http://www.karkeeweb.com/1908main.html#1908
The essential idea about the P'08 equipment is the fact that it can be adjusted to be snug so that it doesn't ride up at the front, and the claim is that it can be worn with the belt unbuckled and still hang comfortably. When put together all parts will remain in secure position so that it can be taken off with ease and put on again in the dark in an instant. Try this with the Oliver Pattern equipment and you will need to be Harry Houdini to succeed.
To assemble the equipment the first step is to fit the belt around the stomach at the belly button level. The belt end without the buckle is on the left, back tabs on the outside of the belt. The belt end passes through the closed part of the buckle and then reverses back and through the open "horns" of the buckle on the left side. Adjust so the tab ends of the belt are equal on both sides and the back buckles and tabs are centred on the back.
The open horns of the buckles allows for an easy threading of the webbing by pinching the straps and working the webbing in to the horns through the middle space.
The belt can now removed and the bayonet frog slipped onto the left side.
Next work the left hand ammunition pouch onto the belt using the open brass loops. The 1/2" tabs with snaps pass around to be snapped onto the front of the carrier. When the bayonet is worn the handle best lies between the rear most pocket and the next, with the 1/2" tab unsnapped. The same attachment can be made in reverse for the right hand side.
Now the braces must be attached to the rear buckles on the belt. They should first be set to the same length as the rear fixed tabs. The two inch friction buckles on the braces need to be placed so the open end faces forward, and the closed end faces to the back straps.
The braces lead off the belt crossing each other and passing straight down the front of the assembly, passing through the buckles on the ammo pouches and down the inside face. They will enter the buckle on the closed side and then be passed through and out the open section of the buckle to finish at the same length as the fixed straps on the pouches. Try the whole assembly on to correct for tension and to ensure that the braces have not been twisted. All other components of the P'08 equipment can now be added to this basic strapping.
The next stage is best carried out on the floor with the equipment spread out, the outside face up.
The original intention of the P'08 equipment was to place the entrenching tool head carrier on the right side. In practise it ended up on the rear hanging from the two tabs fixed to the belt. The tabs should pass through the closed buckle end first and then the open end so the strap passes behind the carrier. This ensures easy access to the tool.
The canteen fastens to the two remaining strap ends on the right side.
The haversack goes on the left over the bayonet.
If a large pack is to be worn it is placed over the crossing back straps and attached by its short upper tabs to the two buckles on the shoulder braces. The bottom of the pack should be level with the bottom of the belt. The large pack is provided with two long supporting straps. These straps are to be buckled to the two diagonally placed straps leading from the ammunition pouches. They then pass through the buckles on the bottom of the large pack, criss-cross the pack, and reattach into the buckles just over the top of the large pack.
The intention of this strapping is two-fold. Firstly the attachment to the ammunition straps ensures that the weight is transfered to the belt and supported by the waist. The upper tabs on the large pack are to hold the pack to the back, not to support the weight. Secondly the crossing support straps bind the pack tightly to stop the movement of the contents.
Some adjustment is required to achieve the desired snugness and transfer of weight. The official WWI booklet recommended a placement of a mark on the straps to make future assembly quicker. However the set-up is essentially fixed until it is undone or changed. This was seen as a great advantage in the event of a quick call to arms since everything would always be ready to go.
The wearing of the large pack was the "marching order". On the march soldiers had the option to rearrage the smaller items, one manifestation of the haversack even allowing the canteen to be attached to it so all equipment could be hung from the back, thus leaving the sides free. The belt could also be unbuckled to allow the tunic to be undone and the connected back strapping would not sag.
There was also a "battle order" which essentially consisted of replacing the large pack with the haversack worn low to the belt and similarly fastened to the diagonal ammo pouch straps, or not as may often have been the case in practice when on a march. The mess tin hangs from the straps, a beautiful case of the simplest solution being the best.
Notice in this last photo how the belt lies between the upper and lower pockets. This is the right height.
The brilliance of the open horn ( or "open gate" ) buckles becomes apparent if adjustments are made when gear is under strain...even just undoing a tight belt. And there are no loose components to jingle, a life saver for sure at times.
This equipment is all available through What Price Glory. Here's the link to their site:
No comments:
Post a Comment