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Post by Hornblower on Sept 4, 2015 5:09:09 GMT -5
Dear all , glad to have found your Forums. Me, 45 - former service member and a military collector (mainly british equipment) since the late 90ies. I'm also into Airsoft. However , I was always fascinated with the french indochine aera. So I got some nice pieces together over the last years. But I never got it to a compelete impression .  But this shall change now and for a start I thougt to create an early Foreign Legion impression using my existing MP40 and some of my Pattern 37 Webbing combined with US Webbing pieces, my M47 Jacket or duckhunter jacket and Pattern 40 windproof trousers. Any further inspiration or advices on this topic are of course highly welcomed.  Regards HB |
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Post by lew on Sept 4, 2015 18:20:51 GMT -5
Wilkommen!
I'm in Michigan, Amerika (soon to be Arizona). My focus is on 8e Choc in Indochine and 1e RCP, 15e RTS/75e RIMa, and 11e Choc in Algérie.
Some readin' material for you to get started:
Les Paras Françaises en Indochine 1945-1954
Les Paras Françaises en Algérie 1954-1962
both the former by Éric Adam and Patrice Pavetta, and:
The French Foreign Legion in Indochina 1945-1956 by Raymond Guyader.
I have a hundred or so other titles that are Indo/Algérie specific.
What kit do you have so far?
Cheers!
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Post by Hornblower on Sept 5, 2015 5:25:45 GMT -5
Hey Lew, Thanx for the warm welcome. Actually I do have quite a lot of british uniforms and webbings, from ww2 Pattern 37 to modern PLCE at my disposal ( Most of it Special Forces related.) - as well as some original US Ww2 webbing. I thought, I'd combine these with my UK Pattern 40 windproof trousers and either my M47 jacket or my duckhunter Camo HBT Rrepro . Using them EDC I also have a small Collection of Palladiums I could use. Still though I would love to get some light Brown Rangers. But I' m a Size 44/45 so originals are to small for me normaly. Looking for repros now. Same with a M49 Chapeau de brousse . i'm a Size 61 so I need a Reproduktion as Available originals are 54 -59 max. I have an M1 helmet that could double for this as well. Did the Legion use them too ? Did they use any specific helmet nets or just old US WW2 stock? I have tons of Pattern 37 Drivers and MKiii Utility pouches  ( if someone should need any ? ) but was wondering what mag pouches were used with the MP40 ? Old Wehrmacht Stock ? patt 37 Standard pouch ? Mat 49 pouches ? i just got a pair of very nice ex-yugo leather pouches for the MP 40, who have a realtively generic look. So I thought may be These could May be double as early german mp40 pouches , like the Steyr pouches . Best HB |
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Post by lew on Sept 5, 2015 7:15:16 GMT -5
Helmets and nets: US WW2 old-stock nets and everyone used M1 Helmets. When the Mle. 51 helmet was introduced, it went to infantry and support units. By the end of the war, the majority of the M1's were on the heads of the paras and associated units.
Boots/Rangers: A couple makers offer US M1943 double buckle boots here in the States. I got mine from Man The Line in South Dakota. The quality was great, but the design beat the crap out of feet- the heels, specifically- so I sold them. If you're focusing on Indochine, make sure to stay away from the French Mle. 52 double buckle boots as those only saw use in Algeria (otherwise, they are awesome boots, really comfortable).
The PM MAT Mle. 49 was introduced in theater in early 1950 along with it's green canvas TAP Mle. 50 mag pouch. Those quickly supplanted other SMG's and their pouches- Sten, MP40, Mle. 38. So, the MP40 would not likely have been used with the French TAP (Troupes Aéroportées) gear. There were some locally-made pouches that copied the German-pattern pouch, and German pouches were used. I've seen those Yugoslav pouches before and I think they would be fine.
Your uniform choices are good. The Windproof items were used until the end of the Algerian War in 1962. Their use varied by unit. The US "frogskin" camo saw use right up until the end of the war in Indochina, and the HBT was especially predominant in the earlier years.
Good to have you aboard! Stick around and we'll get you sorted out. You are already off in the right direction.
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Post by craigtx on Sept 5, 2015 9:42:26 GMT -5
Howdy HB,
Sounds like you're well on your way. I do a BEP impression myself. I'm in Washington state and unlike Steve, have no plans to move any time soon...
Also, eBay.fr is your friend...
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Post by hoover on Sept 6, 2015 4:41:08 GMT -5
Hi Hornblower,
greetings from the Bremen Area. We are a small Indochina group here in Northern Germayn and visited some events in the past.
On the "Time travel" Events we are showing our FICW-display. I am collecting French militaria from the INdochina and Algerian wars.
I am also in the 6mm Airsoft forum, we are knowing us...
Bye
Frank
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Post by Hornblower on Sept 9, 2015 20:23:42 GMT -5
Hi Hornblower, greetings from the Bremen Area. We are a small Indochina group here in Northern Germayn and visited some events in the past. On the "Time travel" Events we are showing our FICW-display. I am collecting French militaria from the INdochina and Algerian wars. I am also in the 6mm Airsoft forum, we are knowing us... Bye Frank Hey Frank, sure we know each other I'm a big Fan of your WW2 and ANZAC stuff. Didn't know youre into french ndochine as well Guess you remember that my personal interest as a collector is British Special Forces since WW2 especcially the Malaya and Falklands campaigns. But I always had a Passion for the Vietnam aera - the erlier the better. So I'm currently working on the early FFL Outfit and might also compelete my AUSTRALIAN may be even a SASR Outfit. Well once I got my stuff together I'd be glad to get a chance to join you guys- When is the next timetravel though ? Btw, is there any alternative priceworthy scource for a MAT 49 other than ZIB ? Best HB |
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Post by Hornblower on Sept 9, 2015 20:31:18 GMT -5
Howdy HB, Sounds like you're well on your way. I do a BEP impression myself. I'm in Washington state and unlike Steve, have no plans to move any time soon... Also, eBay.fr is your friend... Thanx for the warm welcome . Washington State is wonderfull - been there once, when I used to work in Vancouver- stay there |
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Post by Hornblower on Sept 9, 2015 20:35:09 GMT -5
Helmets and nets: US WW2 old-stock nets and everyone used M1 Helmets. When the Mle. 51 helmet was introduced, it went to infantry and support units. By the end of the war, the majority of the M1's were on the heads of the paras and associated units. Boots/Rangers: A couple makers offer US M1943 double buckle boots here in the States. I got mine from Man The Line in South Dakota. The quality was great, but the design beat the crap out of feet- the heels, specifically- so I sold them. If you're focusing on Indochine, make sure to stay away from the French Mle. 52 double buckle boots as those only saw use in Algeria (otherwise, they are awesome boots, really comfortable). The PM MAT Mle. 49 was introduced in theater in early 1950 along with it's green canvas TAP Mle. 50 mag pouch. Those quickly supplanted other SMG's and their pouches- Sten, MP40, Mle. 38. So, the MP40 would not likely have been used with the French TAP (Troupes Aéroportées) gear. There were some locally-made pouches that copied the German-pattern pouch, and German pouches were used. I've seen those Yugoslav pouches before and I think they would be fine. Your uniform choices are good. The Windproof items were used until the end of the Algerian War in 1962. Their use varied by unit. The US "frogskin" camo saw use right up until the end of the war in Indochina, and the HBT was especially predominant in the earlier years. Good to have you aboard! Stick around and we'll get you sorted out. You are already off in the right direction. Thanx for all the great Info Lew, I'll try the yogos then |
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Post by lew on Sept 10, 2015 7:20:49 GMT -5
Happy to help.  Educate me: What are "yogos"? Sounds like whacky Brit slang. |
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Post by hoover on Sept 11, 2015 1:42:33 GMT -5
HB, the next Timel Travel will be next year on a new place. last year I attended as an ANZC but next time we will set up a Legion infantry display.
The MAT 49 at ZIB is quite cheap, I think you won´t find a cheaper one...but it is a later version. But I wouldn´t care to be honest. I just bought a lot of other weapons, so I am out of budget on this one.
Bye
Frank
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Post by Hornblower on Sept 15, 2015 5:53:25 GMT -5
Happy to help. Educate me: What are "yogos"? Sounds like whacky Brit slang. yeah could be.... but no, it´s actually frigging apple autcorrect trying to correct written english into german all the time, which can lead to some strange typos, hence the captial letters in some of my post, where they shouldn´t appear in english and other sometimes funny things that are easy to overlook, while you are writing fast. It´s annoying ....  |
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Post by lew on Sept 15, 2015 7:09:31 GMT -5
Good point. I hadn't thought of that. My German language skills have rapidly deteriorated. Hell, it probably still is whacky Brit slang. |
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( if someone should need any 
