A-Frame What do you think?

[IanC]

Friends,

The post is not the usual, "here's photo's of my A-frame, is it a reproduction?"
but was the A frame and it's bag a useful item of equipment?

What do you think?

My own opinion is that whilst it is one of my favorite pieces of German combat equipment, I can see a few shortcommings, namely the lack of protection for what carried from the elements. I know the zeltbahn would be ok, but I wouldn't want to use a blanket that had been caught in a sudden downpour for a couple of hours!

The books I have read about the A-frame all mention it's functionality what can be hung where etc but I have yet to come accross any that mention how it faired in the field and whether it was a popular piece of equipment.

Over to you........

Cheers

Ian

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Ian, this is a good question to pose to a Veteran or someone who has used one for living history.

I can speak from my experience of using one for LH. Personally, I don't think it is a great item, partly for the reasons you already mentioned. But then again I feel that all German field kit is poor (read dated in design)compared with British 1937 pattern webbing equipment. German kit all rattles around and is noisy, plus you take it off and it has a tendency to come undone.

Cheers, Ade.

[reidmuller]

I agree with Ade i have one for reenactments but only used it once as there is no need for it TBH it just adds something to your kit as the messtin and zelt goes on the belt easy and is more accessable try getting your messtin off to do a brew when attached to the breadbag its hard enough

[blackadder]

I think they disigned the A-frame to be light and comfortable in the field.
in the dessert with an rucksack on you back is not always nice and easy

[Michael Kuligowski]

Thats a interestinc Thread - IAgree with Adrian - german gear wasnt perfect .. it was a bit complicated" in setup and expensive I believe...
maybe thats also the reason why its popular in collecting ...

Aframe supossed to be a assault bacpack - thats what was designed for - carry all combat gear in action - and in case You dont need extra weight on Your back - quick deattach.

itr was quite usefull this way ..
when going back to marching - it was enough to attach Your M39 fury pack to straps.. then A frame to backpack - and You ready ....

about the waterproof - blankets were safe if You rolled them under zeltbahn .. also zelt was big enough after putting on, to cover soldier with backpack...

but I have to agree that most likely it wasnt too popular stuff among soldiers - most pictures of front line troops are not showing frames..

[david stone]

As one who has spent many days in the field using this piece of equipment, I have to vote for it being more useful than not. But it takes a bit of thought to make it work well. There are those who complain that it is impossible to get at. True, yes, but how often are you alone in the army? Besides, there are many who slavishly insist upon fastening the Ystraps to the belt in back while wearing the assault pack. I no longer bother to do it, treating the ystrap and assault pack arrangement like a pack instead. Infinitely easier to get to that way. Useful tip from a veteran.
It really is a decent place to carry the mess tin too. On the belt, it is constantly in the way, and I usually end up crushing it when I fall or leap onto that side. Storing the zelt on it is actually easier to get at than carrying it strapped to your belt - at least for me.
I've carried all sorts of stuff on it from time to time, from loaves of bread to snowshoes to ammo boxes, but never have I carried a blanket, only a greatcoat a couple of times. Even so, in a downpour, rolled up stuff only gets so wet....and you can cover it on your back with your zelt.
Perhaps my view is better because I also reenact WWI. We have to rig our own assault packs from messkit straps, mess kit straps, breadbag straps, your messtin, and zelt, etc. It is much nicer having the ready made frame for it.
I cannot remark on British field gear, as I never have worn it. In my opinion, while the German stuff does indeed fall apart when you remove it, it is quite comfortable once you have it all on. The only nusiance to me is the shovel, the handle of which sometimes gets in the way...and the fact that while it is fairly easy to remove it single handedly, its almost impossible to wrestle back in while you are wearing it - the straight shovel, that is.
I am amused by writers who give a long list of what is carried in the little bag. I can get a sweater in mine. But I cannot get a half iron ration and a pair of socks and a sweater too. When I see a laundry list of what is carried in it, I know the author never tried putting all that in one at the same time!
As a parting shot, I suppose no field gear is perfect. I hate the way American stuff always seems to have strap tips too big to fit into the buckles...the British canteen seems designed to torment the user...but for sheer comfort and ease of use - I really like what the Swedes had...

Dave

[IanC]

Thanks for all the responses.

Some very interesting opinions and observations and a nice pic from Mike to boot!

Cheers

Ian