Swedish M/39-58 uniform - Vapenrock M/39-58

Above: M/39-58 uniform with two brass collar badges  - two crossed riffles equals infantry. 

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The Swedish M/39 uniform is one of the most affordable WWII uniforms on the world market at the moment. They were produced in large quantities for the Swedish armed forces during the Second World War. Sweden mobilised when WWII broke out, but managed to remain neutral for the entire war. Most of the soldiers were actually stationed in the north and east, to guard against the red army, and fewer were stationed on the west coast, close to the occupied Denmark. Nazi Germany was seen as the "lesser" threat of the two. 

Post war the Swedish army underwent some changes like the rest of the western armies. In 1959 the first "webbing" was introduced (stridssele M/59), and a new and improved cotton uniform was introduced in 1959 as well. But the old wool uniforms remained in mobilisation stocks for many years to come. They even made some new M/58 wool uniforms, that I will show in another blog post. 

The remaining M/39 were re-tailored to resemble the new uniform. 

The shoulder boards were removed, and two new pockets were added to the back of the uniform.

A piece of cotton were added under the arms, and the uniform jacket was sewn shut in the back.    

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 Above: The uniform is very German in design, and is often used as a cheap alternative to the more expensive re-productions or original uniforms with re-enactors. 

Above: The original tailors note. It says among many things that it is a size 102K and the customer is the "army". 

Above: A closer look at the brass collar badge. 

Above: This particular jacket is made in 1942.

 Above: Notice the different shade of grey on the two new back pockets.
It is a dead give-away that they are added later. The buttons are made of aluminium.

 Above: The added piece of cotton underneath the arms.

Above: What there is left of the shoulder-boards. 

British pattern 58 webbing

The British patt. '58 webbing had its shortcomings that became evident during the Falklands war. Especially the "field pack" was anything but large and did not accommodate all the necessary items for cold weather fighting. It was difficult to carry radio equipment with the webbing as well. 

The webbing was designed during the 1950s for mechanised infantry, and was meant to replace the stocks of patt. '37 and patt. '44 webbing still used in the British army at that time.

There were two basic set-ups: CEMO and CEFO
Combat Equipment Marching Order and Combat Equipment Fighting Order.
 The only difference between the two were that CEFO was without the "field pack" and CEMO was with the field pack.
Officially the pack contained: cap comforter, drawers, shirt, socks, towel, sleeping bag, boots dms, pt shoos, beret and parka.

The CEFO consisted of the following:
In magazine pouches: 4 full SLR magazines (80 rounds total).
Additional ammunition: 1 belt of 50 rounds g.p.m.g ammo, 2 grenades, bayonet and scabbard
Miscellaneous equipment: Weapon cleaning kit and grenade launcher attachment for the SLR. (combination flash suppressor and grenade launcher for standard NATO riffle grenades)

Kidney pouches: mess tin, combat rations, knife/fork/spoon set, washing and shaving kit, foot powder, spare socks, housewife, towel, spare laces.
Poncho roll: The poncho and sometime the NBC suit was rolled up together with the poncho.
Water bootle and mug fit together in the water bottle carrier and a lightweight pick or shovel were fitted on the back of the equipment. The pickaxe head was carried on the poncho roll. To top it all off the soldier had to carry a NBC respirator.

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My own set of Patt. '58 webbing:

 Above: The webbing seen in the CEFO order. 

From left to right: Magazine pouch left, water bottle carrier, kidney pouches (poncho roll underneath) right magazine pouch with bayonet frog.

Above: Notice how the kidney pouches attach to the webbing. 

The poncho roll is attached with two "carbine hooks". 

The picture can be enlarged by "clicking" on it. 

 Above: Notice the bayonet frog that is sewn onto the left magazine pouch. (red arrows)

 Above: Small grenade pouch for the grenade launcher attachment for the SLR.

 Above: Poncho roll. Notice on the top of the poncho roll two pockets the length of the roll intended for the pick-axe head.

 Above: Kidney pouches left and right.

 Above: Field pack. The two cross straps could be used to keep the helmet strapped onto the field pack when not in use, or make the pack secure. 

Underneath the cross straps it is possible to see the loop that would hold either the t-handle shovel or the pick-axe handle in place.