Austrian Bundesheer Camo Caps

[Bernhard]

Fellow Collectors:

Not too long ago I made a nice find on a local fleamarket.
Together with some other nice early Bundesheer equipment I pulled
a nice camo cap out of a banana box placed under the seller´s table.

To my great surprise this cap is not patterned after the ever so popular M43 or Bergmützen style but follows an completely other style that somewhat reminds me on the US Marines pattern.

Interrestingly this cap is stamped with a HBA and an unfortunately illegible
date stamp.

Many collectors are thinking that camo caps never were officially issued in the Bundesheer.
The cap that I found and a photograph showing both styles of caps being worn by Bundesheer personnel might change this .

Here are the two caps next to each other:

[Bernhard]

The US-Marine style cap.
Of special note are the two grommeted vents.

[Bernhard]

Front view of US style cap:

[Bernhard]

Notice the lack of grommets:

[Bernhard]

Rear view of cap showing that there is an elastic used in the rear seam.

[Bernhard]

Inside shot of the cap showing the HeeresBekleidungsAnstalt stamp.
The date stamp only shows a clear XXX9 ????
Of special note is the fact that the fabric used for making this cap is the same as for the Tarnanzug with the white inner side.

[Bernhard]

Closeup of the HBA stamp.

[Bernhard]

Some pics that show the M43 Tarnfeldmütze.
This cap is made out of the reversible Zeltbahn materiel.

[Bernhard]

Other side:

[Bernhard]

Without the following photo both caps would be higly questionable.
Of special note is the fact that both styles can be seen in this shot.
The roman number I shows the M43 style cap whereas the II marked caps seem to be be of the US inspired pattern.
Excuse the hairstyle worn by the soldiers : Surely they are Reservists !!

[Bernhard]

Last pic;the photo without any markings.

Hope you like it !!

Best regards

Bernhard

[Hans Kondor]

Nice, thanks for showing!

[Gordon Craig]

Bernhard,

Interesting caps and photo. Is the photo in the book dated?

Regards,

Gordon

[Bernhard]

Gordon

Thanks for your comment.
Unfortunately there is no date to this photo.

Regards

Bernhard