"Storia ed Evoluzione dell'Uniforme Militare"

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Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Guerrilla, Golan Heights 1974

 

 

Weapon: Degtyarev RPD light machine gun fed by two 50 round belts in a drum magazine. Rate of fir approx 150 rounds per minute. Automatic pistol in waist holster.

Equipment: PLO guerrillas have no uniformity of equipment.

Uniform: Civilian or para military items are usually worn. No formal uniform code exists. The face covering shermagh is considered 'compulsory'.

Notes: The PLO claims to be a "Government-in-exile". It exists to set up a Palestinian state and to destroy Israel. On the Golan Heights in 1974 they were small potatoes.

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MKII-H3

Mk II Helmet

US War Aid Clothing Italy, 1944: an infantryman wearing US-made battledress. This was one of the anomalies of wartime procurement: while trans-Atlantic; shipping space was at such a premium that many items of US web equipment were manufactured in the UK, at the same time US factories were producing BD and other equipment for the British Army. Production of BD began in January 1943 from specifications drawn up in autumn 1942; its issue was limited to Italy and the Mediterranean theatre. Battledress, Olive Drab, War Aid was of noticeably better fabric and a greener shade than British production. The most noticeable identifying feature is the fly front on the blouse but with exposed buttons to the unpleated pockets, Blouses had two labels on the internal right pocket, one unmistakably American giving contract and stock numbers, and the other giving typically British size ranges.

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1896 German Schutztruppe Home Uniform

 

Schutztruppe Officer East Africa

 

Figure 1 is based on a pre-war photograph of an Oberleutnant Paul Graetz of the East African Schutztruppe in Home Uniform. The Schutztruppe home uniform (known as the "Tuchuniform") was introduced for all colonies in 1896 and was a version of the M1842/95 German army uniform. It consisted of a field grey tunic (though of a less green shade than that adopted by the Imperial Army in 1907/10). It was piped in colony colours, white for East Africa, blue for South West Africa and red for Cameroon (yellow for Togo, green for New Guinea and pink for Samoa were authorised in 1912 but were probably not issued before the First World War) and had a high stand and fall collar in colony colours with silver double Litzen lace (white for other ranks) and deep Swedish style cuffs again in colony colours with silver double Litzen. It had eight white metal buttons down the front, two on each cuff and three down both of the scalloped rear pleats also piped in colony colours. It had no exterior pockets. Shoulder straps for officers were black/sliver/red braid with pips (one for Oberleutnant in this case) to display rank in the same way as the Imperial Armyee Officers Rank Insignia Page). Other ranks shoulder straps were woven from twisted cord in black/white/red. Another version of the tunic in the same style but with no Litzen and the collar and cuffs only piped in the colony colours rather than filled was known as the "Interimsrock".

 

The field grey trousers (or riding breeches in this case) were also piped in colony colours. This officer has been awarded the colonial combatants medal which he wears on his left breast for active service in the colonies, and below that the silver cords worn by Schutztruppe officers on parade. NCOs wore similar cords in twisted black/white/red.

 

The headgear is the classic "Südwester" slouch hat characteristic of the Schutztruppe. It was made from grey felt with a hatband and brim band in colony colours and pinned up on the right hand side with a large black/white/red cockade. The Officer's belt is the same as that worn by officers in the Imperial Army woven again from cords in the Imperial colours. The uniform was usually accompanied by brown leather ankle boots and leather gaiters or riding boots as here.

 

This was the uniform worn by Schutztruppe personnel at home in Germany or as full dress on parade from 1896 onwards. Prior to 1896 the Schutztruppe of each colony had their own different uniforms. The home uniform was rarely seen in the Colonies with the exception of in South West Africa where it was commonly worn in place of the white tropical uniform on parade.

 

Oberleutnant Paul Graetz (1875- 1968) originally served in the 106^th Saxon Infantry Regiment "Prince George", before being transferred to the East African Schutztruppe and given the task of road building in the colony. Between 1907 and 1909 he made an historic epic journey by car with Theodore von Roeder from Dar es Salaam in German East Africa to Swakopmund in German South West Africa. This was the first crossing of Southern Africa in a motorised vehicle and is described in Graetz's book, "Im Auto quer durch Afrika". When the First World War broke out he was back in Germany planning an airship expedition to New Guinea but was soon instead put in charge of the Flying school and Fokker factory at Schwerin. While living in Dresden after the First World War, he was involved in setting up the fore-runner of the German airline company, Lufthansa. In 1949 he escaped from Soviet East Germany and died in Travemünde in West Germany in 1968.

 

 

 

Figure 2 is based on a pre-war photograph of an Officer of the South West African Schutztruppe in Home Uniform. The uniform is the same as that for the pervious figure of the East African Schutztruppe Officer but with blue hatband and edging on the Südwester (see right) and matching blue collar, cuffs and piping on the tunic and trousers for South West Africa.

Note the scalloped, blue piped rear skirts of the tunic with three buttons on each side.

 

 

 

Schutztruppe Trooper SW Africa

 

The figure is based on a pre-war photograph of a Trooper of the South West African Schutztruppe in home walking out uniform. The other ranks uniform was the same as the officer's version but with smaller collar and cuffs. The shoulder straps were of black/white/red twisted braid.

 

The headgear here is the peaked field cap, in matching grey with hatband and piping in colony colours (in this case blue for South West Africa) and a small imperial (black/white/red) cockade on the front of the hatband. Unlike in the imperial army and Seebatallione other ranks of the Schutztruppe wore the peaked cap.

 

NCO rank was worn on the home uniform in the style of the regular army with lace on the collar and cuffs (see right) and rank buttons on the collar. This trooper's uniform has collar, cuffs and piping in blue for South West Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

Paymaster SW Africa

 

The is based on a pre-war photograph of a South West African Paymaster. Colonial officials such as paymasters, veterinarians, doctors etc wore the same home uniforms as the Schutztruppe but with several notable differences. They did not wear the Litzen of the Schutztruppe. Their shoulder straps, cap and Südwester hatbands and piping were determined by their arm of service (see right). The colour of their buttons was likewise determined by their arm of service. In this case the figure wears the blue backing with white piping of a paymaster. Colonial officials were further distinguished by wearing a small white metal Prussian eagle on the front of their headgear- in this case on the front of the Südwester slouch hat.

 

Officers, officials and many NCOs wore Privately Tailored Uniforms. This led to variations in quality and to a lesser extent cut. Sometimes the collar was cut higher, cuffs deeper and the hatband and cockade were sometimes often on the Südwester and other headgear.

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Corporal, Iraqi Army, Gulf War 1980

 

 

Weapon: 7.62 mm AKMS assault rifle

Equipment: A web belt is the only webbing worn here and two AK47 magazine pouches are hung from it.

Uniform: Lightweight canvas and rubber desert boots match the lightweight khaki shirt and trousers uniform adopted by the Iraqi Army of that time. Note the badges of rank pinned onto the sleeve, the "whistle" lanyard tucked into the pocket British style and the gold badge on the blue/black beret.

Notes: The religious divisions that rack the rest of Iraq were just as noticeable in the military of 1980. The Sunni Muslims basically reserved all Officer positions for men of their sect and others, regardless of ability, could not rise.

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Revolutionary Guard, Iran, in the Gulf War 1980

 

 

Weapon: Here the Heckler & Koch G3 assault rifle. Just as likely would be the US M16 (Colt AR 15) or the FN FAL 7.62 self loading rifle.

Equipment: Web equipment appears to be based on British issue, with modifications, but is not of British manufacture. Source unknown. Typical set is web belt with shoulder straps, bayonet frog holding scabbard, water bottle in cover and 2 "basic" ammo pouches.

Uniform: The Iranians tend to wear jungle green even though the desert environment might suggest khaki. This pattern is fairly basic, locally made, medium weight cotton drill. There is nothing flash about the design. Standard GP style black leather boots, a US M1 helmet and liner and a unit badge on the chest pocket round out a simple by effective uniform.

Notes: After the Shah was deposed the Iranian Army declined in size and ability. The Revolutionary Guard is now used as a battering ram that takes tremendous losses through poor tactics and the fact the the Army is now driven by religious fervour not military values. Troops going to the front are given plastic keys and told that "these are the Keys to Paradise".

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The helmet worn here has a white painted band visible under the camouflage net; identifying a member of the traffic control branch of the Corps of Military Police. Note the details of the motorcyclist's boot, often worn with an extra pair of long socks. Later in the war a protective metal plate was added under the right instep to prevent excessive wear by the kick-start. The gauntlets remained unchanged throughout the war typically in buff or brown leather; they were also used by some motor vehicle drivers and armoured crews.

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Corporal, Israeli Airborne, Lebanon 1982

 

 

Weapon: 5.56 mm Galil assault rifle. Note the pack of 5 rifle grenades carried on the upper back.

Equipment: The webbing worn here is Israeli produced and would typically be4 ammo pouches, 1 large bum (or butt) pack and 3 or more other smaller pouches of various sizes for combat equipment, weapon cleaning kit, first aid packs and so on. The belt and shoulder straps are both much wider that US or British patterns and are of nylon.

Uniform: New pattern nylon para helmet. Jungle green mid weight cotton drill shirt and trousers.

Notes: The raid on Entebbe is probably the most famous of the actions undertaken by Israeli Paras. However they are often involved in cross-border counter-terrorist work.

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RAC-H2A

RAC Royal Armoured Corps Helmet

Tank Oversuit

Strengthened epaulettes were fitted at each shoulder, secured with press studs. The cloth was strong enough for them to be used in the extraction of a wounded man, but their general lack of bulk made a firm grip very difficult, and only a very strong man would have been able to drag the dead weight of a casualty from a tank using the epaulettes alone. Unlike the 1942 suit the oversuit had no internal rescue harness.

The Royal Armoured Corps pattern steel helmet was an improvement over the earlier fiber types, offering both considerably greater crash protection and unlike its predecessors, ballistic protection as well. The shell was the same as that used for the dispatch rider’s and Mk III Airborne helmets, the three differing only in their liners. The RAC helmet used the same type of liner as the Mk II general service helmet.

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Lebanese infantryman, Lebanon, 1982

 

 

Weapon: US 5.56 mm M16A1 (Colt AR 15) assault rifle with 30 round banana magazine.

Equipment: 10 pocket khaki canvas bandolier worn around the waist.

Uniform: Fairly standard pattern jungle green shirt and trouser set in mid-weight cotton drill over black leather GP style boots.

Notes: In 1982 the Lebanese Army was mostly trained by the USMC.

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MKII-H1A

Mk II Helmet

 

BEF Infantry, France 1940 (p 22)

As the BEF is pushed back to the French coast in May 1940 an infantryman (who also appears on the front cover of this book) waits for orders, with rifle slung. Although not yet issued to the BEF in its entirety, the battledress uniform in its original specification as manufactured from late 1938 was in use with most front line units; note the uncomfortable unlined collar of the serge blouse. An Mk VI respirator haversack carries the gas mask in the alert position; this particular model was introduced in 1939. Passing through the rings of the respirator haversack are the white tapes of the Cape, Anti -Gas, seen rolled behind the soldier’s head and resting above his small pack. A hessian cover with additional "brush loops" is fitted over the Mk II helmet (manufactured from 1938) to camouflage it and prevent reflections. Such covers, echoing practice during the Great War were unofficial but were made up by certain units during the battle of France; one original example is known with a painted hessian divisional flash sewn on. Helmet nets were also beginning to be issued and saw limited use in France; but most helmets were worn uncovered and uncamouflaged - which is somewhat surprising; as the paint finish on many early helmets was "eggshell" or satin rather than matt, without the addition of sand to coarsen the finish and kill reflections. Note that this respirator haversack has been "blancoed"- scrubbed with the same water-dilute powder preservative as the webbing harness. Later in the war hessian covers were sometimes seen worn over haversacks to prevent heavy soiling during exercises; the haversack could not easily be laundered without appearing conspicuously washed out thereafter.

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Indonesian Marine in Borneo, during "Confrontation", 1963

 

 

Weapon: 7.62 Czech Vz52 rifle.

Equipment: US issue web belt with several small ammo pouches.

Uniform: USMC camouflage material was used to make this uniform but the cut is different from the larger American versions. US M1 steel helmet with WW2 USMC camo cover. Black leather GP style boots.

Notes: Indonesia got worried that the changes away from colonial rule in neighbouring Malaysia were only for show so they started a campaign of "Konfrontasi" (Confrontation) against Malaysia especially Sabah in Borneo. The UK, Australia New Zealand and the Gurkhas all helped control the situation. It was a small undeclared war but ended with political changes in Indonesia.

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Elements of 2 Commando Brigade had been sent in January 1944 to Vis, an island off the Dalmatian coast, as part of an Allied force, Force 133, aiding partisans.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/90/a2820890.shtml

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Cina, 1900, Ribellione dei Boxer, truppe francesi: zuavo e fante di marina.

 

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RAF 1941

 

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Cina, 1900, Rivolta dei Boxer

 

 

A sinistra: bersagliere e alpino italiani. A destra: soldato francese, americano, russi.

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Royal Navy

 

 

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Sergeant-Major, Italian paras (Folgore), Beirut 1982

 

 

Weapon: Beretta BM59 Ital Para, a US Garand M1 inspired. Sheath knife.

Equipment: British issue web belt.

Uniform: Italian designed jump overalls in camouflage material. Note the knee pads. camouflage material scarf. Red beret with Paracadutisti badge. Italian paras are classed as infantry. Note the silver Star of Savoy collar points. Rank is indicated by a chest badge and a name tag is over the right breast pocket. Note the heavy black jump boots. Note the pocket on the lower leg.

Notes: In 1982 the Multi National Force (US, France & Italy) arrived in Beirut to restore order between the warring Christians & Muslims, and evacuate Europeans. Italy sent 2,000 men and M113 APCs. Later Britain sent a small support force.

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Wehrmacht, Fronte Orientale (Budapest), Gennaio-Febbraio 1945

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Difficile negare che anche in epoca antica esistesse qualcosa di simile alle attuali uniformi per gli appartenenti ai corpi militari: motivi pratici imponevano una certa standardizzazione dell'equipaggiamento (ricordiamo qual'è l'etimologia della parola "uniforme"), e la necessità di discernere il grano dal loglio nelle mischie, suggeriva un abbigliamento che permettesse di essere riconosciuto a prima vista. Sicuramente i primi ad ottenere qualcosa d simile alle moderne uniformi furono i romani in Europa e i cinesi in Asia, ma questo è un cavaliere dell'epoca di Alessandro Magno, e il suo equipaggiamento può già essere definito "uniforme".

 

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ROYAL NAVY 1940