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What if we have been doing NATO's wrong the entire time?

mancio
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I tried the method on two NATO, one nylon and leather and I actually really like it.
One just need to get used to it.
BF10B56C-758A-4CCE-9FEC-49B1936CB88C.jpeg

I found it more comfortable than the classic method.
 
Foo2rama
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I’m glad a lot of people are learning how nice 3 ring aka single strap aka pass through straps are to wear.

as I’ve noted my favorite straps are 3 rings I had made for my pieces.
 
G
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Fairly certain the original purpose of the second loop, is that it allowed officers to hang their watch by the buckle when not in use.

If the strap was a looser fit, and able to pass freely between the case and lugs with little resistance, there would be a chance the watch may fall off. This second loop prevents such a situation.

Nothing to do with preventing against spring bar failure, nor saving the watch should a spring bar fail.
Edited:
 
JimInOz
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G gss224
Fairly certain the original purpose of the second loop, is that it allowed officers than their watch by the buckle when not in use. If the strap was a looser fit, and Abe to pass freely between the case and lugs with little resistance, there would be a chance the watch may fall off. This second loop prevents such a situation.

I agree. The original users wearing NATO straps often had to don their watch in a hurry, and quite possibly take it off to put over a wetsuit or sleeve and this would make it easy to lose the watch due to it sliding off the strap.

It's there to simply keep the watch on the strap.
 
Foo2rama
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@JimInOz is correct.

my original post was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. But an interesting way to use one that serves a practical purpose even if it makes it a pos to put on.

mid like to think whoever brought this thread back to life as I was thinking about it yesterday and didn’t want to have to dig out a year old thread. It is now bookmarked so I can remember how to do it LOL.
 
R
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I agree the purpose of the second loop was to stop the watch sliding off the strap. A simple pull through strap will hold a watch if one springbar is dislodged, the second loop does nothing in this situation. The design requirement arose from the Omega 6B/542 issued in 1953, This had 18mm lugs and the 5/8" general service strap (DEF3) was too narrow, and the watches were damaged.
The general service strap (DEF3) was modified as in the photo below (MWR forum member : nickb)

MWR forum member Jonah220 has posted the following recollection.

After training, in 1956 I was posted to Coastal Command, on Shackleton aircraft - 4 engine maritime patrol bombers. The Shack had a crew of 10 : 2 Pilots, 2 Navigators, 5 Signallers and a Flight Engineer. There was a requirement for the Pilots and Signallers to be issued with the black dialled General Service Omega 6B/542 watches, now known as the 53 Omegas (not the 56 Omegas). These were issued with Khaki webbing straps (not canvas, nylon, leather, or Bonklip). The webbing straps were, in format, the same as the current NATO straps, with the short extension and the 3 metal loops (not the DEF3 strap). I recall that these straps were not long enough to be folded back under the metal loop as on the modern NATO straps, and I assume that the length was the same as the DEF3 strap. During my time I never saw a 53 Omega with a leather strap or a Bonklip strap. I had 2 of these webbing 'NATO type' straps, the last in 1959.



nickb NATO.jpg
 
Fritz
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alam alam
NATO straps are just wrong all the time 😜
But my Tresor looks so good on one... as does my piepan Conny!
 
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