Introduction
This post is a follow-up to a reply of mine to a suggestion by @Comrade_Sina, the purpose of which is to provide suggestions—and examples of said suggestions—to expand the pitifully small number of customization options for the British. You may read Comrade Sina’s suggestion here, if you’re interested: Give british paratrooper helmet for every british squads
I am extra excited to write this due to the teased possibility of a subfaction expansion in the future!
With the added context of the SITREP №1 - Operation "Transparency" it looks like I got my hopes up a little too quickly, but I hope at least this suggestion proves to the developers there is not just interest for a expanded Commonwealth subfaction, one that can be fully played as its own thing directly from the tech-tree, but that there is also great passion for it as well.
To clarify, I am no expert in British WW2 uniforms—just a concerned player who is dissatisfied with the current meagre selection of cosmetics (especially when compared to other countries). Also, I realize this suggestion is very long, but do note that the point is not necessarily to give specific advice—it’s to raise awareness of the shortcomings in British cosmetic options and to offer inspiration to the developers.
Principles
First off, let me start by stating some of my main principles of soldier customization, which shall govern how my suggestion moves forward.
- All squads should have access to purchase the same pool of customization options.
It’s weird that this isn’t the case already, but if a customization option is available for purchase on any tech-tree or legacy squad, then it should be available for all of them.
- No restrictions based on squad type, except for vehicle squads.
You should be able to purchase medic uniforms for medics in non-medic squads. Sniper uniforms should not be locked to sniper squads only (especially since radio squads are objectively superior sniper squads to begin with). This also includes special unit types, such as paratroopers or commando uniforms—if I want to create an airborne rifleman squad, that is my business.
- Cosmetics should only depict combat-ready troops—not rear-line or non-combat units.
To reduce bloat, we should focus on representing only clothing and gear used in combat. Sorry—no prim and proper pilot uniforms, no full Highlander gear (kilt and Balmoral bonnet and all), no parade-ground soldiers.
If you disagree with any of the above principles, you might not enjoy my suggestion that much… Anyway, let’s properly begin.
Headwear
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Helmets
Apparently, DF is holding out on us—the options for the Brodie helmet with goggles, netting, and netting with leaves are already in the editor/game files. Just properly add these to the game.
Thanks to @Chris_Vector for providing these examples.
Similar options should also exist for the Mk III “Turtle” helmet, as well as the airborne, motorcycle, and tanker helmets.
Example of the turtle helm:
Whilst on the topic of the Mk III helmet, let’s talk about how goofy it looks in-game:
- Its bright green colour does not match the rest of the uniforms or other helmets.
- The helmet looks slightly oversized (by about 10%).
- Since no soldier has hair in this game—and all other helmet options conceivably provide the illusion that the soldier could have hair—this helmet making every guy obviously a baldie is very jarring.
Please make the Mk III helmet match the colour of the Brodie helmet, or make several differently coloured helmets for all previously discussed helmet types. Provide similar netting alternatives as the US for all helmets and possibly shrink the Turtle helmet a little.
Also consider adding helmets with Cap Comforters underneath for both styles of helmet—except for the desert variant, of course. It might be too much, but it would be nice if we got caped versions of the netted and netted-with-leaves versions too. More about Cap Comforters below, by the way.
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Berets
Currently, we’ve only got the two General Service Caps or GSCs (correct me if I’m wrong) in the game.
Khaki GSC for regulars:
And
Grey/Dark Blue, for idk who:
If I’m allowed to speculate, I think these caps are an intentional blend of both GSCs and berets, because I can find no evidence that dark blue ones were ever used or issued, and GSCs did not have a leather band (as we can see in the game)—those were found on berets. But they’re more GSC-shaped than beret-shaped at the same time. To be fair, to the uninitiated (which still includes me as of writing this), GSCs and berets are very similar.
Personally, I’m fine with sparing the code monkeys and modellers some time and using the same model with different colours to represent both berets and GSCs, for the sake of simplicity.
I actually even asked ChatGPT why they’re so similar and hard to differentiate—here’s what it had to say:
Anyway, here are some coloured berets to consider…
Black Berets for tankers, should come in variants with and without headsets, just like Germany (current tanker hat is NOT a tanker beret, because it has a green leather band and more blueish than actual black):
You might recognize this fellow
Green Commando Berets (Including Royal Marine Commandos):
Maroon Airborne Berets on one event paratrooper squad, but like some German TT squads I want the ability to recreate ground-baser airborne troops:
Another famous gentleman makes a appearance!
Sand Special Air Service Berets:
Also, make versions that has a flap on the back (sand and khaki coloured), available for Desert and tropical campaigns (example K):
I dearly want to see more beret options in the game
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Slouch Hats
Can’t forget about the lovely colonials now can we?
These are currently only available and equipped by default on some event troops. More variations should be added, featuring differing colours, folds, bends, or completely flat brims, and (should uniform patches return) insignia as well — and also be made available for all Commonwealth squads.
They were commonly worn by Australian, New Zealander, and Indian troops (including Gurkhas), often with a cloth band (puggaree) around the crown. These bands varied in colour — typically white, sand, or khaki — but could also appear in brighter shades such as red or green. The hats were worn either flat, with one side pinned up (left or right), or with a slight bend to one side. British troops in tropical theatres sometimes wore them too, as did South African forces — though distinguishing white South African soldiers from other Commonwealth troops in photographs is difficult, so I’ve not included images of either. These hats deserve to be available for all squads, not just the limited event ones, as they were used far more widely than just by Australia and New Zealand (and people might want to recreate more Australians/New Zealanders from Tech-Tree squads as well — which they should be able to).
Australians, for whom the slouch hat is almost a national symbol, preferred theirs pinned up on the left, but flat ones were not uncommon:
New Zealand hat is already in an event squad — I personally think making them available for every squad is in order, perhaps even with other colour options (darker and green versions). Generally speaking, New Zealanders preferred theirs to be flat.
The King’s African Rifles (KAR) and other African regiments wore slouch hats too — flat or with the side folded up (cough cough add KARs, they fought in Burma too):
Sorry, couldn’t resist sharing this photo of an absolute unit:
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Other
Please provide an alternative colour (similar dark brown as other gear) for the Officer’s Peaked Cap. They came in other colours than the bright brown of the desert variant. People like me want to be able to give our (self-)designated officers appropriate cosmetics that won’t clash or be jarring.
In game:
Examples of darker ones:
British Cap Comforters:
These things are rather ingenious, despite looking so simple. They’re cylinders of knitted wool, with their holes often (but not always) sewn together at one end to create a simple cap. They could be worn as standalone caps, comfortably underneath helmets (hence my earlier suggestion for making cap-helmet combos), worn as hoods/balaclavas, or even as shawls — and I think all of these should be available options (except the shawls; they’d be part of some torso cosmetics).
They’re most commonly depicted on Commandos, but anyone could have them, and I don’t think this should be a restricted item.
Further examples:
Here’s one with (I think) both ends open:
Here’s one worn as a hood/balaclava underneath a helmet:
Tam o’ Shanter (ToS):
SCOTLAND FOREVER 
We don’t need to add Highlander units to the game if we could just make them ourselves. Yes, these were used in combat, just like the other suggestions. Should come in both sand (for Tunisia) and regular brown/khaki variants. The tufts should be the same colour as the rest of the ToS.
Further examples:
Here’s one in a tropical setting, with a slouch hat present too:
Here’s this example again that I used for the berets, it also shows some very eccentric ToS options, I believe they’re a bit too much for the game, but hey have some more inspiration anyway (maybe a cool Scottish squad could be made with one/some of these):
Pith Helmets:
Can’t get more Imperial than these. Used by British, South African and Indian troops.
Am I slightly breaking my third principle of “no non-combat gear” by including these? Almost. These were used — especially early war — mostly for the drip (they wouldn’t use that word at the time, of course), until replaced with actual helmets or more practical caps or slouch hats. Still, I’d like the option of giving my soldiers some Wolseley pattern hats — because cool, and because the Italians and Japanese got theirs. Why can’t the Brits get their own? Germany should get access to theirs too, but this post isn’t about them now, is it?
Could even offer a few variants — a clean parade-style one, and one a bit more dusty, faded, or dented, for realism. Currently only asking for the Wolseley pattern, but the India pattern should be added once Indian troops are also in the game.
Further Examples:
Couple of famous dudes again — one of them looking particularly regal, and short… maybe even a “short-king of kings.”
Last one is from Burma.
Torso and Legs
Generally speaking, whilst the selection is meagre (when compared to other countries), it is actually satisfactory, outside of winter and tropical clothes. So I’ll largely focus on the less appreciated theatre clothes.
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Winter
The current British winter cosmetics are, frankly, a joke — borderline insulting. Slapping on gloves and calling it “winter gear” is not only lazy, it’s completely out of touch with what British troops actually wore in cold environments. There’s no variation, no proper layering, and it leaves soldiers looking more like underdressed mannequins than wartime infantry. This is especially glaring when you consider how robust the winter options are for other nations, with Soviets, Germans and Americans having proper coats, quilted jackets, and winter camouflage. British troops fought and froze on the front just like everyone else — so where’s their kit?
At the very least, start by closing the top button of the shirt, or adding a layer of bulk underneath it. Then, we can talk about what proper winter uniforms actually looked like:
White camouflage, bulk means warmth:
Though this sniper looks particularly miserable — maybe the trains got delayed by the snow again.
So: white torso and legs options like those above should be available. These would pair with white-painted helmets (of all variants) and helmets with cloth covers (again, of all variants). Yes, yes — look at me, returning to headgear again…
Greatcoats:
These should be the standard gear of almost every British squad in winter conditions!
More examples:
Hey — another ToS!
These greatcoats should come in three colour options: khaki and grey, and include the same web gear options currently available for tunics.
By the way — did you know it gets cold in the desert?
There are plenty of photos of desert troops thoroughly wrapped up:
That said, since desert battles in-game universally take place during the day, I’m not asking for cold-weather gear to be added for Tunisia.
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Tropical
Just as with the winter uniforms, the Brits have nothing unique for the Pacific or Burma campaigns — which is a travesty. It simply doesn’t cut it. On top of the previously suggested slouch hats, berets, and pith helmets, I’m going to give some examples of what I believe should be added to represent British and Commonwealth forces in the East more accurately.
Please don’t forget the Gurkhas and other Indian units that played a major part in this theatre, they should get some love too.
Rolled up versions of regular Battledress:
Green versions of the Battledress, featuring a mix of tidy, properly worn examples and more relaxed or disheveled ones — rolled-up sleeves, open buttons, a little dirt here and there. These should also be versions with shorts and rolled-up shirts.
(Add KARs, cough cough)
A optional additional set, possibly for a event or premium squad, same as the greens, just with a light grey coloured shirt:
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Leather Jerkins
The leather jerkin was a sleeveless, waist-length vest made from brown leather (or later, artificial leather) with a wool lining. It was worn over the Battledress for extra warmth and wind protection, especially in colder conditions.
They’re already featured on a premium motorcycle squad. Do I care? No — because these were not motorcycle-specific gear. Almost everyone used them: infantry, engineers, commandos, artillery, vehicle crews (including tankers), and yes, motorcyclists. I even believe some pilots got their hands on them! Given their widespread use at the time — and their recognizability today — they absolutely should not be locked behind a premium paywall. Multiple versions should be available to everyone.
Jerkins were used in both the desert and Europe. They provided protection against rain, sand, and cold — a truly all-purpose piece of kit. However, I haven’t found evidence of their use in the East. Therefore, they should appear in all theatres except the Pacific/Burma.
Examples:
- Desert clothes with jerkin in Tunisia
- Battledress with jerkin in Normandy
- Battledress + shawl + jerkin in the Bulge
Further examples:
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British Medical Research Council (MRC) Body Armour
I know, I know — body armour is a hot topic. My stance is simple: no cosmetic should provide gameplay changes. You can read more about this argument in another excellent suggestion by @Comrade_Sina here: Remove helmet and body armor effect
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s move on to the actual suggestion.
MRC Body Armour:
The MRC Body Armour was a three-piece protective vest — two plates on the front, one on the back — designed to cover the wearer’s vital organs. It was made from 1mm manganese steel, the same material used in British helmets at the time.
After successful pre-1942 trials, an initial order of 500,000 sets was placed. However, that figure was later reduced to 200,000–300,000 (depending on the source). Of these, only 79,000 sets were issued:
- 64,000 to the RAF, used as flak protection for aircrews
- 15,000 to the 21st Army Group, the sole British/Commonwealth force fighting in Western Europe from Normandy onward
Despite the limited total issue, the armour saw broad frontline use: Infantry (especially Canadians), airborne troops (including Polish paratroopers), engineers, medics, and assault troops. Paratroopers reportedly wore the MRC under their jackets — which explains the relative scarcity of visible photographs — but they received the largest portion of the sets issued to the Army.
This is a striking and historically grounded cosmetic option, and I’d especially love to see a Event Canadian Assault Engineer squad in the future equipped with them by default, though I should stress that the MRC should be available to all non-vehicle squads in Europe not just a premium or event peice, I’ll explain later why.
Further Examples:
Canadian Rifleman^
How the MRC is worn^
Museum piece with Airborne uniform^
Airborne reenactor^
Polish paratrooper reenactor^
Canadian medics (one of whom wearing the MRC) crossing water with rubber boat^
Presumed Canadians posing, at least one wearing the MRC^
Riflemen being inspected, all wearing MRCs^
German PoWs being watched over by a paratrooper wearing the MRC^
Why It Shouldn’t Be Limited to Premium/Event Squads
Although only 15,000 MRC sets were issued to the Army, that number becomes significant when contextualized:
The 21st Army Group numbered 1,020,581 men (excluding temporarily attached U.S. troops). This was the only British/Commonwealth field formation in Western Europe, and received all the issued Army MRC sets.
That gives us a ratio of 1 in 68 soldiers, or 1.47% of the force equipped with body armour.
For comparison:
The Soviet military mobilized 34.5 million men, with ~29.5 million in the Army and ~600,000 in combat NKVD units — 31.1 million total considered here.
Issued (not produced) SN-42 body armour figures range from 250,000 to 500,000, so we’ll use 300,000 (realistic) and 500,000 (generous) for our math:
- 300,000 = 1 in 104 soldiers → 0.997%
- 500,000 = 1 in 62 soldiers → 1.66%
This puts MRC use right between both estimates — essentially on par with Soviet usage.
If the Soviets get cosmetic body armour available to all squads, then surely the Commonwealth deserves the same. There’s a clear historical precedent for its use, and it adds a great, underrepresented visual flair to British troops.
Tankers and Pilots
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Tankers
British tanker crews in Enlisted currently wear either standard infantry battledress (seen more often early war) or the lighter-coloured, unique tanker variant. Combined with the addition of black berets suggested earlier, I’d like to expand cosmetic variety further with a few historically accurate additions.
Requested Tanker Uniform Variants:
- Winter version of the tanker battledress, bulk is warmth
- “Pixie Suit” (one-piece camouflaged tanker suit, simlar to German tanker camo; should appear on both summer and winter maps)
- Leather jerkin variants for the standard battledress, tanker battledress and winter tanker battledress versions
- Fur-collared jackets for cold weather appearances
Examples:
Historically, British APC drivers were often outfitted similarly to tank crews — not infantry — so APC squads should share the same cosmetic gear options as tankers (please add Kangaroos, and M3/M5 half-tracks to the allies, for both US and Commonwealth).
By the Korean War, British tank crew uniforms remained nearly identical to their 1944 predecessors:
Other Accessory Suggestions:
- Driver’s Gauntlets – iconic leather gloves used by tank crews, should be purchaseable on all maps together with all current glove options, not just winter ones.
- Variants with Binocular and goggles – chest pieces with binoculars and headgear with goggles (up or down) should be included.
Gloves Examples:
Special thank you to @Conscript_Joe, who helped me on the topic of tanker cosmetics.
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Pilots
Just a few, but important, changes to British pilot cosmetics.
Current headgear:
The current selection is oddly inconsistent across campaigns. For example:
- Normandy, Pacific, and Tunisia have only these two variants:
- Battle of the Bulge adds two more (third one is identical to the default, so that’s a bug):
Request:
Make all existing variants available in all campaigns. Add goggles up, goggles down, and no goggles options for all helmets (including Tunisia’s unique variant and the light/dark versions in other campaigns).
Oxygen Masks:
These are not limited to jet pilots and were common across all aircrew by mid-war forward. Restricting them to premium jet squads makes no sense. Make all current masks available for purchase for all pilots, while retaining them as defaults for premium units.
Specific types used by the UK include the Type G and Type H oxygen masks.
Type G masks:
Type H masks:
Blue RAF Uniforms:
Hey look, it’s another oxygen mask.
The blue RAF service dress is iconic and historically correct for combat use — these were often worn into battle, not just for parade. I request these be added with vests (as historically worn). These uniforms should be the default appearance for RAF pilot squads in Europe (Normandy and the Bulge), but only as optional cosmetics in the Pacific/Burma and Tunisia campaigns.
Further Examples:
The world owes much to these brave men, let’s honour them by representing them accurately and respectfully in-game.
Winter versions should also be included — of course complete with ties, because a gentleman goes to war properly dressed:
Further tweaks:
-
Tunisia pilot outfits should be usable in the Pacific as well::
-
Separate gloves from torso pieces, so pilots (like tankers) can choose to wear gloves even on non-winter maps:
The End
Thank you for sticking through this long post.
While it may read as a wishlist of individual items, this suggestion’s deeper purpose is to:
- Raise awareness of the current lack of cosmetic variety for British troops,
- Highlight how British gear is often copied across campaigns with little to no distinction,
- Point out the absence of regionally and seasonally appropriate uniforms — especially tropical and winter variants,
- Expose inconsistencies, oversights, and “bugged” elements that affect immersion and visual quality,
- Provide a visual resource and reference base for developers to draw inspiration from,
- And yes — to suggest individual cosmetic additions that could enrich the British customization experience.
This post isn’t meant to nitpick for the sake of it. Rather, it reflects a desire to see British forces receive the same level of visual fidelity, historical nuance, and love as their counterparts in other factions. Every uniform, every jacket, every pair of gloves or goggles is a small tribute — not just to authenticity, but to the people who wore them.
I invite my fellow forum members to share their thoughts, suggestions, and concerns on this topic. Whether it’s feedback, new ideas, or just voicing agreement, your voices add weight to the call for better British customization.
Thanks again for your time — and if you read all of this, you’re a champion in your own right.
Have a great day, and I’ll see you on the battlefield.
