This genuine US M1956 Universal Small Arms Ammunition Pouch is a 2nd Pattern example dating from the 1960s. Originally developed as part of the US military's M1956 Individual Load Carrying Equipment system, the pouch was designed as a general-purpose ammunition carrier for soldiers in the field. Its period military construction and distinctive M1956 pattern make it particularly appealing to military collectors, Vietnam War enthusiasts, reenactors and those restoring period load-carrying equipment.

Features

• Genuine US military surplus
• M1956 Individual Load Carrying Equipment pattern
• 2nd Pattern Universal Small Arms Ammunition Pouch
• Examples dating from the 1960s
• Designed as a general-purpose ammunition pouch
• Used with the US M1956 load-carrying system
• Associated with US military equipment used during the Vietnam War era
• Distinctive period design for collecting and reenactment
• Individual surplus items may show stains, repairs, wear and genuine service patina

A bit of History
The M1956 Individual Load Carrying Equipment system was developed to replace earlier US military load-carrying equipment with a more versatile system built around modular components. The Universal Small Arms Ammunition Pouch formed part of the standard system and was intended to accommodate ammunition loads for a range of small arms.

The 2nd Pattern pouch represents a later development of the original universal ammunition pouch. Unlike the earlier 1st Pattern, it omitted the front stiffener and the eyelet in the flap tab. The revised construction made the pouch more practical for carrying magazines, including three 20-round M14 magazines vertically.

M1956 equipment saw extensive use during the Vietnam War period. The Australian Army had also adopted the US M1956 load-carrying equipment by 1966, and Australian War Memorial records document the system in use in Vietnam during the period.

Specifications
Product Code: POG011
Product Type: Universal Small Arms Ammunition Pouch
Pattern: M1956, 2nd Pattern
Country / Military: United States
Era: 1960s
Condition: Used
FSN: 8465-647-0852

This M1956 2nd Pattern pouch is a genuine piece of Cold War-era military equipment with a direct connection to the load-carrying systems used by US forces during the Vietnam War. Its historical provenance makes it well suited to collectors, reenactors and restoration projects involving period military webbing. As genuine used surplus, individual examples may show differences in wear, staining, repairs, colour and overall condition.