Strichtarn Chestrig

[RLI]

Hi Guys,

I bought this chestrig on the web. Any idea of what it could be? It is extremely well made, so accurate in every detail that would exclude IMHO, it is a home made. The pattern is horizontal DDR strichtarn (compared to the RPK74 ammo pouch), but I would exclude it is a DDR issue (nor Czech or Polish as their strichtarn is different). Any suggestion?

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/5281/chestddr.jpg

[Flecktarn92]

could be African made I believe some rebel group in South Africa used it.

[PvtPyle]

I have a few of them of different styles. I have been told they were used by the Poles and the E. Germans. They are not home made but were mass produced and issued. All of mine have various stamps on them.

[click]

Hmm, first time I have seen one of those. Nice find!

[RLI]

I have a few of them of different styles. I have been told they were used by the Poles and the E. Germans. They are not home made but were mass produced and issued. All of mine have various stamps on them.

Pyle, would you post some pics of your pieces? I am intrested in the stamps. Thanks

[ADK031]

East German/DDR "rain camo".

[Schad]

Looks like East German copy of the old Chicom AK vest - the one with the wooden toggle closures and two grenade pouches.

[RLI]

A mate of an Italian forum found out some pics in which this chestrig is clearly used by Central American forces. The item seems mass produced and used. This not clarify its country of origin but as well says this was not one of a kind or home made piece.

El Salvador, Anti Sandinist Militias

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/ken/2009678165_elite%20sandanista%20july%2087.jpg

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/drmatz/200969215351_AP890510025.jpg

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/drmatz/20096921540_AP920125063.jpg

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/drmatz/200969215420_AP07033008453.jpg

Panama, in use to a presidential bodyguard of the General Noriega

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/drmatz/200932321160_PANAMA%20NORIEGA%20AP8910040172.jpg

[PvtPyle]

Mine came from El Salvador in the 80's. The crates were marked E. German and were captured stock piles.

[Eztyga]

You see the occasional example of Wehrmacht uniforms cut so that the 'strich' component of the pattern is horizontal. Might this be a factory variation?

[haze99]

Yes! The first time I saw one of these was when Gene Hasenfus was shot-down and captured by Sandanista's in the Fall of 1986. (One of the Sandanista's in the photo with Gene was wearing one.) At the time and all these years until now, I thought it was home-made out of a DDR shelter-half or some material copied from the DDR camo. The truth comes out.
Thanks RLI!

[RLI]

You're right Haze, here a picture... Note te guy with the panama hat. This suggest they received supplies from eastern bloc countries.

http://www.politicalfriendster.com/images/6768.jpg

[Dziwan]

El Salvador, Anti Sandinist Militias

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/ken/2009678165_elite%20sandanista%20july%2087.jpg

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/drmatz/200969215351_AP890510025.jpg

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/drmatz/20096921540_AP920125063.jpg



WRONG!!

They are from
Sandinista People's Army

more phots also with Strichtarn chestrig -> http://rus.mil.pl/forum/discussion/1545/nikaragua-irregular-fighting-battalion-blir-lipiec-1987/

[contra_dude]

A mate of an Italian forum found out some pics in which this chestrig is clearly used by Central American forces. The item seems mass produced and used. This not clarify its country of origin but as well says this was not one of a kind or home made piece.

El Salvador, Anti Sandinist Militias

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/ken/2009678165_elite%20sandanista%20july%2087.jpg

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/drmatz/200969215351_AP890510025.jpg

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/drmatz/20096921540_AP920125063.jpg

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/drmatz/200969215420_AP07033008453.jpg

Panama, in use to a presidential bodyguard of the General Noriega

http://camouflagesociety.org/uploaded/drmatz/200932321160_PANAMA%20NORIEGA%20AP8910040172.jpg

Top photo: Looks like unhappy E.U.P.S.(Ejercito UnPopular Sandinista) conscript sending a message. Note that he has Christian Crucifix exposed even though top piricuacos and their Soviet and Cuban masters were very anti religious and especially anti Catholic and anti Evangelical. Props to him. Hope he made it. Based on terrain and hats off pose, I'm guessing waiting to board a Soviet helicopter.

Second photo: Looks like E.U.P.S. troops, more commonly referred to by campesinos as "Piris" short for Miskito word for mad dog. They're bunched up tight which is good, because it made them easy to kill.

Third photo: This one is tougher to call. I think it's of Resistance Commandos (Contras) because I see a couple American rucksacks. Also the girl is kinda pretty, and all the hot chicks naturally supported us. :-) Also I see some blue & white flags and the piris tended to fly red & black. Widespread mixing of uniforms led to friendly fire and infiltration incidents on both sides.

Fourth photo: Looks like Eden Pastora, recently deceased boxer/fraudulently elected mayor Alexis Arguello, and some Commando whose name I don't know clowining around where it was safe. On the Rio San Juan in 83, or 84 before bases fell in 85. Bases fell because REMF (Rear Echelon MF) Pastora squandered all our aid and pissed off all our allies. We kicked his sorry ass out in 86 and almost won the war by late 87. One more lethal aid package woulda done it for sure.

Fifth photo: Cara de Pina in Panama

As far as the piricuaco chest equipaje. When captured it was only used as a last resort becuase they were real hot and in funny place to get to quickly. Preferred were American ammo pouches warn on front side and back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9JFHlA9M84
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wp-OoBIVSZc&feature=related

[Ridgeback]

The DDR supplied quite a bit of material to other Communist and Socialist Allies.
I would think that this is an export item.
It lacks some typical DDR/NVA features, though.

Nice piece!

[boacoboaco]

Peregrino, los de la foto son:
Eden Pastora Gomez,
Alexis Arguello y
Alvaro Cermeno ( Tadeo )

Peregrino (contra dude)
The guys in the picture are:
Eden Pastora ( Macondo )
Alexis arguello
Alvaro Cermeno ( Tadeo )

[boacoboaco]

Another thing thos thing we call then PECHERAS

[boacoboaco]

The guy that apear in the picture whit his hands tide is Eugeen Hassenfus, Wrong spelling, it was supplying to the Comandante Franklin, our franklin thi gay from de BOS, not the FDN Guy

[contra_dude]

The guy that apear in the picture whit his hands tide is Eugeen Hassenfus, Wrong spelling, it was supplying to the Comandante Franklin, our franklin thi gay from de BOS, not the FDN Guy

Gracias pa' todo hermano. Y un abrazo de my parte. Buen muchacho Franklin.

[gaijinsamurai]

x2, Ridgeback.
East German AKs were frequently encountered in El Salvador, in the hands of the FMLN, so I wouldn't be surprised if they supplied gear to go with them.

Nice find!

[slaveman]

I would really like to get one of those. Anyone have any ideas? I have never seen those on the US surplus market...