U.S. Marine Corps Uniforms and Equipment in World War II

Jim Moran

• Publisher: Frontline Books
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781526710437
• Topic: Historia
• Subtopic: Segunda Guerra Mundial

The United States Marine Corps was one of the phenomena of the Second World War. Greatly expanded from its prewar order of battle of scattered defense battalions, overseas garrisons and ship detachments, it became a multi-division force bearing the brunt of the hardest fighting across the whole vast expanse of the Pacific theater of operations. In August 1942 Marines were among the first to strike back at the Japanese in the jungles of Guadalcanal; Marine Raider battalions were formed to carry the fight to the enemy; and from the Central Solomon's landings of mid–1943 it was the Marines who spearheaded the 'island hopping' amphibious campaign which brought them to Okinawa, on Japan's doorstep, by VJ-Day. This epic story has been well documented in most respects except one: the uniforms, insignia and personal equipment of the Marines who fought their way across the Pacific. Authoritative, illustrated reference works of this important aspect of World War II's physical history have been notoriously lacking. In this book, longtime collector and researcher Jim Moran fills the gap, with a systematic, detailed guide illustrated with more than 300 photographs, including some 200 close-ups of surviving items in private collections on both sides of the Atlantic. The author covers service and field uniforms at the outbreak of war; the development of the Marine's dungaree's; the introduction and development of the camouflage uniforms which became the Marine's trademark in the popular imagination; the 782 gear webbing equipment; the various packs and other load-carrying items; the uniforms, insignia and equipment special to the elite Marine Raiders and Paramarines; the uniforms and accouterments of the US Marine Corps Women's Reserve; and a range of issue and personal small kit items which collectors may encounter. His research is supported by some 100 wartime photographs showing the identified item in use. Assisted and encouraged by the US Marine Corps Historical Center at Quantico, Virginia, Jim Moran has produced an essential reference for the collector, modeler, illustrator and uniform historian.

CHAPTER 1

‘JAPS ON THE ISLAND, ISSUE IN DOUBT’

(MESSAGE FROM WAKE ISLAND, 23 DECEMBER 1941)

At the time of the Japanese attack upon Pearl Harbor in December 1941 the US Marines were largely deployed as either Embassy detachments, ships’ detachments, or defence battalions on obscure Pacific islands whose names were soon to be on the lips of every American, such as Guam, Wake Island and Bataan. Indeed, the only Marine colours to be burnt were those of the 4th Marine Regiment, recently transferred from mainland China to the Philippines, which were destroyed to save them from capture on the shores of Corregidor only hours before the American surrender on 6 May 1942.

Elements of what would become the 2nd Marine Division were stationed in Iceland, but they would soon find themselves en route to New Zealand – a somewhat dramatic change of climate. It must be noted, however, that Marines were in fact among the first troop elements to arrive in Northern Ireland to begin America’s part in the fight against Hitler, though they were soon to be withdrawn – the Army not wanting a repetition of World War I, with the Marines getting all the glory . . .

The small Marine elements were equipped by and large with leftovers from World War I, the Marine Corps only receiving new issue items after first the Army and then the Navy were stocked. Marines were to be seen equipped with the 1903 Springfield rifle well into 1942, six years after the M1 Garand was adopted as standard (although the Marine Corps maintained that a Marine with the ‘03 Springfield could outshoot an Army man with a Garand at any time). Obviously, the Marines stationed in colder climates were dressed very differently from their counterparts in the Pacific. Marines in Iceland, parts of China, Northern Ireland, etc. were mainly dressed in regulation prescribed service/field uniform dress with equipment added.

WINTER SERVICE DRESS

Wool Service Coat, EM, P1929/1937

This was a forest green four-pocket open notch lapel coat with rear centre vent, having four patch pockets on the front, the top two having central box pleats. All four pockets had pointed top flaps, each secured by a single small bronze Marine Corps service button. The front fastened with four large bronze Marine service buttons. The cuffs had pointed facings (the so-called ‘Marine cuff’). The service coat also had epaulettes, each held in place by a single small bronze Marine service button, and with cross-stitching at the shoulder seam. Later, wartime production service buttons and Marine Corps emblems in brown plastic were to be found, marking an effort to save metals during World War II. Marine Corps enlisted men’s service emblems were worn on the collar. Rank stripes, when worn, were forest green on red (scarlet) wool or felt. A garrison belt in Cordovan brown leather was worn when the service coat was worn without field equipment, or off duty. A belt in the same forest green wool material as the coat was also issued from 1943 onwards. Two belt loops in the same material were provided on the rear waist for use with either belt. Wartime examples can be distinguished from post-war coats by the epaulette stitching, rear seam details, and cotton rather than sateen lining.

Wool Service Trousers

Made of the same material as the wool service coat, the trousers were cut straight-legged without turn-ups. The trousers had two internally hung front pockets, the right hand pocket having a small watch pocket inside. Enlisted man’s trousers had no rear pockets; Officer’s trousers had one or two rear pockets, usually with flap and button fastening. Fly fastenings were usually black composite buttons. Six belt loops for the service issue trouser belt were provided around the waist, in the same wool material.

Wool Service Overcoat, P1937

Issued to be worn when authorised, and much in evidence in both short and long versions in Iceland, the wool overcoat was of double-breasted design with a rear central vent. The front had six large overcoat type bronze service buttons, the top storm collar fastening with a further single Marine service button. The overcoat had internally hung front slash pockets, Marine cuffs, and epaulettes, the latter fastened by single small bronze service buttons. Rank stripes were to be worn, in forest green on red; no collar emblems were worn on the overcoat. Headwear, when field equipment was not worn, was either the service cap or garrison cap.

Service Cap Frame, EM

Marine Corps enlisted men were issued with a basic service cap frame consisting of visor and headband, the visor being of dark brown Cordovan leather. Cap frame covers of white cotton, dark blue wool, tan cotton and forest green wool were to be worn with the appropriate authorised uniform. The service cap had a front chin strap of the same Cordovan leather as the visor, the chin strap being usually worn above the visor, held in place on either side by a small Marine Corps service button either in dull bronze (for service covers) or gilt (for dress covers). The bronze or gilt Marine Corps service cap emblem was worn front and centre.

The officers’ service caps, which were usually individually tailor-made in contrast to the issued enlisted hat cover system, had in addition a decorative quatrefoil cross in braid of the appropriate cap colour on the top of the crown, the origins of which may supposedly be traced far back in Marine Corps history when US Marines fixed crosses in rope to the tops of their headwear so that sharpshooters in the ship’s rigging could identify friendly forces during close combat.

Cap, Garrison

The garrison cap could be authorised in lieu of the service cap but was usually to be seen worn overseas. Made of the same forest green wool material or khaki tan cotton, they were worn with the collar size bronze Marine Corps emblem on the left side, officers wearing rank insignia, usually in miniature, on the right.

Service shirts

When the service coat was worn the US Marine was a ‘collar and tie’ serviceman. Both the wool winter and cotton summer shirts could be worn with the appropriate service dress, both being worn with the same tan field scarf (necktie). The wool shirt was of a mid/dark tan, the cotton being a standard khaki tan. Both shirts had breast patch pockets with pointed top flaps. All buttons were exposed brown composite type. Rank stripes, when worn, were forest green on tan. No Marine emblems were worn on the shirt collars during World War II.

SUMMER SERVICE DRESS

In stark contrast to Iceland and China the Marines stationed in the scattered Pacific outposts were almost habitually to be seen in summer khakis. The summer issue khaki shirt was worn with or without field scarf and with either khaki trousers or breeches (still standard issue for mounted troops). When the khaki trousers were worn in the ...