Contents of WWII map case?

[tsellati]

I am putting together a display of a WWII map case and wonder what contents might be found in one. Besides a map within a map case insert, what about field manuals? Would the 1941 FM 21-25 and FM 21-26 US War Department technical manuals covering Basic + Advanced Map + Aerial Photograph Reading have been carried in the map case? What else might have been carried in the map case, besides pencils, erasure, protractor, compass, etc.?

 

Thanks for the education.

 

Tim

[Corpl. Cleaver]

Maps.....

 

haha. I'm not sure if there was a standard "packing list" for them. I would also be interested in the same info.

 

Tyler

[everforward]

I would say that there may have been materials to send dispatches, if needed...the WW1 case that I have had message books along with maps and pencils.

[jgawne]

Whatever the guy felt he needed. Keep in mind that anything carried in it had to be CARRIED, and thus nothing that was not needed would have been tossed. It's just a bag to carry maps, paperwork, and writing stuff. And so it all Depends upon whose it was.and where

 

Certainly maps, overlay paper, pencils, colored *at least red and blue if possible) sharpener, ruler protractor, etc. possible the clear plastic from gas covers, grease pencils, Maybe some guys would carry a manual, but why if they had learned the stuff and did not need to carry it around.

[tsellati]

Maybe some guys would carry a manual, but why if they had learned the stuff and did not need to carry it around.

 

YES, this is precisely what I was thinking. I wondered whether the field manuals were actually taken into and used in the field or were they for educational purposes during training and then left behind once a soldier was deployed.

 

Tim

[hawkdriver]

Here are three of my WWII map bags with accouterments

 

 

 

[tsellati]

Hawkdriver,

 

Thanks for sharing. This is precisely the kinds of suggestions I was looking for.

 

Tim

 

P.S. - If you happen to have any spair map case accessories please drop me a PM.

[hawkdriver]

I think I may have some pencils. From all the maps I have, most are marked with a red or black crayon/china marker. Pencils and erasers are fairly easy to find if you cruise antique stores with any regularity. The crayons are not hard to find either if you dig long enough through old pen boxes, usually easy to find by the paper wrapper. My protractors all came with maps. The US Army mechanical pencils are harder to find, but if you look for large pen boxes and dig, you will find that treasure every once in awhile. Colored pencils can be found and in a lot of cases, you can find entire sets still wrapped up and period correct. Good luck.

[Cavdoc83]

I read somewhere that the little pocket behind the pencil pockets is where the message book is supposed to go. Other than that, the contents should be pretty intuitive: maps, pencils, grease pencils, protractors, rulers, etc.

[Jeeper704]

Maybe some carried a compass in that as well?

 

Erwin

[craig_pickrall]

Maybe some carried a compass in that as well?

 

Erwin

 

 

Which type compass do you mean? The type that reads N, S, E, W and used for getting a bearing or the type used to draw a circle? I have seen both types in map cases.

[Survival]

I have one around somewhere that also included a small piece of light camvas with a push on clip that was used to cover the acetate grid device to protect it from the weather when it was out of the pouch.

[Jeeper704]

Craig, I was referring to the N E S W one.

I think it depended greatly on what function the carrier had (Signal Corps unit, Engineer unit, Infantry unit).

 

Erwin

[hawkdriver]

I am doubtful there was ever any "standard" to what was carried. I was issued one of these when I was a young 2Lt. and it was a personal pride thing to patch it up with your name, rank, and unit SSI and whatever else but it couldn't be gaudy. As for what went into it, you put whatever you wanted. I never carried pens in the pen slots because they never fit and the first thing I did was throw the black plastic map sheet protectors away. So, I doubt our grand daddies were much different and whatever you wanted to carry, you could.

As a side note, I do know that our porn control officer would use his to carry the best of the best so no one would steal it. No pens carried in his.

[skautdog]

Great item. I suspect, like others, there was no SOP for what was carried in the case. I know in Vietnam (grunt platoon leader), and the rest of my Army time, there was no prescribed list. We just carried what we needed/wanted. The map I was using I usually carried in my side pants pocket and compass in case on rucksack strap. In the case I carried another AO map, pencils, pens, grease markers, protractor, map scale, SOI in plastic wrap, and map compass for true north vs map north degree delinations computations. That little piece of plastic has a name, but I don't remember.

When I transferred to MPC (and mostly had a vehicle) I carried a few more items.

Ken

[strawberry 9]

Would it be uncommon to find British made maps in a U.S. mapcase?

[king802]

Some of the contents of my map case.

 

Rich

 

 

 

[Sabrejet]

Would it be uncommon to find British made maps in a U.S. mapcase?

 

No...not at all. British maps / navigational charts are a "world standard"...even today they are the benchmark for others.

[ccyooper]

I would think you might also find an opisometer in the small pouch. I have found them in officer trunks and with engineer items so I know they were used during WWII. I just used a string but then again it was just one less thing I had to carry or purchase.

[1SG_1st_Cav]

If the officer needed to carry an FM for map reading he should have also carried a bible and a rosary, and a small container of holy water. His survival time would have been very brief!

Danny

[skautdog]

Well stated, Danny!

 

Also, how unfortunate for his soldiers.

 

Ken

[Backtheattack]

Great topic, it brings my interest to pencils and erasers made during World War II in the USA. When I received my map case it came with wooden triangle linear. I think they are german ones.

[rambob]

Here are the contents that I keep in my GENERAL SHOE CORP. 1943 map case. All I need is the crayon type marker that was used to draw right on the map overlay.

 

Bob

[cgutierrez]

I was able to finally complete my all 1941 dated field/web gear set with a very nice BOYT '41 map case that I obtained from Rich Williams at Warrelics. Although he stated that it contained some contents I was surprised at how much. What interests me most is the long wooden paddle type thing with 1" x 4" tearaway strips of sand paper attached. At first I had not idea what is was until I was almost asleep and suddenly realized that it must be a field pencil sharper device. This may not be correct but I can't think of what else it could be used for.

 

 

[cco23i]

Here are three of my WWII map bags with accouterments

 

 

 

Hey boss what is on the black wooden pencil (how is it marked)?