The German rucksack?

[Dracul]

I have two questions regarding the rucksack. 

1. With a rucksack, does the soldier change his gear at all? Would one still wear a breadbag and have a mess kit dangling from the belt? Or does having a ruck sack mean keeping only ammo pouches, gas mask can, shovel/bayonet, and canteen on the belt, and keeping the bread bag, what normally goes in the breadbag, mess kit, zeltbahn w/ stakes and any extra other supplies in the bag? I couldn't really find pics of it being worn. 

2. How much was the rucksack issued? I know the A Frames weren't used and/or liked a lot, but I'm going to be at least using one to keep a camelbak in it (during games where the thing won't freeze up, haha). 

Thank you! 

[cblackthorne]

Here is a great website with some reference photos for wearing the field gear: www.mp44.nl/equipment.htm

Regards,
Chris

[cblackthorne]

If you don't have an A-frame, it was common to attach the Zelt to your belt on the back with two straps.

Regards,
Chris

[Dracul]

I wasn't referring to the A-Frame bag, I was referring to the 1941 Rucksack:

www.ima-usa.com/german-wwii-rucksack-model-1941.html

[ssgjoe]

Also, you could attach the zelt to the d rings on your y straps with two equipment straps.

[shiftsup]

Rucksack is generally part of Marching Order and not Fighting Order. Generally used to store extra cooking supplies, utensil cleaning items, extra clothing items, sewing items and other personal effects. Field gear items such as the bread bag, mess tin and zelt would normally not be in the rucksack. Rucksacks were issued by the tens of thousands and are a practical tool when face with no minimal re-supply for an extended period. Wearing one for an entire event might be PITA but it is definitely an option if your looking for something to hide a modern piece of kit to avoid a distraction.

[Dracul]

Okay, that clears things up a lot. Thank you. I'm actually quite used to wearing a pack during operations and for days. It won't bother me for a few hours.

So, would be too out of the ordinary to see someone with just the rucksack instead of the bread bag (obviously placing the zelt and the mess kit on/in the ruck)? I only really ask because I want to pass on my only breadbag to help with my wife's impression as a stop gap and to clear up some space on my belt (and of course, hide a Camelbak).

[shiftsup]

I think your fine sans breadbag. I doubt it will be much of a distraction. The PITA about the rucksack is that it makes your profile bigger to opponents. Simply put there's more of you for the enemy to see and more of you to conceal. In September we're doing an Oosterbeek Perimeter themed game. I plan to attend as a member of the Glider Pilot Regiment. Part of the kit was a Bergen (aka rucksack) which I do plan to wear for the odd patrol. However, it is certainly coming off when the opportunity permits. I certainly don't plan to wear it if I have to dig slit trench nor when lying in the slit trench either.

Have you looked at reproduction german artillery rucksacks? Slightly smaller than the 1941 rucksack. Not sure about their prices though.

[Dracul]

I was in the Marines as an Infantry man, I know all about the bigger/smaller profiles, making oneself a hard target, etc etc. Haha.

I actually picked up a "Mountain Bag" by Everest for like 35 bucks, and was somewhat similar, and did plenty of modifications to it to make it more like the M41 Ruck. I even took the clamps hardware from the Rain Drop pattern East German Bag for it. Its not the best looking, but definitely passes the 10 foot rule.

For anyone wondering, I took this here: 

www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQQY1UA/?tag=zscript16mb-20

And modded it into this: 



I forgot to add the bottom D rings, but I will get to that. 

[shiftsup]

I suppose it looks okay-ish mate. Not sure about 10 ft rule. Maybe from 50 ft. The brown leather re-enforcements on the flaps can go away. Straps need replacing. Maybe a dye job to get the colour closer. I appreciate the DIY attitude, but I think it needs a bit more work done to be passable. Good start though.

[aldrich]

The thing about rucksacks is that their production was guided by very loose standards. Therefore, when you look up originals, it is hard to find a standard to adhere to. Rucksacks were meant to be a replacement for the tornister pack, which was much more time consuming and costlier to make. More or less, it was intended to carry a soldiers spare items, extra food, or things needed for camp. Essentially, it was a duffle bag you could carry on your back. From this standpoint you can see soldiers wearing them as they advance or retreat from major positions, but they would take them off if they had somewhere to stash them. As the war progressed, its simple design caused it to gradually replace the more complicated A frame, making it an all purpose pack. Because of large material shortages, lots of the material on Rucksacks were recycled from old stocks of fabric and leather. Therefore you see them in about every earthtone color you can imagine, often with obvious holes running through the fabric and leather from previous stitching. A mixture of canvas and leather was used, depending what was on hand, and you even see field made ones by the troops. I agree with shiftsup that it needs a little work yet, but only because right now it looks too well made. Removing the nice edging on the flaps, and getting some rustic leather or canvas straps for the pockets will help give it the wartime look. If you can, try to find some old straps from something else to use. Then, get it dingy! I find that scrubbing it in a bucket filled with dirty water does the trick.

[Dracul]

Yeah, I could have sworn I've seen ones with leather edging. Either way, I don't like to weather my stuff just for a specific look. I'll just let the games I play to rough them up. I feel its kind of more authentic like that.

[shiftsup]

The straps, replace with the leather that you added to the sides with same stitching. Remove the fancy edging. Re-colour. I dunno 30 mins of agitation in dark green rit dye and then another 30 min of agitation in tan or dark brown. Would look more period correct than it does now. Looks like WIP at the moment now.

[2nd Bat]

I know there are many on this site that cringe at the suggestion of using a pack to hide a modern camelback water dispensor but that is a far cry from the early days of WW2 airsoft where that effort to make modern items less visible was rarely even considered by most. I agree with others that the best step toward authenticity is wear, soiling and use. this will come quickly and quite naturally in the field.

[Dracul]

I'd normally would just stick with canteens, but wool in any seasons beside winter is going to kill me. I'll need all the water I can get. Anyway, 2ndBat's latter is exactly how I feel.

[insterburger]

Being period correct is important. Staying alive and healthy is much moreso. Nothing ruins the mood of an event more than a cease fire to allow an ambulance to come in and cart away a victim of heat stroke.

[Dracul]

Exactly! Its happened to me before multiple times while I was in, so I know my limits and what precautions I need to take. And if I'm not allowed to play as a German or whoever because I want to use a camelbak, that side just lost some boots on the ground and another rifle.

[insterburger]

If anyone excludes you because you have a discreetly hidden hydration device, ask them why they're wearing safety goggles.

[Dracul]

I will keep that mind then, haha.

[luftwelle93]

The rucksack looks good enough.You did a good job with it!

[ssgjoe]

If you do want to stay period correct, two canteens wasn't uncommon during the war. Or even buy two 1L canteens, then you got 2 liters of water, about as much as is in most camel backs. Even two .75L is a lot, that's 1.5L.

[ssgjoe]

I'm sure you can do math though lol