Uniforms of the Swedish Army -

1900s (page 2)

Page 2

Service Dress Uniform m/1952

After WWII, in 1952, a new service dress uniform (Swe: permissionsuniform) was enacted, m/1952. The jacket was made of gray twill and equipped with shoulder straps. The trousers were in a darker shade of brown. The cut was similar as uniform m/1939. The shoulder belt was abolished on m/1952. The buttons were gold plated. The uniform was well- fitted. The service dress shirt was equipped with cuffs, collar, shoulder straps and breast pockets. The tie was made of gray fabric. The garrison cap was similar to the service dress garrison cap m/1939. Officers and NCOs were also supplied with a cap equipped with a leather visor, m/1952. There was a new cap badge for this cap. There was also a soft green summer cap made of fabric. This cap was similar to the later cap m/1959. The image to the right shows jacket m/1952, infantry. Army Museum. Branch and unit insignias for uniform m/1952 were made of gold plated metal. Branch insignias were worn on both collar tips while unit insignias were worn on shoulder straps. Rank and unit insignias were on shirt m/1952 worn on the shoulder straps and made of fabric. Rank insignias were woven of yellow fabric and affixed to a patch of the same color as the shirt. The unit insignias were made in the army branch color, for example yellow for infantry, white for cavalry and dark red for artillery. Officers and NCOs weren’t wearing branch insignias on the shoulder straps of shirt m/1952, only rank insignias. Cap badge m/1952 for peaked cap m/1952 was composed of two crossed swords, royal crown and bay tree twigs of bronzed colored metal. In the center of the bade was a blue enameled medallion with three crowns, m/1865, officers only. NCOs wore a similar medallion of bronze. An oval cap badge of fabric was worn on the other caps belonging to the uniform, a badge similar to cap badge m/1946, for example on the garrison cap and fur cap. Tabs of special skills m/1952 were made of bronze colored metal and worn on the right upper sleeve, private soldiers. Band member and NCOs wore these tabs on both sleeves. The image to the right shows a tab of special skills, band member, officers and NCOs. Army Museum. School insignias m/1952 were made of gold braid and replaced the former school insignias m/1946. In shape and design the m/1952 school insignias were similar to the m/1946 insignias.

White Outfit m/1954

White outfit m/1954 was a collective term for a white kit introduced in 1954. This white kit was used for guard duties and consisted of helmet, belt, gloves and ankle gaiters. This kit was used by the army together with uniform m/1952 and later to uniform m/1960 for guard duty.

Combat Uniform m/1958

Experiences from WWII proved the need for two combat uniforms in Sweden; one summer use and one for winter use (being located in Northern Europe). Also a type of uniforms better adapted to modern warfare. During the post war area, 1940s and 1950s, attempts were made to improve combat uniform m/1939 as well as developing a new combat uniform. Two trial models were produced; fm/1955 and fm/1939-1955. These trial models resulted in combat uniform m/1958. This uniform was a modernized version of the former m/1939 and based on trial model fm/1955. The color of the uniform was similar to uniform m/1939, i.e. gray-brown-green while the uniform itself got a new cut. Beside this new uniform, the former uniform m/1939 and m/1952 were modified to appear like uniform m/1958 and designated m/1939-1958 respectively m/1952-1958. Among other things they were completed with packets in-front and in the back. Further, the shoulder straps were removed. Rank and unit insignias were worn on the collar tips. The image to the right shows coat m/1958, infantry. Army Museum. Uniform m/1958 was worn by all army units. It was made of thick gray-brown-green woolen fabric and intended for winter use. The uniform was well suited for cold and damp weather. The coat had a folded please in the back for better comfort and a wide collar that could be turned up in bad weather. There were large pockets; two in front and two in the back, all with flaps. There were no shoulder straps on uniform m/1958. The trouser legs were equipped with a band at the bottom with hooks that could be fastened in the ankle boots and a leather strap to prevent a gap between trousers and the boots keeping dirt or snow out of the boots. Thereby there were no need for gaiters on m/1958. See image to the left. The trousers were also equipped with two flapped leg pockets. The combat shirt was made of green flannel. Part of the uniform were also a knitted green sweater with a zipper; a green greatcoat with a detachable fur lining (Swe: vindrock); a green raincoat and a wool scarf. There was no new combat cap introduced to uniform m/1958. However, a green combat cap was introduced with the m/1959 uniform which from 1959 were also worn with uniform m/1958. Cap m/1939 were worn until cap m/1959 was introduced. Rank and army branch insignias were affixed to collar tab m/1958 and worn on the collar tips of uniform m/1958. The collar tab was made of green textile bands with a light green edging. The insignias were bronze colored and woven into the textile band. Branch insignias were worn on the right collar tip or both tips. Rank insignias were worn on the left collar tip. The image to the right shows branch insignia m/1958, infantry. Wikipedia.

Images of uniform m/1958

Rank Insignias, Collar Tabs, m/1958

Rank insignias were worn on collar tabs on uniform m/1958. The rank insignia collar tabs were worn on the left collar tip. Some rank insignias were changed on m/1958. Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel wore previously one to three stars together with a stripe on the shoulder straps. Now, these officer categories wore one to three stars together with a crown on collar tabs. • Colonel: 1 crown plus 3 stars • Lieutenant Colonel: 1 crown plus 2 stars • Major: 1 crown plus 1 star • Captain: 3 stars • Lieutenant: 2 stars • Second Lieutenant: 1 star • Sergeant Major: 3 star buttons. (Swe: Förvaltare). • Master Sergeant: 2 star buttons. (Swe: Fanjunkare). • Staff Sergeant: 1 star button • “Rustmästare”: 1 wide and 3 thin stripes - (Swe: Rustmästare.). (the rank was abolished in 1972.) • Senior Sergeant: 4 thin stripes - (Swe: Överfurir). (the rank was abolished in 1972.). • Sergeant: 3 thin stripes (Swe: Furir) • Corporal: 2 thin stripes • Vice Corporal: 1 thin stripe (the rank was abolished in 1972.) • Private soldiers wore branch insignia collar tabs on both collar tips. Officers and NCOs wore rank insignia collar tabs on their left collar tip and branch insignia collar tabs on their right collar tip. These collar tabs were made of green textile bands with a light green edging. The insignias were yellow and woven into the textile band. Rank insignias m/1958, collar tabs: From Left: Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Lieutenant and Major.

Service Dress Uniform m/1960

A new service dress uniform was enacted in 1960, m/1960. It had a different cut compared to the combat uniforms m/1958 and m/1959. The color was steel-gray, had a slim design and made of a thinner fabric. The jacket m/1960 was single- breasted with 5 gold-plated buttons (some units wore silver- plated buttons), equipped with shoulder straps, two breast pockets and two side pockets, all with flaps. The image to the right shows jacket m/1960, Captain, Infantry. Photo Krister Lihdén. Branch insignias were worn on both collar tips while unit insignias and rank insignias were worn on the shoulder straps. The insignias was made of bronze-plated metal (some units wore silver- plated rank insignias). The steel-gray long trousers m/1960 were equipped with pockets and two pockets in the back. Shirt m/1960 was made in a blue-gray color and equipped with collar and shoulder straps. There were two breast pockets with flaps. There were a blue-gray tie worn with the shirt. The greatcoat m/1960 was in the same color as the jacket, double-breasted with three buttons and reached down to the knees and equipped with shoulder straps. There were two side pockets. A peaked fur cap was worn with the greatcoat in winter time. Headgear was a steel-gray garrison cap m/1960 (side cap). Officers and NCO also wore a peaked cap m/1960 with a black lacquered visor. The image to the right shows garrison cap m/1960. Buttons and rank, branch and unit insignias were made of bronze-plated metal. However, the Svea Life Guards, Life Grenadier Regiment, Life Guard Squadron and the Army Supply Troops (Swe: Trängen) wore silver-plated buttons and insignias. Both branch and unit insignias m/1960 were of a new design compared to insignias worn on earlier uniforms. The Armored Troops was assigned a new branch insignia. Their former insignia with a tank was replaced by an insignia with an armored arm holding a sword. The former infantry insignia with two crossed muskets was replaced by an insignia with two crossed rifles. The unit insignias were also changed. Not all units had previously been wearing unit insignias. Now, all infantry, cavalry artillery and armored tank units were assigned unit insignias, usually the coat of arm of the province where respective unit were garrisoned. The image to the left shows the unit insignia of the Norrbotten Regiment (I19). Rank insignias were made of gold-plated metal (some units wore silver-plated insignias) with a design similar to the rank insignia collar tabs worn on combat uniforms m/1958 and m/1959. Cap badges worn on garrison cap m/1960 was made up of the blue and yellow nationality insignia and the company number of the individual private soldier (or a bronze roundel with three crowns). Most infantry units also wore their respective unit insignia on the left side of the cap. This is true for units wearing the steel-gray garrison cap, see chart below. The unit insignias were the coat of arms of respective unit’s province. The image to the right shows a cap badge for a private soldier, infantry with nationality insignia and company number “2”. Photo Krister Lihdén. Officers and NCOs wore cap badges with a yellow cockade and the three crowns medallion. Officers wore a blue enameled medallion while the NCO wore a silver medallion. Sergeants and corporals wore a brass medallion. The image to the left shows a cap badge for officers with a cockade and a blue enameled Three Crowns medallion. Infantry. Red piping. Photo Krister Lihdén. The colors of the garrison caps were different depending of unit:

Field Uniform m/Indian

Uniform m/Indian was worn by Swedish personnel in UN military service. It was worn from the late 1950s to the beginning of the 1990s. The uniform used by the Swedish UN battalion serving in Sinai in 1956 wasn’t adapted to tropical climates. There was a UN unit from India serving in Sinai too. To quickly obtain a tropical uniform the Swedish battalion purchased a set of khaki uniforms from the Indian unit. This uniform was therefore designated uniform m/Indian by the Swedish Army. The uniform consisted of a gray-green shirt with either long or short sleeves and long or short trousers. The knee-socks were steel-gray. Headgear was a light blue UN beret with a UN cap badge or a light blue peaked cap known as “field cap”, made of cotton with an embroidered UN cap badge in- front. (Swedish model designation m/Indisk). The image to the left shows shirt m/Indian, officer. Vaxholms Fästningsmuseum.

Service Dress Uniform m/1961

(Tropical)

Uniform m/1961 was a service dress uniform for service in tropical climates. It had the same cut as m/1960 but made in khaki color. The m/1961 was equipped with a short-sleeved shirt and short trousers. When short trousers were worn it was with gray-brown knee-socks. The Swedish nationality badge is worn on the left upper sleeve of the coat. This nationality badge is worn by Swedish military personnel serving abroad. The image to the left shows the Swedish nationality badge “Three Crowns” in textile with a green background. The badge also exists with a dark blue background. Uniform m/1961 was used by Swedish troops serving in UN missions in tropical climates, for example in Congo in the 1960s. This tropical uniform was at the end of the 1980s replaced by uniform m/1987K which later was replaced by uniform m/90L. The image to the right shows coat m/1961, khaki, with the UN badge on the right upper sleeve. Army Museum.

Service Dress Uniform m/1968

A new service dress uniform was enacted in, m/1968. The short jacket was made of green fabric, single- breasted and equipped with shoulder straps and two flapped breast pockets. The trousers were green and equipped with two side pockets and two hip pockets. Shirt m/1968 was made of green fabric, equipped with a collar and shoulder straps and two flapped breast pockets. The tie was made of light green fabric. Peaked cap m/1968 was green with a black lacquered visor. The cap badges were of the same kind as worn on peaked cap m/1960. Branch, unit and rank insignias were worn in a similar way as on uniform m/1960. The service dress uniform m/1968 was worn by Sergeants (Swe: Furir) and higher ranks and was in use until 1994. It wasn’t worn by private soldiers. The image to the right shows jacket m/1968, Sergeant (Swe: Furir). Photo Krister Lihdén.

Service Dress Uniform m/1987

A new service dress uniform was enacted in 1987, m/1987. This uniform replaced the former uniforms; m/1960 and m/1968. The m/1987 has a similar cut as the m/1960 uniform and is produced in 4 models: • m/1987, Dark blue (base model). Worn by the Air Force and Amphibious Corps. • m/1987A, Steel-gray. Worn by the Army. • m/1987K, Khaki (beige). Worn by the Army and Air Force in tropical and subtropical environments. • m/1987V, White. Worn by the Navy in tropical and subtropical environments. The Army is wearing the steel-gray model, designated m/1987A as well as the khaki model designated m/1987K. the latter model m/1987K is used for service abroad. The dark blue base model m/1987 is worn by the Air Force and Amphibious Corps. Coat m/1987A is steel-gray, single-breasted with four buttons, equipped with shoulder straps and two breast pockets and two side pockets, all with flaps. Rank and unit insignias are worn on the shoulder straps. branch insignias are worn on the collar tips. Short jacket m/1987A is a steel-gray short jacket reaching down to the waistline. It is equipped with two flapped breast pockets and shoulder straps. The jacket is done with 4 hidden buttons. Trousers m/1987A are steel- gray and equipped with two side pockets and a hip pocket. Greatcoat m/1987A is steel- gray and 3/4 long, lined, double- breasted with 4 buttons in each row and equipped with shoulder straps and two side pockets. The image to the right shows coat m/1987A, infantry, Lieutenant Colonel. Photo Krister Lihdén. The shirt worn with uniform m/1987A is white shirt m/1978 equipped with shoulder straps and two flapped breast pockets. Black tie m/1987 is worn with the shirt. Pullover m/1987A is dark blue, has a round neck and equipped with shoulder straps and have reinforced shoulders and elbows. Peaked cap m/1987A is steel-gray with a stiff black lacquered visor. Cap badge m/1960 is worn on the pecked cap. Some units wear beret m/1960 to uniform m/1987. Leather jacket m/1987A is made of dark blue goatskin, reaches down to the hips, is equipped with shoulder straps and are closed with a zipper. Insignias on uniform m/1987 are worn in the same manner as on uniform m/1960.

Combat Uniform m/1990

A new combat uniform system was introduced in the beginning of the 1990s, Combat uniform 90, replacing the former combat uniforms m/1958 and m/1959. This was the first combat uniform with a camouflage pattern used by the Swedish Armed Forces. Combat uniform 90 is both a summer and a winter uniform. The uniform was officially enacted in 1990 but many units were equipped with this uniform during the second half of the 1980s. Uniform 90 has zippers instead of buttons. There are ancillaries such as waterproofs, rubber boots and thermals. The jacket is worn without a field belt. The uniform can be used as a troop parade uniform. The image to the right shows combat jacket m/90. Photo Krister Lihdén. Combat uniform 90 is also made in a tropical model for service in tropical regions abroad. The different models of combat uniform 90: • Combat Uniform 90. Combat uniform 90 is the base combat uniform of the Swedish Armed Forces and is intended for both summer and winter use. The uniform 90 also includes thermal winter wear such as quilted jacket and trousers offering highest levels of comfort and warmth. • Field Uniform 90 Lätt (Light). The summer model of the uniform. Field Jacket 90 Light is worn over a T-shirt and the jacket sleeves may, when needed, be rolled up over the elbows. Both jacket and the trousers are made of a thinner fabric. Field hat 90 is issued for services in tropical and subtropical areas as a sun-shield. Field uniform 90 Light is not a battle dress. • Combat Uniform 90 Pansar (P) - Armored troops Combat uniform 90 Pansar is used by tank and combat vehicle crews. Combat Jacket 90 Pansar is a short waist length jacket and equipped with pockets on the sleeves. Combat Trousers 90 Pansar is equipped with pockets also on the lower parts of the legs for easy access in armored vehicles. • Combat Uniform 90 Tropik Beige (TR BE) - Tropical Beige Combat uniform 90 Tropical Beige is used for service in desert regions and the uniform model used by Swedish troops in Afghanistan. This uniform model is not for use within Sweden. • Combat Uniform 90 Tropik Grön (TR GR) - Tropical Green Combat uniform 90 Tropical Green is for service in tropical or subtropical regions. This model is a complete system of uniform articles specially adapted for service in jungles or similar areas. Combat jacket 90 tropical is normally worn over a T-shirt and the jacket sleeves may, when needed, be rolled up over the elbows. Field hat 90 Tropical is worn as a sun-shield. This uniform model is not for use within Sweden. • Combat Uniform 2002 Attackdykare (ADYK) - Special Operations Combat Uniform 2002 is a uniform used by special operations forces. This uniform model is developed to work with the uniform articles of the base uniform. Combat Jacket 2002 Special Operations is a hard-shell jacket made of a water- repellent fabric. The fabric's hydrophilic coating wicks away perspiration. Combat Trousers 2002 Special Operations are like the jacket made of a water-repellent fabric and wicks away perspiration. Combat Jacket 90 has a raglan cut and made of warp satin fabric with camouflage patterns. The jacket is closed with a two-way zipper. Below and around the waist is a drawstring. The sleeves are reinforced on the elbows. Collar tabs m/1958 with rank and branch insignias are worn on the tips of the collar. Nationality insignia m/1994 (The Swedish flag) is worn on the left upper sleeve and below the nationality insignia is the unit insignias affixed. Combat Trousers 90 is made of the same material and camouflage pattern as the jacket. The bottom of the legs is reinforced with nylon canvas with a vent equipped with zip fasteners. The knees of the trouser legs are reinforced. Combat shirt 90 is made of olive-green fabric with a collar, long sleeves and a short zipper. Thermal jacket 90 (Swe: värmejacka 90) is a long green quilted jacket with a hood. It is closed with a two-way zipper. In front are two flapped pockets. Thermal trousers 90 (Swe: värmebyxa 90) are green quilted trousers. The legs are divisible fastened with zippers. Peaked Cap 90 is a soft peaked cap similar to peaked cap m/1959 but made in the same camouflage pattern as the uniform itself. There is also a pullover, Pullover 90. Combat Boots 90 and winter boots 90 are both made of special tanned cattle skin with a die-casted oil-resistant shock absorbing soles of polyurethane. The winter boots have a thicker insulation in sole and upper parts. The sole of the winter boots is thicker and adapted to work with ski bindings. Combat helmet 90 is replacing the former helmet m/1937-1965. Combat helmet 90 is a modern helmet made of ballistic fiber/para-aramid, a type of Kevlar. The helmet has a good ballistic protection and shock resistance. The weight is 1.4 Kg (3.1 lb). Body Armour 90 (KS 90) is a protective clothing built around a vest which covers the torso. The vest has covering and a webbing fabric insertion of 14 layers aramid fiber. KS 90 are worn under the combat jacket. Body Armor 94 (KS 94) is modular and built around a vest which covers the torso built in the same way as KS 90 with a webbing fabric insertion of 14 layers aramid fiber. Stitched to the outside, are a series of pouches. The pouch system consists of a range of accessories that can be fitted to the vest such as rectangular ceramic slabs of aluminum oxide. KS 94 are worn over the combat jacket.

Related Links

• Unit Designation Listing of the Swedish Military Units • Branch and unit insignias of the Army • Uniforms of the Armored Troops • Uniforms of the Swedish Navy • Uniforms of the Swedish Air Force • Military Uniforms of the Women’s Voluntary Defense Services • Designation of Swedish military uniform models • Aircraft Warning Service - Female Aircraft Observers, Sweden • Reference literature Top of page

Examples of army branch insignias; Infantry - two crossed rifles, cavalry - two crossed sabers, artillery - a flaming grenade, anti-aircraft defense - a flaming grenade with wings.

Combat Uniform m/1959

A new combat uniform was introduced in 1959, m/1959. It was made of cotton fabric and in an olive-green color. This uniform was primarily for summer use while the earlier combat uniform m/1958 now became the stipulated winter uniform. The cut and design of uniform m/1959 were similar to uniform m/1958 but manufactured in a different material and color. Combat jacket m/1959 was equipped with two pockets with flaps in front and two pockets in the back. The jacket was also supplied with a half-belt at the bottom. There were no shoulder straps on the jacket. Collar tabs m/1958 were used on uniform m/1958 as well as on uniform m/1959. Branch insignia collar tabs were used on the right collar tip. Private soldiers wore branch insignia on both collar tips. Officers and NCOs wore rank insignias collar tabs on the left collar tip. The image to the right shows combat jacket m/1959. Officer. Wikipedia. The collar tabs are viable on the collar tips. The jacket m/1959 was also made in a special model for armored tank crews. Combat trousers m/1959 was olive-green and equipped with two trouser pockets, two leg pockets and two pockets in the back. The trouser legs were supplied with a band at the bottom with hooks that could be fastened in the ankle boots and a leather strap to prevent a gap between trousers and the boots keeping dirt or snow out of the boots. See image to the left. Beside the combat trouser there were also a pair of long trousers m/1959. Combat shirt m/1959 was like the jacket and trousers olive-green with a soft folded collar. The shirt didn’t have buttons all the way down, only at the top of the shirt which means it had to be pulled over the head like a sweater. Rank insignias were worn on left side of the shirt front. These shirt rank insignias was the same as the rank insignia collar tabs worn on the collar tip. The image to the right shows combat shirt m/1959. Photo Krister Lidhén. There was also a combat shirt without collar, shirt m/1955. Part of the uniform was a green sweater m/1959, equipped with a zipper. The uniform m/1959 was supplied with a new harness equipment, m/1959, a lightweight Individual carrying equipment (Swe: stridssele). See image above in the m/1958 section. Peaked cap m/1959, was a olive-green cap with a soft visor. This cap was for summer use but there was also a green fur cap m/1959 for winter use. Both types of caps were equipped with textile cap badges for officers and NCOs. At the top of the bade was a yellow cockade and below an insignia with three crowns, both in textile. The three crowns insignia was blue with yellow crowns for officers and for NCOs silver colored with silver colored three crowns. This insignias was bronze colored with bronze colored three crowns for lower rank NCOs such as sergeants and corporals. The image to the right shows peaked cap m/1959, private soldier. Photo Krister Lihdén. There was an olive-green fur-lined greatcoat m/1959 (Swe: vindrock) for winter use. The fur-line was detachable. The greatcoat reached down to the knees and was equipped with two side pockets with flaps. Nationality insignia m/1959 for international service was worn on the left upper sleeve and consisted of the text SWEDEN. Below was a patch with yellow Three Crowns on a blow background. Rank and branch insignias were identical to the ones worn on uniform m/1958, i.e. collar tab m/1958. See above.

Source of the above 6 images of Combat Uniform 90: Swedish Armed Forces.

Nordic Combat Uniform, NCU

The Nordic Combat Uniform system (NCU) is a jointly project between Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway with the goal of developing a new combat uniform system with accessories, initiated at the end of 2017. The NCU System will be an all service (army, navy, air force, home guard and special forces) combat uniform system for male and female soldiers. It is an inner to outer combat uniform system (from top to toe), which is functional in worldwide operations. Each Nordic country is keeping their respective unique camouflage pattern.