Thumper
Forum Admin MP & POTW MP 
Posts: 4,314
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Post by Thumper on Mar 14, 2011 10:12:57 GMT -5
At least the '37 pattern waterbottle carrier (either form) is more convenient than the original intended design: carrying it in the small pack! That is far less accessible.
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prgeyer
M/Sgt. 
1940 is the Wave of the Future!
Posts: 578
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Post by prgeyer on Mar 14, 2011 11:50:50 GMT -5
The entrenching tool carrier is pretty bad, but the waterbottle is just so inaccessible. British isn't my primary focus, so I may be off base here, but wasn't that the point? I need to re-open my resources to find the quote, but my understanding of this was that the British army didn't want the water bottle easily accessible while on the march because they didn't want their soldiers going through their water too quickly. Peter |
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Trotsky
Sergeant 
Ready, Aye, Ready!
Posts: 203
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Post by Trotsky on Mar 18, 2011 7:47:06 GMT -5
You are most likely right: while I cannot prove anything, putting the water bottle in the small pack to prevent the soldier from drinking it is a very pre-war, British solution to a perceived problem. It's the poor cousin of the magazine cut-off from the pre- WWI No. 1
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Railsplitter
Major 
"You'll be fighting WWII for the rest of your life" My father in 1972
Posts: 3,189
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Post by Railsplitter on Mar 18, 2011 15:04:02 GMT -5
The one that came to mind first for me was the German gas mask can...it is just akward, heavy, and there are easier and cheaper alternatives out there.
LTC Tim
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Post by wilhelmrenner on Mar 21, 2011 15:25:46 GMT -5
Personally, I kind of like the gas mask canister. Wearing a shovel on the belt (folding or straight) is my main complaint. It's just a pain in the butt when crouching or sitting. Sticking the handle into the front of the belt is a pain too.
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Blood and Fire
Sergeant
In Memory - Sgt. Gilbert A. Hergesheimer, 63rd Infantry Division
Posts: 208
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Post by Blood and Fire on Mar 25, 2011 6:21:21 GMT -5
The leg straps of the T-5 Parachute. That, and when the chest pack reserve is hooked in to the D-rings. Nothing like having your manhood crunched, cinched, and crammed all in one easy operation.
But, as they say, better a line-over than a nut under!
Dan
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Post by soldaten on Mar 25, 2011 12:22:35 GMT -5
Gasmask canister has to be the worst for me. Heavy, awkward, and always hit me in painful places (especially if I took a hit). The #2 would be the e-tool. Tried both folding and straight...they both suck for reasons others have mentioned. Honestly the belt buckle could be better also (keeps coming undone when I'm with my mp40 and get up from prone).
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landser437
Private First Class 
Les Terribles
Posts: 31
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Post by landser437 on Mar 25, 2011 13:01:33 GMT -5
I think the German water bottle is a pain in the neck. Clips and straps... move the cup... THEN drink. And it never seems to hold enough water for me.
It's a pain to re-attach to the breadbag once secured. I opted for a "D" ring loop on the waistbelt for the canteen after one too many struggles with the canteen on a hot day...
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prgeyer
M/Sgt.
1940 is the Wave of the Future!
Posts: 578
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Post by prgeyer on Mar 25, 2011 13:24:08 GMT -5
Also, pretty much any trousers that require suspenders (or braces for my British friends). Heaven help you if you need to - ahem - unburden yourself in a hurry. You either have to unbutton your suspenders, or you have to completely disassemble your battle rattle and remove your jacket to get your trousers down. It's no wonder that some soldiers fought sans culottes (and I don't mean that in the political sense) when they had dysentery or other digestive ailments.  Peter |
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dcomes1
T/3. 
"United we Conquer"
Posts: 258
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Post by dcomes1 on Apr 5, 2011 9:04:57 GMT -5
The P-37 Battledress jacket. With its short reach your doomed to either button the sharp little metal buttons in the back which love to cut through thread, or if you dotn button it, 4-6 inches of your shirtail is going to show in the back and possibly front. Although I will give a big thumbs down to the waterbottle carrier as well, small, hard to get at, and especially when wet, good luck getting it to snap (maybe for this reason you do see some photos of soldiers without it snapped at all)
-Dan Comes
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Post by JagerLang on Apr 7, 2011 22:08:22 GMT -5
I'll second the late war gemashen. Who in the world thought they were kidding who? Putting them on and taking them off aren't so much the problem as much as them actually serving their supposed function. I've attempted wearing mine at two events and within a mile or so, the @&%! things are migrating into worthless knee pads mit mein trausers flapping in the wind. It's no wonder that I've seen so many pics with the pants tucked into socks.
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Post by Soldat on Apr 12, 2011 16:33:17 GMT -5
Weren't the canteens designed to be difficult to take apart to deter soldiers from drinking water? Both the British and German are a major pain to get to, as mentioned earlier. The US seems far more easier however. It is probably why so many US soldiers were complaining of thirst?
I'd have to say the E-tool is the worst. Doesn't matter what side, seems the shovel was a major PITA, and awkwardly designed.
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privypiper2002
1st Lieutenant 
"War aint hell. Try having been married three times. That's hell."
Posts: 1,356
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Post by privypiper2002 on Apr 12, 2011 17:43:40 GMT -5
Also, pretty much any trousers that require suspenders (or braces for my British friends). Heaven help you if you need to - ahem - unburden yourself in a hurry. You either have to unbutton your suspenders, or you have to completely disassemble your battle rattle and remove your jacket to get your trousers down. It's no wonder that some soldiers fought sans culottes (and I don't mean that in the political sense) when they had dysentery or other digestive ailments. Peter Never had that issue on the kilt  |
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Post by Boogiewoogie on Apr 12, 2011 19:57:56 GMT -5
It is probably why so many US soldiers were complaining of thirst? They didn't have helicopters, so yeah, resupply becomes an even bigger issue. The British Army had issues with potable water in Normandy. Martin |
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5thrangerscoop
T/4. 
Friends will rarely ask their friends to go out and die, but leaders sometimes must.
Posts: 174
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Post by 5thrangerscoop on Apr 13, 2011 13:01:19 GMT -5
I would have to second the Assault Vest, its HOT, heavy and generally bulky. I dont mind my M28 pack, if it is adjusted correctly it will not "ride" up and be uncomfortable.
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prgeyer
M/Sgt.
1940 is the Wave of the Future!
Posts: 578
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Post by prgeyer on Apr 15, 2011 9:47:57 GMT -5
Never had that issue on the kilt Maybe I'm just doing the wrong armies.  |
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privypiper2002
1st Lieutenant
"War aint hell. Try having been married three times. That's hell."
Posts: 1,356
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Post by privypiper2002 on Apr 16, 2011 23:57:43 GMT -5
Once you go kilted, you'll never go back.
My worst piece of kit. The German shovel on the carrier has my vote. The WWI style Us spade also gets a vote. I've broken a couple diving for cover.
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Post by sfcferguson on Apr 28, 2011 12:40:33 GMT -5
German Bakelite Canteen Cups. Everytime I have bought one, I have lost it in the field. The leather strap streches just enough when you are running in the woods for the cup to be able to "jump ship"
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dbloge
1st Lieutenant
Posts: 1,130
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Post by dbloge on Apr 29, 2011 1:00:03 GMT -5
The one that came to mind first for me was the German gas mask can...it is just akward, heavy, and there are easier and cheaper alternatives out there. LTC Tim Like what? DL |
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Corporal J. Kuligowski
T/4.
"Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death." Omar N. Bradley
Posts: 189 
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Post by Corporal J. Kuligowski on Apr 29, 2011 10:27:46 GMT -5
I would have to say the wool uniform before they moved to the M 43. In the hot summer days the combo of heat, itchy wool, and lots of sweat is almost unbearable. The only saving grace was doing amphibious landings, because they dry relatively fast and you don't freeze when you get out of the water.
Next thing would have to be the meat can pouch. somehow if I do a lot of running and diving, one side falls down and needs to be put back on
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