Through what years and in what theatres did tankers wear the leather uniforms. I have the SMA figure.


Thanks in advance,

Ted

The leather U boat kit was worn almost exclusively by 12SS Panzer Division "Hitler Jugend". It seems likely that "HJ" panzer crews didn't receive the Special black panzer clothing. Photographic evidence shows that some members of the heavy tank battalion of I SS Pz Korps (SS sPz Abt 101/501) also wore them, presumably because of "cross fertilisation". I believe that the leathers had been originally supplied to the Italian Navy, & were part of the booty "LAH" brought back from their sojourn in Italy in 1943, along with vast amounts of Italian camo material ("LAH" & "HJ" were banded together in I SS PZ Korps). "HJ" fought almost exclusively in the West (Normandy, Ardennes but not "Market Garden") until the last months of the war, but they also took part in "Spring Awakening" the attempt to relieve Budapest. If you are not happy modelling SS troops (some people aren't), you wouldn't use them.

As Steve said, leathers weren't worn by convernsional Heer tankers.

Surplus naval leathers were issued to the WSS. Alpine's recent Late War WSS Pz NCO Set are excellent examples of how the Maschinenpersonal clothing was worn by the Waffen-SS. It is my belief however that this was not Italian surplus gear, but German. Also, the clothing that you see worn here was not exclusively worn by submariners, but most engine room crews.

Hello gents
The KM leather uniforms were worn by various WSS units, not just 12SS HJ.
1SS, 3SS, 5SS, 12SS, 101sSSPzAbt, 102sSSPzAbt had them for sure.
Some say that Italian version was issued as well. I have no idea how the
italian leather uniforms lool like, though.

If I;m not mistaken, the KM leather uniforms were firts issued to WSS units
in winter of 43-44. They were worn on both east and west. They were worn
even in summer time because of the better protection against fire. Some photos
show that even WSS grenadier officers wore them as well.

Taesung

Thanks everyone for the info,

Ted