Landships II

James H · Legend

Caesar WWI French

d_fernetti · Hero

Indeed. But I think that the first trhee are inspired on the illustration from that book with colour pictures of real WW1 uniforms (I wish I can recall the name) the greatcoat rolled around the body is something unusual that I only saw in that book.

James H · Legend

I know the one. By Laurent Mirouze. WWI Infantry in Colour Photographs.

It appears that the wearing of the without the tunic greatcoat was almost universal, and by choice; in the Belgian Army it was compulsory at all times except in barracks or walking out.

Mirouze shows a French soldier of summer 1917 in assault order, with tunic and rolled blanket. He does say that the tunic was usually worn in barracks or in tenue de sortie or tenue de ville - walking out order. In very cold weather both garments were worn. He goes on to say that the tunic was worn alone during summer operations on rare occasions.

The Revell WWI French wear the greatcoat with rolled blanket, which was a normal battle order. The models on the right of Caesar's pic are carrying what looks like the campaign pack, something that would�have been carried on the march, but probably not in combat, which these men seem to be. Unfortunately, then, the tunic is over-represented in these figures.

As regards the Caesar Germans, I'm very doubtful that the body armour would have been worn in combat.

d_fernetti · Hero

That's the book! Writing away from my library always get me into trouble. Yes, odd choice of illustration for the figures, yet it can be argued that these figures are on an assault. In any case the other figures carrying the campaign pack can be easily "unloaded" of their packs if needed, one can always contrive another scene for them, where soldiers on the march engage to enemy snipers or so.
About the body armor of the Germans I also agree, the armor suits were usually issued to guard duties or observers that didn't needed to move around too much.

James H · Legend

James H wrote:

It appears that the wearing of the without the tunic greatcoat was almost universal, and by choice;

Sorry, that should read of the greatcoat without the tunic.