Swedish WWII Coast Artillery Uniform and Helmet

[ScottG]

   Just a nice honest uniform in the proper WWII configuration as opposed to the post war style with the rear pockets and epaulets removed. Same story with the M39 helmet, it still retains the WWII leather liner and chin strap as opposed to the 50s modified canvas style. One day I will get it all on a mannequin with the proper equipment and boots.   Scott

[cckw353]

Nice uniform and helmet! As you probably already know, this is a m/42 uniform for the Coast artillery. It belonged to a private in Coast artillery regiment 5 (KA5) in Härnösand along the Norrland coast in the gulf of Botnia in the Baltic. KA5 was active between 1953 and 1998, but there was military activity in Härnösand already from the 30s, with detachments from other Coast artillery regiments stationed there.

 

Best regards

Lars

[ScottG]

On 1/3/2025 at 7:43 AM, cckw353 said:

Nice uniform and helmet! As you probably already know, this is a m/42 uniform for the Coast artillery. It belonged to a private in Coast artillery regiment 5 (KA5) in Härnösand along the Norrland coast in the gulf of Botnia in the Baltic. KA5 was active between 1953 and 1998, but there was military activity in Härnösand already from the 30s, with detachments from other Coast artillery regiments stationed there.

 

Best regards

Lars

 

            Thanks Lars, and yes I had already read about KA5. One thing I wonder is why they didn't have the new modified jackets without the epaulets and with the added rear pockets? Do you think they just continued to use old stock or is it possible that this Private stayed in long after WWII and did not modify his uniform, or did the coast artillery not receive the modified uniforms?  Thanks, Scott.

[cckw353]

Yes, also the coast artillery modified their uniforms making it the m/42-58. As KA5 was established in 1953, your jacket would be correct for the period 1953-1958. It is also possible that it was used for some time after 1958 before being replaced by new m/58 or modified m/42-58. It could also have been long time stored and used in case of mobilisation of wartime units.

 

When I did my service in 89-90 we were issued m/58 and m/59. But during the final exercise other guys who were called in to do repetition exercise used the modified m/39-58. So older types of uniforms were stored for readiness purposes.

[ScottG]

3 hours ago, cckw353 said:

Yes, also the coast artillery modified their uniforms making it the m/42-58. As KA5 was established in 1953, your jacket would be correct for the period 1953-1958. It is also possible that it was used for some time after 1958 before being replaced by new m/58 or modified m/42-58. It could also have been long time stored and used in case of mobilisation of wartime units.

 

When I did my service in 89-90 we were issued m/58 and m/59. But during the final exercise other guys who were called in to do repetition exercise used the modified m/39-58. So older types of uniforms were stored for readiness purposes.

        Thanks for that info, my friend Chris Rorland of Sabaton did service in the Swedish Army and some of his stories were quite interesting.   Scott

[cckw353]

19 hours ago, ScottG said:

        Thanks for that info, my friend Chris Rorland of Sabaton did service in the Swedish Army and some of his stories were quite interesting.   Scott

Cool, they're pretty big right...

[ScottG]

11 hours ago, cckw353 said:

Cool, they're pretty big right...

    

      Yes, and a bunch of really great guys as well. Here is an interview we did with Chris at my museum in 2022.   Scott