|
Post by Abbot on Mar 11, 2013 11:46:08 GMT -5
Hey guys! I have decided to go US, and I'm having some issues with the field uniform. I'm looking at going with an M43 for right now, but I'm not sure about the trousers. Would the soldiers wear it with these, at all: www.atthefrontshop.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=USUTHBD? Or should I go with another pattern such as the "first pattern" or "light shade" pattern? And, at this time, would the airborne wear two buckle boots or jump boots? And would the infantry wear two buckle boots or leggings?
|
|
|
Post by brownien on Mar 11, 2013 12:57:28 GMT -5
The best way to start getting unifor items, is to first decide what type of infantry you would like to portray. Airborne would have worn the entire M43 uniform with added cargo pockets on the pants, or a combination of M42 and M43 uniform Pants and Jackets. Airborne recruits would have worn the Double buckles, while veterans of earlier campaigns may have retained the Corcorran Jump Boots. For regular Infantry, the M43 jacket would have been worn with any pattern HBT trousers, wool trousers, or unmodified M43 pants. Many regular units were never completely outfitted with M43 gear until the very end of the war, but may have recieved some individual M43 type equipment. Generally lowboots with gaiters were worn until VE day by many regular infantrymen, but some did recieve the double buckles.
You have to remember that by going with the M43 uniform system, you will be limiting your impression to late war, Market Garden, Battle of the Bulge time period. So you may look out of place at a D-day event. I would suggest trying to get a M-41 jacket and wool pants, or HBT pants, and simply adding a M43 Jacket to portray early and late war. For airborne, you can do the same with M42 uniform items and swap out for a M43 jacket, for late war, and retain the Jump boots.
Just remember that Not many regular infantry units got the full M43 uniform and equipment, except for the Airborne and other specialist groups. (Incidentally, the M43 system was actually disliked y many American commanders, who tried to slow the introduction of the garments as much as possible until forced to do so near the end of the war)
|
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 11, 2013 17:26:45 GMT -5
I completely agree with Brownien on this. The early war set up with either HBT or wools and the M41 along with leggings are going to give you far greater flexibility. If you're concerned with how obvious the khaki is with regard to camouflage it's a legitimate concern but one shared by GIs who often were seen with them coated in mud or oilly stains or painted with splotches of darker paint. Some even wore them reversed while on patrol. I have heard several Infantry vets confirm this. Once in the field with prolonged use the khaki faded but also darkened with stains and grime.
|
|
|
Post by Abbot on Mar 11, 2013 18:22:43 GMT -5
I wasn't worrying about that, especially as I prefer the airborne and would be using the 42's anyway... I just like the M43's. If it's a choice between the M42's and 41's, it's really a matter of my preference of the 101st and 82nd rather then the infantry. I might go with the 41's because they fit my budget better. Not a huge deal. Thanks alot, guys!
|
|
|
Post by whiterook on Mar 11, 2013 21:23:30 GMT -5
I would suggest trying to get a M-41 jacket and wool pants, or HBT pants, and simply adding a M43 Jacket to portray early and late war. For airborne, you can do the same with M42 uniform items and swap out for a M43 jacket, for late war, and retain the Jump boots. I strongly agree... Wool Shirt M-41 Jacket HBT Pants Leggings Low quarter boots Typical for the MTO & the ETO
|
|
|
Post by Abbot on Mar 12, 2013 12:12:46 GMT -5
Good advice! I'll probably either go with the 42's for airborne, or the 41's for the infantry. Now, if I do go with the infantry, some have said that the leggings are "atrocious". Why are these called atrocious? Did the military hate them? And would it be keeping with the impression to use the jump boots instead?
|
|
|
Post by brownien on Mar 12, 2013 12:59:00 GMT -5
Many troops disliked the leggings/gaiters because they, were difficult to quickly put on and remove, especially in wet/cold/muddy climates. Even though troops hated them for this reason, they did help support the ankles, and protected the lower legs from being scraped up. The Army normally required them to be worn, so troops couldn't go without them. If you are doing a regular GI impression, then leggings and lowboots are a must. (jump boots can be worn in place of lowboots, as the taller boot will be covered by the legging, I often do this as I don't have lowboots) Airborne NEVER wore leggings over their jump boots, and would just blouse their pants into their boots. Keep in mind that as long as you have a basic uniform for airborne (M42's), and one for regular GI (M41 & wools/HBT), most of the equipment used by both were generally the same, except that the airborne used the M1936 combat suspenders and M1936 musette bag, while regular GI's used the M1928 Haversack with its built in suspender system. Even if you get an airborne helmet liner, you can easily just tuck in the A straps and remove the leather chin cup to use it for your regular GI impression. Then you can simply swap out your Airborne painted helmet shell for a regular shell, but its always easiest to have a shell and liner for each. Just remember that your impressions never have to be 100% accurate, just so much as to represent the type of soldier you are trying to portray.
|
|
|
Post by Abbot on Mar 12, 2013 13:49:27 GMT -5
As for helmets, I have a WWII helmet (it says on the inside RM 68 8... this is just the serial number, right?) and I will post some pictures of it soon, but what I want to know is are the shells for airborne and infantry helmets different in size or shape?
|
|
|
Post by brownien on Mar 12, 2013 14:47:05 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by whiterook on Mar 14, 2013 13:25:04 GMT -5
|
|
gadge
Corporal
Posts: 1,199
|
Post by gadge on Mar 19, 2013 16:44:31 GMT -5
It's worth noting that while you're saying 'airborne' , what you actually mean guys is 'parachute infantry'.
Glider infantry wore generally line infantry kit with the occasional occurence of 'para' kit.
There was a very sore point at the time that glider troops (who statistically had a much more dangerous job) were not authorised high leg boots. At one point one of the divisions decreed that a glider trooper who did a para jump was authorised to wear boots... the parachute battalions saracastically said that any of their guys who did a glider landing would be authorised to wear leggings/gaiters.
So you *can* do an 'infantry' look with jump boots but it's only one division at a particular point in the war.
The exact unit and time escape me at the mo, i'd have to look it up.
|
|
2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
|
Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 19, 2013 17:33:37 GMT -5
Leg Infantry outside the airborne units occassionally got their hands on and wore jump boots with much derision from paratroopers. Once on the continent corcrans were often replaced with double buckles so many paratroopers wore them as well. Anything that might snag a line or hook on rigging was avoided and leggings are snags looking to happen. Be sure when you put on your leggings you place the hooks on the outside with the hooks open to the back of your leg. It is amazing how often we see them put on wrong. I like the look of the khaki leggings but they are a pain to put on and take off. My father was delighted with them as between the wars he wore wrapped putees and they were really a pain.
|
|
gadge
Corporal
Posts: 1,199
|
Post by gadge on Mar 19, 2013 18:56:48 GMT -5
I dunno, you get used to puttees, we wear them for WWII desert impressions and for 1980s brit inf events.
Once you get the hang of rolling them in reverse when you take them off they take a lot less time to put on!
|
|