Mike knows a fair bit about RAF53 and other military references. Some of the other sports watch fanatics might know a bit more about SM300 Big Triangles.

 

I know a bit about the US Army issued references. The real military watch experts hang out here:

http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2

Most of them have forgotten more than I will ever know,
gatorcpa

 

If you're into a military Omega, the RAF53 is the model you probably want, if you search here for that term you'll find a few threads, they're a larger watch, about 36mm from memory excluding crown, with a 30mm movement and some serious wrist presence.

 

37mm in size, fixed lugs, military watch made only in 5,900 examples (documented) with most of them being MoD redialled fat arrow dials, antimagnetic (a peer of the milgauss and the ingenieur) and the predecessor of the legendary omega railmaster. What's not to like about the watch? I believe it is a terribly undervalued watch and that's why I accumulate nice examples I can find at good prices.

 

I didn't realise it was 37, it has a relatively thin bezel too so it must wear very large

 

It wears large because of both a thin bezel and long lugs. Plus it's also a pretty tall watch and heavy. I'd say in between the 36mm datejust and the 40mm sub in size.

 

So its kind of similar to the early Railmasters then

 

Pretty much. It's really a great watch and should really be worth more than the railmaster due to its military provenance. It also has the thick dial like the railmaster.

 

I might have to make a point of picking one up. There seem to be HEAPS on eBay like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1944s-Antiq...800913759?pt=Wristwatches&hash=item460921b15fPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

But 1944 sounds totally wrong, must be one of those watches that has had a lot of frankening done

 

That's the smaller omega www which is 35mm in size and is subseconds vs. center seconds. Also is more plentiful - about 25,000 produced and doesn't have all the other advantages of the RAF '53. What you should keep an eye out for (for me as well) is that a very small number of the RAF '53 watches made their way to australia and NZ. I have an original thin arrow with RNZAF markings but I believe there are also those with RAAF markings.