WWII US Army Mountain Troops Jacket -
Worls War Two saw the development of multiple specialized units. They were designed to carry
the fight into unhospitable areas. The high mountains of the European continent is one of
those places.
The mountain troops formed an elite force during WWII. They were composed of members of the
10th Mountain Division and the First Special Service Force.
They fought under very adverse conditions. As such, specialized equipment had to be developed to
better address their needs.
The "Mountain Jacket" was developed in 1942. This was later to become the M-1943 field
jacket.
|
The mountain jacket was mainly used in the European theater. The jacket was made from windproof
cotton.
It came with two large, expanding front top pockets with zippers and a loose flap.
The bottom pockets are secured via brown plastic
buttons.
The sleeves have two adjustments which are performed by attaching a strap to one of two buttons.
The adjustments were effective at keeping cold wind from coming in from the sleeves.
The breast area and sleeves could have been complimented with
patches. However,
insignia was not commonly worn with this
jacket.
The mountain jacket had a very interesting feature which was the incorporation of a built-in
backpack. Located in the back section of the jacket, the backpack was very useful in carrying
supplies into combat when a normal backpack was not being employed.
|
The inside of the jacket has a harness system whose main purpose was to support the weight created
when items are being carried in the internal backpack. The straps could be adjusted to better
distribute the load. All straps were made of canvis and were sewn with heavy duty cotton
thread.
|
This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII US military uniforms.
Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out
clearly defined points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII US uniform worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the uniforms is
reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of the American military uniforms in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality
military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
|
|
The picture on the left (below) shows the side of the backpack. The zipper ensured that items
would not fall off after they have been placed inside. The picure on the right provides a closer
look at the zipper head.
This WWII US uniform may be currently
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other WWII US uniforms, you can do so by going to our
American Military Uniforms Price Guide.
Where we cover Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and other organizations.
|
