British tank stowage item identification

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Does anyone know what this item is that is seen hanging off a good number of British tanks in North Africa and Sicily?



I’ve also seen it on some Crusaders, and it never seems to be rolled up more than in these two photos. I can’t work out what it is, or is for, let alone how it’s actually constructed. It seems to have two thin panels on one side and a larger, padded part on the side that’s always towards the tank?

[Philliphastings]

Looks to me like a folding or ‘soft’ stretcher

I have seen one or two among AFV parts lots.

Said to be for removing injured crew members

Just my guess

Cheers

Phill

[Jordan Baker]

It looks like the canvas carrying case for the artillery plotting board with a couple extra large straps for securing it to the side of the hull.

[Jakko Westerbeke]

Originally Posted by Philliphastings

Looks to me like a folding or ‘soft’ stretcher

Do you have any photos of one of those? I tried looking and can’t find any

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

It looks like the canvas carrying case for the artillery plotting board with a couple extra large straps for securing it to the side of the hull.

The only photos I can find of such an item all show items like these:



That doesn’t look like the item on the tanks to me, unfortunately.

[charlie fitton]

I'm gonna throw in that it may be a sleeping bag - like a Mills Co "victory Kit"