Soviet Spetsnaz Uniform in Afghanistan (1979–1989)

Soviet Spetsnaz uniform in Afghanistan: field clothing and gear

Soviet Spetsnaz uniform in Afghanistan (1979–1989) was shaped by heat, mountains, supply shortages, and the realities of deep reconnaissance operations.

This article uses fragments from the book GRU Spetsnaz in Afghanistan, 1979–1989.

“Uniform number eight – you wear whatever you have.”
This army joke became everyday reality in Afghanistan.
For Spetsnaz units, the rare cases of uniformity in clothing were constantly criticized by higher command.

Field Uniform and Equipment of the Soviet Army (1968–1991) – Part 1

Field Uniform and Equipment of the Soviet Army (1968–1991) – Part 2

Field Uniform and Equipment of the Soviet Army (1968–1991) – Part 3

Field Uniform and Equipment of the Soviet Army (1968–1991) – Part 4

Combat clothing of reconnaissance soldiers was often supplemented with captured (trophy) uniforms, footwear, and equipment. According to intercepted radio communications of insurgent groups, even they often struggled to identify who these armed men were, as they did not look like typical “shuravi.”

This was not surprising. Only Spetsnaz units were officially allowed to conduct combat operations without the mandatory body armor and steel helmet required for all personnel of the 40th Army. These items were strongly associated by Afghans with the appearance of the shuravi. This single privilege of the Spetsnaz even caused envy among other servicemen of the Soviet contingent.

The so-called “lightweight uniform” was the main field clothing of Soviet troops throughout the entire Afghan War. Only in the second half of the 1980s was it partially replaced by a “new model” field uniform, but it still did not fully meet the requirements for operations in a hot climate.

The lightweight cotton uniform for hot regions consisted of a jacket with an open collar and straight-cut trousers. The summer version of this uniform was worn with a panama hat and leather boots.

Panama hat
One of the most practical types of headgear for summer heat.

Field sergeant shoulder boards

7.62 mm SVD sniper rifle
Equipped with PSO-1 optical sight.

Chrome parade boots
In Afghanistan, Soviet footwear became one of the most painful issues. Reconnaissance soldiers wore parade boots not for appearance, but because of the lack of proper supply. With established service periods, a reconnaissance soldier wore out 2–3 pairs of boots per year, while under normal supply conditions one pair of everyday footwear was intended to last eight months.

Pouch for SVD magazines

Combat belt with waist strap
The belt, strap, and pouch interfered with a sniper’s movement. Often snipers modified standard magazine pouches into more practical chest rigs and sewed them onto a load-bearing vest.

Backpack RD-54
Used for long-term storage of various personal items.

Bag for MON-50 mine kit
Attached to the RD-54 backpack.

Sleeping bag
Captured insulated sleeping bags became a common piece of equipment among many Spetsnaz reconnaissance soldiers, even though they were designed for use in very cold climates.

1.7-liter plastic flask

NSPU night sight in pouch
During daytime operations, the night sight was removed and packed into a standard pouch or backpack.

After several months of use
The cotton fabric of the field uniform faded completely and lost its original color, as well as its weak camouflage properties.

Only Spetsnaz units of the Soviet Ministry of Defense and the KGB of the USSR, assigned to conduct combat operations deep behind enemy lines, were equipped with uniforms similar in cut to the field uniforms of NATO countries.

Within Spetsnaz units, this special-purpose uniform was called “pryzhkovka” (because it was used for training parachute jumps) or “pesochka.” The first name was more common within the Soviet Union, while the second was more familiar among veterans of the Afghan War.

The uniform was made from thin but dense cotton fabric in sand or olive colors, although versions in ochre color also existed. In Afghanistan, Spetsnaz units were mainly supplied with sand-colored uniforms, which unfortunately faded quickly and turned almost white.

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Formation inspection of the 1st company, 154th Separate Special Forces Detachment
Personnel wearing special field uniforms. In the foreground – company commander Captain Yu. Kozlov.
Jalalabad, April 1987.

Elastic strap for attaching the headset of the UKV radio station R-392

Striped undershirt (telnyashka)
The pride of Spetsnaz and airborne troops.

NSP-3 night sight
Each reconnaissance soldier had his own night sight. The NSP was attached to equipment straps or carried in pockets.

7.62 mm AKMS assault rifle with NSP-3 night sight mount
The flash suppressor significantly reduced the illumination of the night sight caused by the muzzle flash.

Front pockets of the trousers
Used as a convenient place for storing a rain poncho packed into a polyethylene bag.

“Kimir” sneakers
Despite their domestic production, they were not inferior in durability to army footwear and shoes from garrison stores and did not wear out quickly.

Hand fragmentation grenade
The chest rig carried one or several grenades with safety pins secured. The standard chest rig consisted of three magazine pouches for hand grenades and one grenade.

Army knife NA-43

Cotton fabric used for special forces uniforms

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The protective mesh suit (KZS) was part of the individual protection kit issued to soldiers against weapons of mass destruction. The KZS consisted of a cotton jacket with a hood and loose, wide trousers. It was designed for single use in areas contaminated with chemical agents or radioactive substances.

Because of its excellent breathability, the KZS was very popular among all personnel of the Limited Contingent. In summer, it was worn over underwear only, while in colder weather it was worn over other uniforms.

The service life of the “single-use” KZS was short, and Spetsnaz units constantly experienced a shortage of this chemical service equipment.

Rod antenna, Kulikov type, 1.7 m

Headset – headphones

UKV radio station R-159
Reconnaissance radio operators of Spetsnaz units carried the R-159 on themselves. To mask the radio station and to carry spare AK magazines, ammunition, dry rations, and other equipment, radio operators made special pouches with pockets for the station.

Pouch for AK-74 magazines

Reconnaissance soldiers placed magazines in the pouch due to the absence of more practical chest rigs and load-bearing vests, as well as because of the specifics of service on patrol. This pouch was also used by crews of combat vehicles and vehicle drivers.

Elastic band (rubber strap)

0.7-liter aluminum flask in a canvas cover

Cotton mesh fabric of the KZS suit

Inspection patrol of the 2nd company, 154th Separate Special Forces Detachment, returning from a mission
In the center – group commander Lieutenant Yuri Rybakov.
Jalalabad airfield, spring 1988.

Commander of the 668th Separate Special Forces Detachment, Major V. Goratenkov (right), conducts a readiness inspection of the 2nd company before a combat mission. In the center – a reconnaissance flamethrower operator wearing a KZS protective mesh suit. Kabul, spring 1988.

The camouflage coverall, or maskhalat, had a reversible color scheme. Because of this, one side of the suit (green) was ideal for operations in vegetated areas (“green zone”), while the other side (gray) was suitable for mountainous and desert terrain. Company tailors were able to quickly remake the coverall into a two-piece uniform – trousers and a jacket – in just a few minutes.

Later, the domestic military industry took the Afghan experience into account and began producing camouflage suits instead of coveralls. The fragile fabric of the maskhalat could withstand only a few combat missions, after which the uniform turned into rags.

Chest rig, KNP
Standard chest rig used by reconnaissance units.

Cigarette pack
Soldiers performing urgent service were supplied with filterless cigarettes “Luch” or “Okhotnichye.” According to stories, for target practice (shooting at ducks while hunting), soldiers renamed these cigarettes to “Death in the Swamp.”

30-mm VOG or ROP
Fixed to equipment with elastic bands or placed in equipment pockets.

UKV radio station R-392 manipulator

Rifle sling and front sight of the assault rifle wrapped with electrical tape
Reconnaissance soldiers did this to avoid noise when moving and handling the weapon.

“Kimir” sneakers
Comfortable, but far from ideal footwear for operations in mountainous or high-altitude terrain, where high-quality boots with a high ankle would be more suitable.

IPP (Individual First Aid Package)
The individual dressing package was often fixed in the opening of the metal AK-74 magazine pouch — convenient and always within reach (clearly visible).

Cotton fabric of the camouflage suit

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The summer cotton field uniform of the “new model,” more commonly known as the “experimental uniform,” began to be issued in large quantities to personnel of the Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in the Republic of Afghanistan in the mid-1980s. The same protective-color cotton fabric used in the previous model of Soviet Army field uniforms was used to manufacture the “experimental uniform.”

Because of the large number of overlays and pockets, the uniform turned out to be too “warm” for the Afghan summer. Reconnaissance soldiers wore the “experimental uniform” during combat operations only in cooler seasons, and in summer they preferred lighter clothing.

Later, after the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan, the “new model” field uniform entered history under the name “Afghanka.”

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UKV radio station R-392
Placed in the breast pocket of the load-bearing vest.

26-mm signal pistol SP-81
To prevent loss, a leather pistol lanyard or parachute cord was attached to the signal pistol.

Chinese 12.7-mm machine gun, Type “54”
(DShK, USSR). During combat operations, reconnaissance soldiers used captured enemy heavy weapons, handling of which they practiced during live-fire training.

Binoculars B-12
To secure the binoculars on the chest, a wide elastic band was sewn to the load-bearing vest or chest rig.

Pouch for hand fragmentation grenades from the RD-54 backpack set
When manufacturing load-bearing vests (since industrial production was not available), reconnaissance soldiers used various pouches and equipment cases from different weapons systems.

Photograph (bottom left)
Soviet reconnaissance soldiers in field uniforms during the Afghan War.

The winter cotton jacket and trousers of the “new model” were equipped with a detachable insulating liner. The removable padded lining made it possible to use this uniform as mid-season clothing. In some cases, reconnaissance soldiers wore only the “insulating liner,” which was due to its light weight and good thermal insulation properties.

The trouser liner, even in winter, was worn only during movement by armored vehicles or when the group was halted for a daytime rest.

For camouflage purposes
The winter hat and other headgear were worn without the cockade (star), and the brass buckle of the soldier’s belt was never polished by reconnaissance soldiers to avoid shine.

7.62 mm PKM machine gun
Used by reconnaissance machine gunners without the ammunition box. The machine-gun belt with cartridges (50–75 rounds) was carried wrapped around the receiver.

Pouch for magazines from the RD-54 backpack set
Machine gunners placed illumination signal cartridges in the pouch, while the machine-gun belts were stored in the backpack.

Side pockets of the RD-54
(2–3 belts of 50–75 rounds each)

Rescue vest from the spare parts kit of armored vehicles

Central pocket of the RD-54
(300–500 rounds in belts)

Load-bearing vest for machine gunners
For the convenience of carrying loaded machine-gun belts and other equipment, some machine gunners made their own load-bearing vests.

Mountain clothing protected reconnaissance soldiers from wind and rain during the autumn and winter period. In addition to the alpine suit, the mountain clothing set included a wool sweater and a balaclava, as well as mountain boots with high ankle support and tricouni spikes.

The alpine suit, more commonly known as the “Gorka,” was worn over underwear or other uniforms. The jacket of the “Gorka” was worn at night in the mountains even in summer, because despite the daytime heat, nights in Afghanistan are quite cool.

For Spetsnaz units, as well as for other Soviet troops in Afghanistan, it was common to mix all available types of clothing when preparing for combat operations. For “the war,” soldiers wore whatever was considered practical or was available at the time.

Side cap with visor
Headgear from the “new model” uniform set; in everyday use it was simply called a cap.

RPG-18 “Mukha” reactive anti-tank grenade launcher

Belt for clips with 7.62×39 mm cartridges (KNP)

Reconnaissance soldiers often used captured belts, carrying cigarette packs, rounds for the under-barrel grenade launcher, and various small items.

Balaclava (under-helmet cap)

Mountain sweater

Hemostatic tourniquet

Dagger “Lesh-Kabz”

“Belt-B”
The first mass-produced domestic chest rig.

For certain combat missions, Spetsnaz reconnaissance soldiers sometimes disguised themselves by wearing “dushman” clothing. Elements of Afghan national dress were especially widely used by reconnaissance troops during foot reconnaissance and search operations, when operating captured “combat” vehicles, as well as during other special activities.

In multinational military units, dark-skinned soldiers from Central Asia and the Caucasus, wearing Afghan national clothing, did not visually stand out from local Afghans. When visual contact was established between a reconnaissance group and the enemy, this circumstance allowed the reconnaissance soldiers to gain time and take the initiative against the mujahideen.

Pakol cap (among soldiers also called “push­tunka”)
A national headgear of Afghan tribes from the central and eastern parts of Afghanistan. This woolen headgear was equally comfortable to wear both in summer heat and in winter cold.

Reconnaissance soldier of the 186th Separate Special Forces Detachment, Sergey Zhdanov
Even 20 years after his service in Afghanistan (1986–1988), he sometimes still wears the pakol he came to like during the war.

Afghan men’s national clothing
Made from light plain-weave cotton or blended fabric. Preference was given to light shades of blue, brown, and green. Black and dark brown colors were practically not encountered, with the exception of some band groups dressed strictly in black clothing.

5.45 mm AKS-74 with 40 mm GP-25 under-barrel grenade launcher

Pouch for VOG-25 grenade rounds

Such “small items” as individual weapons components and pieces of equipment (pouches, signal devices, radio stations, etc.) gave Soviet reconnaissance soldiers a distinctive appearance. By disguising themselves as “dushmans,” Spetsnaz soldiers often took the initiative and opened fire first.

The “old” parachutist–airborne backpack, dating back as far as the 1954 model, remains the main piece of combat equipment for Spetsnaz units to this day. In the compact RD-54 backpack, and also on its exterior (using tying straps), most of the equipment necessary for a reconnaissance soldier to conduct combat operations was carried.

When the capacity of the RD-54 was not sufficient to carry all required gear, reconnaissance soldiers used alpine backpacks (from mountain equipment sets), tourist backpacks, or various captured backpacks. Very often, reconnaissance soldiers sewed additional pockets onto the “RD,” while cutting off (as unnecessary) the pouch for grenades and magazines.

Combat beret
Despite the official light-blue dress beret, reconnaissance soldiers often sewed their own combat berets from camouflage suit fabric or from other types of camouflage material.

7.62 mm AKMSL assault rifle
Equipped with the PBS-1 device for silent and flashless firing and the universal night shooting sight (NSPU).

NSP red-light signal device
Carried in a pocket. During night reconnaissance and search operations, and when performing parachute jumps, reconnaissance soldiers carried the NSP or a 40-mm signal cartridge.

A shelter half (poncho-tent) was a mandatory part of the combat equipment of reconnaissance soldiers in Afghanistan, and when possible, a sleeping bag as well. All conscript soldiers were issued a shelter half, but the situation with sleeping bags was far from ideal.

Standard army padded sleeping bags were so heavy and bulky that their use by reconnaissance soldiers was not even considered. At best, domestic sleeping bags were used by personnel of armored groups. In the mountains and desert, reconnaissance soldiers preferred captured synthetic or foam sleeping bags.

In most cases, these were civilian sleeping bags that entered Pakistan for Afghan refugees but were encountered only among the mujahideen. In addition to these sleeping bags, army-issued British or other imported down sleeping bags were much more rarely seen among the “dushmans” and, consequently, among Spetsnaz units as well.

Shelter half
The soldier’s shelter half protected reconnaissance soldiers from rain, snow, wind, and scorching sunlight, and was also used as a groundsheet. When rolled up, the shelter half was strapped to the RD-54 backpack, either on top or underneath.

Sleeping bag
A dark-blue sleeping bag with synthetic insulation was supplied to Afghan refugees through the channels of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent, as indicated by its label. Spetsnaz did not loot refugees and took these sleeping bags from captured mujahideen depots and material-technical supply bases of band formations. From warehouses and storage points, these sleeping bags often “migrated” upward to frontline units.

SPN and SPN “Doshd”
Special shelter halves and sleeping pads SPN and SPN “Doshd” had a universal reversible camouflage pattern — green-sand and green-white. If necessary, the “Doshd,” made of rubberized fabric, was inflated with air and turned into a mattress for resting on water. In the Soviet Army, SPN and SPN “Doshd” were issued only to Spetsnaz units.

In winter frost
In severe winter cold, a light sleeping bag did not protect reconnaissance soldiers from freezing, and then a heating tablet from the soldier’s ration was used – the sleeping bag was warmed from the inside. This unpretentious method of heating hot tea, heated in the mountains, was often the only way to keep reconnaissance soldiers warm during combat missions. The same smokeless dry fuel from the ration kit was used to prepare it.

Shelter half for transporting the wounded
In the mountains, the wounded often had to be carried by hand for several kilometers before evacuation by helicopter or armored vehicles became possible. In some Spetsnaz units, each group was required to have two or three such shelter halves.

The 7.62 mm AKMS and AKMSL assault rifles (with a mounting rail for a night sight) were more popular among Spetsnaz units than 5.45 mm rifles. The reasons were the better stopping power of the 7.62 mm bullet and the fact that the main small arms used by the mujahideen were Chinese-made 7.62 mm Kalashnikov rifles.

Given the relative autonomy of Spetsnaz reconnaissance operations, the presence of the same type of ammunition on the enemy side allowed reconnaissance soldiers to use 7.62 mm cartridges captured from the enemy during combat (Chinese, Egyptian, and others). Reconnaissance soldiers also valued the ability to replenish their ammunition with captured rounds using “explosive” bullets (armor-piercing incendiary), since Soviet troops in Afghanistan were practically not supplied with similar domestic ammunition due to considerations of “humanity” (?).

Another serious argument in favor of choosing the 7.62 mm Kalashnikov rifle was the availability of the PBS-1 device for silent and flashless firing.

Stock locking mechanism

Selector switch

Rear sight

Handguard

Muzzle device
Installed on early-production AKM assault rifles. Later models of the 7.62 mm Kalashnikov rifle had a compensator that reduced bullet dispersion during automatic fire.

Magazine release

Folding stock

Steel 30-round magazine
Reconnaissance soldiers preferred metal magazines to plastic ones due to their lower weight and resistance to deformation when struck. However, if a steel magazine was deformed, it could sometimes cause jamming and interruptions in feeding cartridges into the chamber.

Muzzle device

Compensator

Slotted flash suppressor from the NSP-3 night sight kit

PBS-1 device for silent and flashless firing

The sound of a subsonic cartridge fired from an AKMS with a PBS is not audible at a distance of 150–200 meters in nighttime silence.

The 5.45 mm Kalashnikov rifle was the most widespread weapon of the units of the Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces in Afghanistan. Spetsnaz units were armed with the AKS-74, AKS-74N (with a mounting rail for a night sight), and the AKS-74U (shortened version).

The 5.45 mm Kalashnikov rifle compared favorably with its 7.62 mm predecessor due to the greater number of rounds a scout could carry at the same total weight, better accuracy, and other ballistic characteristics. Unfortunately, the AKS-74 has a lower stopping power than the old and proven AKM, which is of considerable importance in close combat.

At permanent deployment locations of military units in Afghanistan, all personnel were provided with hot meals three times a day, while during combat missions they were supplied with dry rations. Spetsnaz units were issued the “Etalon No. 5” dry ration.

For operations in high-mountain conditions during the period of the Soviet presence in Afghanistan, the production and supply of high-calorie mountain rations—summer and winter versions—were organized.

During the summer heat, scouts often left part of their dry ration in the barracks, while in winter they additionally took extra food: bread, fish and meat canned goods, condensed milk, and other products obtained from warehouses, purchased in stores, or acquired through other means known only to the soldiers themselves.

At times, the monotonous army diet was supplemented with local products: fresh meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits, as well as various Eastern sweets and spices.

Knives were practically not used by Spetsnaz units as combat weapons. The only exceptions were episodes when reconnaissance soldiers silently eliminated an enemy, as well as several cases of hand-to-hand combat with the mujahideen. However, it was impossible to do without a knife in combat daily life and routine activities.

Scouts used bayonet knives from assault rifles, NR scout knives, army knives such as the NA-43, Afghan combat daggers and utility knives, as well as various models of pocket knives and tourist folding knives.

Knives were used for cutting pack loads from destroyed caravans, performing minor repairs on weapons and equipment, opening canned food, slicing bread and vegetables, butchering animals and cleaning fish, as well as for many other purposes.

│ Afghan knives
│
│ The Afghan dagger known as the “pesh-kabz” had blade lengths ranging from 15 to 30 centimeters and a distinctive blade shape resembling a “rat’s tail,” reaching up to one meter in length.
│
│ Captured daggers were carried by reconnaissance soldiers in the chest rig pocket, with the blade inserted between magazines — practical, and something to take pride in before fellow servicemen.

At permanent deployment locations of military units in Afghanistan, all personnel were provided with hot meals three times a day, while during combat missions they were supplied with dry rations. Spetsnaz units were issued the “Etalon No. 5” dry ration.

For operations in high-mountain conditions during the period of the Soviet presence in Afghanistan, the production and supply of high-calorie mountain rations – summer and winter versions – were organized.

During the summer heat, scouts often left part of their dry ration in the barracks, while in winter they additionally took extra food: bread, fish and meat canned goods, condensed milk, and other products obtained from warehouses, purchased in stores, or acquired through other means known only to the soldiers themselves.

At times, the monotonous army diet was supplemented with local products: fresh meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits, as well as various Eastern sweets and spices.

│ Dry mountain summer (winter) ration
│
│ Natural concentrated fruit and berry juice (90 g) was included only in the summer dry ration.
│
│ The standard field ration included meat and meat-and-vegetable canned food (vegetable stew), fruit juice, condensed milk, biscuits, cookies, fruit concentrate, caramel candies, vitamin supplement, instant coffee, as well as matches and solid fuel tablets.
│
│ The mountain summer ration differed from the winter version by having lower caloric value but a higher content of liquid products.
│
│ Mountain rations were intended for feeding military personnel operating in mountainous terrain at elevations above 2000 meters; however, this requirement did not apply to Spetsnaz units.

│ Dry ration “Etalon No. 5”
│
│ Can opener
│
│ Condensed milk — 125 g
│
│ Minced meat — 100 g
│
│ Liver pâté — 100 g
│
│ Stewed meat or lard with cracklings — 100 g
│
│ Dry fuel
│
│ Tea — 2 tea bags
│
│ Coffee — 1 packet
│
│ Chocolate — 45 g (3 × 15 g)
│
│ Army biscuits made from wholemeal flour (“Volyn gingerbread”)
│
│ Soup concentrate with pasta — 100 g
│
│ Salt
│
│ Sugar

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Field Uniform and Equipment of the Soviet Army in 1968 -1991 Part 1

Field Uniform and Equipment of the Soviet Army (1968–1991) – Part 2

Field Uniform and Equipment of the Soviet Army (1968–1991) – Part 3

Field Uniform and Equipment of the Soviet Army (1968–1991) – Part 4

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