US Equipment and Uniform Reference Thread.

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Original US webbing and equipment that helped beat down the German menace of 1934-1945!

I've putting together a pictorial reference thread for all you guysout there who like to know what that odd shaped bump on the side of that model is supposed to be and so how to paint it. We've all done it, way back in the day I painted the leather loops on a german bread bag silver because I though they were buttons. So anyway, I've started with US webbing and equipment, I'll move onto uniforms and weapons in the coming weeks.

I've got a load of uniform items as well which will go up on here also. If you've any special requests give me a shout.


PLEASE NOTE, ALL ITEMS ARE ORIGINAL UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED

Due to the forum upgrade the formatting is a little off but you can click the pictures to see the full picture.

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Ok, to 'inbed' this thread, I'll start with the 'M-1923 Dismounted Cartridge Belt'
Originally designed for the 1903 Springfield bolt action rifle, the cartridge belt had a strip of canvas inside the pocket to hold one of two stripper clips of five rounds (as seen below).

The M1 Garand became the standard issue rifle in 1936 which did away with the five round strippers and introduced an 'enbloc' of eight rounds which fitted the pocket perfectly. Despite this, the canvas tab to hold the stripper continued to be made throughout the war.

This item was issued to both riflemen and "snipers".

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'Belt, Magazine, BAR, M1917' was a six pocket catridge belt introduced in 1917 for the 1918 Browning Automatic Rifle ( I can't work it out either). The WWI pattern which did se use in WWI differed from this issue by the fact that the buckle was attached to the pocket section. This was eliminated and the new standard 'M-1937' relaced it. The '37 pattern had the pockets attached to the main body of the belt along the top following compalined by gunners that it was impossible to bend over or rise from a prone position.

Each of the six pockets holds two mags of 20 rounds, making the full load of the belt 240 rounds. there is a vent gromit on the bottom of each pocket to allow air to escape when putting a mag in, which was difficult when wet.

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'M-1928 Haversack'. It looks like a rucksack...... but it's not! it's actually a kind of kit roll with straps. Looking at it made up you can see that there's a large pocket attached to the front, that contains the mess set (Next post) which is detachable(removed 3rd pic), and a flap with the US lettering on it. A buckle running from the undersinde of the pack up the front under the flap holds the flap in place, from here you can see the suspention straps for the mess set and the three straps holding the pack closed. Once these straps are opened the pack can be opened, contents removed and so show the pack to be made of three parts sewn together.

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M-1928 Haversack continued..... I've just noticed that I failed to take a picture of the pack's back other than the open one above... Nevermind. The pack attaches to one of the three types of belt (two are previously treated) using spring clips. First, the straps that go over the shoulder are laid out, these straps have two clips each. The clip section which is to the inside reattaches to the pack via 'D' shaped rings on the base of the pack, the other two attach to the 2nd or 3rd gromet on the top of the belt, the ones attached to the base of the pack go on the last gromet on the belt at the back. The mess pouch, detachable from the main pack, contains the meat can, which comprises of a pan with a long handle, a segmented serving tray and a knife, fork and spoon set. This particular tin is of the 1942 variant which is zinc coated, making it about 150g heavier. This mess tin pattern was in production up until the 1980's.

The haversack and pouch were issued to all Enlisted Men with the exception of paratroopers. All men were issued with the mess pouch and it's contents.

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'Shovel, Intrenching, M-1943'. After thousands of GI's complained about being tripped up with the previous model with a 'T' shaped handle, US army boffins got to work and came up with this...... They must have used thousands of man hours because the shamelessly ripped of the German folding shovel! Does what it says on the tin, the '43 model allows for a long straight handle as it has a hinge which is tightened with a cuff nut. This also had the unexpected ability to be locked half way, creating a pick-mattock of sorts. This design was so successful that it survived many a year. I've no idea when it was superceded but I've seen examples dated 1969.

The carrier is worthy of note due to it being the first time the colour of 'OD7' was used on US webbing, as can be seen on the one below with it's green edging. This is the first pattern cover, a scond was made where there were three rows of grommets to allow the hight to be changed for it to be affixed to the flap under the meatcan pouch on the haversack.

Also, it's worth noting that on some of the issued shovels, the wooden shaft was either prepainted OD7 on top of the varnish or was done in the field.

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Carlisle Bandage. Every soldier had to carry his own bandage that a medic or comrade would use on hin should he be wounded. This was located on the back right of his web belt. This model of tin contains the bandage and a sachet of Crystalline Sulphanilamide which was to be put on the wound to steralise and help with clotting.

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'Canteen, M-1910' Comprises of a canteen, cup and cover which all fit together. This canteen is the stainless steel typw with a horizontal crimp and weld, there is also an aluminium one with a vetical seam on the sides.

The cup has a folding handle and can be used as a pot, the rolled edge helps to prevent burned lips (poor wee mites) and when place inside the cover, helps to keep the cover in shape when the canteen is removed making it easier to put back.

The cover has more uses than you think, most original example are heavily faded, this is due to them being dipped in water to help keep the water cool via evapouration. The inside is pile lined to aid this. Another use as mentioned in the Soldiers Handbook is filling the canteen with hot water abd putting it in the cover to make a hot water bottle!

The observant on here will notice the similarity of this to the Imperial Guard model. The previous model was even more like it, as it was round.

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M-1936 Belt, Pistol; This is the standard web belt issued to non BAR/Riflemen. This was the basis of the web sets for the M1 Carbine, the Colt 1911 and the M-1928 Thompson Machinegun. The two former had very similar mag pouched that clipped on to the popper that can be seen in the below pictures. This particular example has survived the last 66 years in mint condition by lying in a crate in a russian salt mine as part of the US-USSR lend lease programme

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M-1910 Pick Mattock and Carrier. Issued variously betwwen one in ten to ine in fifteen per squad. This item was for clearing compacted dirt and stones and was not just for use of the man carrying it but shared thoughout the squad. This particular one has a handle and carrier of World War I vintage (albeit, only just, october, 1918) and a 1943 pick head.

This was intended to be attached to the web belt on the middle right but was most commanly seen attached to the side of the M-1928 Haversack (or the M-1910 one in this case) using the bayonet fixings and loop.