WWII Mountain Rucksack Use in Vietnam?

[439th Signal Battalion]

I've seen this image many times before (1st Cav, circa '68 or '69) and was always a lttile intrigued by the Lightweight Rucksack, WWII/Korean-era Mountain Rucksack (center), and captured NVA Rucksack all in view. There is nothing particularly rare about US personnel wearing the NVA ruck. However, I haven't seen any other pictures of the WWII/Korean-era ruck being worn at all. It's not the sharpest image, but you can clearly see the leather straps on the three outside pockets and sheer size of the soldier's ruck in the middle that differentiates it from being a Lightweight Ruck. Anyone else have other images depicting the same? Or, is this an M1952 model, which, if it is, is still a rarity to be seen?

 

['Flage Guy]

This looks like an M1951 Rucksack, judging by the width of the leather straps on the outside pouches. Here is another shot of one being used in 'Nam, from the Osprey reference "U.S. Army Combat Equipments 1910-1988", by Gordon Rottman.

 

I've seen other pics of these being used in Viet Nam, but this is the only one I have on the computer. I'd be willing to bet that dark O.D. W.W.II Rucksacks made in 1943-44 were issued during this period as well.

[Too Much WW1 Militaria]

We wore them in the 173rd in 1968. They were miserable to wear for a long hump.

 

John

['Flage Guy]

We wore them in the 173rd in 1968. They were miserable to wear for a long hump.

 

John

 

LOL- when I first became acquainted with these packs in the Scouts (early '60s), some of the men who were Army vets referred to them as "man-killers"

[Too Much WW1 Militaria]

Well, my lower back can attest to the "comfort level" of these so called packs! LOL I don't know why they're collectible as militaria, when they're more like some sort of torture device! And, there was NOWHERE in Vietnam that was level! At least nowhere I ever saw.

 

John

[toitoine66]

Hello,

 

a long shot but:

 American paratrooper's M79 grenade launcher on New Year's Day, 1966, near Bao Trai

[toitoine66]

173rd Airborne Brigade

 

[Marinecore34]

On 10/7/2025 at 10:45 AM, toitoine66 said:

173rd Airborne Brigade

 

I believe that that is a m5 medic bag possibly 

[toitoine66]

A m5 with this sutch of frame ? This doesnt even have the shape

Nope to me this is a ww2 Mountain bag