WW2 ammo pouch questions

[MeatMarket]

Did US soldiers ever carry M1 Carbine ammo pouches on their belt? Was there a separate pouch for this other than the buttstock pouch?

And...

Did the Thompson mag pouches carry 3 or 5 30rd magazines?

[RCS]

Twenty round TSMG magazines were carrier in a five cell pouch

thirty round TSMG magazines were sometimes carried in a three cell pouch

there were local pouches fabricated by riggers

thirty round TSMG and M3 magazines were carrier in pouches in photos below:

Only one type of carbine 15 rd pouch could be used on the stock

[gsimmons]

All M1 carbine pouches are meant to be carried on the belt. The first style just happened to fit on the stock as well.

[MeatMarket]

Thanks guys, I'm trying to put together a few authentic kits from the era. No repro parts. It seems to be hard to find any original TSMG pouches. Does anyone know what the "mussette bag" was used for? Was it intended to replace the M1928 haversack?

[Harlan]

They're fun to put together, MeatMarket. You can put together all sorts of combinations. I have three sets. Two started with M1928 packs with suspenders and then added early cartridge belts etc, and the third a Marine pack and gear.

As above, the carbine 'stock pouches' were never intended for use on a stock - the snap on them was intended to snap to one of the snaps on the pistol belt so it stayed in the same place.

Below are some photos of the sets. It's ingenious in a way, because there almost always seems to have a corresponding attachment point for every way it's configured.







This is the Marine set.







I used three shovel types for the sets - I tried to get a different varity for everything. It's pretty much endless what you can put together.

[MeatMarket]

Thanks for these photos, they're a great help to see all the parts. I recently got an M1910 cartridge belt and have an M1910 haversack (both dated pre 1918) on the way to start my WWI kit. I got a Garand belt and I'm bidding on an M1928 haversack to go with it. I also have a "mussette bag" on the way. Yesterday I got a pistol belt, suspenders, M1911 pouch, pick/mattock pouch, canteen w/pouch (metal cap), and first aid pouch w/ sealed bandage (all dated between 1941 and 1944). By the way, my canteen has a few small deposits of something inside it. Soap and water wont cut it though, do you know how I could get it thoroughly cleaned out?

Also, do you know the function of the lower pack carrier that attaches to the bottom of the M1928 haversacks?

[RCS]

Here are the two types of 15 round magazine carbine pouches, one on the left will fit the stock

[browningautorifle]

To clean the inside of the stainless steel canteen, you can use a handful of steel shot(from shotgun shells) and a dollop(that's right) of Javex powder or Bon Ami or any other abrasive bathroom cleanser. Just enough water goes in to lube everything and shake in a rotational fashion to clean. Mucho washing to get the cleanser out, and repeat until shiney and new looking. Use lots of shot and it works better.

[MeatMarket]

Here are the two types of 15 round magazine carbine pouches, one on the left will fit the stock

Do you know how many of these pouches a soldier would normally carry on his belt?

you can use a handful of steel shot(from shotgun shells) and a dollop(that's right) of Javex powder

Will a dollop of AJAX work? That's pretty much all I'm familiar with when it comes to abraisive cleaners. And when you say lots of shot, just how much is that? And would it work the same with regular BB's instead of shot?

[browningautorifle]

BBs would be fine, I have used lead shot but these people are likely to clain heresy if you do that. Ajax will work fine, I've used it too. A handful of shot, maybe a couple of shotglasses full would be about right. Lots of circular swishing and it will be fine.