brengun backpack?

[sgtmartty]

Hi

A couple of days ago i bought a british backpack. The seller told me that it was a pack for the bren gun (ammo i suppose).

The thing is that i cant find any information about it on the net. I have never seen this kind of pack earlier. Its marked with 1945 and the manufactor. I think it is p.s.s (princess silk shade) but its hard to see. Iam not sure either if the L straps are correct for the pack, they have this kind of strange hooks in the end. If someone has reference pictures or some interesting facts I would be more than happy.

Regards/

Anton B, Sweden

[Tony]

Hello Anton,

I don't know anything about the pack, but the LMG (modified Bren) comes with a big heavy metal box which takes something like 12 magazines and is lugged from A to B by the number 2. Or at least that's what we had to do.

Is the LMG still in service?

Tony

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Anton

The strange looking hooks enable the pack to be hooked into the rest of the webbing worn by the soldier, (waist-belt pouches, sholder straps etc) I think its just a large rucksack-carried by specialist troops - commando's SAS - SBS etc who had to bring more equipment than the normal soldier.

I dont believe its especially for Bren gun ammo boxes, most bren ammo was carried in steel boxes with 10 mags per box if I remember correctly

Kevin in Deva.

[sgtmartty]

Thanks lads for the fast replies! The seller was probably wrong about the brengun theory...

The strange looking hooks enable the pack to be hooked into the rest of the webbing worn by the soldier, (waist-belt pouches, sholder straps etc)...

Iam sorry for the bad description I mean the hooks at the backpacks bottom which are attached to the D-rings. Have never seen them before.

Regards/ Anton B

Edited May 5, 2007 by sgtmartty

[Kev in Deva]

Hi sgtmarty

, the hooks are probably to facilitate quick removal of the pack (if contact with the enemy / ambush etc..etc..) normal procedure is to drop the main pack fight and recover pack.

Kevin in Deva

[Tony]

Don't German war time rucksacks have the same fittings?

[Kev in Deva]

Don't German war time rucksacks have the same fittings?

No! German wartime rucksacks had one hook fitting, round in shape, whereas these are flat brass.

The principle was the same to ease getting it off the back quickly.

Later I will dig out and photograph the hooks on one in my possession.

Kevin in Deva

[Tony]

No! German wartime rucksacks had one hook fitting, round in shape, whereas these are flat brass.

The principle was the same to ease getting it off the back quickly.

Later I will dig out and photograph the hooks on one in my possession.

Kevin in Deva

Get digging Kev and remind me of the way a large pack was fixed on 58 pat. webbing, I'm sure it wasn't as above (37 pat.?) and being RCT I hardly carried one anyway.

Tony

[Kev in Deva]

Hallo Tony,

please see pictures of the German Rucksack strap fittings:

Kevin in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Maker Stamp, dated to 1936 or 38?

Kevin in Deva

[Kev in Deva]

Front view German Rucksack.

With regards the 1958 Pattern Rucksack, two canvas straps over the shoulders, hooking into to "D" rings on the Yoke, two side clips hooking onto the rear of the ammo pouces, for more stability could be placed above the "Kidney Pouches".

Kevin in Deva

Edited May 7, 2007 by Kev in Deva

[Tony]

With regards the 1958 Pattern Rucksack, two canvas straps over the shoulders, hooking into to "D" rings on the Yoke, two side clips hooking onto the rear of the ammo pouces, for more stability could be placed above the "Kidney Pouches".

Kevin in Deva

Ta Kev.

Tony