where was tropical used

[hribal]

I am finally going to bite the bullet and buy a uniform, but i have one question before i do. I see the Green field gear and assume this to be tropical. Where exactly was this used and is it ok for me to use? Green would blend in better here then say field Grey. My main weapon is also going to be the MP-40 for now. So before i blow my money, i want to make sure my impression looks right. i am going with M30 tunic, M37 trousers, and M43 Cap. I have Y Straps ordered as well. Now i need to find a leather belt to match and a belt buckle and i will have the -the equipment. once i get the gun ordered I will guy Magazine pouches and a canteen. eventually i plan on getting the gas mask canister and Bread bag and shovel. well ideas and help will be MUCH appreciated.

thanks in advance, Hribal.

[Jager.Drü]

I think you mean a HBT uniform they came in reed green or off white. They were used during the summer, for work ( so you don't wear out your wools) and last ditch issued stuff for the battle of Berlin. Are you going Heer or SS? Also there is no M30 tunic, They are just HBT sets, I would get a wool M43 cap though, not HBT.
Are you Y-straps the ones with the extra two things for the A-Frame?
Black leather belt or Tan webbing
Heer or SS buckle
D-rings, to attach them together becasue you don't have mag pouches
Green or Tan MP40 pouches
Tan breadbag
Canteen
Gas mask canisterE
E-tool w/carrier

[hribal]

So i do want to go Field Grey then? And no my Y-straps don't have the Extra straps for A-frame.

[Jager.Drü]

No, HBTs are fine or to be real fancy HBT top but wool bottoms, say you are the in the last ditch effort to defend Berlin. You might want to get ones with the extra straps for regular Heer or SS soldats. The Luftwaffe/Police used the ones with no extra straps.

Also by that time you would wear low boots with gaters.
Feel Free to PM me any time.

[hribal]

Ok, really bad example, but why is it every time i see Germans (i know not good sources) on estern front they have a greenish uniform on? They were it in the Movie Stalingrad and in the Game Red Orcastra Ostfront. I assumed these to be the HBT, but from what you say, it's not. By the way any one intrested in gameing with me, my X-fire name is Crimsonlightning.

[Lev]

"Feldgrau," or field gray, uniforms were literally all over the board ranging from mouse gray to full-on green. Most field gray uniforms are in fact greener than grayer. There was no one shade in service in the German army and dye lots varied greatly. What you are seeing in the films are still wool German uniforms. Make sense?

[hribal]

Ah okay, thank you. that clears that up. Just wondering, Is there anything authentic to use for eye protection?

[neoptolemus]

modified dust goggles, but these would be only worn by vehicle crewman and mounted soldiers who had the opportunity to take or find them.

[Jager.Drü]

you gotta make do if whatever there is. Try to make it period correct, I use RAF googles that we meshed.

[Doom]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that HBT's were worn by troops during the summer months in Europe where temperatures would reach 80-90 degrees. Wool was worn during the winter. I have seen pics of troops battling in HBT's and it wasn't the fall of Berlin. The beginning of the movie Stalingrad shows troops in Italy wearing HBT's as well. When they are pinning medals onto uniforms in Stalingrad (at the beginning formation), those are not wool tunics. I would be curious as I own a set of HBT's.

[valtteri]

Some would use HBT if they had it available. It was by no means universal even in the hottest situations, wool was always the mainstay. HBTs were issued FOR SOME UNITS for field use in summer in Italy, France and the Southern part of Eastern front.

[Doom]

Thanks for the info. Here's a paragraph cut & pasted from At The Front:
Reed Green Summer Uniform:
In 1942, a lightweight version of the wool service uniform became available for troops serving in warmer climates. Made from reed green HBT fabric, the jacket was patterned after the Tropical tunic worn by the DAK, except that the collar was designed to be worn closed rather than open. They featured 4 pockets, split cuffs, belt hook ramps, detachable buttons, and partial lining. There were several variations of trousers, ranging from simple smock types with side buttons to full blown keilhosen. These were issued throughout the Russian, Italian and west European theaters of operation to Heer and Waffen SS units.

[Jager.Drü]

drewb said:

They were used during the summer, for work ( so you don't wear out your wools) and last ditch issued stuff for the battle of Berlin.

[odinfish]

As tempted as I am to grab a Tropical/HBT uniform for the warmer weather, I'll probably just purchase a splinter camo smock instead and continue to wear my wool trousers in the heat. At least that will reduce my chances of heat stroke a bit. ;D


Mike