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UBAS Combat Shirt: The Complete Guide

Chemise de combat UBAS : le guide complet - Welkit

As an integral part of the modern fighter's outfit, the combat shirt is now widely used by military personnel and intervention forces around the world. It is known by several abbreviations such as UBAS (Under Body Armor Shirt), UBACS (Under Body Armour Combat Shirt) or ACS (Army Combat Shirt), which can be translated into French as "chemise à porter sous le gilet pare-balle" or simply "chemise de combat".

The combat shirt was created by the US Army in the early 2000s, during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to respond to the hot climate and face the constant threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) present on the ground, forcing each soldier to wear a ballistic protection vest. In short, the combat shirt is a hybrid garment that has the sleeves of a combat jacket and a body made of soft, lightweight, and breathable fabric designed for prolonged wear of a plate carrier vest.

Technical Characteristics

Regardless of the model or brand, a combat shirt stands out from a classic tactical garment by the difference in fabrics used during its manufacture between the body part and the sleeves.

Torso & Back:
The body part of a combat shirt is generally made of cotton and polyester with a 2/3 - 1/3 distribution to prevent the fabric blend from melting in case of burns. This fabric is soft, comfortable, and very breathable, it effectively wicks away sweat and will be perfect for wearing an SMB vest. Depending on the models, it can also be entirely flame-retardant for more protection against flames.

Sleeves:
The sleeves are made with the same materials used for the design of combat jackets. The fabric is often a blend of rip-stop cotton and nylon (a 50/50 blend in general). Very robust and anti-abrasive, the sleeves of a UBAS shirt aim to protect the parts of the soldier's body that are not covered by the plate carrier vest.

Other Technical Characteristics

Depending on the brand or type of mission, the technical characteristics of a UBAS shirt can vary from one model to another. Here are the most common ones:

Zip Collar:
Simple and effective, most combat shirts have a collar closed with a zip, offering its user the possibility to ventilate or protect against the sun and dust.

Reinforcements:
The elbow area is the one that wears out the fastest on a shirt or combat jacket, very often this area is doubled by a second layer of fabric or padding, but some models can also have a specifically designed slot for removable soft protection.

Pockets:
Almost all modern UBAS shirts have one or more pockets on the arm closed with a hook-and-loop fastener or a zip. Easily accessible, they are ideal for carrying small equipment.

Velcro Patch:
Designed to attach a badge, rank, blood type identifier, or any other professional identification accessories, the Velcro patch on combat shirts is located on the upper sleeves.

Pen Slot:
Not mandatory, but always very practical, some models of combat shirts have a pen slot near the pocket.

Ventilation Zone:
Although the fabric constituting the body part is very breathable, some manufacturers add additional ventilation zones under the armpits in case of high heat.

The UBAS Shirt for Intervention Forces

Originally designed for soldiers deployed in hot environments, the combat shirt is also widely used by intervention forces (GIGN, RAID, FIPN, BRI...). They use the UBAS shirt for the comfort and flexibility it offers, especially with the use of a plate carrier vest. Using the same properties as the military combat shirt, it differs only in its color.

See our selection of combat shirts

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