Seeking any photos of british para snipers carrying a weapons drag bag. Preferably in color but we can always bend the rules there and get close.....

Nate,

I've been searching the internet high and low for this, but without luck.

Last couple of months I've been reading numerous books on the Arnhem Battle, but I haven't read anything about the deployment of British Airborne Snipers during the battle..... This interests me. It's a whole new angle on research if they where deployed. Where have you found your idea about British Airborne Snipers during the airborne battle ? This information can help me to research this. Have you read something in a book, seen a picture, or heard about it ?

I don't say that they wheren't out there, just that I haven't read anything about it anywhere...I would love to dive into this, since it's a whole new viewpoint on the battle. It could provide some interesting vignettes and dioramas.

what is a drag bag?

I can look in my book if I have a picture

hiya guys




this is on page 154 of the book "For King and Country"

Would this be different from the leg bag? I have a pic of a filled leg bag, in the case a PIAT kit. I don't think it's the same thing because this is the one that dangles below the trooper on decent. A sniper's rifle would be too delicate to risk being banged on the ground and probably carried closer to the para, or possibly in a cannister

hi Nate,
please read these 2 posts in the British and Canadian 20th century re-enactment forum, these posts dont answer your question exactly but maybe these guys can help you.
post 1
post 2
best regards

The term "drag bag" is a relatively new word in the sniping community. The sniping tactics of WWII differed greatly
from modern tactics. A "drag bag" is a comoflaged protective bag that modern snipers use to transport their rifles when on a crawl to a hide. To answer the question, there was no special "drag bag", other than the paratroopers drop bag. Most of the WWII sniping research I have done, most often very little was done to camo or conceal the rifle, in a few instances you will find some sniper photos showing some burlap on the gun, or around the scope. The camo principal of WWII relied more on camoflage for ones self like a blanket or a vail (a net used to cover the head used by germans in ETW, the brits, and aussies used them mostly in the CBITW or the PTW), the other was to find a spot that would give the sniper a wide view of range without exposing himself. Camo was just coming into play during WWII, so little was really done Not an expert but have done a lot of research in that area.

Of course Porkchop did not specifically say he was looking for a WWII Brit Para Sniper's Drag Bag. Pork, please elaborate

heh shermie rmg stands for remember market garden wich took place in wo2 #:-) #:-) #:-) sorry nate I will take a picture tomorrow of the bag you need! + a picture of the sniper rifle with the equipment list a sniper carries

I could be wrong but.....drag bags are modern....in WWII a good shot with any rifle was used as a "sniper" shooting from hidden places...if that person had a sniper rifle all the better.....but being a collector of Canadian WWII equipment...I have never seen a bag specifically designed for snipers to use....they carried their rifles with them.
And yes Porkchop did ask for a WWII British sniper because to my knowledge...there was only 1 operation Market Garden.

Hey guys, thanks for the range of responses.....
Actually this is a part included with the 120MM para I'm working on. It may be a matter of symantics so here's a pic of what I'm looking for some reference photos of (note: the resin pluc is still on the bottom of the part)

That is not a drag bag...no way...Jim


When did this drag bag thing come in? I remember the expression in the states, never in the U.K....

AAAAAh yes zero. I did not notice the title RMG.

I will check my reference materials tonight, but my first gut impression is that it is an equipment drop bag. Wether standard issue or not I couldn't say for sure or what its contents. I think it would be safe to say that it would match the colors of most Brit web gear.

As for the "drag bag" and those who wish to know it is a modern term to describe the protective case used in the field by modern day snipers. The bag is attatched to the body of the sniper, the case with the rifle is dragged behind. I can't find an exact reference when the term was originated, although my guess would be about the vietnam era. This was about the time of the overhall of the military sniping schools.