In WWII American soldiers were often determined the best equipped fighters in the war. Putting food and toiletries aside, what did the average foot soldier carry on his person as he marches into battle?
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| Combat Pack |
The basic carrier is known as
The Combat Pack.
It has a harness that goes over the individual's shoulders
and keeps the bag on their back. The inside is waterproof,
and is used to store the individual's belongings and
necessities.
Attached to The Combat Pack, is
The Cartridge Belt. This belt, houses the ammunition the rifleman carries. A clif of eight rounds fits in one pocket. The holes on the bottom are meant for other articles to be clipped on to the belt. An example of one of these things is the individual
First Aid Kit. This kit contains a gauze patch which is to be used by an individual after an emergency direct hit.
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| Cartridge Belt |
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| First Aid Kit |
Another item that is attached to the Cartridge Belt, is the Bayonet (
Scabbard). It has a cover and is used by attaching it to the rifle to create a Bayonet. Also on the Cartridge Belt is a
Canteen which contains a canteen cover, a cup, holds about about a quart of water, and is made of aluminum. In addition, there is
The Mess Kit, which the individual uses for eating. This has two compartments for soup and dessert, as well as a fork, a knife, and a spoon.
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| Scabbard |
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| Canteen |
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| The Mess Kit |
Next comes the
Entrenching Tool. This tool is used for both digging when it is in the form of a shovel, as well as a pick, when broken.
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| The Entrenching Tool (Shovel, then Pick) |
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| Helmet |
The Helmet is made of two parts. The steel portion, and the liner. The liner is where the adjustments are made to fit the individual's head. It is made of plastic, and is worn around the camp when there is not battle. The steel portion is worn when the bullets start flying. It is also often used as a bucket to carry water or a washing basin for front linemen.
The soldiers also receive a quality
Rain Coat. It is of excellent material that is hard to wear down.
Lastly, the largest item, is
The Cargo Pack was another bag carried by the individual. It includes a
Shelter Half, which is the components of half a tent. Together two soldiers could prop up a full tent for them to sleep in together. It also contains the soldier's
Blanket.
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| The Cargo Pack |
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| The Shelter Half |
Great post, Keren. I find really interesting to see how equipped the US soldiers were in World War II, especially in comparison to the American Revolution and Civil War. It's really nice to see how far the army has come. Did you know that the soldiers even got special gear just for the D-Day invasion? Each troop in the invasion got a compass to help with navigation. The paratroopers got a larger one they could wear on the wrist, while the ground troops got a smaller, more portable one. The planes also got special lights that held equipment. These lights were hoisted below the plane and dropped before the paratroopers. The lights made them easy to locate, and they were an efficient way to send equipment to the soldiers.
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