Does anyone know what the different US services did in WWII in issuing belts for those who were issued a carbine. Did they receive a Garand/03 cartridge belt or a pistol belt or a third option.
Thanks,
Jess
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Does anyone know what the different US services did in WWII in issuing belts for those who were issued a carbine. Did they receive a Garand/03 cartridge belt or a pistol belt or a third option.
Thanks,
Jess
Several options - depending on branch of service
The main belt used was the standard M1936 Pistol belt.
The variety of different sized carbine-magazine pouches would attach to this
Some also used rigger-made pouches for carbine magazines.
There was also a carbine ammo bandolier which had stripper clips in for refilling magazines from.
As time passed & the 30-rd magazines were introduced larger pouches were introduced to suit
If you can, get the two "War Baby" volumes, brilliant reference books
They position on the pistol belt just like the .45 pouches. Everyone wears the pistol belt regardless of your job. It is part of the web gear package that includes suspenders, butt pack, etc. Eventually they figured out that certain two mag pouches fit over the stock and you would see that, so there would be two pouches on the belt and one on the weapon. With one in the weapon, that is 7 mags or 105 rounds. The web gear supported all manner of gear, canteens, flashlights, first aid pouches etc. It was also essential for dragging a wounded soldier out of harm's way. If you see a photo of a soldier without the web gear, sure bet that it is a posed shot.
Thanks Dave and saddler. Dave, I was under the impression that the Garand belt was used with the suspenders just like the pistol belt. In some of the accounts I read the GIs stated they carried their Garand ammo in bandoleers yet kept the ammo belt to hang their canteen, etc on. So I began to wonder if the ammo belt was issued to carbine carriers of if they issued a pistol belt?
Saddler, the "Baby" books are on my list but they have gotten really expensive.
Jess
Riflemen issued a Garand or similar would have the dedicated Garand belt with the built in pouches to hold the Garand clipQuote:
Originally Posted by JLJ
The lower edge of this belt had a series of regularly spaced eyelets, to allow the attaching of canteens, bayonets, E-tool, etc. which used the M1910 carrier hook as the method of attachment.
In ADDITION to the clips carried in the belt it was also common to carry additional cotton bandoliers holding loaded Garand clips.
Given the weight of the loaded Garand belt, it was normally attached to the M1936 suspenders (later the M1944 suspenders)
The plainer pistol belt was for non-riflemen, NCO's, etc. such as those whose main role was non-rifleman - MG team, Mortarmen, cooks, drivers, etc.
Those with weapons other than the rifle also used the M1936 belt to carry whatever magazine pouches their weapon required...
I can add pics if you like?
---------- Post added at 11:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:11 PM ----------
Just found a Vol 1 "War Baby" in PA for $55 online & there is a Vol. II in Canada for $53
Those are better than the prices the books sell for here in the UK....and they are REALLY good books!
Thanks saddler. I saw a WB for $55 but that's too much for right now. As for pictures, send them on, I love them.
Jess
I have seen a picture of a GI with a 1936 pistol belt and 3 carbine pouches in the PTO (Merril's Maurauders, I think) and several of GIs in ETO with two mag pouches. One from the Bastogne area had what appeared to be three carbine pouches.
I've seen them for less but that is about right. BTW, welcome to the site! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by JLJ
Here's the one from the Bulge where he has two, but maybe 3 pouches on his belt. I can't find my Merril's one with 3 pouches.
RM, I believe the soldier in the overalls is a tanker. You can see three mag pouches but you only see part of his belt. He may have more.
Didn't some Marine's have special belts with snaps for carbine pouches.....Frank
Frank, They had "Demo belts" that had 5 snaps, if I recall. Heard of them being used with five pouches, though. Maybe Mr. Ricca can clear it up. I think Bill posted on this same topic about 18 months ago when someone found a belt on E-Pay.
I have a later green belt that has eleven snaps on it. The pouches don't fit all the way around however, they are too crowded.
I have these.
browningautorifle, the top two have eleven snaps.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...hBelt002-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...hBelt004-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...hBelt001-1.jpg
The belt above is from the late '50s , early '60s and was made for the USMC issue M14 single mag pouch. You only used the snaps you needed, the rest was there so that you could arange your ammo pouches based on your other load requirements. The WW2 USMC belt was narrow like a standard pants belt. Held 5 demo pouches that could be used as needed ( use only a couple of blocks from a pouch , use one pouch , or strap the entire belt to something , lower it in a cave/bunker , or pull it by a rope from the side of the road to in front of a tank that was now too close to see it , etc.) . The " buttstock" pouch was made to snap onto the pistol mag pouch snap on the std belt ( remember , it was to replace the pistol) , three 15 rounders were thought to be enough. As they started to be used as rifles , people started to carriy more mags , usually maxing at 5 pouches. The USMC demo belt could be used , but is rather small and flimsy for it. The paratroops needed more mags in less space so they made 4-mag pouches that took up about the same belt space as a double pouch. Some also made 6-mag pouches. Spare ammo was carried in bags and packs in 50 round boxes and the mags reloaded. The stripper clips are post war or , at best , very late war.
HTH , Chris
The carbine was really quite different from the M1 rifle. You could carry 4-5 boxes of 50 easily in your butt pack. Not so with the Garand. I used to see MIKE force Viets heading out with Garand clips all over their bodies. On slings, shirt pocket flaps, shirts, bandoleered clips plus what was in the belt. Carbine much more tidy.