History

Posted on July 19, 2024July 19, 2024 by Pcosta88

French Repacked BD-71 Switchboard

Advanced Guard Militaria offered a French repacked switchboard for $250 dollars, shipped. When I saw that I pounced on it as it was a good price and I wanted to rebuy the BD-71 switchboard I once had. I bought that one for $80 dollars at an auction in 2011.

The switchboard came in a large box and a smaller box contained the accessories.

Unpacking the switchboard was like peeling back an onion. First I had to peel back some paper coverings and open the box.

Next, I discovered some kind of canvas, metallic-backed waterproof bag. When I opened it up, I probably should have done it outside to be safe as the bag appeared to be vacuum sealed, and yet when I opened it, I heard gasses escaping.

Who knows what kind of gas might have been pumped into the bag prior to sealing? At any rate, I got a lung full of 1968 French air.

When I opened it up, there was another box!

When I opened the box, the switchboard finally came into view. It was packed tightly up against cardboard (which left packing lines on the unit). It also contained this weird brown cloth-like packing material (if anyone knows what that is let me know!) –

The accessories were all in waxy and gummy waterproofed cardboard boxes. I had to use scissors to cut it open.

The results look great! I really like the switchboard, the white/tan cardboard lines not so. If anyone had an idea on how to remove them without damaging the wood let me know!

When I began to open up the switchboard there were documents and manuals. There was a French inventory list, a French wire and circuit test, a wiring diagram, and a field manual, TM 1-330.

Now to make the switchboard more historically accurate to WW2, I bought a data plate and swapped it out. I kept the old French one and just added it to my bar as kitsch.

Posted on July 9, 2024July 13, 2024 by Pcosta88

WW2 Reenacting Ordnance and Firearm Printables

The Ordnance Soldiers Guide – This is a booklet an Ordnance replacement soldier would have gotten at a replacement depot. It’s designed to be a quick refresher of content they would’ve learned in basic training.

Converting an Ohio Ordnance Works BAR into a WW2 BAR – Ohio Ordinance Works no longer sells BARs but if you come across one you can use this guide to help swap out parts for correct works to make it period correct. This is not a WW2 document but a helpful one for reenactors.

M1917 Ammunition box plans – Plans on how to create the wooden M1917 ammo box used to hold different kinds of ammo

60mm M2 Mortar Firing Tables – FT60-D-2 – Print on ivory-coloured A4 paper (approximately 100-120gsm). Print on both sides to produce one Firing Table.

M1a1 Bangalore Torpedoes and Crate: There are a few guides out there such as one from the US Militaria Forum, one from a group of reenactors out of New Zealand, and another one out of Belgium. However, these guides are very brief and don’t provide quality step-by-step instructions or a pdf.

See Bangalore Torpedo Training on YouTube for a great video on how they work.

Denver Arsenal 30 cal – Prints off 10 little cards that get inserted into a bandoleer. Print on brown card stock.

1/2 Pound TNT – Prints off two types of labels. A white one and a yellow one. I’m not sure which is more accurate. You can follow this 3D printing guide by ChrisNZ to print off the block and then wrap the paper around it.

1 Pound TNT – Prints off a white label. You can follow this 3D printing guide by ChrisNZ to print off the block and then wrap the paper around it. My guess is you need to print off two 1/2 pound blocks and then put them together and wrap the label around it.

Chemical Warfare Identification and First Aid Pocket Reference Gas Guide inside and outside | Describes what to do during a gas attack

5th Army Engineer Training March 1943 – Looks to be a cleaned-up version of a quick primer on how to lay a minefield using the Hawkins mine.

The M-E5 Series Flame Throwers May 1944 – A tactical discussion of the E5R1-5 and E4-5 Flame Throwers in tanks. E5R1-5 is installed in light tanks and the E4-5 is installed in medium tanks.

The doctrine is to use the flame throwers where infantry units are likely to cluster such as in bunkers, heavy underbrush, and basements in an urban setting.

Posted on July 3, 2024July 3, 2024 by Pcosta88

Leonardo da Vinci’s Resume

Resume as seen here

“My Most Illustrious Lord,

Having now sufficiently seen and considered the achievements of all those who count themselves masters and artificers of instruments of war, and having noted that the invention and performance of the said instruments is in no way different from that in common usage, I shall endeavour, while intending no discredit to anyone else, to make myself understood to Your Excellency for the purpose of unfolding to you my secrets, and thereafter offering them at your complete disposal, and when the time is right bringing into effective operation all those things which are in part briefly listed below:

1. I have plans for very light, strong and easily portable bridges with which to pursue and, on some occasions, flee the enemy, and others, sturdy and indestructible either by fire or in battle, easy and convenient to lift and place in position. Also means of burning and destroying those of the enemy.

2. I know how, in the course of the siege of a terrain, to remove water from the moats and how to make an infinite number of bridges, mantlets and scaling ladders and other instruments necessary to such an enterprise.

3. Also, if one cannot, when besieging a terrain, proceed by bombardment either because of the height of the glacis or the strength of its situation and location, I have methods for destroying every fortress or other stranglehold unless it has been founded upon a rock or so forth.

4. I have also types of cannon, most convenient and easily portable, with which to hurl small stones almost like a hail-storm; and the smoke from the cannon will instil a great fear in the enemy on account of the grave damage and confusion.

5. Also, I have means of arriving at a designated spot through mines and secret winding passages constructed completely without noise, even if it should be necessary to pass underneath moats or any river.

6. Also, I will make covered vehicles, safe and unassailable, which will penetrate the enemy and their artillery, and there is no host of armed men so great that they would not break through it. And behind these the infantry will be able to follow, quite uninjured and unimpeded.

7. Also, should the need arise, I will make cannon, mortar and light ordnance of very beautiful and functional design that are quite out of the ordinary.

8. Where the use of cannon is impracticable, I will assemble catapults, mangonels, trebuckets and other instruments of wonderful efficiency not in general use. In short, as the variety of circumstances dictate, I will make an infinite number of items for attack and defence.

9. And should a sea battle be occasioned, I have examples of many instruments which are highly suitable either in attack or defence, and craft which will resist the fire of all the heaviest cannon and powder and smoke.

10. In time of peace I believe I can give as complete satisfaction as any other in the field of architecture, and the construction of both public and private buildings, and in conducting water from one place to another.

Also I can execute sculpture in marble, bronze and clay. Likewise in painting, I can do everything possible as well as any other, whosoever he may be.

Moreover, work could be undertaken on the bronze horse which will be to the immortal glory and eternal honour of the auspicious memory of His Lordship your father, and of the illustrious house of Sforza.

And if any of the above-mentioned things seem impossible or impracticable to anyone, I am most readily disposed to demonstrate them in your park or in whatsoever place shall please Your Excellency, to whom I commend myself with all possible humility.”

Posted on June 23, 2024June 25, 2024 by Pcosta88

WW2 Signal Corps and Communication Paperwork

Below is a collection of Signal Corps-related paperwork for use in WW2 Reenacting.

Radio

Templetone Model BP2-A5 Log Card – The Templetone Model BP-2A5 seemed to be some kind of morale radio for the troops. The log card would be placed under the front-cover so it would show when the cover was opened. Not sure why a morale radio would need a station log card?

Print in medium-weight beige cardstock. Print on both sides of the media and cut at crop marks to produce one Station Log card.

For a good history of the radio see: Templetone Model BP2-A5 “Morale Radio”.

BC-611 Frequency Card – This is the card that would go into the small window of the BC-611/SCR-546 radio

Form 138 Operators Number Sheet – Front and Back | Print front-to-back pages on natural or ivory paper and stack+trim to the same size. Run a few beads of rubber cement along the top edge to have a tear-away stack.

I’m not sure what this form was exactly used for.

Form 159 – Number Sheet | Print pages on natural or ivory paper and stack+trim to the same size. Run a few beads of rubber cement along the top edge to have a tear-away stack.

I’m unsure what this was exactly used for.

Telephone

Signal Corps Station Log – Signal Corps paperwork to record traffic at what appears to be a telephone station. Form number unknown.

Print pages on natural or ivory paper and stack+trim to the same size. Run a few beads of rubber cement along the top edge to have a tear-away stack.

Other

Form 158 – Route Delivery List – Signal Corps form for delivering messages. Print 25 pages on natural or ivory paper and stack+trim to the same size. Run a few beads of rubber cement along the top edge. You’ll have a tear-away pad of 50 sheets.

A “route delivery” seems to connect more points.

Form 160 Local Delivery List – Signal Corps form for delivering messages. Print 25 pages on natural or ivory paper and stack+trim to the same size. Run a few beads of rubber cement along the top edge. You’ll have a tear-away pad of 50 sheets.

A “local delivery” seems to connect fewer points.

Message Book M210a Front and Inside – A printable pdf file for the M201a message book. This book would be used in a message center. It would be unlikely to appear in a map case. You can download the front+back here and the insides here.

Print on regular paper and then trimmed to size. The book has overall dimensions of approximately 6-1/8″W x 4-1/4″H x 1/2″ thick. Inside the book are 25 each triplicate message forms for regular use, three each duplicate forms for carrier pigeon use, and 25 sheets of tracing paper. The back cover has an extension that can be placed under the topmost form, so that it can be filled out without marking the carbon-copies of the following forms. The book also includes instructions for its use and a list of authorized abbreviations.

For best results, print on 8-1/2″ x 11″ US letter-sized paper with no scaling. Finished forms should be 4.75in wide by 4.25in tall.

When cutting it out, save 1/4 inch of space on the left-hand side. That way the staples don’t go through the message part.

I’m not sure if anyone is reproducing these but if they are I’ll add a link. Note that this only includes a single blank message form and not the carbon copies or map overlay.

Now there’s also an M 210-B message book which looks like it came out in late 1944. This is according to the Signal Corps Technical Information Letter Nov 1944 No 36. The major differences are some measurement tools on the front-cover, the removal of the pigeon forms and map overlays. This was all done to help speed up the message processing as it was found soldiers experienced difficulty removing the copies in the M210a book.

There’s also an M-105-A message book. I’m not sure what the difference is. If I found I’ll write about it.

Signal Corps Technical Information Letters

Signal Corps Technical Information Letter No 18 – May 1943. Outlines new training methods, procedures and equipment. One interesting story is how local police captured an illegal pinball den and donated the machines to Ft. Monmouth to be used as needed.

Signal Corps Technical Information Letter No 36 – Nov 1944. Outlines new training methods, procedures, and equipment. Discusses the fungi and moistureproofing techniques (which is some kind of lacquer spray), as well as the Silica Gel, used to pack equipment and an anti-radio jamming exercise among other interesting and nuanced signal corps minutia.

27th Signal Company Switchboard Trailers – During the Phase 1 Nansei Shoto Operation on Okinawa, the 27th Signal Company of the 27th Infantry Division created a special trailer to house a BD-96 switchboard and it’s BD-97 panel, test sets, EE8 field phones and other incidentals required to operate a BD-97 switchboard in a combat operation. The BD-96 is used to run up to 40 lines into it.

The trailer was used to be as mobile as possible during the operation. Being mounted in a trailer makes it so.

This type of configuration may have been used at the Battalion or more probably at the regimental level.

BD-96 and BD-97 images come from: TM 11-487B Directory of Signal Corps Equipments: Wire Communication Equipment.

Basic Wire Communication: Lineman’s Handbook: Wire Training Section Central Signals Replacement Training Center, Camp Crowder Missouri – This is a printable booklet and gives a very quick review of wire splicing, terminology, and organization

TM-184a Terminal Board Fabrication – This is a pdf that shows the schematics of how to fabricate the TM-184a terminal board. It is used as a terminating or test point in tactical field wire systems.

TM-184 T1 and T2 replace this. You can view the instructional manual for them here.

TM-184a and T1 and T2 hold 7 pairs wires. TM-84 holds 5 pairs of wires.

Posted on June 18, 2024June 18, 2024 by Pcosta88

US Navy Uniform Regulations 1941 to 1946

1941 Uniform Regulations, with Wartime Amendments

The U.S. Navy’s uniform regulations of 1917 were revised and published in 1941, however, the 1941 edition was obsolete by the time it went to print. Habitual indecisiveness and reneging with regard to uniforms are apparent in the sheer number of changes and amendments made to these regulations during the war.

In some cases, uniform insignia was introduced one month and abolished the next. Additionally, unauthorized insignia was often designed, produced privately, and worn on uniforms without authorization only to be approved for wear retroactively at a later date by the Navy. Other insignia worn by men of special units were never authorized for wear by the Navy. At the onset of World War II in 1941, the Navy provided a large number of uniform options for both officers and enlisted.

Many of these optional uniforms were considered superfluous to the war effort and abolished. Many pre-war uniform accouterments were made of metal wire, bullion, or other materials that could be put to better use in the manufacture of ships, vehicles, aircraft, and munitions. Two examples of wartime conservation of uniform ornamentation were bullion rating badges and officer’s swords, both of which were no longer required after 1942. Other uniforms were abolished simply to conserve the textile materials used in their production. In addition to abolishing older nonessential uniform items, new uniforms and accessories were introduced during the war.

All of these constant changes to the regulations made them impossible to enforce. Consequently, the wartime regulations are also very difficult to organize and list as a historical reference as well.

The following is the complete 1941 Uniform Regulations as they were published in May of that year. Amendments made to these regulations between 1941 and 1947 are provided as an appendix. Due to the complexity, redundancy, and impossibly confusing nature of the Uniform Regulations before the 1948 revision, no collection of the wartime Navy regulations has ever been compiled into one publication. To the best of the author’s knowledge, the following is the first attempt to organize, catalog, and record all of the regulation amendments put into effect between 1941 and 1947.

Unlike the U.S. Army’s uniform regulations of World War II which are a matter of record and easily obtainable, this provides a complete set of wartime Navy uniform regulations for the first time in over half a century.

Download the US Navy Regulations Here from my Google Drive

Overview

Page 1:
The cover of the U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations as they were published in May 1941.

Pages 2-195:
The complete and unedited 1941 uniform regulations.

Pages 196-211:
The following regulation amendments are transcribed here from handwritten memos and slips of paper pasted into a revised set of regulations. The date of the letter or authorization documentation is provided in parentheses “( )” when available. Note that the following regulation amendments refer to a specific article of the 1941 regulations. For example, an amendment beginning with the numbers “2-86” refers to articles 2-86 of the 1941 regulations concerning caps. The abbreviations; BP CL or BuPers = Bureau of Naval Personnel Circular Letter and BN CL = Bureau of Navigation Circular Letter.

Pages 212-221:
These documents are the actual typewritten regulation amendments that were distributed in the form of “Circular Letters”. As regulations were changed, news of these changes was delivered to ships and stations in a memo format called Circular Letters. These were to be pasted into existing copies of the 1941 Uniform Regulation book as they were received. Obviously, the huge number of Circular Letters that were distributed during World War II couldn’t all be pasted into one volume so many were lost or misplaced. It is important to note that many Circular Letters addressed several regulation amendments over a period of years. For example, a letter dated January 1946 may in fact be in reference to amendment changes authorized in 1944 and 1945. This was typically the case and it was common for amendments to be consolidated and distributed a year or two after their inception. With this, amendments with post-World War II dates should not be dismissed as post-war revisions. The following regulation changes refer to the wearing of insignia and ribbons.

Pages 222-238:
The following regulation changes refer to the wearing of insignia and ribbons.

Pages 239-287:
The following are general regulation changes concerning the Naval uniform of officers and enlisted men from 1941-1947.

Posted on June 12, 2024June 12, 2024 by Pcosta88

Spectacles and Glasses in WW2

Spectacles had been provided in World War One, but it was not anticipated that this service would again be required. It was believed that the Red Cross would provide any needed spectacles. The only provision for the Army to provide spectacles was found in Army Reg. 40-1705, which authorized procurement only when they were necessary to correct visual defects resulting from violence suffered in the performance of duty. In all other cases the Army doctors would write prescriptions and the soldiers would have to pay out of pocket.

The problem became clear after the first draft when soldiers couldn’t afford out-of-pocket glasses or had broken their personal ones and couldn’t afford new ones. The military glass frame was to be 10% nickel silver with a reinforced bridge. It was found that this frame corroded in hot weather causing discoloration of the skin. An 18% nickel silver frame with the pad arm, pad arm assembly, endpieces, and cable winding of pure nickel solved this problem.

This was essentially the Ful-Vue style of glasses with the P3 frame that GIs wore.

Each man was entitled to two glasses. However, delivery problems abound. It took 5 months to get all the materials needed to make glasses and due to this instead of a 3-day turnaround period, it wasn’t unusual to have a 3-4 months turnaround period for the glasses. Some men never received the glasses, other men got them months and sometimes years later, as the glasses would be forwarded to the post where the men would be, only to find out that the said soldier had moved on.

Part of the problem lay with instead lay with 20% instead of 10% of the men needing glasses and not having enough materials to meet demand. The biggest problem, however, was that the eye examiners kept the receipts from the eye exam 7-10 days after, then forwarded all the accumulated receipts to the optical company.

The optical company couldn’t fill all the orders at once and so a backlogged ensued. Making the desired 3-day turnaround period impossible to fulfill. The frames were about $1.00 and the lenses about 75 cents. The average total cost of a pair of eyeglasses was about $2.50.

See: United States Army Medical Department – Medical Supply in WW2 1968 pp.75-80.

There are several other well written guides that go into glasses in more detail. Such as P3 Glasses – The U.S. Military Spectacles, GI Glasses: Are Modern Reproductions Worth It?, and Four Eyes: Eyeglasses and the WWII GI (a link to my Google Drive for a pdf).

Posted on June 11, 2024June 11, 2024 by Pcosta88

Historical Slang and Speech

This page will document some interesting historical slang and speech that I come across.

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Speech – The CCC was created in 1933 as part of FDR’s alphabet soup agencies to combat The Great Depression. It put over 300,000 men to work doing various conservation services. Women and minorities were also part of it to a lesser extent. This slang presumably focuses mostly on white men and is complied by Louise Pound a well-known female linguist from The University of Nebraska.

A few gems I like –

Giggle-water: Gin.
Put the Kife on: Steal.
Irish Buggy – Wheelbarrow.
Idiot-Stick: Shovel – presumably because any idiot can dig a hole?
Eighteen-holers: Laterines with 18 holes.

The CCC had an unofficial newspaper called Happy Days. This newspaper doesn’t seem to be digitized but you can learn more about the newspaper itself from this article: Heralds in New Deal America: Camp Newspapers of the Civilian Conservation Corps. And if you’re hungry you can buy a cookbook based on recipes found in the newspapers: The Civilian Conservation Corps Cookbook.

Posted on June 9, 2024June 9, 2024 by Pcosta88

The Search for the Well Dressed Solider 1865-1890

This book describes the developments and innovations in US Army Uniforms on the Western Frontier. You can download the zip file here.

Posted on June 7, 2024July 13, 2024 by Pcosta88

WW2 Reenacting Reports and Unit Histories

This page will describe and link to reports by different units as well as various unit histories.

After-Action Reports

After Action Report for 75th Armored Medical Battalion of 5th Armored Division – Discusses actions related to the medical battalion. Also a good example of how to write an after-action report and what it looks like.

It covers August 1944 to May 1945 and includes A, B, and C companies. Mostly a mention of movements, events, losses, and personal changes.

Crossing the Rhine River by the Third Army – Documents the landings at the Rhine River. Storm boats and assault boats were used at the start and then several hours later LCVPs were brought up. Includes images.

The 60mm Mortar Team in the Assault Section – This isn’t a field manual per se but some kind of restricted handout. To build a 60mm mortar see: How to Build a 60mm for WW2 Reenacting. For the firing tables see: WW2 Reenacting Ordinance and Firearm Printables

Medical Support of Landing Operations: Assault Training Center March 1944 – A pdf link to my Google Drive. Discusses how to conduct medical triage and operations during a landing. Mentions a few case studies as well as what equipment should be included when, where, and who.

One interesting thing is that it goes into detail about how operations change as the beachhead is expanded. Essentially, the wounded is pooled and treated during the initial 30 minutes. After an hour a battalion aid station is created. After 3 hours additional battalion aid stations are created as the beachhead expands forward, close to the front. You also get a primary collection point for all wounded. 12 hours you get vehicles such as jeeps and ambulances. After about 4 days you get evacuation hospitals.

Communications in Assault Operation – Nov 1943 from the US Assault Traning Center ETOUSA. Outlines what teams have what kinds of equipment, where they are positioned, and what net they operate on. Essentially how to have an integrated communication network across visual (ie flags) , wire and radio between infantry, tanks, field artillery, naval gunships, and aircraft.

Report no. 63 observations of Signal Corps activities, Cherbourg Peninsula, France from June 6th 1944 to July 6th 1944 – A fascinating document that outlines issues faced by the units during the campaign. Includes an example division radio net. Essentially, an after-action report for signal units. The following Signal Units were assessed –

Infantry Division Signal Company
1st Signal Company
2nd Signal Company
4th Signal Company
9th Signal Company
29th Signal Company
90th Signal Company
Armored Division Signal Company
142nd Armored Signal Company
Airborne Division Signal Company
82nd Airborne Signal Company
101st Airborne Signal Company

Joint Assault Signal Companies
Engineer Brigade Group Signal Company
286th Joint Assault Signal Company
293rd Joint Assault Signal Company
294th Joint Assault Signal Company

Signal Service Company
3251 Signal Service Company
3252 Signal Service Company

Corps Signal Battalion Signal Battalion
50th Signal Battalion
56th Signal Battalion

Signal Construction Battalion
29th Signal Construction

Signal Sections
1st Army
V Corps
VII Corps
VIII Corps
XIX Corps

7th Army Signal Corps Report of the Lessons Learned in the 1943 Operation Husky – Husky is the invasion of Sicily and the document outlines issues and suggestions for improvement in Signal Corps units of the 7th Army.

It’s noted that the SCR-536 was to be used at the company level either communicating across companies or communicating down to lower echelon units like platoon or section or squad.

Operational Conduct of the 9th Infantry Division Southern Tunisia March to May 1943 | A fascinating review of the 9th Infantry Division in North Africa. A little “slice of operational life”. The analysis at the end is worth reading. At one point they had to put the band and other service troops to work as litter bearers. Also, they had up to 22 and 32-mile wire circuits laid out and switchboard tubes were blowing due to the heat. Interestingly, they had attached to them the Corps Franc d’Afrique, consisting of
(a) 3 Infantry Battalions
(b) 1 Marine Battalion
(c) 4 Tabours of Goums

Communication Activities Okinawa June 28th to June 30th, 1945 – A discussion of different issues faced by Signal Corps units during the Okinawa operations.

One big issue was supply. The units responsible for loading up the ships with supplies simply were not able to assemble all the tonnage required by the Signal Corps units in the time frame needed. So items that were supposed to be on a ship scheduled to land during the 7th echelon instead landed in the 12th. Indeed, telephone poles didn’t appear until 60 days later. Fortunately, units were able to improvise and press into service different pieces of equipment (such as substituting different gauge wire) along with reusing captured enemy and civilian wire/equipment.

History of Signal Corps photography in the Luzon operations April 1945 – A great narrative of taking motion and still pictures during the campaign.

505th Parachute Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division Memorandum and Top Secret – Two documents, one from April 1944 about zeroing in M1 Garands. Another from Sept 11th, 1944 regarding infantry equipment and uniform to wear and what to put in barracks bags in preparation for Operation Market Garden.

307th Airborne Engineer Battalion US Army – The 307th was part of the 82nd Airborne. The pdf covers the time frame from roughly 6 June 1944 to 17th Sept 1944.

What I find neat about it is the hand-drawn diagrams that show the landing areas for the battalion as well as an outline of how the Germans blocked roads with Teller Mines and booby traps. The S-1 Journal of events that happen throughout various days is a neat read too.

The document also reports on the 307th Medical Company, however, more information about this unit can be found at the link.

33rd Field Hospital Nursing Report 1944 – Describes the events of the 33rd Field Hospital which landed at Anzio and was part of the bombing raid on the 95th Evacuation Hospital (the 33rd was across the street from it) on Feb 9th that killed 20 and wounded over 50.

Describes a few humorous incidents such as Unit C thinking of a Collecting Company (which would be tasked with moving wounded from the front lines to the battalion aid station) for a Clearing Company (who would be tasked with triage of wounded, deciding which kinds of hospitals they go to, and moving them there). They ended up quite near the front line before doing a turn-around!

Signal Supply Repair and Maintenance in the ETO Study Number 112 – A report on signal supply repair and maintenance along with recommendations.

Signal Corp personnel, training, and command and admin structure study number 112 – A report on the training and administrative structure along with recommendations.

Signal Corps Operations in the ETO Study Number 111 – Discusses issues with wire, radio, facilities, railway, pipeline, the Press. The Signal Center (ie a larger “message center”), Photography, and Frequency allocation, and provides recommendations.

One interesting note is that regarding men using switchboards”…a truth long recognized by commercial telephone companies again became evident; that men do not have the finger dexterity nor are they temperamentally adopted for efficient operation of large switchboards. As female operators from the Woman’s Army Corps became available, they took over the switchboard operation…”

Psychological Warfare in the European Theater of Operations Study 131 – 1945 | A review of psychological operations in Europe. Discuss gathering intelligence and distributing it. Makes mention of problems and issues related to using radio, ariel leaflets, artillery leaflets, and speakers to spread propaganda to induce the enemy to surrender.

One interesting note is a section on mounting a loudspeaker external to a tank.

Operational Study 6 – Combat Replacement Factors Nov.1945 – A series of charts that tries to model the replacement factor for various pieces of organizational equipment between June 1944 to June 1945 in the ETO per 1,000 men per 30 days.

For example, the M1943 field jacket had close to a 20% loss rate and the M1926 utensils had a 10% loss rate.

Military Intelligence No 19 Japanese Infantry Weapons Dec 1943 – Outlines with images of the different types of weapons available to the Japanese infantry.

Hitler Jugend – SHAEF Handbook – 1944 | Outlines the history, structure, organization, and uniform of the Hitler Youth organizations. As well as commanders and the location of camps and schools.

Hitler Youth drew from all parts of Germany’s conquered areas and was divided into different branches such as Hitler Youth Army, SS, Marines, Navy, AirForce. They also had a cavalry group but it looks like it was disbanded before the start of WW2.

Also included are the opposition groups such as Edelweiss.

Major Teletype Networks in Europe Jan 1945 – Includes a directory, station names, and call signs. Teletype is the name of the corporation that produced machines that produced specialized communication devices like Teleprinters. These are printers that can send and receive signals and then print out a message.

These “Teleprinters” are the classic news printer sound of “fast clacking metal keys” you may hear in the background of some news reports.

The US Army created a network of these machines in Europe to help with communication.

One common model was the Teletypewriter Set TC-16 or 17 as identified in TM 11-2201.

Fort Cronkhite Barracks and Mess Hall Historic Furnishings Report National Parks Service Golden Gate Recreation Area 2005 – A fascinating report created by the Parks Service that analyzes all the items a soldier would have used in a WW2 era Barracks and Mess Hall. From furniture to cooking tools to uniforms. Even includes schematics to build a barracks

Ladder Pivot Modification to Dodge WC – Detachment D of the 3110th Signal Service Battalion came up with a ladder pivot mechanism that allowed them to work on issues in the middle of cables strung across telephone poles. The ladder gets inserted into the pivot and is affixed to the floor of the Dodge WC bed. Allowing safe and efficient operation for this type of repair.

The Mechanics of Supply in Fast Moving Situations No 27 – Date unknown. An analysis of supplying units on the move

Unit History

Brief History of the 46th Heavy Construction Battalion – Includes a brief narrative of the unit training then going to Germany and then headed to Japan for Occupation Duty.

Includes day-to-day events stateside during its training. Mostly involves transfers of personnel to other units or schools.

Hospital At War The 95h Evacuation Hospital in World War II by Zachary Friedenberg 2004 – Zachary Friedenberg was a Captain in the unit and wrote the unit’s memoirs in 2004. The unit was in North Africa, in Anzio, and part of the Invasion of Southern France.

At Anzio, it was subjected to an enemy bombing raid that wounded over 50 and killed 20 including patients, doctors, and nurses.

Also included is an article called “‘Don’t Worry About Me’: The World War II Experience of Adeline Simonson, Nurse Anesthetist with the 95th Evacuation Hospital” which is about one nurse’s experience with the unit. This was published in the AANA Journal, Oct 2016, Vol. 84, No.5, ppg. 309-315. The authors are Carolyn Nicholson BSEd, CRNA, Susanne Hillman Ph.D, and Sukumar P. Desai, Ph.D.

You can learn more about the unit at the med-depot’s 95th Evacuation Hospital page.

Nursing Report 16th Evacuation Hospital April to Dec 1943 – Describes crossing the Atlantic to North Africa and then heading to Italy on the HMHS Newfoundland which was hit by a bomb and sunk. Eventually, they arrived and set up hospital services.

Overseas and then Over The Top Able Company and the 2nd Rangers Battalion by PFC M Prince – A narrative of events from when the 2nd Rangers landed in England for training to D-day, to the day Hitler surrendered.

The D-day landing narrative is a pretty good read of what it must have been like.

33 Months with the 100th Signal Company of the 100th Infantry Division 1945 – A Narrative of the Signal Company’s involvement. Discusses Construction and how each crew was assigned specific regiments to connect the wire to along with having to repair and replace wire as it was cut or damaged. As well as the Radio section, the “T&T” or telegraph and teletype section, the message center section, the administration section (where presumably the mail clerk worked), the Signal Operations Instructions (SOI) section (which does training and checking of signal installations), Signal Supply section, Repair and Maintenance section, the Motor Pool (responsible for vehicle management and maintenance), the Mess section (responsible for feeding) and the Medical section.

Includes descriptions of training at Fort Jackson and sports and physical fitness testing.

Also makes mention of Tech 5th Chauncey N. Maggiacomo being asked to improve the Reel Unit RL-26, which he did. The old way required lots of manual labor to reel in the wire ensuring it didn’t snag. The new method instead of reeling it in from the back (like a winch) picked the wire up and fed it over a boom on the front of the truck.

Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register – Pamphlet 672-1. A complete list of what units participated in what actions and what unit citations they got.

Signal Corps Lineage and HERALDIC data and history – Information about heraldic and lineage of different signal corp units. Shows the unit pin. By Rebecca Robbins Raines from the Center of Military History.

Signal Corps: The Emergency – History of the Signal Corps up till Pearl Harbor. By Dulaney Terrett from The Center of Military History

The Quartermaster Corps: Organization, Supply, and Services Vol I – On the 50th anniversary of the end WW2, the Center of Military History republished various publications that were originally published in 1953.

These are a historical narrative and go into detail on the account of the Corps’ actions. Mostly from a high-level overview. I’ll add more as I find them. If you’re interested in the Quartermaster supply catalogs you can find them here.

Transportation Corps WW2 Overseas – History of the Transporation Corps.

Home Away From Home: The Story of the USO – The history of the USO organization. Published in 1946

United States Army Medical Department: Medical Supply in WW2, 1968 – You can download the full report from my Google Drive. It’s a great review of all aspects of supplying the medical department in different areas of operations.

For example, regarding camouflage bandages in the Pacific. We started manufacturing them in Sept 1943 as white bandages attracted snipers. By Nov 1943 13 million dyed bandages were
delivered. They came in an adhesive compress, 2-inch, 4-inch gauze bandages, compressed
bandages, small and large first aid dressings, first aid packets and triangular bandages. They were supplied either in field brown or in OD No. 7. (page 65)

See Spectacles and Glasses in WW2 for an analysis.

Posted on June 7, 2024July 13, 2024 by Pcosta88

WW2 Reenacting Supply and Equipment Catalogs

This lists supply catalogs. Supply catalogs are books filled with descriptions and nomenclature of various items used by different branches.

Signal Corps and Radio and Telephone

The instrument sketch book Weston Electrical Instruments 1941 – A sales book showing various products. Some of these civilian models may have ended up in Signal Corps hands. Also nice to have a reference guide in case you come across an obscure electrical item that you’re not sure about.

Signal Supply Catalog 1945- SubClass 6r M-Z Tools, Pigeons Class 9, Meteorological Class 7 – A partial listing of the whole Signal Corps Supply Catalog. Consisting of the total stock numbers and nomenclature of all items available to the Signal Corps.

Signal Training Pamphlet No 4 Wo Code No 8256 – Construction and Maintenance of Lines Poled Cable and Multi-Airline 1948 – A post-war British Army guide on pole construction

Automatic Electric Telephone Supplies 1950 –Part One and Part Two. A product sales book showing telephone supplies available in 1950. Good for cross-referencing items. Includes hardware, wood, insulators, tools, wire, cable, cords, terminals, power, and misc items.

Medical Department

Medical Supply Catalog Med1 to Med3 March 1944 – This is the medical department’s complete catalog of available products. It lists items available, the associated stock number, as well as the price. It also includes pictures of some of the times. It’s a beefy pdf file that you download from my Google Drive. The Med-dept.com contains a wealth of information that goes into more detail on some of the items in the catalog such as individual first aid packs.

Medical Department Supply Catalog 1942 – This is the medical department’s complete catalog of available products. It lists items available, the associated stock number, as well as the price. It’s a beefy PDF file that you download from my Google Drive. The Med-dept.com contains a wealth of information that goes into more detail on some of the items in the catalog such as individual first aid packs.

Quartermaster Corps

Quartermaster Corps Manuel QMC 14-2: Use and Care of Office Equipment and Supplies – Dated Feb 1945. Written in response to the drastic reduction of office supplies and describes how to use and care for office supplies to make them last longer. Contains nuggets of information like “use both sides of the paper” and “to re-use file folders flip them inside out”. Also mentions to reuse rubber bands as rubber was a wartime ration good. It also has a good section on how to care for typewriters, which if you don’t know where to begin is a good place to start! Print on ivory regular paper, 8.5″ x 11″

Quartermaster Supply Catalog QM 3-1: List of Items for Troop Issue Enlisted Men’s Clothing and Equipment. This catalog was made in May 1946. Lists out all the things available to troops at the end of WW2. Supercedes QM1.

QM 3-2 WACs and Nurses Clothing and Equipment: Circular No 4 Revised Oct 1943 and including Change 1 of April 1944 – First published in Oct 1943 and then updated in April 1944. A list of clothing and equipment items for Nurses and WACs.

Quartermaster Supply for Posts Camps and Stations QM3-3. Lists items that would be available for issue to static places like camps and posts etc. Published on June 15th, 1944.