British Army Other Arms Rucksack

Other Arms Rucksack

The Other Arms rucksack was issued to British Army personnel in support roles, the "other arms" outside the infantry, whose kit mostly travels in vehicles rather than on their backs. It has two lives: a holdall you grab by the handles and throw in a truck, and a backpack once you unroll the harness. That makes it a practical pack for vehicle-based camping, overlanding and kit storage, and an authentic piece for collectors and reenactors of the 1990s British Army.

Features

• DPM IRR Camouflage — The fabric is printed in British Disruptive Pattern Material woodland camo with an infra-red reducing finish, so it shows up less under night-vision equipment.
• 1000D Nylon Shell — Heavy 1000-denier nylon, a thick, tightly woven fabric, makes up the body and resists abrasion from vehicle floors and rough handling.
• Holdall Carry Handles — Twin webbing grab handles on top let you carry it like a duffel bag for loading in and out of vehicles.
• Roll-Away Harness Cover — A waterproof cover rolls down over the back panel to hide the shoulder straps and waist belt, so they cannot snag in transit, then rolls up and ties off at the top when you want to wear it.
• Padded Shoulder Straps — Adjustable padded straps with plastic ladder buckles carry the load comfortably when the pack goes on your back.
• Padded Waist Belt — An adjustable hip belt with a quick-release buckle moves weight off your shoulders and onto your hips.
• Zipped Main Compartment — A double-ended zip opens the main compartment, protected by a layered storm flap that keeps rain off the teeth.
• Side Pocket Attachment Clips — Male quick-release clips on the sides accept British Army side pockets or rocket pouches for extra capacity.
• Vertical Webbing Strips — Stitched webbing runs down the sides for lashing or securing extra items.
• NSN-Labelled Issue Item — The interior label carries NATO Stock Number 8465-99-978-5364, the military's catalogue code that identifies this exact item.

Issue Specification

The issue label reads "Rucksack O/A DPM IRR" with the contractor's name, year of manufacture and the NSN, the marks that set issued British kit apart from commercial copies. It was built to a Ministry of Defence specification in heavy nylon with stout webbing and hardware. If you want a pack that converts from bag to backpack, or a correct piece for a DPM-era loadout, this is the real issued item.