WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
Up The Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons cover

Up The Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons

Chapter 4: Individual Combat Clothing and Equipment
By Charles D. Melson
Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

History - AmericanHistory - Modern (1750+)History - Warfare

About This Book

The narrative provides a chronological operational history of Allied campaigns in the Central Solomon Islands in 1942–43, centering on amphibious planning and combat to seize forward bases and airfields—particularly the occupations of the Russell Islands, Rendova, and the drive on Munda. It outlines task-force organization, joint Army, Marine, naval, and Seabee roles, reconnaissance and coastwatcher intelligence, engineering of airstrips, the logistical and climatic hardships of jungle warfare, and the tactical actions and outcomes that determined the campaign’s progress in the Central Solomons.

[Sidebar (page 6):]

Individual Combat Clothing and Equipment

Drawing by Kerr Eby, U.S. Navy Combat Art Collection

By 1943, the cotton sage-green herringbone twill utility uniform was being issued to the troops in the field (although some camouflage clothing was available) and to new Marines at the recruit depots. These jackets and trousers were worn with field shoes, leggings, and the M1 steel helmet. Individual combat equipment was the distinctive Marine Corps 1941 pattern that derived from earlier Army M1910 designs. Basic components included the cartridge belt, belt suspenders, haversack, and knapsack; supplemented by poncho, shelter half, entrenching tool, gas mask, and canteens. Lieutenant Colonel Samuel B. Griffith II, commanding the 1st Raider Battalion, recalled that officers and men landed with a basic allowance of ammunition, a canteen of water, a battle dressing, and individual first aid kit on the belt. In the pack were two days K-Rations, one D-Bar (a highly enriched and very hard chocolate bar), tobacco, a change of underwear, three pairs of socks, a poncho, and a pair of tennis shoes. The pack roll was made from a shelter half, blanket, and “one utility garment.” A 4th Raider Battalion Marine noted that at Vangunu they “learned that one canteen of water was not enough. We all had been issued a second canteen.”