MARINE CORPS EQUIPMENT

The US Marine Corps entered Vietnam with a mixed equipment set consisting of WW II/KW items and M1961 gear accommodating the M14 rifle. This quickly proved inadequate; the existing “782 gear” (so called after Navy Marine Corps Form 782, QM Receipt for Individual Equipment) was not sufficiently compatible with the M16A1 rifle issued to Marine infantry and reconnaissance units in May 1967. Army M1956 equipment was introduced and mixed with Marine gear, and as new Army equipment was fielded much of it was also used by the Corps, although they mostly retained their “M1944” field pack. Marine equipment was designed and tested by the Marine Corps Development Center, Quantico, VA; most was colored OD, but some was in WW II tan-khaki.

When first landed in Vietnam some Marines possessed only three M14 magazines, not even the requisite (and inadequate) five. They carried two or three bandoleers, but refilling magazines from clipped ammunition while under fire was problematic, and sufficient magazines were soon issued.

Officers observe a Marine battalion arriving in Vietnam “across the beach.” They all carry plywood packboards with “M1944” combat and cargo field packs, bedrolls (shelter half, poncho, and wool blanket – poncho liners were not yet available), and an intrenching tool lashed on. (US Marine Corps History Division)

This set of Marine Corps “782 gear” includes the M1961 cartridge belt for the M14 rifle (redesignated M1961 individual equipment belt in 1968); M1941 belt suspenders (the O-ring at the X-back junction was usually removed, as it dug into the back; and they are here fitted with packboard shoulder pads); four M1961 ammunition magazine pockets for the M14 rifle, each holding one magazine, one pocket here with a first aid packet and lensatic compass pouch attached below; two 1qt canteen covers with corrosion-resistant steel canteens; and the individual or “jungle” first aid kit centered below the back of the belt. (Trey Moore Collection)

The Marines used a two-component M1941/1944 field pack system. The “M1944” combat field pack (8465-882-7966) was a simple one-compartment “haversack.” External equipment tabs were provided for the e-tool and bayonet, along with a bedroll strap on top; it had unpadded shoulder straps, and a belt support strap on the bottom. The smaller “M1944” cargo field pack (8465-382-7967) – “knapsack” or “leave-behind-pack” – could be attached below the combat pack using a coupling strap, but saw little field use. This “knapsack” could be carried alone by threading the back suspender ends through loops on its back similar to a butt pack. Both packs had simple roll-top openings secured by two straps, which had replaced the original M1941 conventional flap in 1944, and so were colloquially called “M1944.”

To replace the cotton version, a nylon combat field pack (same FSN as cotton pack) saw limited use from 1968. The pack body was OD nylon, but the shoulder, retaining, and securing straps and edge-binding were cotton webbing. The little-used nylon combat cargo pack (8405-823-7622) was similar to the Army’s M1967 butt pack, but with snaphooks to fasten it to D-rings on the bottom of the field pack, five eyelets on both edges of the top flap, and no name-label slot.

Three types of Marine Corps packs. (Top) The nylon combat field pack, which partly replaced the “M1944 haversack.” (Bottom left) The nylon combat cargo pack was attached to the belt, to be carried as a butt pack by itself, or below the nylon combat field pack as a “knapsack” or “leave-behind pack.” (Bottom right) “M1944” combat field pack or “haversack.” (Trey Moore Collection)

The M1941 belt suspenders (8465-382-7968) were simply two 1in-wide unpadded adjustable web straps, with belt snaphooks on the back ends, and O-rings on the front ends from which two short straps attached to the belt eyelets by J-hooks. The two shoulder straps were not physically connected but simply worn crossed as X-back suspenders. They were uncomfortable and gave poor weight distribution; shoulder-strap pads from the plywood packboard (8465-244-0737) were sometimes slipped on. The simplified 1967 field pack suspenders (same FSN) had only one front attachment strap with a snaphook; paired front support straps were unnecessary owing to the support strap on Army M1956 ammo pouches. Suspender straps were often modified as trousers belts.

This USMC patrol cautiously approaching a deserted village provide a good view of an AN/PRC-25 radio secured to a plywood packboard, by means of the three 59in-long Type 1 quick-release straps issued with each packboard. The marine to the left wears M1944 belt suspenders with the rear O-ring removed as usual, two 1qt canteen covers with stainless steel canteens, and an individual first aid kit. His “drive-on” or “sweat” rag is made from a triangular bandage. (US Marine Corps History Division)

The improved M1967 nylon field pack (8465-860-0337) was larger than earlier models and featured two external pockets, offering one-third more cargo capacity. It and the M1967 nylon combat equipment suspenders (8465-078-4581), an H-harness design, were approved in 1971, but did not see Vietnam service other than field testing. Production markings included “(USMC),” differentiating them from Army M1967 gear.

The cotton M1961 cartridge belt for M14 rifle (8465-823-6937 – Medium; 8465-823-6938 – Large) was designed to accommodate M14 magazine pockets. In 1968, it was redesignated “M1961 individual equipment belt” owing to the issue of the M16A1. The cotton “web belt” was made with both horizontal and vertical wefts, was adjustable only on the right end, and had a “T-and-slot” buckle. Besides the eyelets on the upper and lower edges and centerline adjustment eyelets, there were 11–15 centerline female snaps for securing magazine pockets.

The cotton M1961 ammunition magazine pocket for M14 rifle (8456-823-6936) held one 20-rd magazine, with a snap-secured flap. On the canvas back loop were two male snaps, and two eyelets on the bottom edge for double-hook attachments. The upper snap positioned the pocket on the belt with the opening at the top, and the lower positioned its opening downward; this allowed the magazine to drop into a marine’s hand, but made accidental opening likely when crawling, so it was seldom carried in this manner. In late 1964 the pocket was deepened by a ¾in. Four pockets were normal issue; M14 automatic riflemen carried up to nine, with two or three ammunition-clip bandoleers. As M16s were issued the pockets were replaced with Army M1956 M14 and M16 rifle magazine cases. Marines often wore M3 bandoleers with seven M16 magazines around their waist instead.

The Marines requested the Army to develop a 30-rd magazine case for the M16A1 compatible with its M1967 gear, and the 30-rd magazine small arms case (M16 rifle) (8465-464-2084) was standardized in January 1972. It was based on the Army M16 30-rd magazine case, but had two dividers and three snap-secured flaps under the lid to protect and prevent the loss of magazines if the lid was left open (this design proved cumbersome). It had side pockets for M67 grenades rather than snap-straps and lever-loops. Marines used these cases during the April 1975 evacuation of Saigon and the SS Mayaguez incident soon afterwards.

The first aid packet and lensatic compass pouch (8465-261-4999) dated from WW II, a rectangular pouch with a LTD fastener and a double-hook. The individual first aid kit (6545-823-8165) or “jungle first aid kit” consisted of a canvas “empty first aid case” (6545-912-0625) with five compartments; it was issued to marines in the field and typically worn on the belt’s back center. A nylon version with slide-keepers (6545-094-8412) was fielded, but little seen in Vietnam; lacking compartment dividers, it came with an OD plastic insert box (6545-094-6136) with a snap-on waterproof cap, containing a field dressing, eye dressing, triangular bandage, 10x adhesive bandages, antiseptic, foot powder, chap-stick, and water purification tablets.

The 1qt canteen cover (7350-379-2602) was similar to the Army’s M1910, with LTD fasteners on the flaps and a double-hook on the back. The Marines used both plastic and metal canteens.

The M1943 intrenching tool carrier (8465-281-4993) was an Army WW II design. It had no bayonet attachment, an LTD fastener on the flap, and a double-hook on the back that could be fitted in one of three positions. They were also designated “combination intrenching tool carriers,” and were issued to the Army as a substitute for the M1956 carrier.

Some of these marines, packing their gear prior to boarding an Air Force transport, wear only one M1944 suspender strap; it is not known if this was by preference, or because of shortages. As can be seen, the positioning of M1961 magazine pockets was erratic, and several men carry Mk 2 Ka-Bar combat knives. These were supposedly issued only to men armed with pistols (officers, platoon sergeants and higher grade NCOs, grenadiers, machine gunners, and mortar gunners). While it was believed that riflemen did not need them since they had bayonets, it was not uncommon to acquire them either through unit issue or private purchase. (US Marine Corps History Division)