Our US Army WW1 and pre-WW1 pup tents are a lightweight, two-man shelter that revolutionized U.S. Army field living conditions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Carried as two shelter halves, each soldier carried one half of the tent along with half of the poles and pegs. When joined, the two halves formed a small A-frame tent, quickly erected and just large enough to accommodate two soldiers and their gear.
The tents are made from cotton duck canvas (fabric specifications given below), the pup tent is durable and weather-resistant when treated with linseed oil or wax. We can waterproof it for you if you like. Its compact size made it easy to transport in a soldier’s field pack.
The accompanying ground sheet, is also made of canvas rubberized fabric, and provides a layer of protection against moisture and cold from the ground. This combination gave enlisted men a degree of comfort and shelter while remaining lightweight and portable for campaign life.
Technical Specifications – Pup Tent
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Type: Two-man A-frame “pup tent”
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Dimensions (erected): approx. 7 ft (length) × 5 ft (width) × 4.5 ft (height)
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Capacity: 2 soldiers with basic gear
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Fabric: Heavy cotton duck canvas (10–12 oz per square yard)
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Color: Olive drab (for WW1) and khaki (pre world war 1)
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Poles: 2 sectional wooden poles, approx. 4.5 ft each
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Pegs: 10 hardwood stakes
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Guy Ropes: Cotton cordage
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Transport: Issued in halves (each soldier carried one half, with buttons or ties for joining)
Technical Specifications – Ground Sheet
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Type: Rectangular ground cloth
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Dimensions: approx. 7 ft × 5 ft (to match tent footprint)
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Fabric: Cotton rubberized
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Color: Olive drab ormnatural canvas
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Features: Grommets or buttonholes for pegging down or joining with other sheets
