The History of: The US Army's "D-Day" Assault Jacket | Uniform History
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ส.ค. 2024
- Part two of our two parter on World War II amphibious assault vests. This second half covers the famous US army Normandy assault vest made popular by 1998's "Saving Private Ryan".
Men of The Century website: www.menofthecentury.com/
Music by Julian Crowhurst: www.juliancrowhurst.com/
3 video wishes
1. The British WW2 paratrooper smock
2. The Splittertarn uniform of the German army after WW2
3. German Fallschirmjäger uniform
The black kriegsmarine officers black leather jacket is on my list as well
I wore a repro one to an airsoft match along with the rest of my WW2 equipment to see which I liked better, in my opinion the normal web gear was more effective, the only benefit I found from the vest was ease of access to certain equipment like tools, medical, and grenades, that I shoved in the front pocket.
The 3 biggest issues I experienced with the vest were, it got real hot real quick, after moving around for a bit it would fall down and tighten around the shoulders and I constantly found myself shrugging and rolling my shoulders to loosen the vest and more easily get my rifle on target. Finally getting into a prone position was definitely possible but it was uncomfortable as hell and if the lower pockets were full they would press my butt into the air, and if the rear bottom pouch was full it would make it difficult to roll over and limit my prone movement.
Excellent accounting
My great grandfather almost drowned on D-day. Thankfully his platoon leader pulled him ashore. My gramps then went on to assist 2 flame throwers as they burned machine gunners out of their bunkers. Thankfully/unfortunately my great grandfather and his flame thrower companions were hit by artillery. This landed him in a military hospital for many months which is probably the only reason I was lucky enough to know him... I can truly only imagine how horrific it was to land on one of the beaches during D-Day.
If he had not made it, it's more than he you wouldn't have known.
My grandfather also nearly drowned on D-Day, stepping off of a Higgins boat into, as he described it, some 30 feet of water. He managed to shed all of his equipment, was brought back to the transport for medical clearance, re-equipped, and actually landed on the beach on the second day. What luck! But about 3 months later he was very badly wounded in an air attack, so I guess it all evens out. Several months in hospital recovering and his war was done.
Was your great grandma a nurse at that hospital?
@@thegigglessniggles5072 She was not. My great grandmother was back at home taking care of my infant grandmother and her twin brother.
Flamethrowers were not used on D-Day and there is no historical evidence to suggest that they were carried on the invasion for very obvious reasons
This is the only real research I have seen on these vests, thanks so much for sharing it. The only vests I can think of that have been used in my time in the US Army are the 40mm grenade vests. There were other vests, but I never used one because of the same reasons, too hot, too restrictive. Also, as a pretty big guy, they wouldn't fit over my body armor. MOLLE gave us the opportunity to arrange our gear in the way we needed it while using IBA. Thanks again! Great video. Oh yeah, BTW, I retired from the 116th Infantry of the 29th Division.
Towards the end of my times in the Corps they started issuing LBVs. The first type had a solid backing then later they came out with one that had a mesh backing. This was during the mid '90s, before MOLLE became a regular thing and were meant to be worn over our flaks.
Free America the grenadier vests were really the only ones that actually were useful. Coming from basic using LBEs to my unit using LBV, was a “what is this garbage?” moment. The first chance guys got to purchase COTS rigs from Tactical Tailor or Blackhawk, they did. Hell even the rig in my thumbnail was one of them. Everyone was beyond happy that the army transitioned to the FLC. Even then it got used like a slimmer LBE.
@@fathead8933 I was using ALICE gear when the first vests I saw were being issued. I played around with them but never liked all the extra shit, strings, pockets I couldn't move, etc. so I never wore one in the field. I'm pretty sure I still have one in a foot looker - unused.
Free America we were forced to until we got deployed.
@@fathead8933 FLCs aren't my favorite, personally. They come off way too easily and get caught up in so much crap its not worth even carrying it.
To anyone who is interested the picture at 13:06 is US troops marching along the Esplanade in Weymouth, Dorset. The building with the horizontal stripes was until recently the public toilets. There is a memorial on the Esplanade to the 700 US Rangers who lost their lives on Slapton Sands after a practice run was intercepted by German E-Boats.
I cant be the only one interested more in uniform than weapons
I feel strongly the same, uniforms and combat gears are way more interesting to me than weapons
I wanna know about radios and communications
Why can't someone like both? I do.
same.. I like both too but if I were given the position I would handle my country's uniforms and gear first, weapons second. To me uniforms and gear are one of the essential parts of a army's success and effectiveness.
@Shield Liger you're right, I haven't seen a less effective pattern. doesn't fit in with urban, doesn't fit in with flora.. but they fit in well with those carpool gravels that's one thing
The Assault Training Centre described was in Woolacombe in North Devon. The beach there is huge and just as it looked in period photos. It's popular for surfing too, so if you're a surfer into history you'll love it :P
Interesting, I'm a surveyor and we wear vests that are just loaded to the gills with stuff, they don't go past the waist though. For long days in remote places I would carry 25-40lbs of gear in the vest, including the weight of the vest. The backpack on the back is invaluable for long hauls, that's where your lunch, rain gear, and extra flagging and 8" spikes go ;) Also good are through pockets, like a hunter's game pocket on old time hunting jackets. That allowed you to carry long items like lath, range poles etc... In mine I carry: measuring tape, pens, pencils, scribe, marking keel, compass, flagging, 6", and 8" spikes, a variety of magnetic concrete nails (mag nails), ear plugs, calculator, field book. That's in it now, for every day work. They can be useful.
Better to have all your necessary gear with you than to have to make trips back to a truck or whatever to get something you forgot. As an electrician I know first hand how many extra miles you can walk in a day, up and down stairs, ladders and just back and forth, when you don't have everything you need to do a job with you, especially if it's not new construction. I personally don't like wearing a tool belt. That being said, they don't help much when a Hilti Hammer drill, reciprocating saw, socket set, amprobe/multimeter, wire nuts, emt or rigid pipe fittings, bailing wire, snake, cold chisel and 2lb sledge, all manner of screws, washers toggle bolts, boxes, mounting hardware, drill bits, extension cords and drop lights needed for the job at hand. A gang box can't be lugged around with you, and this is to much to fit in a Klein Tool bag. So you are loaded down with pockets full, tool bags and a cardboard box of crap. But this also is why God created apprentices and young guys with strong legs. They give true meaning to the term gopher, as in " go for " my torpedo level....... please.
To honor my uncle that jumped with 82nd the night before “D-day”. Thank you, to all 410,000 Sailors, Solders, and Marines that gave their last measure in the Big One, WWII.
Hand Salute, ready two,,,,,,,
Semper Fi,,,
After rewatching this video again it makes me think of some of the custom ammo vests that were tailor made during the Vietnam conflict. I know there scant info about these online and they're pretty hard to find. Mostly vests made for SEALs as far as info to be found.
My anecdote about them: I worked with an older gentlemen that had done 3 tours in Vietnam as a Marine rifleman. He told me that he and many others had vests made in local tailor shops that would hold 10-20 20rd mags each
Would love to see a video on the Italian “samurai” vest.
alright sir the troops are loaded up with tons of equipment, i honestly dont know if this is safe for them in all those marshy swamps-
General: assault jackets
s-sir?
General: *A S S A U L T . J A C K E T S .*
I remember you had 5k subs. Good to see you get attention.
Apart from the topic of the video itself, it really shed some light on the fact that WW2 was fought by people working on ALL aspects of the war: Generals and staff weren't just studying strategic matters, but also giving advice on soldier equipment, etc
Story I met a vet who landed on Utah beach first wave and he was issued the assault vest and wore it through the rest of the war even getting into a big battle to keep when they were issued new uniforms and gear the battle was with an officer he eventually won mostly with a timely shot from a german sniper who took out the replacement officer his old sergeant told him he could keep it if he found him one too a quick scrounging run and he jeep it till VE day quick edit he wore a carriage belt with the best too
you should do the South African assault vest next
I'd love to hear about more LBE and other similar gear.
Yeah. The WW2 pattern webbing up through ALICE gear and the early LBVs could make a pretty decent series.
Would love to see an in depth video on the SS camoflauge patterns of the Second World War, their development and the huge influence on patterns even today.
There's very few content creators, aside from Brent0331, who have made any quality content about those fantastic camo patterns. Most are just reenactors showing off their reproductions.
Keep it up with the great content, you're one of the best military focused TH-cam channels out there!
Excellent content, been binge watching the past few days
Love your vids
Spot on info, from what I've read, this guy knows his stuff , keep up the good work
I had bought one of these vests from a garage sale. I never knew the rarity and me being a young kid it got left behind in a move. I also had Thompson .45 magazine pouches that were with it.
Useless on the battlefield, prized by collectors...
This reminds me of the LBV of the late 90s through early 2000s. Hotter than the LBE, more restricting, and the pouches would shrink after multiple cleanings and reissuing meaning that they were only usable for stowing pogey bait.
you mean the lbv-88?
When they briefly issued us load bearing vests a few years ago I said hey it’s like DDay Assault vests! People thought I was nuts. 😂
Thank you !!!! Finally I have some inspiration to continue with my Higgins both D-Day diorama
Well, Assaut Jacquet has a very great history ..Beautiful video and I know now how the assaut jacquet is very important for the military ..thank you for the post..I appreciate this..
Do one of the Chilean army. It’s got a Prussian style and is super interesting.
What’s a great video! Subscribed!
Man all anyone cares about is the guns. This channel really hits a niche no one hits full on. Good on you.
Why can't someone like both? I do.
Keep up the great work
A request for video: early standardized camo patterns (for example Splittertarn).
Another very informative video! Please do America's first adopted camouflage pattern - the pattern of 1942 reversible "Frogskin", used by the USMC, some USN and some Army forces throughout World War II, Korea and even into Vietnam. The related parachute camo would be cool too! This pattern inspired many other patterns and really marks America's entry into camouflage. I look forward to your next video.
Great video. One of the few sources of info on youtube about stuff like this.
It’d be great if you covered the Russian Smersh LBE. Very little info on that since it is a foreign system but it is extremely popular in the Russian armed forces. And has been used for a long time. Lots of Russians even wear it instead of the new fangled plate carriers.
when my grandfather (9th ID, veteran of N Africa and NW Europe) saw SPR back in 1998- he commented on the scene shown in this video of a small group of guys, clustered close together and talking fairly loudly while under no cover and presumably behind enemy lines or close to it "an open invite for every German within two miles to shoot their asses full of holes- no ranger would be that dumb or allow it"
Would you ever do another russian/soviet camouflage video?
Yes.
@@UniformHistory you should do the south african assault vest too
@@UniformHistory maybe a quick vid, 2 or 5 mins long on the Chinese Chicom Chest rig. Super simple. Massed produced and other countries created their own.
Would we find it?
I swear the modern US Army's FLC is based off this...
I think the FLC is part of the long line of vests starting with this one.
The picture at the end of the German officer is interesting because it is a press release photo. Note the unit insignia is blacked out on the two soldiers' left shoulders. Another great video!
We were issued 37 webbing in basic training, that was in 1977. We had to blacken it with boot polish. Some of the kit we had back then was good, but there were some terrible throwbacks, steel helmets that went back to the 2nd World War, even puttees.
Dear Sir,
Have you considered doing a video on the Uniforms and Equipment used by the Rangers and Delta operators in Black Hawk Down? I would really like to see a video on this
? Seriously? Have you watched BHD? Have you READ Black Hawk Down?
THE WAIT IS OVER!
Very interesting!
That was amazing history.
Please do a Australian DPCU, DPDU & DPNU and the evolution of the 2010’s into the current AMCU, GPU & MMPU
It is my opinion, based on studying World War Two, including speaking with veterans that the Second World War was the catalyst that brought the modernization of tactics, vehicles, and individual warfighter clothing and gear.
It is such a neat thing, to see the gear my father used (1990-1993) and see it's WWII origins or, even my brother's gear (07-11) and likewise, see how it is rooted in WWII load-bearing gear.
Jed-Henry Witkowski you think that’s crazy read the Army’s FM 3-21.8 and then read Rommel’s “Infantry Attacks”. It was his memoirs from WW1.
At 13:00 you can see American troops marching along the esplanade in Weymouth, England. The street between the two buildings is bond Street and can be easily found on Google maps. From my understanding they are marching from ever the railway station or from thier billets in the sea front hotels towards the harbour. Weymouth was one of the disembarking locations for D day, all tho I can't comferm this is the day in question from the photo alone.
Maybe a video about German WW2 camo smocks next?
Improvising where everything goes on it, just like today's vests.
could you do a video on the italian vegetato camo ? if you need help translating sources, let me know !
The US LBV-88 and ETLBV definitely got a little inspiration from these assault vests
The 43 field jacket along with with the equipment belts and pouches, and the new backpacks made this unnecessary.
Do a vid. on the Italian Naval Incursori vest, for the Beretta MAB 38 SMG; also used by the Folgore ( lightning) Parachutist Division.
Doc AV
Its kinda crazy they had sone crazy complex shit like this but never though of anything as simple as molle
you should now do the next attempt , 1970 NAVY SEAL ERDL programme
Since we're on the subject of jerkins, have you ever heard about the Egyptian assault infantry jerkins used in the crossing of the Suez Canal? If so how do they compare to both US and British vest?
So this was the start of the long line of vest that led to ones like the US Army's Fighting Load Carrier Vest? www.thunderheadoutfitters.com/product/fighting-load-carrier-vest-acu-digital
What is the rope and toggle used for?
Did anyone else find that they were unsubscribed without their knowledge recently?
if you dont ring the bell after sometime it will see as a spam sub and cancel the sub i think
Could you possibly do a video on uniforms of the Highlanders? Even though I live in the states, the Highlanders are my favorite units, in particular the Blackwatch.
If memory serves me correctly, did they not already have a vest for the BAR rifleman ? One that had multiple pockets for the 20rnd BAR mags and a cup on right side to place the rifles buttstock to allow firing from the hip using the older walking fire technique ? And latter was there not a combat vest for the soldier issued the 12ga pump shotgun ?
History of the KLMK camouflage pattern would be pretty nice to watch.
The battle jerkin and the D Day assault vest videos are great 4.1.1 as are most of your videos. How about a more specialized video though. The D Day gear of the 82nd ABN, 101st ABN and the British 6th ABN DIV. Ie the British Leg Bag, the rigger made ABN vests etc. Thanks.
Please do sadf pattern 83 chest rig or british dpm pattern
You guys should do some of the war time German smochs and load bearing stuff. Like the webbing they used for mp 40 and stg mags ( idk what exactly its called hence you guys)
Where did you get the picture at 12:48 from?
were any of the 4 main pouches on the front able to fit 30rd thompson mags ?
You should do the uniforms of the HECU
Can you make a video about the mandra/typhoon snake pattern and how it went nowhere?
Would you consider doing a video on the uniforms of the UNSC for uniforms of the screen?
There may be something planned for down the line...
Had they given this another year or two of development earlier in the war, it might have really been something. I think a very serious issue wout arise with the numerous form factors of ammunition in use by the military, though. Carbine mags, Garand clips, BAR mags, and SMG mags aren't exactly all that similar in shape, and the Garand and BAR didn't have preexisting modular pouches that could work with a system like this. Perhaps they should have found a way to mount a cartridge belt along the midsection so that you could just hook your Garand or BAR belt to the vest
The British pattern of webbing 1937 was intended to carry magazines for the Bren gun, water, and bivouac/ personal items. Ditto for the BRITISH jerkins. Copying this pattern for U.S. forces was a mistake. Why? We didn't have a GPMG. We had the Browning Automatic Rifle, which already had a dedicated webbing set. M1919 etc machine guns were belt fed crew served weapons. All in all, the most comfortable and versitale LBE of WW 2 was the U.S. M 37 system, and the U.S.M.C. 782 gear. The U.S.Army would attempt to standardize ( copy) the Marine system from 1944-1945. Big mistake. The M 1937 system, but with the Musette bag as standard instead of G.I. for officers and " special" (paratroopers) should've replaced ALL load bearing systems. Versitale, lightweight, and adaptable across the spectrum. Part of our failings was akin to that of the Germans. Assuming that troops would be ensconced in secure bivouac areas instead of fighting for their lives 24 hours after landing. Must have an orderly tent city, with everybody standing at attention all clean, pressed, and spit shined. After all, The General is coming.
Have a look at the Canadian Load Bearing Vest from the 1990's and early 2000's. It is quite similar including the pocket layout. www.cdnmilitarycollectors.com/t1051-1994-tactical-load-bearing-vest
This vest had a lot of the same issues: heat, length, and it also only held 4 magazines with no expansion room. For most applications, we preferred to stick with our webbing like the US GI's of WW2 but, the vest was also an early plate carrier so we had to wear them for most operations as our soft body armor had no integral plate carrier. These were briefly also made in CADPAT Arid at the start of the Afghanistan War, but by then we had a new vest and upgraded body armor so not many people used them.
Uniform History, can I ask you to do the Costa Rican Army Uniform and year, (I know Costa Rica doesn’t have an army today but we did had an army before it was abolish in 1948) please, if you can, please do the Costa Rican army uniform and gear
Please do OPFOR & Aggressor uniforms
Reminds me of the LBV i was issued in 2001 it was fine until we got issued the point blank IBA you couldn't wear them together the body armor would force the magazines to the sides and almost impossible to get magazines out of the pouches. I immediately went to a surplus store and buying an old style LBE. Then came MOLLE
What's the last item to appear at 7:31?
The uniforms at 2:30. What’s that? Was everyone issued a coat like that? Where can I read more on that.
Can you do the pattern 83 battle vest?
Can u do a video on the dutch army NFP-green NFP-tan NFP-mixed ( Netherlands fractal patarn ) hope u read it
can you do a video on post apocalypse films uniforms.
Would you consider covering the LBV-88 vest used by US Forces?
Joshua N. Ajang yeah that’s the one, always loved the look of those things
@@jasonarmstrong5750 I remember getting issued one, but i never used it.
Monokuma which one? Angled pouches or vertical?
@@jasonarmstrong5750 it might have been something else, it's been over 10 years.
Can I send you some uniforms? I have 4 you haven't reviewed yet.
Can you start mentioning prices of the items in videos
You should do the history of the CHICOM ak 47 mag chest rig
These are rare today because most of the people who used them died or were severely wounded while wearing them. Never made it past the pile of bloody canvas at the battalion aid station, if that far.
LBV88 next please!
2:30 good point cause they're not Marines, something I was always confused with
Lol agreed.
Marines could barely provide enough men for landings in the PTO, so the Army had to raise its own amphibious forces.
I remember when at the front sold these veasts for 175 now they are like 250
Asian soldier at 10:31, can anyone provide additional insight? Is that an enemy pow, or american? I was under the impression most Asian-Americans were typically segregated in their own units, were there exceptions?
He could be a Mongolian conscripted into the German army.
@Adam Beluga could be but the uniform looks verz strange for being a wehrmacht one
He's a German POW. Probably ex-Red Army, captured and conscripted into German service.
The Japanese used Korean conscripts as second class soldiers. When they fought the Russians at Khalkin gol the Russians took those Koreans prisoner, when the Germans invaded Russia they then acquired the Koreans and decided to use them for manpower on the Atlantic wall. They were useless soldiers, they didnt want to fight and surrendered in every battle they'd been in including surrendering to the US at the first opportunity.
The best known of them is en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yang_Kyoungjong
In addition the Soviet union had a lot of asiatic countries within it including Mongolians, Khazaks, Altai and other Siberian groups. When the Red army collapsed many of these men were given the opportunity between starving to death in prison camps or joining the German army. The usual term was Ost Batallion (literally eastern battallions) and they were a mixed blessing, the Georgians mutinied and murdered their officers, the Cossacks were excellent if unpredictable, the Kaminski brigade were nothing but a moving war crime and the Russian liberation army was actually useful.
The Germans tended to use the low quality units for the Atlantic wall since co-ordinated attacks would be beyond their limited capabilities and would be difficult with their language problems, but they could be trusted to sit safely in a concrete bunker and hose down a beach with surplus WW1 era machine guns until they were neutralised or German reinforcements arrived.
You should do the partisan sso/Leto camo
Another idea is to look into the Russian's use of German camouflage after WWII ?
2:59 what webbing is the soldier on the far right wearing?
Battle jerkin? In Iraq and Afghanistan we had something called the combat jack, but it’s a bit different. In fact, don’t look it up.
Do a video of British DPM or MTP
River crossings etc all british commando carried one, paras as well i think.
Jerkin is a funny word.
I had a m-83 south african battle jacket. It seemed to draw on the US assault vest.
Please do the history of leggings in the US armed forces. It would tickle me so.
Howie Felterbush I think with a quick google search you will find that they were indeed called leggings or canvas leggings. I guess you could call them spats or gaiters but I believe the US Army called them leggings.
Since your doing vests and pieces like that, could you cover the infamous and awful Canadian Forces tactical vest that is theoretically still standard issue for the Canadian Army from the early Afghanistan war period to today, but is readily replaced, altered, and ignored in many units. They are a fairly awful design but of acceptable construction. Only four high mounted rifle magazine pouches, two general purpose pouches and a handful of smaller pockets, and a single strip of Molle in the centre meant for attaching the bayonet of all things.
I jumped in my pool wearing a reproduction assault vest from At The Front. Holy SHIT was it heavy when I tried getting out of the pool.
Sherman Tank crew jacket next?
Looks like an LBV precursor.
US M41/M43 jackets