From around 1940–1941, shortages of military supplies led to the use of various substitute materials in clothing. This article introduces substitute buttons—such as those made of bakelite and wood—based on both historical documents and authentic examples, and also records the process of attempting to create replicas.
This article introduces original examples of the Tanker Overalls worn by tank crewmen and maintenance personnel of the Imperial Japanese Army. Several individual pieces are examined, with attention given to details such as differences in color.
The Type 93 Luminous Pedometer was an Army surveying instrument formally adopted in 1934. It was a step counter used to calculate distance based on the number of steps taken. It appears to have been issued in small numbers, primarily to engineer units and related formations.
Here I would like to introduce an authentic pair of Cold Weather Mittens. These were intended for use in extreme cold climates and existed in several variations, including types for work use and for signal personnel. I will also cover the inner Cold Weather Gloves worn underneath the mittens.
This is an example of an authentic Cold Weather Mess Kit Cover. It was used in conjunction with a Cold Weather Canteen Cover, but Cold Weather Mess Kit Covers are encountered less frequently and are therefore somewhat rarer.
This is an example of an authentic Cold Weather Half Pants. It is worn over the standard military trousers and used in combination with Cold Weather Leggings or Cold Weather Boots.
This is an introduction to original Cold Weather Leggings. Although relatively few examples survive in good condition, they are still among the more readily obtainable pieces of equipment.