M-1956 load-carrying equipment
The M-1956 LCE remained in service through the 1980s and set the standard for future United States military load-carrying equipment.
The M-1956 LCE continued application of the belt-supported-by-suspenders concept, adopted by the U.S. Army at least as early as the pattern 1903 equipment.
[5] Metal rectangular rings, for attachment of the ammunition pouch suspension hooks and sleeping bag carrier, are located at the top of the front straps.
The underside of the shoulder pads is thinner drill in earlier-production suspenders and twilled nylon in some of the latest examples.
The M-1956 small arms ammunition case sought to replace all of these with a pair of simple pouches capable of holding either a 6-pocket M1 bandoleer of M1 Garand en bloc clips (8-rounds each; total of 48 rounds), 8 x M1 Garand en bloc clips (8 rounds each; total of 64 rounds), 2 x BAR magazines (20-rounds), 4 x M1 or M2 carbine magazines (30-round), 3 x 40mm M79 grenades, or 2 x M26 hand grenades plus 2 x hand grenades fastened on the sides of the case.
Like other pouches in the system, the ammunition pouches each attached to the web belt with a pair of slide keepers and, uniquely, an adjustable length strap with a closable hook which connected to the rectangular hook on the suspenders, intended to keep the case upright and transfer some of the weight directly to the shoulders.
As a result, the M-1956 canteen cover was not fundamentally different from the earlier models with the exception of the use of two slide keepers in lieu of the M-1910 double hook and metal snaps for closure instead of lift-the-dot fasteners.
Typically canteen covers also demonstrate the most visible signs of age, fading easily due to continuous wetting and drying.
Troops in Vietnam generally carried two or more canteens, and this practice largely continued after the war, as, with the adoption of larger complementary rucksacks (see Complementary equipment below), the intrenching tool carrier (see below) often migrated to attachment points on the rucksack, freeing space on the pistol belt for another canteen.
The case was made from cotton duck and featured a simple flap closure fastened by a blackened "glove-type" snap.
A single slide keeper was mounted on webbing sewn to the back of the case, and later production incorporated an eyelet at the bottom of the pouch for water drainage.
The scabbard mountings were sewn to the front of the carrier at an angle and consisted of a cotton duck rectangle carrying two eyelets to receive an M-1910 double hook, a leather reinforcement sewn partially underneath the duck rectangle, and a snap fastened strap to hold the scabbard against the front of the carrier.
The field pack was sized to hold rations such as a meal, combat, individual (C-ration) along with sparse personal implements, for example shaving kit and extra socks.
[13] An H-shaped arrangement of web straps just short of an inch in width was issued to secure the bed roll on the back above the field pack.
This arrangement effectively made use of the empty upper back area to carry the sleeping bag, but the weight of the bed roll and field pack had a tendency to pull the pistol belt up to the soldier's chest at the front.
It was almost identical to the previous model but had a stamped metal buckle in which a bent tab fit through a slot, and remained closed through friction.
It also added a long internal rubber-coated collar to the pack's opening, instead of the two inside duck flaps, in an attempt to better keep the contents dry.
In 1964, a 2nd pattern of the small arms ammunition case were introduced that was missing the plastic stiffener in front.
In 1965, slightly modified small arms ammunition cases came into service to coincide with the adoption of the 5.56×45mm NATO M16 rifle.
