US Military Survival Kits - Hot & Cold Climate - Complete

[gearsource]

I recently acquired two US Military Survival Kits, which are complete with most items (80% +) being new / as new in wrappers.

 

The only items missing are the Smoke Signal Flares.

 

NSN for Survival Kit Cold Climate is 1680-00-973-1862

 

NSN for Survival Kit Hot Climate is 1680-00-973-1861

 

They are 1980s - 1990s era, with inspection tags, a packing sheet in one of them, etc.

 

The are Olive Green backpack style, one having Orange shoulder straps (Hot Climate) and the other Yellow shoulder straps (Cold Climate).

 

They are quite comprehensive, including things like a Woodsmen's Pal, compass, first aid, food, water, sleeping bag, snares, etc.

 

A complete example of the Hot Climate Kit sold for $400.00 plus shipping on Ebay in May, 2012 (1971 dated, canvas bag with the smoke flares)

 

I could not find an example of a complete Cold Climate Kit for comparison purposes.

 

Is there much Collector demand for these kits?

 

What would a fair price be to sell both of these kits?

 

I have plenty more photos, too.

 

Thanks for the Help.

 

 

[Survival]

They are interesting kits and there is a collector demand. The hot kit might be more popular if it is in the date range of one of the Iraq wars. I don't think you can get 400.00 for each kit as they are newer. I would not be surprised if there are other items missing in the kits other then the flares.

[hawkdriver]

I have had these before and could not sell them. Unless you found someone that had a Huey helicopter and wanted one to finish out the collection, there isn't much demand for a large heavy square bag for $400. As much as it breaks my heart to say this, you would be better off opening the kit and selling the items individually as the parts will bring more than the whole.

[gearsource]

Gentlemen -

 

Thanks for the information.

 

Were these kits also used by the Air Force?

 

Were they used in the US Army OV-1 Aircraft?

 

Thanks.

[Survival]

As far as I know they are a strictly army issue kit. Its possible another service branch may have used some of them. The OV1 used a different kit that fit under the ejection seat. Some similar contents and construction but somewhat smaller and shaped differently.

[gearsource]

Took some photos of the kit contents - If anybody wants a closer look at something, just ask. I photographed everything individually as well.

 

Does anybody have an inventory/packing list for this kit? I'd appreciate a copy.

 

First up is the Cold Climate Kit -

 

 

 

Some Hilights of the Kit - Vacuum Packed Sleeping Bag, and Multi-Piece Survival Knife/Saw set, include aluminum shovel blade -

 

 

 

 

 

[gearsource]

Next is the Hot Climate Kit -

 

 

 

 

 

[swag]

Does anybody have an inventory/packing list for this kit? I'd appreciate a copy.

 

 

I don't where my copy of the TM for the survival kits is, but there are Required Items and Authorized Items. Sounds silly, but the Required Items were items that had to be included in the survival kit, while the Authorized Items were those items that local commanders could include in the survival kits.

[gearsource]

I don't where my copy of the TM for the survival kits is, but there are Required Items and Authorized Items. Sounds silly, but the Required Items were items that had to be included in the survival kit, while the Authorized Items were those items that local commanders could include in the survival kits.

 

 

I found a copy on the web, and I am happy to say that everything in the Cold Climate Kit was present, except for a packet of compressed Trioxane fuel and a Combat Casualty blanket. I have extras of those, so the kit will really be good to go!

 

This particular kit has a couple of items not on the Required List, like a Whistle, extra blade sharpener, etc.

 

Thanks for the Input, Swag.

[mohawkALSE]

For reference here is a picture of the skeleton of an OV-1 Mohawk Rigid Seat Survival Kit (RSSK) showing the main difference between the normal kits and the OV-1's:

Pan, Frying

Much like the regular Army Aircraft "square" kits this aluminum frying pan holds the survival contents of the survival kit for the OV-1 RSSK, but its designed to fit in the fiberglass RSSK container. Also like the standard kits the OV-1 kits came in Hot Climate, Cold Climate or Over Water, and as mentioned some contents are omitted in the OV-1 kits from the standard kits. This uncomfortable hunk of fiberglass is your seat bottom in the MK-J5D ejection seat. Not pictured would be a small seat pad attached via velcro on the lid that also has thigh support pads which house the Personnel Lowering Device.

 

The pan fits inside a nylon equipment bag which I'm clearly missing that is secured to the white drop line. On top of the packed equipment bag would be a fiberglass packed cold weather sleeping bag if it was a Cold Weather kit. A single place life raft would be folded and packed for the Over Water kit. The equipment bag is cinched down by the 2 OD green straps, and the white drop line would be laced properly. If a raft is packed the inflation lanyard is attached to the drop line.

 

This whole fairly heavy rigid survival kit goes with you when you eject from the aircraft which upon man seat separation, stays attached to your under side via the torso harness lap belt. Once MSS occurs and your free of the ejection seat you can pull either of the 2 yellow handles and the lid will release from the RSSK container. The container drops away to the extent of the drop line and the kit stays secure inside while also inflating the life raft if it was an over water kit. The lid is still attached to your underside and could come in handy having the PLD if you get stuck in a tree to lower yourself down.

 

 

 

As far as I know they are a strictly army issue kit. Its possible another service branch may have used some of them. The OV1 used a different kit that fit under the ejection seat. Some similar contents and construction but somewhat smaller and shaped differently.

[gearsource]

For reference here is a picture of the skeleton of an OV-1 Mohawk Rigid Seat Survival Kit (RSSK) showing the main difference between the normal kits and the OV-1's:

Pan, Frying

Much like the regular Army Aircraft "square" kits this aluminum frying pan holds the survival contents of the survival kit for the OV-1 RSSK, but its designed to fit in the fiberglass RSSK container. Also like the standard kits the OV-1 kits came in Hot Climate, Cold Climate or Over Water, and as mentioned some contents are omitted in the OV-1 kits from the standard kits. This uncomfortable hunk of fiberglass is your seat bottom in the MK-J5D ejection seat. Not pictured would be a small seat pad attached via velcro on the lid that also has thigh support pads which house the Personnel Lowering Device.

 

The pan fits inside a nylon equipment bag which I'm clearly missing that is secured to the white drop line. On top of the packed equipment bag would be a fiberglass packed cold weather sleeping bag if it was a Cold Weather kit. A single place life raft would be folded and packed for the Over Water kit. The equipment bag is cinched down by the 2 OD green straps, and the white drop line would be laced properly. If a raft is packed the inflation lanyard is attached to the drop line.

 

This whole fairly heavy rigid survival kit goes with you when you eject from the aircraft which upon man seat separation, stays attached to your under side via the torso harness lap belt. Once MSS occurs and your free of the ejection seat you can pull either of the 2 yellow handles and the lid will release from the RSSK container. The container drops away to the extent of the drop line and the kit stays secure inside while also inflating the life raft if it was an over water kit. The lid is still attached to your underside and could come in handy having the PLD if you get stuck in a tree to lower yourself down.

 

 

Thanks for the photos. I was about to post a photo of a container used in other aircraft, which I will do shortly.

[gearsource]

RE: Hardigg Transit Case, NSN - 1680-01-361-4858

 

I was thinking about buying a case like this one.

 

It fits the Cold Climate and Hot Climate kits, but I it wasn't designed for it.

 

Any idea what it was for?

[gearsource]

RE: Hardigg Case - AMSS - Slightly Different

 

This photo shows a slightly different case holding what appears to be a Cold Climate Kit.

 

Experts please comment.

[hawkdriver]

The larger box is the four person AMSS kit You would carry one of these per aircraft. The smaller box is a two person AMSS, you would have one of these on a OH-58 or could carry two per a four person aircraft like the Blackhawk or Chinook. For some time, we would put two cold weather kits in an AMSS box and call it good. We then decided to break the kits down and made four individual bug out bags per AMSS box, getting rid of the cold weather kits all together.

Now, there are what is called SKRAM kits, two per aircraft, they look like an overstuffed Camelbak.

[Mashsig]

Gearsource - I realize this is a bit late - here is the Hot Climate kit list:

 

1680-00-973-1861 81337 SURVIVAL KIT. INDIVIDUAL. HOT CLIMATE
1 1680-00-082-2513 CASE. OUTER
2 1680-00-082-2514 CASE. INNER
3 8960-00-916-4201 MIL-W-15117 ...WATER, DRINKING. CANNED 10 OZ (6 CAN INNER & OUTER CASE)
3 8960-01-124-4543 MIL-W-44126 ...WATER DRINKING PACKET. 125ML (12 EA INNER A OUTER CASE)
4 1680-01-233-0061 FIRE STARTER. AVIATION SURVIVAL SPARKLITE
5 8465-00-254-8803 MIL-W-1053 ...WHISTLE, BALL, PLASTIC, OD W/LANYARD
6 1370-00-309-5028 SMOKE AND ILLUMINATION, MARINE MOD 0 MK13L275
7 5110-00-162-2205 61343 MIL-K1860 ...KNIFE, POCKET
8 8350-00-261-9772 51343 MIL-M-15371 ..MIRROR, EMERGENCY SIGNALLING
9 8465-00-485-3034 81348 MIL-B-8571 ...BAG, DRINKING WATER STORAGE,PLASTIC, 10 PT CAP
10 6545-01-094-8412 FIRST AID KIT, INDIVIDUAL
6510-01-094-6142 ...CASE, MEDICAL INSTRUMENT AND SUPPLY SET, NYLON
6545-01-094-6136 ...INSERT FIRST AID KIT CASE: PLASTIC OD W/ATTACHED COVER
6510-00-201-1755 ...BANDAGE. MUSLIN. COMPRESSED O D 37 BY 37 BY 52 IN TRIANGLE
6530-00-042-8421 ...BOTTLE, SAFETY CAP LIGHT RESISTANT TABLET AND CAPSULE ROUND 7 DRAM 200S
6510-00-159-4883 ...DRESSING FIRST AID, FIELD CAMOUFLAGED, 4 IN W. 7 IN LG
6510-00-913-7909 ...BANDAGE. ADHESIVE 3/4 IN. W 3 IN LG
6510-00-200-3180 ...BANDAGE GAUZE: COMPRESSED, CAMOUFLAGED 2 IN Wide, 6YD LG
65450-84S3309 ...FIRST AID KIT. EYE DRESSING
6505-00-183-9419 ...SULFACETAMIDE SODIUM OPHTHALMIC
6508-01-285-0079 ...SUN BLOCK 15 ....LIPSTICK. ANTI-CHAP
6505-00-914-3593 ...POVODINE IODINE SOLUTION USP 10% 1 FL. OZ
6850-00-985-7166 MIL-W-283 ....WATER PURIFICATION TABLET IODINE: 6M(3
11 6505-01-121-2355 SUNBURN PREVENTIVE SUNSCREEN LOTION
12 7340-00-170-8374 SPOON PICNIC. PLASTIC
13 8973-00-082-5665 MIL-F-43231 ...FOOD PACKET. SURVIVAL GENERAL PURPOSE. INDIV
14 9110-00-263-9865 MIL-F-10805 ...FUEL TRIOXANE BAR FORM
15 4220-00-244-0764 MIL-F-6218 ...FISHING TACKLE KIT, SURVIVAL TYPE
16 6605-00-515-5637 COMPASS, MAGNETIC UNMOUNTED, POCKET TYPE
17 9525-00-596-3498 WIRE, NON-ELECTRICAL (SNARE WIRE)
18 7330-00-082-2398 PAN, FRYING, ALUMINIUM
19 9920-01-154-7199 MIL-E-101 ...MATCHES, NON-SAFETY, WOOD ROUND PLASTIC CONTAINER W14 BXS 160 MATCHES
20 8415-00-935-3130 81349 MIL-1-11489 ...INSECT NET HEAD, NYLON CLOTH UNIV SIZE
21 8415-00-270-0229 HAT SUN- COTTON CLOTH UNIV SIZE WIDE BRIM OD AND ORANGE
22 8465-00-973-4807 TOOL KIT SURVIVAL, Mk IV, WI SHARPENING STONE & BURNING LENS
23 XAOZZ 81337 11-1-168 ...PACKING LIST
24 8340-00-485-3012 81349 MIL-T-7249 ...TARPAULIN NYLON GREY-YELLOW W/GROMMETS 11 FT LG 7FT W
25 SURVIVAL MANUAL (AFM 64-5)OR (FM 21-76)
26 ATTACHING STRAP(SEE BULK LIST-WEBBING TEXT;LE 1-23132 IN )
27 1670-00-371-2243 96906 MS22017 ...SNAP. PARACHUTE HARNESS EJECTOR
28 7210-00-935-6667 NO REF ...BLANKET COMBAT CASUALTY
(NOT SHOWN INNER CASE)
5345-01-214-1050 62444 SS4A8 ...SHARPENER, GENERAL PURPOSE
(NOT SHOWN INNER CASE)
5110-00-570-6896 81349 MIL-S-9964 ...SAW, HAND, FINGER GRIP
(NOT SHOWN INNER CASE)
1680-01-160-5618 62561 8702 ...FIRE STARTER AVIATION SURVIVAL, MAGNESIUM
(NOT SHOWN INNER CASE)
8465-00-300-2138 98752 67F45692 ...NET MULTIPURPOSE (NET, GILL FISHING)

[Mashsig]

Glad I saw that you found the manuals on-line before I posted the Cold Climate list.

[Mashsig]

MohawkALSE, thank you for sharing the photo of the OV-1 RSSK and frying pan!