Chest rigs for carrying mags

[Dawes]

Chest rigs are common among militaries nowadays. Looking back, the earliest pictures I've seen of chest rigs were with the NVA/VC in the Vietnam conflict, and presumably the Chinese military also use them at that time.

What was the first military to issue chest rigs to it's troops? Possibly China?

[bojan]

Couple of contenders are Japan and China. Both appeared in the early '30s.

Chinese, for C-96:

Chinese, for 50rounds mags for SIG SMG:

Japanese one:

 

 

Edited June 18, 2023 by bojan

[NickM]

How do you reach the magazine pouch, when your lying on your belly trying to avoid incoming fire?

Edited June 18, 2023 by NickM

[sunday]

4 minutes ago, NickM said:

How do you reach the magazine pouch, when your lying on your belly trying to avoid incoming fire?

No need to lie on the ground when  you have magazines as body armor!

Especially in the case of the SIG SMG gunner.

Edited June 18, 2023 by sunday

[NickM]

4 minutes ago, sunday said:

No need to lie on the ground when  you have magazines as body armor!

Especially in the case of the SIG SMG gunner.

Perhaps, but I'm still reminded of that NPC character telling us he was hugging the ground so intensely, he thought his buttons got in the way.  It's a question that I've had for a while. Sure Rhodesian Web Gear looks "cool", but how often are they pinned down by the 'duds' from  ZANLA/ZIPRA ?