The years just prior to the United States involvement in World War Two saw very little in actual equipment manufacture due to the massive quantities of World War One material that was still in Quartermaster Store-rooms across the country. Some WW1 pieces of equipment were issued throughout WW2 and in some cases well beyond. Even though the Ordnance Department had made improvements to various items, in addition to developing and adopting certain items, actual production in many cases did not begin until 1940. This was not only because of the quantity of items on hand but also due to financial constraints.

Ammunition Carrying, Bags, Belts, Pouches

A simple, effective and readily produced method of carrying ammunition by the soldier became a very important aspect of equipping the World War Two Infantry Soldier. Much of the WW1 equipment developed in 1910 was carried over into WW2, with some minor modifications and new designs. As new magazine and belt fed arms were developed the style and type of equipment required changes. The standard pocketed cartridge belt remained the most common piece of equipment, while new forms of magazine pouches and universal bags were developed.

Bags, Carrying, Ammunition

In early 1942 the U.S. Army concluded that the field uniform and equipment did not have a provision for the carrying of grenades in the field. An infantry Board test also came to this conclusion and recommend several different methods of carrying grenade or other ammunition. This design was adopted as J.Q.M.D. Specification No 299, dated March 30, 1943, Stock No. 74-B-54-30. The first version of this design designated, Bags, Carrying, Ammunition featured and Olive Drab No. 3 medium weight canvas, with a flap cover secured by a web strap. The interior had a light cloth compartment which aided in arranging the contents if multiple type of ammunition were carried. There was a reinforcing “Lashing Strap” which was sewn onto the sides and around the bottom of the bag. This terminated in snap hooks which could be attached to the shoulder strap, designated Strap, Carrying, Bag, Canvas, Field, OD, M-1936, as used with M1936 Field Bag. The Bag, Carrying, Ammunition was made from 1942 to 1944, by twenty-nine American Manufacturers. During it production well over 522,000 were produced.

M1923 Cartridge Belt, Dismounted and Mounted

Since there was such a large stockpile of World War M1910 equipment held in Quartermaster and Ordnance storerooms across the country the production of the cartridge belts and other equipment was not needed until 1940. The M1923 belt did not feature dramatic design changes from the M1910 through M1918 belts. Although minor changes included the location of the rear buckle on each pocketed part of the belt which held the connector strap. The small light separator straps in each pocket were retained throughout the war. An interesting feature seen of mid war produced belts is the "mixing" of different shades of web material used in the contraction of the M1923. There are examples that will have up to three different shades of material, while late war production belts will be made in the OD No. 7 dark olive drab color. The concept of the Mounted Cartridge belt was dropped as mounted troops were no longer considered a priority, although there was a short run of Mounted Cartridge belts very early in the War.

Pouches, Magazine, Grenade, All Types

At the outset of World War Two the U.S. Ordnance Department and Quartermaster Depots across the country had huge stockpiles of World War One era field equipment and arms. It was logical and prudent to use up existing serviceable stocks before pursuing large scale production of required soldier's equipment. Add to this the many new firearms designs that were being adopted and the development of specific equipment to carry ammunition for them became urgent. Short term measures were incorporated until the full production capacity of the military supply industry was formalized. There were numerous examples of WW1 gear that saw service right to the end of the war in 1945. By this time manufacturers had spooled up and were churning out large numbers of equipment for the rapidly growing U.S. military.

The following are examples of magazine and grenade pouches issued during World War Two.