U.S. Military Desert BootsThe Persian Gulf War (1990-1991) required a large ground force to operate in desert conditions, an environment that was not encountered by U.S. troops since the North African campaign early in World War II. The combat boots available at the beginning of the Gulf War were not suited to the desert. The Jungle Boot, intended for hot-wet climate conditions like Vietnam, was the closest match so the Jungle Boot was modified for the hot-dry desert. The resulting Tan-colored Boots, Hot Weather (generally known as Desert Boots) were used extensively in the 1990s and formed the basis for the hot weather Army and Marine Corps Combat Boots of the 2000s.
Development of U.S. Military Desert Boots
In 1989, Wellco Enterprises (North Carolina) was awarded a development contract by the U.S. Army Natick laboratory to assist with a new desert boot concept, an initiative backed by General Norman Schwarzkopf, the U.S. commander in the Persian Gulf region. At the time, Wellco was making the all-leather black combat boot for the military. They shipped several rounds of prototype improved desert boots to Natick under the development contract. On 2 August 1990, Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait, the hostile act that precipitated the Persian Gulf War. Operation Desert Shield was launched 7 August as personnel were sent to protect Saudi Arabia, equipped with standard black combat boots or the black/green Vietnam-era Jungle Boots. By September 1990, a decision was made to modify the Jungle Boot for desert use with some quick fix changes:
At the same time, the high rate of mobilization called for increased orders for the standard Jungle Boot, as well as black combat boots, with overlapping manufacturing of the older models and development of the new. By November 1990, the rate of use in the Gulf was so high that an all-out acceleration of the Desert Boot was demanded from Wellco. Working almost around the clock, by December a pair of prototype boots was finished and delivered personally to Gen. Schwarzkopf (size 11 1/2R) along with commitments to high-rate manufacturing in the coming months. Gen. Schwarzkopf was not happy with the prototype Desert Boots he received from Wellco or with other commercial models and prototypes reviewed. The Desert Boot was briefly frozen while waiting for a decision on how to proceed. Finally, the Wellco ND914 was chosen from nine contenders and, during December 1990 and early January 1991, procurement gears began to turn with the first 5,000 pairs delivered 15 Jan 1991. Eventually all of Gen. Schwarzkopf's concerns were met and an updated version of the Desert Boot was made by four manufacturers. Desert Boots After Gulf WarThe Desert Boots, based on the Wellco design as further modified to meet Gen. Schwarzkopf's demands and by experience in the Gulf War, were produced by:
These boots were procured for use in the Persian Gulf region for continuing operations after the war as well as in other hot weather regions, although the standard boots of the time were still the black leather Infantry Combat Boot or the Jungle Boot. The suede Desert Boots of Operation Desert Storm were the first change after forty years of shined black boots. But with the introduction of the digital camouflage uniforms (the ABU and MCCUU) in the U.S. military in the 2000s, there was also a changeover to tan rough-texture Army and Marine Combat Boots. The Hot Weather version of the new boot was based on the successful design of the Desert Boot. Desert Boots Specifications and Stock NumbersThe Desert Boot is defined by a modification to MIL-B-43154, the Jungle Boot specification. The specification was modified 15 February 1991 to include two options:
Revision MIL-B-43154L (15 Feb 1991, called Boots, Hot Weather) includes important new features, changes, and a host of minor revisions. A final version of the spec, MIL-B-43154M (26 Jun 1992) made additional minor changes. The differences from the original Jungle Boot include:
The basic 10-inch boot's design, including a Panama Sole, was retained from its Jungle Boot origin. The Desert Tan (Type II) MIL-B-43154 boots are identified by NSN 8430-01-325-6451 to 8430-01-325-6552. Within the range of NSNs there are a large number of sizes and widths stocked in an attempt to try to match the soldier's foot as closely as possible. Commercial mil-spec Desert Boots are available through Amazon.com at the link. Desert Boots Instruction TagDesert Boots (Boots, Hot Weather) are issued with a buff colored instruction tag containing the following text, specified in MIL-B-43154L for Type II boots. Paragraph 5 was removed in MIL-B-43154 Revision M.
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