8 pounds empty. The TLBV is compatible with the standard ALICE individual equipment belt. The individual equipment belt is secured to the TLBV by way of 10 belt loops that use both hook and pile fasteners and snaps. The TLBV has four permanently attached ammunition pockets that can carry six 30-round cartridge magazines for the M16 assault rifle. The pocket covers are secured by one snap and a strip of hook and pile. A pull tab is used to open the pocket. Located directly below the ammunition pockets are two pockets, designed to hold the M67 fragmentation grenade, they will also hold handcuffs should a member of the US Army Military Police Corps or USAF Security Forces be wearing the vest. The shoulders are protected by 1/2 inch '1.27 cm''foam padding. The TLBV closes in front with two chest straps using plastic quick release buckles. Two 2 inch '5.71 cm''webbing sections and two D-rings sewn to the back of the TLBV can be used as equipment attachment points.

Enhanced vest

In 1995, due to issues concerning chest and back ventilation caused by the non-breathable fabrics incorporated, the TLBV was redesigned, and officially redesignated the enhanced tactical load-bearing vest (ETLBV). No changes to the national stock number have been made. The two major modifications were the slant of the magazine pouches inward, for easier removal of small arms magazines, and the exchange of the fabric panels, which retained body heat, both situated on the front and back, with lighter mesh panels. The ETLBV was phased into the supply system by the Defense Personnel Support Center in 1996 or onward.

40mm grenade vest

A secondary component of the IIFS, the 40mm grenade vest, alternatively grenade carrier vest (GCV), or simply ammunition carrying vest (''vest, ammunition carrying SN 8415-01-317-1622'), is intended for use by the infantry rifleman (grenadier), armed with either the M203 or M79 grenade launcher. It is constructed of a seven-ounce nylon fabric printed in the woodland camouflage pattern and weighs 2.1 pounds empty. The ammunition carrying vest is compatible with the standard individual equipment belt which is secured to the ammunition carrying vest with 10 belt loops. The loops use hook and pile fasteners and snaps. The ammunition carrying vest has 18 permanently attached ammunition pockets that can carry 4 pyrotechnic and 14 high explosive 40mm rounds. The pocket covers are secured by one snap. A pull tab is used to open the pocket. The shoulders are protected by 1/2 inch '1.27 cm''foam padding. The ammunition carrying vest closes in front with two chest straps using plastic quick release buckles. Two 2 inch '5.71 cm''webbing and two D-rings sewn to the back of the ammunition carrying vest can be used as equipment attachment points.

Additional related components

In addition, the following ALICE system components are utilized with the IIFS:

*Belt, individual equipment. SN 8465-01-322-1965*Carrier, entrenching tool. SN 8465-00-001-6474*Case, field first aid dressing. SN 8465-00-935-6814*Cover, water canteen. SN 8465-00-860-0256

Pistol belt

Along with the TLBV, a new individual equipment belt was later introduced, featuring a black plastic ITW Fastex quick-release buckle and redesigned adjustment system. The original concept included the use of the earlier renewed individual equipment belt, which featured a grey side-release buckle, commonly referred to, due to its early prestige manufacturer, as the Bianchi pistol belt. It was decided that instead of contracting new individual ALICE components in the woodland camouflage pattern, that the remainder of already existing and widely available ALICE components will be utilized with the IIFS. These being mainly the water canteen cover, the field first aid dressing case, entrenching tool cover and small arms ammunition cases.

Ammunition cases

The ALICE system small arms munitions pouch (''case, small arms ammunition SN 8465-00-001-6482') is also frequently used in conjunction with the IIFS to enable the carriage of additional small arms munitions. This is especially true with grenadiers (for example, M203 grenade launcher operators) utilizing the IIFS 40mm grenade vest, which has no provisions for carrying 5.56mm magazines.

Buttpacks

During Operation Just Cause in the year 1989, and later Operation Desert Storm in the year 1991, the M-1967 modernized load-carrying equipment (''MLCE'') system's field pack (''field pack SN 8465-00-935-6825') was issued for use with the IIFS system. Designated the 'training field pack', it is a modified olive green version of the pack, sometimes referred to by soldiers as a buttpack, has been utilized for a three-day training pack (typically in conjunction with the ALICE system, yet was not a designated component of it).

In the mid-1990s, the improved combat buttpack (ICBP) was designed to be the replacement for previous field packs, as a part of the Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP). The various improvements of the ICBP included: being enlarged to accommodate increased load demand, being made lighter weight, increasing camouflage capability with the use of woodland camouflage pattern fabric, and finally, by using new certain quick attachment rings (aka O-rings) and a pair of quick release buckles near the opening of the pack to streamline its ease of wear and accessibility. The new plastic hardware (i.e., buckles, ladderlocks, D-rings, etc) had the added benefit of eliminating the possibility for loud metal clinking or jangling noises generated by the legacy hardware.

Having been approved by the Project Manager-Soldier (PM-Soldier), the improved buttpack was to be phased into the supply system by the Defense Personnel Support Center as residual supplies of the original buttpack were drawn down. The estimated date of supply was September 1996, according to the Soldier Systems Command's (SSCOM's) The Warrior magazine.

Existence load components

The IIFS existence load comprises the following components:

*Field pack SN 8465-01-286-5356*Pack, patrol, combat SN 8465-01-287-8128

Field pack

The field pack, also known as ''field pack, large with internal frame'' 'FPLIF''or commercially as ''combat field pack 1990'' 'CFP-90'' is constructed of an 8.0 ounce backcoated nylon fabric printed in the woodland camouflage pattern which has excellent abrasion resistance and water repellency. The weight of the empty field pack is 8 pounds. Two major sections make up the field pack; the sleeping bag compartment, and the main compartment. The main compartment has a false bottom that may be opened for full use of the field pack when a sleeping bag is not carried. The outside of the field pack has one long tunneled pocket and two smaller cargo pockets, all using compression straps for securing contents. Equipment attachment points in the form of 2 inch '5.71 cm''webbing and 1 inch '2.54 cm''webbing loops are located throughout the field pack.

Early versions of the pack were produced by Lowe and are considered superior to the production "CFP-90"; the principal reason for this is the use of cotton thread on the production model. The Lowe version is distinguished by having a brown canvas sleeping bag compartment, no top closing flap (the "Pack, Patrol, Combat" is used instead), a black snow collar, a unique suspension system, and black nylon thread.

The internal frame comprises two aluminum staves running the full height of the field pack. The staves are removable. The suspension system is adjustable allowing the user to position the field pack where it is most comfortable. The field pack has lower back padding as well as an extended lumbar support pad and the shoulder pads are made of bi-laminate foam. A softer, open cell foam is against the body for comfort followed by a stiffer closed cell foam for stability and good recovery after compression.

Two strap assemblies with quick release buckles allow for the attachment of the combat patrol pack atop the field pack when both packs are used together. When used in combination with either the 40mm grenade vest or TLBV, the field pack shoulder pads are worn over those of the vest, where they are retained by two one inch '2.54 cm''pieces of webbing.

Combat patrol pack

The combat patrol pack is designed for short missions and offers of cargo space in two compartments. The main compartment is padded to protect the back from heavy, sharp items. The main compartment incorporates two tiedown straps that can be used to stabilize equipment such as a field radio. The combat patrol pack has a separate shoulder harness. When used in combination with either the 40mm grenade vest or TLBV, the combat patrol pack shoulder pads are worn over the vest shoulder pads, and retained for stability by two one inch '2.54 cm''pieces of webbing. The combat patrol pack can also be used in conjunction with the field pack. With the "LCS-88" experimental version, the patrol pack attached directly to the shoulder straps of the LBV, and a waist belt was used to keep it from bouncing around.

Sleeping system

The ECWSS (extreme cold weather sleeping system) was designed to interface with the ECWCS (extended cold weather clothing system) ensemble.

The ECWSS comprises the following components:

*Sleeping Bag – The sleeping bag is made of nylon fabric that encloses a continuous filament polyester insulation. The sleeping bag is a mummy type, which uses a double ' draft tube' configuration to improve protection in the zipper area. Specifically, it has a zipper that allows rapid exit. Adjustments across the shoulder and hood area can be made with the drawcord and barrel lock. A row of snap fasteners along the opening allows for the installation and removal of the bivy cover.

*Cover, Bivy – The cover is made of a moisture vapor permeable water-proof fabric. The cover was designed to be removable to facilitate better air drying of the sleeping bag.

*Bag, Stuff – The bag reduces the bulk of the sleeping bag to less than 1 cubic foot. The bag is constructed of a waterproof nylon fabric. The compression straps are made from webbing with standard buckIes.

*Hood and Socks – Included in ECWSS as accessories are a hood and socks for added head and foot climatic protection. The hood and socks are made of a polyester fiberpile material.

See also

* M-1967 modernized load-carrying equipment
* All-purpose lightweight individual carrying equipment or ''ALICE''
* Modular lightweight load-carrying equipment or ''MOLLE''
* Buzo Tactico assault vest used by the Argentine Buzos Tácticos

References

External links

IIFS vests , gear-illustration.com
– High-quality images

IIFS field+patrol pack , gear-illustration.com
– High-quality images

Training field pack , gear-illustration.com
– High-quality images of the ICBP (woodland-patterned improved buttpack, although are uncaptioned)
{{US Army uniforms

Military equipment of the United States
Personal military carrying equipment
Military equipment introduced in the 1980s