Yugoslavian Combat Pack(Serbian Surplus)

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The Pack:

Short History:

The pack was introduced to the newly formed National Yugoslavian Army or JNA, under the command of the famous and infamous Josip Tito, who led a resistance organization fighting the German occupation of Yugoslavia. After the war he assumed the role of Prime Minister (later President), and Marshall of Yugoslavia, meaning he had supreme control of the JNA, numbering about 8.000.000 men. After Tito’s death, religious and ethnic violence spiraled into several wars. During the Croatian War of Independence, Serbian rebels were outfitted by the JNA and also got a hold of this pack. This means that the pack was probably issued to Yugoslavian troops in the 50’s and saw continues service until the late 1990’s, quite the service record.

Well that’s nice, but is it any good?

How is it?

The pack looks horrid. You take one look at this “Thing” and it sends shivers down your spine. The first thing you notice is the size which is MICROSCOPIC this might be the smallest military pack that was issued independently. 
UPDATE(17-08-2013) So, i figured out why its so small. It wasn't actually used as an independent pack, but as a part of a chest-rig system. It was worn on top of the chest-rig to make it easy to take of, if you needed to be quick about your feet. 

In the pic, the only thing I was able to squeeze into the main compartment was my small summer sleeping-bag. This means that the pack probably wasn't used as a means of carrying a lot of gear for a great length of time.

The carrying-straps on the pack is one of the most interesting features on the pack, as these are not, like on most packs, both old and modern, sewn onto the pack, but rather connected by 4 clips. Secondly the straps are actually not connected in a single system, but actually consists of 2 separate straps that connect like this:

My first impressions of the pack, when just carrying it around the house, was that the carrying-system works surprisingly well. As back destroying(yes, destroying) as it may look, it actually seems half decent.

Underneath the pack you get 2 additional straps which seem really solid. I don’t care how angry your five year old nephew is, he ain't gonna gnaw through these.

The straps can be seen in this picture holding my jacket, and that’s pretty much the maximum stress I would put on these, not because they cant take it, believe me! I've already told you once, they will not break. But because if you start attaching sleeping bags, cotton tarps or the skulls of your enemies, the comfort of the pack is going to suffer.

Anything special?

Because of the size of the pack, I was really impressed about the number of features that you get.

The straps are, as I said, attached with clips and can be removed, they can in turn be fastened to these:

and if you do this right you will end up with this handsome shoulder-pack:

which I suspect actually was one of the purposes of the pack. Because this makes the pack double as a bread-bag, I mean why would anyone want to throw money at both a pack and a bread-bag when you can just issue 2 of the same pack to every soldier, clever!

The Pack also contains, what has been described as a “loot bag”, however, I am fairly certain that it was used as a sort of integrated gas mask container, hence(as we say in Denmark) striking 2 flies with one swing, as the army then did not have to be bothered with issuing gas-mask-bags as well, good thinking there. (A picture of the “Loot-bag” will be coming up shortly)

The front pocket:

is a nice feature unless you plan on using this pack as a pack, the only thing I have used it for so far, is as a place to keep the other strap, when I use the pack as a shoulder bag.

The bad, The badder and the even badder than the badder and the bad put together:

What I really need on this pack are side pockets, I have no clue where to put my water bottle, but then again, if your mess kit looks like this:

Picture courtesy of: http://webbingbabel.blogspot.dk/

the water bottle is the least of your worries, oh wait, no it isn't, because the water bottle is in the center of the mess kit! WHAT WERE THESE GUYS THINKING! But yeah side pockets would have been appreciated.

The size is ridicules, there is no way that this pack was designed by anyone who has even had the slightest idea about what the common soldier has to carry with him, a bit harsh I know, but look a it! There is no way in the seven heavens that this even has a remote chance of carrying a tenth of what you are going to need in the field.

But the worst thing about the pack, in my opinion is that someone actually have thought about the design. WHAT? Yes, as you can see in this picture:

someone actually tried this on and said, ”What this needs is more back-support” so they padded the back of the pack. And many of the details I have already mentioned have clearly been put there after someone tried it out and had an idea. This means that either A) someone somewhere was “smart” enough to test a combat pack and add important features, but didn't care that it’s impossible to carry anything with you, not even water or B) someone in the bowels of the Yugoslavian army headquarters really wanted to lose his job.

How much and where do I get one of these beauties?

I got mine for 8£ (9 EUR and 12 $) on eBay.

and I've seen them for a lower price, at around 5£ (6 EUR and 7,5 $) in bad condition, but as time goes on, as it always is in the world of surplus, there will be fewer and fewer of these around and prices will go up.

They go for as much as 20£ (23 EUR and 30$) for some in really good condition.

I think the maximum that i would pay at the moment would be around 10-12£ (11,5-14 EUR and 15-18 $) if they want more than that, they are overcharging!
If you live in the States, i suggest taking a look at Yugoslavian Army Rucksack, they sell the pack for 9.95$, which is a really good price.

If all ells fails, EBAY!

Conclusion to this rant? 

The weird thing about this pack, is that it actually works a lot better as a civilian pack than it ever did as a military one, or at least according to my divine opinion. Its to small for military gear, I don’t care how much you hate your troops and how crappy and faulty their gear is, its just to small! But as a civilian pack it works for those days when you are going to the woods and you don’t plan on sleeping out. There is room enough for water, knife, fire-steel, axe, food, and a jacket.

Finally I really like this pack, it’s just to cool, I mean it was made in the 1950’s and not anywhere near the standards of a modern 1990’s army but it didn't care, it was like: “Issue me, I’ll fight this war for you!”

The overall verdict is four bus-stop signs our of 6

On a side note: I am not in anyway trying to make fun of the Balkan conflict I am merely reviewing a pack.

Also a field test of this and the Ludvig is comming up shortly.

Thanks for reading
Chris

This was issued as probably issued as a bread-bag, designed to be part of a chest-rig system, but as long as retailers market this as: Yugoslavian Combat Pack, i reserve the right to review it as such.

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