Monday, May 18, 2009

GI Joe World War I Doughboy

Doughboy is an obsolete slang for a United States Army infantryman, best known from its use in World War I. One of the most often cited explanation for the term "Doughboy" is that it arose during the Mexican-American War of 1846-48, after observers noticed US infantry forces were constantly covered with chalky dust from marching through the dry terrain of northern Mexico, giving the men the appearance of unbaked dough.

This is Hasbro's GI Joe Action Soldier Series WW I US Army Infantry Doughboy Soldier in France 1918. This 1/6 scale 12 inch figure comes with a M1917 Browning Machine Gun and Tripod, US Springfield Model 1903 Rifle, Bayonet and Sheath, Gas Mask and Filter Can plus Gas Mask Bag, Ammo Belt and Ammo Rounds, Shovel and Sheath (Entrenching Tool) with Cover, Haversack, Shelter Tent/Blanket Roll, Canteen and Cover, WWI Helmet, Shirt and Pants/Breeches, Leg Wraps, Trench Boots and GI Joe Doughboy Dog Tags.


During the first year of World War I, none of the combatants offered steel helmets to their troops. The huge number of lethal head wounds that modern weapons were inflicting upon the French Army led them to introduce the first of the modern steel helmets in the summer of 1915. The Brodie helmet, called "Helmet, steel, Mark I helmet" in Britain and the "M1917 Helmet" in the US was a steel combat helmet designed and patented in 1915 by Briton John L. Brodie.

The use of poison gas in World War I was a major military innovation. The gases ranged from disabling chemicals, such as tear gas and the severe mustard gas, to lethal agents like phosgene and chlorine. Hence the need for issuing of gas masks to all troops.

Attached on top of his haversack and Shelter Tent/Blanket Roll is the Meat Can Pouch for putting his bread can, bacon can and condiments can (available separately as a Battle Gear set, covered here)

The "Springfield M1903", formally the "United States Rifle, Caliber .30, Model 1903", is an American magazine-fed, bolt-action rifle used primarily during the first half of the 20th century. It was officially adopted as a United States military service rifle on June 19 1903, and saw service in World War I. It was officially replaced as the standard infantry rifle by the faster-firing, semi-automatic M1 Garand, starting in 1936.

The Browning Model 1917 Machine Gun is a heavy machine gun used by the United States armed forces in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. It was a belt-fed water-cooled machine gun and had a firing rate of 450 rounds per minute.

GI Joe Doughboy with campaign hat. GI Joe Doughboy Battle Gear set already covered in the previous post.



No comments: