Author: Beta-TNT (Webmaster)
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The Marine Corps ILBE backpacks are undoubtedly well-known to everyone. They were designed to meet the demands of the Marine Corps during the Global War on Terrorism. Due to the heavy marching and combat operations, the MOLLE II main pack frame suffered a damage rate of up to 15% among Marines. Furthermore, the complexity of the system made it difficult to use, and carrying it for extended periods led to muscle fatigue and even injuries. To address these issues, in 2002, the Marine Corps initiated a request for new backpack equipment from across the military and the public, aiming to replace the currently used MOLLE II main pack, sustainment pouch and hydration. The new backpack was finally issued in 2003, and it remained in use until it was replaced by the FILBE, or the “USMC Pack”, in 2011.
I assume my readers are all familiar with the history above, so that I’m not going to repeat the detail here. Let’s focus on the Assault Load Carrier (ALC) project, which was a parallel project to ILBE at the time.
M67854-02-R-3139: Specialty Defense Systems MACE
In 2002, the Marine Corps sought an alternative to the MOLLE II and proposed the concept of “ILBE”. At the beginning of the ILBE program, the tone was set based on mature commercial products as prototypes in order to reduce design, testing, and production costs. Requirement number of the original ILBE is M67854-02-R-3139. The core part of this requirement is as follows:
Our goal is to use proven commercial systems to maximize the mobility and survivability of the individual Marine. The need for an improved system has resulted from events encountered during Operation Enduring Freedom whereby deficiencies with the current load bearing equipment were identified. The United States Marine Corps is seeking a commercial system that provides enhanced reliability, durability, wearability, and maintainability. The Marine Corps is looking for a system or design which is readily producible, simple and functional, easily integrated with current body armor and current or contractor proposed fighting load carrying systems. The proposed commercial system must provide Marines with quantifiable improvements in overall system capabilities when compared to the current fielded load bearing system to include reduced system weight, improved comfort of wear, and reduced system complexity.
The backpack system is not the only thing this requirement mentions, but also suggests replacing the load bearing system if possible. This could be the start of equipment replacement needs for the Marine Corps. However, the functional performance indicators for backpacks and load bearing system have not been explicitly mentioned in the requirements, and the concept “ILBE” has not even been proposed. It is still in the research stage. It is worth noting that the concept of “ALC” has not been explicitly mentioned in this requirement, too.
As the manufacturer and designer of the original MOLLE II, Specialty Defense Systems (SDS) did not sit and watch they’re losing clients, but provided their own samples in response to this demand. SDS has chosen a complete replacement solution for both backpacks and load bearing system, including backpack, vest and various pouches. Based on the photos, the load bearing system provided by SDS is named “MACE”, which is suppose to be “Marine Assault Carrying Equipment”. Although not mentioned in the requirements, the SDS sample label already mentions “ILBE”.
However, it is evident that SDS’s plan has not been adopted, and only some photos of the items are preserved.
M67854-03-R-3093: Assault Load Carrier
On March 14, 2003, the Marine Corps released a detailed requirement. This requirement officially introduced the name “Assault Load Carrier”. However, this requirement did not provide specific quantitative indicators, only stating the overall goal of “providing Marines with quantifiable improvements in overall system capabilities when compared to the Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment (MOLLE) Fighting Load Carrier.” The detailed requirements are as follows:
System Performance Objectives:
- Simple, functional, durable and lightweight
- Design(s) should be compatible with the Improved Load Bearing Equipment (ILBE) pack systems proposed by ILBE candidates Bianchi International and Propper International
- No interference with the placement of the main or assault packs
- Able to integrate 100 oz. (minimum) tubular hydration system
- No interference with the wearing of the Outer Tactical Vest (OTV)
Supportability and Repair Objectives:
- Capable of providing spare and/or repair components in quantities sufficient to support the number of systems fielded. (Estimated quantities at 10% of total systems fielded per year)
- Capable of being easily maintained and repaired
Minimum System Requirements:
- Must be capable of being properly worn by a female in the 5th percentile and a male in the 95th percentile
- Must incorporate interlocking weave attachment system to allow for integration with existing USMC equipment
- Must incorporate infrared reduction technology to the same extent as the Marine Corps Utility Uniform
Minimum System Characteristics:
- Base System: The base system shall consist of the harness, (3) fragmentation grenade pouches, (2) smoke grenade pouches and have the ability to integrate a tubular hydration system (submission of a tubular hydration system is not being requested)
- Variants: Variants shall be subcomponents of the base system; not stand alone systems
- Rifleman variant shall have the ability to carry (6) M16A2 magazines
- Grenadier variant shall have the ability to carry (6) M16A2 magazines and (12) 40mm HE rounds (to include (4) illumination rounds)
- SAW Gunner variant shall have the ability to carry (6) M16A2 magazines and (4) M249 200 round drums
- Pistol variant shall have the ability to carry an M-9 service pistol and 2 M-9 service pistol magazines (a holster (shoulder, hip or thigh) for the M-9 service pistol is required)
Minimum Delivery Requirements:
- Capable of delivering test units (150 Base systems, 69 of the Rifleman variant, 27 of the Grenadier variant, 27 of the SAW Gunner variant and 27 of the Pistol Bearer variant) by August 4, 2003
- Capable of full rate production (50,000 Base systems, 35,725 of the Rifleman Woodland variant, 7,510 of the Rifleman Desert variant, 4,000 of the Grenadier Woodland variant, 400 of the Grenadier Woodland Desert variant, 4,000 of the SAW Gunner Woodland variant, 315 of the Gunner Desert variant, 6,275 of the Pistol Bearer Woodland variant, 3,150 of the Pistol Bearer Desert variant and 50,000 canteen pouches by January 7, 2004) with products that are compliant with the Berry Amendment (DFARS 252.225-7012)
The process of this project is as follows:
After an initial evaluation of technical proposals and product demonstration samples (PDS), the Marine Corps will select up to two candidates, award them Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contracts and order up to 150 ALC base systems and variants from each contract. These test articles will undergo Field User Evaluations (FUE) and laboratory testing in order to validate technical capabilities. The Marine Corps will monitor the FUE and test results over a brief test period to analyze the capabilities of each ALC. Firm fixed price ID/IQ production options will then be exercised with successful contractors, those ultimately providing an ALC representing the best value to the Government. More than one contractor may be continued into full production if it is determined during the source selection process that a separate ALC is needed to fulfill a special mission profile (i.e. Recon, Special Operations, etc.). One ALC system to serve the needs of the infantry Marines is desired.
Product Demonstration Samples: – Offerors are required to submit three (3) ALC base system product demonstration samples, three (3) samples of each variant (Rifleman, Grenadier, SAW Gunner and Pistol Bearer) and two (2) canteen pouches as part of their proposal submission. These samples will be evaluated in order to validate technical capabilities. The evaluation may end in destruction of the product. All remaining samples will be returned to the offeror at the end of the source selection process.
ALC did not achieve mass production at last. Nowadays, no official report about ALC has been publicly released, we can only reveal the involved manufactories from the products we found so far.
MACK System
This is the only actual item we have at hand. We have two pieces: chest rig and hydration pack, both of which have labels that mention “PDS”, indicating that this equipment is a Product Demonstration Sample (PDS) as mentioned in the requirements. The manufacturer of this set of equipment, SAVANNAH LUGGAGE WORKS, specializes in the production of travel bags and also undertakes the OEM of tactical gears, such as OTV and ELCS. The “MACK System” in the label is suspected to be the name of the manufacturer entrusted the production, but back in 2003, there was only one company with the same name that produced computer parts and provided computer maintenance services. Besides, there is no information about the pouches related to this sample.
Specialty Defense Systems
SDS also involved in the ALC. The sample from SDS company looks like improved MOLLE II FLC with pouches: the vest and pouch look no different from the MOLLE II, only the color has been altered to Woodland MARPAT.
The samples provided by SDS include:
| Item | Qty. per set | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fighting Load Vest | 1 | early MOLLE II style with no zipper, and has pads sewn on the shoulder parts inner side |
| Rifle Magazine Pouch | 3 | RACK style |
| Hand Grenade Pouch | 3 | MOLLE/MOLLE II style |
| Flashbang/Smoke Grenade Pouch | 2 | FSBE style |
| Canteen/General Purpose Pouch | 2 | MOLLE/MOLLE II style |
| Leg Extender | 1 | MOLLE/MOLLE II style |
Safariland Ltd., Inc
Safariland also took a part in the ALC and provided samples in coyote brown. Their carrying vest is similar to the SPEAR BALCS ELCS load-bearing vest. The load-bearing panel on the torso front is divided into left and right sections, connected by three sets of buckle. The back is made up of two parts: the Shoulder Pad Assembly (Yoke) and the Belt. The main body of the back panel is a mesh fabric pocket with MOLLE webbing on the outside, and there is a zipper on the top that can be used as a hydration pack. Judging from the photos, most of the pouches are still SPEAR BALCS ELCS style, except for the grenade pouch which is quite unique. It looks like the “grenade wing” of LC-1 Magazine Case. Based on data and photo we’ve collected, the following items can be identified:
| Item | Part Number | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Load-Bearing Panel (Left & Right) | S-ALCPANEL | Vest left and right panel |
| Shoulder Pad Assembly | S-ALCYOKE | Vest yoke and back panel |
| Belt | S-ALCBELT | Vest belt and kidney panel |
| Pouch, M-16 Ammo (3 Mag) w/ Frag & Multipurpose Grenade, Left | S-ALCM4L | Holds three M-16 magazines, frag grenade and flashbang/smoke grenade, left-handed |
| Pouch, M-16 Ammo (3 Mag) w/ Frag & Multipurpose Grenade, Right | S-ALCM4R | Holds three M-16 magazines, frag grenade and flashbang/smoke grenade, right-handed |
| Pouch, Magazine, M-249, 200RD, Drum | S-ALC249 | M-249 200 round drum pouch |
| Pouch, Grenade, Fragmentation | S-ALCFR1 | Single frag grenade pouch |
| Pouch, 40mm, HE, Quad | S-ALCHE4 | Quad 40mm HE grenade pouch |
Paraclete Armor
Paraclete Armor also involved, but all we can find is a vest.
Propper
As the winner of ILBE, Propper also participated in the ALC program and even made their way to the 2nd phase of evaluation (sample product delivery contract number: M67854-05-D-3003). Propper’s samples not only include vests and various ammunition pouches, but also a set of leg drop panels, which enhances the carrying capacity. However, it is worth noting that although the specific delivery date cannot be found at present, the Marine Corps had already purchased CB colored MOLLE II equipment in 2005.
Epilogue
At present, no official report or conclusive document from the Marine Corps regarding the ALC has been found, including Propper which has entered the 2nd phase of evaluation, and no relevant information about the project from any participating vendors has been found. From a later perspective, it is evident that the Marine Corps ALC project did not achieve its objectives, and all products that participated in the project ultimately failed to achieve mass production and deployment. Afterwards, the Marine Corps began issuing tailored MOLLE II in coyote brown in 2005, including:
Reference:
- https://sam.gov/opp/21e046d7f295cea21378d90c894fa4fc/view
- http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/ctq/alc.asp