Confusion about officer's field uniforms...

[Synthesis]

Something I've always been confused about, and am hoping someone can shed some light on.

Unlike Service and Parade uniforms, field uniforms don't seem to be very commonly portrayed in photographs, and seem to have lot of odd variations.

I'm not talking about combat uniforms/camouflage that would obviously vary depending on where you are. I'm talking about the garrison-style drab olive tunics, similar to what enlisted men would wear with their pilotka, rather than visor caps.

From what I've gathered, officer's would wear olive-drab colored visor caps (rather than the normal service caps) with these uniforms. What I don't get is the details--the olive drab uniforms might have either gold service-style buttons, or olive-colored buttons (like the cap), branch-color collar insignia, olive-colored insignia tabs, or just a simple olive-colored pin through the collars.

I'm pretty sure the shoulder boards are brown, with colored stripes and olive stars. Black high-boots were worn too, I think, rather than combat boots.

Could someone more knowledgeable set the record straight, especially with any pictures?

[Nack]

I think the details varies somewhat. It was probably all supposed to be OD-colored stuff, but I think I may have a field tunic with gold buttons or insignia. Here's two examples of field tunics. One may be a warrant officer or something, as it doesn't seem to have stars on the shoulderboards.

[Synthesis]

It hadn't occurred to me that the specifications for the collar insignia (which I'm the most confused about) would be based on rank--though it does make sense. I've seen examples of a General's field uniform having the traditional "bullion" pattern, but colored olive drab to match the rest of the uniform--as well as red piping like with General's greatcoats.

Anyone else have any ideas?

[Nack]

Originally Posted by Synthesis

It hadn't occurred to me that the specifications for the collar insignia (which I'm the most confused about) would be based on rank--though it does make sense. I've seen examples of a General's field uniform having the traditional "bullion" pattern, but colored olive drab to match the rest of the uniform--as well as red piping like with General's greatcoats.

Anyone else have any ideas?

I'm not sure that the gilt vs od collar device situation is impacted by rank. I think everyone was supposed to have od in the field, but some people bent the rules.

[Al-muell]

Gold buttons - those were used on the field uniforms of the EM and NCO. At the same time, officers had buttons on field uniforms plastic. Later (exact date is unsure) EM received uniforms with metal buttons painted khaki-green or plastic buttons.
Generally, EM and NCOs wore either bright "drillich" uniforms or just everyday uniforms with replaced insignia (in darker gabardine material)
Officers had their field uniforms made of dark "drillich" material which was supposed to be "partly waterproof".
Also, the stars and collar emblems were supposed to be painted, but of course this rule wasn't always followed.
Generals wore double-breasted jackets (that differed from pre-69 everyday ones only in the fact that they had plastic buttons and stitched stars on shoulderboards) from 1969 to 1972. Than from 1972 to (I think) 1980 they wote single-breasted (5 buttons) uniforms similar to officers' ones but:
1.They were made of the same material as generals' everyday uniforms;
2.They had stitched laurel leaves on the collar instead of tabs
3.They had red piping around collar, cuffs and shoulderboards.

Funny thing is that regulations allowed generals to wear their everyday uniforms instead of the field ones, so many generals didn't even get one (more money in the pocket). That is those single-breasted generals uniforms are irritatingly hard to find.

As for the caps - EM and NCO - "pilotka"
- Officers - all-khaki visor cap (officer's "pilotka" shown up later and I am not sure wether it was ever used with field uniform).
- Generals - Visor similar to officers but with colour piping - depending on branch.

Breeches:
-EM and NCO - same material as uniform
-Officers - same material as uniform, branch colour piping
-generals - ussually same material as uniform, branch colour stripes.

Also, there were winter uniforms:
EM/NCO - padded jacket with metal buttons, padded trousers
Officers - padded jacket with gray art.fur collar, padded trousers
Generals - winter jacket with gray astrakhan collar, padded trousers, fur-lined boots with adjustable tops.

Than in late 70's they started to experiment with the borderguard camo uniform and in 1980 (or 81) the "afghanka" uniforms were inroduced, proceeded by earlier "syria" and "mobuta" (I am not sure which is which, according to some sources they were the same) uniforms.

Also, in Afghanistan it was quite a comon practise to use the work uniform as field/everyday - it had hidden butons and two breast pockets (with plastic buttons) which were considered more practical.

[Al-muell]

One more thing - many EM received only one uniform for field/everyday use (same with overcoat), that is why some soldiers wore field uniforms with colour insignia. In fact it was officially allowed by the regulations (if I remember correctly, 74 reg. book gave this as the proper field uniform, but can't check it now)