Nylon In The Video Game Vol.1: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater & Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Author: Beta-TNT
STABO Harness, 1980s dated. G.I. Property
Dialog between Snake and Major Tom before Virtuous Mission. In their plan Snake extracts from the AO by Fulton Surface-To-Air Recovery System. Snake wears a STABO for this purpose.
STABO Harness in the real world.
Then the uniform Snake wears. In the game player can change the color or camouflage pattern of it, but for the basic, the uniform itself is based on P-58 OG107 Utility Uniform.
On Snake’s left side there are two noticeable pouches. They are M-1956 Small Arms Ammunition Cases. Each case holds two M-14 20-round magazines.
But Snake doesn’t sticky to the Field Manual, he sets all the two cases on his left side, not symmetrical positions on the front. By this way combatant can keep aiming down sight while reloading from any ammunition case.
M-1956 Small Arms Ammunition Cases. G.I. Property.
M-1956 Pistol Belt, also used by some other characters.
But I can’t recognize his CQC knife, maybe it’s fictional.
On Snake’s right side we can see a black leather holster: M-1916 .45 Auto Holster. Snake uses it for carrying M1911A1 and M1911 Custom.
M-1916 .45 Auto Holster, G.I. Property
On Snake’s back there is a canteen, a buttpack and a radio pouch. The canteen and it’s cover is easy to recognize: 1 quarter Plastic Canteen and M-1956 Canteen Cover.
Snake’s webbing on his back.
M-1956 Water Canteen Cover, G.I. Property
1 quarter Plastic Canteen. G.I. Property.
As for his buttpack, among all the USGI webbings, the closest gear I can find is Marine M-1941 Cargo Pack. I guess they meant to use M-1961 Field Pack, due to limitations in texture resolution, the buckle part was enlarged for a better looks, and some details were removed to make it look like it is now.
M-1941 Cargo Pack. G.I. Property
In the official First In-Engine Look video of Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater released at 26th, Oct, 2023, the buttpack looks more like an M-1961 Field Pack. But there are still something wrong, such like the rim tape is too thin, the metal ends of the straps are too large, the eyelets on the flap’s right side are missing.
M-1961 Field Pack, the eyelets on the flap side is for hanging some small gears and bayonet. G.I. Property
Snake’s portable radio hides in the radio pouch all the game, but it showed up in the final cutscene: it’s an AN/PRT-4 Transmitter. There is a problem: AN/PRT-4 is just a transmitter, it doesn’t have receiving function and can not make any sound, it should be used with AN/PPR-9 Receiver.
Snake’s portable radio showed up in the final cutscene.
AN/PRT-4A (left) and AN/PRT-4 (right). G.I. Property
AN/PPR-9 Receiver. G.I. Property
The survival knife on Snake’s ankle is a well-known one: Ontario Aircrew Survival Knife. In the game Snake uses it to treat gun shot injury. But the knife itself is different from the real world item.
Ontario Aircrew Survival Knife. G.I. Property.
The one we’ve got is a later version, its sheath has metal reinforced tip.
In the early trailer video, Snake wears the survival knife on his left shoulder, not the ankle. Maybe the knife also used for combat in this version.
Snake’s boots are famous Jungle Boots in the Vietnam War, with Vibram sole.
US Army Jungle Boots in The Vietnam War. G.I. Property.
Snake’s gloves are M-1949 Cattlehide Glove Shells, with some airholes on the back and has some fingers cut off.
M-1949 Cattlehide Glove Shells. G.I. Property
Have you notice the two stiches on the flap?
Type 65 Satchel Bag is a small bag for soldiers carrying their personal items, such as raincoat, pen, notepad, etc.
Chinese Type 65 Satchel Bag, 1980 dated, G.I. Property
The satchel bag that issued to author during service.
Then let’s see her boots.
Snake meets Eva at Krasnogorje Mountaintop. In the cutscene Eva hides her Soviet style riding boots under the table, thus she forgets to change correct boots while she appears in the Groznyj Grad, Ocelot sees it through.
Cutscene after Krasnogorje Mountaintop meet.
Eva wears a pair of recognizable gloves: GS/FRP-2 Summer Flyers Gloves.
GS/FRP-2 Summer Flyer’s Glove, G.I. Property
The End’s webbings: M-1945 Suspenders, M-1936 Pistol Belt and .30 M2 Carbine 30 Round Magazine Pocket. G.I. Property
The mask bag he wears looks like M-25 Gas Mask Carrier.
M-25A1 Tank Gas Mask Carrier. G.I. Property
SPIE Harness. G.I. Property
The small pouch on his belt looks like Marine M-1961 M-14 Ammunition Pocket. G.I. Property
The pack on his hip looks like a modified M-7 Bandoleer, a.k.a. M-18 Claymore bag.
M-18 Claymore Bag. G.I. Property
M-7 Leather Holster for 9mm Auto (not .45 Auto). G.I. Property
Snake in Combat Suit and Nude looks.
Big Boss (and other Mother Base combatants)’s Fatigues
Tropical Combat Uniform (camouflage and color is )
SPIE Harness
Hot Weather Boots
(leg drop holster hasn’t recognized yet)
M-1956 Small Arms Ammunition Case
Training Field Pack, with a small piece of reflector on the flap.
ALICE LC-2 Belt, grey buckle version
ALICE LC-1 Water Canteen Cover and 1 quarter Plastic Canteen
Sneaking suit
Big Boss, Sneaking Suit
Webbings are the same as Fatigues, but only has one ammo case not two.
Battle suit
Big Boss, Battle Suit
Those two M-60 Ammunition Case looks like not USGI item but LBT’s product.
H Suspenders looks like BLACKHAWK’s product.
Blackhawk Tactical Load Bearing Suspenders (35LBS1)
LtCol. Kilgore from Apocalypse Now. No doubt Miller’s look is based on him.
Peace Sentinel: CIA’s armed forces.
“Army-like” light-armed patrols, maybe you can still remember which side-ops this photo is taken.
M-1 Helmet with ERDL camouflage helmet cover, G.I. Property
By the time Peace Walker Incident, AN/PVS-5 NVG haven’t comes out yet.
CWU-27/P Coveralls, Sage Green. G.I. Property
Basic type US Guards.
Escorts
With their helmet removed, you can see their M-17 gas mask and hood clearly.
HGU24/HGU25 Flight Deck Helmet
Tengu Soldiers from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of the Liberty, I believe Escorts in the PW are based on them.
To Be Continued…