Military issue sets

With so much down time when on base I know many soldiers spend time playing cards and board games. I know the Marines and Navy played alot of Acey-deucey, a variant of backgammon. I am curious if the US gov't ever had an official military issue chess set sold through the PX or did you have to buy your own of base?

Reminds me of Stalag 17.

During WWII not much was made that was a luxury item. Not even automobiles except for Jeeps for military service. However there was one set that was an American made set just before we entered into the war. It is called the Liberty set.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idnkxt0CYJY

House of Staunton makes a good reproduction copy of the W.T. Pinney Liberty Set.

https://www.amazon.com/House-Staunton-Liberty-Natural-Lacquered/dp/B01N6U1KWS

That's where I get lost. Carrom continues to sell Drueke cribbage equipment but all chess sets are gone. Strange?

Sounds like a mission for batgirl.  Lot of pictures of US, Soviet, German, etc. troops playing chess during WWII but not much on source.

I think that chess sets used in military service is the travel sets most likely sent from service members families or a military support charity. Seems like in this picture. There is a tournament sized set with a tournament bag.

This isn't one of mine but I have a couple just like it:

I know they are WWII era since mine both have cards advertising war bonds,  There are 16 of both red and black checkers and they have pictures of the chess pieces on them. The square pieces just below the "play kit" tag is a board that folds in 4.

Mine say they were made by Wellcratt - I can't say for certain that they were made specifically for the military but I would think it highly likely. Certainly are ingenious in terms of a compact portable item.

This is an interesting article on escape materials sent to POWs during WWII.

https://historycollection.co/monopoly-games-helped-escaping-prisoners-world-war-ii/

In it it also mentions chess sets being used - so chess sets were sent to POWs (with or without extra materials to aid escapees).  

Once the US entered the war they also sent stuff to POWs (I don't think the US added the extras) - mostly food but also games (including chess) and what not.   The Red Cross would be given the stuff to distribute and they did not distinguish who got what by nationality - so Canadian prisoners for example might get stuff originating in Canada, Britain or the US. 

I'd trade some chocolate for good Canadian whiskey.

Military is also good chess set you can also visit https://chess-boards.com/ww2-chess-set/ for more future projects. Thank you

There was a Bakelite The “Services” set made in the UK.

It was a set of Draughts/Chequers flat style pieces with chess piece pictures on one side.

I do have such a set. Here is an eBay link to one (not mine).

I don’t know if it was actually issued to service personal though.

Best Regards,

NigelNice.

not 100% sure if there are any official ones out there but have a look here - link- there's some Military Chess Sets to look at

The Red Cross sent chess sets to POWs.

Have a look at the Ajax set. I'm told they were sent to soldiers in Europe WW 2.

I wish someone would reproduce with a board of roughly 15 inches. Compact and great for travel. I love the old fashioned figurine on the discs (vintage look). See Google images.