New Zealand Modified M-1956 Ammunition Pouches

[@tedfernyhough3759]

I was an New Zealand Infantryman from 1980-93. Those M16 pouches could take 2 SLR mags, but only just, and they shrank when wet which caused extraction issues. We had buy Army surplus WW2 web pouches and sew them via a ‘loop’ system to the web belt. There was a huge amount of individual ‘customisation’ of web pouches by the troopies. It was a signature of an ‘old soldier’ to have personalised custom webbing. Our Q stores were a mishmash of old and new equipment, mostly US in origin. I remember the introduction of the later, larger pouches, in both materials. It was necessary to accomodate the new AUG Styer 30 Rd magazines. Thankfully, the new generation belt order and vest webbing issued in the NZ Army today is some of the best in the world. Even my US buddies are envious of it.

[@zaynevanday142]

I served 2/1 RNZIR 6 Hauraki and 3 Auckland Nth 1992-2008 Paratrooper, Assault Pioneers , Mortars

[@TimStamper89]

I have to say kiwi kit is very interesting as I see so little of it being displayed

[@zaynevanday142]

My first set of Kiwi 🥝 webbing was six of these heavily modified wth the clips removed belt loops added front pouch clip replaced with a fastex clip and DPM material sewn on with a sewing awl

[@neilhughes3529]

I served on secondment with the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment on Ex Long Look in 1991. I was issued the green canvas pouches on the right of your video, and the rest of the web equipment was also US style. I recall there was a “trend” in the battalion to modify the ammo pouches so that they sat lower down on the belt (like 58 ammo pouches). As issued they sat higher (like 37 pouches) and this was less comfortable so they were modified by the troops, but for the life of me I can’t remember how they did it. Must try to find some old photos…..

[@zaynevanday142]

You mush have been with 2/1 RNZIR because 1 RNZIR didn’t allow modding of any equipment

[@neilhughes3529]

@@zaynevanday142 Yep. 2/1 in Burnham

[@muzzaduzz613]

How the modifications were done depended on where you served. In 1RNZIR in Singapore they were professionally done at Dieppe Barracks by a tailor on base who also sold locally made webbing. When I was in 2/1 I did my own mods with a hand stitcher/ sewing awl using seatbelt material as loops. I had a mixture of issue webbing as well as 1937, 1944 pattern and 1958 pattern. When we transitioned to the F88 Steyr I cutdown a 1958 pattern ammo to fit Steyr mags so the top of the mags sat flush with the top of the pouch it held 4x mags nicely, I still have it somewhere. For a time I also used a black coloured commercial US made vest which held 12 30 round M16 mags (only 6 Steyr mags as they are fatter than M16 mags) this was spray painted camouflage and had added belt loops underneath where I had 4x ammo pouches and 2x water bottles. I had sourced 6x 30 round M16 mags from a local gun shop as we were only issued 20 round mags at that stage. In 1 RNZIR I used a mix of locally produced nylon webbing with Singaporean issue ammo pouches.

[@thomashastings5694]

Very cool thank you very much for find these pouches

[@zaynevanday142]

God those clips when wet were a nightmare

[@pierevojzola9737]

Hi, the type of webbing we wore depended on the type of weapon we carried. If you carried the 7.62 Bren you had a hard time finding deep enough pouches to carry your magazines. If you carried a SLR you also had to be very selective in the type of pouch and if you had a 9mm Sterling you were stuffed, as the magazines wouldn’t fit any type of issued pouch. I had pouches made for me so that I could carry multiple magazines. I gave up with the Sterling and went back to the SLR as that had the best stopping power. You are correct about the grenades, they had to be carried in pouches. Cheers mate. Harera

[@zaynevanday142]

Stirling crap that was way before my time what was that Malayan emergency 😂

[@muzzaduzz613]

@@zaynevanday142 not too much before your time, was still being used as an enemy party weapon in the late 80’s, but you’re right it was a fair while since it was as issue weapon. I even carried a .303 No4MK1 for a month as enemy party at the end of corps training in 1987. Wasn’t much fun in contacts up against guys with SLRs etc lol.

[@davidbrennan660]

Interesting details.

[@66kbm]

Its strange how the US did away with the Ammo pouch strap to the suspenders with ALICE but the Aussies and Kiwis kept the straps on. They are more akin to US M67 30 round pouches, but bigger obviously.

[@zaynevanday142]

Ha we cut those off as soon as it was issued complete waste of time 😂