I moved this to a new thread.... hope that is ok.
A Big thanks to James B (who runs one of the best kept militaria collector secrets on the net http://hometown.aol.com/jsb715/index.htm ) for his imput on this topic.
This is what he told me on the matter
"The samurai was initially developed as a special ammo carrying vest for the MAB38A by the San Marco Marine Paratroopers. In particular, it was designed for Operation Merkur, the invasion of Malta. Later, the Folgore and Nembo army paratrooper divisions also adopted it. This is all during 1941-1943.
If we speak of the RSI period, 1943-1945, the samurai vest was adopted by many other units other than just paratroopers.
As a note, in addition to the "samurai" vest, there were numerous other versions. The ADRA (air force paratrooper saboteur battalion) had a special carrying case for the MAB38A made which incorporated not only pouches for magazines but once the gun was removed, the carrying case could be worn around the waist (thru use of a hidden buckle and strap) and the carrying strap became a shoulder strap.
Paolo Marzetti, one of the foremost authorities on Italian paratroopers in Italy and an Amici members, wrote a great article last year for Amici describing in detail the Samurai vest.
Foto 1 - RSI Nembo Div. paratroopers at Anzio 1944. Notice one is wearing the samurai vest while the other is wearing the MAB38A 3 clip pouches (these are NOT MP40 mag pouches!) which are in green canvas and green leather straps. I have a pair of these in my collection.
A Big thanks to James B (who runs one of the best kept militaria collector secrets on the net http://hometown.aol.com/jsb715/index.htm ) for his imput on this topic.
This is what he told me on the matter
"The samurai was initially developed as a special ammo carrying vest for the MAB38A by the San Marco Marine Paratroopers. In particular, it was designed for Operation Merkur, the invasion of Malta. Later, the Folgore and Nembo army paratrooper divisions also adopted it. This is all during 1941-1943.
If we speak of the RSI period, 1943-1945, the samurai vest was adopted by many other units other than just paratroopers.
As a note, in addition to the "samurai" vest, there were numerous other versions. The ADRA (air force paratrooper saboteur battalion) had a special carrying case for the MAB38A made which incorporated not only pouches for magazines but once the gun was removed, the carrying case could be worn around the waist (thru use of a hidden buckle and strap) and the carrying strap became a shoulder strap.
Paolo Marzetti, one of the foremost authorities on Italian paratroopers in Italy and an Amici members, wrote a great article last year for Amici describing in detail the Samurai vest.
Foto 1 - RSI Nembo Div. paratroopers at Anzio 1944. Notice one is wearing the samurai vest while the other is wearing the MAB38A 3 clip pouches (these are NOT MP40 mag pouches!) which are in green canvas and green leather straps. I have a pair of these in my collection.
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