The NATO strap in Christian, Koenig. steer article on the Mk11

Hi,
Does anybody know if the NATO strap in the picture on page 13 of the above article is from 1954 when the Bonkip was not used?
Is it a 6B/2617 ?
Regards,
Rafbid99

Also,

alwaysiwc commented on his post on the Bonklip that nato straps were already in existence but fire was a fear.

Regards,

rafbid99

Hello Rafbid99,

From the picture in the classic Mk 11 article by Greg Steer and Thomas Koenig one cannot tell for sure whether a 6B/2617 is shown as the depicted image does not show the flat side of the strap. I have only once seen such 1954 strap. It had a "desert" color and each hole in it was secured by extra stitches to prevent fraying of the hole(s). Furthermore there was a broad Arrow stamped with ink on it. I guess the presence of the nylon NATO strap( 6B/2617) was rare in contrast to the classic Bonklip ( 6B/2763). If a "forgotten" Mk 11 is found in a drawer, there is always the Bonklip. The Bonklip was also the official strap on the Mk 11 for RAAF and RNZAF, as well as for the civilian BOAC Mk 11.
Given the current standard for a watch strap, the Bonklip was "hopeless".
The story that a nylon strap could melt on the wrist in case a fire broke out in the cockpit comes from pilots who had experienced this. On the other hand the Bonklip could become as hot as hell during such disaster, but could be removed by one pull.
Kind regards,
Adrian,
(alwaysiwc).

Thanks Adrian,

I guess the 6B/2617 straps are rare, and you confirm they are close to very rare.

If the holes in the strap for the tongue were reinforced with stitching, I guess this makes it a cotton webbing strap, and not nylon webbing where the holes could be fused.

I am trying to clarify if the 6B/2617 was nylon or cotton webbing.

Regards,

Rob

The NATO-strap depicted in our article is a new one bought from a supplier of the MoD and made to the specification of the MoD. The specs haven't been changed since the 1970ies.

The old NATOs were presumably a little bit thicker and smoother. Besides that the old ones were "admiral grey" while today black or "regimental stripes" are mostly seen (and the MoD buys black ones as well). None of the old Mk. 11 NATOs were marked with Broad Arrows/Pheons (Alwaysiwc obviously refers to the straps for a w.w.w. of the British Army, not a RAF Mk. 11).

To check/prove how the old NATOs exactly looked like is hardly possible: The old specs give only the material and the dimensions, nothing more. And to find a Mk. 11 on an old NATO is as difficult as to find a classic car from the 1950ies on the tyres it was delivered to its first owner: NATOs don't last long, so nearly all have been disposed due to wear and tear.

Hope this helps

Th. Koenig

Thanks for this, I guess I was hoping to find the unique classic car still on axle stands in an overgrown barn.