"Storia ed Evoluzione dell'Uniforme Militare"

[Ospite intruder]

 

Weapon: SMLE .303 Lee Enfield No1 Mark III* rifle.

Equipment: 5 pouch ammunition belt that has a double shoulder strap fitting. Japanese WW2 water bottle and pouch.

Uniform: Cotton, 5 pointed cloth cap with Communist Star. Khaki drill shirt & trousers that are bloused at the knee. Japanese style puttees over rubber and canvas "gym" boots. Leather belt.

Notes: The Communist MRLA fought for years for a "free" Malaya, even after the formation of the independent Malayan nation. They were ultimately defeated, mainly because they did not get the support of the local population.

 

 

Faccio un appunto io, alla nota a piè di pagina: in realtà l'MRLA perse perché gli inglesi furono bravi a fargli la terra bruciata, con metodi che magari oggi verrebbero guardati con orrore, altro che non guadagnarono l'appoggio della popolazione...

[Ospite intruder]

 

Weapon: British designed, Indian manufactured .303 SMLE Mark III rifle.

Equipment: Shoulder slung bandolier.

Uniform: Pre independence Indian cavalry uniform sourced from Pakistan.

Notes: The "Free Kashmir" movement was predominantly Muslim in a state ruled by a Hindu. They fought, politically and militarily for independence but it was not to be.

[Blue Sky]

Special Boat Squadron (British Marines) Falkland Islands 1982

 

[Ospite intruder]

 

Weapon: Model 24 rifle (Czechoslovakian version of the German Kar 98k. 7.92 mm carbine) with bayonet to suit. Note it hangs in a British bayonet frog.

Equipment: WW1 US cartridge belt. WW2 US water bottle and carrier.

Uniform: British issue khaki drill trousers, US cotton drill shirt, civilian cotton cap with a shemagh worn as a neck scarf/sweat rag.

Notes: As an irregular force The Palmach used a variety of uniforms, weapons and equipment. They basically used whatever they could beg borrow or steal.

[Ospite intruder]

Sikh Lance-Corporal, Indian infantry, Indo-Pakistan War 1965

 

 

 

Weapon: British designed, Indian manufactured Lee Enfield .303 inch SMLE No 1 Mark III* with 1907 pattern bayonet fixed.

Equipment: Mostly 1937 pattern British web equipment of web belt, shoulder straps bayonet frog and scabbard, water bottle in cover, and 1 large plus 1 small pouches. Officers also got a pistol holster.

Uniform: The traditional Sikh turban gets a military look here by being made from olive green material. The red band that peeks out from below is called a "fifty" to signify 50 turns of the turban. The balance of his uniform is fairly standard, mid-weight cotton drill shirt and trousers over black boots with canvas gaiters.

Notes: Note the traditional Sikh steel band on his right wrist.

Modificato 24 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

[Ospite intruder]

Lance Corporal, Pakistani Infantry, Indo-Pakistan War 1965

 

 

Weapon: WW2 vintage bolt action rifle of unknown parentage.

Equipment: 1937 pattern web equipment with 2 large magazine pouches on a belt and shoulder strap harness. Also sometimes the Soviet 10 pocket ammunition belt. Soviet equipment was fairly common on the sub-continent.

Uniform British: "tin hat" WW2 vintage steel helmet with camo netting. Khaki cotton drill shirt and trousers. Note that the shirt does not fully open. Black leather GP style boots. Rank chevron Notes: Even after two wars with India and losing its eastern portion (later Bangladesh) Pakistan still remains a martial state.

[Ospite intruder]

Paratrooper, Indian Army, Indo-Pakistan War 1971

 

 

 

Weapon: 7.62 mm L1A1 Self Loading Rifle (SLR) the British version of the FN FAL, and bayonet.

Equipment: 1937 pattern British web set including web belt, shoulder straps, water bottle in holder, 2 medium magazine pouches, 1 small haversack and 1 large haversack with 2 side pockets.

Uniform: Modified British paratrooper uniform including a modified Denison smock. Short woollen puttees over black leather ankle boots. British Airborne steel para-helmet with camo netting.

Notes: India defeated Pakistan in only 12 days in the 1971 war, using paratroop drops at Brigade level and heli-borne assault.

[Blue Sky]

Aussie Uniforms 1900 to 1970

 

 

1. Trooper, Mounted Infantry, South Africa 1900 1. Note the pressed cotton and cord puggaree, the Mk1 SMLE (Lee Enfield) rifle with 50 rounds in the shoulder slung bandolier. 2. Note the short rifle bucket to hold the rifle butt without hampering the riders ability to lift the rifle clear as required. 3. Note the bottom fixed puttees (later versions were top fixed). 4. Note that the horse & rider carry all their requirements including a small amount of fodder. 5. Plumes would be Emu if a Queenslander or black cock's feathers if from NSW. 2. Major, NSW Lancers 1900 1. Note the red puggaree and the plumes of black cock's feathers . 2. Note the high top boots and the brown, not khaki, uniform with red stripes on the legs.

[Ospite intruder]

Aussie Uniforms 1900 to 1970

 

postato al #84.

 

 

Pakistani Infantryman, Indo-Pakistan War 1971

 

 

Weapon: US .3 inch Garand also the British SMLE No 1 Mk III* rifle.

Equipment: British 1937 pattern webbing of web belt, shoulder straps and 2 large magazine pouches. Personal gear is carried in the cotton carry bag.

Uniform: Khaki cotton shirt and trousers combination with khaki woollen pullover with pockets. Black leather ankle boots. US M1 steel helmet with hessian cover and camo netting.

Notes: The Pakistani Army performed poorly in the 1971 war and was overwhelmed by the paratroop and heli-borne assault tactics of the Indian Army.

Modificato 25 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

[Ospite intruder]

Mukti Bahini Guerrilla, East Pakistan (Bangladesh) 1971

 

 

Weapon: West German 7.62 mm MG3 machine gun, a direct descendant of the WW2 MG42 and a cousin to the GPMG M60.

Equipment: A cotton bandolier worn slung around the neck.

Uniform: Indigenous civilian clothing as suited the area.

Notes: These hardy fighters operated in the swamps of East Pakistan, now Bangladesh.

[Blue Sky]

Mukti Bahini Guerrilla, East Pakistan (Bangladesh) 1971

:asd:

 

 

1 SUMMER FULL DRESS

(SERGEANTS, AND SOLDIERS)

 

2 SUMMER DRESS

(SERGEANTS, AND SOLDIERS)

 

3 WINTER FULL DRESS

(SERGEANTS, AND SOLDIERS)

 

4 WINTER DRESS

(SERGEANTS, AND SOLDIERS)

Modificato 25 Dicembre 2008 da Blue Sky

[Ospite intruder]

Biafran soldier in Nigeria 1968

 

 

Weapon: Czech 7.62 mm Vz58 assault rifle with matching bayonet.

Equipment: The Biafrans used a mish mash of equipment, basically what ever they could lay their hands on. Some were US, some British.

Uniform: Like the equipment uniforms were a mixture of what was available at the time on the second hand market and cheap. This man wears a cut down cotton cloth cap, khaki shirt and jungle green trousers. Note the "Wellington" boots, unusual for jungle warfare. Note the "Rising Sun" badge.

Notes: part of Nigeria Biafra was declared "independent" in 1967. It gained little international support and by 1970 the civil war was over.

[Blue Sky]

The Russian Flight Equipment and Uniforms

 

 

Off Season Flight-- Suit Lightweight Summer Flight --Suit Winter Flight Suit

Modificato 25 Dicembre 2008 da Blue Sky

[Blue Sky]

Flight Equipment and Uniforms

 

 

MIG 21 Pilot, Frontal Aviation--MIG 23 Pilot, Frontal Aviation--Ground Crewman, working Dress

[Ospite intruder]

A soldier in the Nigerian Federal Army, Nigeria 1968

 

 

Weapon: 9mm Sten Mk II (British) and bayonet.

Equipment: Mostly British 1958 pattern webbing with belt, shoulder straps and magazine pouches. US water bottle cover and bottle.

Notes: The Nigerian Civil War (against the breakaway Biafra) was fought 1967-1970. The Nigerian Federal Army had grown too fast to be effective. It relied on huge numbers and overpowering firepower. As the US found in Vietnam these don't necessarily work against guerrillas. The Federals were "lucky" that the Biafrans were so poorly equipped.

[Blue Sky]

The Russian Military Police Uniforms

 

SUMMER FULL DRESS - SUMMER DRESS - WINTER DRESS

[Ospite intruder]

Armoured car crewman, National Army of Chad, Chad 1970

 

 

 

Weapon: As a Panhard armoured crewman this man does not normally carry his weapon. It hangs in easy reach in his car. It is the Chinese AK 47 copy, the Type 56, 7.62 mm assault rifle. The bayonet that suits hangs from an octopus strap round his waist.

Equipment: A mixture of equipment was used depending on what was available at the time. There was no uniformity of issue.

Uniform: Canvas and rubber "gym" boots, civilian sourced are his footwear. His uniform is a mixture of khaki and jungle green from various sources. His cloth cap is partly covered by a French Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) headphones.

Notes: Chad is split by divisions between the southern Christians and the northern Muslims. It is a problem that exists to this day.

[Blue Sky]

The Russian Service Uniforms of Admirals and Generals

 

[Ospite intruder]

Mercenary Guerrilla of the FNLA (NLF) in Angola 1975

 

 

 

Weapon: 7.62 mm Soviet AKM.

Equipment: The men of FNLA and the guerrillas that supported them used a mish-mash of equipment. Some had none, others used what they could get hold of or strip from dead enemy.

Uniform: This man wears a cloth cap with neck shade and basic jungle green military style shirt and trousers.

Notes: The struggle against Portuguese rule in Angola later degenerated into a civil war between the Marxist MPLA and the anti-Marxist and tribally based FNLA. FNLA did not prevail.

[Blue Sky]

The Russian Military Equipment Chemical Suits & Gas Masks

 

 

Modificato 26 Dicembre 2008 da Blue Sky

[Ospite intruder]

Rhodesian African Rifles (RAR) 1976

 

 

Weapon: 7.62 Belgian FN light machine gun in dappled camouflage finish.

Equipment: British 1958 pattern webbing kit made up of web belt with shoulder straps, two water bottles in covers, 2 large pouches each with two small pockets, 1 on either side and 4 smaller but deeper pouches. A rucksack was worn over the top. Note that the water bottles, covers and thin deep pouches were sourced from South Africa.

Uniform: The camouflage pattern on this uniform was specifically chosen for the RAR. The cotton cap with neck shade/ear muffs and the cotton drill trousers and shirt were locally produced. The boots are South African manufacture but the design is US WW2 twin buckled cuff.

Notes: In the tradition of the Rhodesian Native Regiment which had a proud WW1 history the RAR made a name for itself in WW2 in Burma and later in Malaya, Suez, and later against ZAPU and ZANU the two rebel groups fighting to create Zimbabwe.

[Blue Sky]

Soviet uniform!

 

[Ospite intruder]

Soviet uniform!

 

 

Già postato, #50.

 

Selous Scouts Regiment, Rhodesia 1977

 

 

Weapon: 7.62 FN FAL self loading rifle in camouflage colours.

Equipment: As in matters of dress these soldiers choose to wear and use equipment on a one by one basis. Every man was differently equipped.

Uniform: Hockey boots, no socks, short shorts and a locally produced camo shirt topped by a civilian knitted wool cap are all the "uniform" this soldier chooses to wear. The Selous Scouts were deliberately casual. Some even discarded the shirts in favour of T shirts. many wore the large brimmed cotton cap with neck cover.

Notes: Although casual and to "soldiers" eye unprofessional the Selous Scouts built a fearsome reputation for being able to get the job done. On one occasion 100 scouts surrounded 5,000 of the enemy and destroyed their entire camp, killing 600.

Modificato 26 Dicembre 2008 da intruder

[Ospite intruder]

Guerrilla of the Patriotic Front of Rhodesia/Zimbabwe 1979

 

 

Weapon: 7.62 Heckler and Koch G3 rifle.

Equipment: There was no uniformity of equipment issue. Many items worn were battlefield trophies. Others wore Chinese designed and manufactured webbing consisting of a belt and a fully self contained set of 2 small pouches, 3 large shaped pouches for AK 47 rifle magazines and another 2 small pouches all held up by a double shoulder strap arrangement.

Uniform: Green beret (not a uniform item). Green T shirt, civilian sourced. Captured Rhodesian camo trousers over the South African manufactured US designed WW2 style boots with twin buckled cuff.

Notes: ZAPU and ZANU, the two black nationalist movements trying to overthrow the white rule in Rhodesia to create Zimbabwe operated from neighbouring Zambia. Robert Mugabe eventually seized total control and destroyed the once rich and prosperous nation and sent it back to the bad old days of tribalism and poverty.

[Ospite intruder]

Guerrilla of the Eritrean Liberation Front, Eritrea 1979

 

 

 

Weapon: Czech built version of the AK 47 named the Vz58. It uses the AK 47 7.62 ammo.

Equipment: This guerrilla is wearing some British 1937 pattern webbing but there was no uniformity of issue.

Uniform: Like most guerrilla units there was no uniformity of dress.

Notes: When the UN decided that Eritrea should become part of Ethiopia as a federated state the scene was set for trouble. The Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) attempted to gain self rule but a Marxist group broke away to form the ELFP. Later a third group emerged and tribal and political differences meant that the were never able to present a united front. They still can't.