The M-1965 Field Jacket, also known as the M65, is a popular field jacket designed for the US military. It was introduced into US military service in 1965 to replace the M-1951 field jacket, an evolution of a Second World War design, the M-1943 field jacket. The M-65 field jacket was widely used by United States troops during the Vietnam War in which the jacket became useful for troops serving in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, as well as keeping a soldier warm from the cool weather conditions that came after monsoonal rains.
Originally introduced in olive drab, it is now produced in a variety of patterns including Woodland camouflage, “chocolate-chip” desert camouflage, Tigerstripe, black, navy blue, Universal Camouflage Pattern, and the Australian Disruptive Pattern Camouflage. The frontmost portion of the jacket has two large hip pockets and two medium-sized breast pockets. The size of the breast pockets were intended to hold m14 magazines, which is 7.62mm NATO caliber (similar to 30 caliber rifle cartridge). The lower torso pockets were intended to carry either more magazines, or grenades, which is why they’re wider; to allow easy-reach to deploy grenades. When US switched to 5.56 caliber M16 rifles, the magazines were narrower, but breast pockets were perfect for 30-round banana clips. The rearmost neck portion and collar of the jacket features a zipper which houses a protective hood.
The jacket can be combined with a button-in insulated lining for cold weather wear.
This is the best jacket I’ve ever owned! I got the liner for it and wore it all winter and never got cold in single digit weather. – Travis Pope
I’ve had one for about 10 years now, still in very good shape, but I have decided to order a new one anyway. Same size, color and model… Why mess with perfection? – Evert Meulie
Every Vietnam Veteran I know brought his field jacket home and wore it until it literally fell off of his body! I know I did. I have been looking for another for quite a while, and this is it!! This is the best mid-weather jacket ever made, IMHO. While you can easily find the button-in liner which converts the M65 to a cold weather parka, I never used mine and don’t know whatever happened to it (the liner). Just buy the coat, and see what all of us already know: Uncle Sam doesn’t screw EVERYTHING up (just most things)! – James T. Gibson III “Rev. Jim”
Travel back to 1959. Knoxville, Tennessee. The United States Department of Defense recruits Alpha to revamp its military jacket. Why? Because as the jet age takes flight to greater heights and ground troops encounter trickier terrain, the technological needs and real-life demands of our soldiers change. Simply put, but not simply achieved, Alpha re-engineers outdated designs. As better fabrics are developed and tested, Alpha makes better jackets for our soldiers-better designed, better produced, and more reliable. Alpha garments are ranked as warmer, more comfortable, and designed to meet any climatic challenge or test of time.
Today, Alpha Industries is not only a global enterprise, manufacturing and selling its products throughout the world, but also the premier supplier of jackets for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, and Marine Corps. Alpha sets the standard as a leader in cutting-edge outerwear design. From flight decks to civilian sidewalks, Alpha stands on the frontlines of quality and fashion, as a testament to innovation, creativity and manufacturing know-how. The honest truth is that Alpha is tried, and tested, and proven.
M-65 and Alpha
The M-65 field coat by Alpha is the workhorse of American infantry outerwear for the past three decades.
* Nyco M-65 Wind Resistant 50% Cotton/50% Nylon Sateen Outer shell with 225 lbs. Breaking strength. Water repellent
* Cuffs with velcro® for attachment to gloves and complete coverage of hands
* 139 separate sewing operations go into making the M-65
* Bi-swing back permits free range of movement
* Hanging pockets with snap fastener closures
* Bellows breast pockets
* Buttons for liner attachment
* Waist, hood and bottom drawcord
* Heavy brass zippered front closure with snap fasteners
* Concealed hood
* Imported
The M-1965 Field Jacket, also known as the M65, is a popular field jacket designed for the US military. It was introduced into US military service in 1965 to replace the M-1951 field jacket, an evolution of a Second World War design, the M-1943 field jacket. The M-65 field jacket was widely used by United States troops during the Vietnam War in which the jacket became useful for troops serving in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam, as well as keeping a soldier warm from the cool weather conditions that came after monsoonal rains.
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Buy World War II era M43 jacket