US M1945 Lower Field Cargo Pack (WW2-Early Vietnam). The rubber insert has some deterioration as per photo.
The United States supplied the South Vietnamese Army with surplus stocks of M1945 load carrying equipment early in the war. Unfortunately the combat field pack proved to be too small for multi-day missions and old larger French rucksacks were often preferred instead. In addition the pack's attachment to the suspender was so poor that when it was employed ARVN soldiers routinely carried the pack on a separate set of shoulder straps. As a result of these deficiencies Natick Labs developed the ARVN backpack
Design and Structure
Two-part system: Includes an upper combat pack for essential fighting gear and a lower cargo pack for rations and extra clothing, connected by an X-suspender strap arrangement.
Material: Made of heavy-duty Olive Drab (OD#7) cotton canvas with durable iron or metal hardware and buckles.
Dimensions: The lower cargo bag typically measures roughly 14” to 16” wide by 8” to 10” high and 6” deep.
Usage: Can be worn combined as a full assembly or split apart to be used independently with a shoulder strap.
