Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive original U.S. Marine Corps WWII reversible “Frogskin” camouflage shelter half manufactured by Powers & Co. in 1944. It retains vibrant camouflage colors, nearly all of its original buttons and grommets, the worn but still legible contractor label, an original 1944-dated collapsible tent pole, and eight tent pegs.

A shelter half was one of the most basic and important pieces of a Marine’s field equipment. Each man carried one section, and two Marines could button their shelter halves together to form the familiar two-man “pup tent.” The assembled tent provided basic protection from the weather while remaining light enough to be carried as part of an individual field pack.

Unlike the later waterproof poncho, the American shelter half was not designed to be worn as rain clothing. It could also be used as a ground cloth, equipment cover, or improvised concealment, but its primary purpose was to form one half of a two-man field shelter. U.S. Army Quartermaster history specifically notes that the American shelter half could not be used as a poncho and that a separate lightweight poncho was developed during WWII.

This example is made from the highly desirable reversible camouflage fabric commonly known by collectors as “Frogskin.” One side uses a predominantly green camouflage pattern intended for jungle and heavily vegetated terrain, while the reverse uses a lighter brown and tan pattern better suited to beaches, dry ground, and less densely covered areas. This reversible design gave Marines greater flexibility during operations across the varied terrain of the Pacific Theater.

The Marine Corps was an early American user of printed camouflage clothing and equipment during WWII. The same general family of reversible camouflage patterns became closely associated with the Marine Raiders and other Marine units serving in the Pacific.

The shelter half is approximately seven feet long and five feet wide, with pointed ends and a row of buttons and corresponding buttonholes along the ridge line. This arrangement allowed any two compatible shelter halves to be joined together. Ropes, poles, and pegs were then used to erect the pair in the traditional inverted “V” form of the military pup tent.

The original contractor label remains sewn to the fabric. Although worn, it is still readable:

SHELTER HALF
Contract NOM - 46468
POWERS & CO. 1944

The 1944 date places this example firmly within the later years of the Pacific campaign, when camouflage equipment had become one of the most visually distinctive features associated with the wartime Marine Corps.

The camouflage colors remain strong overall, with scattered staining, fading, and wear from age and field use. The center portion is noticeably more faded than the surrounding fabric, consistent with prolonged exposure, folding, equipment contact, or use in the field.

There are several tears in the fabric, including a sizable hole near the center. The damage appears old and is consistent with the overall age and use of the shelter half. Nearly all of the buttons and grommets remain present, allowing the original construction and fastening arrangement to be clearly appreciated.

Also included is an original sectional tent pole marked:

US PICK MFG. CO
1944

The pole collapses into sections for easier transport and would have formed part of the equipment needed to erect the shelter. Eight original tent pegs are also included.

The combination of the 1944 Powers & Co. shelter half, original dated tent pole, and eight pegs makes this a particularly complete display grouping. Individual shelter halves are often found without any of their associated tent equipment, while surviving camouflage examples frequently have missing buttons, torn grommets, or heavily faded markings.

This example shows genuine field character while retaining excellent visual appeal. The reversible green and brown camouflage, visible contractor label, original dated pole, and accompanying pegs make it an excellent addition to a U.S. Marine Corps field-equipment collection or Pacific Theater mannequin display.