Mountain/Cold Weather Clothing System (or Cold Weather Layering System, CWLS)
Overview
The Marine Corps requires a Mountain/Cold Weather Clothing System with improvements that provide:
- Better moisture management
- More flexibility in layering to better adapt to changing environment and level of protection needed (-40°F to 70°F temperature, wet/dry, wind, camouflage, activity level).
- Faster drying time
- Lighter weights
- Lower pack volume
- Improved Marine performance/effectiveness in harsh climates
Components
Silkweight Underwear
The new next-to-skin underwear is intended for wear by male and female military personnel of the USMC in mountainous and cold weather environments. It will provide improved moisture management and comfort when worn in intermediate to cold weather environments. It will be part of the Mountain/Cold Weather Clothing System and will also replace the current lightweight CW underwear set (LWCWUS).
The undershirt is a mock turtle neck undershirt with a zip closure and long sleeves with a monkey paw design. The drawers have a front fly and a cuffless leg. The underwear comes in a Coyote silkweight material (a Polartec Power Dry fabric) that has both wicking and antiodor performance.
Grid Fleece Underwear
The mid-weight grid fleece underwear is intended for wear by male and female military personnel of the USMC in mountainous and cold weather environments. It will provide improved moisture management, insulation and comfort when worn in intermediate to cold weather environments. It will be part of the Mountain/Cold Weather Clothing System and will replace the current polypropylene CW underwear set, and fleece pullover.
The mid-weight undershirt is a 1/2 zip design with a mock turtleneck, an internal kangaroo pocket and long sleeves with a monkey paw design. The drawers have an improved fly opening and a cuffless leg. The underwear comes in a Coyote stretch grid fleece material (a Polartec Power Dry fabric) that has wicking, low bulk and insulation characteristics.
Windpro Fleece Jacket
The windpro fleece jacket is intended for wear by male and female military personnel of the USMC in mountainous and cold weather environments. It will provide improved wind resistance, breathabilty and water repellency when worn in intermediate to cold weather environments. It will be part of the Mountain/Cold Weather Clothing System and will replace the current fleece jackets.
The windpro fleece jacket is an updated version of the current fleece jacket - the pit zips and reinforcement patches on the upper chest, back and shoulders have been deleted. To reduce bulk, the undercollar is a Taslan material and stretch fleece side / underarm panels have been added for mobility and breathability. The jacket comes in the Desert MARPAT print w/ a durable water repellent finish (a Polartec Wind Pro fabric) that has wind resistance, breathabilty and water repellent performance characteristics.
Lightweight Exposure Suit (lightweight hard-shell rain suit)
Happy Suit (extreme cold weather jacket, trousers, booties)
Snow Camouflage Overwhite(jacket, trouser, pack cover)
Mitten System & Liner
Fleece Cap
The hardface micro fleece cap is intended for wear by male and female military personnel of the USMC in mountainous and cold weather environments. It will provide improved wind resistance, durability and water repellency when worn in intermediate to cold weather environments. It will be part of the Mountain/Cold Weather Clothing System and will ultimately replace/phase out the current micro fleece caps.
The hardface micro fleece cap is an updated version of the current micro fleece cap. The sizing has been adjusted to improve the fit and to assure the best fit to all Marines, the cap will be available in two sizes Small/Medium and Large/XLarge. The cap is Coyote in color. The material is a 95% polyester and 5% spandex, (Polartec Wind Pro Hardface) fleece which provides wind resistance, breathability and has a durable water repellent finish.
National Stock Numbers
| Silkweight Underwear | ||
|---|---|---|
| Undershirt | ||
| Regular | Long | |
| X-Small | 8415-01-555-0899 | |
| Small | 8415-01-555-0901 | |
| Medium | 8415-01-555-0905 | 8415-01-555-0910 |
| Large | 8415-01-555-0924 | 8415-01-555-0926 |
| X-Large | 8415-01-555-0927 | 8415-01-555-0932 |
| Drawers | ||
| Regular | Long | |
| X-Small | 8415-01-555-0941 | |
| Small | 8415-01-555-0942 | |
| Medium | 8415-01-555-0955 | 8415-01-555-1109 |
| Large | 8415-01-555-1101 | 8415-01-555-1102 |
| X-Large | 8415-01-555-1107 | 8415-01-555-1110 |
| Grid Fleece Underwear | ||
| Pullover | ||
| Regular | Long | |
| X-Small | 8415-01-555-3421 | |
| Small | 8415-01-555-3422 | |
| Medium | 8415-01-555-3453 | 8415-01-555-3462 |
| Large | 8415-01-555-3468 | 8415-01-555-3476 |
| X-Large | 8415-01-555-3478 | 8415-01-555-3483 |
| Drawers | ||
| Regular | Long | |
| X-Small | 8415-01-555-3504 | |
| Small | 8415-01-555-3509 | |
| Medium | 8415-01-555-3515 | 8415-01-555-3565 |
| Large | 8415-01-555-3569 | 8415-01-555-3571 |
| X-Large | 8415-01-555-3585 | 8415-01-555-3577 |
| Windpro Fleece Jacket | ||
| Regular | Long | |
| X-Small | 8415-01-555-7520 | |
| Small | 8415-01-555-7526 | |
| Medium | 8415-01-555-7571 | 8415-01-555-7585 |
| Large | 8415-01-555-7588 | 8415-01-555-7590 |
| X-Large | 8415-01-555-7596 | 8415-01-555-7678 |
| Fleece Cap | ||
| Small to Medium | 8415-01-554-9623 | |
| Large to X-Large | 8415-01-554-9632 | |
References
- https://www3.natick.army.mil/mastsoldet2.cfm?recordID=W911QY07R0013
- http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/pmice/IndustryInfo/ABPIMay07/ColdWeatCloth%26Equip/USMCMCW.pdf
- http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/pmice/IndustryInfo/ABPIMay07/ColdWeatCloth%26Equip/USMCLayerSystem.pdf
- http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/pmice/InfoPapers/Clothing/SilkUnderwear.pdf [2007][2008]
- http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/pmice/InfoPapers/Clothing/GridFleece.pdf [2007][2008]
- http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/pmice/InfoPapers/Clothing/WindproFleece.pdf [2007] [2008] [2009]
- http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/pmice/InfoPapers/Clothing/FleeceCap.pdf [2007] [2008] [2009]
- http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/pmice/InfoPapers/Clothing/SnowCamo.pdf [2007] [2008] [2009]
- http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/pmice/InfoPapers/Clothing/MittenSystem.pdf [2007] [2008] [2009]
- http://www.polartec.com/stuff/contentmgr/files/c6c8938ff066b839db8175d7bc58b6ae/pdf1/p_usmc_cwls_data07_mech.pdf