The General Purpose Small, Medium, Large Tents (commonly known as the GP Small, GP Medium, GP Large) as manufactured by us were developed toward the end of WW2 and became the standard U.S. Army field tent through the Korean War, Vietnam, and beyond. Designed for versatility, it could be used as troop housing, a command post, field kitchen, or supply shelter.

All three tents are constructed from olive drab cotton duck canvas, the GP Medium had a rectangular design with a peaked roof supported by upright poles and sectional ridgepoles. Reinforced grommets and guy lines provided stability, while the modular construction allowed for multiple configurations, including stove pipe openings for heating.

It was highly regarded for its capacity and adaptability, and it remained in service for decades across multiple conflicts.

Specifications as per the Department of Defence and which we have closely adhered to are as follows:

General Purpose (GP) Small Tent:

Constructed from olive drab cotton duck canvas, the GP Small featured a rectangular base, peaked roof, and roll-up sidewalls for ventilation. Its lighter weight made it faster to erect, requiring only 2–4 soldiers for setup.

Technical Specifications

• Dimensions: 9.5 ft × 9.5 ft × 8 ft (ridge height)

• Side Wall Height: 3.5 ft

• Capacity: 6–8 men with gear, or small office/storage

• Fabric: 12 oz OD cotton duck canvas

• Weight: ~130 lbs (59 kg) total system

• Features: Double flap entrance, guy ropes, stove pipe opening

General Purpose (GP) Medium Tent:

• Type: General Purpose Medium (GP Medium) Tent

• Dimensions: approx. 16 ft (width) × 32 ft (length) × 10.5 ft (ridge height)

• Side Wall Height: 5 ft

• Capacity: ~16–20 men with gear, or 12 cots comfortably

• Fabric: Heavy cotton duck canvas, ~12.29 oz per sq. yard, water-resistant treated, 100% natural fabric with no synthetic contents.

• Color: Olive drab #7

• Poles: 2 center poles (10.5 ft), 2 end poles (9 ft), sectional ridgepoles

• Pegs: 30 hardwood

• Guy Ropes: Cotton with wooden tensioners

• Entrances: Double flap front and rear

• Sidewalls: Roll-up with ties for ventilation

• Special Features: Stove pipe vents, modular configuration capability

Approximate Weight

• Canvas body: ~(240 kg)

• Poles + ridgepoles: ~ (77 kg)

• Pegs + ropes: ~(18 kg)
  Total system weight: approx.  (336 kg)

General Purpose (GP) Large Tent:

• Dimensions: 18 ft × 52 ft × 12 ft (ridge height)

• Side Wall Height: 5 ft

• Capacity: ~40 soldiers, or supply/equipment depot

• Fabric: 12 oz OD cotton duck canvas

• Weight:  (544 kg) total system

• Features: Modular setup, stove pipe openings, multiple entrances

These tents were used from WW2 to the Korean War to Vietnam to the NATO countries.

While the Small US Army General Purpose Tent is shipped by FedEx in easy to carry canvas bags, the medium and large general purpose (GP) tents are shipped by Air Cargo, though they are door delivered. They may take a longer time for delivery. The Medium and Large GP tents are crated and all three tents come in a knocked down state for easy installation.