British para uniform in North Africa

[Silent bob]

Hi,

Did the British Paratroopers who fought in North Africa wear the Dennison?

Whilst it gets cold at night, wouldn't it be too hot in the day?

Thanks

[Jakar Nilson]

I don't have enough information to say yes or no. The smock was introduced in 1942, but it seems like it went through some camouflage and cut patterns before the design we're familiar from in '44. Pockets, openings, there's lots. The paras did seem to suffer from the extreme weather in Africa in their late '42 operations, but I can't find any confirmation or negation of wearing the smocks in the Osprey Elite book, and my secondary source is Commando comics. Given that they use a bazooka (they only seem to use bazookas in Commando comics, never a PIAT, grumble, grumble...), it's probably not all that accurate.

[Silent bob]

Many thanks...it seems you're a fan of the much maligned PIAT.......

[dadlamassu]

Looks like battle-dress and para helmet here


Officers from the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment resting near Beja after returning from a drop on Depienne. From left to right: Captain Stark, Lieutenant Braylet and Major Ashford (wearing a Commando dagger)

[Jakar Nilson]

Many thanks...it seems you're a fan of the much maligned PIAT.......

Given that it was the anti-tank weapon handed out the British and Commonwealth troops, it does seem odd. Plus, there's Smokey Smith's VC citation which he earned crawling around and disabling a bunch of heavy panzers with one.

But anyways, you can see the first cut of the denison smock with the diagonal chest pockets in the bottom pic.

[Silent bob]

Forgive me for being thick.... But could I get away with normal British infantry, with heads swapped for Para helmets and red berets.

I'd like to collect some airborne figures but maybe not the normal D Day and later ones.

Thanks

[Cubs]

The paras had different trousers from regular infantry, with large pockets on the thighs.

The denison was also issued to paras and airborne, from 1941 onwards and went through several different incarnations with minor changes in style. They were also often altered by the troops themselves or by regimental tailors, and older variations were still worn right up to the end of the war, so don't sweat too much on trying to make them uniform!

Having said that, it was a jump smock and if the troops weren't actually jumping or in action after a jump then they probably just wore standard battledress like other troops.

Can you get away with normal infantry? Depends on how exact you like to be really. You could probably get away with a dab of greenstuff and/or a disguising paintjob and you'll be fine.

[Silent bob]

I have decided to go for 20mm scale figures,  for ease of painting and ease of my wallet.

I can probably get away with the differences in the Denison that I would not be able to in 25\28mm.

I used to have a large collection ( Rapid Fire list Para Brigade + support troops, for Arnhem) of Britannia Minis figures, which I am going to use again....I like the style and size of them.

Thanks for the help

[Harry Faversham]

Bit of a minefield, Innit? I've read the special paratroop trousers with the large thigh pocket were issued in 1943. yet this piccy is always captioned as late 1942!