The standard U.S. infantry equipment used during the majority of World War II owes much to developments that occurred before, during, and after World War I.

• The M1928 haversack and pack carrier was a near-exact copy of the M1910, which was not really a very good design to begin with; it couldn't be worn without belts that had eyelets, needed to be folded out flat to pack it, and if it was packed or tied incorrectly, the contents would fall out. The M1928 haversack was replaced beginning in 1943 by the "jungle" or field (also known as the "M1943") pack, and then in late 1944 and early 1945 by the M1944 combat and cargo pack.

• The unwieldy M1910 T-handle entrenching tool was replaced in 1943 by the smaller, folding M1943 that also contained a pick, making the M1910 pick-mattock partially irrelevant.

• The M1923 dismounted cartridge belt was an improved version of the M1910 dismounted cartridge belt, featuring a simpler buckle and size adjustment system. Both belts had ten pouches for rifle ammunition. The M1910 mounted cartridge belt had four pockets for pistol ammunition and four for rifle ammunition. The M1923 mounted cartridge belt had nine pockets for rifle ammunition; the front left pouch was blank, and had eyelets to attach a regular M1910 or M1942 two-pocket pistol magazine pouch. The mounted versions of the M1910 and M1923 cartridge belts were intended for issue to cavalry troops, but they also found favor with men armed with both a pistol and a rifle.

• The M1905 bayonet was a 16-inch bayonet with a 4-inch wooden handle designed for use with the M1903 Springfield rifle. Post-World War I, many bayonets were cut down to 10 inches for use with the new M1 Garand rifle; these bayonets were designated M1905E1. An "economy" bayonet with a 10-inch blade and plastic handle designated the M1942 replaced the M1905E1.

• The M1917 helmet was replaced by the M1 by the middle of 1942, which better protected the sides of the head and the back of the neck

• Several new pieces of clothing were developed immediately before World War II to replace the World War I-era choke-collar uniform with puttees. There was the M1937 wool shirt and trousers, the M1938 dismounted leggings, and the M1941 field jacket. A completely new uniform set made of light herringbone twill fabric and originally intended for work use was also developed. Keep in mind that many "M-" designations have been invented postwar for ease of identification by collectors and historians, and were not actually used during the period, the items being identified only by alphabetized supply catalog names.

• The M1937 cartridge belt replaced the myriad of different belts for the Browning Automatic Rifle which were used during World War I;

• Gunner's belt: four pockets for BAR ammunition, one pocket for pistol ammunition, and a "cup" into which the butt of the BAR could be fitted to stabilize it during "marching fire"

• Assistant gunner's belt: Four pockets for BAR ammunition and four pockets for rifle ammunition

• A bandolier capable of holding six magazines, meant to be worn in pairs across the chest

It had six pockets, with room enough to carry 12 magazines; many gunners only carried about eight magazines due to the weight, and filled the other two pockets with oil flasks and gun maintenance tools.

• In 1943, the U.S. Army began a program to develop clothing that was more suited to cold weather than the thin prewar M1941 jacket combined with leggings that were hard to lace properly and allowed water to seep into the pant legs and shoes. What resulted was the M1943 uniform, consisting of a jacket, trousers, and boots. The jacket and trousers could be layered with a pile liner to provide better protection against wet or cold, and the shin-high two-buckle boots eliminated the use of leggings.

• A "grenade vest" inspired by a British piece of equipment was retired. During World War I, each U.S. Army infantry platoon had a squad (or "section") whose job it was to throw grenades.

Sources:

• Rottman, Gordon L. U.S. Army Combat Equipments 1910-1988. London; Osprey Publishing, 1988.

• Rottman, Gordon L. World War II U.S. Army Combat Equipments. Oxford; Osprey Publishing, 2016.