wdbikemad Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 I managed to get hold of a load of War Office and MoD info today relating to the 1950s and 1960 pattern combat clothing......to be used in the book ! The info includes copies of correspondence, trial reports, specifications, etc..............I've also got a copy of the manufacturers specifications for making the 1960 pattern combat smock and trousers dated 1961-2 ish......this covers everything from stitch length, cut, zipper sizes, buttons, fabrics, etc........it covers the 1st version 60 pattern smock with the square elbow patches and vented armpits.........also included are the full size and fitting charts......priceless info ! This goes nicely with similar info I have for the Denison smock (all patterns)....... What is interesting though, is the 60 pattern green gear was also manufactured in the Gurkha size ranges (sizes G1 to G9) as per the later 68 pattern gear........additionally, NSN ranges are included ! Some of the reports relate to the battle between the Airborne forces and the War Office regarding the replacement of the Denison with the 60 pattern green smock.............very enlightening..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted July 20, 2012 Author Share Posted July 20, 2012 Another interesting detail, is that the records note that the 60 pattern suit was made with the sateen cloth "reversed" so that the shiny side was on the inside, unlike earlier "Korean" garments.......this was because the WD had noted that the reverse side had better wearing properties............hmmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglehurst Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 What is interesting though, is the 60 pattern green gear was also manufactured in the Gurkha size ranges (sizes G1 to G9) as per the later 68 pattern gear........additionally, NSN ranges are included ! Can't say as I have ever seen 60 patt in Gurkha size ranges Steve. Plenty of 68 pattern - I have a couple of examples but no 60 patt. Would like to see the detailed thinking behind the 52 Patt development though....as over the course of 3-4 years that pattern underwent rapid development with several issued variations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 (edited) The original cut of the 60 pattern smock, when first introduced, was overall rather restrictive, especially under the arms.....I should imagine the Gurkha size range was even tighter !!!! It seems that the 50s pattern suit underwent a great deal of field testing in the period 56 to 60, resulting in the smock and trousers being lengthened and changes to the lining. However, it was testing by the Airborne Brigade that seems to have been the reason behind the cut and fit of the sleeves being altered on the 60 pattern smock during the early 60s to the pattern with oval elbow patches and no underarm vents........apparently, during testing they found difficulty raising their arms to handle parachute harness lines thus around 30 examples of the 60 pattern smock then undergoing trial were modified in the arm area for further testing......the result being that this modification was adopted for production from (officially) 1961-62 onwards, although as surviving examples show these did not appear until 63-64 at the earliest, around the same time as the lining was changed from gabardine to poplin (cheaper, though less hard-wearing and more breathable)..... The plan was for the Denison to be replaced by the green 60 pattern smock, hence the testing by Airborne units.........the numerous correspondence afterwards between the senior figures in the Airborne and the War Office to build a case to retain the Denison is truly interesting reading........basically, everyone agreed that the 60 pattern smock was excellent and the Denison inferior in many aspects, and the Airborne case for retention of the Denison boiled down to a simple case of tradition and distinction as opposed to the official side's view of a better field garment for everyone......most interesting is the fact that the official plan was for the Denison to be replaced by the new range of tropical combat clothing then under very early development, but as is known now this didn't reach the final development stage until at least 1973 and by that time probably bore no resemblance to the future garments envisaged during the early 60s..........hence the Denison continued in manufacture and on issue for years....... Also mentioned is the supply situation with the Denison, the official side stating that there were good stocks of non-popular sizes (eg - large) at depots but the popular sizes required regular (annual) demanding from manufacturers........and that there were issues finding a supplier of the cammo fabric on an ad-hoc basis from the limited range of companies producing such at the time.......included in this report is a copy of the Denison ordnance stock situation during 1960-61......giving the number of garments in particular sizes currently stored in depots, the number "due out" and the number "due in"............real "anorak" reading....!! Edited July 21, 2012 by wdbikemad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdbikemad Posted July 21, 2012 Author Share Posted July 21, 2012 Another interesting point (they keep coming) is that the 60 pattern Gurkha size range was specified as having only the "G" prefix to the size number, no other reference made on the label to "Gurkha" as on later 68 pattern garments.........also, the Gurkha size range was not to show the additional US or Canadian comparative sizing on the label, probably because no equivalent size range was manufactured by those armies...... Documents also mention that 60 pattern gear ordered for the Air Ministry (RAF) was to have the contract number applied to the label below the sizing details (this is on early 60s garments lacking the later "A/78/etc, etc" marking)........ I too, have never seen any green 60 pattern Gurkha size clothing (that had its own unique NSN series) but the manufacturing specifications I have just acquired dated 61-62 confirm that the garments were produced...........:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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