Most Practical Combat Uniform

Okay-Dokey,

Which nation had the most practical combat uniform in terms of:

1)Comfort
2)Camouflage
3)Efficient use/availability of material
4)Design
5)Endurance
6)Identification

This can include tropical as well as temperate uniforms.
Personally, I would go for British Jungle Greens, which were a dyed cotton version of Battle dress, in the jungle category, followed by the camo uniforms worn by the US Marines in the Pacific.
The former fulfill every category, lasting to the early '60s.
The latter were great in the Pacific, but when they were tried out in Europe, they led to troops being mistaken for SS.
For temperate uniforms, I would probably say the various SS camo uniforms, followed by the US M43 uniform.
Thoughts, gentlemen (and ladies!)

Regards,

Gordon

[ 08. April 2004, 12:28 PM: Message edited by: The_Historian ]

 

1. Comfort. In every climate except arctic / severe winter I think the US has this one. They had a practical layered system of clothing. The German later war winter clothing was definitely the best cold weather system with the parka / anorak jacket and quilted pants. The US rubber over boot (galoshes) were one item of foot wear that was excellent when available for wet weather.
2. Camoflauge: Here's really a hard call. Camoflauge patterns only really work when the wearer is stationary. I think this is as much a matter of preference as choice.
3. Efficent use / availability of material: Probably the Soviets in general. Their uniforms were very sparse in design and used materials very efficently.
4. Design: The US layered battledress system followed closely by the similar British system. These systems allowed wearers to have a true battledress versus a dress uniform that was worn in battle which had been the previous norm.
5. Endurance: Again, the US and British uniforms had this clinched due to superior materials (like US herringbone which has become today "ripstop"). The materials used were thick, quality products which contained significant wool and cotton in their manufacture. Substitutes and 'shoddy' cloth were not used. The US also had introduced the first variant of the Mil-Spec requiring manufacturers to meet an actual standard in manufacture. This was something other nations had yet to adopt fully. Quality control was more a matter of hit and miss than standards. As a note, many German officers had privately tailored uniforms as an example of this.
6. The Germans had this simply in wearing their dress uniform as battledress. The display of regular rank insigna, medals and, unit markings (cuff bands, arm shields etc). The Soviets and US were likely the worst in this. Neither made any major effort in displaying rank, awards or, unit markings. Where they were displayed they were often very subdued.
The British made more use of 'orgainzational' and non-standard uniform items than many other participants too. Many regiments adopted items of wear to distinguish them from other regiments and, these items were sometimes definitely not standard issue.
On the whole, the US M1943 battledress was probably the most successful as virtually every nation post war adopted some variant of it.

 

For the most part,have to agree with TA. Take it from someone who works outside[me] layers make a big differance. Cotton is a no-no.When wet,it stays wet. To be continued.

 

Agree with both of you about the layers idea.
The British idea of wearing a cotton vest over a string vest, then a flannel shirt, woollen jumper and BD Blouse was reckoned to a pretty efficient insulation system (at the time), especially with long johns under the BD trousers. I know the British used galoshes-Cold Wet Weather Boots, or cobbley-wobblies, in Korea. Can't remember if they had them in WW2 though.
I actually meant the natural camouflage value, ie Khaki, Field-Grey, Olive Green. You can look at colour pictures from the African cmpaign and be amazed at the shades worn by the different armies-British Khaki Drill, French Kaki, American Tan, and the Germans' combinations of Brown and Beige!

Regards,

Gordon

 

Not much I can add to the discussion, just to bring up the fact that the Denison Smock was one of the most sought after pieces of kit in WW II

 

And still is today !

Genuine wartime ones sell for a small fortune....

 

Speaking of smocks, the British also introduced the short lived 1942 Rivers-Macpherson 'Battle jerkin.' This piece of kit was issued to many troops landing on D-day where they promptly threw it away as the all-or-nothing proposition of it had little appeal to the troops....besides, it was uncomfortable to wear...