Last week we looked at the 88 Pattern water bottle carrier. The bottle itself used in the carrier was a simple plastic design, copied from the late 1950s Canadian design seen here. Of more interest is the metal cup issued alongside the canteen that slots over its base to fit inside the carrier:
Metal cups have a number of advantages over plastic examples; they are sturdier and less likely to break and they can be used to directly heat liquids over a flame, as seen here where some Australian cadets are doing just that:
The only disadvantage is that it is possible to burn your lips on the edge of the cup if it is too hot. Occasionally modified cups are seen with black electrical tape stuck around the rim to overcome this problem. Regardless, troops across the world seem to universally prefer metal canteen cups to plastic examples. The Australian cup has a folding handle that can be extended to provide a place to grip the cup:
This hinges around to rest on the underside of the cup when stowed. It is folded up and has a small sliding tab on the end nearest the hinge point:
This locks into a pair of prongs on the cup body to ensure the handle is secure and cannot move in use- the last thing anyone wants is a lap full of scalding hot water!
These cups are marked with a /|\ mark and an NSN number on the handle, as well as the year of manufacture, here 1993:
This design of cup is almost a direct copy of the US M1910 canteen cup, which features the same folding handle, locking tabs and rolled rim. This design was introduced into Australia with their 1968 pattern webbing set, imported form the US. The design was clearly popular as it continued in service with the 88 pattern equipment.
