Virtus kit

[ButcherBill]

I promise I did look for this info...

 

So as a wee bit of a collector I've been looking around at the Virtus STV etc that is actual issued equipment to the British Army, is there a detailed PDF/booklet with accessories officially issued?

My google investigations have picked up bits n pieces to look at but TBH a lot of it seems like aftermarket pouches/ cumberbunds etc. I'm hoping there is something like the Osprey mk IV booklet

Osprey Mk 4 Body Armour - PDF Free Download (1).pdf

[Spartan09]

dont know about a pdf, but there are booklets.

i picked one up on ebay earlier this year, and a little bit of google-fu turns up this listing, if you really want a physical copy of your own..

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/157260580079?_skw=british+army+virtus+equipment+user+manual&itmmeta=01K8GWJRH0DG385G6V8RE6TFDH&hash=item249d7604ef:g:IS8AAeSwFfNopyI8&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1e2n3viT7yxXYNAddctCmzAxPLoVog7CA7JExM8dnLwRocrjfHGBfpteSu%2B7cenN92C4%2FE3rPPYHPShtacno4RvxU%2FKkENWP%2FoZqNsDWH2RoGNy%2F6YOuicw%2FweEscwzxTsksdS5NPOh4Hui8ywDQ75SXFH3h%2FR2nFwu0KsslQQhY9WETCo%2B%2FUcVRjvRPOgFqpEA3Zoj8KutejfUbGD36C7fAg66dyHHvrb2%2FrpI5q8%2FO80n2v%2B89pcMepJqVA5b1r34PItO%2BDIJvXQXbWUC%2F2A909HcmLejUtoirYOaGNJNzF5wisR7fJ7s%2BfscnCZLK98%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-CIy5zEZg

[TheFull9]

I don't know a ton about the current stuff, but if you eBay search (for example) osprey pouch you'll quickly be able to collate the whole set that was issued. I've done the same for 'virtus pouch' before and it seems like most if not all come up and of course there's multiple pictures and angles spread across the listings. Submit the word belt or bag etc in place of pouch and you can find probably 95%+ of everything.

[ButcherBill]

1 hour ago, Spartan09 said:

i picked one up on ebay earlier this year, and a little bit of google-fu turns up this listing, if you really want a physical copy of your own..

Thanks for this, I'm tight so will wait for a 'bootleg' version.

37 minutes ago, TheFull9 said:

I don't know a ton about the current stuff, but if you eBay search (for example) osprey pouch you'll quickly be able to collate the whole set that was issued. I've done the same for 'virtus pouch' before and it seems like most if not all come up and of course there's multiple pictures and angles spread across the listings. Submit the word belt or bag etc in place of pouch and you can find probably 95%+ of everything.

Thanks, I've done that, usually brings up accessories that are obviously aftermarket.

[Tommikka]

You can try a scan of these

 

 

https://www.sourcetacticalgear.net/source-virtus-soldier-system/

 

https://paradata.org.uk/archive/premium-content/documents-0/virtus-user-assembly-maintenance-and-care-instructions/4509231-virtus-user-assembly-maintenance-and-care-instructions-page-1?

 

 

https://www.scribd.com/document/342330774/UK-Virtus-program-pdf
 

 

[ButcherBill]

Thanks, I've seen tho too.

[ButcherBill]

On 26/10/2025 at 18:32, Spartan09 said:

i picked one up on ebay earlier this year, and a little bit of google-fu turns up this listing, if you really want a physical copy of your own..

I got the one from fleabay... OMG, it's a 200 page paperback.

[Spartan09]

On 07/11/2025 at 15:29, ButcherBill said:

I got the one from fleabay... OMG, it's a 200 page paperback.

Yeah, it is a pretty hefty tome considering...

 

 

One thing I would add..  if you are looking to buy a yoke (H or Y) and battle belt,  just check if they are original or revision B...   rev.B belts and the adapter between yoke and belt are slightly wider.  If you have an original yoke and a Rev.B belt, you will need to cut the adapter panel in half to get it to fit. (Fortunately it's double sided velcro, so it's easy enough to secure the two halves inside the belt itself)

 

Also, I found the clips on the STV to be quite brittle...   I have had an STV for less than a year and when i inspected it on Sunday I found two clips with one of the teeth broken off and one of the guides for the waist adjuster straps has broken too, so I now need to find replacements

[ButcherBill]

I've already got an STV with genuine MOD dirt from fleabay, I'm a big fat lad but the LW size is still tight as hell (just as well I wasn't planning on using it), I've got a set of webbing with H-harness on it's way, a seperate Y-harness and a few other pouches for the setup. Still waiting on a few items but I'll be posting pics as soon as it's ready & the site has transferred over to it's new home.

 

First impressions are the Osprey mk4 is a better fit than the virtus for my lard arse, but weighs a tonne when set up.

 

Must admit I've ordered 2 sets of shock cord & cord stoppers as it took me a few attempts to find tan/coyote and bought black first, now got the right colour & thickness on it's way too.

 

The Virtus collection will increase as time & funds allow.

 

I did notice the buckles were 'weathered' & a bit firm but again, I'm not planning on using the STV

Edited yesterday at 19:09 by ButcherBill

[EvilMonkee]

Please only buy from authorised surplus stores.  

[ButcherBill]

3 minutes ago, EvilMonkee said:

Please only buy from authorised surplus stores.  

Why?

[Tommikka]

14 hours ago, EvilMonkee said:

Please only buy from authorised surplus stores.  

 

14 hours ago, ButcherBill said:

Why?

So that I don’t make the profit on eBay

 

…. Or he is probably referencing that kit gets stolen / falls out of the back of QMs / sold because a squaddie gets their hands on multiples 

 

“Authorised” army surplus comes out via contracted routes 

 

Soldier exchanges item at QMs

Depending on the item, condition etc it goes back on the shelf or thrown into a box

Everyone nose dives the box (not part of the process)

Box gets transferred to bulk container / skip

Container / skip goes to contractor (paid by weight)

Contractor disposes / processes / sells

Contract has a line entry for profit share back to MoD

 

During the nose dive squaddies obtain extra items to be exchanged at a later date, claim to redistribute to cadets etc to “save the MoD the cost of disposal” and to “save the costs to cadets/cadet units” ….. and contract disposal costs go up because the usable contents have disappeared.

Items end up in car boot sales and eBay 

 

Things can be redirected in a legitimate manner, such as Royal Navy life boats chopped up and passed through the RM charity

 

 

 

 

 

[ButcherBill]

Fair enough.

[EvilMonkee]

What Tommikka said - body armour and plates are protected category equipment and should only be sold via authorised sellers because of the protective technology involved 

Edited 5 hours ago by EvilMonkee