Issued British Pattern 1937 Shoulder Strap

Issued British Pattern 1937 Shoulder Strap Note: This listing is for one (1) strap. Order two for a matching set. Issued British Pattern 1937 Shoulder Strap This is a genuine cross strap, or "brace," from 1937 Pattern Web Equipment, the British Army's standard load-carrying system of World War II. The design process started in 1937 in response to new weapons like the Bren light machine gun and the Army's shift toward mechanized warfare, which meant soldiers needed to carry more ammunition while still moving freely in and out of vehicles. The final pattern was approved on June 8, 1938, and wide-scale issue began in 1939. From there it equipped British and Commonwealth forces, including Canadian, Australian, South African, and Indian troops, across every major theater of the war, from the beaches of Normandy to the deserts of North Africa and the jungles of the Pacific. It remained in front-line service until 1958 Pattern equipment replaced it, and lingered in second-line and Territorial Army use into the mid-1970s. The straps themselves are pre-shrunk, waterproofed cotton webbing with brass fittings (steel on postwar production), issued in khaki and often treated in the field with Blanco to shades of green depending on unit and theater. They connect the belt over the shoulders, carrying the weight of the ammunition pouches, water bottle, and pack rather than leaving it all on the hips. The Short & Sweet: Genuine 1937 Pattern ("P37") Web Equipment shoulder strap Adopted 1938, issued from 1939 through WWII and beyond Pre-shrunk waterproofed cotton webbing, brass fittings Used by British and Commonwealth forces in every major WWII theater Sold individually; order two for a complete set