USGI IOTV ACU Body Armor

This USGI IOTV (Improved Outer Tactical) kit in ACU pattern camoflauge has all the bells and whistles but saves a few bucks over a woodland, desert or other pattern camofaluge due to its short service life. ACU was supposed to work in almost all environments from jungles to urban blending in well enough one patern got the job done but turned out not working great in any environment except maybe urban environments. At one time was able to buy all sorts of now ACU pattern gear with all the latest fabric and protection features for almost nothing but now the price of this armor is comparable to other patterns. this kit has a ton of add ons, armor and accessories and lives just feet from my bed on back of master bathroom wall for fast access if needed and if need to retreat due to home invasion scenario. Hanging on doorknob is an AR 15 in 6.8 spc II plus a bandoleer with six spare magazines so if barricaded and fighting out with its sidearm on matching battle belt nearby can take the fight to an aggressor.

USGI IOTV ACU FULL RIFLE KIT

Notice this kit has two radios on separate ear pieces but tied together with a dual radio PTT controller. Because it has a bandoleer of spare mags to make room for the drop bag, dual radios, spare 1911 mags, accessories and more it only carries four spare magazines. In addition to full coverage soft armor, shoulder DAPs, groin protector, sacrum protector it has the biggest rifle plates that will fit and side coverage hard armor plus soft armor backers for all hard plates to reduce blunt force trauma.

Above will see two radios, one an Icom IC-90 tri band extended receive radio which has the MARS/CAP modification and uses a gain wide band antenna to take advantage of all bands it works including six meter transmit/receive. The second radio is an Icom IC-80AD dual band D-Star digital radio with free band modification done as well. (Due to work in emergency communications most of my radios get unlocked for full transmit but requre care to stay in bands licensed for) Each radio has a separated ear piece that are low profile enough to wear electronic hear through muffs over the top so do not loose hearing situational awarenness. The PTT controller is in grenade pouch for protection and keeping all extra wires contained with two ten round 1911 magazines nest to PTT. May notice pictures taken at different times and radios swapped sides at one point.

See the center photo to appreciate how huge the rifle plates are in this vest. The front plate makes your standard 10"x12" plate look like a saucer. it is a full 14" tall and wraps around wearers torso providing more front to side protction than even my size XL USGI 7.62 API rated plates. The rear plate barely fits the rear pocket at 11"x13" with slight shooters cut. The side panels are NIJ 3/ICW 4 sow with their soft armor backers give sides full NIJ 4 protection. While this kit is not light, its not as heavy as some stripped plate carriers have tried on with AR 400 steel plates. Why I do not use steel, its too heaavy and uncomfortable with serious spall issues compounding their uselessness. This it is not set up as a wear on a FTX with a pack for a multiday mission, it is set up to pull on over my pajamas in the middle of the night and defend my house with maximum protection while being able to communicate with wife from her panic room plus monitor a wide spectrum of the radio band for traffic and call for help if have no time to grab a phone.