HBT shoulder boards

[Shawn Rawls]

Looking for general info on HBT boards. Are they rare? When were they introduced? All branches or just a few?

Thanks in Advance,
Shawn

[Bob Hritz]

HBT shoulder boards were used with the HBT drill tunics, and later HBT combat tunics. They are hard rnough to find when you have a tunic that needs them. I have 2 tunics with these HBT boards missing.
Hob Hritz

[Luftm40]

Were the standard late war wool boards also worn on the HBT combat tunics? I think I've seen pics of this

[ 17 May 2001: Message edited by: Andy Hopkins ]

[Gene]

Absolutely. Especially when the wearer was an NCO. Sometimes you'll find HBT boards that have been field upgraded to NCO, but by and large they wore issue continental boards.

[CSP]

Shawn:
The use of field grey wool straps is far more common than HBT. The latter are very scarce, so if you have an originall pair - good on you!
Remember that the HBT was initially a fatigue duty uniform, so would not be subject to a lot of decorating with rank, etc. These were also initially worn by recruits and the cadre would have worn their wool service tunics as a distinction from trainees. Initially the drill tunics were an off white and without pockets.
As the war progressed and more training took place right behind the front, etc, the green was adopted for obvious reasons. As these became popular as 'summer weight' uniforms, they began to be manufactured more like the standard field uniform, with pockets appearing, sometimes badge loops and with shoulder strap slip on loops, etc. Regarding the slip on shoulder straps - the distances between the buttons and the cloth loop was much shorter typically (not sure yet why) than the same distance on a wool uniform. Thus, wool straps will frequently not fit 'correctly' - hanging over the ends of the sleeve seams. Likewise, I'd feel better about a pair of HBT straps that were on the short side,as these would more readily conform to the construction of the uniform.
Scott

[William A. Bell]

Greetings Scott!
I have two sets of hbt shoulder boards, one Army (green) piped in white and one Luftwaffe (blue) piped in yellow. Both sets are of a normal length and fit just fine on my hbt tunics. But I do have an SS panzer wrap that has the shorter style boards, albeit these are not hbt.

Best regards,
Bill

[CSP]

Bill:
Can you scan them front and back?? Like any shoulder straps, I have suspected that they probably came in sizes. I do not own a set, but those I have seen, and teh HBT uniforms I have seem to call for something a bit shorter.
Thanks for the info.
Sincerely:
Scott

[William A. Bell]

Greetings Scott!
My boards are at home in the US and I am currently in Saudi Arabia. Won't be back until September. Will try to remember to take photos then and send them to you.

Best regards,
Bill