helmet. Other NVA equipment bears striking
similarities to that of the WWII German
soldier. Like their predecessors’, kit was
hung from a metal buckled belt by Y-straps,
while ammunition for the rifle was carried in
a single magazine pouch on the front righthand side. While the WWII soldier sported
leather webbing the NVA opted for a cheaper,
hard-wearing and much nastier grey nylon
known as dederon. The classic German army
jackboot was retained for nearly all combat
arms and even the distinctive NVA M56 steel
helmet was in fact a prototype 1944 design
(the M56 is probably the most efficient steel
helmet ever invented but Hitler rejected the
1944 trial model as he disliked the look!).
On the skirmish field
This month we’ve chosen to look at
two airsofters sporting NVA infantry
loadouts – for ease of reference
we’ll call them ‘Soldat A’ and
‘Soldat B’. Soldat A is sporting
a load-out slightly more
geared to the needs of
the skirmish field while
Soldat B conforms
slightly more to the
standardised NVA
uniform and equipment.
Both men wear the
summer Felddienstuniform
(‘field service uniform’ also
known as FDA) in Strichtarn
camouflage pattern and wear the
standard grey nylon and camo canvas
webbing. Soldat A has both a very late
(roughly 1989) production camouflage
field cap and the M56 steel helmet.
Soldat B, in contrast, wears his M56
in the far more standard ‘netted’
configuration.
Rank was traditionally (until the
last years of the NVA) worn on shoulder
boards in the traditional German style
– but here both soldiers have omitted
KIT LIST
Hat: M56 steel helmet (netted)
Jacket: Felddienstuniform in
Strichtarn pattern
Trousers: Felddienstuniform in
Strichtarn pattern
Webbing: Issue dederon webbing;
Strictarn-pattern haversack
Boots: Combat/patrol boots
Rifle: AK47 with wood furniture
040
January 2012
to wear both these and the traditional white
‘collar liner’ of the field jacket.
Soldat A’s use of conventional lace up
combat boots further differs from the norms
of the NVA – the DDR and the Russians
continued to issue jackboots to the majority
of their combat troops. Lastly, to assist in
carrying the various impediments required for
a weekend’s airsoft, Soldat A has acquired a
couple of non-issue (but appropriate looking)
haversacks to store his gear in.
In contrast Soldat B represents the state
norm for a ‘purely defensive’ soldier of
socialism, and carries a respirator haversack
on his left hip and a field pack on his back.
As the NVA was an entirely mechanised
army this pack would spend most of its time
onboard the unit’s vehicle. Rolled tightly
across the top of the pack is yet another item
of personal kit with its roots in WWII – the
zeltbahn shelter quarter. This camouflage
cape can be buttoned together with another
soldier’s to form a rudimentary tent. And
lastly, a second water bottle is strapped to
the back of his pack. Again, against the
dress regulations of the NVA – but
it’s important that airsofters keep
hydrated!
Both men are armed with the
ubiquitous Soviet AK47 In the
.
early years the NVA used both
AK47 and AKM rifles, but more
common (and unfortunately
unavailable for airsoft) is the
DDRs domestic variant of the
AKM known as the MPI-KM,
often fitted with a distinctive
folding stock and plastic
furniture. Other soviet infantry
arms were also used in specialist
roles by soldiers of the NVA.
Both soldiers are missing bayonets
for their rifles, which would normally
be worn on the left opposite the
ammunition pouch – but
again Airsoft Action
cannot recommend taking
real knives and bayonets
onto the skirmish field, so these
have been left off! ■
Next month: US Army
Paratrooper, c.1983