I BET that the actual answer WILL be told/found in the equipment regulations and or the manufacturers contract and/or the instructions issued for the use of the equipment. It WILL be there, in that position and that size for a reason.

I remember wearing '44 pattern kit for years and years without really thinking about why things were like this or that. Only in the 80's when I found a small WO Booklet, issued to quartermasters in the mid 40's did I read about the reason for the looped thinggy or the webbing flap on the wotsit etc etc