HELL'S HALF ACRE-Canteens
Canteens
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 1. Until the fielding of the plastic 1 qaurt canteens in 1963, soldiers carried water in alluminum or stainless steel M1942 canteens. Three variations of metal canteens are see here. From left to right, 1944 dated stainless steel, 1945 dated alluminum, and 1953 dated alluminum. Early troops in Vietnam such as my father's unit carried these metal canteens for a while before they were issued plastic ones.
 2. Plastic 1 quart canteens dated 1966 and 1968. The plastic canteens replaced the metal M1942 canteens in 1963. Our Armed forces currently uses the same model canteen, although the current issue canteen has a cap with adapter to drink while wearing a protective mask(a gas mask).
3. 1953 dated canteen cup, and a 1965 dated cup with it's handle extended. These were used to drink out of, cook food, and etc.
 4. M1956 Canteen covers, two variations shown. The cover on the left is dated 1961. This is an early variation with a liner made of a thick type of felt, later variations featured a liner made of soft pile. The cover on the right is dated 1962, with a pile lining. Canteen covers attached to the web belt by ALICE clips and were used to carry the canteen and a canteen cup. Soaking the cover in water often kept the contents of the canteen cool for a good while.
 5. M1956 Canteen covers with nylon trim on the flaps. The cover on the left is DSA-100 marked, no dated which dates from about 1966 or 1967. The cover on the right is dated 1968. In 1967 the M-1967 nylon canteen cover was fielded. The design was basicly the same except a small pouch for iodine tablets was added to the cover.
6. Second pattern 2 quart collapsible canteens, dated 1968 and 1969. Using canteens such as these, soldiers could carry extra water in the hot jungles where fresh water was a precious commodity. The 2 quart canteens were carried in a nylon pile lined cover, with quick release buckle. However, the nylon cover was often unavailable and soldiers resorted to carrying the canteens attched to their rucksack using a carabiner( metal snap link ).
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