M-1918 Grenade Carrier

The M-1918 Grenade Carrier, also known as the grenade vest, was a copy of the British grenade apron, which was designed for the wearer to carry multiple grenades on the front of his chest for easy access. The US version was made in two different versions, one having 4 inch pockets, and the other having 6 inch pockets. Two different size pockets allowed for different grenades and explosives to be carried. Very few photos exist of servicemen using these carriers, possibly because they interfered with the gas mask. Many were produced in anticipation of a massive offensive in Spring of 1919, but luckily, it never happened. After the war, the government sold tons of grenade carriers to surplus stores for civilian use, and even today they can readily be found in mint, un-used condition. The carriers also saw limited use in WWII by Marines in the Pacific Theater.

The carriers consisted of a cotton panel with two rows of pockets – the top row having six pockets, the bottom having five. Each pocket had a pointed flap with a simple black polished snap button closure. A sling made of cotton webbing was attached via buckles to the top of the vest for slinging around the neck, and two additional cotton straps on each side of the carrier were for tying around the body for additional support and to prevent swinging.