Kit guides

I'll write up some stuff for that today

[stitch nazi]

Just a couple of little things....

6 cell MP40 pouches, only *ever* seen them on FJ.
Mapcase is a Lufty type one, not an Army one.

[/stitch nazi]

we nealry did the shot wiht an army one and someone said tank crew used FK ones when they could
cant remember who
i'll put a foot note that this officer has 'aquired' some non standard items while cmapaigning

CW... Just been looking at the Hallamshire guide again...

Is there any chance of putting the little dashes I had in the original back in? It kind of looks a bit messed up without them.

first draft text for panzer officer, cap and ammo pouch were borrowed from Guy and Keith, equally a few bits and pieces have been given to me so we'll need a source.

Panzer Officer – Gross Deutschland

Basis of impression
The Gross Deutschland division were one of the German army’s elite divisions and considered the combat equal of the elite waffen SS. The GD division fought almost exclusively on the eastern front and at times a lack of armour meant that tank crew had to fight in a dismounted infantry role.

This impression is a very cheap one to put together and some liberties have been taken with kit as this officer has ‘acquired’ field equipment from other services on campaign.

Head:
- Whermacht ‘crusher’ cap with pink piping for armoured troops. (Guy will have to state the source and cost as it’s his cap)

Uniform:
- repro panzer uniform with early war pink piping around collar {£55} from Spearhead Militaria (eBay)
- post war west German army shirt {approx. £5} from surplus store (national insignia removed)
- black tie {£1 charity shop}

Feet:
- Post war leather jacket boots {£25 - £35 S&S}

Webbing:
- officers pattern two prong belt {£15 EBay}
- officers map case (aquired Luftwaffe pattern) {£10 SS}
- six magazine Luftwaffe pattern MP40 pouch (army pattern would be more appropriate) {not sure of cost and source of this Kermit?)

Weapons:
- MP40 (AGM) {£94 with four additional magazines form RSOV}

Also:
- GD division cufftitle was an additional cost and not essential for regular army panzer uniform {£10 eBay}
- Black panzer chest eagle (source required mine was given to me)
- Officers silver braid shoulder boards (given to me by Guy so he can let you know the source.)

all other insignia came with the uniform when bought as a set from Spearhead.

Notes:
- All prices are approximate.
- Also try Militaria Fairs. They can contain some real bargains. Many of the items pictured were bought at Militaria fairs. Where no retailer is mentioned in the list above its best to try and buy at a fair.

Key to retailers:
- SS : http://www.shootnscoot.co.uk/
- SoF : http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/reenactors/index.asp
- WPG : http://www.whatpriceglory.com/uklist.htm
- CES : http://www.chasesmith.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=229
- SS: http://www.sabresales.co.uk/
- R: http://www.replicaters.com
- WW2C: http://www.ww2classic.com/
- SJ: http://www.sentimentaljourney.co.uk/

Braid is SOF for £6 /m or so .

It was the panzer shoulder boards i meant Guy, you know the ones you sent me?

I think they were an ebay buy , it was a while ago now

Question is, how accurate are these supposed to be? A few differences here-and-there because of cost issues I can understand, but when stuff is wrong even though there is bugger all price difference between the right and wrong stuff then it starts looking a little strange to have the wrong stuff.

[PD mode]

FJ magazine pouches are about 30 a pair quid on eBay. Not a chance that a Panzer officer would "borrow" a pair though - they were fucking rare at the best of times.

Crusher is wrong as well. Shouldn't have the chin strap on it. Shirmutze has one, Crusher does not.

Pink piping round the collar was right for early war EM's, but officers should be silver piping - no matter what time of the war.

[/PD mode]

Meh, im off for another beer...

Oi yer mong that's my hat , and I thought it was a Shirmutze. And even if it were the earlier pattern crusher does it not warrant silver braid ?

Nope, Crushers didnt have braid.

God, you've got me confused Jay! I thought there was no issued 'crusher' - it was just a regular cap with the stiffening taken out? Some sort of unofficial affectation? Just as modern Brit cut-down bush hat.

& how do you tell the difference between a crusher and a shirmutze- are we talking the shiny vs the gloss visor ?
Plus I thought like David , the Crusher was the older pre war style hat , that was superceeded but still worn during the war, crushed or not ?

OK, differences between crusher and shirmutze:

Crusher is the pre-war officers and senior NCO's field cap. It was unstiffened and came with a leather (or fabric covered) bill, so it could be folded up and stuffed down behind the belt when it wasnt being worn. No crusher should have a chin cord!

Shirmutze came in two versions. EM's and Officers. Both had a stiffened peak and a vulkanfibre (plastic) bill. EM's had a plain black leather chin strap, Officers had a silver brain chinstrap. Needless to say the Officers one was made to a far higher standard. You will hardly ever see an EM wear a Shirmutze in the field, as unlike the overseas cap and the peaked cap, they couldnt be crushed down and stuffed behind the belt.

Occasionally, you will see an officer trying to make his shirmutze *look*
like a crusher by removing all the stiffening in the crown of the hat, and stripping out any padding inside it.

If in doubt, look at the bill. If its plastic, its a shirmutze, if leather or fabric covered, its a crusher. End of story.

Cheers Ears ....so why have you not pulled me up on this before then

Only kidding , consider braid gone now !

Thing is, mine has leather bill and chinstrap buttons!

And you made me get rid of the NCO chinstrap for an officers braid

Thing is, mine has leather bill and chinstrap buttons!

And you made me get rid of the NCO chinstrap for an officers braid

Sorry - I thought I was correct at the time

No, not you - it was JAYYYYY scoffing at my studio portrait (notice my avatar has the leather chinstrap retouched out now ).

See, this is why the Germans lost!

Quick ..........call in PD !