Grenade Pouch - Period Photographs

[Gregory]

Perfect topic Gents Thanks a lot all participants.

 

My two cents in the form of my mint specimen by the JQMD in 1944.

[Gregory]

And now "In Action" photograph. This is the Baleta Pass, Luzon, and troops of the 25th ID, March 23rd, 1945.

[steve]

Great post and pictures. I have a three pouch double snap grenade pouch like those shown and it is dated 1967.

[UPNATM]

Here are some pics from http://www.dogfacesoldiers.org/

I recently spoke with 3rd I.D. WWII vet John Shirley and he also mentioned having used a

3 pocket grenade pouch.

 

The 7th Regiment's First Battalion marches through Faucogney on Sept. 22. The Third Division was about to encounter its fiercest fighting since the landings as it moved north through wooded-terrain during Sept. 20-26. A fanatical, and sometimes bizarre, resistance from the German defenders was reaching a fevered pitch.

 

Strasbourg, France : November - December 1944

Watch on the Rhine

 

Now, this one is a little tough to see, but I believe that the soldier on the upper right has one attached to his right leg. Someone more computer savy than myself may be able to blow up the pic to make sure.

Third Division soldiers rest in Faucogney from their advance north to the Moselle River and Remiremont. VI Corps was now in position to advance the Seventh Army across the Moselle River.

[Corpl. Cleaver]

Yeah, he has a Grenade pouch.

 

To zoom in on photos click on "tools" at the top right of your screen, then click on Zoom, then salect the % of "zoomness" (is that a word?) you want.

[Armed 2 tha Teeth]

7th Infantry division Okinawa 1945

[adamoi1984]

oddly enough, ive even seen a two cell:

[craig_pickrall]

Hard to say for sure on the one you posted but usually the 2 cell pouches are USMC. We have a thread on them here too. Your pouch looks more like the Army 3 cell pouch with one cell cut off. Can you post better pics, both front and back?

[possum]

More views

 

Hmmm, shape here looks very rounded. Just a suggestion, but could it be either smoke grenades (M15 or M18) or Offensive Grenades (Mk III A1). Just doesn't look like the Mk II Frag grenade is being carried in there to me.

 

Cheers,

 

Jon

[2ad82recon]

Great thread this thanks fellas...so are we now saying that t wasa multi use pouch for both offensive (frag) and defensive (smoke) grenades ?

 

and what era do they first be seen in photos in WW2........?

 

Regards

 

Lloyd

[possum]

Great thread this thanks fellas...so are we now saying that t wasa multi use pouch for both offensive (frag) and defensive (smoke) grenades ?

 

and what era do they first be seen in photos in WW2........?

 

Regards

 

Lloyd

 

Well, that's my opinion Lloyd. As we said at the weekend, it's possible we'll never have a definite answer. As for first use, I've no idea. I'm waiting for someone to post a picture of them in use really early on in the war!

 

Jon

[Armed 2 tha Teeth]

oddly enough, ive even seen a two cell:

 

That is a reproduction sold by IMA, not even an original.

[nicolas75]

Here ya go Johan.

 

I screen capped this last night but it didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. You can see the Rifleman at the far right wearing one of the three cell pouches with single LTD.

 

"The Color of War" DVD.

 

The hill looks like more Vosges or light mountain SE french side rather than the flat normandy

 

From what i can remember from this footage, i have it and a few second after or before we can see a m-41 jacket patched with the 36th div (the guy is beeing welcome and kiss on the cheeks by French people)

[UPNATM]

Great footage of the 3rd I.D. 30th I.R. At 39 seconds you will see a soldier with a grenade pouch on...

 

 

 

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675022...-wine_M-14-Tank

[FTrooper]

In the divisional history of the 1st Cavalry Division is a picture of a guy wearing one of these three pocket carriers in Korea.

 

Chris Fischer

F-Troop

[Charlie Flick]

Gentlemen:

 

This is a great old thread. I was reminded of it today when I saw the photo below, posted elsewhere on the Forum by History Man, showing a 187th AB RCT soldier in the Korean War. He is seen wearing one of the much debated 3 cell single snap pouches. I suspect he has it loaded with grenades.

 

Regards,

Charlie Flick

 

[JimM]

I just picked up a 3 pocket grenade pouch with 2 lift-a-dot snaps on each pocket. Inside of the top pocket is stamped:

CARRIER, GRENADE

3 POCKET 74-C-123

JQMD 1945

It is bigger than my one snap model. If anyone wants to see a picture let me know and I'll try to post it.

JimM

[Salvage Sailor]

Screen Grabs from Signal Corps footage on Youtube

 

3rd Infantry Division Liberation of Munich April 30th, 1945

 

BAR Gunner with 3rd ID on his helmet, crossing the Munich railyards. Single snap three pocket carrier attached to his ammo belt just like the OP's original question back in '06

[Dr_Sutton]

These pouches were used well into Vietnam. I have seen two examples of people using them to carry M2 30rd Carbine magazines. A photo of 3 Marines during the Battle of Hue interrogating a local, one of the Marines, who has a M16, appears to having carbine Magazines in his leg pouch but I've only seen the photo that high definition in a book not online. The other example is the fictional but still realistic Hollywood film Porkchop Hill in which a few characters in the film are shown inserting and removing Magazines from their pouches, namely when the friendly Lieutenant Character is ordered to leave the antagonist. Ofcourse it's a movie but it was made with Veteran assistance.

[Picardowoods]

I thought this may be of help as to the question of original usage. The attached drawing shows the twin LtD fastening and is dated 1945, but of interest here is the notation that this shows "Changed Pocket Design" sadly it doesn't specify what that change was, but could easily be from one to two LtDs.

[137th_35th_Div.]

 

This soldier is part of the 161st IR 25th ID on Luzon in March 1945. two button variey.