Tactical Assault Panel (TAP)

The TAP, or Tactical Assault Panel, was a move by the US Military to create a more modern alternative to the ubiquitous FLC. Introduced well after the adoption of the MOLLE II system, the TAP follows the general trend toward chest rigs utilized by militaries, police, and civilians around the world, while exhibiting the characteristic modularity you'd expect from MOLLE. It's essentially a large bandoleer capable of carrying eight magazines high up on the wearer's chest with the outward facing side covered in PALS webbing, providing generous real estate for whatever additional pockets or pouches you may need. It's basically a futuristic version of the the iconic Chinese chest rig or South African Pattern 83, and functions best by way of this concept. There is a tendency among many, especially Active Duty US Service Members, to cover every inch of webbing on the TAP with bulky sustainment, IFAK, and GP pouches. While these resources are no doubt important, consolidating all of these items on a chest rig, in addition to fully loaded mags, results in a dense amount of weight high above your center of gravity. Without a good counter balance, this can lead to back pain with prolonged use, and so much bulk at chest level can make going prone a challenge. When conceptualized as a high speed, lightweight assault rig, prioritizing ammunition and basic tools for a slick profile, the TAP really comes into its own. Different tools for different jobs.

As a chest rig panel, the TAP conforms to the shape of your torso. This results in bending at two points in the rig which can hinder the placement of magazines in two of the eight pockets. Additionally, the furthest right and left pockets fall directly under the wearers arms and can be awkward to reach at times.  This renders four of the eight pockets less than ideal for magazine placement, but doesn't mean that they have no utility. The two pockets along the fold will comfortably accommodate tourniquets, chem lights, skittles, or similar small yet long items. The two pockets at the flanks are actually slightly larger than the others and backed by ridged plastic bracing, making them ideal for radios, cross draw holsters, and larger items. If you do opt not to utilize these four pockets for magazines, you can easily compensate for the loss by attaching triple and double mag pouches to the PALs webbing, quickly boosting your capacity back up to eight or more. Additionally, each pocket includes rudimentary hook and loop tabs for mag retention. Although they are functional, they aren't very popular, with many people opting to replace them with bungee or kydex inserts. And while the pockets aren't quite big enough to fit two AR mags, they are big enough for AK mags, so you can rest easy wearing your TAP with your track suit and ushanka. 

Besides the PALs webbing, much of the TAP's modularity comes from its harness system. The TAP includes four anchor points, each with its own buckle, allowing you to to easily detach the simplistic Y harness from the panel. The idea is that you can wear the TAP by itself with the harness, or remove the harness and seamlessly clip the Panel to a plate carrier. This solve the problem or having to swap your load out or stretch your rig over the top of your armor. It also provides an opportunity to replace the stock Y harness for any number of superior after market options at low cost. To that end, its recommended to add new anchor points to each corner of the TAP utilizing PALs compatible buckles to better support the rig.

Overall, the TAP is a fantastic option for a modular chest rig offering capabilities on par with expensive Gucci gear for a fraction of the price.

Features

• 8 Magazine capacity, 4 main and two additional pockets on each flank. Can be used for a variety of additional items, and will accommodate AK magazine.
  
• 3 internal mesh pockets. Two hook and loop and one with YKK zipper.
• Front mounted PALs webbing for mounting of additional pouches.
• Includes adjustable Y harness.
• Durable water resistant cordura nylon construction.
• 4 anchor points with male clips for mounting to plate carriers or swapping harnesses. 

Condition Guide

- All TAPs are in Good condition and may show minor signs of use including some fading and markings. They are free of any significant damage that would impact form or functionality. All TAPs will include the standard Y harness, although it is recommended that you replace it for more comfortable options.