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Down East Inc in Maine manufactured the original pack frames for the US Molle II System. The first frames absolutely sucked in the eyes of endusers. The plastic was brittle and broke easily, causing many a trooper to suck it up and drive on with a broken ruck on his back. The design was changed and the plastic improved, and has since, served its purpose for the most part. And as Canadian Troopers complain often of their issue equipment, the US Army is no different.
A few years ago, Down East introduced their 1606 "Airborne" Molle Frame, a shortened and narrow tapered improved design. This Airborne Frame changed from the M1944 Packboard-style layout to a more compact A shaped form. This frame was available for aftermarket purchase and was adopted as part of rucksack designs for the Australian Military.
Some clever individuals adapted the 1606 Frame to the US LC-2 All Purpose Lightweight Individual Carry Equipment, aka "ALICE" Pack or more affectionately referred to as the "Green Tick" for its bloated form that just sucks the blood out of you on long road marches. Down East responded by changing the 1606 design slightly so the top brace would fit into the Alice pack frame pocket with no modifications resulting in the 1606AC.
After a short eval over on www.Lightfighter.net of the 1606AC installed onto a current Afghanistan-theatre-issued Multicam (or Operation Enduring Freedom Camo Pattern-OCP) Molle II Large Rucksack:
http://lightfighter.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9046084761/m/57520638663 a Canadian Forces Trooper inquired if the 1606AC was adaptable to the 1964 Pattern Rucksack System. After some experimentation in the wee hours of the morning, I was indeed able to securely mount the 64 Ruck Bag, Valise and A7 Straps to the 1606AC Frame. My "Jump Ruck" is a Mat Tech modified Ruck Bag, with 82 Pattern Shoulder Straps and US LC-2 Alice Pack Waist Belt.
I was able to first install the 82 Pat Shoulder Straps/Lat Pad, the 64 Pack with the vertical attachment straps extended to at least 18in long, and a US Alice Waist Belt with strap assy.
The 1606AC is about 2.5" shorter in height, and about 2.5" wider at the horizontal supports.
The ruck will ride higher. So if you have the 64 Bag full, plus your Thermarest and Valise, you may have problems with the Gallet bumping against the Valise, limiting your visual range.
The good news is, when you cinch the load lifters on the shoulder straps, the 1606AC Frame really flexes as your walk, it won't beat you up like the Alice, 64 or 82 "birdcage" frame.
The 82 Pattern Shoulder Strap Assy needs to be installed first. It would fit better if the 2 horizontal straps could be shortened on the buckle side. Take some Timmies down to your Mat Techs, have them alter the 2 horizontal straps, lengthen the two vertical ruck attachment straps to at least 16", 18" would be even better, and make two longer waist pad install straps, at least 30" at a minimum, 32-34" is even better.
Install the 64 Pattern Rucksack Bag on the frame, run the two vertical straps through one of the 2 horizontal slits under the lat pad, up through the one horizontal slit on the wide horizontal support arm, around the rectangular rucksack ring, back through that horizontal slit.
Run the lower friction buckle through the large handle hole in the lower frame and cinch down the vertical ruck attach strap.
I attached the two rectangular lower ruck attachment rings to the Alice Waist Belt using the custom or US GI Strap. Run the strap from inside the frame, thru the middle waist belt slot, around the Alice Waist Belt Ring, around the ruck ring, and back through the same waist belt slot. Do the same for the other side and cinch down with buckle, tape loose end.
Use the other waist strap to secure the two shoulder strap attachment rings on the ruck bag bottom corners. Run the strap from inside the frame, through the lower waist strap slits around the ring, back through the either slit. Do the same for the other side then cinch down the strap and tape your loose ends.
Attach the shoulder strap quick release strap thru the top waist belt slit.
I attached the A7 Straps through the large slots on the top frame, then down behind the ruck bag to the larger 2 slots just above the handle holes in the lower frame. Then through the long horizontal slits under the handle cut-out, and back up over top the ruck bag to better cinch down the entire Valise and Ruck Bag.
I haven't tried tabbing with this 64/82/Alice/1606 Ruck-Frame combination as of yet. So your mileage may vary.
With a heavily stuffed ruck bag and valise you may have trouble going prone then trying to get eyes on the C79 Elcan while wearing the CG634 Gallet Ballistic Helmet.
The Down East 1606AC Alice Compatable Airborne Frame are $35.91 plus shipping at direct sales: http://downeastinc.com/cgi-bin/online/storepro.php
A few years ago, Down East introduced their 1606 "Airborne" Molle Frame, a shortened and narrow tapered improved design. This Airborne Frame changed from the M1944 Packboard-style layout to a more compact A shaped form. This frame was available for aftermarket purchase and was adopted as part of rucksack designs for the Australian Military.
Some clever individuals adapted the 1606 Frame to the US LC-2 All Purpose Lightweight Individual Carry Equipment, aka "ALICE" Pack or more affectionately referred to as the "Green Tick" for its bloated form that just sucks the blood out of you on long road marches. Down East responded by changing the 1606 design slightly so the top brace would fit into the Alice pack frame pocket with no modifications resulting in the 1606AC.
After a short eval over on www.Lightfighter.net of the 1606AC installed onto a current Afghanistan-theatre-issued Multicam (or Operation Enduring Freedom Camo Pattern-OCP) Molle II Large Rucksack:
http://lightfighter.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9046084761/m/57520638663 a Canadian Forces Trooper inquired if the 1606AC was adaptable to the 1964 Pattern Rucksack System. After some experimentation in the wee hours of the morning, I was indeed able to securely mount the 64 Ruck Bag, Valise and A7 Straps to the 1606AC Frame. My "Jump Ruck" is a Mat Tech modified Ruck Bag, with 82 Pattern Shoulder Straps and US LC-2 Alice Pack Waist Belt.
I was able to first install the 82 Pat Shoulder Straps/Lat Pad, the 64 Pack with the vertical attachment straps extended to at least 18in long, and a US Alice Waist Belt with strap assy.
The 1606AC is about 2.5" shorter in height, and about 2.5" wider at the horizontal supports.
The ruck will ride higher. So if you have the 64 Bag full, plus your Thermarest and Valise, you may have problems with the Gallet bumping against the Valise, limiting your visual range.
The good news is, when you cinch the load lifters on the shoulder straps, the 1606AC Frame really flexes as your walk, it won't beat you up like the Alice, 64 or 82 "birdcage" frame.
The 82 Pattern Shoulder Strap Assy needs to be installed first. It would fit better if the 2 horizontal straps could be shortened on the buckle side. Take some Timmies down to your Mat Techs, have them alter the 2 horizontal straps, lengthen the two vertical ruck attachment straps to at least 16", 18" would be even better, and make two longer waist pad install straps, at least 30" at a minimum, 32-34" is even better.
Install the 64 Pattern Rucksack Bag on the frame, run the two vertical straps through one of the 2 horizontal slits under the lat pad, up through the one horizontal slit on the wide horizontal support arm, around the rectangular rucksack ring, back through that horizontal slit.
Run the lower friction buckle through the large handle hole in the lower frame and cinch down the vertical ruck attach strap.
I attached the two rectangular lower ruck attachment rings to the Alice Waist Belt using the custom or US GI Strap. Run the strap from inside the frame, thru the middle waist belt slot, around the Alice Waist Belt Ring, around the ruck ring, and back through the same waist belt slot. Do the same for the other side and cinch down with buckle, tape loose end.
Use the other waist strap to secure the two shoulder strap attachment rings on the ruck bag bottom corners. Run the strap from inside the frame, through the lower waist strap slits around the ring, back through the either slit. Do the same for the other side then cinch down the strap and tape your loose ends.
Attach the shoulder strap quick release strap thru the top waist belt slit.
I attached the A7 Straps through the large slots on the top frame, then down behind the ruck bag to the larger 2 slots just above the handle holes in the lower frame. Then through the long horizontal slits under the handle cut-out, and back up over top the ruck bag to better cinch down the entire Valise and Ruck Bag.
I haven't tried tabbing with this 64/82/Alice/1606 Ruck-Frame combination as of yet. So your mileage may vary.
With a heavily stuffed ruck bag and valise you may have trouble going prone then trying to get eyes on the C79 Elcan while wearing the CG634 Gallet Ballistic Helmet.
The Down East 1606AC Alice Compatable Airborne Frame are $35.91 plus shipping at direct sales: http://downeastinc.com/cgi-bin/online/storepro.php
