U.S. 3-Pocket Grenade Carrier Pouch

The US 3-Pocket Grenade Carrier Pouch (Specification MIL-C-1574).

These were developed late in World War II and heavily utilized through the Vietnam War.

Technical Specifications

• Capacity: Designed for 3 fragmentation or smoke grenades (or up to 6 smaller hand grenades).
• Material: Heavy-duty cotton duck canvas.
• Color: Available in standard Olive Drab (OD#7 green).
• Closures: Features press-stud (snap) closures on all three pockets and a brass belt hook on the back.
• Stability: Equipped with two cotton leg-tie tapes to secure the pouch to the thigh to prevent flapping while running.

Historical Context

• WWII Origins: Developed late 1944 / early 1945 to allow frontline troops to carry more hand grenades on their standard utility belt.
• Vietnam Era: Widely used by the US Marine Corps (USMC) and the US Army in Vietnam. Because standard M1961 ammunition pouches lacked grenade loops, soldiers tied these 3-pocket pouches directly to their M1956 load-carrying equipment.