Camo Beret in use

[DougD]

Not that I have been looking for pics of camo items in wear,but I think this is the first photo I have seen of the camo beret actually being worn in service...anyone else have any pics of it in use?

DougD

[Soviet_Kazimir]

Very Nice picture! It seems he is wearing the Spetsodesha border guard uniform with matching beret! Even more interesting is he is wearing his uniform in a VDV style and even has a VDV patch! KGB airborne border guard perhaps??? Anyway I am a heavy collector of Soviet camo uniforms and from my observations the beret was in issue in the 70's and early 80's after that for some reason there are not as many pictures. I think the camo panama hat replaced the beret in dominance of issue.

Here is a picture of the beret in use. Notice that the uniform is first pattern Spetsodesha and the weapon is a AKMS so it is most likely a late 70's picture. :)

[OKP]

Originally Posted by Soviet_Kazimir

Very Nice picture! It seems he is wearing the Spetsodesha border guard uniform with matching beret! Even more interesting is he is wearing his uniform in a VDV style and even has a VDV patch! KGB airborne border guard perhaps??? Anyway I am a heavy collector of Soviet camo uniforms and from my observations the beret was in issue in the 70's and early 80's after that for some reason there are not as many pictures. I think the camo panama hat replaced the beret in dominance of issue.

Here is a picture of the beret in use. Notice that the uniform is first pattern Spetsodesha and the weapon is a AKMS so it is most likely a late 70's picture. :)

Actually the 1st pattern spetsodezhda was issued only beginning of the 80's.
The camo beret was rather issued and used by BG units from the Western BG districts (KЗПО,КСЗПО....).
The camo used during the 70's were the KLMK 1st and 2nd pattern and even TTsMK from the 40's/50's....

[OKP]

Forgot smthg :
On the 1st pic,the soldier could belong to a DshMG (Air Assault Manoeveur Group) as well.These saw heavy use in Afghanistan and the BG from these groups had the VDV yellow emblem on green background as sleeve patch.
It could of course as mentioned before,be a member of the 103rd ABN Guards division which was turned to the BG in 1991......
The camo Panama hat was issued exclusively to the hot climate areas : Central Asian District (КСАПО)....

[Commissar]

Check out this patch I found on E...Not sure if it is fake or not...
It almost looks genuine?

[OKP]

This patch is not a fake but of course post soviet.....

[Soviet_Kazimir]

Ah! Here is another picture I found notice that this looks quite old as well. Most likely mid to late 70's

[deValcourt]

Originally Posted by Soviet_Kazimir

Ah! Here is another picture I found notice that this looks quite old as well. Most likely mid to late 70's

I am especially fond of the guitar one of the soldier is holding in the photo.:thumbsup

Phillip

[DougD]

Great beret! Glad you got one and that this thread stays alive.

[Commissar]

I didn't think there were airborne border guards? :D

Pretty snazzy pictures, I like the man with the dog.