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As I posted this in answer to a query on another forum I thought it might be good reference material for this board as well ..
Link to the original query can be found here:
www.onesixthwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?p=367823#post367823
"OK a bit belated but as promised, some pics of VN era Aust webbing. Do not take this as comprehensive, just stuff I could pull out at the time.”
Typical example of basic Australian webbing set circa late-60s featuring:
US-made Aust contract D-broad arrow-D M-1956 universal pouches and compass pouch; Aust-made canteen covers, bumpack and H-harness, Aust WWII issue machete and field dressing; and finally US vertical weave pistol belt. If Aust-made webbing items werent available in the Q-system at the time, equivalent (and readily available) US pieces would be issued instead. Compared to US-made M-1956 webbing, Aust-made items were a lighter and greener shade of webbing and canvas.
Example of later war webbing (1969-72) similar to first pic except now featuring Aust-made ammo pouches, compass pouch and 1960s machete.
Later war Marching Order including (L-to-R) WWII dated Field dressing; 1960s issue angle head torch; field pack and cut down mattress tubing serving as 7.62 link carrier; camouflaged 2 litre water bladder carrier (top) and bladder (bottom).
Later war webbing with a basic pouch replaced by 4 cell F-1 SMG magazine carrier. The 9mm F-1 SMG saw only very limited service in VN.
Top to bottom: 1960s Aust-made machete, WWII issue (1944) Aust-made machete, Aust-made pruning saw? Some soldiers preferred a pair of secateurs and a pruning saw as a quieter way of moving through thick scrub rather than hacking through with a machete.
Left to right: Pattern 37 Aust-made Bren pouch, Aust-made 1960s ammo pouch, US-made Aust-contracted M-1956 universal pouch. Note the much larger carrying capacity of the Bren pouch, these were popular as both ammo and universal pouches right up until the end of the war. Because of this it would not be unusual for an SASR operator to have at least a couple of these on his webbing. The Bren pouches were issued right up to the early 1980s and were occasionally user-modified for modern use by adding Fastex buckles.
Link to the original query can be found here:
www.onesixthwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?p=367823#post367823
"OK a bit belated but as promised, some pics of VN era Aust webbing. Do not take this as comprehensive, just stuff I could pull out at the time.”
Typical example of basic Australian webbing set circa late-60s featuring:
US-made Aust contract D-broad arrow-D M-1956 universal pouches and compass pouch; Aust-made canteen covers, bumpack and H-harness, Aust WWII issue machete and field dressing; and finally US vertical weave pistol belt. If Aust-made webbing items werent available in the Q-system at the time, equivalent (and readily available) US pieces would be issued instead. Compared to US-made M-1956 webbing, Aust-made items were a lighter and greener shade of webbing and canvas.
Example of later war webbing (1969-72) similar to first pic except now featuring Aust-made ammo pouches, compass pouch and 1960s machete.
Later war Marching Order including (L-to-R) WWII dated Field dressing; 1960s issue angle head torch; field pack and cut down mattress tubing serving as 7.62 link carrier; camouflaged 2 litre water bladder carrier (top) and bladder (bottom).
Later war webbing with a basic pouch replaced by 4 cell F-1 SMG magazine carrier. The 9mm F-1 SMG saw only very limited service in VN.
Top to bottom: 1960s Aust-made machete, WWII issue (1944) Aust-made machete, Aust-made pruning saw? Some soldiers preferred a pair of secateurs and a pruning saw as a quieter way of moving through thick scrub rather than hacking through with a machete.
Left to right: Pattern 37 Aust-made Bren pouch, Aust-made 1960s ammo pouch, US-made Aust-contracted M-1956 universal pouch. Note the much larger carrying capacity of the Bren pouch, these were popular as both ammo and universal pouches right up until the end of the war. Because of this it would not be unusual for an SASR operator to have at least a couple of these on his webbing. The Bren pouches were issued right up to the early 1980s and were occasionally user-modified for modern use by adding Fastex buckles.
