Proper Tent Pole for USMC WWII Shelter Half

[Aragorn243]

I finally found a USMC camo shelter half and want to get the proper accessories for it. Are the poles the same the Army used or different? I can find they folded but beyond that, no photos of a USMC pole.

[browningautorifle]

From what I can see they're a standard issue, very close to the ones you'd find at supply even in the 70s/80s/90s. Sarco shows them available. USMC WW2 Pup Tent Set - SARCO, Inc

[Aragorn243]

Sarco is helpful for some things but not this. I went through the tent pole thing a few years ago when I was getting them for my Army WWI and WWII shelter halves. I know what they are showing at SARCO in their photo is incorrect for the time period. They will all work of course, standard sizes but the poles in WWII weren't painted green and the rope was white cotton.

I have a USMC book which shows everything but the poles and period photos on the islands shows them setting them up in every way possible except the correct way and usually using sticks for poles.

I know the Marines usually had their own contracts for things and typically changed the specs for them as well. Something as simple as a tent pole you would think would not require overthinking, but I did find a weird one on eBay which is stated to be a USMC set and at almost $200, I'm not willing to shell that much out even if it is correct. The shelter half is pricy enough without adding that much more to it although I did get a pretty good deal on it at about half what most are going for.

[browningautorifle]

I can only find pics of army with shelters pitched. The poles are indistinct...

[Aragorn243]

I got the shelter half today. Pretty nice shape for one of these. I only found one small tear of about half an inch shown in the 4th photo. One damaged button which was easily fixed with a hammer and a block of wood, before fixing in photo 3. No staining on it but it does have some black marks on it in a few spots, all pretty minor, around the grommets in photo 4 is by far the worst. The field has only a few faint ones.

The wife asked what was in the package. I told her the truth, a shelter half then followed up with half a tent. She said, "don't you already have one?" She knows I do because I've set them at a few of my displays on occasion. I explained those are Army ones, not Marine Corps ones and they are green. She didn't get it, WOMEN!!! Such short memories. We just saw one of these a year ago in a WWII museum on a Marine Corp ruck set and I said how nice it was and I needed one. She agreed then. She didn't ask how much it was and I didn't volunteer.











---------- Post added at 06:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:52 PM ----------

I may dig out the ones I already have. Pretty sure I have have two WWI sets and at least one WWII set as I have a full WWI tent and half a WWII tent. I also have at least one later half or full tent, not sure.

The photos of Marine tents are horrific. They didn't put two together, they basically used them a tarps.

I also need to locate the two camo straps for it. I found some but can't determine if they are original or reproductions. Undecided if that matters to me at present. Same with the pegs and ropes. Not too concerned with those being original I don't think.

[Aragorn243]

I eBayed last night and got the small ropes, the big rope and looked at poles but didn't pull the trigger. Lots on there with WWII dates, all stamped US which I know the Army did, but the Marines usually didn't. The manufacturers stamped them however, not the service branch. Worse comes to worse, I'll just get a set of these. I didn't look for stakes, spent too much time looking at the poles.

A surplus site has the camo straps and claim they are original WWII old new stock and are selling them cheap so I took a chance. $8 for the pair even if repros is a bargain.