Hat Identifacation

[miken]

Can someone tell me something about this cap? What era?
Thanks
Mike

[MASSOUD]

OKZK hat known as well as "Syrianka"....

[miken]

Thanks.
What time period?
Mike

[redline09]

soviet afghan war

[Kozlov]

Given that its the headgear for the chemical protective suit OKZK, I would say it was from about 1970 onwards, maybe until mid 80's.

[Komandir RKKA]

Given that its the headgear for the chemical protective suit OKZK, I would say it was from about 1970 onwards, maybe until mid 80's.

Exactly.

[michelwijnand]

Completely true, but as far as proof of use in Afghanistan, I have only 1 picture out of several hundreds of pics on my HD.
The guy must have thought the same as me, I use such a cap when using an angle grinder to keep stuff out of my face, guess he used it against sandstorms or whatever.

These were mainly used in some exercises, and I believe also some troops at the Chernobyl area

[Kozlov]

Well, for Chernobyl it was being used in the correct way...

[michelwijnand]

Very correct yes
There were meant to be worn with the OKZK, OKZK-D, or OKZK-M uniforms, and the KZS camo rag-suit was meant to be worn ovre some versions of it, to work a bit fire-retardant too.

[Durandal]

Yes, this is the headpiece for the OKZK combined arms uniform (70s and 80s) for the Soviet Army. Nicknamed the "Syriyka" because it was supposedly first seen in use in Syria.

If you watch the documentary "The Battle for Chernobyl", you can see some of the liquidators wearing this without the flaps. I believe, from looking at Chernobyl footage, the badge that's right for this cap is the small dull coloured field badge.

[Kozlov]

I know thats where "Syriana" would come about but why would Soviet chemical defence uniforms be seen in Syria?!

[Durandal]

Hmm...I'm not sure but I always guessed that the OKZK uniform was used whenever the Soviets were using chemicals offensively? To protect themselves from their own weapons.

You can find more information here - http://www.himvoiska.narod.ru/okzk.html

[michelwijnand]

It would be nice if someone could list which are which versions, as I know that the summer and wintre OKZK-D's look just like impregnated versions of the summer and winter VDV afghanka, with flaps at the sleeves.
But I don't know much as to what is the difference between the OKZK and OKZK-M, and what is meant by the protective underlayer described in that link.
And if I understand right, the cap with detachable mask is OKZK, and with non-detachable mask is OKZK-M?
My winter OKZK-D:


I have the more well known version with the chest pockets that is called Syriayka or whatever everywhere, and at least 1 suit that I think is an undersuit, but could well be a OKZK version, as it also has the hand flaps, and having 2 suits on at the same time that have hand flaps seems weird to me.
My 2 other OKZK's:



Cheers,
Michel

[Durandal]

Hmm I can't say anything about the uniforms but I know that for the caps, the OKZK is the one with the removable flaps and the one with the flaps sewed right on is from the OKZK-M.

I've only seen two different types of OKZK caps. M stands for modernized I can't say for sure which one the OKZK-D uses.