VDV Paratrooper Coverall

Although often seen, the VDV paratrooper coverall is rarely referenced in most publications.  It was seen in the Soviet uniform regulations of 1957, but could date back several years prior to that.  The uniform was the first Soviet purpose built military coverall designed for airborne forces.  Its greatest utility was in the way that it kept equipment and clothing from flying about in a disorganized fashion as the paratrooper fell to earth.  With this uniform everything was safely out of the way beneath the coverall.  Only the RD-54 backpack, a weapon in a canvas drop case, and the main and reserve parachutes were worn over the coverall.  When on the ground, the soldier could either remove the coverall or continue fighting while wearing it, as it did little to impede his movement.

The coverall has a single pocket on the right thigh that is fastened by two buttons.  A strap and a pair of buttons at the ankle are also used to tighten the fit around the boot, while the wrists have elastic to keep them snug.  A smaller pocket can be found inside the coverall's left breast.  The padded helmet was manufactured in both khaki and black.  With the introduction of the M-85 TTsKO camouflage uniform, the coverall was no longer needed.  The suspender and jacket system of the new uniform rendered the coverall obsolete.

Service Chronology

The VDV paratrooper coverall was introduced in the nineteen fifties, an action that was made official by the Uniform Regulations of 1957.  The uniform was used by the airborne forces until it was replaced by the M-85 TTsKO patterns in the mid-nineteen eighties.