prgeyer
M/Sgt.
1940 is the Wave of the Future!
Posts: 578
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Post by prgeyer on Apr 29, 2011 10:56:07 GMT -5
I would have to say the wool uniform before they moved to the M 43. In the hot summer days the combo of heat, itchy wool, and lots of sweat is almost unbearable. The only saving grace was doing amphibious landings, because they dry relatively fast and you don't freeze when you get out of the water. Wool uniforms are a godsend in Northwestern Europe. Even during the summer it doesn't get all that warm. Wool is great because it's warm, it keeps its insulating properties even when wet, it dries from the inside out, and it breathes. Unfortunately, for those of us who reenact here in the U.S., it gets a lot warmer here. But we have to keep in mind that we're not portraying people in the U.S. (usually). We're portraying people in other parts of the world that have different climatic imperatives. Peter
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Post by Anzio Dogface on Apr 29, 2011 12:34:03 GMT -5
I would have to say the wool uniform before they moved to the M 43. In the hot summer days the combo of heat, itchy wool, and lots of sweat is almost unbearable. I have never had a problem with G.I. wool. I actually think it breaths better than cotton. And at least G.I. wool is a smooth weave, compared to German feldgrau or British BD. I've never had OD wools make me itch. The only wool that makes me itch is my WPG BD jacket, due to being very rough weave. Smitty
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Post by seabee1942 on Apr 29, 2011 12:39:18 GMT -5
I like the M1928 pack (once I figuered the right way to wear it), but I think the Kidney gas mask bag is a pain when wearing it with the pack. It rides so far foward and forget going prone. Also, the GP bag or map case when you are running it flops around and going prone it slides to the front.
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Railsplitter
Major
"You'll be fighting WWII for the rest of your life" My father in 1972
Posts: 3,189
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Post by Railsplitter on Apr 29, 2011 16:41:39 GMT -5
The Army never did go to M-43s in the ETO, minus for paratroopers, they usually wore wool shirts on under them. I was in Normandy in 04 during one of the hottest months of June on record, and the wools were awesome at night. HBTs and M-43 pants are much the exception in Europe before V-E day for the majority of troops. My division, the 84th, you never see anyone in HBTs minus stateside picts, and maybe coveralls.
LTC Tim
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Post by superted on May 30, 2011 20:46:12 GMT -5
The haversack and leggings aren't that bad. The worst for me is the US canteen cover they smack you're butt when you run and the back rips off easily.
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sgttom
2nd Lieutenant
COMBAT!
Posts: 843
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Post by sgttom on May 31, 2011 1:30:25 GMT -5
Yea I've never had a problem with wools even during summer heat. They seem to breath well and the ones I own are quite comfy, not itchy at all. As for the worst piece of kit, I am not really sure. I've never liked leggings, 1943 boots are so much more practical. Wouldn't say its the worst piece of kit though.
For Germans the Canteen is annoying to get off your belt and actually get a drink. The US did a lot better job with theirs. The Shovels really get in the way when kneeling down. Gas Mask canisters are also a silly idea, why couldn't they have just had a bag instead of that clunky can? It is a wonder what those guys were thinking when they decided to issue some of this stuff.
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Post by balaclavaboogie on Jun 12, 2011 22:51:53 GMT -5
Puttees and the second world war British/Commonwealth shirts.
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Post by hall on Jun 15, 2011 0:41:20 GMT -5
How about the SCR-300? While a real technological breakthrough, it is a real bear. My RATELO actually has an original battery(non-working, of course) which takes the weight of it up over 30lbs. The accessory bag, when carried, is worse then a shovel. What do you do with the handset? And what about all your regular gear? Carrying it on a packboard is a little better, plus you can strap a "tanker" roll on the bottom of it. But it will still make you humble.
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bluedevil
S/Sgt.
If men were angels, no government would be necessary-Federalist 51
Posts: 355
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Post by bluedevil on Jun 15, 2011 4:30:19 GMT -5
LOL....Yes, the SCR300 is a real b****. That accessory bag is worthless. I've seen pictures were they are strapped to the side or back of the radio or absent from the radio entirely. Packboard by far is the best way to carry that dang thing...rides like a cloud.
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SrBenelli
2nd Lieutenant
They didn't invent colors until 1946.....
Posts: 849
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Post by SrBenelli on Jun 28, 2011 16:17:14 GMT -5
One of my impressions is 505thPIR. So I can say.... with great confidence... that the single worst piece of gear (bar none) is the "tie style" rigger's pouch! All but impossable to get into quickly...... even harder to close properly (especially under fire). The result? littering the forest floor with en-blocks! EVERY! SINGLE! TIME! YOU! HIT! THE! FIELD!!!
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Post by Joe Coppens on Aug 11, 2011 18:29:16 GMT -5
From all the accounts I'd read before getting into reenacting, I was convinced my least loved bit of gear would be the 28 pack or leggings. I was also certain the US wools would be hot and itchy. I actually don't mind any of them (in fact I really like the wools!). Mostly it just involved practice putting the things together or on, or in the case of the haversack, being told by a vet to take one front hook from either side and attach it to the d rings on the bottom of the pack. That fixed the belt becoming a bra issue.
For me, the worst bit of US gear would have to be the M7 gas mask bag. I've only worn it in the ground infantry style, on the chest, haven't tried it on my leg yet. Its bulky and gets in the way when aiming. I just feel hindered when I put it on.
I'll also second the M1 general purpose bag. I thought it was really cool, I could carry all sorts of stuff in there, or cram my empty clips in it as I fired them off. I really liked that bag, until I low crawled with it. Not fun!
Another gem from Uncle Sam's inventory would have to be the life belt. The buckle isn't the easiest to get undone, and the thing only really helps if its worn high under the arm pits. It tends to slip down to the waist and get in the way of the cartridge belt. And I've read if used this way, the top heavy soldier may end up upside down in the water!
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Post by scratch monkey on Aug 19, 2011 11:51:04 GMT -5
I like the m36 musette, but only with a GP strap so it can be used as a shoulder bag. When slung on the shoulder it's a lot easier to get stuff out on the march. When you make contact with the enemy it's also a lot easier to doff. The combat suspenders issued with them make wearing a cartridge belt a lot easier.
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Post by redjoshman on Aug 19, 2011 12:24:02 GMT -5
One of my impressions is 505thPIR. So I can say.... with great confidence... that the single worst piece of gear (bar none) is the "tie style" rigger's pouch! All but impossable to get into quickly...... even harder to close properly (especially under fire). The result? littering the forest floor with en-blocks! EVERY! SINGLE! TIME! YOU! HIT! THE! FIELD!!! I will totally agree with that one, they are the worse. -Josh
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Shimmer
Corporal
"Ssshhhh. Its a Farb!"
Posts: 131
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Post by Shimmer on Aug 21, 2011 19:58:36 GMT -5
I think that the worst thing for the Germans is actually the shovel. Not matter where to put it, its always in the way or smacking you in the leg. After that I would probably have to say that the gas mask canister is the next worst. It loves to hit you no matter where it is.
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Schatzi Karl Gunter
Private First Class
Is that the key to Uncle Touchy's Puzzle Basement?
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Post by Schatzi Karl Gunter on Jan 2, 2012 10:38:44 GMT -5
basically anything German in nature.
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Post by sturmshutze on Jan 2, 2012 11:47:08 GMT -5
A 2nd to what schimmer said ..Spade & any equip. you have to hook-up blindly ..but thats part of living history Right ??
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prgeyer
M/Sgt.
1940 is the Wave of the Future!
Posts: 578
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Post by prgeyer on Jan 2, 2012 12:03:06 GMT -5
The trick with German gear is that we're comparing it to more modern (particularly American) gear. When you look at German gear in WW2, you can draw a perfectly straight line from that gear back over 100 years. To the German mind, it all made perfect sense, as that's what they had been using practically forever. Same goes for French, Italian, Russian, Belgian, Dutch, and other European gear.
The U.S. and U.K. were revolutionary in how they (re)equipped their soldiers. Basically, they wiped the slate clean of all (or at least most) of their legacy equipment - moving from leather to webbing, adapting to relatively easy on/easy off modular loading, adopting baggy utilitarian field uniforms, etc. Certainly American and British gear adapted over the war years to take into account lessons learned through experience (as I mentioned earlier in this thread, British anti-gas equipment was worse than useless at the beginning of the war as it had not been properly integrated yet into the new P37 webbing system), but they were starting from a <10 year old template rather than trying to adapt a >75 year old template to modern needs.
Basically, when you're looking at the U.S. and U.K. gear, and when you're comparing it to German and other continental European gear, you're comparing apples to oranges.
Peter
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Schatzi Karl Gunter
Private First Class
Is that the key to Uncle Touchy's Puzzle Basement?
Posts: 57
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Post by Schatzi Karl Gunter on Jan 4, 2012 8:52:59 GMT -5
I think where US gear has the advantage over german gear is that everything clips together instead of being held by gravity like german kit. Which comes unhooked if you jump up and down, roll on the ground, or run quickly. Its annoying as hell.
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Post by ericbruce25 on Jan 6, 2012 3:10:34 GMT -5
I'm not big on the haversack. I think it isn't a very effective piece of equipment. The one I carry I plan to sew into a backpack. I've got an original that was done that way.
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Admin
Forum MP
Posts: 3,573
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Post by Admin on Jan 6, 2012 6:56:00 GMT -5
Was yours done that way during the war or was it done that way after the war at a surplus store to make it more functional, as was often done?
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