"Belgian Cold War uniforms and vehicle markings" Topic

Apologies but I should have cross-posted this!

Gentlemen
As my BAOR collection nears completion, I've opted to do the Belgian army next. Problem is, apart from the really useful pictures Fonzie has posted, online resources are next to nothing (unless you count paratroopers…) and I've found little on the printed front either. So I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction, because I'm obviously looking in the wrong places!

I'm after pictures (preferably colour) of Belgian soldiers in combat uniform and a guide to vehicle markings for the late 70s/early 80s. I've some lovely decals from Modelbau but have no idea what to do with them!

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

I'll ask around some Cold War gamer friends of mine; I have seen Belgian army cammo…it can be roughly described as garish Dennison smock pattern.

Thanks, Uber. I'm OK with the camo uniform as during the period I'm doing only the paras wore it. The basic infantry uniform was olive green and I have pictures of individual jackets etc and some 'not entirely clear' black and white photos. It's the webbing and pack arrangement I'm missing, so just that would make me a happy man!

We did not wear camouflage during the cold war, only our paras did.

Our vehicle markings were these: yellow circle on the front of the vehicle = weight class. Black rectangle with a white 3 digit unit code on the sides, front and rear. 1BE Corps badge on front and back of vehicle. Platoon and section numbers on the side of combat vehicles: for instance 11 is 1st section 1st platoon, 32 is 2nd section 3rd platoon. Companies were named using letters, A, B, C, D. In peacetime some units would have their units badge on the vehicles. Howitzers (we used M108) usually had a name written on the gun. That's about it.

Here's some pics that I found on Google.

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Hope this helps.

Fons

Webbing arrangement:

front where webbing is connected to US belt; 2 ammo pouches for two (or was it 3, can't remember) FAL magazines each.

Left hip: entrenching tool

The color of this "bag" and the plastic like material is the same on every other bag or pouch on the webbing except for the poncho and the gas mask bag.

Left lower back: gas mask (greyish bag, not same color as the rest of the equipment.

Middle of lower back: poncho

and NBC ground cloth in large bag of same color as rest of webbing.
link

Lower right back: canteen

Could not find correct picture, the canteen holder is also in the same material and color as the rest, not in fabric as in the picture.

Upper back: backpack

Fons

Ah, Fonzie you are a star! This is exactly what I wanted, thank you!

When I started my Cold War collection it was only going to be limited to BAOR v Soviets with a general 'Benelux' force as a side project. As I've looked into it further the national differences were too great to ignore and I wanted to do everyone justice; this will help immensely.

The background to my project is here and will have some photos of my completed stuff soon:

link

Thanks again to all.

My 20mm collection is based on 33 (UK) Armd Bde during my time in Paderborn 86-88. One of the roles of the Bde was to supports 1 BE Corps. On Exercise Certain Strike in 1986 we exercised supporting the Belgians for a month, when we were joined by a Sqn of the QDG from Wullfenbottle. At some point I remember standing in a wood with a QDG mate as a Bn of German M-48 trundled passed, a good excuse to collect some Bundeswehr reserve troops. There is a good book on the Airmobile Corps on exercise late 80s I think with plenty of colour pics of Belgian kit and soldiers. I will dig out the title if you want, but not till next week as I am off to PAW tomorrow!

Tally Ho!

Very much appreciated Nick, thank you!

Jefthing,

the book is Exercise Shield by Concord books, plenty of good phots,

Tally Ho!

Thanks, Nick!

And now comes the joy of matching it all to Vallejo…

Just received my copy of Certain Shield off Amazon (I found a mint 2nd hand copy) and I heartily recommend it to anybody Wargaming the Cold War. Best £8.00 GBP I've ever spent!

Fonzie
Apologies for bringing this up again, but can you confirm that the jacket worn in the photo has a hood? From other photos I've found it looks like this was the most common jacket.
I ask because I am just finishing some trial figure sculpts and want to get them right!
Cheers