British Aircrew Mk2 Life Jacket
The Mk2 life jacket was a big departure from the design of the Mk1 life jacket (1941 pattern) where several improvements were made.
A fairly major drawback of the Mk2 life jacket was that it couldn't be inflated while a parachute harness is worn, as the straps pass over the top of the stole container. The result of this is that aircrew parachuting from a strickened aircraft have to wait until they are dumped into water before releasing the parachute harness, and only then inflating the life jacket stole.
NOTE: Later life jackets resolved this issue by allowing the parachute straps to pass under the outer edges of the stole container so the stole could be inflated durig parachute descent.
Service Images
Mk2 Life Jackets
.
RAF / RN Resources
AP1182E Vol 1, Section 2,
AP1182E Vol 1, Section 2, Chapter 2, Table 1 (AL47, February 1955)
Quote:
Description Stores Ref. Aircrew life jacket, Mk2 (one size only) consisting of:- 22C/1180 Waistcoat 22C/1181 Stole, complete with oral inflation valve 22C/1182 Operating Head, Type M 6D/1624 CO2 cylinder - 34 grammes, light alloy 6D/1623 Fluorescine sea marker 22C/1185 Whistle 22C/1186 Lifeline and toggle 22C/1187 Ground/air emergency code 27H/2733 Heliograph, 2in. x 2in. 27H/2107 Life-jacket lamp, complete with skull cap 5A/3739