Royal Marine uniform in 1939-40

[vodkafan]

Been digging around various websites but can't find any concrete info on this. One site did say that Khaki Battledress was not adopted till 1942. I want to do some  RM figures for Norway 1940. Should they be in Service Dress, but perhaps with the long navy canvas leggings?

[Arlequín]

I stand to be corrected, but as far as I know the RM wore puttees or the RN-style gaiters, or even nothing, with their SD and I've seen pictures of all three options dating from 1940. Likewise '37 webbing kit was worn if the unit in question had Brens, otherwise '08 for those with Lewis Guns.

That said I've also seen one photo of a unit in RN gaiters, in BD, with '08 webbing and only the guy toting the Bren with '37 pouches, so all bets are off. Maybe his not visible No.2 had them as well?

I'm not sure if they had Brens in Norway (I suspect not though), but certainly by the 'Invasion Scare' some units had them.

I've been trying to find out if the RM had adopted a three squad organisation too, but the 64 RM OR complements of ships like the Rodney and Hood would suggest not. If they hadn't, there would only be two LMG per platoon.

[carlos marighela]

If you do a googly-searchy thing, you'll find a couple of photos from the Getty Image Archive that purport to be booties, circa 1940. They are in service dress, without, gaiters or puttees, trousers worn loose and they are kitted out with '08 webbing. A word of caution though, there are some nigh identical photos, in very similar kit, of Australians training in the UK.

I'd be inclined to go for the new Empress chaps, if only cos they would have a distinctive look.

[Arlequín]

I'd agree with that, or even the Mutton Chop WWI figures if Mr Hicks gets round to doing some helmets/separate heads for them. The 'WW2' figures have a choice of prone Lewis or Bren and one or two chaps with Tommy guns. A first pack of Matelots was released yesterday too, so in all there are the makings of a RN/RM force.

The Mountain Gun in the Jazz Age Imperialism range is a 3.7" Howitzer I believe, so head swaps for the Indian crew, or indeed a crew swap and you have a RM or RN gun team too.



 

[SABOT]

Great photo and great discussion thread. Thanks for posting this up lads.

[Adam]

These might be some of the pictures mentioned by Arlequín:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205134650
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205134652
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205134654
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205134655

The collections search function on the Imperial War Museum website is great for these sorts of conundrums.

[Arlequín]

They weren't and I'd not seen those, so thanks. 

[carlos marighela]

These might be some of the pictures mentioned by Arlequín:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205134650
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205134652
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205134654
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205134655

The collections search function on the Imperial War Museum website is great for these sorts of conundrums.

Empress Miniatures it is then.

[vodkafan]

Empress Miniatures it is then.

Not for me.  I will convert my Royal Marines from various WW1 out there. I am probably the only one in the world who has never been fond of Paul Hick's sculpting style (sorry Paul). It's the slimness and the correctly proportioned (ie tiny) weapons. I am not happy unless a rifle on a miniature looks like a builder's plank.
Thanks everyone for all the great information and photos. I suspected they did still wear SD in 1940 but I didn't know where to look for info.

[Arlequín]

It's the slimness and the correctly proportioned (ie tiny) weapons. I am not happy unless a rifle on a miniature looks like a builder's plank.

As with all things, it's up to the eye of the beholder. That said, the Empress/Hicks Vickers gun looks too thin and long for my tastes.

I feel pretty confidant RM were wearing SD and for the most part '08 webbing, in 1940. Great War Brits are about the closest you'll get to that I think, whichever range you choose.

[carlos marighela]

Not for me.  I will convert my Royal Marines from various WW1 out there. I am probably the only one in the world who has never been fond of Paul Hick's sculpting style (sorry Paul). It's the slimness and the correctly proportioned (ie tiny) weapons. I am not happy unless a rifle on a miniature looks like a builder's plank.
Thanks everyone for all the great information and photos. I suspected they did still wear SD in 1940 but I didn't know where to look for info.

Heresy! Burn the witch! 

Actually, I know just how you feel. I spent a goodly portion of my Sunday painting up some Crusader German paratroopers. Plank-like the rifles might be, they are a real pleasure to paint, far more so than the couple of old, Hicks sculpted, BA ones I found in the cupboard. Even the rifles be made less plank like with the judicious application of paint.

That said I now have a couple of packs of Hicks sculpted, Tsuba Spartacists to convert into Sudeten nazis and I'm quite looking forward to them. Delightful figures but definitely not as fun to paint.