Uniforms of the American Expeditionary Force in WW1

Uniforms of the American Expeditionary Force
in France 1917-1918

Introduction

When the first US Troops landed on French soil in June 1917, they were met with both enthusiasm and awe: their general countenace, high morale and superb fitness made them stand out against many of the troops of the other Allies, who had been at war for three years already, and were now much worse for wear. Yet, the contingent that landed in June that year was in many aspects a token effort, being rushed to Europe in order to show the will of the USA to back up its hard pressed allies. The troops themselves were far from ready to be committed, both in principle (the Americans insisted on keeping the control of their troops to themselves, wanting only to deploy them as a full and fully sufficient Army, and certainly not as penny-pack reinforcements to French and British Commanders) and in practice: both their training and their equipment were lacking, and not quite up to the rigours of modern Trench Warfare.

Early Uniforms

Throughout 1917-1918 the Americans in the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) used the same M1912/17 uniform, in a colour the Army called "drab" and which varied in hue between medium brown and a mustard brown with a clear tinge of green in it. (The uniforms with green tinge became more and more common as the war progressed.) It had a stand-up collar (makes it easy to identify from the British uniform, which used a fall-down collar) and four patch pockets with single-point flaps. Bronze collar discs bore the "US" acronym on the right side, and the emblem of the branch of service on the left. Of the infantry the crossed rifles with the regimental number above and the company letter below. Another standard item - that also makes the Doughboys stick out against British troops - is the M1910 rifle belt, with ten canvas pouches (that held two five-round clips each) fastened with press studs. The standard weapon was the Springfield M1903, .30-06 calibre, a very fine bolt-action rifle, its quality showing in the fact that it was also used in WW2.

However, the uniform on the first units that landed on French soil differed in many details to the ones used once the Americans were fully comitted to the front in 1918. 1.) the use of the conspicous M1912 wide-brimmed campaign hat in khaki-brown rabbitskin felt, its peak shaped in the "Montana' style" (the cords were in arm-of-service colours for the enlisted ranks: blue for the infantry). This was a hot weather item, and soon proved unpractical for anything else than paradeground chores. 2.) The M1910 canvas leggings, laced through eyelets at the front 3.) The M1904 smooth sole light brown ankle boots: they were another item more fitting for a campaigning in the Desert than in the wet trenches on the Western Front. And 4.) the M1910 haversack with its pack carrier, an item that was altogether unpractically long. Also it had the drawback that it could only house the official load, and no of the extra necessities that were often needed when going into the Front Lines.

American Front Line Uniforms

It didn't take long for the AEF and its troops to discover the realities of Trench Warfare, and the kit, unforms and general looks of the US troops soon when they were committed to combat.

The most conspicious changes were: 1.) The adaption of the M1917 steel helmet, which was a copy of the British M1916 which had been supplied initially to the AEF. (Some French Adrian helmets were also used initially, although this was pretty rare.) It was painted in a non-reflective dark khaki brown, and in the final months of the war the Americans, like the British, started painting their divisional insignia on their helmets. Camouflaged helmets were also used. 2.) The adaption of the M1917 gasmask, again a copy of a British item, the "small box respirator": a heavy face mask of rubberised cloth with an "accordion"-type tube connecting it to the steel filter cartridge, that was always worn slung on the chest (or sometimes on the hip) if in combat - this another tell-tale detail showing that you see is American Troops. 3.) The adaption of puttees, in an olive drab shade close to but not always identical to that of the uniform. They soon came in use, as the AEF quickly found out that the neat laced canvas leggings, were both too complex and too fragile for front line use. 4.) The adaption of the M1917 boots, in heavy brown hide, much more practical than the smart but fragile M1904 "walking out" boots. It was also very common among the US troops to wear long coats in combat, often the unlined "Slicker" unlined Rain Coat, or the M1918 Overcoat shortened just above the knees to make it more practical.

Other common addition to the kit of the American Frontline troops was cartridge bandolier in light khaki cotton, slung by means of a tape of the same material, and the M1917 trench knife, with a wooden grip and a guard in the form of a set of "knuckle-dusters". (They also started using weapons like the French Chauchat LMG or British Lewis LMG.)

Also, the smart Montana-hat, was replaced by a much simpler "Overseas Cap", which came i two shapes: first the square "Serbian" type, and then the taller and more ridged "French" type.

How to Model these troops

In 1/72 Airfix (also marketed by H�T) make a set showing US Troops as they stepped of the boat, with Montana hat and all. Not much use if you want combat troops. H�T and EMHAR have both recently issued sets of combat troops, with Brodie helmets and all. IT Figures off course makes yanks too, but I haven't seen any yet.