Important note I forgot to make in the video: This is a summer version of this loadout equipped with a lighter uniform and summer portyanki, a winter version would be equipped with a trench coat and an ushanka hat. Sometimes trench coats were handed out during the warm season and in that case they would be rolled up and attached to the duffle bag as is shown in the references I posted on Boosty.
What you guys are doing here is just amazing. Documents of soviet gear and usage of equipment are few and hard to come by, so it really helps to have a dedicated channel to it. I would love to see maybe a spetsnaz kit overview. Keep doing what you do best. Much love.
I would love to see a video about the loadout of soviet paratroopers during the soviet-afghan war, i would also love to see a video about the 6b series of armor that the ussr had
@@ProjectSparkPC I'm not sure what sources you use but personally I've heard very good things on "Uniforms and history of the Soviet Airborne in Afghanistan" - by Safari Publishing on this topic as a source for this era. I'd like to purchase it myself when I have the chance, but to disclose I am only speaking entirely as an amateur who appreciates online sources to fulfill my passion on the subject.
@@Dom-um6gi We usually rely on original Soviet sources, mostly primary. For example instructional manuals for specific items, Combat Statute of the Soviet Armed Forces, General Statute of the Soviet Armed Forces, Soviet made documentaries from the period, other video materials and photographs. If we don't have that we go for Russian secondary sources based on the above mentioned primary sources which are still pretty reliable.
Some notes. Your uniform lacks the Podshiva "Collar Liner", and collar pins to depict branch. The green buckles were meant to only be issued during WW3 hence why you see them only post collapse. By the book the green belts were meant to be used in the field, but officers were held accountable for lost gear, and 2 belts was more stuff to deal with, hence why it's never seen in use pre-collapse. You also forgot a blanket. Civilian sweaters were also often brought from home for colder seasons. Also Kino's Kukushka is from 1990, if you're going for that 70s vibe, there is plenty of Soviet pop music of that period. It's definitely worth checking out.
Thanks a lot for the comment! As for the podvorotnik podshiva, you are right, we refrained from doing it because the video was supposed to be about gear items as they came from the factory. Same for insignia. The uniform was supposed to have a general army red shevron, red collar boards as well as red shoulder boards and a cocarde on the pilotka. We mentioned it in the video as well. We stayed away from it as to not overstretch. I am sure we will talk about rank insignia in some future video. As per the green buckles, they were very rare but they saw use and were issued before the collapse. The best example is GSVG Soviet troops in East Germany, among other "better" things they got these belts and buckles. As per Kukushka and Soviet pop music, you are surely right. But I spent well over 3 hours experimenting with the music background and nothing stuck at all. Then I just ended up with Kukushka because it was the only thing that sounded ok and didn't interrupt the video. I am glad you noticed all the detail, thanks once again!
@@ProjectSparkPC No problem! Soviet History and culture is one of my intense interests, so it's always awesome to see new videos covering the topic. Thank you for being a good content creator, and taking the time to reply to my comment! Keep up the good work comrade.
I’ve had always been fascinated with Historical Military stuff especially with Cold War Era stuff. Back in the States I have Soviet gear and equipment from the 1980’s and also American load out gear. I have a Bulgarian Makarov Pistol hopefully I’ll be able to get me an AK74 in the near future.
Отличное видео, парни, вы молодцы! Спасибо за информативный ролик, хоть большая часть информации уже была известна и до его просмотра, однако нести знания в массы, особенно по такой необычной теме, так ещё и на английском, для западной аудитории, явно хороший ход. Было бы неплохо, если бы вы дублировали свои ролики и на русский, а то не особо удобно смотреть в нейронном переводе. Спасибо.)
Awesome video, just note that the subdued belt buckles were not as common as the shiny gold buckles. Many pictures can be seen with the gold buckle I have not seen the subdued buckle used. Very small error
The green buckles as well as canvas belts were generally rare. They were reserved for the best units and were most commonly supplied to ZGV (GSVG) Soviet troops stationed in East Germany. The most common buckle type was indeed the shine kind and the most common belt materials were natural leather and later PVC. But the kind of belt we used was also issued in some numbers, so it wouldn't call it an error per se. Regardless, thanks a lot for pointing it out!
Great video! I have been a WW2 re-enactor for over 30 years and I have considered putting together a post war Soviet kit. I am currently working on a TAP 47/52 French Indo China kit.
@@ProjectSparkPC I basicly have it all together except pocket trash and the main pack. I have all French gear as well as the uniform. They used alot of US WW2 gear as well as weapons. I have an m1 carbine and French Mas 36 rifle. I want a French Mas 44 though. They are tough to find. I have a Mas 49/56 but they were a few years too late for Indo-China. They work for Algeria though.
Each video keeps on getting better and better, it's been (and will be) one hell of a pleasure to find this gem of a channel and to see it grow. Just please don't burn yourselves out.
Just a few small corrections, the Plach Palatka would have actually been folded up and put in the Veschmashok as back padding, and also all motorized rifleman had the red shoulder boards and collar tabs of the Soviet army on them, on the shoulder boards the two (Cyrillic) characters of СА (советская армия) being the abbreviation for the Soviet army. And it should also be mentioned that the flashlight was rarely ever actually used (idk why). And personally times were rarly ever actually aloud to be carried on the person, especially out in the field according to regulation that is, this can vary from unit to unit thought… Other than those things and a couple other small details this was a great video. (Btw anyone questioning my credibilit, all the information I mentioned above a got from my own in Sesotho research and a old friend of mine who did his service in the Army in the 80s)
Its all good, you are largely correct in your criticism. Someone else also mentioned that I didn't stitch up the podvorotnik podshiva which I actually didn't. And another person pointed to the green buckle I used. Anyways, quite a few interesting points were already made and I answered to them in the comments, you can scroll down and take a look at it if you want. As per the rank and branch insignia, I mentioned it and showed it in the video. I refrained from putting it onto the uniform because the video was supposed to be more about the gear. The plash-palatka would be inside the veshmeshok as you said in those cases when trench coats were issued. Otherwise people would carry it on the straps for better access, especially in the field. All the things you noted are valid, but its important to remember that there was significant variation in units and timeframe. Thank you very much for your comment, have a good one!
@@ProjectSparkPC actually or wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate to wear the green steel buckle, as you said in the video it depends on the unit but otherwise I love to see other people getting into Soviet stuff, I’m glad my comment was appreciated!
Hey, thanks ! Very nice video comrade ! Could you please make a 79 - 89 VDV kit ? I'd like to make a Afghan paratrooper loadout but I'm not quite sure what to wear and what not to.
I used to prefer the capitalist equipment until I myself joined the military and realised the impracticality of some of the items. As such, I’ve come to appreciate practicality over appearance, which the Soviets seem to excel in. Admittedly I’ve yet to collect Soviet equipment myself but from what I’ve seen and learned from videos like this, PDFs and Arma Reforger, these equipment are very “no-nonsense”. Fit for a numerically superior force of a centralised economy, which requires the very basic needs to survive.
I guess the AK-74 was not so widespread in the 70s. My dad served in the Urals and fought in Afghanistan in 1979-1980, and their main service rifle was AKM.
It would be ok If that's all you have, but its not the best option. It was designed for officers and specialists primarily. If you are making a motostrelki sniper impression for example, it would be perfect.
The underwear is the heaviest kind there was, we used it because we had nothing else. In reality, regular boxers would be used the most, especially in the summer.
The green buckle was also issued, but it was less common and reserved for best units. It was standard in GSVG units stationed in East Germany for example.
That's a wonderful idea, actually, it would be neat if we could one day make several more videos to show the full evolution of Soviet infantry. The thing is that making a 50s/60s loadout would be very expensive, and anything earlier would use a lot of replicas or be golden basically. I hope some time in the future we will have the resources for that.
Most of my stuff is locally purchased where its abundant. It really depends on where you are from, but generally I can recommend looking around eBay and surplus markets. Good luck!
I always thought that these are regular Cyma mags from older series, but now I am not sure. You are not the first to ask. I got these from a guy doing Afghan War airsoft cosplay along with a very old Cyma AK.
@@ProjectSparkPC the mag lips tell me that they are G&P but the mag shell looks like that of a real one. I have never seen tula/izhmash markings on a replica mag and the bottom plate looks real as well
@@destructive1220 Russian airsofters like to repurpose real AK magazines into airsoft ones in terms of the shell and bottom plate because they are rather cheap, but I can say for a fact that these are not the case. Now that I am interested to know myself I will look in G&P catalogues and see what I can find.
Well, from what I found these indeed look like old G&P mid cap mags. I am not sure if they still put realistic marking or not, but seems like they used to at least. The plates also look like what I have.
Вот смотришь на эту экипировку, и понимаешь, что десантные отделения БМП и БТРов были не такими уж и тесными. Просто их разрабатывали под бойцов с гораздо меньшим кол-вом экипировки.
По меньшей мере в СССР не было массовых СИБЗов тогда, когда проектировали советские коробочки. У западных корбочек десантный отсек больше просто потому, что у них массовые СИБЗы были еще начиная с Кореи и Вьетнама.
Excellent work I love it, keep it up,lol good comments in Russian 😅 check out my guy in Nashville Tennessee - Battleground Army Surplus. Great Guy I do work for maybe we can make some trades...
Thanks for the comment! We are always open to offers or in fact any sort of cooperation, if you have specific ideas feel welcome to reach out via the channel email.
