P65 Tactical Mission – traser’s No. 1 returns
Following the development of the world’s first self-luminous wristwatch in 1989, the “P6500 Type 6,” introduced shortly thereafter, led to the founding of the traser brand.
As mb-microtec’s first in-house watch, it met the U.S. Army’s MIL-W-46374F specifications and has since accompanied international elite units on their missions, including the Navy SEALs. Now, traser is reviving “The Original”—as this groundbreaking model was known—and introducing the new “P65 Tactical Mission” in two versions.
Self-illuminating technology as a milestone
The history of the “P6500 Type 6,” however, began two decades before its introduction. After intensive research, Swiss physicist Oskar Thüler succeeded in 1969 in making fine glass capillaries glow using tritium gas for over 25 years without any external power supply. This breakthrough also marked the birth of mb-microtec and the trigalight self-luminous technology.
Shortly thereafter, Oskar Thüler and mb-microtec began adapting the technology for use in wristwatches; the first concepts were developed as early as the late 1970s. When the U.S. Department of Defense mandated the use of sealed tritium gas light sources (GTLS) in official service watches in 1989, trigalight technology was used in a wristwatch for the first time.
Shortly thereafter came the development of an in-house self-luminous watch: the “P6500 Type 6.” It met the U.S. Army’s MIL-W-46374F specifications and laid the foundation for the traser swiss H3 watches brand. In addition to optimal readability, the requirements specified a reliable, low-maintenance quartz movement as well as a lightweight yet robust case. Furthermore, the timepiece had to meet strict requirements for high-altitude performance and water resistance.
P65 Tactical Mission by traser – True to the Original
From the ergonomically contoured, bidirectional rotating bezel to the 43-millimeter case with its striking side and crown guards, right down to the satin-finished dial, the “P65 Tactical Mission” is a true homage to its historical predecessor.
All markings—including the Arabic numerals on the 24-hour scale typical of Toolwatch—are immediately legible and stand out in high contrast against the white background. As with “The Original,” the hands feature elongated tips, the hour markers from 1 to 11 o’clock, and the bezel inlay are equipped with green Trigalight self-luminous elements. The 12 o’clock index glows orange in the dark, ensuring reliable orientation.
The date window at 3 o’clock completes the dial design, which is optimized for maximum clarity. Then as now, the 43-millimeter case reliably protects the precise Swiss quartz movement—though it is now paired with scratch-resistant, anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
Two Variants – One Mission
The new “P65 Tactical Mission” is available in two versions. The version with a matte black, carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer case—waterproof up to 10 bar—and a steel back consistently meets the U.S. Army’s MIL-W-46374F specifications: “The case shall be fabricated of acetal plastic material, or of corrosion-resistant steel.” The special plastic ensures a low weight and absorbs external impacts, such as shocks and drops, particularly effectively.
In later versions of the “P6500 Type 6,” traser increasingly turned to the high-tech material titanium, which stands out for its high durability, corrosion resistance, and light weight. Accordingly, the new “P65 Tactical Mission” is also available with a pure titanium case. Thanks to its screw-down crown, this version is water-resistant up to 20 bar.
Both models come with a choice of several strap options: a durable black textile strap, a version with a gray camouflage pattern, or a black rubber strap. In addition, the watch is available in an all-titanium version with a titanium strap and a folding clasp.
(MSRP €455/€485 (polymer case with textile/rubber strap), €635/€665/€785 (titanium case with textile/rubber/titanium strap))
