Czechoslovak combat equipment 1960s. Part 1
Czechoslovak combat equipment from the 60s was of high quality leather & canvas.
Presented here on a VZ60 mlok camo pattern jacket issued originally to paratroopers,
it was also issued to infantry & supporting units. More on that later.
The belt is the first style, note the texture.
Pouch for 4 magazines.
Plenty of material to cover so this ends part 1.
See you for part 2.
Czechoslovak combat equipment 1960s. Part 2
Let's have a look at what was carried on the belt.
First type of leather (scale texture) is from the 50S.
The bayonet is for the Czechoslovak VZ-58 assault rifle.
Many variations of the bayonet exist. Note the leather scabbard.
Note the belt loops, older type with stitching as the belt.
Nice view of the shovel & canteen.
The shovel was cumbersome but efficient for it's purpose, digging!
Variation using the webbing/leather Y-straps.
Seen here is the late model of belt & the cap.
The canteen taking apart, leather straps, felt cover (some close with zippers or leather lace), the canteen is made of aluminium.
It as a later model plastic lid, early models were made of cork.
One thing for sure Czech equipment is well stamp, examples will be examined later.
Next, part 3. The bags.
Last edited by Jack59; 01-26-2024 at 05:58 PM. Reason: canteen details
Thx., for showin´!
Czechoslovak combat equipment 1960s. Part 3
The bags, bread bag, gas mask bag & general purposes bag.
The Czech made good use of different bags, again quality made.
The bread bag was of older type but modified & used as a small pack whenever required.
Note the D-rings ment to connect on the Y-straps when used as a small pack.
The gas mask bag.
Note the bottom strap, ment to prevent the bag from bouncing up & down when running.
This kind of wooden attachment inspired the early East German gas mask bag.
The general purpose bag. Good for everything else to carry.
Still a few things to see, check for part 4 soon. Thanks
Well done. Seems like a museum over there could benefit from your knowledge. I do recall how some bits of the Czech Y-straps were converted (sort of) for WW2 German reenacting. Neil
Czechoslovak combat equipment 1960s. Part 4
So far I've covered part of the basic infantryman's equipment for the sixties.
Of course, there is more than what is seen here but it's a good start.
Everyone is welcome to post their Czech sixties equipment to beef up this thread.
The cap was practical, solid & of good quality.
Seen here for bad weather with the flaps down.
The Czech VZ53 helmet was of very strong Russian influence but with leather liner & chinstrap.
Eventually nets, covers, hoods were used for camouflage.
Seen here are straps inspired by the WW2 German usage of bread bag straps to hold foliage.
Next part, stampings.
Last edited by Jack59; 01-31-2024 at 02:53 PM.
Stamping.
Most of the Czech equipment is well stamped, let's have a look.
Bags top to bottom: gas mask, general purpose & bread bag.
The cap.
Canvas/ leather Y-straps, leather Y-straps, early belt & late belt.
Canteen straps & felt cover.
VZ53 helmet & liner.
Bayonet (both sides) & scabbard.
A few references for the curious: Vz.60 mlok 22. Vysadkova brigada : English, Deutsch, Polski ...
Last edited by Jack59; 01-26-2024 at 11:45 PM. Reason: click wrong button
The jehlicí (needles) or oblaky (clouds) camouflage pattern uniforms. Part 1 the front & VZ.48 binocular.
The jehlicí (needles) or oblaky (clouds) pattern uniforms were
in service with the Czechoslovak Army from 1963 until the 1980s.
Lets have a look of an early jacket with a mix of webbing & leather equipment.
The jacket is an early model (1964) where the camouflage pattern stands out nicely.
Overtime the background of the pattern won't stand out in the day light, it's purpose being when viewed through
infrared passive viewing system equipment at night. Have a look, the cap, hood & jacket hare from different years.
The pattern of each item is different.
Infrared view, see link please:
File:Czechoslovakia8.jpg - Camopedia
The East German Army (NVA) had a similar pattern for about the same time period.
Here is a comparaison with the Czech jacket & NVA trousers.
Back to our model. The binoculars are the Czech VZ.48 6X30.
All along we will see alternate ways to carry them.
Note the jacket's webbing loop.
The gas mask was to be carried all the time.
The binoculars case could be could be held with the belt.
Or worn with it's strap.
See you for part 2, the back & folding shovel.
The jehlicí (needles) camouflage pattern uniforms. Part 2 the back, the folding shovel & extra photos.
Welcome back for part 2. We will have a look at the back of the model,
a quick view of the folding shovel & more photos of the binoculars & it's case.
Note the folding shovel case on the right.
The Y-straps is a combination of webbing & leather, the wire hooks are strong.
When the back pack is not attached it's strap could be used to help supporting the belt.
Good view of the back pack hook on belt of the folding shovel set at 45 degrees.
The shovel could be carried assembled for quick usage.
Another comparaison of patterns with NVA trousers.
More info on the shovel:
Polish entrenching tool, era 1970s?
More photos of the VZ.48 6X30 binoculars & case.
Thank you for this series of posts.
Jellichi pants are the basic item I passed up on Ebay and I wish I had bought.
M60 boots have been avaliable in NZ/Australia recently from the Army and Outdoors website.
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