The Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS/ˈɛkwæks/) is a protective clothing system developed in the 1980s by the United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Massachusetts. The first generation ECWCS consisted of parka and trousers plus 20 other individual clothing, handwear, headwear and footwear items which are used in various combinations to meet the cold weather environmental requirements of the US military (and others). The Extended Climate Warfighter Clothing System, or Gen III ECWCS, is designed to maintain adequate environmental protection in temperatures ranging between −60 and +40 °F (−51 and 4 °C).
Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing SystemECWCS levels 7 (left) and 5 (right)
The system is to be used in an insulated, triple-layering fashion, with the polypropylene undergarments as Layer 1, the polyester shirt/bib, liners and cotton/nylon trousers as Layer 2, and Gore-Tex outer garments as Layer 3.
The parka and trousers (which have been adapted to the civilian outdoor clothing market) are themselves constructed in a three-layer fashion consisting of an outer layer of abrasion-resistant taslan nylon, an intermediate layer of durably waterproof, windproof, and Gore-Tex membrane (protected with a layer of nylon tricot and originally in a four-color camouflage print), and a hung inner layer of unlaminated nylon. The whole is seam-sealed.
The ECWCS parkaedit
The parka – which is a particularly popular component – is characterized by a cobra hood (which fits over a combat helmet) with woven nylon drawstring adjustable pulls and an attachment piece that allows fastening of a fur ruff (early models of the parka lacked this attachment piece). There is a two-way, full-front slide fastener to provide full-face protection, leaving only the eyes uncovered. The parka has raglan shoulders/sleeves, a non-freezing, double-pull zipper with storm flap and seven snap closure, a flap-covered pocket on the left sleeve with hook and loop (Velcro) closure, adjustable hook and loop wrist cuffs, armpit ventilation zippers and double reinforced elbows. A badge/insignia tab with snap is located on the storm flap. There is an interior back ventilation opening, two slash (handwarmer) cargo pockets on the lower front (with extra large flaps and double hook and loop single snap closure on each) and an inside draft skirt (windskirt) with elastic drawcords and barrel-locks at the waist (without pulls). There are also two concealed map pockets at the front zipper with hook and loop closures that can be opened without unzipping the parka.
2nd Generationedit
The second generation (2G) ECWCS included two different layers made with Polartec fabrics: the Polartec Classic 300 shirt and the Polartec Classic 200 overalls. When used in combination with other layers in the ECWCS system, the system provides protection between −40 and +40 °F (−40 and 4 °C). The parka was improved by vents to help deal with the condensation problems resulting from the use of "waterproof-breathable" fabric.
A lightweight underwear set was also introduced to combine with or substitute the polypro undergarments.
3rd Generationedit
The third generation 3G or GEN III Extended Climate Warfighter Clothing System is a radical re-design of the system. It features seven new layers of insulation including three Polartec fabrics: two layers of Polartec Power Dry and a layer of Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft. It has also featured PrimaLoft Silver Insulation USA in the extreme cold weather parka and trousers. The 12 components of the GEN III ECWCS include:
The water-resistant "soft shell" is far more breathable than any "waterproof-breathable" garment and is used for most field applications, back-stopped by a waterproof nylon parka.
^"Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)" at the Program Executive Office Soldier website
^as well as with two locations in the United States for their extreme cold weather temperatures: Fort Drum, NY and Fort Greely, AK. (2) "Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)" at the Program Executive Office Soldier website Gen III authorized for U.S. Army Issue is only currently available through ADS and Tactical Distributors online.
^"Tactical & Military Gear Equipment Catalog | ADS, Inc".
Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) Factsheet 2012-09-15 at the Wayback Machine
ECWCS information
Generation III
January 01, 1970
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The Extended Cold Weather Clothing System ECWCS ˈ ɛ k w ae k s is a protective clothing system developed in the 1980s by the United States Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center Natick Massachusetts The first generation ECWCS consisted of parka and trousers plus 20 other individual clothing handwear headwear and footwear items which are used in various combinations to meet the cold weather environmental requirements of the US military and others The Extended Climate Warfighter Clothing System or Gen III ECWCS is designed to maintain adequate environmental protection in temperatures ranging between 60 and 40 F 51 and 4 C Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System ECWCS levels 7 left and 5 right Contents 1 1st Generation 1 1 The ECWCS parka 2 2nd Generation 3 3rd Generation 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 External links1st Generation editThe entire ECWCS ensemble 1st generation consists of undershirt cold weather polypropylene drawers cold weather polypropylene shirt cold weather polyester fiberpile overall bib cold weather fiberpile liner cold weather trousers field liner cold weather coat men s trousers cold weather field nylon and cotton parka extended cold weather camouflage trousers extended cold weather camouflage parka trousers snow camouflage white glove inserts cold weather gloves men s and women s light duty mitten inserts cold weather trigger finger mitten shells cold weather trigger finger mitten set extreme cold weather mitten shells snow camouflage cotton white two finger cap camouflage pattern hood balaclava socks men s nylon cushion sole stretch type boots cold weather Type I black boots extreme cold weather Type II white suspenders trousers M 1950 The system is to be used in an insulated triple layering fashion with the polypropylene undergarments as Layer 1 the polyester shirt bib liners and cotton nylon trousers as Layer 2 and Gore Tex outer garments as Layer 3 The parka and trousers which have been adapted to the civilian outdoor clothing market are themselves constructed in a three layer fashion consisting of an outer layer of abrasion resistant taslan nylon an intermediate layer of durably waterproof windproof and Gore Tex membrane protected with a layer of nylon tricot and originally in a four color camouflage print and a hung inner layer of unlaminated nylon The whole is seam sealed The ECWCS parka edit The parka which is a particularly popular component is characterized by a cobra hood which fits over a combat helmet with woven nylon drawstring adjustable pulls and an attachment piece that allows fastening of a fur ruff early models of the parka lacked this attachment piece There is a two way full front slide fastener to provide full face protection leaving only the eyes uncovered The parka has raglan shoulders sleeves a non freezing double pull zipper with storm flap and seven snap closure a flap covered pocket on the left sleeve with hook and loop Velcro closure adjustable hook and loop wrist cuffs armpit ventilation zippers and double reinforced elbows A badge insignia tab with snap is located on the storm flap There is an interior back ventilation opening two slash handwarmer cargo pockets on the lower front with extra large flaps and double hook and loop single snap closure on each and an inside draft skirt windskirt with elastic drawcords and barrel locks at the waist without pulls There are also two concealed map pockets at the front zipper with hook and loop closures that can be opened without unzipping the parka 2nd Generation editThe second generation 2G ECWCS included two different layers made with Polartec fabrics the Polartec Classic 300 shirt and the Polartec Classic 200 overalls When used in combination with other layers in the ECWCS system the system provides protection between 40 and 40 F 40 and 4 C The parka was improved by vents to help deal with the condensation problems resulting from the use of waterproof breathable fabric A lightweight underwear set was also introduced to combine with or substitute the polypro undergarments 3rd Generation editThe third generation 3G or GEN III Extended Climate Warfighter Clothing System is a radical re design of the system It features seven new layers of insulation including three Polartec fabrics two layers of Polartec Power Dry and a layer of Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft It has also featured PrimaLoft Silver Insulation USA in the extreme cold weather parka and trousers The 12 components of the GEN III ECWCS include lightweight undershirt and drawers midweight shirt and drawers fleece cold weather jacket wind cold weather jacket soft shell jacket and trousers extreme cold wet weather jacket and trousers extreme cold weather parka and trousers Initial fielding of the system began in August 2007 to the 73rd Cavalry Regiment in Afghanistan 1 2 The water resistant soft shell is far more breathable than any waterproof breathable garment and is used for most field applications back stopped by a waterproof nylon parka Levels of Protection Level I Sandy colored Light Weight polypropylene Polartec Power Dry Silkweight Undershirt amp Drawers Level II Sandy polyester Polartec Power Dry grid fleece Mid Weight Shirt amp Drawers Level III Sandy Polartec Thermal Pro polyester High Loft Fleece Jacket Level IV Nylon Wind Jacket 3 Level V Water repellent stretchable nylon soft shell Cold Weather Jacket amp Trousers Level VI Extreme Wet Cold Weather Gore Tex Jacket amp Trousers Level VII Extreme Cold Weather soft shell with PrimaLoft Silver Insulation USA Parka amp Trousers Total weight 12 82 lbs 5 82 kgSee also editVKBO Layer system the Russian equivalentReferences edit Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System ECWCS at the Program Executive Office Soldier website as well as with two locations in the United States for their extreme cold weather temperatures Fort Drum NY and Fort Greely AK 2 Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System ECWCS at the Program Executive Office Soldier website Gen III authorized for U S Army Issue is only currently available through ADS and Tactical Distributors online Tactical amp Military Gear Equipment Catalog ADS Inc Sources editUnited States Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center Natick MA Use and Care of the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System ECWCS January 1986 ADS Operational Equipment External links editExtended Cold Weather Clothing System ECWCS Factsheet Archived 2012 09 15 at the Wayback Machine ECWCS information Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System ECWCS Factsheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Extended Cold Weather Clothing System amp oldid 1215269471, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
