View source for 58 pattern webbing

{{Short description|British military equipment}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2014}}
[[File:A Belgian commando battery loads an M29 81 mm mortar during NATO Exercise ARDENT GROUND '87.jpg|thumb|British soldiers wearing various configurations of 1958 pattern web equipment while on exercise in 1987]]
[[File:Weapons training at Abu Hydra Range during Operation Desert Shield DM-ST-91-11992.jpg|thumb|[[Queen's Dragoon Guards]] soldier wearing 1958 web equipment in the lead-up to the [[Gulf War]]; the web equipment saw its last major operational use in British service during this conflict.]]
[[File:ACOTA Training in Sierra Leone - Flickr - US Army Africa (7).jpg|thumb|Rear pouches of a Sierra Leonean soldier's 1958 web equipment]]

'''1958 pattern web equipment'''<ref name=1959fi>{{cite book |title=Instructions for Assembling Web Equipment Pattern 1958 |date=15 October 1959 |publisher=[[War Office|The Infantry Directorate, The War Office]]}}</ref><ref name=1965fi>{{cite book |title=Army Code No. 14715, Web Equipment Pattern 1958, Instructions for Assembly |date=September 1965 |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence (Army), Directorate of Stores & Clothing Development]]}}</ref> was a modular personal equipment system issued to the [[British Armed Forces]] from 1959<ref name=1959fi /> up until the mid 90s. It replaced the [[1937 pattern web equipment]] that had served the UK's Armed Forces through the [[Second World War]] and the first decade of the [[Cold War]] and also the [[1944 pattern webbing]] which was used in jungle conditions starting from the mid-1960s. 

It was in turn gradually replaced in the 1990s by 90 and 95 pattern [[personal load carrying equipment]] (PLCE),<ref name=lfo>{{cite web |title=Webbing, 1958 pattern (Light Fighting Order) |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30016271 |publisher=[[Imperial War Museum]] |access-date=23 April 2022}}</ref><ref name=so>{{cite web |title=Webbing, 1958 pattern (Skeleton Order) |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30016268 |publisher=[[Imperial War Museum]] |access-date=23 April 2022}}</ref> though usage in Ministry of Defence-sponsored [[Community Cadet Forces|Community]] and [[Combined Cadet Force|Combined Cadet Forces]] persisted into the 2000s.<ref name=2001fi>{{cite book |title=Army Code No. 71462, The Cadet Training Manual Volume I 1990 (Reprinted incorporating Amendments 1 – 6, June 2001) |date=June 2001 |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]] |chapter=Chapter 1. — Turnout, Section 4. — Preparation and Packing of the 58 Pattern Equipment}}</ref> Although replaced, the belt in particular seems to survive as an unofficial form of dress (replacing the general issue Working Belt) by older soldiers when worn with Combat Soldier 95 clothing.

== Components ==
[[File:Operation Provide Comfort DF-ST-98-01525.jpg|thumb|[[Royal Air Force]] officer with 1958 pattern holster]]

A standard set of 1958 Pattern webbing as issued to most British personnel consisted of a belt, a yoke that supported the attachment of a shovel or pick, two ammunition pouches to carry magazines for the [[L1A1 self-loading rifle]], [[Sterling submachine gun]], or [[Bren light machine gun#L4|L4A1-A9 machine gun]], linked [[7.62×51mm NATO#United Kingdom|7.62mm]] ammunition for the [[FN MAG#British versions|L7A1/A2 general-purpose machine gun]], and/or [[M26 grenade#L2 (United Kingdom)|L2A1/A2]] and other grenades (with the left-hand pouch having provision for carrying a sheathed bayonet and the right-hand pouch having an external pocket to the rear for the [[ENERGA anti-tank rifle grenade#UK Service|ENERGA rifle grenade]] adapter), a water bottle pouch (also able to be fitted with a mug while containing the waterbottle), a pair of rear "kidney" pouches (for the storage of spare underwear and socks, washing and shaving kit, boot cleaning items, twenty-four-hour rations, and any other items that the user may need to have secured), a [[poncho]] roll or "cape carrier", and a large pack.<ref name=lfo /><ref name=MW&S>{{cite book |author1=M. Wright and Sons Ltd. |title=Webbing Equipment Manufacturers |date=21 October 1988}}</ref> 

The standard webbing could be altered to take additional pieces of needed equipment, an example of which is the large pack having provision for externally carrying a blanket or sleeping bag and, if not worn, the Mark IV helmet.<ref name=1965ficemo>{{cite book |title=Army Code No. 14715, Web Equipment Pattern 1958, Instructions for Assembly |date=September 1965 |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence (Army), Directorate of Stores & Clothing Development]] |pages=12-14}}</ref>

There were a number of ancillary pouches and fittings available for soldiers carrying other armament or conducting certain roles, e.g. a holster for the [[Browning Hi-Power|L9A1 (Browning Hi-Power)]] and other pistols,<ref>{{cite web |title=Holster, Pistol, Webbing, 1958 pattern (for Browning HP-35): British Army |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30013127 |publisher=[[Imperial War Museum]] |access-date=23 April 2022}}</ref> a compass pouch,<ref>{{cite web |title=Webbing, Artkis Chest Rig: British |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30012972 |publisher=[[Imperial War Museum]] |access-date=23 April 2022 |quote=A canvas webbing 1958 pattern equipment compass pouch is attached.}}</ref> and a binocular case.<ref name=MW&S />

All components of the webbing equipment were made from pre-shrunk canvas webbing that was dyed in Standard Camouflage Colour (SCC) 15 Green and could be cleaned through conventional methods (as opposed to the 1908 and 1937 web equipments that used [[Blanco (compound)|Blanco]] for both colouration and cleaning; fitting instructions for the 1958 equipment specifically forbade scrubbing or Blancoing of the equipment as well as any attempt to remove the finish on metal parts<ref name=1965ficefo>{{cite book |title=Army Code No. 14715, Web Equipment Pattern 1958, Instructions for Assembly |date=September 1965 |publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence (Army), Directorate of Stores & Clothing Development]] |page=15}}</ref>); the metal fittings were made from anodised dark green aluminium, again requiring less cleaning compared to the brass fittings of earlier web equipments (though said fittings were supposed to be allowed to grow dull for fieldcraft purposes anyway).<ref name=lfo /><ref name=MW&S /> 

In its standard configuration, each of the belt-mounted components was secured to the belt by a pair of double hooks (one double hook only in the case of the compass pouch) at the rear, hooked over the belt above and below, with the ends of the hooks further retained in canvas pockets on the inside face of the belt.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pouch, Ammunition, Webbing, 1958 pattern (right): British Army |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30013126 |publisher=[[Imperial War Museum]] |access-date=23 April 2022}}</ref>  However, some sets of webbing, particularly where used by [[United Kingdom Special Forces|special forces]], were fitted or modified with a canvas loop on the pouches into which the belt was threaded. This method of attachment allowed the pouch to be moved around the belt for the comfort of the user, for example when sitting for long periods. Some sets were also modified with quick-release buckles on the belt, pouches, or both, and could also feature pouches taken from other load-bearing systems.<ref name=nam58>{{cite web |title=Modified heavy-drop platform belt, 1970 (c) |url=https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1992-09-336-1 |publisher=[[National Army Museum]] |access-date=23 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tailored 58 Pattern Webbing as worn by Sgt Bob Hilton, 2 PARA, 2002 from the Airborne Assault Museum, Duxford. |url=https://www.paradata.org.uk/media/10289 |publisher=[[Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Museum|ParaData]] |access-date=15 August 2023}}</ref> Most personnel used their webbing as issued, however.

Several of the individual components evolved over the lifetime of the 1958 Pattern system. There were three iterations of the standard (SLR) ammunition pouches, and two of the water-bottle pouch, poncho roll and yoke.

== Usage ==
The equipment was worn in a series of combinations. Weapon Training or Skeleton Order consisted of the belt, the yoke, the two ammunition pouches, and the water bottle pouch,<ref name=so /> becoming Light Fighting Order (LFO) with the addition of the rear pouches and, if desired, the cape carrier.<ref name=lfo /> Combat Equipment Fighting Order (CEFO) was the term used for the full webbing equipment (comprising the LFO and cape carrier with the addition of entrenching tools),<ref name=1965ficefo /><ref name=lfo /> and once the large pack was attached it became Combat Equipment Marching Order (CEMO).<ref name=1965ficemo /> 

A further informal order, effectively amounting to Skeleton Order without the yoke and with a minimal number of pouches, was often used by soldiers serving in the [[Aden Emergency]] and later [[Operation Banner]] to aid disembarkation from vehicles;<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ripley |first1=Tim |title=Security Forces in Northern Ireland 1969–92 |date=28 January 1993 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=9781855322783 |pages=51, 59}}</ref> soldiers who were tasked with searching vehicles at [[Security checkpoint|security checkpoints]] often carried a pistol in lieu of a rifle and thus went even further in reducing their webbing, only wearing the belt and the pistol's holster.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ripley |first1=Tim |title=Security Forces in Northern Ireland 1969–92 |date=28 January 1993 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=9781855322783 |page=53}}</ref>

Over the course of its service, there were a number of developments and modifications. When the system was originally designed, little scope was given to [[Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear|Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical]] (NBC) warfare and when this was addressed, the system gained a respirator haversack to house the then issue [[S6 NBC Respirator]].

==Variants==

===72 pattern webbing ===
{{main|72 pattern webbing}}

===Foreign copies and derivatives===

====61 pattern webbing====

* [[61 pattern webbing]], A South African copy.

* 1970 pattern webbing, development of 61 pattern.
* 69 pattern webbing, Rhodesian copy of 61 pattern.

====UTV webbing====
* [[UTV webbing]], East German equivalent made of nylon/rain camo

==Users==
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[[File:Eastern Caribbean Defense Force.jpg|thumb|[[Caribbean Peace Force]] personnel from various contingents wearing 1958 web equipment]]
[[File:NATURAL FIRE 10 - FTX - US ARMY AFRICA - 091018M3149V011 (4031697815).jpg|thumb|Kenyan soldier wearing 1958 web equipment during a 2009 exercise]]

*{{flag|Barbados}}: Primarily used by the [[Barbados Defence Force|Defence Force]], also used by the [[Barbados Police Service|Royal Barbados Police Force]] contingent of the [[Caribbean Peace Force]]<ref name="grenada83">{{cite book |author1=Lee E Russell |title=Grenada 1983 |date=28 March 1985 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=9780850455830 |page=46}}</ref>
*{{flag|Iraq}}: Used during [[Ba'athist Iraq|Ba'athist rule]], primarily imported from Pakistan<ref name="gulfwar">{{cite book |author1=Gordon L. Rottman |title=Armies of the Gulf War |date=27 May 1993 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=9781855322776 |page=53}}</ref><ref name="iraniraqwar">{{cite book |last1=McNab |first1=Chris |title=Armies of the Iran–Iraq War 1980–88 |date=20 Jan 2022 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=9781472845573 |pages=38, 44, 54}}</ref>
*{{flag|Ireland}}: Imported from Great Britain;<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ripley |first1=Tim |title=Security Forces in Northern Ireland 1969–92 |date=28 January 1993 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=9781855322783 |page=61}}</ref> replaced by PLCE webbing by the early 2000s<ref>{{cite book |last1=MacCarron |first1=Donal |title=The Irish Defence Forces since 1922 |date=22 October 2004 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=9781841767420 |page=47}}</ref>
*{{flag|Jamaica}}<ref name="grenada83" />
*{{flag|Kenya}}<ref>{{cite web |title=NATURAL FIRE 10 - FTX - US ARMY AFRICA - 091018M3149V011 |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/usarmyafrica/4031697815/ |website=flickr.com |publisher=[[United States Army Africa|U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa]] |access-date=24 April 2022 |date=18 October 2009}}{{better source needed|date=April 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|Kuwait}}<ref name="gulfwar" />
*{{flag|Nigeria}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jowett |first1=Philip |title=Modern African Wars (5): The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967–70 |date=22 September 2016 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=9781472816092 |pages=3, 18, 35, 43-45}}</ref>
*{{flag|Pakistan}}: Domestically produced<ref>{{cite book |author1=Gordon L. Rottman |title=Armies of the Gulf War |date=27 May 1993 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=9781855322776 |pages=53, 59}}</ref><ref name="iraniraqwar" />
*{{flag|Sierra Leone}}<ref>{{cite web |title=ACOTA Training in Sierra Leone |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/usarmyafrica/6353405291/ |website=flickr.com |publisher=[[United States Army Africa|U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa]] |access-date=24 April 2022 |date=21 September 2011}}{{better source needed|date=April 2023}}</ref>
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}: British Armed Forces (replaced by PLCE in the 1990s)<ref name=1959fi /><ref name=1965fi /><ref name=lfo /><ref name=so /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/285986_ARMY_VEHICLESEQUIPMENT_V12.PDF_web.pdf |title=British Army: Vehicles and Equipment |website=Ministry of Defence |access-date=11 April 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119164824/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/285986_ARMY_VEHICLESEQUIPMENT_V12.PDF_web.pdf |archive-date=19 November 2010}}</ref> and MOD-sponsored cadet forces (also replaced by PLCE, albeit at a slower rate than the Armed Forces)<ref name=2001fi />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180323231632/http://karkeeweb.com/patterns/1958/fitting_instructions/pdf/MW&S.pdf 1988 M. Wright & Sons brochure]

[[Category:British Army equipment]]
[[Category:Personal military carrying equipment]]
[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1950s]]