영국군과 강습 조끼
영국군과 강습 조끼
1942 Battle Jerkin
The 1942 Battle Jerkin was designed by British Colonel E.R. Rivers-Macpherson, the Chief Ordnance Officer of Field Stores, Aldershot in the UK. His opinion of the 1937 Pattern Web Equipment (WE '37) was sufficiently low as to state that it was "clumsy, noisy, restricting of mobility, difficult to get through obstacles, allowing no flexibility for weapons, cramping, uncomfortable and galling to the soldier!"1
The new design was a "complete departure from the trends of equipment design and evolution of the past 300 years."2 In Colonel Rivers-Macpherson's words, a "simple and easy fitting garment on the lines of a poacher's jacket" was the intended solution.3
A waterproof canvas duck material was used to produce a vest (in four colours, tan, white, brown and green for desert, snow, spring/summer European and Pacific uses, respectively) in three sizes (small, medium and large). The vest had a specific layout of pockets, intended for ammunition, as on the Basic Pouches of the WE '37, slots for a fighting knife or bayonet, attachment points for pistol cases, rain/gas capes and entrenching tools, and "soft kit" such as sweaters, gloves, socks, etc. and a large compartment for carrying items normally carried in the haversack (rations, water bottle, mess tin, eating utensils, personal kit, or spare ammunition.4
The vest was produced in Britain and copied in Canada.
The carrying capacity of the 1942 pattern battle jerkin was greater than that of the 1937 pattern web, and it was for this reason the jerkin was produced. The planners of Operation OVERLORD wanted each man to carry ashore 48 hours of supplies, and the battle jerkin was the answer. Also, the jerkin could be locally modified to meet specific needs by unstitching any of the pouches or pockets that were not needed. Therefore in early 1944, in the final stages of planning for Operation OVERLORD, many of the initial assault (units) of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division were provided with the British produced 1942 pattern battle jerkin to wear in lieu of the 1937 pattern web. Not all the infantry regiments in the 3rd Division were issued the battle jerkin and not everyone in the regiments that received the jerkin got issued one, but members of The Queen's Own Rifles, The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, and the 1st Battalion, Canadian Scottish were photographed wearing the jerkin on D-Day. Royal Canadian Navy Beach Commando "W" were also issued the battle jerkin.5
Canadian produced jerkins were not issued for OVERLORD, though some were used for amphibious training in the UK prior to the invasion. At least one photo of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division in 1943 shows the jerkin in use. Light tan versions marked "TRAINING ONLY" were also issued to the 3rd Division in England. The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion tested the jerkin early in 1944, finding them awkward to use in combination with a parachute harness.6
영국군의 배틀 저킨은 미군의 강습조끼에 영향을 줄 만큼 선진적인 의도에서 나온 물건이었지만, 실제 보급된 물건은 생각만큼 괜찮지 않았던 모양입니다. 둘 모두 디데이 이후의 날씨에 어울리지 않게 '착용자를 덥게 만들었고', 중량 배분이 엉망이었으며, 착용부터가 불편했다는 증언들이 많네요. 더욱이 강습 조끼와 배틀 저킨 모두 디데이 직전에나, 그것도 완편 수량보다 부족한 수량만 지급되었다고 합니다.
영국군의 배틀 저킨/브렌 조끼는 캐나다군과 코만도 위주로 지급되었습니다. 사진으로 확인할 수 있는 지급 부대는 링크와 위 본문에 나온 일부 부대만으로 보입니다. -다행히 노르망디 상륙 부대로 50사단을 고른 전 구매 선상에서 빗겨나가는군요:)
from http://tom-atkins.tistory.com/15 by ccl(A) rewrite - 2020-03-22 23:20:32
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