Extended Cold Weather Clothing System
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The Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS; pronounced "EK-wax") is a protective clothing system developed in the 1980s by the U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Massachusetts. It consists 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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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. 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.
[edit] 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. 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.
[edit] 3rd Generation
The third generation (3G) 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 system is currently undergoing a large scale user evaluation and is planned for fielding in its final version in late 2006.
[edit] Reference
- U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, MA, Use and Care of the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS), January 1986.
