Corpsman pouch evaluation

[dustin]

Some years ago I found a document in a Bureau of Medicine & Surgery Newsletter describing and definitively proving the intended purpose of the modified M-1941 Knapsack for corpsman, that doc is floating around here some here. In short, it was to replace and integrate the two pouch system. I recently came upon this report evaluating that knapsack corpsman bag with the new Army type for a comparative test, Camp Lejeune August 1945. Here are some of the key entries in the report.

 

[dustin]

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[dustin]

Here are the images from the report. Now, the most interesting aspect is the Army medical kit beng evaluated is what would become the M5, this report is August 1945. This means the Army must had been working on the deisgn for sometime. the Navy knapsack type is on the right.

[dustin]

.contents of the Army type

[dustin]

Contents of the Navy knapsack type. This to me anyway is the most significant image. It illustrates all the components for the knapsack, Note on the top flap the extra canvas strips are for pencils and the safety pins. The roll in the upper left is descirbed as a field canvas litter, or pole-less litter. The jackknife in the image is undoubtedly the four bladed shield stamped MD-USN.

[dustin]

The remianing images are a comparison between the two patterns.

 

[dustin]

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[dustin]

The end. The corpsman knapsack is attached to the upper pack and kind of a cool feature is the corpsman bolo.

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[subsystem4]

This is great!

[Username]

Great pics!! I have never seen these.

[robinb]

Every time Dustin goes to the National Archives it costs me money.

[med-dept]

Dustin,

 

As ever thanks for your excellent research here, and also for the exchange of emails we've shared regarding the topic. I finally managed to dig out my WWII-dated M-2 Army Pouch this afternoon, and have prepared some photographs that may be of use in this thread.

 

For reference, the item shown here (i.e. the Army version mentioned in the documents posted by Dustin) was designated as "Case, Medical Field Kits, M-2, Empty" (Item # 9708505) in 1944, and later redesignated as with Stock Number 9-130-150

in 1947 when the Army and Navy Medical Departments were merged.

 

Thanks,

Ben.

[med-dept]

 

[med-dept]

 

[dustin]

Now that is pretty neat, thanks for adding to the discussion Ben, greatly appreciated.