Windproof smock

Last updated

Windproof Smocks are clothing. They usually come with hoods and matching trousers worn as over garments to prevent cold air, and in some cases water, passing through.

Contents

Examples

A garment with a similar appearance and colours to the Denison Smock, in lighter-weight denim, the 1942 Pattern Smock, Windproof, was also commonly issued to scouts and snipers in infantry battalions, from 1943, but most notably the SAS/SBS/SOE and Commando squads. It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as the "SAS Windproof". It was not designed much for parachuting, and lacked a crotch flap, having a drawstring hem instead. The most distinctive point of difference between 'Windproofs' and the Denison smock are that the former are hooded. A matching set of over-trousers was produced to complement the smock. Both items were screen printed with colour-fast pigments in a bold splinter design, with colours similar to that of the Denison. Variations of the 'Windproof' have been the basic Special Forces smock until the present, with several alternative colours seen over the years - white (or at least natural cotton) for LRDG's desert use; olive green; black; and, in now very rare later issues of the Smock, Windproof, 1963 Pattern, the Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) introduced in the late 1960s. The current issue Windproof Smock is in the latest MTP camouflage design. The camouflage pattern of the "SAS Windproof" was used as the basis of the post World War II Belgian Paratrooper Smock with very similar overtrousers.

DPM Windproof Smock

Soldier of the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment wearing Smock Windproof DPM and trousers, temperate pattern. Lieutenant & Sergeant of the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (RLH).JPG
Soldier of the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment wearing Smock Windproof DPM and trousers, temperate pattern.

The Smock, Windproof, DPM' (or, DPM Windproof Smock) was issued alongside the standard DPM Combat Jackets by the British Army. The Special Air Service Regiment was the first unit to adopt its own design of DPM Windproof Smock which it wore in preference to the 68 Pattern and later combat jackets. Aside from being made from a windproof material, it differed from the standard combat jackets in being cut to fit more loosely, allowing it to fit over other layers of clothing more easily, and in having an integral hood. Where the standard jackets were closed by a full-length zipper, covered by a buttoned flap, and buttoned cuffs, the windproof smock used velcro to close the flap over the zipper and to fasten the cuffs. The buttons fitted to the Windproof Smock (on the four, expanding front pockets, and the small arm pocket for the First Field Dressing) were all of an overlarge type, to ease use by cold or gloved fingers.

Later, a similar DPM Windproof smock was introduced (the Smock, Windproof, Arctic), this was primarily issued to Royal Marine Commandos and Army units assigned to the AMF(L) for arctic warfare. This differed from the Smock, Windproof, DPM in that it had button-on rank tabs on the chest and back, as well as a wire 'stiffener' for the hood. The general issue Combat Soldier 95 combat jacket followed this pattern, but omitting the rank tab on the back which tended to snag on rucksacks, camouflage netting and so forth.

Related Research Articles

Army Combat Uniform battle uniforms worn by the United States Army beginning in 2005

The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is the current combat uniform worn by the United States Army, U.S. Air Force, and United States Space Force.

Combat uniform type of uniform used as combat uniforms

A combat uniform, field uniform, battledress or military fatigues, is a casual type of uniform used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for everyday fieldwork and combat duty purposes, as opposed to dress uniforms worn in functions and parades. It generally consists of a jacket, trousers and shirt or T-shirt, all cut more loose and comfortable than more formal uniforms. Design may depend on regiment or service branch, e.g. army, navy, air force, marines, etc. In the army branches, fabrics tend to come in camouflage, disruptive pattern or else green, brown or khaki monochrome, in order to approximate the background and make the soldier less visible in nature. In Western dress codes, field uniform is considered equivalent to civilian casual wear. As such, field uniform is considered less formal than service dress uniform, generally aimed at office or staff use, as well as mess dress uniform, and full dress uniform.

Smock-frock Traditional rural mans loose overgarment of coarse fabric

A smock-frock or smock is an outer garment traditionally worn by rural workers, especially shepherds and waggoners, in parts of England and Wales throughout the 18th century. Today, the word smock refers to a loose overgarment worn to protect one's clothing, for instance by a painter.

M-1965 field jacket Type of weapon

The M-1965 field jacket is a straight front, cold weather, field coat made of water-repellent fabrics. Initially designed for the United States military under the MIL-C-43455 standard, it is now often worn by civilians as an ordinary item of clothing.

Disruptive Pattern Material commonly used name of a camouflage pattern used by the British Armed Forces as well many other armies worldwide

Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) is the commonly used name of a camouflage pattern used by the British Armed Forces as well as many other armies worldwide, particularly in former British colonies.

U.S. Army M1943 Uniform

The U.S. Army's M1943 uniform was a combat uniform manufactured in windproof cotton sateen cloth introduced in 1943 to replace a variety of other specialist uniforms and some inadequate garments, like the M1941 Field Jacket. It was used through the remainder of World War II and into the Korean War with modifications before being replaced by the OG-107 uniform beginning in 1952.

Denison smock British special forces overgarment

The Denison smock was a coverall jacket issued to Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents, the Parachute Regiment, the Glider Pilot Regiment, Air Landing Regiments, Air Observation Post Squadrons, Commando units, and other Commonwealth airborne units, to wear over their Battle Dress uniform during the Second World War.

Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform

Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform (DPCU), also nicknamed Auscam or jelly bean camo is a five-colour military camouflage pattern used by the Australian Defence Force. It was developed and tested during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Uniforms of the British Army

The uniforms of the British Army currently exist in twelve categories ranging from ceremonial uniforms to combat dress. Uniforms in the British Army are specific to the regiment to which a soldier belongs. Full dress presents the most differentiation between units, and there are fewer regimental distinctions between ceremonial dress, service dress, barrack dress and combat dress, though a level of regimental distinction runs throughout.

Modern Irish Army uniform Military uniform

The modern Irish Army uniform is based on the layer principle and is designed to provide the soldier with the right degree of protection for any operational environment.

The Jacket, Field, O.D. is a field jacket that was used by US Army soldiers, most famously during the beginning of World War II. In 1941 it started to be phased in as a replacement for the wool four-pocket service coat of World War I, but around 1943 it was replaced in turn by the improved M1943 model. Due to wide adoption, the M1941 is usually recognized as a symbol of the World War II American G.I.. The jacket was made in a light shade of olive drab called O.D. number 2.

New Zealand disruptive pattern material camouflage pattern

The New Zealand disruptive pattern material, also known as New Zealand DPM (NZDPM), was the official camouflage pattern on uniforms of the New Zealand Defence Force from 1980 until 2013. It was replaced with a new pattern called Multi Terrain Camouflage (MCU) which was exclusive to the NZDF. This was in turn replaced by the New Zealand Multi Terrain Pattern (NZMTP) from 2020.

The 'Smock, Parachutist DPM', known simply as the Para Smock, was the replacement for the Denison Smock used by the British Army's Parachute Regiment and parachute-trained troops. It was introduced in the mid-1970s, after the British Army's universal adoption of DPM field clothing. While the design was little different from the Denison smock, it was made from a lighter-weight cloth, printed in the then standard Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM).

The Canadian Parachutist Smock was issued to the Canadian Airborne Regiment from 1975 until the regiment was disbanded in 1995 and to all units of the Special Service Force (2)Brigade including the 1st Battalion of The Royal Canadian Regiment based in London, Ontario. Made of 'Reverse DPM' camouflage by Peerless Garments of Winnipeg, it is very similar to the British issue para smock but with more features. It replaced the Denison smock in the 1950s but the first issue post war para smock was olive green until the arrival of DPM in 1975.

Extended Cold Weather Clothing System

The Extended Cold Weather Clothing System is a protective clothing system developed in the 1980s by the United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Massachusetts. The first generation ECWCS consisted of parka and trousers plus 20 other individual clothing, handwear, headwear and footwear items which are used in various combinations to meet the cold weather environmental requirements of the US military. The Gen III ECWCS is designed to maintain adequate environmental protection in temperatures ranging between -60 and +40 Fahrenheit

Afghanka Uniform of the military former Soviet Union still worn in some versions today.

The Afghanka is a type of military uniform system developed and issued by the Soviet Army in the early 1980s, still in use today in some Post-Soviet states in many different variants. The name Afghanka is an unofficial popular slang term in Russian for the uniform, derived from its prolific use during the Soviet–Afghan War.

Uniforms of the German Army (1935–1945) German army uniforms

The following is a general overview of the Heer main uniforms, used by the German army prior and during World War II.

Uniforms of the Luftwaffe (1935–1945)

The Luftwaffe was the air force of Nazi Germany prior to and during World War II. Luftwaffe styles of uniform and rank insignia had many unique features between 1935 and 1945. By Hitler's decision on February 26, 1935, the Luftwaffe was to be officially the third branch of the Wehrmacht as of March 1, 1935. The new Luftwaffe was faced with the problem of uniforms, as they wanted a uniform distinct from those of the other two branches of the Wehrmacht and also wanted a clear differentiation in dress of military and civilian flyers.

The New Zealand Army uniform has changed over the years from that of the original Armed Constabulary of the 1800s to the modern Army Combat Uniform style in use by the majority of world armies today. While British Army influence has always been strong, distinctive New Zealand features have gradually developed. From 2013 the New Zealand Army uniform underwent a complete redesign with a new and distinctive camouflage pattern unique to the NZDF.

Spetsodezhda

Spetsodezhda/Спецодежда, is a Soviet developed uniform worn initially by the KGB and later by the MVD. It was similar in appearance to the Afghanka, especially the airborne version. It had several styling differences to enable it to be worn as a standalone uniform for field and garrison usage.

References