New full equipment of special forces of the Russian Federation. Comparison of equipment of special forces of Russia and the USA. Special forces uniform: camouflage features and possible colors Dembel uniform military intelligence

27.10.2019

“A soldier does not need extra property!” - these words of a famous song can be the motto of those specialists who are developing a set of equipment worn by military personnel in combat conditions or during exercises that imitate such.

But with all the minimization of the soldier's needs, the warrior must have everything necessary to complete the task. This is especially true of the issue of equipping the fighters of those units that are commonly called special. Sometimes too much depends on their actions.

It turns out that not so little special forces need. And the farther, the more things are needed in battle.

All these items, each of which can be used at the most critical moment of the battle, are generally called equipment.

Concentrated Experience

It could be assumed that the very first item on the list of things needed in battle is assigned to weapons. This, of course, is true, but machine guns, machine guns, pistols, grenade launchers, flamethrowers and other deadly gizmos are in a completely separate category, and do not belong to equipment.

But uniforms, shoes, hats, backpacks, body armor, flasks and much more can be designated with this word. An ordinary ordinary fighter should be dressed comfortably, according to the time of year and the climatic zone in which the service takes place. But there are also special troops. They will be discussed.

Of course, the special elite units of any army rely on equipment corresponding to the complexity of the tasks performed. Special Forces equipment is the embodied concentrated military experience of mankind, accumulated over many centuries in conjunction with the latest technological advances.

Suvorov equipment

In ancient times, the troops transported everything they needed in wagon trains following the army columns. Foragers, marketers and other heroes of military supplies carried out the difficult mission of obtaining and delivering all that without which the army cannot wage war. Soldiers on the march, as a rule, carried weapons, a certain amount of ammunition and a satchel or bag in which simple military belongings were placed. During the Suvorov campaigns, the Russian army, which was distinguished by its special mobility, took a slightly different approach. A soldier had to have with him everything necessary for survival and even helping a comrade in trouble. The weight came out considerable, but the principle of increased autonomy as a whole justified itself. The equipment of the Russian special forces is formed taking into account the continuity of this tradition.

Special forces of the war years

The modern equipment of even the most ordinary soldier is much more functional than the equipment of a warrior of World War II, Korean, Vietnam, Afghan and most other wars of the twentieth century. In the USSR, the issue of military supplies was rather simplistic, believing (and not without reason) that our soldier is already good, and will give odds to anyone else simply due to his endurance, unpretentiousness and readiness for inconvenience. Yes, in the Soviet Army they really did without carbide lamps (which were in the backpack of every German soldier), toilet paper, condoms and many other items unnecessary in battle. In the duffel bag there were spare footcloths, a change of linen, some crackers and dry rations (if the suppliers went too far), as well as “letters from the mother and a handful of native land” sung by poets. But even in the difficult war years, the equipment of the special forces took into account the special, complicated combat conditions; both special footwear and lightweight clothing were used in it, in which it is warm in the cold and cool in the heat. After all, a front-line reconnaissance or saboteur most often had a long, full of danger path through enemy rear lines. Every gram counted, every kilocalorie of food counted. And still required invisibility and noiselessness.

The main requirement for the equipment of a reconnaissance saboteur during the war years was not its convenience, but the ability to disguise a fighter on the ground. The scientific approach to this issue was then only being formed, but certain developments already existed.

Intelligence services of the post-war era

In the post-war years, attention to the issues of ammunition only increased. Ever since the Stalin era, a number of intelligence services have been created in the USSR, each of which had its own departments, independent of each other. Such an organization of information support for the country's leadership, despite departmental disunity, is fully justified. You can compare information obtained from different sources, and draw conclusions about their reliability. Today it is difficult to judge which of the departments was the most effective, but there is no doubt that, along with the all-powerful Committee of State Security, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense made a significant contribution to the defense of the Motherland on invisible fronts. Each of these services, modestly called competent, had special units. The requirements for their employees were not just high, they can be called unique. And, of course, the country supplied them with everything necessary to carry out especially important tasks. The equipment of the special forces of the Soviet intelligence services was created in secret institutions, and experienced saboteurs who had gone through more than one war served as consultants.

Glavrazvedupr

An army intelligence officer may work abroad illegally, with or without diplomatic cover. In this case, he walks around in a good civilian suit, speaks the language of the country in which he lives, and without an accent, and tries to be like an ordinary citizen in everything. they even forbade wearing sunglasses, so as not to match the cinematic image of the "red spy" in any way. Another thing is if such an officer performs a special mission during hostilities. The equipment of the GRU special forces, depending on climatic conditions and the nature of the tasks, was completed in different ways. For example, in the tropics, the so-called "net", woven from a special rope, was an indispensable item of clothing. Mosquitoes, mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects, even piercing clothes with their stingers, could not reach the skin with them, and the air layer contributed to better heat transfer. The shoes were also special, with a heel at the toe, in order to mislead possible pursuers (of course, not very experienced ones) as to the direction of movement. The equipment of the GRU special forces also included a special saboteur jacket, in the tailoring of which everything was taken into account based on the rich experience of army intelligence.

What else is meant by the word "equipment"?

There is no bad weather, there are inappropriate clothes. This English proverb is quite suitable for the uniform of special forces. Special forces equipment, however, is not only jackets, boots and pants. Conventionally, it is divided into several functional sections, although many of them overlap. So, for example, the "survival knife" can be attributed to weapons, and to means of protection, and to special elements. In addition to clothing, the equipment of the Russian special forces and special units of other countries includes protective equipment, communications, navigation, life support, as well as a first aid kit, satellites and special devices. Some of these equipment groups are worth considering separately.

Vietnamese experience

In Vietnam, the Americans put on Kevlar body armor for the first time. Movies about these tragic sixties, both documentary and fictional, testify to the fact that ordinary GIs wore dirty green cotton uniforms and metal helmets, sometimes covered with cloth or mesh covers so that they did not glare in the sun. American special forces equipment was more complex and perfect. The uniform had a spotted bulletproof vest protected from fire weapons, the "green berets" had individual means of communication (ISS), which helped to better coordinate the actions of the units.

Helmet

The helmet, which everyone has become accustomed to since the First World War, was originally designed to protect the soldier’s head from saber strikes and stone fragments, and not at all from bullets or shrapnel. The very first attempt to give it the ability to withstand the effects of small arms is associated with the world-famous "horns" of the German helmet. German inventors planned to mount additional armor plates on them. The bullet did not really take the helmet, but they could not withstand the blow, and the soldier still died. Modern special forces equipment includes a helmet, usually made of heavy-duty polymer, which is much lighter and more comfortable than metal. Experts consider the American Op Score helmet to be the most perfect product at present, taking into account the possibility of wearing (also an indispensable attribute at present) and walkie-talkie headphones along with a microphone. This helmet has mounts for infrared night vision and other gadgets. Her replicas are known (for example, the Russian "Armakom").

Shoes

The equipment of the Russian special forces during the Afghan war left much to be desired. Comfortable trousers and jackets were a good solution in southern climatic conditions, but shoes (boots or heavy berets) in the mountains turned out to be of little use, and special forces soldiers were more willing to put on ordinary sports shoes, sneakers and sneakers for combat missions. Unfortunately, it was not possible to fully solve the boots even today, although there are already good models, light and durable (for example, the special footwear of the Russian manufacturer, the Faraday company, is very good).

American "A-C-Y"

The equipment of the Russian special forces has become more perfect in recent years, but so far it does not fully satisfy the military personnel either in terms of quality or quantity. In this area, the Americans have gone far ahead, the ACU field uniform developed by CRYE does not hinder movement and has ergonomic pockets. In general, she is just the right one for the fight. The sewn-in knee pads and elbow pads are very successful, hardly flammable textile materials are used.

The stand-up collar fits snugly around the neck, preventing dust from getting under the jacket. Pockets are sewn at an angle to make it easier to get items hidden there.

The soldiers of the Russian special forces like such foresight. Our uniform is sewn taking into account foreign experience.

Russian counterparts

It should be noted that the US defense budget is several times greater than the funds allocated by the Russian Defense Ministry. To date, American special forces equipment seems to be the most convenient and versatile, but it also costs accordingly. Nevertheless, the military personnel of the special forces of the Republic of Armenia make the purchases of the most necessary components themselves, knowing that the success of the operation, and sometimes their very life, often depends on the equipment.

Thus, the best fit for our conditions is the cut "A-Ci-U" (translated as "army combat uniform") in the "surpat" color scheme, developed by Russian designers, taking into account the color scheme corresponding to our climate. "Multicam" camouflage was created in the USA for mountain-desert conditions.

unloading

Modern full equipment of special forces is impossible without the main means of bulletproof protection - body armor. It consists of two main types of elements, armored plates and a cover containing them, a kind of “sleeveless jacket” with large pockets on the back and chest. In addition, the body armor is used to attach pouches, additional equipment and accessories. The fighter knows in which compartment he has what he has, it is convenient for him to get automatic magazines, grenades and other necessary things in battle.

Spetsnaz "fashion"

It is difficult for an uninitiated viewer to even guess how complex the equipment of special forces is. The photo of the soldiers of the special forces units impresses with a lot of hinged pouches, built-in technical means and devices. Basically, all this is fixed on the so-called "unloading", freeing the hands and reducing the weight of the satchel, and at the same time protecting the fighter. According to the latest "fashion", it should be modular, that is, it should consist of several functional elements.

What will be the new special forces equipment? Maybe Russian inventors and designers will be able to surprise the whole world with their achievements in this area as well?

Flag in the car with a sucker "Spetsnaz GRU and Airborne Forces" will be a great gift for both paratroopers and scouts. After all, their functions, goals and methods are so closely intertwined.

Flag in the car with a sucker "Spetsnaz GRU and Airborne Forces"

The formations of the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces in the public mind have long been firmly established as a single entity, the border separating different, in general, departments is often extremely blurred. For special forces, both airborne troops and military intelligence are equally close. The second of August for the special forces is the same “red day of the calendar” as the sixth of November, the paratroopers and scouts are united by the flag of the Airborne Forces, blue berets and vests, a really special spirit in these military branches.

What do the GRU special forces and the Airborne Forces have in common?

If strictly - in accordance with the existing charter, the scheme of functioning of the armed forces, the existing combat order approved by the Ministry of Defense - to consider the organization of the Special Forces troops, then the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces include formations of different formats. Moreover, there is only one special-purpose unit in the airborne troops - this is the legendary 45th Guards Reconnaissance Regiment, here, as you can see, it could not have done without belonging to military intelligence. Cuban paratroopers very often conduct joint operations with the troops of the Special Forces of the GRU, the last major combat operation of the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces was South Ossetia 2008, then 45 ORP worked in the conflict zone together with detachments 22, 10 and 16 of the Special Forces.

Separate special-purpose brigades are subordinate to the leadership of the GRU and the military district to which they are assigned; they have no organizational relationship to the airborne troops, which is why the connection between the GRU special forces and the Airborne Forces does not become weaker. Back in the middle of the last century, when special forces in the country were just beginning to be created, some identification of the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces appeared. Firstly, conscripts with the mark “fit for service in the Airborne Forces” were called up to the formations of the Special Forces troops that were being created. Secondly, new units were formed primarily on the basis of airborne regiments and separate battalions, airborne officers also took an active part. Finally, the dress uniforms of the GRU and Airborne Special Forces are initially almost identical.

Why does the GRU special forces wear the uniform of the Airborne Forces?

For the Special Forces troops, the very existence of which at that time was a military secret, a special form was not developed, there were no insignia either. Veterans say that military personnel of other types of troops during the exercises even mistook mobile groups without identification marks for saboteurs, but the uniform of the Airborne Forces was chosen as the dress code of the GRU special forces - they were most often mistaken for paratroopers.

Further, the kinship intensified more and more - the training and combat missions of paratroopers and special forces are in many ways similar, in general, both of them are essentially saboteurs. Of course, the tasks of the troops of the Special Forces of the GRU directly behind enemy lines are completely different than those of the assault groups of the airborne troops. One way or another, the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces consist of units of constant combat readiness, but the training of fighters is always higher than the standard in the troops. Well, of course, one cannot fail to say about the mandatory VDP - the sky makes the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces more related than the above, the program of jumps in the ObrSpN and airborne formations is approximately the same, they often jump together.

Combat interaction between the GRU special forces and the Airborne Troops

The joint use of the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces in real combat conditions is a practice that has brought more than one victory to the command of the domestic armed forces. It all started with the introduction of formations of Special Forces troops into Afghanistan, when a few special forces units of the GRU and the Airborne Forces managed to carry out operations that seemed impossible. The story continued in Chechnya, the troops of the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces resolved issues in which motorized rifle formations were powerless. It's scary to imagine how many people our generals would have killed in Grozny in 1995 if special forces had not taken part in the assault.

So, if you do not take into account the subtleties of subordination, the special forces of the GRU and the Airborne Forces are in many respects organizations related to each other, primarily in spirit.

Servicemen of special forces units of the Ministry of Defense, internal troops and SOBR of the Special Purpose Center (CSN) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs agreed to tell why the American MULTICAM camouflage is popular in Russian special forces, how effective domestic bulletproof vests and night vision devices are, how combat equipment and weapons are selected.

In recent years, the main characters of television reports and photographs have become fighters from various special forces units performing tasks to combat terrorists. On the video and photo chronicles, it is striking that the field uniform, bulletproof vests, communications equipment, etc., are different for the special forces, so to speak. In the modern world, the segment of private production of tactical equipment and protective equipment is developing very dynamically. Even such well-funded Western divisions as the American Delta, the British SAS and others, buy their favorite products for their money. After all, the success of any operation depends on uniforms, equipment, and even more so weapons. How are things going with the Russian security forces, what problems do you have, what would you like to change?

Armor is strong

“We use body armor 6B23. There are also brand new 6B43s, but there are very few of them, ”says an officer of the Ministry of Defense based in the Moscow region. According to him, most military personnel buy imported products with their own money, mainly covers, which are then hemmed so that domestic armor panels can be installed. Colleagues from the internal troops are supplied with bulletproof vests developed in the early 90s "Korund", but now they have begun to supply the modern "Bagariy". Just like in the Ministry of Defense, foreign bulletproof vests, in particular American ones, are bought in VV. True, domestic Defenders and Redoubts are also popular.

Special forces equip themselves

Employees of the Central Security Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are protected by various products of the Fort-Technologies and Armacom companies. All interlocutors of the publication agreed that none of the types of body armor meets their requirements. What is needed is not ordinary body armor, but modular body armor systems, which are an unloading vest (“unloading”) with armored panels and the ability to install the necessary pouches for the tasks performed. Now such systems have become a mandatory attribute not only of special forces, but also of combined arms in many armies of the world.

“We would like to have full-time lightweight body armor according to the plate carrier scheme, like what LBT and PIG-tactical do. But since they don’t exist, many people buy with their own money and install armored panels,” says an officer of the Ministry of Defense. The same is true in the internal troops. “The Americans have a good fastening system with a set of pouches called MOLLE. Everything is of high quality, the pouches are held securely. Something similar was done on the Bagaria, however, the quality is worse and the pouches are enough for only two or three lessons. But we have only 30-40 percent of such bulletproof vests, ”complains the officer of the VV.

But the SOBR officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs believes that domestic protective materials are better and the protection classes of bulletproof vests are higher than those of foreign products. But he also recognizes the need for modular armor protection systems. All interlocutors of the publication are not satisfied with regular protective helmets. “Like a chamber pot put on my head. It is necessary to make a special cover for landing, otherwise it may catch the edge of the helmet with slings during the opening. Ours do not have mounts for night vision devices, flashlights and similar things, ”says an officer of the TsSN of the Ministry of Defense. Regular ZSh-1s are not liked by the servicemen of the internal troops, and the Altyn, Mask and Lynx-T are not liked by the SOBR officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

By all accounts, the most optimal version of a protective helmet, which is used to supply special forces units around the world, was developed by the American company OpScore.

“Very comfortable, fit well on the head, combined with glasses, headphones, an oxygen mask, have a streamlined shape,” said a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense. He is supported by colleagues from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and internal troops. “ZSh-1 is the last century. We buy for our own money "SHBM" of the company "Omnitek-M", similar to "opskorovsky". You can easily put on headphones under it. It is comfortable to fit, lightweight. Under the ZSh-1, you need to wear a special cap, and if in the summer, then a bandana, but under the SHBM you don’t need to, ”says an officer of the internal troops. At the same time, SOBR of the Ministry of Internal Affairs uses a product similar to the American OpScore helmet by the Russian company Armakom. “Now we are working with the company to fine-tune their product to our requirements. But this is a long process, at least a year,” explains an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"Kalashnikov" with a foreign butt

“We mainly use AK74M. There used to be a lot of ACMSL, but now they are almost all worn out and written off. There are several AK103s, but the current 5.45 cartridges (PP, BS, etc.) have reduced the advantage of the 7.62 caliber to zero. And the accuracy of small-caliber machine guns is higher, the ammunition load is greater with equal weight, ”an officer of the Central Security Service of the Ministry of Defense believes. According to his colleague from the internal troops, in addition to the AK74M, the TsSN also had the AK-104: “Now they took them away from us, but we liked them. They are shorter, it is more convenient to manipulate them, throw them on the back, etc. And the firing range suits us.” There are in service with special forces and submachine guns. According to the SOBR officer, his squad chose the SR-2M Veresk. It is lighter, more mobile, and the cartridge is more powerful than that of the proposed Vityaz software. But in the internal troops and the Ministry of Defense, "Heathers" did not take root.

“We immediately handed over our SR-2Ms - explosives did not purchase cartridges for them. We use PP-2000. “Shielders” (military personnel walking with bulletproof shields) work with them. The Vityaz submachine gun was also available, but was not used in combat. There were technical problems with the constant sticking of cartridges. Yes, and there is no such task where the “Vityaz” is better than Kalashnikov, ”says the officer of the VV. In the TsSN of the Ministry of Defense, the SR-2M is used as the second sniper weapon.

But the biggest headache and source of fixed costs are regular Kalashnikov assault rifles being finalized at their own expense. “We put a butt adjustable in length. Usually these are American Magpul or Israeli products. We put purchased DTK (muzzle brake-compensator), which reduce the toss of weapons, and some models also reduce the flash of a shot, which is very important when working with night vision devices. Adapters with Picatinny rails. A fuse box with an additional pedal for easy switching with the middle and / or index finger, ”the special forces officer of the Ministry of Defense lists the purchases. The military personnel of the TsSN VV and SOBR officers do the same.

“A gentleman's set on every machine is a front handle, a red dot sight and an adjustable stock. If the employee is comfortable, then he also adds a pistol grip. We put the Picatinny and Weaver adapters. The “inkwell” (muzzle brake-compensator. - Approx. Aut.) is very necessary, indispensable for night work, ”the officer of the special forces of the internal troops is sure.

According to him, of the numerous collimator sights currently offered on the small arms market, the center chose the products of the American firms Eotech and Aimpoint.

“We put Eotech on machine guns, and Aimpoint on machine guns. Russian and Belarusian sights do not like. The collimator is good with a triple magnifier, but it is too expensive, so not everyone has it, ”says an officer of the internal troops. In his opinion, a collimator sight should be cherished like the apple of an eye: “There are no licensed workshops of these companies in Russia, and it’s almost impossible to fix it yourself, especially if the matrix is broken.”

An employee of the SOBR of the Ministry of Internal Affairs explained that, in addition to imported parts, his units also buy domestic productions from the Zenit company: “We do not purchase everything at our own expense, the Motherland gives us something. I would have liked ACOG scopes from TriJicon, but they are too expensive, so we opted for Aimpoint products.”

Over the past four years, the ACU (Army Combat Uniform) cut field uniform, adopted in 2008 for supply by the Pentagon, has become popular with Russian special forces, and differs from the traditional field uniform in a short jacket with a standing collar and oblique chest pockets. Also, the American camouflage coloring "multicam", jokingly called "cartoon" in Russia, is widely used.

“ACU is more comfortable, only pockets are needed with buttons. These are quality products made of good materials, although, of course, there are exceptions. Coloring "cartoons" is well suited for regions where you have to work. And one more thing - when working together with “fesniks” (FSB special forces fighters), specialists from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and others, it turns out that everyone is dressed in the same uniform and there are no problems with identifying each other, ”says an officer of the Special Purpose Center of the Ministry of Defense.

According to his colleague from the VV, these troops are now abandoning the coloring of "cartoons" in favor of "surpat" (SURPAT), developed by the Russian company "Survival Corps". "Cartoon" is worse in the forest, so officers take it for everyday wear, sometimes they put it on for classes. It happens that we use the standard camouflage field uniform of the internal troops. But the “surpat” in the ACU cut is very comfortable, especially the sewn-in knee pads. They do not pull the leg, do not disrupt the blood supply, ”explains a special forces officer.

An employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs SOBR said that his unit also prefers the field ACU, which is purchased from British and American manufacturers: “We take the original CRYE uniform. Our employees buy what is more comfortable for them to wear. We receive some of the field uniforms on a regular basis, but we buy most of them at our own expense.” According to him, the use of "multicam" colors allows you to quickly identify friendly units participating in the operation. Although this coloring is not optimal for the North Caucasus.

According to all interlocutors, the big problem is uniform shoes that cannot be worn. And again you have to buy on your own, giving preference to foreign products, and not only for military purposes: sports boots are also in demand. Recently, the special forces of the Internal Troops and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are increasingly liking the boots of the domestic company Faraday. “It is generally impossible to walk in shaped pieces of wood, and it is also life-threatening. Now Faraday shoes have appeared that are no worse than imported ones, but many times cheaper. If only they would take her for supply and give us regular ones, ”the officer of the internal troops modestly dreams.

Communications and night vision devices

Night vision devices are a headache for Russian special forces. When asked if you consider Russian devices adequate for the tasks assigned, an officer from the Special Purpose Center of the Ministry of Defense answered succinctly: “Are you kidding me?”.

According to the officer of the internal troops, his colleagues, if possible, prefer to purchase imported products, sometimes Belarusian "Filins". “For snipers, there are good full-time Russian “night lights” DS-4 and DS-6. But there are few of them in our center. Now we have purchased Russian night vision devices "Shahin". We immediately said that they did not suit us. The same "Cyclone" (manufacturer - NPO "Cyclone") is much better, more reliable and easier. But the intelligence department of the VV thought that such people would do for us, ”the commando of the internal troops is outraged.

Also, all interlocutors admitted that their units also purchase active headphones with built-in communication at their own expense, which amplify weak sounds and dampen strong ones. Peltor headphones are preferred.

“They are not needed everywhere, but only for the task, otherwise the rumor sits down very quickly. For fun, try walking in active headphones along a mountain stream or through a forest in strong winds. But indoors or in fire training, they are good, ”explains an officer of the Ministry of Defense.

His colleague from the internal troops believes that active headphones are necessary for operations in the forest: “There they amplify the sound and you can hear the enemy in advance. Although I personally prefer a regular headset.”

The ongoing counter-terrorist operations in Syria require the constant participation of military personnel and employees of special forces units of all law enforcement agencies. If in the early 90s the quality and quantity of equipment was determined by the capabilities of the department, now even for elite special-purpose centers everything depends on the thickness of the wallets of the servicemen themselves. It can be argued that foreign specialists also spend their money, because everyone chooses what is more convenient to fight in. But it's one thing - shoes and field uniforms, and when it comes to body armor, helmets, communications equipment, "body kits" for weapons, it's already worth thinking about.

The international arms and equipment market has been at the peak of activity in the last 10-12 years. Russian companies, with rare exceptions, do not participate there, although the military and law enforcement officers have accumulated sufficient combat experience that can be implemented in new families of bulletproof vests, communications equipment, active headphones, etc. At the same time, the latest AEK-971 and AK-12 assault rifles presented for testing without full-fledged collimator sights of domestic production. Although the same Belarus actively produces these products. One can only regret that foreign special forces are supplied by departments, and Russian ones by their families, donating money from the family budget.

Alexey Mikhailov

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Today it is difficult to find really high-quality uniforms. In most cases, you have to deal with dubious options originally from China.

The form looks quite beautiful, and it is almost impossible to distinguish it from the original. However, as soon as such paraphernalia turns out to be in the "field" conditions, the quality takes precedence over the visual superiority - it simply passes.

For the military, every little thing is very significant, especially physical mobility and a number of directly tactical, defensive and protective functions that become possible thanks to overalls.

Uniforms are issued to military units, including the foreign intelligence agency represented by the GRU special service. This is a form of special purpose, which must be functional, comfortable and practical.

Now it is not uncommon to report on television channels, articles in the media, Internet programs about various special forces.

People who are ignorant of this issue can simply comment on the appearance of the fighters like this - they are all the same: camouflage, berets, vests ... But this is only at first glance.

All uniforms have historical features. In addition to household quality, the military uniform of the GRU special forces, both in the old days and to this day, is not only facilitates the service but also protects its owner.

The protective function allows a person in the performance of official duties to protect himself from the effects of negative natural factors. The tactical clothing of the GRU special forces also helps to minimize accidents and the risk of unpredictable situations.

Varieties of clothing, styles

As a rule, the whole variety of uniforms of law enforcement agencies is focused on its seasonal classification:

summer;
winter.

You can also notice the division of the form according to its direct application:

Variety of clothing for field operations. Used in combat. As a rule, the field uniform of the GRU special forces is accompanied by its use in the most difficult minutes of service, therefore, special requirements are placed on it.
Front- ideal for presenting military and state awards, as well as special honors, guard of honor. You can not do without it on ceremonial and weekend days.
Everyday uniform. Applies to all other cases.

The dress and demobilization uniform of the GRU special forces looks like in this photo:

Thanks to the high-quality form, the fighter is comfortable and comfortable even during unexpected combat missions.

For men

All the variety of shapes and colors of clothing used by the GRU units, for the most part, was inherited from the USSR period. You can list the main ones:

"Amoeba". The most durable pattern of camouflage, whose history goes back to the period of 1935. At one time it was at the heart of the developments of Soviet designers of military uniforms. At the moment, it has been finalized, its various variations are available.
"deciduous forest"- An ideal camouflage fabric of a military nature. The uniform passed the “baptism of fire” and served the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War of 1942 in good service.
"Silver Leaf"("Sunny Bunnies" or). Sketches of this sample were created back in the 50s.
VSR-93, or folk "Vertical"(based on the vertical stripes on the form). The shape of the field character allows you to effectively merge with the surrounding background.
HRV-98 "Flora". In wide military circles, it is known as the "Watermelon" camouflage because of the stripes. This option is the base for special forces. In addition to the specific coloring, it has excellent masking characteristics, suitable for the middle part of Russia.
"Digital flora" or "Russian figure". These are innovative developments of a new summer and winter uniform for the special forces of the GRU, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB, which was developed by V. Yudashkin (Russian fashion designer).

Are you interested in knowing what the requirements are for? For her, too, there are certain rules and requirements.

What materials are used to make protective split leggings for welders, find out in this.

What features does the black uniform of special forces have and what requirements it must meet, read in this.

For women

Military special uniform for women is created based on the male version taken as a basis. At the same time, all the basic principles of reliability, comfort and resistance to any weather conditions are preserved.

The female version of the GRU special forces clothing is rack-mounted and has a special dimensional grid designed exclusively for women. The shirt-tunic has a large number of necessary pockets. Pockets are represented by a direct version with Velcro.

Convenience is achieved by the fact that in the summer you can roll up your sleeves. On the back of the pants there are reflective meshes that allow you to move without fear of getting dirt, perform a ventilation function.

What the uniform of the GRU special forces for men and women looks like, look at the photo:

In order for the thing to retain its own presentability and last as long as possible, you will need to follow the recommendations for washing it (look at the label).

Storage and care

Absolutely any uniform, regardless of the area of its application needs special care. Due to daily wear, stubborn dirt appears on the uniform.

Before washing the GRU form, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the recommendations indicated on the products. In this case, wool products need to be hand washed in warm water or in a washing machine with the choice of the most gentle mode. Due to the high temperature of the water, the material may "sit down", so things will decrease by 1-2 sizes. And do not forget about spinning, which is absolutely “contraindicated”.

The most problematic to clean is the police, military and GRU uniforms.

Mistakes in care can just ruin it, which will entail a sufficient amount of trouble, which may even lead to a service reprimand.

Everyday uniform can be cleaned in any mode - it withstands exposure to any temperature and detergents.

Given the high degree of pollution, these clothes are made from the strongest fibers. Even with all the desire of the owner, it will still be the best option to take the dress uniform to dry cleaning, since home attempts can only harm the dress clothes and lead to irreversible consequences.

If for a civilian, a beret is an ordinary headdress, which, in principle, is more popular among women, then for military personnel, a beret is not just an integral part of the uniform, but a symbol. Currently, each branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has its own beret. Hats differ not only in color, but also in the rule and the right to wear it. Therefore, not everyone knows how it differs, for example, in taking the GRU special forces from the headdress of the marines.

The first mention of an army headdress

The very first army berets appeared at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries in England and Scotland. Then the warriors wear special caps that look like berets. However, the mass distribution of such a headdress began only during the First World War. The first who began to wear them were the soldiers of the tank and mechanized units of the French army.

Further, the baton for the introduction of such an element of clothing was the UK. With the advent of tanks, the question arose of what to wear to the tanker, because the helmet was very uncomfortable, and the cap was too bulky. Therefore, it was decided to introduce a black beret. The color was chosen on the basis that the tankers are constantly working and are near the equipment, and soot and oil are not visible on the black color.

The appearance of a beret in the army

During the Second World War, such hats became even more popular, especially among the Allied forces. US Special Forces soldiers noted the following conveniences of these headgear:

First of all, they hid their hair well;
Dark colors were not visible in the dark;
The berets were warm enough;
He could wear a helmet or a helmet.

Accordingly, some types and types of troops in Great Britain and the United States adopted a headdress as one of the main elements of uniforms. In the Soviet army, this element of clothing began to appear already in the early sixties, as the head attribute of the landing and special forces. Since then, the rules and wearing of such hats have not changed much.

Which one does the special forces take?

At the end of the 20th century, berets became an integral part of the daily and dress uniforms of the armies of many countries. Almost every defensive state has elite special units that have their own unique headgear:

The mountain infantry detachments of the French armed forces, the Alpine Chasseurs, wear a dark blue beret of a sufficiently large diameter.
The elite Foreign Legion is characterized by light green robes.
French naval special forces are distinguished by wearing a green beret.
German airborne troops and reconnaissance units wear maroon berets, but with different emblems on it.
The Royal Netherlands Marines are distinguished by wearing dark blue uniform elements, while the paratroopers are wearing maroon headdresses.
British special forces SAS have been wearing beige caps since the mid-forties of the last century, and the marines are green.
The US Rangers are recognizable by the same color as the British Special Forces - beige.
US Special Forces have been wearing green berets since 1961, which is how they got their nickname.

It can be seen that most of the NATO member countries have an identical color range of hats. As for the shape, it is round for all armies, and differs only in size.

Distribution in the Armed Forces of the USSR

In 1967, an updated uniform was adopted for the Airborne Forces. The famous Soviet artist A.B. Zhuk submitted a proposal to General V.F. Margelov to use crimson caps as an attribute of paratroopers, referring to the use of such caps in other countries of the world. The commander agreed and approved the beret. For privates and sergeants, an emblem in the form of an asterisk was intended, which was attached to the front in the center of the beret, and a blue flag was located on the right, and a cockade was provided for officers.

A year later, a blue beret was adopted for the paratroopers, as the leadership considered that it more symbolizes the color of the sky. As for the marines, black was approved for this type of troops. Tankers also used black berets, but not as the main headgear, but during the maintenance and repair of equipment to protect their heads from dirt.

The difference between the uniform of the GRU special forces and the rest of the military branches

Special Forces developed with the Airborne Forces at the same time and due to similar specifics and the use and profile of the tasks of these troops, their uniforms were identical. The special forces soldiers wore exactly the same uniform as the paratroopers. Outwardly, it is very difficult to distinguish who is standing in front of you: a commando or an airborne officer. After all, the color, and the shape, and the cockade itself are the same. However, the GRU had one caveat.

In Soviet times, special forces soldiers wore blue berets and the uniform of the Airborne Forces mainly in training units or at the parade. After the training centers, the soldiers were assigned to combat units, which could be carefully disguised as other branches of the military. This was especially true for those who were sent to serve abroad.

Instead of a white and blue vest, beret and lace-up boots, the soldiers were given the usual combined arms uniform, for example, like tankers or signalmen. So you could forget about berets. This was done in order to hide the presence of the special forces from the eyes of the enemy. Thus, for the GRU, the blue beret is a ceremonial headdress and only in those cases when it is allowed to wear it.

The beret of the GRU special forces is not just a type of headdress and an integral part of the uniform, but a symbol of valor and courage, honor and nobility, the right to wear which is not given to every even the most experienced and brave warrior.

Video: how do they pass the standards for a maroon beret?

In this video, Pavel Zelennikov will show how the special forces elite receive an olive and maroon beret: