Extended Cold Weather Clothing System

The Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS /ˈɛkwæks/) 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 Gen III ECWCS is designed to maintain adequate environmental protection in temperatures ranging between -60 and +40 Fahrenheit (about -51 and +4 Celsius)

Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System

1st Generation

The entire ECWCS ensemble (1st generation) consists of:

  1. undershirt, cold weather, polypropylene
  2. [drawers], cold weather, polypropylene
  3. shirt, cold weather, polyester fiberpile
  4. overall, bib, cold weather, fiberpile
  5. liner, cold weather trousers, field
  6. liner, cold weather, coat, men's
  7. trousers, cold weather, field, nylon and cotton
  8. parka, extended cold weather, camouflage
  9. trousers, extended cold weather, camouflage
  10. parka/trousers, snow camouflage, white
  11. glove inserts, cold weather
  12. gloves, men's and women's, light duty
  13. mitten inserts, cold weather, (trigger finger)
  14. mitten shells, cold weather, (trigger finger)
  15. mitten set, extreme cold weather
  16. mitten shells, snow camouflage, cotton, white, two finger
  17. cap, camouflage pattern
  18. hood, balaclava
  19. socks, men's, nylon, cushion sole, stretch type
  20. boots, cold weather (Type I-black)
  21. boots, extreme cold weather (Type II-white)
  22. suspenders, trousers, M-1950

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 Gore-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 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.

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.

Unfortunately, due to the limitations of "waterproof-breathable" fabric, the parka did not breathe well in field use by active troops.

2nd Generation

The second generation (2G) ECWCS included 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). The parka was improved by vents to help deal with the condensation problems resulting from the use of "waterproof-breathable" fabric.

A lightweight underwear set was also introduced to combine with or substitute the polypro undergarments.

3rd Generation

The third generation 3G or GEN III Extended Climate Warfighter Clothing System is a radical re-design of the system. It features seven new layers of insulation including three Polartec fabrics: two layers of Polartec Power Dry and a layer of Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft. It has also featured PrimaLoft® Silver Insulation USA in the extreme cold weather parka and trousers. The 12 components of the GEN III ECWCS include:

  1. lightweight undershirt and drawers
  2. midweight shirt and drawers
  3. fleece cold weather jacket
  4. wind cold weather jacket
  5. soft shell jacket and trousers
  6. extreme cold/wet weather jacket and trousers
  7. extreme cold weather parka and trousers

Initial fielding of the system began in August 2007 to the 73rd Cavalry Regiment in Afghanistan.[1] The water-resistant "soft shell" is far more breathable than any "waterproof-breathable" garment and is used for most field applications, back-stopped by a waterproof nylon parka.

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References
  1. "Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)" at the Program Executive Office Soldier website

Sources
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