"Storia ed Evoluzione dell'Uniforme Militare"

[Blue Sky]

Belle!

 

Vietnam era Marines

 

 

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Union Army Uniforms and Insignia of the Civil War

 

Officer's Jacket

 

Infantry Colonel's Jacket

 

 

 

This jacket is an example of the uniforms that were not prescribed by regulations but where commonly worn in the field. Infantry colonels were mounted and a short jacket such as this is more comfortable on horseback than the longer skirted regulation frock coat. Many period photographs show jackets similar to this being worn even by company grade officers who would have been on foot.

 

An outstanding feature of the jacket is that it has silver eagles sewn on the shoulders and not shoulder straps. This is consistent with General Orders 286 of November 22, 1864, which permitted officers to dispense with shoulder straps and wear only their "marks of rank" on the shoulders. Other features also convey the officer's rank. It is double breasted, a feature that indicates a field grade officer and the sleeves have sleeve braid of five black braid strands consistent with the pattern worn on the regulation officer's overcoat by colonels.

 

Other features of the uniform includes infantry officer's buttons, which have a "I" in the eagle's shield and the three cuff buttons characteristic of period officer's uniforms (enlisted men typically had two). Lastly, on the back of the jacket is a pair of bolsters similar to what appeared on mounted enlisted jackets. These were designed to keep to bottom of the jacket from riding up over the sword belt.

 

This jacket belonged to Winsor B. French, commander of the 77^th New York Infantry Regiment. The name is written inside of the jacket. It is interesting that French appears in most records as a lieutenant colonel, but on September 5, 1863 he did receive a commission from the governor of the state of New York as a full colonel. However, he was never, for whatever reason, mustered into U.S. service as a full colonel. He also received a brevet as brigadier general for his service.

 

Stylistic Features of Civil War Shoulder Straps

 

 

 

There are a large number of stylistic variations of Civil War shoulder straps. These are best illustrated by colonel's straps because the designs of the eagles give the embroiderer the best oportunity to show off her art. The written regulations governing colonel's shoulder straps were not altogether specific.

 

1540. For a Colonel--the same as for a Major-General, and bordered in like manner with an embroidery of gold; a silver-embroidered spread eagle on the centre of the strap; two inches between the tips of the wings, having in its right talon an olive-branch, and in the left a bundle of arrows; an escutcheon on the breast, as represented in the arms of the United States cloth of the strap as follows: For the General Staff and Staff Corps--dark blue; for Artillery--scarlet; Infantry--light or sky blue; Cavalry--yellow.

 

Even so regulations were often not followed and it is difficult to find a strap that absolutely conforms to the written regulation. The above strap is regulation, but not typical. Typical Civil War colonel's eagles are larger than the regulation two inches. The wings of the above strap is formed from sequins and cable patern (entwined) bullion embroidery. The direction that the eagle's head faced was not specified by the regulations, but the straps were commonly in pairs with both eagles facing the wearer's front. The above strap was one for the wearer's left shoulder. The regulations state with which claw of the eagle should hold the arrows and olive branch, but even that varies in our examples.

 

 

 

Staff Colonel and Cavalry Colonel Shoulder Strap

 

The two above straps, both indentified to known Civil War officers, have a single regulation one-quarter inch border. The wings do not conform to regulation in that they are larger than two inches wing tip to tip. Sequins were often, but not always used by the embroiderer to form the wing feathers, but on these examples they were not. The staff strap is made in a manner similar to the way major's leaves are made. The cavalry strap has only cable pattern wings.

 

 

 

Cavalry Colonel's Shoulder Strap

 

Multiple bordered straps were extremely popular during the Civil War and only uncommonly used afterwards. The above strap is typical of a double border one with sequins used to form the wings similiar to the first example.

 

 

Infantry Colonel's Shoulder Strap with Four Borders

 

 

Triple border straps were also used. Other examples can have four or five borders. The above strap has a blue velvet field that has not stood the test of time and is deteriorated. All of the above examples show an escutcheon (shield) on the eagle's chest but it is sometimes omitted. The embroiderers of Civil War shoulder straps did not have the written regulations to refer to and in all likelihood executed their designs based on oral instructions. The result is that there is a great variation in their product. During the post-Civil War period manufacturers of insignia controlled the output much more closely and the straps conform more closely to written regulations

Modificato 10 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

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USMC of WW2 era. Front and half rear.

 

[Blue Sky]

USMC Pfc. Vietnam, 1968 .

 

 

 

This Private first class (Pfc) of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) wears the standard jungle green fatigues, tropical pattern boots made of a combination of leather and nylon. Over his shoulder he carries the standard issue General Purpose Machine Gun, the 7.62mm GPMG M60.As the infantry soldiers were called 'grunts' and the GPMG M60 was called 'the pig' this photo could be called "A Grunt with a pig"

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Union Army Uniforms and Insignia of the Civil War

 

Generals' Uniform

 

 

 

Brigadier General's Uniform

 

The basic uniform coat is a double-breasted frock coat. Unique to a general's regulation uniform are a dark blue velvet collar and cuffs. The cuffs, like the cuffs of all other officers, have three small buttons. All the buttons are of the type worn by generals and staff officers. For a brigadier a pattern of eight buttons placed by twos were worn. The hat has an insignia on the front consisting of the silver letters U.S. surrounded by gold embroidered wreath. The pants are dark blue and lack any kind of cord or stripe. Note the buff silk sash worn by generals. All officers are pictured in The Altas to accompany the Official Records wearing epaulettes. Photographic evidence suggests epaulettes, which were worn for dress, were not commonly worn and officers appear more often wearing shoulder straps. This illustration has one incorrect detail. The regulations call for a brigadier's star to be on the strap of the epaulette and not the pad as illustrated. During the postwar years and at the time that this illustration was made, the star was worn on the pad.

 

 

 

 

Brigadier General Irvin McDowell 1818-1885

McDowell is wearing a brigadier general's uniform without a sash and with shoulder straps rather than epaulettes. Note the dark blue velvet collar and cuffs and the sword knot dangling from the guard of his sword.

 

 

SWORDS AND SCABBARDS

 

 

 

From left:

A.General Officer

The regulations mention no pattern for general's swords. This particular design was worn by General John A. Dix. Photographs show a wide variety of swords, many of them presentation.

B.General Officer (Variation)

C.Staff and Field Officer (Model of 1860)

This sword became the standard staff and foot officer's sword replacing many of the other models during the post-war period.

D.Foot Officer (Model of 1850)

 

 

 

Officer's Sword Belts

 

 

From left:

A. Company and Field Officers

B. General Officers with three rows of gold embroidery

 

 

 

 

 

Officers and Enlisted Men's Sashes

 

 

Sashes were worn by both commissioned and some non-commissioned officers. They have a long history of use as an item of military dress and added an accent of color to the uniform. Non-commissioned officers authorized to wear the N.C.O. sword wore a red worsted sash under their sword belts. Sashes were sometimes wore by non-commissioned officers in the field as born out by clothing requisitions and period photographs. General Orders Number 286 of November 22, 1864 allowed officers not to wear sashes while serving in the field. No doubt they were rarely worn long before that date. A sash worn across the chest indictated that an officer was officer of the day.

 

 

 

 

Staff Officer's Button

backmark HORSTMANN & ALLIEN NY

Type adopted in 1832

 

 

 

Epaulettes

 

 

 

Epaulette (without ormaments)

Epaulettes were gold with silver grade (rank) insignia. Epaulettes differed according to the insignia (devices) they displayed and the diameter and length of the bullion fringe hanging from the end. The devices indicated grade, branch of service and in some cases regimental number. They were worn when the uniform was worn as a dress uniform.

 

 

 

Officer's Headgear Insignia

 

 

U.S. Wreath Forage Cap (Kepi) Insignia Worn by General and Staff Officers

 

 

During the Civil War general officers and various categories of staff officer wore a U.S. in a wreath on their headgear. A smaller version was worn on the front of the forage cap (kepi). A larger was intended for the Jeff Davis hat, but also might be used on the forage cap.

 

This insignia was originally worn on the 1839 forage cap by generals and staff officers and later on the 1851 cap or shako. In 1858 the Jeff Davis Hat replaced the 1851 cap and the U.S. wreath was transferred to the Jeff Davis Hat. The U.S. wreath remained in use until 1895 when an eagle became the cap insignia for all officers.

 

Since officer's uniforms were private purchase and the insignia made by hand individual officers sometimes modified regulation insignia. On occasion the letters of s staff officer's department appeared rather than U.S. but this was never regulation. For example, a member of the medical staff might wear "M.S." General officers occasionally wore a star or stars or a star in addition to the U.S. Other insignia worn by state militia officers had the initials of the states in place of U.S.

 

The Old English letters U.S. are embroidered in silver bullion and the leaves in gold on a dark blue velvet field. An oval border of Jaceron wire might surround the design, particularly the larger ones intended for the hat. A metallic U.S. wreath was worn by hospital stewards.

Modificato 10 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

[Blue Sky]

ARVN Lieutenant in 'tiger stripes'. 1970

 

 

This soldier is in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, our 'allies' in the war in SVN. He kitted out in US designed, Korean made, camouflage uniform called 'tiger stripes'. He carries a Colt AR-15 (M16A1) 5.56mm 'Armalite' rifle with 30 round magazine. He is also armed with 2 M26 fragmentation grenades and a pistol. He has a nylon mesh waist-coat (probably US Special Forces) and a bush hat with his badges of rank (2 plum blossoms) on it.

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Union Army Uniforms and Insignia of the Civil War

 

Field Officers' Uniforms

 

 

Infantry Colonel's Uniform

 

 

 

This infantry colonel is wearing a dress uniform. The frock coat is double-breasted. The buttons are placed in two rows of seven each, spaced evenly down the front. All infantry officers wore an eagle button with an "I" in the shield on the eagle's chest. There are three small buttons on a Civil War officer's cuff, while those of enlisted men always have only two. His hat is looped up on the right side by an embroidered eagle. Mounted enlisted men's hats were also looped on the right while foot men were looped on the left per the text of 1861 regulations. An embroidered infantry horn is worn on the front of the hat. Three black ostrich feathers are worn on the hat. His sword is held up by a hook on the sword belt and the sword knot in held by his left hand. Around his waist is a crimson sash over which is worn the sword belt. Sky blue trousers for regimental officers were also introduced after the publication of the 1861 Regulations as a wartime expediency. There is an one-eighth inch dark blue welt running down the side of the trousers.

 

An Infantry Colonel commanded a regiment of troops, which was typically ten companies and over one thousand men at full strength. In the volunteer force colonels were appointed by state governors and then mustered into Federal service with their regiments. Often they were men of political influence, but little military experience. Most learned their duties and functioned well, some became outstanding leaders, and others were incompetent and were compelled to resign from the service.

 

Officers' Hat Insignia

 

Officer's Embroidered Jeff Davis Hat Eagle

 

 

The adoption of the Jeff Davis hat posed the problem of how to make the hat look military. One solution was to use the eagle design that was worn on the front of the cap (shako) as an insignia to loop the side of the hat up. These eagles saw service 1858-1871. They were among the more beautiful creations of the embroiderer's art. The above eagle was worn by Lieutenant Colonel William H. Silsby of the 10th Iowa Infantry.

 

 

 

Infantry Officers' Hat and Cap Insignia

 

 

Forage Cap Insignia for Infantry Officers

 

 

Jeff Davis Hat Insignia for Infantry Officers of First Regiment

 

The larger size insignia were intended for the front of the Jeff Davis hat and the smaller size ones are for the front of the forage cap (kepi). The numeral "one" within the above infantry horn indicates a regiment, having the number one. It is not possible to know from an actual insignia or photograph whether or not the regimental number is that of a regiment from particular state or from the Regular Army of the United States. Some insignia have numbers in bullion embroidery or as small silver metallic numbers added to the insignia. In other cases (as shown) the insignia were worn without any regimental number. The insignia themselves were generally made from bullion embroidery, but also were sometimes stamped brass with a false embroidery surface.

 

The infantry horn had its origin in Europe where it was worn by light infantry skirmishers recruited among huntsman. The English had a Rifles, the French Chasseurs and Germans Jäger troops. Americans followed European uniform styles and the hunting horn device was used on various shako plates in the early 19th Century. In 1839 an insignia very similar to the Civil War one was adopted for wear on the front of the officer's forage cap. With the evolution of headgear it was transferred to each new style until in 1875 when it was replaced with the crossed musket insignia that remains in use by infantry as a branch insignia today.

 

 

Officer's Hat Insignia

 

 

Infantry Officer's Embroidered Hat Insignia

 

The brownish background is faded from its original blue. This insignia was originally worn by an officer of the 10th New York Infantry. These insignia were worn on the front of the Jeff Davis hat and forage cap. The horn was dropped as the insignia of infantry in 1875 when crossed rifles were adopted.

 

 

Infantry Second Lieutenant

 

 

This infantry second lieutenant is wearing an infantry horn on his forage cap, which is resting on his leg. He is holding a piece of hardtack and drinking a cup of coffee. His uniform is a dark blue frock coat and light blue trousers with a darker blue welt trim.

 

 

 

 

Officer's False Embroidered Infantry Horn

 

The usual officer's hat insignia was an embroidered infantry horn often with the number of the regiment embroidered in the circle. Embroidered insignia were expensive and did not hold up well in the field. Metallic false embroidered insignia, such as this one, were available as a substitute. Although intended for officers, photographs will on occasional show enlisted men also wearing them. The enlisted use of these metallic horn appears to be very common in images of troops from New England states, particually New Hampshire. Two examples of these metallic horns on original forage caps can be seen on pages 176 and 177 of the book Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Union.

 

 

Unidentified Private 52^nd Illinois Infantry Regiment. Details Hat Insignia

 

 

This image was taken in 1861 while the regiment was in Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri. His hat is either private purchased or one the best jobs of shaping a Jeff Davis hat that was ever done. The hat insignia are very interesting. His infantry horn is not the usual U.S. issued one, but appears to be a metallic, false-embroidered version that was occasionally worn by enlisted men. Unlike an issued horn, this one has tassels hanging below it. His company letter, perhaps an "A" is placed in the inside of the horn. He also wears the regimental number "52" below the horn. He is wearing a regulation uniform frock coat with infantry accouterments. The light blue piping of the collar and cuffs are clearly seen. His belt has an oval U.S. plate with a clip seen to its right to hold the tongue. He has an empty bayonet scabbard, cap box and cartridge box hidden behind the right arm on the belt. The cartridge box is supported by a cross belt having a round plate with an eagle. He supports a Springfield rifle with bayonet. Plugging the barrel of the rifle is a wooden tompion. On his feet are an issued pair of army shoes, called Jefferson boots.

Modificato 11 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

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Grade (Rank) Insignia

 

 

 

Epaulette Grade (Rank) Insignia

This illustration from the Altas to Accompany the Official Records is incorrect in two details. The epaulette of a major should not have a leaf according to the text of the regulations. The epaulette of a major appears similar to that of a second lieutenant except that the bullion fringe is longer and wider. Also, the star of a brigadier general should be located on the strap rather than the pad as illustrated. This plate was made in the 1890s and was influenced by changes that occurred after the Civil War in U.S. Army grade insignia.

 

The buttons worn on epaulettes corresponds to coat buttons for the particular branch of service. Captains and lieutenants have silver bars on epaulettes, but gold bars on shoulder straps. The circlets with regimental numbers were worn by line (regimental) officers and are in the colors of the combat branches.

 

 

 

Epaulette Grade Insignia of the Civil War

 

 

 

This colonel\'s epaulette eagle gives an approximation of the appearence of the eagle but makes no effort the simulate embroidery. The eagles were embroidered in silver bullion. In addition to the grade device the regulations describe a branch of service insignia or initals for departments and a circlet in the branch color for line officers whose grade was between colonel and second lieutenant.

 

Civil War Epaulettes

 

Colonel\'s Epaulette

 

 

Epaulettes became common on British and French uniforms in the mid-eighteenth Century when they competed with the gorget, various shoulder knots, and aiguillettes as distinctions for officers. By 1763 the French had a standardized system of grade designations using epaulettes for their infantry. The British wore a regimental uniform with no standardized grade insignia. By the time of the Revolutionary War stars were worn on American general\'s epaulettes, following the French system. The eagle as the emblem of a colonel was introduced in 1832. At the same time metal crescents were made mandatory. By the time of the American Civil War epaulettes evolved into a heavy insignia that was practical only for dress wear. The example shown above belonged to Joshua A. Varian of the 8th New York National Guard Regiment. That unit was mustered into Federal service twice in 1862 and 1863 for a total of four months of service. It lacks a regimental circlet, but should have an eight on a blue field.

 

 

Epaulette Insignia

 

 

^{Epaulette Circlets for the 4th and 25thInfantry RegimentsThese circlets were pinned to the surface of the epaulettes. Higher numbers, such as the 25th regiment, are for state forces and lower numbers could be Regular Army or state forces. Circlets are of two types:1) flat (such as those above) and 2) domed. Notice that the blue of the circlet with the number four is a deeper blue than the other. This kind of color variation is common with Civil War insignia.}

 

 

 

^{Officers\' Buttons}

 

 

^{Infantry Officer\'s Button. Original Infantry Officer\'s Button}

 

 

^{Buttons with an engle having an \"I\" on its shield for infantry were first used in 1821 and passed from use in 1902. There are changes in style of construction that allow dating to period. During the Civil War they were brass and generally have the name of the manufacturer or military outfitter impressed on the back of the button. A round wire shank was used to attach the button to the uniform. A larger sized button was used on coats and overcoats and a smaller size on cuffs, sides of caps, vests, and epaulettes. The Backmark on the original button is \"HORSTMANN\'S NY & PHI.\"}

 

^{Button Backmarks}

 

^{W. H. Horstmann & Sons Phi Waterbury Button Co.}

^{rmdc type dm type}

^1850\'s

 

 

^{Waterbury Button Co. dm type 1860-1870}

 

 

 

 

^{Officer\'s Gloves}

 

 

^{In the Nineteenth Century white gloves were emblematic of a gentlemen. It was unthinkable for an officer to appear in dress without them. The pair illustrated above are made of chamois leather and button with a gilt button. They belonged to Colonel Joshua A. Varian of the 8th New York Militia Regiment. Most gloves worn by officers are indistinguishable from civilian ones. As time passed gloves became less fashionable but are still worn today during formal ceremonies, such as military funerals.}

 

^{Gloves were also worn by enlisted men.}

 

 

^{General Sherman\'s Army commenced to march by this station early this morning. His troops are on the way from North Carolina to Washington. They look tough and hearty but without much style. My men have new uniforms and white gloves, and my camp was overrun with Sherman\'s men who thought we were green troops and undertook to help themselves.}

^{--Diary of Elish Hunt Rhodes, 2nd Rhode Island Infantry.}

 

 

^{Belt Buckle Plates}

 

 

 

^{The sword belt was worn by both officers and enlisted men who wore swords.}

Modificato 11 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

[Blue Sky]

The Gurkhas.

 

 

Malaya; Borneo; Malaysia. 1948/1967 Australians and Gurkhas have worked together for many years.

He wears tropical green shirt and trousers, a bush hat, 1944 British webbing and rubber and canvas jungle boots.

This bloke carries a M16 Armalite rifle and would have a bayonet, a machete and his famed kukri knife.

They were (and are still) feared jungle fighters, ready and willing to get up close and very personal with the CTs.

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URSS, Pilota della Marina

 

This double breasted style of naval uniform was not used often, but was striking in its appearance. This example is very rare as its for a combat pilot of Red Navy Aviation.

Modificato 11 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

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URSS, Seconda Guerra Mondiale, Capitano NKVD

Modificato 11 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

[Blue Sky]

Italian Uniforms

 

 

 

An item which is a little off the beaten military track, though in common use in any army is socks. Specifically the type that is worn on the feet. Heading the unusual list in this field must be the socks issued to Italian troops in World War Two. The standard issue sock (for other ranks) was gray-green coloured, and wool knit, 24cm in length. The unusual feature about the socks was that they had no toe. The toe of the sock, so to speak, was a thin strip of sock, approximately 2cm wide and about 10cm long, which slipped between the big toe and the fourth toe. A piece of cloth called "Pezze da Piedi" (roughly translated piece over the foot) was used to wrap around the front of the sock. The officers were also issued socks of a similar design, though of better quality and longer at 42cm. However, they used a variety with toes, bought privately or home made. Why the socks were made like this, I am not sure. Never the less, it is an interesting piece of military hose.

Modificato 11 Dicembre 2008 da Blue Sky

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Union Army Uniforms and Insignia of the Civil War

 

Officers' Dress Uniforms

 

Light Artillery Officer. Unknown Officer 5^th Artillery

 

The posterior view of a field officier of light artillery in a dress uniform. He is wearing a shako or cap with a red plume. The cord, which secured the cap from getting away from a mounted man, can be seen looping under the right shoulder and attaching to the left side of the cap. Notice the four buttons on the skirt of the coat. The sword is a Model 1860 staff and field officers sword. The trousers are light blue with a red welt.

 

The photograph shows an unknown second lieutenant of the 5^th Artillery from the front. The insignia are embroidered. The cord that secures the cap can clearly be seen. The epaulettes do not appear to have a grade device, but do have 5^th artillery circlets. The date of the image is unknown, but should have been taken in the period 1860-1872.

 

 

 

Second Lieutenant's Epaulette

 

 

 

The button at the end of the epaulette next to the collar has an "A" in its shield for artillery. There is no grade device on the strap of the epaulette indicating the officer held the lowest grade that of second lieutenant. Within the cresent of the epaulette is a domed type circlet in red for artillery. The embroidery of the circlet is in silver to contrast with the gold of the epaulette. The bullion tassels are one-eighth inch per regulation. The three within the circlet indicates third regiment of artillery but could be of the Regular Army or of one of the states. In addition, it could be heavy artillery or light artillery. Within the field armies light artillery regiments of eight to twelve batteries each existed only as administrative units and the force was deployed by attaching individual batteries to ever larger infantry units. Originally the batteries were attached to brigades but by the end of the war it was by corps. The result was that the light artillery regiments did not develop the individual identities possessed by regiments of the other service branches.

Modificato 11 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

[Blue Sky]

Service Jackets of the Australian Army and Support Units

 

 

This jacket was worn by Lieutenant Francis Bede Stafford who enlisted in the AIF (SN 675) on 23 December 1914. Served in 2 Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron in Palestine. Appointed Second Lieutenant on 6 November 1917. Seconded to Machine Gun Training Squadron on 26 January 1918 and promoted Lieutenant on 6 February 1918. Returned to Australia on 28 June 1919. Died 4 September 1966.

 

 

Officers blues dress wool serge jacket : Lieutenant General Sir John Monash, Australian Army

 

 

Associated with NX525 Lieutenant H G Quail, a crew commander with A Squadron, 6 Division Cavalry Regiment, 2nd AIF.

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URSS, combat operations near Lake Khasan, 1937-38

 

 

 

 

1. Soldier of the Pos'yet Frontier Guards Detachment of the NKVD troops of the USSR. He is armed a 7.62mm Mosin-designed rifle of the 1891/1930 model. His cartridge pouches are of a pre-revolutionary model (they refer to times before 1917). One can see supporting shoulder belts as part of the arming. The service coat has a low-cut welt strip with three buttonholes according to the NKVD model. The service cap has a dark-green top, its cap band being of a very dark shade of blue bordering on black colour, and crimson piping. On the service coat one can see a "Voroshilov marksman" badge. Vicinity of Lake Khasan. July 1938.

 

2. Squad leader of the Red Army's 2nd Mechanised Brigade that belonged to the 39th Rifle Corps. The service cap is gray with black worsted cap band and red piping, the arming is of standard type. The squad leader is armed with a 7.62mm Nagant-designed revolver of the 1895 model. He is holding a signal flag in his hand. Fixed on his service coat is a "Ready for work and defense" badge. Vicinity of Lake Khasan. August 1938.

Modificato 12 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

[Blue Sky]

Many of the armies of the world are moving away from having distinctive uniforms. This is of course on top of the fact that many of the 'People's Liberation Armies' are guerrilla or terrorist groups and plan not to have an identifiable uniform. Listed below are some of what we have fought against so far.

 

MALAYA'S CTs

 

KOREA'S nka

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URSS, combat operations near Lake Khasan, 1937-38

 

 

 

3. Red Army soldier of an artillery battery of the Red Army's 40^th Rifle Division named after Sergo Ordzhonikidze. There are no combat arms insignia on his service coat. The soldier is protected with a steel helmet of the 1936 model. Vicinity of Lake Khasan, August 1938.

 

4. Senior Lieutenant of the 39th Corps Artillery Regiment belonging to the Red Army's 39^th Rifle Corps. He is wearing a usual Red Army clothing, but sewn to the turndown collar of his summer shirt-like service coat are artillery senior lieutenant's collar tabs. The accoutrement is of light field type. Vicinity of Lake Khasan, August 1938.

Modificato 12 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

[Blue Sky]

Many of the armies of the world are moving away from having distinctive uniforms. This is of course on top of the fact that many of the 'People's Liberation Armies' are guerrilla or terrorist groups and plan not to have an identifiable uniform. Listed below are some of what we have fought against so far.

 

KOREA'S pla

 

Vietcong

 

NVA

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URSS, combat operations near Lake Khasan, 1937-38

 

 

 

5. Squad leader of the Red Army\\\'s 32^nd Saratov Rifle Division. He is armed with a 7.62mm Mosin-designed rifle of the 1891 model. Besides a standard set of accoutrement, he has a knapsack and a greatcoat roll over his shoulder. On his steel helmet of the 1936 model there is a special net for using plant branches as camouflage. Vicinity of Lake Khasan, August 1938.

 

6. Infantry Lieutenant of the 78^th Kazan Holding the Order of the Red Banner Rifle Regiment of the 26^th Zlatoust Holding the Order of the Red Banner Rifle Division. The officer is protected with a steel helmet of the 1936 model, his accoutrement is of the 1932 model. The sides of his collar and the cuffs of his service coat are piped with crimson worsted, which signifies that he belongs to infantry commanders and chiefs. His service coat is decorated with the Order of the Red Star. Combat operations area near Lake Khasan. August 1938.

 

 

Type 2593 Sumida armoured car of an early modification. It belongs to marine detachments of the Japanese Navy. The vehicle is painted grey, the hull side bears, besides the picture of the Japanese naval flag, two inscriptions - Hokoku 1 (above) and Nagaoka -Shi go (below). The meaning of the inscriptions: “the first vehicle built for voluntary contributions of Nagaoka town inhabitants”. China, mid-1930s, vicinity of the town of Jinan

 

 

BT-7 tank (with a cylinder-formed turret) of the 1^st Company of the 1^st Battalion of the Red Army’s 2^nd Mechanized Brigade Vicinity of Lake Khasan, August 1938

 

Fighter I-16 Type 5 model 1938 belonging to the Red Army’s 36^th Fighter Air Regiment Vicinity of Lake Khasan, August 1938

 

 

Japanese heavy armoured car of Type 2593 belonging to the 2^nd unit of the army armoured forces. Manchuria, mid-1930s

 

 

Private 1^st Class of the 75^th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese 19^th Infantry Division (he has two small stars on red shoulder straps which are sewn to clothing of the 1930 model) On his upright collar one can see crimson collar tabs which signifies that the soldier belongs to infantry The private is protected with a steel helmet of the 1934 model and is armed with a 6 5mm rifle Arisaka Type 30 of the 1897 model Vicinity of Lake Khasan, August 1938

 

Captain of engineer units (3 stars on a single longitudinal stripe on each shoulder strap) of the Japanese 19^th Infantry Division His dress coat is of the 1930 model, he has spurs fixed on his high boots because an officer was entitled to a riding-horse He is also armed with an officer’s sword of the 1935 model (the colour of the woollen tassels on the hilt is brown and blue) and equipped with binoculars in a leather case Vicinity of Lake Khasan, August 1938

 

Self-propelled artillery] mounts SU-5-2 (each armed with a 122mm howitzer) are parading in Khabarovsk. Only 15 such artillery systems were pro-duced. Some of them took part in combat operations near Lake Khasan. 7 November, 1937

 

Crew members of ? Japanese medium machinegun of Type 92 (a copy of 7 7mm French machmegun Hotchkiss) are firing at positions of Soviet border troops. Soviet-Manchurian border, summer 1938

 

 

Officers and men of a battalion of the 78^th Kazan Holding the Order of the Red Banner Rifle Regiment of the 26th Zlatoust Holding the Order of the Red Banner Rifle Division The battalion commanded by Captain M L Svirin was at that moment in reserve in the vicinity of Village Kraskino. Far-Eastern Front, 9 August 1938

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Japanese uniforms of WW2

 

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URSS, combat operations near Lake Khasan, 1937-38

 

 

 

7. The Red Army's Air Force captain belonging to the 36^th Fighter Air Regiment of the Soviet troops. He is wearing a leather raglan coat and a blue Air Force service cap introduced in 1938. Vicinity of Lake Khasan, August 1938.

 

8. The Red Army's Air Force lieutenant wearing a version of the Soviet aviation's summer flying suit. As a rule, collar tabs were not sewn to such flying suits. The 55^th Mixed Bomber Air Regiment, vicinity of Lake Khasan, August 1938

 

 

 

Incidents along the 3,000 miles of ill-defined border between Manchukuo and the Soviet Union numbered in the hundreds from 1932 on. In the summer of 1938, a major clash erupted at Lake Khasan, 70 miles southwest of Vladivostok at the intersection of the Manchukuoan, Korean and Soviet borders, leaving the Soviets in possession of the ground.

 

The lifeline of the Soviet position in the Far East and Siberia was the Trans-Siberian Railroad, which served as the only link between those regions and European Russia. Outer Mongolia was the key to strategic control of the Trans-Siberian Railroad. To ensure the protection of that vital artery, the Soviets had established the puppet Mongolian People’s Republic (MPR) in Outer Mongolia. A treaty of mutual assistance between the Soviet Union and the MPR had been signed in 1936.

 

Part of the reason for the escalating tensions in the area was due to the ‘Strike North’ faction in the Japanese high command — a faction found predominantly among the staff officers of the Kwantung Army stationed in Manchukuo. Once it had severed the Trans-Siberian lifeline, the Strike North officers argued, the Japanese empire could then be expanded to include all of Mongolia, the Soviet maritime provinces and parts of Siberia. Shielded by those buffer territories, the natural resources and heavy industries of Manchukuo could then be fully developed by the Japanese. Bereft of outside support, Chinese resistance would collapse.

 

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Armed clash along the border between the Soviet Maritime Province and Japanese colonial Korea. The border dispute between the two sides led to fighting, beginning on 29 July 1938, on a small hill known as Zhanggufeng (Chang-ku-feng) and the adjacent Lake Khasan.

 

On 6 August, Lieutenant General V. N. Sergeev’s Soviet Thirty-Ninth Army of 23,000 infantry troops, with tanks and armored vehicles and supported by heavy artillery and air cover, attacked units of Lieutenant General Suetaka Kamezó’s 14th Division of 7,000 infantry troops defending Zhanggufeng. By 9 August, lacking heavy artillery and armor, the Japanese were driven from the hill. The Soviet forces then broke off contact save for reconnaissance. The Japanese refrained from a counterattack on the eve of their Wuhan operation in China. A truce was arranged between the two sides on 11 August 1938. The Japanese sustained 1,440 casualties (526 killed). The victorious Soviets paid a higher price, with 792 killed or missing and 3,279 wounded.

 

As a consequence of the battle, the Soviets gained confidence in their combat effectiveness. The battle revealed glaring Japanese weaknesses in firepower and tanks, but the army did nothing to rectify these shortcomings, continuing to believe in the superiority of fighting spirit over firepower. This mistaken doctrine eventually led to an overwhelming victory for the Soviets and defeat for the Japanese in their border dispute in the renewed fighting at Nomonhan/ Khalhin-Gol the following year.

 

References

 

Coox, Alvin D. The Anatomy of a Small War: The Soviet-Japanese Struggle for Changkufeng/Khasan, 1938. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1977.

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Japanese uniforms of WW2

 

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URSS, Battaglia di Khalkhin Gol, 1939

 

 

1. Platoon commander\'s assistant. The 11^th Tank Brigade. He is weared in coveralls and uniform panama. July, 1939

 

2. Tank company commander of the 6^th Tank Brigade. He is weared in summer field dress and crash tank helmet. August, 1939.

 

3. Scout of the Reconnaissance Battalion of the 11^th Tank Brigade. He is weared in self-made «grassy» camouflage and rubber sporting slippers. There is a trophy Japanese swardm his hand. July, 1939.

 

Modificato 12 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

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Japanese uniforms of WW2

 

 

Japanese aviator's unlined brown cotton gabardine flying jacket. Waist length jacket has stand and fall collar, concealed front buttoning, two large semi-circular pockets with concealed zip fastening on either side of the centre front, and a self fabric belt that is contained within the waist casing and fastens with a white-metal, toothed sliding buckle. Each sleeve has a zip running from elbow to wrist which can be unfastened to give additional ease. The lower left front of the jacket has a 70mm slit reinforced with leather, to allow cabling to be attached to the aviator's flying helmet.

 

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URSS, area baltica, 1941

 

 

1. Soldier of the Red Army's 84^th Motorized (Tula) Division That unit was organic to the 3^rd Mechanised Corps of Baltic Special Military District. The Red Army infantry man has a standard set of clothing and accoutrements of Red Army, he is protected with a steel helmet of Pattern 1936, armed with a self-loading rifle designed by Tokarev in 1940 (SVT-40) The bolt of rifle is wrapped in a piece of cloth because IBS weapon was very vulnerable to dirt and dust. On his service coat is wearing the badge "Excellent soldier of Red Army". One of Baltic states, June 1941.

 

2. Political instructor of the Red Army's 5^th Vitebsk Rifle Division named after Czechoslovakian proletariat. That unit was organic to the Red Army's 16^th Rifle Corps and was stationed in Lithuania. The political instructor has a standard clothing of Red Army's commanding officers, on his service coat can be seen the medal "For courage". Baltic Special Military District. June 1941

Modificato 12 Dicembre 2008 da intruder