Copyright 2006 T. Sheil & A. Sheil All Rights Reserved
To live in the field and fight, a soldier needs equipment. He needs the means to live outdoors. A soldier also needs to carry ammunition and personal military supplies. Field gear provides these things. Since the 18th Century, soldiers have been issued carriers for ammunition, canteens, sleeping gear and other equipment. This type of equipment changes frequently. The type field gear popular in the first part of the 19th Century was obsolete in a few decades. The gear that replaced it was on its way out by the turn of the century. The miniature collector should research the field gear of his subject. An accurate military miniature should replicate the proper gear for the soldier.
Field gear is worn so it is as comfortable as possible. Some types of gear are more comfortable than others. Soldiers will make adjustments, and even jettison gear that is more burden than it is worth. Look at photos of soldiers to see how gear is worn.
For instance, most soldiers wear canteens on the right hand side. The bayonet frog is worn on the left. Entrenching tools are either worn on the backpack or the left side of the belt. The tendency is to wear them toward the rear, when worn on the belt, but not all the way rearward. They are placed so the soldier can sit without the tool getting in the way.
American soldiers like to wear pistols on their right hip. British and Europeans tend to wear their holsters on the left, a few inches left of the belt buckle.
Since the 1970s, American troops like to wear the combat knife or bayonet on the front of their pack suspenders, over the heart. They usually wear it with the handle down, making it easier to draw.
The photos on these pages illustrate how men wear field gear in combat. Seek other references for the field gear of your favorite armies. A big part of "getting it right" is getting the right gear in the right place.
U.S. Troops in 1898
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Turkish Soldiers 'Fire Brigade' 1880s
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British field gear. It is actually khaki tan, but looks white in this photo. The notable thing about British gear in World War 2 and afterward is the pair of long ammo packs |
US Backpacks and gear in World War 1. |
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World War II gear including light pack. You can see the cartridge belt, canteen and small pack. |
Infantrymen with packs in winter 1944. |
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World War II field gear. Entrenching tool is worn on pack |
Field gear early in the Vietnam conflict. |
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Japanese troops and gear |
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German gear throughout World War II. You can see standard ammo pouches and entrenching tool |
On top is the mess kit. Next is the shelter half / poncho. The long can to the left is his gas mask carrier. To the right are the canteen and bread bag. To the extreme left on his leg is the entrenching tool. |
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On front is a pouch for ammo. Just left of it is the entrenching tool. Note the camouflage smock |
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Marine in Vietnam with M1956 field gear. Note ammo pouches, knife worn on pack suspender and pack. |
G.I.s marching to the boats for Normandy landing. Black bags on the chest carry gas masks. |
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1941 backpack with entrenching tool, cartridge belt, helmet and canteen. |
Between rifle and bayonet are the canteen and canteen cup. Mess kit is to the far left. On bottom are the helmet, pack and gas mask. |
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The bag on his left side would contain his gas mask. |
Compare with a color image of the soldier, circa 1916 |
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An improved version of the M1956 field gear. Note ammo pouches and "Y" suspenders. Earlier type had "H" suspenders. |
Side view of soldier |
