P58 British Webbing

1958 pattern web equipment^[1][2] was a modular personal equipment system issued to the British Armed Forces from 1959^[1] 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),^[3][4] though usage in Ministry of Defence-sponsored Community and Combined Cadet Forces persisted into the 2000s.^[5] 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.

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 L4A1-A9 machine gun, linked 7.62mm ammunition for the L7A1/A2 general-purpose machine gun, and/or 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 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.^[3][6]

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.^[7]

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 L9A1 (Browning Hi-Power) and other pistols,^[8] a compass pouch,^[9] and a binocular case.^[6]

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 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^[10]); 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).^[3][6]

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.^[11] However, some sets of webbing, particularly where used by 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.^[12][13] 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.

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,^[4] becoming Light Fighting Order (LFO) with the addition of the rear pouches and, if desired, the cape carrier.^[3] 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),^[10][3] and once the large pack was attached it became Combat Equipment Marching Order (CEMO).^[7]

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;^[14] soldiers who were tasked with searching vehicles at 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.^[15]

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 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.

VERSIONS:

• Component Iterations: Some individual components within the P58 system underwent changes over time, including:
  
  
  • Three iterations of the standard (SLR) ammunition pouches.
  • Two iterations of the water-bottle pouch, poncho roll (or cape carrier), and yoke.
    
    
• Attachment Methods: While the standard method involved double hooks and canvas pockets, some sets, particularly for special forces, were modified with canvas loops to allow pouches to be threaded onto the belt for improved comfort and adjustability.
  
  
• Modifications and Additions: Quick-release buckles were sometimes added to the belt and/or pouches, and pouches from other load-bearing systems could also be incorporated.
  
  
• Ancillary Pouches: A range of specialized pouches were available for different tasks, such as a pistol holster and a compass pouch.
  
  
• Yoke Variations: There were at least two versions of the yoke, with the main difference being the presence of loops on the shoulder flares of the later version, designed to prevent the pack straps from slipping off the shoulders.
  
  
• Belt Changes: The belt itself underwent changes in its length sizes during manufacture. 
  
  Therefore, while the core P58 system had a standard design, the modifications, component updates, and availability of ancillary pouches meant there wasn't a single, rigid version, but rather a system that evolved and could be adapted to meet different needs. 

• Material and Hardware: Early versions may have been made in khaki web with bright metal fittings, contrasting with the standard jungle green and anodized aluminum hardware associated with the Pattern 44 designation.
• Basic Pouches: There were variations in the basic pouches, such as early versions with only lower C clips and later versions with both upper and lower sets of C clips.
• Components: Different issues of specific components were introduced over time, such as the water bottle and haversack. A sealed pattern second issue haversack is noted as being dated 1965.
• Manufacturer Variations: Components were produced by multiple different manufacturers, leading to variations in shades and potentially minor design differences.
• Trial Modifications: Trials conducted on the equipment led to recommendations for modifications, such as reinforced belt hooks and improved fastener tabs. 

• Different "Sets" for specific roles: The P37 webbing's modular design allowed for various component combinations to suit different military roles. These included sets for infantry, officers, personnel armed with pistols, and armoured vehicle crews.
• Basic Pouch evolution:
   The basic pouch, a core component, underwent at least three revisions (Marks I, II, and III). The Mark I included loops for rifle grenade blanks, which were later omitted.
• Adapting to weaponry: The P37 system evolved to accommodate different weapon types, with specific pouches developed for Bren gun magazines, Thompson submachine gun magazines, and Sten gun magazines.
• Introduction of the Utility Pouch: A larger version of the basic pouch, the utility pouch, was introduced for carrying bulkier items such as Bren gun magazines, mortar shells, or water bottles.
• Specific pouches for specialized weapons: P37 webbing included pouches for weapons like the Lanchester submachine gun (used by the Royal Marines, Royal Navy, and RAF) and the Vickers K machine gun.
• Belt size variations: The waist belt was initially issued in Normal and Large sizes, with an extra-large size added later.
• Post-war modifications: After World War II, fittings changed from brass to blackened steel. The water bottle carrier was adapted to work with the 1-inch brace ends.