Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Pendraken News & Info! => General Pendraken => Topic started by: petercooman on 22 September 2013, 06:23:19 PM

Title: free french uniforms in 44
Post by: petercooman on 22 September 2013, 06:23:19 PM
So i was looking at this:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Dragoon


I wonder, would the french forces landing there still wear the same uniform as in the beginning of the war, or would they wear a mix, getting some gear from the other allies. I'm not so up to date on french troops so thought i'd ask. Just wanted to know if the pendraken codes would suit.



Title: Re: free french uniforms in 44
Post by: howayman on 22 September 2013, 06:32:16 PM
I beleave they wore British equipment until 1943 then American gear until the late 50's
Title: Re: free french uniforms in 44
Post by: barbarian on 22 September 2013, 06:36:01 PM
My grand-father was fully dressed as an american (I still have : M3 fighting knife and Canteen + canteen cover and a captured german officer parad dagger ), but I know his unit (engineers) took some Italian Carbines after Elba (maybe some Carcano M1938 Carbine) that were better than his issued weapon (which was ? maybe a M1A1 carbine).

I could do some research.
Title: Re: free french uniforms in 44
Post by: Steve J on 22 September 2013, 07:34:36 PM
American uniforms.
Title: Re: free french uniforms in 44
Post by: Steve J on 22 September 2013, 07:36:56 PM
Forgot to add that in the Osprey Dragoon book they show pics with Algerian troops in French helmets and what appears to be American uniforms.
Title: Re: free french uniforms in 44
Post by: barbarian on 22 September 2013, 08:16:52 PM
Some photos in this PDF.
You should consider painting the majority of them with black skin, or at least brown as the majority were african with white french officers.

http://www.troupesdemarine.org/traditions/histoire/docs/341_debarquement.pdf
Title: Re: free french uniforms in 44
Post by: petercooman on 22 September 2013, 10:29:34 PM
Thx all!

REally usefull pdf barbarian  :-bd
Title: Re: free french uniforms in 44
Post by: Ace of Spades on 26 September 2013, 07:39:08 PM
Buy this book and all you questions will be answered...
I personally love this series; all excellent especially the Napoleonic titles. One drawback, if you're not a Francophile; they only do French subjects...

http://livres.histoireetcollections.com/images/produits/numero_image_2986_1356098433.jpg

Cheers,
Rob
Title: Re: free french uniforms in 44
Post by: petercooman on 26 September 2013, 09:45:59 PM
Thx for the tip!
Title: Re: free french uniforms in 44
Post by: republic of tolworth on 26 September 2013, 10:13:12 PM
Yep lots of US kit by 44. But the Adrian helmet was retained by some units so the Germans knew they were fighting Frenchmen.

I've got a pile of kit for when I so ww2 airsoft as French troops.