BACKGROUND: The combat Y-straps were developed in April 1939 along with the M39 backpack to replace the earlier M34 backpack with integral shoulder straps. The combat Y-straps were also utilized with other backpacks including the A-Frame Assault pack and were designed to assist in distributing the weight of the equipment carried on the load bearing waist belt to the shoulders. The combat Y-straps were originally issued to Infantry rifle company personnel in April 1939 followed by motorcycle personnel in June 1941 and by bicycle troops in March 1943. Of Note: "Cavalry" pattern Y-straps, based on a pre-WWI design, were introduced on February 15TH 1940 and were originally intended for mounted personnel, although they saw widespread use by officers, cavalry, motorcycle, bicycle and paratroop personnel. The cavalry pattern Y-straps followed the basic design of the Infantry pattern Y-straps but excluded the auxiliary straps as cavalry personnel didn’t require the additional support for the waist belt as they were equipped with saddle bags instead of the standard backpack or rucksack. Originally all the Y-straps were produced in a blackened leather until late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941 and included canvas web construction Y-straps. Eventually, due to leather shortages the canvas web Y-straps were also issued to personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe and other theatres of battle.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Blackened leather construction Y-straps, consisting of two main front straps, two auxiliary front straps, a short back strap and steel fittings. Both of the main straps are roughly, 60cm long and are tapered from roughly, 40mm wide at the top to 21mm wide at the bottom with a transverse piece of leather stitched on the lower ends creating a "T" to prevent loss of the length adjustment buckles. The "T" end is missing from the right strap. The obverse of each main strap has a leather reinforced, steel "D" ring near the top and a pronged, steel, length adjustment, buckle with an integral, belt support hook near the bottom. The main straps each have eight length adjustment buckling eyelets with size adjustment number marked to the front. The middle of the reverse of the main straps each have a rivetted and stitch reinforced auxiliary strap. The roughly, 30cm long, 18mm wide, auxiliary straps are looped at the ends with an inserted steel "D" ring and each have a steel, length adjusting studded buckle, a leather retaining loop and twelve, tear drop shaped, length adjustment, stud eyelets. The roughly, 23cm long, 20mm wide, tapering, back strap has a steel belt hook, stitched to one end, a steel, length adjustment stud and six, tear-dropped shaped, length adjustment eyelets. The back strap has been torn off at one time and has been re-sewn/repaired. The main front straps are stitched around a large, circular, steel ring, while the back strap is looped around the ring and secured by the steel stud. The reverse of the large steel ring has a stitched on, tear-dropped shaped, protective leather tab which is also stitched to the back strap. The reverse of all the straps are in age and usage darkened natural tan leather. Could not find any visible markings, although they are most probably there someplace. The leather is dry, several repairs and the fittings all show rusting. However, they would still work fine for a uniform display on a mannequin.

GRADE **                             PRICE $235.00