British kit questions

Then again i've just noticed you're probably not going to be on the UK game circuit.

A query about the webbing if I may (I am going to get some of those books, but would love some help now, before I have the chance to read them).

I currently have the basic set. Belt, braces, two ammo pouches, bayonet frog, canteen with its strapwork. What else do I need for a (Polish) para who has already landed (not for a jump)?

• I see the small packs and large packs in the web stores. Which one do I need? One of them? Both?[/*:m:3poz7m2t]
• Do I need the entrenching tool?[/*:m:3poz7m2t]
• I assume compass was an officer-only item, but since it's a requirement for Hut 9 I will need a prismatic one with the pouch, right?[/*:m:3poz7m2t]
• Bag + gas mask? Which mark?[/*:m:3poz7m2t]
• Lee Enfield bandolier?[/*:m:3poz7m2t][/list:u:3poz7m2t]

And by the way - what about dog tags? SOF has these:
http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/printed-ww ... uct,6104,1

but for some reason they want to print them with 1944 US format... Was the US format the same as British?

Kitwhore files: S&S Lee Enfield No. 4, AGM Sten Mk. II, Tanaka Kar 98k, WE Luger P08
Wishlist: AGM Stg44, possible LE No. 4 gas project



 

- Small Pack... Airborne didn't have the Large one.
- Entrenching tool would have been carried yes. Up to you whether you get one as they are getting more expensive now.
- There's also the Mk1 Marching compass, like this: http://www.fieldserviceantiquearms.co.u ... -639-p.asp usually a bit cheaper and fits in the same pouch.
- This type of gas mask and bag: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW2-ISSUE-BRI ... 1c30f212dd Worn on the belt. You can often get the bags on their own cheap, but may have to add on the belt attachments.
- Yup a lee enfield bandolier would be carried as that's what you have in your pouches. You'd need to take it out to use it..

As for dog tags, red and green, not red and black like sof's... No, not in the US style: try here: http://www.timstags.com/shop/index.php? ... ucts_id=14

Basically if you take this article by Yith: http://www.ww2airsoft.org.uk/british-2n ... staffords/ and then apply this post viewtopic.php?f=46&t=14321 to it you are there for Polish Para.

Edit** OK, Rich wins the race.

On the items - small back, yup they are bloody useful things to have too. Large pack, nah.
Entrenching tools are fun, but not essential for what we do.
Compass - I use a modern one, that's fine for what may be required. In fact I have brought one for most events over 4 years and used it... urm... never.
Gas mask bag is the one seen on the pic of Rich's article (MkVII ? Someone who remembers such things will be along shortly). No need for the Gas Mask inside beyond it being used as a 'filler'. A lot of people use them for small bottles of pop.

I dunno about the dog tags, Nige stamped mine years ago.

Hope that helps - and you are a year too late though, last year was the 'year of the Polish Parachute Brigade' .

Thanks a lot A bit more about this:

- Yup a lee enfield bandolier would be carried as that's what you have in your pouches. You'd need to take it out to use it..

I meant this bandolier:
http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/enfield-30 ... uct,1261,1

Yes, thats the type you want.
2 of those and a mills bomb fit in one pouch.
if you are careful.

If you can get the ones with poppers (actually wrong for wwii) then they're more practical for airsoft. By removing some of the stitching you can get a couple of springer rifle mags in and the poppers won't break after a few uses like the little bendy bits of metal that the proper ones have.

Of course what you really want is one with the bendy metal and 50 rounds of .303 in chargers.

Could you paste some links or pics? Not sure if I know what you mean just be descriptions.

I don't think a compass is a requirement for the Brits at Hut 9. Its much more useful if you're playing German.

It is.

"All players should bring a watch, compass and period-style torch."

And by the way - what about dog tags? SOF has these:
http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/printed-ww ... uct,6104,1

but for some reason they want to print them with 1944 US format... Was the US format the same as British?

Mine dont look like theirs and mine were done by Simon Tierney (who really knows his onions)

British ones have:

Surname
Initials
army number
religion type

Mine go like this
Harvey
GN
91*** (i've censored the last three digits as thats reasonably personal info)
B

Your army number was in a block depending on the arm of service or regiment you were in. Often it was just the last five printed as with mine.

I used the last five digits of my real army number which co incidentally if you take the '2' of the start of my eight digit number would give me a 'north staffs' block allocation which is pretty cool...

Most army numbers for ORs were 7 digits, some had 8

Officers had 6 digit numbers i think (they do now)

Can't recall where i bought mine from but they were stamped by Simon, i think 'tims tags' do good repros but i may be wrong.

army number blocks here:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-m ... tions.html

Of course Polish allocations might be totally different!

Most army numbers for ORs were 7 digits, some had 8

Officers had 6 digit numbers i think (they do now)

Can't recall where i bought mine from but they were stamped by Simon, i think 'tims tags' do good repros but i may be wrong.

army number blocks here:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/research-m ... tions.html

Of course Polish allocations might be totally different!

Polish Dog tags had different info on them. It has been a while, and my books are at home.

Here's a pic, I can look up later if you are interested.

A.P. is "Armia Polska", and the numbers are to do with the battalion I think.-- attachment is not available --

Last photo on here: http://iaaforum.org/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=12891
You can see the wire bendy bits used to close each compartment.

You can get bandoliers that look the same but have little brass poppers instead. They may be SLR bandoliers, I'm not sure and can't find a pic.

SLR bandoliers had either closure.

I've got some 70s issued ones with hooks and some with poppers. I think it just came down to using up exisiting stocks, unlike with the lee enfield where you'd actually be filling from the bandolier with the SLR it was a bit more relaxed as you were carrying up to 100 rounds bombed up to start with

Thanks a lot, guys

So... to take anything out of the small pack I have to take off the entire webbing? This is... not very convenient

if it is on the side, then you can reach around into it quite easily, and if it is on your back then you can unhook it without taking the webbing off.

It is actually the most accessible of all the packs of the period that I have worn, most of which do require you to take everything off.

Dammit, I misunderstood how the small pack worked. I bought it without the L-straps

Without L straps you can still wear it on your hip. Not very common in combat but thats how they were worn in gliders, until landing.
Try sitting on a bench seat whilst wearing a rucksack. Then sit it beside you. Which is more comfortable?