Falklands1982 Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Hi, Just wanted to ask was the Combat cap a standard issue item to troops or an optional thing. Regards, Lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Grundy Posted January 22, 2016 Share Posted January 22, 2016 Hi, Just wanted to ask was the Combat cap a standard issue item to troops or an optional thing. Regards, Lewis It had to be worn but nowadays it seems soldiers can go without headdress..................why ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matchstick Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 I think what headdress can be worn in the field, or not, depends entirely who's in charge. I prefer wearing the current cap, combat, camouflage however every time I've gone to wear it I've been told too get it off. Everyone seems to be obsessed with either wearing trimmed down issued bush hats or some civilian brand deputy dawg when not being made to don a helmet or beret. It's only if we don't own any of the aforementioned (helmet excluded) that a person cuts about with no headdress, or if partaking an exercise that would cause the headdress to become separated and lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch Harry Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Hi, Just wanted to ask was the Combat cap a standard issue item to troops or an optional thing. Regards, Lewis Thought they were pretty much despised as worn during initial recruit training? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11rjkg Posted January 24, 2016 Share Posted January 24, 2016 I'm pretty sure that they were issued to everyone, but rarely worn. I know that when I joined the TA in '78 they were issued to all members of my unit, but can never recall an occasion when the order of dress stipulated , 'cap, combat'. However I can recall the odd individual wearing them on exercise. I seem to recall that they were referred to disparagingly as Afrika Korps hats, and were often worn by recruits in the regular army prior to being 'awarded' their regimental beret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falklands1982 Posted January 25, 2016 Author Share Posted January 25, 2016 Hi, Thanks for the replies guys and thanks for all the info. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott9643 Posted January 25, 2016 Share Posted January 25, 2016 Issued and worn on many an exercise. Crap hats we used to call them - very unpopular as I recall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exwoofer Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 Like most, I was issued and wore the DPM combat cap early in training - until being issued a beret (about 6/8 weeks in I think). As a result there was some negativity attached to wearing the cap. However, after joining my battalion I continued to wear the cap when permitted – mainly on exercise – for example on night time patrols and ambushes (I was Infantry). For this use I thought the cap well suited and it was worn by plenty of others too in this role. Being a small item it was easy to mislay though. Also, not being an essential item (it wasn’t on the usual kit lists) - it did not need to be replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
challenger Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 We were issued with them but told at the same time that if we were caught with on our heads we would be wearing a steel helmet for the next month. They are a typical bit of kit that absolutely no thought was put into. Chucked mine away as did most other people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch Harry Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 Makes no sense then to go to the expense of making a current MTP version? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Makes no sense then to go to the expense of making a current MTP version? Errr......When did ANY Government Department. Function on Common Sense then?.........:nut: LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exwoofer Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 With respect – I disagree. I think the combat cap is a good design (one that’s been around over 60 years) and it fits the purpose well i.e. as field headdress. Where it suffers is in the application – SNCO’s don’t like it as they prefer the supposed smartness of a beret – which is far less practical in the field. It’s a situation like the combat shirt/jacket – as first issued in the CS95 uniform kit range. This was designed to be worn un-tucked but for reasons of smartness its most often insisted that it be tucked in by SNCO’sand its banned from being worn as a outer garment too. A case of inflexibility in mind – despite the best efforts of the designers and the best of intentions. I remember when Boots Combat High were first issued – the instructions were that they should not be highly polished and we retained a pair of DMS forparade use. That plan lasted as long as the first muster parade after issue!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeePig Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Well, whatever the shame some in the army may have felt, us outside could not see a difference. Which makes one wonder... trevor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 Oddly - I was never issued a crap hat in the RCT - first time I saw one was when I transferred to the Artists Rifles.... It was never worn though. In the field it was invariably a case of being bare headed or wearing steel helmet (VERY rare) or the cap comforter. I found it useful to wear when driving - but that's about all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferretfixer Posted March 7, 2016 Share Posted March 7, 2016 With respect – I disagree. I think the combat cap is a good design (one that’s been around over 60 years) and it fits the purpose well i.e. as field headdress. Where it suffers is in the application – SNCO’s don’t like it as they prefer the supposed smartness of a beret – which is far less practical in the field. It’s a situation like the combat shirt/jacket – as first issued in the CS95 uniform kit range. This was designed to be worn un-tucked but for reasons of smartness its most often insisted that it be tucked in by SNCO’sand its banned from being worn as a outer garment too. A case of inflexibility in mind – despite the best efforts of the designers and the best of intentions. I remember when Boots Combat High were first issued – the instructions were that they should not be highly polished and we retained a pair of DMS forparade use. That plan lasted as long as the first muster parade after issue!! I note your comments Woofer. But apart from being worn in inistial training on my First exercises. we were never allowed to wear them 'Normally'. We did utilise them when 'Playing' Enemy in B.A.O.R Field Exercises. I agree to a point that it was a good design for Field use. Back in the seventies-Eighties. HOWEVER, in todays modern Combat Theatres. The Kevlar Helmet really IS so comfortable. That it is no effort to be worn for long periods in the Field. Safety being paramount of course! Regards the Modern MTP uniform. I also disagree (To a point) that the Shirt/Jacket is worn tucked in the trouser waistband. This I agree, WILL be the case in a LOT of units. But NOT all! Why? Because I have witnessed it with my own eyes! I concur, it does look slightly unsightly when worn 'untucked'. BUT, WAS designed for this purpose for COMFORT/Ventilation reasons. because, it is MUCH more acceptable to be comfortable/Safe/Better served to effect a task easily IN THE FIELD. than to simply look 'Smart' in the garrison/Barracks. Just to please Sgt Majors! Unfortunately, The old 'Tradtions' & Dicipline principles so beloved by afore mentioned Sgt. Majors. Etc. Does NOT quite fit with the citeria & design of CS 95/ Current issue MTP Clothing! The old ways of having a Camo Combat dress for Field use. & working Dress/Barrack dress for 'Normal' camp duties Ec. have long since been discarded in favour of one type of uniform (Excluding Parade/No.2 dress) for 'All' work/tasks/Duties Etc. Whilst this make Logistic & financial sense on paper. The reality of life/ the situations, is different! As you well know yourself. My personal view was/Is. I actually like the Combat 'Crap Hat' (NO! DONT Tell anyone! I concur that it is indeed comfortable & Practical. However, the 'Stigma' connected with training battalions still adheres to it. And 'Nearly' everyone avoids being seen wearing one in most cases. As they are connected to being termed 'a Crow'! (Initisal /Basic training recruit) And lets be TOTALY Honest Guys! NO ONE Actually enjoys being Publicly Humiliated, do they?.............(Well, I guess 'some' People do get a sexual kick out of 'That' sort of thing. But I think that remains with the Household Cavalry, & the Brigade of Guards! Ha,Ha,Ha!...ONLY JOKING, YOU Ex Household Div Guys! ) LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falklands1982 Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 Thanks all for the info does anyone know what sizes they made the caps. from what I have seen 7 and 1/2 seems to be the biggest but also the most uncommon size. Regards, Lewis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattie Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 We were not allowed to use berets on exercise , so wore the crap hat ,however I slashed the peak and removed the materiel in the peak so it was less likely to blow off and you could screw it up and stuff it in your pocket. They were ok . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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