1937 pattern web equipment

[6] The increasingly complex nature of combat and different roles that soldiers and members of the other services were being required to undertake, meant that the new design needed to be flexible, thus it was decided that it would consist of interchangeable components, which could be modified to suit the individual needs of a soldier based on his role.

Although the committee decided on one of the designs in 1934, there were trials underway to find a successor to the Lewis gun (that resulted in the Bren light machine gun),[5] and also abortive trials of automatic rifles including the Pedersen rifle,[8] meant that new webbing could not be adopted until decisions had been reached on future weaponry.

However, 37 pattern was used for second-line and support troops and was included in the army's Catalogue of Ordnance Stores and Ammunition (C.O.S.A.)

[11] Standard components included a belt (issued in sizes Normal and Large), cross straps (called 'braces'), cartridge pouches for .303 ammunition (which gave way to 'universal' pouches to carry ammunition for an array of infantry weapons then in use by the British Army, in addition to grenades), a carrier for the waterbottle and a small pack.

[17] A number of items were issued which conformed to 37 pattern in their fittings and materials but were not strictly part of the set, such as a bandolier for Sten submachine gun magazines as issued to airborne troops and the spare barrel bag and parts wallet for the Bren gun.

[24] The system could be used to flexibly mix and match components, but regulations usually had soldiers wear set combinations.