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Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: TheShadow on 05 September 2010, 09:56:50 PM

Title: US Infantry Rank Insignia - help needed !
Post by: TheShadow on 05 September 2010, 09:56:50 PM
can anyone tell me what ranks used which insigni ? ive looked on few sites but as im sort of new to WWII gaming im a little confused !!

did captains. lieutenants etc have any insignia on their uniforms ?

thanks for the help
Title: Re: US Infantry Rank Insignia - help needed !
Post by: joroas on 05 September 2010, 10:27:13 PM
Usually on the collars of shirts and jackets, jackets in thread, shirt collar metal.  On the right was the rank and on the left was the arm of service badge, crossed rifles for infantry, etc.  They also had the rank in metal on the helmet front and a white vertical stripe on the rear.  I am certain these were not always worn in the field, as they attracted attention.  One obvious sign of an officer was the brown pistol holster.

Changed the helmet detail, I was tired when I wrote this....................  :-X
Title: Re: US Infantry Rank Insignia - help needed !
Post by: joroas on 05 September 2010, 10:35:20 PM
Ranks and service badges are here:

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/usa-insignia.htm
Title: Re: US Infantry Rank Insignia - help needed !
Post by: TheShadow on 05 September 2010, 11:53:33 PM
very useful - thanks :)
Title: Re: US Infantry Rank Insignia - help needed !
Post by: delta6ct on 06 September 2010, 02:21:33 AM
Officers had a vertical white bar on the rear of their helmet. NCO's (Sergeants, etc.) had a horizontal white bar. I've seen photos of men in combat wearing these on the back of their helmets, so they were actually used. Hope that helps some.

Mike
Title: Re: US Infantry Rank Insignia - help needed !
Post by: TheShadow on 06 September 2010, 08:04:16 PM
thnkas - about the only knowledge i currently have is from saving private ryan !!!! im building a us platoon and really wanted some accurate markings, but from what ive seen the only ones who have "stripes" are the corporal and sarge, did captains/lieutenants not have any arm insignia for rank then ?
Title: Re: US Infantry Rank Insignia - help needed !
Post by: Cosmotiger on 06 September 2010, 09:08:13 PM
im building a us platoon and really wanted some accurate markings, but from what ive seen the only ones who have "stripes" are the corporal and sarge, did captains/lieutenants not have any arm insignia for rank then ?
Correct, arm stripes are for enlisted ranks only. There were no arm stripes for officers.
Title: Re: US Infantry Rank Insignia - help needed !
Post by: TheShadow on 06 September 2010, 10:15:29 PM
just what i needed to hear - thanks :)
Title: Re: US Infantry Rank Insignia - help needed !
Post by: kidterminal on 07 September 2010, 06:47:50 AM
Officers had a vertical white bar on the rear of their helmet. NCO's (Sergeants, etc.) had a horizontal white bar. I've seen photos of men in combat wearing these on the back of their helmets, so they were actually used. Hope that helps some.

Mike
These helmet markings were developed for D Day from what I understand and thus were not present during the African and Italian campaigns. I have some Osprey reference of these campaigns so if you want to know more about markings for them let me know.

Rob
Title: Re: US Infantry Rank Insignia - help needed !
Post by: TheShadow on 07 September 2010, 07:00:44 PM
its more around the d-day time im after - thanks