Water police uniform #1

[MarcoPennisi]

As mentioned the cuff stripes do NOT correspond to any WSP rating. Possibly a navy jr. Lt, in the US Lt..jg. Also, didn't WSP tunics have 4 buttons not 5?

I think the late war eagle has been added to a navy tunic.

These machine woven eagles were never issued or used to my knowledge. They were authorized too late in the war for actual use. The WSP was very small and uniform exchange was limited. Every example that I have ever seen has been uncut, and unused.

W.Unland

Yes, SPW jackets would normally have two 4 buttons each row , but officers' ones occasionally featured 5 buttons.
I support your statement as to the machine woven/BEVo WSP sleeve eagles, albeit they should have been introduced in April 1943 , so not that late.

[Dave C.]

Reading the responses here there seems to be a lot of gray area, unknown & uncertainty when it comes to the WSP. So in attempt to help others and my own knowledge, I spent some time this AM reviewing photos saved over the years including a WSP photo album I hold for WSP-Station Karlsruhe and my observations were that WSP had 4-button tunics and when 5-button tunics appeared it was with officers that had KM influence (i.e. breast eagle or KM cap insignia, or custom embroidered large police cap insignia, or a combination of aforementioned).

Also observed in the past (posted here in another thread) was a 4-buton tunic worn by an other ranks possible WSP that had a KM breast eagle and the Narvik shield. Possible WSP do to the police sleeve eagle and metals type police cap insignia.

Other comments about WSP Station Karlsruhe - pictures include what appears to be a WSP man wearing a 4-button tunic, police sleeve eagle with a anchor V insignia below it. Unfortunately he is not wearing head gear nor exposing his right breast in these particular pics to see if there is any KM 'influence', however, it appears to be him in earlier photos with KM headgear and breast eagle but the details are not fine enough to be absolutely certain. Side note for Joe, just found an MKP pic.

As for WSP sleeve eagle, I do have a BEVo type cut-off, it looks good but basically impossible to prove with 100% certainty. In the past I've also seen a pic that is so close to a likeness of BEVo type in wear although again no 100% certainty. I believe there is a possibility to find one in wear.

Lastly, the notes I have indicate ring widths of 7mm and 16mm wide and I also concur with the above mentioned tunic ring combination does not support known WSP ranks.

[skiffer]

Hi Joe, There are 2 interior breast pockets and the wider of the two stripes is 7-8 MM wide. I don't have possession of the jacket and am relying on the owner's info. Thanks for your input.

The current owner has stated that the stripes are 4mm and 8mm wide.

[GAMS1]

I noticed on some german documentation that on PO/WSP shoulder boards you could have a thin stripe when having 4 years of service ?
So may be the second thin stripe is for a NCO with 4 years of service ?
Nick