Officers with X Force

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keith A
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Joined: 19 Jan 2012, 17:51

Officers with X Force

#1

Post by keith A » 20 Jul 2014, 16:13

I have raised this topic a long time ago but since then other contributors to this forum have appeared and I am hoping more information has come to light. In all the pictures I have seen Chinese field officers of X Force (Lieutenant and Captain) appear to wear American M1 Helmets, while a large number of their men have the M1917. Was this the choice of an individual or were officers issues with the M1 as standard?

best regards

Keith

ymzxdh
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Joined: 22 Jul 2014, 13:17

Re: Officers with X Force

#2

Post by ymzxdh » 22 Jul 2014, 13:48

Well, I'm not sure if those are M1917 helmets or British Brodies. But if those are M1917 helmets, probably it's because Americans had lots of M1917 in stock and they didn't want to waste them, so they gave these helmets to Chinese troops. In the later phase of campaign in Burma, you can see most of Chinese soldiers replaced Brodie style helmets with M1.


keith A
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Posts: 857
Joined: 19 Jan 2012, 17:51

Re: Officers with X Force

#3

Post by keith A » 22 Jul 2014, 18:13

As you say the soup plate helmets could (probably are) Briitish given the rest of the kit is from the same supplier. I am not sure I agree with the suggestion that the M1 supplanted the older helmet. Apart from the 38th Army I don't see the M1 appearing very often other than worn by staff officers, and most of the photos I have seen indicate the Brodie with Indian camouflage net was in use at least until early 1945, after which it's rare to see any photos of Chinese soldiers wearing tin hats when they return to China...but I am happy to be contradicted ;-) this photo for example is taken in September 1944. http://home.comcast.net/~cbi-theater-5/ ... /r1506.jpg

I have seen a photo of Stilwell being accompanied by these soldiers
http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafterno ... -af790.jpg
http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafterno ... div790.jpg
http://forwhattheygaveonsaturdayafterno ... ith790.jpg

...and this is December 1944.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA ... e-p149.jpg

these are images of the 22nd Army and they may be officers but....

best regards


Keith

ymzxdh
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Posts: 8
Joined: 22 Jul 2014, 13:17

Re: Officers with X Force

#4

Post by ymzxdh » 22 Jul 2014, 19:16

I'm not sure when this picture was shot, but clearly you can see these Chinese soldiers were wearing M1 helmets.
http://baizhan.xmswx.net/uploads/allimg ... 6214-0.jpg
According to a Chinese source:
http://news.ifeng.com/history/special/z ... 48_9.shtml
在入缅作战后,由于战斗中的耗损与英式盔的避弹性与舒适性不佳,在后来的补给中,美军替中国军队中战力最强的新三十八师优先换发美军当时现役的M-1钢盔;新三十八师成为我国第一个使用美造M-1钢盔的单位,亦开启我国与M-1钢盔的结缘,而后再陆续的替换新一军的钢盔。当然并不是所有的英式MK-2型钢盔都不堪使用,在换发完毕的单位将堪用MK-2型钢盔后送给后续的新单位或者是送回给训练基地。所以在后来的许多历史照片中,我们常看到新一军戴美式M-1钢盔,新六军则大多数仍戴英式MK-2型钢盔,而新六军仅少数的直属单位有获得M-1钢盔的补给换发。
Here's a rough translation of the paragraph:
"After entering Burma, due to the combat consumption, ineffectiveness of helmet protection and the comfortableness issue, U.S military provided New 38th Division with the M-1 helmets; New 38th Division became the first unit to use U.S made M-1 helmets of our country. Of course not all British MK-2 helmets were out of usage, some units sent used MK-2 to other newly arrived Chinese troops or sent them back to training base. Thus, we can see New 1st Army were wearing M-1 helmets while New 6th Army were mostly wearing BritishMK-2 helmets. Only very few New 6th Army's units received M-1 helmets"

keith A
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Posts: 857
Joined: 19 Jan 2012, 17:51

Re: Officers with X Force

#5

Post by keith A » 23 Jul 2014, 17:15

Thanks for this. I think the photos are of the 38th in training at Ramgargh in 1943. The only photos I have seen of the 22nd and 30th Division show the vast majority wearing the British helmet. I think my question is unanswerable except to believe that officers would choose the M1 if it was available.

best regards

Keith

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