U.S. Army Infantry Uniform

U.S. Army Infantry uniform

An average infantry or Ranger soldier participating in Operation Overlord, such as the members of the 29th Division or the 2nd Ranger Battalion, would have been equipped with combinations and variations of the following standard clothing, equipment and weapons. Some equipment was issued only to officers.

Clothing

  • M1 helmet and liner (optional netting)
  • M1941 watchcap (knit wool)
  • Shirt (wool or herring bone twill, treated with CC-2 anti-gas paste)
  • Undershirt (crew neck t-shirt or tank top)
  • M1941 or M1943 field jacket (treated with CC-2 anti-gas paste)
  • Trousers (wool, herring bone twill or cotton, treated with CC-2 anti-gas paste)
  • M1936 web belt
  • M1938 dismounted leggings (treated with CC-2 anti-gas paste)
  • Socks and long underwear (wool, treated with CC-2 anti-gas paste)
  • Service shoe (Type II or Type III, treated by soldier with anti-gas dubbing) or Corcoran paratrooper boots (2nd and 5th Rangers)

The CC-2 anti-gas paste used to treat the soldier's uniforms resulted in greasy and foul-smelling clothing that many of the men were forced to wear for many weeks after the invasion.

Equipment

  • M1940 identification tags
  • Anti-gas supplies including 2 gas detection brassards (one worn, one stored in M7 bag)
  • M7 rubberized gas mask bag
  • M1928 haversack
    • Rations: 3 "K" rations, 3 "D" rations, 4 ration heating units and water purification tablets
    • Raincoat
    • Blanket
    • Shelter half
    • Shaving kit
    • Personal effects
    • M1926 mess kit (meat can) with pouch
    • M1910 entrenching tool or M1943 folding entrenching tool
  • Assault jacket (to replace M1928 haversack and M1936 musette bag)
  • M1936 musette bag (officers)
  • M1936 or M1916 pistol/revolver belt (officers)
  • M1936 suspenders
  • M1923 .30 cal 10-pocket cartridge belt (supported by M1936 suspenders)
    • M1910 canteen and cup (with M1910/M1942 cover)
    • M1942 first aid pouch
  • M1937 magazine belt (BAR rifleman, supported by M1936 suspenders)
  • M1938 map case (officers)
  • Bandoleers (2)
  • M1926 life belt
  • Ammunition (for appropriate weapon)
  • Block of TNT (quarter or half pound)
  • SCR-536 handie-talkie (boat team leaders)
  • Compass (officers)
  • Binoculars (officers)

Weapons

Notes

The U.S. Army infantry uniforms used in Saving Private Ryan were supplied by WWII Impressions of Downey, California