Extended Cold Weather Clothing System

Extended Cold Weather Clothing System

The Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS; pronounced "EK-wax") 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 ECWCS is designed to maintain adequate environmental protection in temperatures ranging between +40 and -60 degrees Fahrenheit (about +4 and -51 degrees Celsius)

Components

The entire ECWCS ensemble (1st generation) consists of polypropylene (1) undershirt and (2) drawers, polyester fiberpile (3) shirt and (4) bib, (5) nylon/cotton trousers, Gore-Tex (6) parka and (7) trousers, liners for the (8) parka and (9) trousers, (10) white (snow camouflage) parka/trousers cover, (11) gloves, (12) glove inserts, (13) mittens, (14) mitten inserts, (15) mitten shells, (16) white mitten shells (snow camouflage), (17) cap, (18) balaclava, (19) nylon socks, boots—both (20) cold weather and (21) extreme cold weather—and (22) M-1950 trouser suspenders. 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 the Gortex-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 breathable 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 with Gore-Seam tape.

The ECWCS parka

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

The second generation (2G) ECWCS includes 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°F and -40°F (+4°C and -40°C). 2G ECWCS is currently being worn by the US Marines, US Special Forces, US Army and US Air Force soldiers stationed in extreme environments from Norway and Bosnia to Afghanistan.

3rd Generation

The third generation (3G or GEN III) ECWCS is a radical re-design of the system. It will feature seven new layers of insulation including three Polartec fabrics: two layers of Polartec Power Dry and a layer of Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft. The 12 components of the GEN III ECWCS include a 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. [ [https://www.peosoldier.army.mil/factsheets/SEQ_CIE_ECWCS.pdf "Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)" at the Program Executive Office Soldier website] ]

References

External links

*United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, MA, [http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA190226 "Use and Care of the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)"] , January 1986.
* [http://coldweatherclothing.info/ECWCS.html ECWCS information]


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