Panamanka

The Panamanka (Russian: Панаманка) or Panamka (Russian: Панамка) were the common names for the standard tropical headgear of the Soviet Army.[1][2] Officially the M-38 Field Hat, the Panamanka was introduced on 10 March, 1938, for troops of the Red Army in the Central Asian, North Caucasian and Transcaucasian military districts and Crimea.[3] It was nicknamed Panamanka in reference to Panama hats, due to the vague physical resemblance between the two hats. The Panamanka was popularized in Western imagery of the Soviet Union during the Soviet-Afghan War in 1980s, where it was often worn with the Afghanka uniform as Afghanistan was known for its extreme hot daytime temperatures in the summer and its equally bitter cold nights in the winter months.

For the straw hat, see Panama hat.
Soviet soldiers wearing Panamkas
Soviet troops in Afghanistan

Two versions of the Panamanka existed:

  • The original hat was developed to keep the rays of the sun off the wearer's head and out of his eyes.[4] It was made of heavy cotton cloth and featured a set of ventilation holes, a thin leather headband, a plastic chinstrap, and the enameled metal M22 Red Star badge, on a large sew on red star, on the front.[5][6]
  • A second version appeared with the M88 Afghanka, and more closely resembled the boonie hats used by NATO forces. It had a plastic chin strap that rested on the rim and could be set to hang down by unbuttoning one side and passing it through holes on the rim, but it was too short for use as such. The chin strap could be used to hold the sides of the rim up, this likely being its intended purpose. It also didn't feature the large sew on red star. Later production examples also feature a flat top and snaps or press-studs that allow it be buttoned up on the side similar to the Australian slouch or bush hat.[7]

See also

Notes
  1. Soviet Uniforms & Militaria 1917 - 1991 in Colour Photographs Paperback – June 30, 2011 by Laszlo Bekesi (Author), The Crowood Press UK (June 30, 2011), rereISBN 978-1847972606
  2. Warsaw Pact Ground Forces by David Rottmman, January 22, 1987, Osprey Publishing (Elite Series)
  3. World War II Soviet Armed Forces (1): 1939–41, Osprey Publishing (Men-at-Arms 464), Feb 20, 2012 by Nigel Thomas and Darko Pavlovic, ISBN 978-1849084000
  4. http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2015/the-afghanka-hat-the-soviets-tropical-headgear
  5. http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2015/the-afghanka-hat-the-soviets-tropical-headgear
  6. World War II Soviet Armed Forces (1): 1939–41, Osprey Publishing (Men-at-Arms 464), Feb 20, 2012 by Nigel Thomas and Darko Pavlovic, ISBN 978-1849084000
  7. http://www.militarysunhelmets.com/2015/the-afghanka-hat-the-soviets-tropical-headgear

Sources
  • Soviet Uniforms and Militaria 1917-1991 by Laszlo Bekesi, The Crowood Press UK (June 30, 2011), ISBN 978-1847972606
  • Inside the Soviet Army Today, Osprey Elite Military History Series No. 12 by Stephen J Zaloga, May 28, 1987
  • Russia's War in Afghanistan by David Isby, Osprey Publishing (Men-at-Arms) by David Isby (1986-06-15)
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