442ndRCT Soldier's Forum

At The Front now has reproduction Pile Liners for the M-43 uniform.

http://www.atthefront.com/us_uni_M43Field_Uniform.htm

This would be correct for any event after about October 1944 including the upcoming Arizona event and the next Camp Roberts as well.

They are out of size large until April. But. they are nice looking.

That's true, the garment is called a liner but could and was worn as a 'stand-alone' jacket in it's own right.

The liner was issued along with the other M43 uniform items in limited numbers beginning in the fall of 1944. The 34th received theirs in October. As you guessed, it is a cold weather garment either worn under the M43 jacket or by itself.

This would be a late war option. Sadly most of the M43 stuff didn't show up till late 44 or later because of the supply problems. When the Bulge happened supply was at it's worse and you see troops wearing anything and everything they could get their hands on including captured clothing.

Supply was so bad the Army stepped up it's 'recycling' program and it was commonplace to see clothing 'dumps' of various articles piled up for troops to go thru and scavange.

"The 34th received theirs in October." Cool, we're covered.

Here's the rub. Yes, the 34th recieved theirs. But no they were not at the Bulge where that equipment was hard to come by.

But personally I think staying warm and dry is more important than accuracy in the snow because I'm old and weak. I snivel at being colder than a horse's behind.

I've done snow in period clothing and now that I'm not as lean and mean as I was back then (yes, I froze my ass off back then too), I prefer to wear whatever keeps me warm. I usually fall back on the 10 foot rule more than I usually do for snow events.