Coastal Artillery reenactment

[FestungSpanien]

Hello folks,
Me and some buddies are going into reenactment and we would like to portray a Coastal Artillery unit just to go against the most common seen WH,SS,LW Paras, etc..
I have surfed in the net and haven't seen many dealers that sell coastal artillery stuff nor KM.
Do you know where to get some stuff or info?
Many thanks
Ace

[J Melvin]

Ace, unfortunately nobody makes the KM Coastal Artillery cut of feldbluse that I am aware. I would suggest contacting either Lost Battalions (www.lostbattalions.com) or Bill Bureau Militaria (http://www.stby.com/bbm) about uniform components. Lost Battalions can produce about anything. Bill Bureau sells Janke and he may be able to special order.

There are coastal artillery reenactment units. Here in the U.S., there used to be 2. But, only one has a working website: http://www.marineartillery.com/. There was also a unit in France at one time.

[Simon O.]

You could always go for Heeres Küsten-Artillerie

[FestungSpanien]

Thanks Jack and Simon,
I have been thinking on using a normal WH M40 HBT as the tunic (I know they existed, at least in a french manufactured version) adding KM insignia.
But again KM repro insignia is hard to come by, don't know why...
Well thanks for the links, I will see what I am able to find out
Cheers,
Ace

[fischer]

Hello Ace

WAF member "pzrwest" is in that Coastal Artillery unit that is listed here. You might ask him for some resources in putting your impression together.

Best Regards, fischer

[pzrwest]

For field uniforms our unit uses the M40 tunic for the simple reason if you change interest and go Heer etc and you bought a custom made coastal tunic you can use it in other interests. So all we do is replace the heer pebble buttons with fg anchor buttons add the coastal litzen on dark breen backing and add coastal shoulderstraps plus the coastal breast eagle. Our unit had our shoulderstraps custom made for unit members. headgear were bought from LB. For the hemet we use the m35 or m40 with the KM eagle and tri color shield. Field gear is basic heer gear.

[FestungSpanien]

Thank you fischer and pzrwest
We have found some insignia and will let you know the outcome of our adventure
Cheers
Ace

[CWP]

I applaud your efforts to portray something other than an elite unit.

[J Melvin]

Coasties are a great impression for Atlantik Wall and beyond on the Western Front. After D Day, remnants of many of the coastal artillery units were reconstituted with other battered units to form many of the Volksgrenadier divisions that finished up the war. 18.Feld Division (Lw), which our unit portrays, was reformed into 18.Volksgrenadier Division in the Fall of 1944. It was instrumental in the siege of St. Lo in the Battle of the Bulge. A portion of 18.Volksgrenadier came from surviving elements of the coastal artillery units.

[FestungSpanien]

Thanks Chris and many thanks Jack for the additional info.
I'll keep you all updated
Cheers
Ace

[FestungSpanien]

Hi guys,
Me again...just to show you updates step by step on our little project.
I think it will be funny showing the whole process.
Well I have just received the M40 HBT...it looks very nice
Now awaiting insignia
Ace

[pzrwest]

Ace I have sent you a PM reguarding KM anchor buttons if I can be of further help just shout

[FestungSpanien]

I would like to publicly thank Harold (pzrwest) for all his assistance in my project
Ace

Ace I have sent you a PM reguarding KM anchor buttons if I can be of further help just shout

[collecter]

I would like to wish you guys the best of luck and success with your new unit.
Last year I was given honoury membership to the Uboat society,incorperating the Kreigsmarine society and I have put together a coastal artillery officers unifom,which Harold was very helpfull in showing me the correct insignia.
The UBS is a new group and has had a replica Uboat conning tower built,which made its debut at the War & Peace show.Recently the group has been approached to add coastal artillery troops to its display.
www.theuboatsociety.com

[FestungSpanien]

Thank you, collecter
Nice link by the way
Ace

I would like to wish you guys the best of luck and success with your new unit.
Last year I was given honoury membership to the Uboat society,incorperating the Kreigsmarine society and I have put together a coastal artillery officers unifom,which Harold was very helpfull in showing me the correct insignia.
The UBS is a new group and has had a replica Uboat conning tower built,which made its debut at the War & Peace show.Recently the group has been approached to add coastal artillery troops to its display.
www.theuboatsociety.com