Russian Parachutist: Afghanistan 1979-89

[MASSOUD]

Strange... Beret is missing the red guards flash (triangle)... Ive seen those on almost all vdv berets...

There are VDV units that don't have the Guard status,therefore no red flash is worn on the beret.

[MASSOUD]

Willie,
They typically didn't wear the parade flash on the beret in the field in afghanistan, that was more a parade dress type item, interestingly the parade berets actually had a fine elastic band to serve as a chinstrap too!

And realistically in combat on ops they'd be wearing helmet of field cap.
Chris

Actually the flash was worn on the left side of the beret with service dress,combat dress....Exception was on parade occasion,then the flash was worn on the right hand side of the beret.....Indeed,in combat the helmet,field cap or panama were rather worn...

[MASSOUD]

HI Michael,
Sorry my post was a bit confusing. I meant to say the vdv guys wore the light blue striped shirt, and that all OTHER afghan vets war the dark blue striped shirt to denote service in afghanistan.

As I know you guys know, the striped t-shirt vdv and dark blue were derived in honor of the first sailors in the Russian Civil war who were instrumental in the fight and considered the elite. The tradition carried over in the navy and assume the afghan veterans picked up the tradition to denote the "special" status of serving in afghan.

Chris

Originally the dark blue stripped shirt was worn only by navy & naval infantry.When general Margelov was appointed CIC of the VDV he brought in this tradition from the time he served in naval infantry.From that moment on the light blue stripped shirt has been the symbol of Elite unit...

[MASSOUD]

While we're on the subject. Here's an interesting pic of a volume of the 4 volume set of 33.1/3 albums.

These albums comprise songs sung by veterans of the afghan war and was done in Leningrad in 1988. The music is really great and all on topics of the war in Russian of course.

The album cover is a patrol of paras taking a break, they're wearing the kzs and klmk uniforms, conehead helmet, etc.

Chris

It was recorded in 1987 in the studio of Tachkent/Uzbekistan....Leningrad is only the of the record company.The price of the record was then 2 rub. & 50 kopecks....

[MASSOUD]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the additional clarification. I didn't realize Soviet Troops serving in Afganistan to signify their elite veteral combat status all wore the striped shirt, regardless of branch of service. Thanks for the clarification. I suspect that didn't sit too well with the soldiers actually assigned to the VDV, Naval Infantry Marines, and other branches that had the striped shirt as a normal part of their military dress attire.

Again, thanks for the additional info.

Attached is a pic of an Afgan era Soviet Tankers uniform I acquired while in Berlin. I had recruited a former member of the Mujahadeem as a drug intel (Snitch) on my drug team and while talking to him one day about his former occupation, and my collecting of Soviet and East German cold war era memorabilia, was offered this uniform, which I still have in my collection. Little did I know how much we (U.S.) would later one day regret our association with this particular element of our past. Just another example of mistakes we sometimes make when trying to do the right thing.

Nice set!!!!It is the M-88 model of sand color used at the end of the war.Before the black set (summer & winter) were worn....

[zvezdah1]

Nice set!!!!It is the M-88 model of sand color used at the end of the war.Before the black set (summer & winter) were worn....

Massoud, very interesting posts. I assume by black set you're talking about the woodland camouflage that came out towards the end of the war, initially to paras then to all others?

Chris

[Kozlov]

No he means a black tank suit.

[Kozlov]

BTW, I have some of those boots shown above... and they are actually the most comfortable pair of combat boots I have ever owned - unlike the sapogi which are on the other end of the scale!!

[Ciaran Byrne]

Nice uniform items. Personally I would go for the bush hat on this model as they were the preffered headgear in Afghanistan. I too have this uniform, but with subdued collar tabs and rank insignia. Also, I have a complete woodland unfiform with original Tel'nyashka (blue striped vest). Also I have a parade uniform with the parade beret (complete with elastic chinstrap). I am considering selling the lot in the future as one lot.

[Kozlov]

It was recorded in 1987 in the studio of Tachkent/Uzbekistan....Leningrad is only the of the record company.The price of the record was then 2 rub. & 50 kopecks....

Don't suppose you have those converted to MP3 do you JP? If anyone does, its probably you!

[MASSOUD]

Sorry Andy,I don't have it on MP3....I just owe this vinyl.By the way,the complete set of 4 was on sale on Ebay a few months ago....

[zvezdah1]

Sorry Andy,I don't have it on MP3....I just owe this vinyl.By the way,the complete set of 4 was on sale on Ebay a few months ago....

Yep that was one of the spare sets I sold, at one time I had about ten sets, only got one or two complete sets left and individual albums. I sold off the bulk of my afghan era stuff over the past year.

Yep, agree on the panama, byt far the most widely used hat on ops in afghanistan.

As they're long out of issue, I'll probably get them converted to cd, I don't even own a record player anymore!
Chris

[Kozlov]

Well, I have the advanced "sputnik technology" here to MP3 them if anyone would be prepared to lend them to me...

I'd really like to get these one way or another as we have a bit of an Afganistan exposition happening not too far in the future and this would really add some atmosphere...

[zvezdah1]

Well, I have the advanced "sputnik technology" here to MP3 them if anyone would be prepared to lend them to me...

I'd really like to get these one way or another as we have a bit of an Afganistan exposition happening not too far in the future and this would really add some atmosphere...

Kozlov,
I'm in the process of getting them converted to cd. A guy does it here locally if so, I'll get them to you.

Massoud, A light goes off in my head, the last set of albums, I sold on ebay went to France, was that you by chance?? Name seems familiar to me.

Chris

[Kozlov]

Excellent! Yes, please let me know when you have them on CD