Tent sheet
A tent sheet is part of the personal equipment of soldiers in most modern armed forces. This is a rectangular, triangular, or diamond-shaped impregnated tarpaulin, several of which can be joined together to form a makeshift tent . Individual tent sheets can be worn as a cover and serve like a rain cape as weather protection or serve to camouflage fighting stalls.
M31 tent sheet
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The most famous design of a tent sheet in German-speaking countries is that of the multifunctional tent sheet M31 (later referred to as tent sheet M34 with minor changes ). The patent holder of the pattern, Walter Reichert, manufactured the tent sheets under his abbreviation “Warei”, which has often become a synonym for this type of tent sheet, although there were other producers as well. The M31 tent sheet is a triangular sheet with a base length of 2.5 m and a weight of approx. 1 kg when dry. It was introduced in the Reichswehr and later used by the Wehrmacht during World War II . Triangular cut models with and without various camouflage patterns were used after the war by the Federal Border Guard , the French Foreign Legion , the Austrian and Swedish armies , among others .
When used as a tent, in the simplest case four panels are buttoned together to form a pyramid shape, but larger constructions are also possible. Due to its special design, the tent sheet can also be used as a poncho .
The tent sheet was carried with the help of packing straps on the D-rings of the bread bag and the belt carrying frame or in a horseshoe shape around the knapsack . In addition, the track could be attached to this storm bag using two loops that were firmly connected to the A-frame .
armed forces
When planning the tent sheet for the Bundeswehr , the multi-purpose concept of the tent sheet M31 was abandoned. The German manufacturers orientated themselves again on the internationally common shape, which in turn ties in with older military tent types already known in the 19th century. The Bundeswehr tent sheet is a classic Prussian form. What was new was that triangular wings were sewn onto the narrow sides of the previously open or attachable entrances, in other words, a hexagon now resulted in the floor plan of the tarpaulin. These wings keep sideways wind out, so the canvas provides better protection from the wind than the 19th century tarpaulins that were used by the Allies during World War II. Only the Federal Border Police , which had combatant status , retained the concept of the M31 tent sheet in the swamp camouflage pattern .
In order to obtain a prism-shaped tent of the Bundeswehr, which other armies introduced in parallel in the 1950s (ridge length approx. 2.25 m), two sheets of tent are buttoned together. The triangular wings are knotted together to form the apses on the front sides of the tent.
The tent sheet accessories include a tent sheet fabric bag with five pegs and aluminum tent poles. To save space, the pegs can be inserted into the hollow tent poles. Two tent poles put together support both ends of the two-man tent. To prevent water from getting in when it rains, the small tent sheet accessory bag is placed on the outer tent poles. The large tent membrane bag is folded and pushed under the tent pole so that it does not dig into the ground. The tent sheet bag is used to pack the tent sheet and the tent sheet accessories. At the outer ends of the tent sheet there is a cord made of synthetic fiber, tied to a loop, with which the tent sheet is fixed in the ground with the help of pegs. In the BW backpack, the tent sheet, stowed in the inside pocket, serves as a back pad. The official accessories do not include two accessory cords over two meters long with tension cords that can be attached to the ends of the tent sheet so that, if necessary, a pitched roof or two as a tent can be erected between two trees.
A tent sheet package can be built from the tent sheet as an improvised, buoyant packaging of the equipment with backpack, boots and weapon in order to be able to swim through a body of water. The buoyancy of the tent sheet package is large enough to serve as a swimming aid for the soldier. If the tent sheet has armholes for use as a tent sheet poncho, these must be sewn up and glued.
Another use of the tent sheet is as a rain cape. The tent sheet is placed across the shoulders and buttoned in front of the body along the roof ridge. The arms can be put through the slots in the tent sheet, the tent sheet pocket serves as a hood. The tent sheet can also be used as a tarpaulin for a position such as at the alarm post and as a heat-insulating pad. A makeshift stretcher for the transport of a wounded person can be built by inserting two appropriately long and thick branches.
Larger tent constructions are possible with several lanes. For example, four tent sheets can be used to make a tent sheet hiding place open at the top, in which a fireplace can be maintained. Two additional tent sheets can be added to this construction to a fin tent, which is also suitable for the winter as a makeshift shelter. This construction can be heated with a tent heater made of thin pipes in a Swedish fire with warm air.
Other models
In front of the tent sheet 31, a square tent sheet was used in the German army ( M 1892 ). Similar models were later used in the NVA and in the Swiss Army (as so-called " military sheets ") (side length approx. 1.60 m each).
Tarpaulin
The word tarpaulin originated as a compound from engl. tar ( tar ) and palling or pall (cloth; from Latin pallium, coat). In the German-speaking world, the word is often shortened to “tarp”, as a synonym for tent sheet (tarpaulin, also half-tent tarpaulin, but without wing side), especially in the jargon of outdoor sports.
See also
- Pitched roof (military jargon)
- Switzerland military sheet
Web links
- Zeltbahn.net Comprehensive information for military interested in history and Reenactors to the tarpaulin of the Armed Forces (Engl.)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Matthias Hake survival in the wilderness and urban environment, makeshift measures special forces Bochum 2017