Benrus Type I Sterile Issue:

The Benrus Type I Stetile issue is one of the harder to find American Military Issue watches  / and were  issued to U.S. Navy Seals (and other Special Forces) during the Vietnam war till the late 70s.  I've read many comments in regard to the possible reason these have been issued with just a serial # and no other markings.  One possiblity is that these watches had been used for "covert" / behind the lines operations - the lack of any markings would therefore afford the Government  plausible deniablity if a soldier was captured.  The second (and imho a more likely case) possibility is that these watches were Test models for those to come ?  For what ever the reason , these Sterile issues are difficult to find...

These Benrus utilize a one piece case design, Tritium luminious, friction style bezel,  and a very ledgible dial / hands ....

The caseback is marked with just the Serial # : 1303222

The dial is designed to be incredibly legible = nothing to distract from a quick reading:

(photo provided by BrandonS)

The movement is an ETA 17 jeweled automatic movement = GS1D2 ; which i believe is a modified movement (to meet government specifications ?) This photo has been kindly provided by BrandonS  / taken by Rich@EOT

a closer look at the Benrus Model # = the GS 1D2 i believe indicates this as a Goverment Specifcation model... (photo provided by BrandonS)....

The original crystal has a distinct dome shape as seen below:

In addition, many may notice that the screw down crown is also original = the "dimple" is present on the crown / though i've found that there are originals without this dimple.  The crown ,on both the Type I and II, is a two part male / female assembly and is the one weak point of these watches - prone to breaking.  I've been informed by a watchmaker ,well acquainted with Benrus dive watches, that this seems to the prominent problem found on many examples.   As with many Benrus dive watches still retaining thier original crystals, this crystal has some crazing = but i prefer to keep the orignal w/ crazing than a clear  replacement..

As seen in the photo below, the crystal is held in place by a metal retaining ring = my watchmaker has told me this requires a great deal of force to screw into place:

(photo provided by BrandonS)

The following is an example of the instruction sheet provided with the watch at the time of issue:

(i'm unaware of where / or who provided this photo = an original example may be obtained from the Military Watch Resource CDs, available from the link below)

Benrus Type I Class A - Nov 1972

Another rarely seen Benrus variation is this small font caseback.  It is possible that this variation further strengthens the theory that Sterile casebacked Type Is were used for testing.  The font and method of engraving on the following is of the same type (though smaller) as that found on the Sterile caseback.  The following photos are provided by VincentG., a fellow collector and MWRine ...

Benrus Type II Class A - April 1973:

The Benrus Type II Class A is another example of the type of dive watches issued to Navy Seals, Navy Divers, and other Scuba qualified Special Forces;  the Type II meets the same specifications as the Type I with the only a difference of dial type.  As seen below, unlike the Type I, the Type II uses a classic Military style dial - with 12 hour outer and 24 hour inner time. 

The Benrus Type II Class A has one other noticeable difference from the Sterile issue above = the caseback has the full set of Military markings typically found on an issued watch:

1. MIL-W-50717 = indicates the watches military specifications
2. Type II     Class A  = the classification A denotes the watch uses luminous dial and hands (Class B - "without luminous dial and hands")
3. Benrus = the manufacture's name is required on the watch
4. 6645 - 22 - 1741 = Fed / Nato stock No. 
5. X7951  = this is the manufacturer's parts number
6. DAAA25-72-CO658 = the military contract award number
7. APR 1973 = the year this particular watch was issued
8. SERIAL  NO. / 0596 =  number assigned to the watch at the time of issue
9. U.S. = United States Property 

Here is an example of the original box a Type II would have been issued in:

Benrus Type II Class A Feb '78

Additional photos of a nearly NOS Benrus Type II  = photos kindly provided by VincentG.

Benrus Type II Class B  December 1980

In addition to the Class A, there are Class B ; nearly identical in every regard except the luminous.  The Class B lack luminous hands and dial = this is likely due to restrictions / requirements for certain situations (ie. work on Nuclear Subs).  The luminous found on the Class A were required to be  Promethium 147  thus radioactive, which can cause problems with radiation detection equipment.  The following photos (and watch :) belong to a fellow collector / MWRine (Vincent G. has kindly allowed me to use his photos here):

The following photo is from a recent Ebay sale of a NOS / Mint Type II Class B - which included the original box and instruction sheet (sheet identical to the example above):

For more information about these and other Military watches i strongly encourage a vist to the Military Watch Resource = the BEST resouce for Military  watches on the net  :  http://www.broadarrow.net/ 

If i've made any mistakes in regard to the above posted information please feel free to contact me at:  billy@WATCHDOGmwrforum.net   (please remove WATCHDOG from the address).

The following links may be opened to read the MIL-W-50717 Military Specifiactions, Amendments, and ultimate Spec. cancelation.  Each seperate link is a PDF file and will open a new window - (these files were kindly provided by Ned of MWR and the MWR Archive CD - also linked below).

MILITARY SPECIFICATION; Watch, Wrist: Submersible And Navigation; 23 February 1971:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/billyschorr/Benrus Type I and II/MIL-W-50717.pdf

MILITARY SPECIFICATION /  Interm Amendment; Watch, Wrist Submersible And Navigation; 6 April 1972;

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/billyschorr/Benrus Type I and II/MIL-W-50717_add1.pdf

Military SPECIFICATION / Amendment 2; 12 July 1976:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/billyschorr/Benrus Type I and II/MIL-W-50717_add2.pdf

MILITARY SPECIFICATION; Watch, Wrist: Submersible And Navigation - Superseding; 4 March 1977:

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/billyschorr/Benrus Type I and II/MIL-W-50717A.pdf

MILITARY SPECIFICATION; Watch, Wrist, Submersible And Navigation - Notice of Cancellation; 31 DEC 1984;

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/billyschorr/Benrus Type I and II/MIL-W-50717A_CANC.pdf

The MIL-W-50717 Specifications indicate the strap to be issued with the watch will be: MIL-S-46383B. The following is the

MILITARY SPECIFICATION; STRAP, WRIST: INSTRUMENT - 16 Sept. 1970

http://www.freewebs.com/billyschorr/Benrus Type I and II/MILSTRAP.pdf

Military Watch Resource Archive CDs available at the following:

http://www.mwrforum.net/CD2/ad.html

(note the above Specs are no longer available w/ the Archives - *but* they remain one of the best resources to our Military Watch commuinty for further information on these and all other mil-watches !)