Help Identifying WWII Field Gear pic included

[Just Duke]

Here's the first one


http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/1%20TERRITORIAL/BAG1.jpg

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/1%20TERRITORIAL/BAG2.jpg

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/1%20TERRITORIAL/BAG3.jpg

[Just Duke]

Here's the second one


http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/1%20TERRITORIAL/BAG4.jpg

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/1%20TERRITORIAL/BAG5.jpg

http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad54/LEVERACTIONSHOOTERS/1%20TERRITORIAL/BAG6.jpg

[3006guns]

Bit of a WAG, but it looks like a Marine's assault pack used during amphibious landings.

[gbrown]

#1 Looks like a field pack, a combat pack as 3006guns stated, and #2 looks like the "butt" pack to be suspended under #1. They used field packs and butt packs up until they started fielding the Alice LBE near the end of the Vietnam time. (mid '70's). Someone on this forum probably has some of the old field manuals that may show how and where gear was to be carried/stowed. I remember "show down" inspections where we had to lay out all of the gear next to the packs back in 1970. All spread out on our shelter halves.

[Dragoon 45]

I was issued these two items in the USMC in basic in the early 70's. They are the rucksack and knapsack that were the standard field packs of the USMC before the introduction of the Alice Pack in the late 70's. The knapsack (not always worn) was attached to the bottom of the rucksack and a roll made out of the shelter half, blanket, tentpoles, and tent stakes was attached to the outside of both with canvas straps. Those canvas straps on the rucksack has worn many a blister on shoulders of Marines from WWII through the post Vietnam era. The Army also used this system but I am not sure when they replaced it.

IIRC there was the Marching Pack, which used both the rucksack and knapsack along with the shelterhalf/blanket roll, and the Combat pack which only used the rucksack normally without the blanket roll. This pack system was hard to put on and take off, you had to be very carefull how you packed it or you could receive various bruises from its contents, and again if not carefully packed it could greatly affect your balance. No one I knew liked this system, and everyone thought they were in heaven when they received the ALICE packs that replaced it.

[montana_charlie]

In both pictures, the identifying stamp is clearly legible.
All the o/p has to do is use a search engine to query the stock number.

For example, searching on FSAN 8465-382-7966, the first page of results provides this ...
http://www.vietnamgear.com/kit.aspx?kit=455

Of course, since I am on the o/p's ignore list, he will need to have one of you other gentlemen provide this information for him.
Someone, I am sure, will jump at the chance to serve him ...

CM

[gbrown]

Looked around a little on the net, and found this site (see link below) Although titled mess gear, it includes packs--about p. 8 of the info. The one I was referring to is the 1956 series. Interesting looking through that old stuff.

http://www.history.army.mil/html/museums/messkits/Field_Mess_Gear(upd_Jul09).pdf

[Alstep]

Just got out my old Guide Book for Marines, dated 1965. Your first picture is the Haversack, the second is the Knapsack. They were used in 5 configurations;
1) the light marching pack which is the haversack only
2) the marching pack which is the haversack with belt suspenders and cartridge belt and canteen
3) the field marching pack consisting of the haversack, belt suspenders, cartridge belt and canteen, blanket and shelter half with tent poles, guy line, and pegs
4) the transport pack, consisting of the haversack with knapsack attached, belt suspenders, cartridge belt and canteen
5) field transport pack, consisting of the haversack with knapsack attached, belt suspenders, cartridge belt and canteen, blanket and shelter half with tent poles, guy line, and pegs.
Going along with any of the above would be the bayonet, entrenching tool, 1911 and holster, magazine pouches, gas mask, etc.
Depending on the length of the march, you would stuff in your mess gear, sea rats, socks and change of underware, extra utilities, first aid kit, compass, sewing kit, etc.
Brings back lots of memories. Gosh how I hated inspection and junk-on-the-bunk!

[Love Life]

Man am I glad we started with the Alice, moved to the MOLLE, and now use the ILBE.

Out of the 3 the Alice pack is much better to hump with while wearing a full combat load than the others. The ILBE holds a ridiculous amount, but sucks when you have your flak on with a ESAPI in the back.

[Just Duke]

Thanks guys . That helps out a lot guys. :bigsmyl2:

[Buckshot]

............When I was a kid growing up in the late 50's early 60's all the kids in the neighborhood had old stiff stinky WW2 or Korean war canvas for camping/hiking. Practically EVERYONE had a cartridge belt and canteen :-) I'm sure there are many here on this board who can remember the absolute piles of molding canvas odds and ends against the back walls of the old Army-Navy stores?

............Buckshot