Table of contents for January 2020 in Military Trader

Military Trader|January 2020

HOMEFRONT NEWS

DUTCH MOD AWARDS NEW HELMET CONTRACT Protective equipment specialist Revision has been selected by the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply its Batlskin Viper P6N helmet systems to Dutch military forces. The contract for approximately 48,000 combat helmets, with a 15-year maintenance and support agreement, was established with an estimated completion date of 2034. The new helmet systems represent the first major advancement in helmet technology for the Dutch military forces in over 20 years. The Viper P6N helmet shell utilizes materials such as ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, and more than 55,000 helmet covers in Dutch camouflage will be supplied. Revision began delivering helmet systems to the Dutch MoD in late 2019. FIRST PERSONAL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier) fielded the first personal Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)…

4 min

Military Trader|January 2020

MILITARY WHATIZIT?

27-1-1. Dirk would like to know the country of origin, purpose, and era of this medal. It measures 33.6 mm in diameter. 27-1-2. Jim asks, “Any idea what this is and where it is from? All I know is it’s pre-1945.” 27-1-4. Alex would like help identifying this belt buckle. 26-11-4. “Firefighter” posted this patch on the USMF and wants to know what unit it represents. 27-1-5. Manfred asks, “Can anyone identify this stamped metal badge?” 26-12-5. Bruce would like to know if this pin is military and what it represents. 27-1-3. Birdie asked on Wehrmacht Awards if anyone can identify this bullion patch. 27-1-6. USCobb asks, “Does anyone recognize this set of wings?”…

1 min

Military Trader|January 2020

Awarded For Volunteering

While one of the United States’ shortest conflicts, the Spanish-American War of 1898 had major implications for the nation. The causes of the war can be traced to Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain that began as early as February 1895. Agitated by reports of gruesome Spanish atrocities in Cuba, American support and public opinion rapidly grew. At the same time, the U.S. was just recovering from a deep recession. With the business community lobbying against going to war, President William McKinley ignored the exaggerated yellow press and sought a peaceful solution. Meanwhile, the United States Navy sent the armored cruiser USS Maine to Havana Harbor to protect American interests. Tensions between the U.S. and Spain reached a crescendo on February 15, 1898, when the Maine mysteriously exploded and sank…

8 min

Military Trader|January 2020

FAVORITE FINDS

According to the family from whom I purchased the cased Smith & Wesson revolver in this article, Jack Coles purchased it in 1861. He was an officer in a New York City regiment at the beginning of the Civil War. Jack was born in Long Island, NY in 1827. He received an education in the mechanical and structural fields in New York City. He gained the attention of others as being very capable in these areas. In addition, Jack’s friends described him as a very smart adventuresome person who was very friendly. They noted he was generous and always willing to contribute his share or more. After discovery of gold in California, Jack responded to the lure in the fall of 1854 to try his hand in the gold fields.…

2 min

Military Trader|January 2020

The Medal of Honor: A Look at America’s Highest Military Decoration

The Medal of Honor, the United States Military’s highest decoration, is not an award most of us will encounter very often. And apart from those belonging to the original receipts or their families, the medals are often something you’re only likely to see in a museum — as very few are in private collections in the United States. The history of this highest decoration dates back to the American Civil War, when Iowa Senator James W. Crimes introduced a bill to “promote the efficiency of the Navy” by authorizing the production and distribution of “medals of honor.” Within months a similar bill was introduced for an award for privates of the U.S. Army. The wording and nature of the bills changed, including that this award would be for soldiers of…

3 min

Military Trader|January 2020

THE JAG FILE

SIMULATION JUST ISN’T AS GOOD I am fortunate to have a 14-year-old grandson who is interested in military history. He can hold his own in a discussion about the Battle of Gettysburg or the virtues of a Focke-Wulf 190. Something that sets him apart from other 14-year-olds is the amount of time he spends reading books. Don’t get me wrong, though. He play a lot of video games, as well. In fact, a lot of his “feeling” for military history comes from these games. And while these games can impart statistics and performance values of individual weapons, they are mere simulations. This became apparent to my grandson the other day. A DAY AT THE RANGE One Saturday morning, my grandson had asked if I would take him to the range…

7 min

Military Trader|January 2020

IDENTIFIED

26-12-3. Kevin Lowe wrote, “Your mystery patch is a (Royal Air Force Football Association) patch as worn on the official sports tops of serving member’s of the Royal Air Force when they played football.” “WHATIZIT?” is a place where collectors can share their collective knowledge with each other. If you have an item you want identified, or you can share information about one of the items pictured here, write to WHATIZIT, c/o Military Trader, 5225 Joerns Dr., Suite 2, Stevens Point, WI 54481 or email: JAdams-Graf@aimmedia.com. If replying to a “Whatizit?” be sure to include the item number in your response. Only send duplicate photos. All submissions become property of Active Interest Media and may be considered for inclusion (with proper credit) in other features.…

1 min

Military Trader|January 2020

An Unusual Mission

Located near Petersburg, Va., the US Army’s Fort Lee is known for many things. Among them are the headquarters of the Army’s Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM), the Army Quartermaster Museum, the Army Women’s Museum, and the Army Logistics University (ALU). On the ALU campus is a very well-equipped and well-managed library with an incredible amount of primary source material concerning the US Army’s history. For many years, senior Army leaders have donated books and records from their private or professional collections to the library. Recently, coming to light among the donations was a fascinating scrapbook containing original photographs, documents, and details about a most unusual mission in 1947 to occupied Germany that was conducted by four American women. OCCUPIED GERMANY, 1947 Three of the ladies on the mission were…

5 min

Military Trader|January 2020

New Orotective Gear Saves Soldier’s Life

WASHINGTON — Less than a week after receiving his new Integrated Head Protective System, or IHPS, the neck mandible saved the Soldier’s life in Afghanistan. The armor crewman was in the turret manning his weapon when a raucous broke out on the street below. Amidst the shouting, a brick came hurdling toward his turret. It struck the Soldier’s neck, but luckily he had his maxillofacial protection connected to his helmet. The first issue of this mandible with the IHPS helmet went to an armored unit in Afghanistan a couple months ago, said Lt. Col. Ginger Whitehead, product manager for soldier protective equipment at Program Executive Office Soldier. The neck protection was designed specifically for turret gunners to protect them from objects thrown at them, she said. She added most soldiers…

3 min

Military Trader|January 2020

Wreck of Famed WWI Heavy Cruiser SMS Scharnhorst Discovered

Sitting upright on the seabed about 100 miles southeast of Port Stanley, this is the cruiser Scharnhorst, flagship of Admiral Graf von Spee, whose squadron was scourge of the Royal Navy — until cornered in the Falklands in December 1914 She was one of the Royal Navy’s greatest 20th century adversaries — last seen 105 years ago. The wreck, lying some 1,600 metres (5,280 ft) down, was discovered by marine archaeologist Mensun Bound, the first success in a search by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust to locate the warship. It set out to locate all four German ships — heavy cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, plus light cruisers Nürnberg and Leipzig — initially to mark the centenary of the sinkings in 2014; the battle is a seminal moment in Falklands history,…

3 min

Military Trader|January 2020

MAIL CALL

NSDAP MEMBERSHIP PINS — ANOTHER SOURCE I just received the December issue of Military Trader. I look forward to it every month. I am a medal collector and have been for years. I noticed in “Mail Call” that Ed Bliss was looking for a good reference on NSDAP membership pins. A good book is published by B&D Publisher, LLC: The Party Badge by Jo Rivett. It is a massive book (500 pages) full of color plates and tells what to look for to determine authenticity. It is available for about $285 from B&D Publishing LLC, PO Box 652, Richmond, MI 48062; https://bdpublish.com. I would hope Mr. Biss purchases this book — it is worth every penny! — Gene Corbin Arlington, Texas SHIFTING INTERESTS As you might remember, I am a…

2 min

Military Trader|January 2020

BOOKS IN BRIEF

US Marine Corps Uniforms and Equipment in World War II, by Jim Moran (ISBN 978-1 5 2 6 7 1 0 4 1 3 , Frontline Books, distributed in the US by Casemate Publishers, 1950 Lawrence Rd., Havertown, PA 19083; 610.853.9131; www.casematepublishing.com. Hardcover, 208 pages, 300 illustrations in color and black-and-white, 2019, $44.95) Seasoned collectors and USMC scholars will immediately recognize the author’s name. Jim Moran has published extensively on the uniforms, insignia, and history of the United States Marine Corps. Jim has been a student of the history of the United States Marine Corps, massing a huge collection over the past forty years. He has assisted Hollywood productions on uniform and equipment details for “Flags of our Fathers,” “The Pacific” (HBO miniseries) and “Windtalkers.” Moran recognized that the United…

2 min

Military Trader|January 2020

Royal Marine Universal Pattern Helmet

By 1905, the British Army had adopted and widely issued the Wolseley pattern sun helmet for use in tropical stations. At that time, the Royal Marine Artillery (RMA) and Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI) adopted a white “colonial pattern” helmet for wear both at home and overseas, thereby making it a “Universal Pattern Helmet.” Until then, the RMA and RMLI followed the standard procedures of wearing different helmets at home and abroad. The blue cloth-covered Home Service Helmet had been issued to the RMLI in 1878 to replace the shako. The RMA adopted the same helmet in 1879 to replace the fur busby. This helmet was very similar to that worn as a dress helmet by the British Army while serving in the United Kingdom. In tropical stations, the RMLI…

3 min

Military Trader|January 2020

THE BATTLE PLAN

Look for more information in the advertisements in this issue of any show listings in bold and italics. Support our advertisers, they support the hobby! Confirm all information with show promoter before traveling. The time, dates, and/or location may have changed! SHOWS Dec 27-29, VA, Chantilly. The Nation’s Gun Show, Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center Info: Showmasters Inc., PO Box 10277, Blacksburg, VA 25062; 540.951.1344; info@showmastersgunshows.com; www. showmastersgunshows.com Jan 4-5, VVA, Richmond. Richmond Gun Show, Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E Laburnum Ave. Info: Showmasters Inc, P.O. Box 10277 Blacksburg, VA 24062; 540-951-1344; info@showmastersgunshows.com; www.showmastersgunshows.com Jan 4-5, NC, Raleigh. Old North State Antique Gun and Military Antiques Show. Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10-4pm. North Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Road, off I-40. Carolina Trader Promotions 704-282-1339. Richard@thecarolinatrader.com www.TheCarolinaTrader.com Jan 4-5,…

9 min

Military Trader|January 2020

SMS Scharnhorst Characteristics

Namesake: Gerhard von Scharnhorst Class and type: Scharnhorst-class armored cruiser Laid down: 22 March 1905 Launched: 23 March 1906 Commissioned: 24 October 1907 Displacement: 12,985 t (12,780 long tons) Length: 144.6 m (474 ft 5 in) Beam: 21.6 m (70 ft 10 in) Draft: 8.37 m (27 ft 6 in) Installed power: 18 × water-tube boilers, 26,000 metric horsepower (19,000 kW) Propulsion: 3 × triple-expansion steam engines 3 × screw propellers Speed: 22.5 knots (42 km/h) Range: 4,800 nmi (8,900 km; 5,500 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) Crew: 52 officers, 788 enlisted Armament: 8 × 21 cm (8.3 in) guns 6 × 15 cm (5.9 in) guns 18 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) guns 4 × 45 cm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes Armor: Belt: 8 to 15…

1 min

Military Trader|January 2020

Medal of Honor Facts:

*Enlisted recipients of the Medal of Honor are entitled to a supplemental uniform allowance. *Children of recipients are eligible for admission to the United States military academies without regard to the quota requirements. *It is a federal felony to falsely claim to be Medal of Honor winner. Under the Stolen Valor Act, it is also against the law to sell or buy a Medal of Honor. *The Medal of Honor has been presented nine times where the circumstances are “unknown” or “classified.” *The term “Congressional Medal of Honor” is incorrect. The Medal of Honor is presented by the President on the behalf of Congress, and the confusion may come from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, which was formed by an act of Congress in 1958. *A total of 19…

1 min