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East Africa 1930: An ORBAT Quest

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New Uniform:

-Khaki / tan as the field uniform or possibly a darker brown-green, depending.
-Cotton Summer uniform; potentially wool or heavier material for winter, if it gets cold enough?
-Five button front, with falling collar, similar to the Japanese cut. Officers can get that sweet lapel action. Alternatively, we could do something with a standing collar or more similar to the Italian uniform of the 1930s.
-Cotton trousers , breeches, or shorts, depending on ho we'd like to do it. Fatigue uniform can be short-sleeved if needed or wanted.
-Leather waistbelt (or darkened canvas, if we're cheap).
-Leather ankle boots with puttees/leg wraps. If we wanna be cheaper or think we can get the rubber, we could do canvas boots with rubber soles.
-Service/garrison cap similar to a traditional Somali koofiyad, also in the same color as the rest of the uniform.
-Potentially a field cap with bill and neck cover, similar to the Japanese to help with sun protection.
-Just buy Adrian helmets because lol, they're easy to get.
-canvas shoulder straps to help support the load on the belt; probably two ammo pouches front, a bayonet scabbard, plus breadbag and canteen and potentially an e-tool.
 
Rat King said:
New Uniform:

-Khaki / tan as the field uniform or possibly a darker brown-green, depending.
-Cotton Summer uniform; potentially wool or heavier material for winter, if it gets cold enough?
-Five button front, with falling collar, similar to the Japanese cut. Officers can get that sweet lapel action. Alternatively, we could do something with a standing collar or more similar to the Italian uniform of the 1930s.
-Cotton trousers , breeches, or shorts, depending on ho we'd like to do it. Fatigue uniform can be short-sleeved if needed or wanted.
-Leather waistbelt (or darkened canvas, if we're cheap).
-Leather ankle boots with puttees/leg wraps. If we wanna be cheaper or think we can get the rubber, we could do canvas boots with rubber soles.
-Service/garrison cap similar to a traditional Somali koofiyad, also in the same color as the rest of the uniform.
-Potentially a field cap with bill and neck cover, similar to the Japanese to help with sun protection.
-Just buy Adrian helmets because lol, they're easy to get.
-canvas shoulder straps to help support the load on the belt; probably two ammo pouches front, a bayonet scabbard, plus breadbag and canteen and potentially an e-tool.
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If we do uniforms, I'd suggest some stuff myself:
  • Let's jump straight to camouflage patterns for our field uniform. We've got the challenge of making a uniform that doesn't stand out too much in Reewiin's mix of desert, scrubland, and jungle. Adopting a camouflage pattern inspired by Reewiin's local animals could help avoid being too visible when we move into a different environment - solid tan's not great along our verdant coast. It also looks cooler!
  • No opinion on the cut of the clothing as long as we look good. Gotta win style points.
    • Actually, we should try and adopt some local influences. The people here have experience dressing for the climate, and it'd result in unique uniform elements.
  • Speaking of footwear, should we have socks or footwraps? What is traditional in East Africa/what do the Japanese use?
  • I dig the service cap as part of the dress uniform, but I'd rather something with more shade be used more generally. The Japanese field cap is nice.
  • Adrian helmets make us look like Italians, we want something disinctive. In the spirit of improving our relationship with Czechoslovakia, a European country with no colonial conflict of interest, we could grab the vz. 32 helmet (E G G). Alternatively, the Swedes have the M26 helmet, which is similar.
  • Edit: Perhaps we could also fit our helmet with an attachment for a sun shade?
  • E-tools are good. Perhaps something like the Soviet MPL-50? It seems fairly simple.
  • We should also have a standard-issue gas mask, just in case.
 
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C_Z said:
If we do uniforms, I'd suggest some stuff myself:
  • Let's jump straight to camouflage patterns for our field uniform. We've got the challenge of making a uniform that doesn't stand out too much in Reewiin's mix of desert, scrubland, and jungle. Adopting a camouflage pattern inspired by Reewiin's local animals could help avoid being too visible when we move into a different environment - solid tan's not great along our verdant coast. It also looks cooler!
  • No opinion on the cut of the clothing as long as we look good. Gotta win style points.
  • I dig the service cap as part of the dress uniform, but I'd rather something with more shade be used more generally. The Japanese field cap is nice.
  • Adrian helmets make us look like Italians, we want something disinctive. In the spirit of improving our relationship with Czechoslovakia, a European country with no colonial conflict of interest, we could grab the vz. 32 helmet (E G G). Alternatively, the Swedes have the M26 helmet, which is similar.
  • Edit: Perhaps we could also fit our helmet with an attachment for a sun shade?
  • E-tools are good. Perhaps something like the Soviet MPL-50? It seems fairly simple.
  • We should also have a standard-issue gas mask, just in case.
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I'd be concerned with the camouflage being pricey to print and make. It involves fabric printing and I don't know if we have the textile industry to do that for stuff that we'll burn through relatively quickly like uniforms. Doing something in khaki or a brown-green would be cheaper and easier on the government's pocketbook. Although we could definitely take a page from the Italians and make camo shelter halves/rain ponchos (or straight up buy them from the Italians).
 
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I think a good compromise is issuing camouflage shelter halves that can then double as a poncho or camo layer in the field, like the German zeltbahn (or the Italian shelter halves, though they were not technically in the manual for that use).
 
TIL!

On a similar note, we have a rain season, so ponchos are a good call. The temperatures can also apparently drop to around 10 degrees in the winter, so we might want some cool-weather gear as part of our uniform.
 
C_Z said:
TIL!

On a similar note, we have a rain season, so ponchos are a good call. The temperatures can also apparently drop to around 10 degrees in the winter, so we might want some cool-weather gear as part of our uniform.
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Then we'll definitely want a wool, winter-weight uniform and a cotton, summer-weight / desert / tropical uniform. And potentially full leather boots, although I still think the canvas w/ rubber soles is a decent, cheap alternative, especially for the hotter months (or even reinforced and hobnailed sandals, a-la the Romans). But anything will be better than the bare-foot types that dominate.

Although let's not get too into the weeds.

Thinking...

[ ] New Uniform Standard - The current issued uniform barely qualifies and is only truly standardised amongst the officers and the cavalry. Order new, standardised uniforms and web gear for the whole army. (6-Month Investment)
-[ ] Convene a sub-commission to review and prepare a standard uniform for cavalry, artillery, and infantry branches of the army in a brown-green (?) color that's suitable for blending in with the terrain throughout the country. Include a military officer with field experience for input on field usability and on what will look best in dress variants.
--[ ] Uniform Garment: The cut can take inspiration from the Italian Army or British Army, since they have nearby outposts and we can probably get our hands on suitable garments, but should include a uniform shirt, jacket/tunic with pockets, and trousers, with shorts as a potential hot weather varient. The uniform should be made in a winter and summer weight variants (wool for winter, cotton for summer or hotter climates) and take inspiration from local and cultural costume where possible and be adjusted with our own particular climate in mind. Winter variants should include an overcoat. Undershirts and standard issue underwear and socks should also be included. Dress variants should be suitably impressive.
--[ ] Footwear: Leather ankle boots to be considered, but the possibility of canvas boots with rubber soles or even hobnailed sandals as alternatives for drier climates should be explored. Cost and user comfort are both considerations. Whatever footwear we use, puttees will also be used. Officers can continue to use high boots if desired via private purchase.
--[ ] Headwear: Standard issue will include a garrison cap for use while in garrison and on parade or in dress uniform and a field cap for fatigue or field use; the garrison cap will take inspiration from the local koofiyad for example. The field cap should be visored, comfortable to wear, and include the possibility of extensions/flaps for sun and/or weather protection of the neck. Officers headwear to be suitably fancier. All hats should include some national emblem in the form of sewn insignia or pin - star? Roundel with national coat of arms?
--[ ] Web Gear: Leather or cloth/canvas belt with suitable ammo pouches, bayonet frog, and entrenching tool scabbard, as well as canteen and bread-bag. Canvas or cloth suspender straps to help ease the weight on the hips and carry equipment. Simple backpack should also be produced for issue to carry spare clothing, etc. Cavalry uniform should also include a sword scabbard / crossbelt as necessary. Bandoliers for the cavalry should also be issued in lieu of belt pouches.
--[ ] Other: Look into copying the Italian M29 camoflauge shelter half/poncho for general issue; issue overcoat and rain gear as appropriate.


Looking at more the Italian / British uniform because the last thing we need is our soldiers grumbling about us turning them into clones of the Japanese lol.
 
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Rat King said:
Then we'll definitely want a wool, winter-weight uniform and a cotton, summer-weight / desert / tropical uniform. And potentially full leather boots, although I still think the canvas w/ rubber soles is a decent, cheap alternative, especially for the hotter months (or even reinforced and hobnailed sandals, a-la the Romans). But anything will be better than the bare-foot types that dominate.

Although let's not get too into the weeds.

Thinking...

[ ] New Uniform Standard - The current issued uniform barely qualifies and is only truly standardised amongst the officers and the cavalry. Order new, standardised uniforms and web gear for the whole army. (6-Month Investment)
-[ ] Convene a sub-commission to review and prepare a standard uniform for cavalry, artillery, and infantry branches of the army in a brown-green (?) color that's suitable for blending in with the terrain throughout the country. Include a military officer with field experience for input on field usability and on what will look best in dress variants.
--[ ] Uniform Garment: The cut can take inspiration from the Italian Army or British Army, since they have nearby outposts and we can probably get our hands on suitable garments, but should include a uniform shirt, jacket/tunic with pockets, and trousers, with shorts as a potential hot weather varient. The uniform should be made in a winter and summer weight variants (wool for winter, cotton for summer or hotter climates) and take inspiration from local and cultural costume where possible and be adjusted with our own particular climate in mind. Winter variants should include an overcoat. Undershirts and standard issue underwear and socks should also be included. Dress variants should be suitably impressive.
--[ ] Footwear: Leather ankle boots to be considered, but the possibility of canvas boots with rubber soles or even hobnailed sandals as alternatives for drier climates should be explored. Cost and user comfort are both considerations. Whatever footwear we use, puttees will also be used. Officers can continue to use high boots if desired via private purchase.
--[ ] Headwear: Standard issue will include a garrison cap for use while in garrison and on parade or in dress uniform and a field cap for fatigue or field use; the garrison cap will take inspiration from the local koofiyad for example. The field cap should be visored, comfortable to wear, and include the possibility of extensions/flaps for sun and/or weather protection of the neck. Officers headwear to be suitably fancier. All hats should include some national emblem in the form of sewn insignia or pin - star? Roundel with national coat of arms?
--[ ] Web Gear: Leather or cloth/canvas belt with suitable ammo pouches, bayonet frog, and entrenching tool scabbard, as well as canteen and bread-bag. Canvas or cloth suspender straps to help ease the weight on the hips and carry equipment. Simple backpack should also be produced for issue to carry spare clothing, etc. Cavalry uniform should also include a sword scabbard / crossbelt as necessary. Bandoliers for the cavalry should also be issued in lieu of belt pouches.
--[ ] Other: Look into copying the Italian M29 camoflauge shelter half/poncho for general issue; issue overcoat and rain gear as appropriate.


Looking at more the Italian / British uniform because the last thing we need is our soldiers grumbling about us turning them into clones of the Japanese lol.
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Tbh I think for the cap we could go for something like the Italian bustina. It's a neat little cap with a forepeak, earflaps that can be unbuttoned to be worn down in the cold and even has a little brim that is usually folded up for a neat appearance, but can be folded down for fatigue work or in the case of bad weather. Tho finding evidence that this was done is hard, it seems to have been a rare occurrence.

 
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Drieder said:
Well they cant both be true.
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Reewiin is a Somali-dominated, majority Muslim country. They use the Somali lunar and solar (Taqwiim) and Islamic (Hijri) calendars fairly interchangeably. They are also a modern country that engages in trade and diplomacy with Europeans, so the Georgian calendar seems frequent use. Finally, trade and diplomatic relations with Japan makes knowledge of the Japanese calendar useful.

Therefore, the current time in the game is approximately:
  • April 1932
  • Aminla in a Sunday (Sabti-ga) year
  • Dhu al-Qidah, 1350
  • Seimei, Koki 2591/Showa 6
 
[X] Plan: Well-Dressed Reewiinites
-[X] Production Licensing: Machine Guns - Attempt to buy the rights to produce a machine gun design. Include a weapon available in 1931 as a Write-In. Some will be easily acquired, others will be immediately refused. (12-Month Investment. Initial production will be low-rate, and improve over time.)
--[X] Write-in: ZB vz. 30, rechambered to fire 6.5x50mmSR Type 38 and simplified where possible (e.g., using the tangent sights from the Type 3 MG instead of the standard dial)
---[X] Write-in: Also ask ZB about those typewriters and light trucks they mentioned
-[X] Restructure the Vet Office (free)
-[X] New Uniform Standard - The current issued uniform barely qualifies and is only truly standardised amongst the officers and the cavalry. Order new, standardised uniforms and web gear for the whole army. (6-Month Investment)
--[X] Uniform Jacket and shirt: The jacket/tunic with pockets should be made of khaki cotton. The cut can take inspiration from the British, Italians, and traditional dress. A cotton shirt of the same colour should be provided.
--[X] Trousers: Same colour and material as the jacket, with shorts being available as a hot-weather variant.
--[X] Headgear: 1) A beige/khaki field cap will be patterned after the Italian bustina and designed so that it may be worn under the helmet. 2) Helmets will be the Czech Přilba vz. 32 modified with fasteners to secure anti-insect netting. 3) The service cap will be a kofia, with embroidery to indicate service branch and rank. Officers get a fancy hat. All headgear will have Reewiin's national symbols applied and a coloured stripe indicating service branch.
--[X] Footgear: Foot soldiers will use pigskin or cowhide ankle boots with brown puttees and several pairs of cotton socks. Cavalry will have riding boots, and officers can continue to use similar boots if desired via private purchase.
--[X] Overcoat: Soldiers will be issued with an olive wool overcoat for use during the rainy/cool season.
--[X] Raincoats: The Italian M29 camoflauge shelter half/poncho will be copied for general issue as protection against rain
--[X] Web Gear: Leather belt with rubberized canvas ammo pouches, bayonet frog, gas mask pouch, entrenching tool scabbard, breadbag, and canteen holder. Canvas suspender straps to help ease the weight on the hips and carry equipment. Simple backpack should also be produced for issue to carry spare clothing, etc. Cavalry uniform should also include a sword scabbard / crossbelt as necessary. Bandoliers for the cavalry should also be issued in lieu of belt pouches.
--[X] Gas Masks: Surplus from whoever has sufficient stocks, with preference given to the French ARS mask
--[X] Entrenching Tool: Surplus from whoever has sufficient stocks of Linnemann-type spades and picks, with a 2:1 ratio of spades and picks.
--[X] Protection Against Insects: Soldiers are to be supplied with an olive green mosquito net which fits over the M32 steel helmet (additionally acting as a camouflage net and a sun shade).

I've switched things up from Rat King's proposal a bit. I'm just going to go with cotton for cost; high/low of 25/12 or so doesn't justify a completely new uniform as long as we have things like gloves and an overcoat IMO (although I may be biased, coming from a place where 15 degrees is shorts weather). Going to be a bit more decisive on things like footwear instead of leaving it open-ended. I'm adding a helmet, because even though it's more expensive than a hat, helmets save lives. I'm adding in gas masks purely for morale purposes. I don't expect our soldiers to be able to use the masks effectively without training, but it'll give some feeling of protection against gas and thus help avoid mass panic. Other stuff was borrowed from TM-E 30-480's description of Japanese jungle equipment but modified a bit to make it unique.

As an aside, what are Reewiin's national symbols?

Edit: am dumb.
 
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When we're talking about the temperature, I'm assuming that we're talking in Celsius?

I'm also wondering if we should copy the italian pattern of camo entirely, copy the pattern but change the colors, or just make a simple two-color splotch pattern like the simple Soviet amoeba or the UK airborne smock. I feel like copying the pattern wholesale might lead to problems if we end up in a shooting war with the Italians.
 
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Artificial Girl said:
When we're talking about the temperature, I'm assuming that we're talking in Celsius?

I'm also wondering if we should copy the italian pattern of camo entirely, copy the pattern but change the colors, or just make a simple two-color splotch pattern like the simple Soviet amoeba or the UK airborne smock. I feel like copying the pattern wholesale might lead to problems if we end up in a shooting war with the Italians.
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come on, what are the odds we'll ever get in a shooting war with the italians? it'll never happen.

on a more serious note, the Italian M29 is available right now and probably easyish to get our hands on, so copying it wholesale is probably the cheapest way to do it lol.
 
[X] Plan: Well-Dressed Reewiinites

My only issue in copying Italian camo rather than seeing what native design we could cook up, but on the other hand that's expensive and the current government ain't exactly swimming in money.

Also side note but the army is slowly becoming a dream army ww2 army of mine, we got arisakas, brens and next on the shopping list should be a copy of the Suomi KP-31 (though simplified to lower production costs since it's a fairly expensive smg) and in the far future if somehow possible, British tanks since I'm a damn sucker for those despite them all ranging from ''okay/good'' to ''oh god this awful'' during ww2.
 
Artificial Girl said:
When we're talking about the temperature, I'm assuming that we're talking in Celsius?

I'm also wondering if we should copy the italian pattern of camo entirely, copy the pattern but change the colors, or just make a simple two-color splotch pattern like the simple Soviet amoeba or the UK airborne smock. I feel like copying the pattern wholesale might lead to problems if we end up in a shooting war with the Italians.
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Yeah, I hate imperial and will avoid it wherever possible.

Most camouflages, especially early ones, were developed by imitating natural camouflage patterns, yeah? We could do something that imitates local animals like a (very simplified) leopard print or zebra stripes perhaps.
DegenWeeb said:
[X] Plan: Well-Dressed Reewiinites

My only issue in copying Italian camo rather than seeing what native design we could cook up, but on the other hand that's expensive and the current government ain't exactly swimming in money.

Also side note but the army is slowly becoming a dream army ww2 army of mine, we got arisakas, brens and next on the shopping list should be a copy of the Suomi KP-31 (though simplified to lower production costs since it's a fairly expensive smg) and in the far future if somehow possible, British tanks since I'm a damn sucker for those despite them all ranging from ''okay/good'' to ''oh god this awful'' during ww2.
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We should esign our own tanks and SMGs! The latter, if we do it right, could be an export success (nobody's making a cheap SMG right now and if we have it ready by 1936 we might be able to market cheap guns to the Spanish republicans) and would help get our name out there. The former, because tank design is fun and British tanks of the period aren't great for what we need.
 
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