Koppeltragesystem 90 "KTS 90"

[hoover]

I had some time and started to assemple all sorts of KTS90 sets.

The Koppeltragesystem 90 was developed from 1986 until 1988, when the first sets were introduced in the German/French Brigade. The last units got the KTS90 in the late 90´s.

There were a lot of different pouches for every kind of equipment and weapon.
I have (or I hope so) all items of the KTS90 I will show here.

The first set is the standard one for every soldier eqipped with the G3 assault rifle. Parts are: belt (Hüftgurt), suspender (Schultergurt), ABC pouch (ABC-Schutzmaskentasche), Utility pouch (Mehrzwecktasche), 2x magazine pouch (Doppelmagazintasche G3), canteen pouch (Feldflaschentasche and the entrenching tool with pouch (Tasche für Klappspaten)

Here the pouch is altered to carry the old e-tool with wooden grip. I got one of these pouches in 1993 because the collapsible US type e-tools were not the best tool for my engineer unit. They bent quite often and in the early dayr we didn´t have enough spare e-tools. So the tailors cut nice holes in the pouches. This was made from soldiers, too, but the holes were crude and not nice and round. The altered pouches a for sale at ebay quite often for cheap money because the sellers think, that the pouches are defect.

[hoover]

That is me on the pics during a shooting course in 1993. We were equipped with the new KTS for our Somalia tour but our tour was cancelled a day before we had to travel to Cologne airport. So we used the KTS to our olive uniforms. In 1994 we got the new flecktarn uniforms with camo pouches.

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Set for a regular Machine Gunner (STAN-mäßiger MG-Schütze).
Beside the standard pouches he has the MG bolt and tolls pouch and a holster for his P1.

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Set for a platoon leader (like it was worn in my unit)

Belt, suspender, canteen pouch as standard pouches
and:
Map case
flashlight pouch
flare gun pouch
P1 pouch
SEM52S pouch

But most of the time the map case was used with the carrying strap.

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Set for a soldier equipped with the MP2 Uzi

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The Pouch for the P1 and a spare magazine.

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Here we have the pouches for the SEM52S and the Sniperscope (Zielfernrohr für G3). The small pouch contains a tool for the scope attachment.

The first pattern Schultergurt (suspender) has no suporting strap an the breast and only 4 rows of eyelts. The 2nd pattern has 6 pairs.

[Klaus1989]

Nice set and infos, the modified spade pouch is especially interesting - have seen before, but not know reason of use with old Klappspaten. Many photos i have seen of KTS90 with Flecktarn uniforms are PzGren and FJ/LL units 1994/95 and early SFOR. Schutzmaske seem strange fit in the pouch. I assume MZT is same contents as later? Interesting to hear how the pouches were packed.

Here is my complete set with the early belt and straps, need to tape the ends (have a few other special pouches also like MG3 gunner and SEM not in photo also).

[hoover]

The ABC Pouch was phased out very soon because of the velcro closure. The velcro opened accidentally very often and sand dirtied the mask. That´s why the old rubber gas mask pouch was used until the new camo pouch was introduced.

The first unit to be equipped was the Deutsch/Französische Brigade, then the airborne units. After that the KRK units (Krisenreaktionskräfte), like my old Pionierbataillon 11 (was KRK unit for one year, and then it was disbanded in 1996).

The Mehrzwecktasche was packed like the "kleine Kampftasche", which was easy because the Mehrzwecktasche was larger.

And in the Feldflaschentasche the complete canteen was carried, not only the pure bottle. And the Feldflaschentasche was that large you can carry a lot of more items in it.

[Klaus1989]

thanks for the additional infos, confirmed i packed correct the Mehrzwecktasche and Feldflaschentasche! Was not sure earlier. I have heard why the ABC Tasche with velcro was eliminated, but thought the Schutzmaske 65 was tight fit in mine (sit at angle). Also not sure what for are the internal pockets in the ABC Tasche?

[hoover]

It was nearly impossible getting the following items in the velco ABC bag:

Mask with attached filter
plastic roll bag for decontamination items
poncho
gloves

The bag was so fully stuffed that the velcro opened without any force.

[Guardian 5]

Excellent thread!

Is that your highly coveted British helmet cover that you're wearing on the firing line?

All the best,
TJ

[hoover]

Yes. All og my mates wore the US woodland cover. When we were in the British barracks in Fallingbostel for an exercise I traded it with a Tommy.

As I remember I was the only one idiot in the whole bataillon with a DPM cover. The rest have been woodland, ERDL, amoebe camo and very few even with NVA camo.

In German is a saying: Das Auge kämpft mit"! (the eyes are also fighting)

But with flecktarn all sorts of individual camo were gone.

[Tanker Mike]

Map Case or Kartenmelde

Set for a platoon leader (like it was worn in my unit)
But most of the time the map case was used with the carrying strap.

I recently purchased a Flecktarn Map Case or Kartenmelde dated 11/1995. I don't see provisions for a shoulder strap. How was it done?

Thanks,
Mike

[Collectinsteve]

Mike,

I'm also interested to know the answer as I've not seen a strap for the map case either.

Coincidentally I had a question come up this week that is perfect for this thread. There was a set of harness straps up for sale that was made out of Flecktarn material instead of the normal OD. Was this a TrVsu item or something made outside of official trials? I didn't bid that hard because I wasn't willing to invest too much without knowing the answer. Now that I've lost, I'm hoping i didn't miss out on something

Steve