Need info on WWII small demolition bag metal tool box

[ironsights66]

On 12/9/2020 at 11:21 PM, TheGrayGhost said:

 

I don't believe the M1 kit saw much field use as it was poorly designed.

My copy of 5-25 1942 states that the infantry demolition kit was "issued principally to parachute troops." I 

Would say that makes sense because they are the only ones who would potentially benefit from that awkward design. It seems like the collector terms that have been used on ww2 demo kits are misleading compared to the truth behind them. My best guess is that the US started the war with the "cavalry" kit, which was actually mostly used by engineers; and the "infantry kit" which was used by some paratroopers, though others also used the cavalry kit. Then noticing that you couldn't fit much in the cavalry kit and that the infantry kit just sucked, the Army replaced them both with the much improved and simplified late war kit. 

[TheGrayGhost]

I have been looking through the JSTOR collection of Military Engineer journals between 1935 and 1945 but have not found any lists of kits other than the Platoon Kit.

 

I have seen a few variants of the friction lighter, the cardboard style like the ones in your picture, as well as ones with a more solid color and textured exterior.  Here is one of the only period pictures I have seen with some in it.  I believe the solid textured style is a later version.

 

 

Your reference shows that the nomenclature change to referring to set number was occurring as early as 1943.  FM 5-25 (May 1945) Gives a load out to the following sets:

 

[TheGrayGhost]

11 hours ago, ironsights66 said:

My copy of 5-25 1942 states that the infantry demolition kit was "issued principally to parachute troops." I 

Would say that makes sense because they are the only ones who would potentially benefit from that awkward design. It seems like the collector terms that have been used on ww2 demo kits are misleading compared to the truth behind them. My best guess is that the US started the war with the "cavalry" kit, which was actually mostly used by engineers; and the "infantry kit" which was used by some paratroopers, though others also used the cavalry kit. Then noticing that you couldn't fit much in the cavalry kit and that the infantry kit just sucked, the Army replaced them both with the much improved and simplified late war kit. 

 

Yes, the M1 kit was initially intended as paratrooper kit, but it was quickly found to be inadequate.  I believe this kit, and I emphasize that this is just my opinion, that the M1 saw greater use in the Pacific as the backpack style seems more suited to amphibious operations keeping the equipment secure and above water line.

 

It is clear the Army knew the M1 was not a good paratrooper set very early, here are pictures of the paratrooper experimental kit that was in development in July 1942 that became Set No 5.

 

 

Set No 5