Soldiers need water more than anyone else during training or combat, so every soldier must carry a container for drinking water. In ancient times, there werewater vessels" made of pottery, bamboo, wood, or animal materials. After hundreds of years of development and continuous exploration, military water bottles or field water bottles that are easy carry in combat gradually appeared.
Now let's talk about the history of China's military water bottles for more than 70 years.
Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, the water bottles used by the military were all captured, mostly Japanese-made 9-type field water bottles. After the founding of New China, our country began to develop its own military water bottles. In the early days, it was called the 50-type water bottle. After it was finalized in 1950, it was named the 50-type water bottle. From then on, the first generation of water bottles in our country came out.
In terms of design, the 50-type military water bottle has borrowed a lot from the characteristics of the Japanese-made 4-type water bottle, such as the round bottle body shape, the I-shaped canvas shoulder strap, and the wooden stopper-type bottle cap. In order to highlight uniqueness, a "August 1st" five-pointed star badge was also added to the top of the water bottle. The bottle body of the 50-type bottle is made of aluminum structure, with a capacity of about 0.8~1 liter. The empty bottle weighs 0.5 kilograms without water. However, the50-type water bottle also has its shortcomings, such as the lack of insulation capacity, and the wooden plug at the bottle mouth is easy to rot and produce strange odors long-term use, and the 50-type water bottle was replaced by its improved model a few years later.
55 style kettle：
The 55 pattern canteen was introduced in 1955 to replace the 50 pattern. It was first issued to in 1956. The 55 pattern canteen was of better workmanship, quality and material than the 50 pattern. The shape did not change much from the 50 pattern, and it still used a wooden stopper as a lid. However, the wooden plug was made harder so that it was less likely to rot or give offors. At the same time, the 55 pattern canteen's strap was also improved from the previous "T" shape to a "cross" shape, and there also a canvas belt connected to the bottle stopper, which made it easy to carry the canteen without having to keep the lid separate, and it was also less likely to be when connected to the strap. However, the size of the 55 pattern canteen was the same as the 50 pattern, and the capacity was the same. In to the common military green, there is also a dark blue version of the 55 pattern canteen, which is mainly issued to naval officers and soldiers for use, but the, basic structure, and straps, bottle openings, etc. are the same as the standard 55 pattern. The only difference is that the naval version is slightly lighter.
Among the 55-style series of water bottles, there are also models specially issued to border troops and troops stationed in cold regions, such as 55-style insulated water bottle on the left in the below picture, which is larger in size and capacity than the ordinary version, and the material of the bottle body thicker. The bottle mouth is not a wooden cork but a rotating lid with better sealing performance. Moreover, the lid can also be used as a water cup. The strap part also been improved, and the upper part has been changed to a Y-shaped structure, which is both simplified and practical.
In addition to the traditional 55-style aluminum military water bottle, there is also a rare plastic model in this series, known as the 5-style high molecular experimental water bottle, which is quite different from the traditional military water bottle. The surface of the bottle body is covered with dense particles, and there is a55-style badge in the middle. The cap at the mouth of the bottle is also a plastic rotating cap. This kind of water bottle with an all-plastic structure very advanced, not to mention in the 1950s, even in the 1970s and 1980s. Unfortunately, this kind of bottle was not adopted by the army in large quantities.
65 style kettle：
By 1965, the second generation of domestically produced military water bottles was introduced, known as the 6-style military water bottle, and it began to be issued to troops soon after, replacing the previous 55-style series. The 65-style water bottle continued use the previous oval bottle body and also retained the Y-shaped shoulder strap from the 55-style insulated water bottle. However, the 65-style was compact and lightweight, weighing only 0.4 kilograms when empty, and it could hold 1.2 liters of drinking water.
Compared to previous models, 65-style military water bottle used more refined materials, had a very strong surface hardness, and the military green paint was not easy to peel off. Most importantly, the 65-style series of water bottles used a plastic rotary bottle cap, which provided better sealing and practicality. Some soldiers in certain areas also added a homemade water bottle outside the water bottle, but this was quite rare.
The 65-style series of military water bottles also included a dark blue naval version, but it was only different color. As for the size, material, and water capacity, it was the same as the standard 65-style military water bottle.
Similarly, it also included 65-style insulated version of the water bottle designed specifically for cold regions and border defense troops. Compared to the standard version, it was slightly larger, and the bottle used insulation materials, making it thicker.
In addition to the traditional 65-style series of water bottles, there is also a combination water bottle designed specifically for paratro in the 65-style, also known as the 65-style paratrooper water bottle. In terms of design, it has referred to the American M942-type water bottle during World War II to a great extent. The most prominent feature is that the water bottle and the lunch box are a complete system. Both are of stainless steel structure. Among them, the water bottle becomes an arc structure, which is more suitable for the human body when marching. The water capacity in the bottle is 1, and a plastic rotating bottle cap is used at the mouth of the bottle.
When not in use, the water bottle and the lunch box can be overlapped and then put a canvas storage bag for individual carrying.
78 style kettle：
By the end of the 1970s, the military began to equip the domestically produced third-generation 78-style military bottle, which was designed entirely based on the previous 65-style paratrooper water bottle. It is also a complete system of a lunch box and a water bottle The water bottle in the 78-style has not changed much compared to the 65-style. It is also an arc-shaped bottle body with a plastic rotating and a water capacity of about 1 liter. However, between the 78-style and the 65-style, the water bottle pouch can still be distinguished. The pouch of the 78-style is dark green and uses press studs to secure both ends, while the pouch of the 65-style is yellowish and does use press studs at the top.
83 style kettle：
In the early 1980s, the 83-style appeared among domestic military water bottles, which is a simplified version of the generation's 78-style. The water bottle still uses an arc structure, but the part of the lunch box is removed, becoming a separate military water bottle. At same time, the 83-style bottle body uses aluminum with higher strength and is painted in a grayish brown color. It also increases the diameter of the bottle mouth, allows more water to come out when drinking.
The size of the 83-style military water bottle is also larger, with a length of 19 cm, a of 15 cm, and a height of 10 cm. The empty bottle weighs about 0.6 kg. The 83-style water bottle is larger size and has a larger capacity. The water bottle can hold 1.5 liters of drinking water, which is larger than the capacity of the previous domestic military water bottles
87 style kettle：
In the mid-1980s, the domestically produced fourth-generation water bottle, the 87-style military water bottle was launched. This style returned to the retro design of the previous 65-style, and even the contour of the bottle was the same as the 65-style Although the surface changes were not significant, the material of the 87-style was better, made of more advanced aluminum materials, and the edges were thicker, with features such shock resistance and impact resistance.
The mouth of the 87-style military water bottle was also larger than that of the 65-style, and the cap was of phenolic fabric-based plastic, which was more robust and had good sealing. In the 1990s, this water bottle was also equipped with a camouage water bottle cover, which not only made the water bottle have an insulation effect but also prevented the water bottle from being worn. The 87-style military water bottle was the longest-used water bottle in our country, serving in the army for as long as 20 years. It can be considered as one of the most successful and well- military water bottles in our country.
10 style kettle：
Entering the twenty-first century in the 2010s, the domestically produced fifth-generation military water bottle came out, known as the 10-type universal water bottle, which is currently being equipped by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The 10-type water bottle has undergone a complete overhaul in terms of structure and materials used compared to previous water bottles. The biggest change is in the material. The lid of the water bottle is made of silicone, and the mouth of the bottle is made of aluminum alloy, which has excellent sealing properties. At the same time, the lid and the mouth of the bottle are still connected, and the main body of the water bottle is coated with an environmental protection soft fiber material, which is not only lightweight but also improves corrosion resistance and sealing.
Although the material has been upgraded, the capacity of the 10-type water bottle has become smaller, and it can only hold 0.83 liters of drinking water. During a march or combat, the water bottle can also be equipped with a 07-type digital camouflage water bottle cover, which not only prevents the water bottle from being worn but also facilitates carrying during a march.
19 style kettle：
In recent years, the border defense force has also been equipped with a new type of 19-style military water bottle, also known as the19-style border water bottle, or the 19-style border patrol multi-functional water bottle. The design of the 19-style has once again returned the characteristics of a combined lunch box and water bottle. The main body of the water bottle is made of polymer material with a capacity of 1.2 liters, and the cap is made of nylon material, which can also be used separately as a water cup.
During patrols or marches, the water bottle can also be equipped with a 1-style starry camouflage water bottle cover, which also comes with an adjustable nylon shoulder strap to facilitate the carrying of combat personnel. However, the 19style border patrol water bottle is not issued to the entire army, but only to border defense forces operating in harsh environments.
Above is all the content about the history of our military water bottles.