The Čojana uniforma M-77 (pronounced; Choyana and meaning; Cloth-made uniform Model 1977, in Serbian - officially) or rarely, Suknena odora M-77 (same meaning, but in Croatian - unofficially) was both combat (battledress) and service (parade) uniform of SFRY (Yugoslavian) origin and a standard uniform of YPA (Yugoslavian People's Army) as well as of YM (Yugoslavian Militsiya). Today, it is widely being simply known as the JNA uniforma (YPA uniform).
Firstly introduced in late 1970s (as its sole designation clearly points), it originally appeared as a replacement for previous M-55 (Model 1955) uniform and was being produced for twelve years; from 1977 until 1989, when completely new and modern (cotton and camouflage) M-87 uniform was finally introduced for the first time in YPA (soon renamed to M-89 due to few minor changes to the cut and later also to M-93 due to same reason). However, that uniform did not get a wider spread in YPA due to soon collapse of SFRY and Yugoslavian wars of 1990s and was issued to and used only by some minor units (paratroopers, military police and eventually snipers). It was, however, heavily used by the YPA successors, most notably the Army of Yugoslavia (later known as the Army of Serbia and Montenegro) as well as paramilitary armies of SVK (Serbian Krajina Army) and VRS (Republika Srpska Army).
So, the standard (non-camouflage, wool-made) M-77 uniform exactly remained far the most widely used and also the most popular YPA uniform of all which due to that became their main recognition symbol, not just during Yugoslavian wars but also in Europe in general and because of which the YPA was always easily differentiated from rest of European (especially Eastern bloc) armies.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Since it was a classic, vintage uniform, the M-77 was divided into two main variants - the usual battledress as well the service version, both which were made out of completely different materials - the regular battledress version was made out of usual wool (apart from shirt and wind/raincoat, as the sole exceptions), while the special, service version was completely made out of cotton.
The standard wool-made (battledress) version of the M-77 uniform was intended to literally all personnel and servicemen of the Yugoslavian Armed Forces (to be used in exercise and combat), while the cotton version was restricted for usage exclusively to NCOs and officers (as part of their parade uniform), as well as to officers of Yugoslavian Militsiya (as either grey or blue version).
Exactly due to being made from two different types of materials (depending on version - whether combat or service model), its exact type of material was deliberately not specified in its official designation, rather being just marked as the Cloth-made (Čojana).
The M-77 uniform (whether wool/battledress or cotton/service version) is still relatively easy to obtain in all post-Yugoslavian states (especially Serbia and Montenegro, since it was there used until the end of 1990s and service version was used as far as first decade of 21st century), however, it is very rare and hard to obtain in rest of the Europe and world (outside ex-SFRY).
Wool (battledress) version[]
The regular battledress version of M-77 uniform was always being made in already usual, non camouflage SMB - Sivo Maslinasta Boja (greenish-grey color) pattern, the standard color of all YPA ground forces (uniforms & vehicles), although there was also a dark blue colored variant, intended for YAF (Yugoslavian Air Force) which is, however, much rarer today due to the fact that was made in smaller quantities than classic SMB one.
The combat version consisted of six main components - tunic/blouse (Bluza), pants (Pantalone or Hlače), shirt (Košulja), side cap (Kapa), popularly nicknamed Partizanka or Titovka among YPA personnel (named after Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito who wore it during World War II as a partisan leader), then pullover (Vesta/Pulover) and all new nylon and cotton wind/raincoat (Vetrovka/Vjetrovka), which replaced the classic wool trenchcoat as found in previous, M-55 uniform.
By the sole design, the new M-77 only slightly differed from previously used M-55 uniform and that is generally in cut; among other minor changes, it features slightly different pockets with a buttoning knob outside the pocket cover. The largest and most distinctive difference lied in the previously mentioned windcoat (Vetrovka), which was a new cotton and nylon-made component, intended to replace the usual wool-made trenchcoat, as already stated.
The YPA clothing equipment, (such as uniforms, boots, backpacks, webbing and other) never actually featured any kind of official military designation, however, the M-77 uniform was a true exception here, since it had to be differed from earlier and already mentioned version, the M-55 uniform. So, that previous model actually received its (M-55) designation yet after starting to be replaced by new (M-77) model in both service and production of YPA, in order to be properly differed from the newer version, as mentioned. Before that, the M-55 uniform was simply known as the Vojnička čojena uniforma (Military wool uniform). The other exception being their M-75 backpack, due to same reason.
Although being a new design, the M-77 still retained the usual already ageing material, the wool. YPA was generally one of, if not the last European army which used obsolete, non camouflaged wool military uniforms; most other military forces of Europe and much of rest of the world abandoned it and switched to modern cotton and camouflage uniforms after World War II. However, YPA kept the wool in production as late as 1980s - almost until the very end of SFRY and YPA along with it.
Although wool is very hard and reliable natural material which makes the uniform very sturdy against any kind of tearing and to this day is still considered to be one of, if not the best material for keeping the body warm in winter and generally low ambient temperatures, it has two great defects due to which almost no one uses for military (combat) uniforms anymore and that is the fact that wool is very sensitive to wet conditions; it gets quickly and easily soaked when exposed to rainfalls and water in general, due to which becomes heavy and very uncomfortable to wear. Moreover, due to being thick, it is very unsuitable for use during hot seasons of the year (summer) as well as generally in warm climates.
This obsolete material and uniforms were nontheless being pursued mainly due to many hardliners present in KPY (Communist Party of Yugoslavia), which had their supporters in the Army. The party members were very conservative when came to structure and organisation of the military, by stubbornly pursuing policies that the YPA should be dressed and organized in honor to the Yugoslavian partisans, from which it practically originated. Exactly due to that, the YPA introduced their first modern, camouflage uniform (the M-87) and kevlar helmets (the M-89) yet in the very end of 1980s - just a few years before the final breakup of the country and its dissolvment.
However, exactly due to disadvantages of wool material (which was finally noticed by YPA during 1970s), the all new and previously mentioned nylon and cotton-made Vetrovka M-77 wind/raincoat was introduced for the first time along with rest of the classic wool uniform, to be worn above the standard blouse in specific weather conditions (rain of snowfalls). Although that completely solved the problem what was concerned of upper part (blouse/tunic), the trousers/pants still remained uncovered and half exposed (they were only half water-proteced by boots and by the windcoat).
The tunic/blouse (Bluza or Sako) was externaly completely made out of wool and internally covered with additional thin layer of yellowish nylon with markings about size - Veličina (Size), Visina (height), Obim grudi (chest volume) Obim struka (waist volume) together place and year of manufacturing, as standard YPA regulation for uniforms and equipment in general. It had a usual two piece collar which could be risen up in windy weather to cover the neck of its user and had always featured twin peaked sholuder boards which were buttoning with a single knob featuring a star (communist symbol) on each, like the rest of the whole blouse.
Those sholuder boards had double role - to put ranks onto them and to pull through the distinctive WWII German alike Y straps of their conscript's combat belt underneath (or diagonal single strap of officer's combat belt - the well known Sam Browne style), in order to prevent them from falling from shoulders while moving. The tunic also featured four pockets, two at each side, with smaller ones located on the chest and slightly larger ones located below them, on the waist. It was intended to be always worn outside of pants and tightened with a combat belt around the waist, right above the lower two pockets, and was always worn that way.
The shirt (Košulja) was of very similar cut, the only difference was the one pieced collar as well as its material, which was not wool but cotton. Although usually carried under the blouse, shirt also featured epaulettes for ranks and straps because in summer and generally hot seasons or warmer climates, it was naturally, worn without the thick wool blouse over it. However, even in that (summer) configuration, it was still indended to be always worn inside the pants, in contrast to blouse which was always worn outside and tightened with belt around it, as mentioned.
Apart from tunic and shirt, the difference between summer and winter uniform configuration was in wearing of the combat belt; (whether conscript's or officer's model) - in summer configuration, the belt was just worn pulled through the rings on pants while in winter the two belts were used - the usual combat belt was just tightened around the blouse while under it the pants had additional smaller civilian alike belt just to hold them in place.[8]
The pants (Pantalone - Serbian, or Hlače - Croatian) were roughly simple and at first glance look like some vintage civilian pants. They are also made out of wool as the blouse and feature two simple open pockets at the front sides together with one small pocket with a usual knob buckling located on the right rear side, along with seven loops altogether, intended for belt to be pulled through, whether the wider combat one or smaller one intended only for them, as previously mentioned.
The windcoat (Vetrovka - Serbian, or Vjetrovka - Croatian) was the all new uniform part which replaced the previous M-55 wool coat in YPA uniforms and was, like the coat, intended to be only carried over the blouse in specific weather conditions, as previously stated. Internally, it was actually made out of cotton like the shirt (or service version of the uniform), but was externally completely covered with a layer of naylon and thus offered excellent waterproof, so the YPA had finally solved the problem with its uniforms during heavy rainfalls, snowfalls and generally wet conditions. The windcoat featured a simple one pieced collar similar to shirt, together with only two lower, deep front pockets. Later variants also included integrated windcoat alike (nylon and cotton) belt, to be tightened when wearing the coat without the need for combat belt (for everyday wearing).
The cap (Vojnička kapa, popularly known as Titovka) was a classic side cap, actually copied from old Soviet Red Army World War II era side cap (known as Pilotka, due to originally being issued to Soviet air force pilots), which were also worn by Yugoslavian partisans (guerrilla movement) during the same period and the similar type was also used by Wehrmacht (the Schiffchen) as well as many other armies around the world back in that period. It was also made out of wool as the pants and blouse, it also featured yellowish nylon layer inside and always came with a classic Red star on it, with early models featuring a detachable, metallic one, while the later ones featured just a sewn one.
A set of mountain uniform M-77 (Planinska uniforma M-77), which was paired with distinctive field cap (instead of usual Titovka side cap) and special hiking boots with gaiters (instead of regular YPA double buckle boots). The mountain cap was undoubtely inspired from and based on well known World War II German Feldmütze which also featured buttoning ear flaps and which was originally also used exactly by German mountain troops (the Gebirgsjäger).
As other YPA equipment, it also naturally featured markings with size, year and place of manufacutring sewn inside, as almost every other single piece of their uniforms and equipment. The cap was intended for exclusively everyday, non combat use (while in barracks as an example), it was never intended for using on combat uniform and the standard YPA M59/M59-85 steel combat helmet was used instead for that matter. Mountain infantry never used the side cap, but were issued with completely different, classic field cap (as seen on the photo to the right) with buttoning ear flaps, most probably inspired by the German Feldmütze (literally; Field cap), worn mostly by the Gebirgsjäger (Mountain infantry) which were often fighting Yugoslavian partisans during World War II and almost the same type (only without ear flaps) is even today used by the BW (Bundeswehr - the modern German Army).
As mentioned in the very beginning, the M-77 uniform was a standard YPA combat and everyday uniform for all ground forces from 1977 to the end of SFRY and YPA along with it, even though the new, camouflage and cotton M-87 was firstly designed and introduced in 1987, it did not get wider use in YPA until the very end and dissolution of SFRY.
Furthermore, the M-77 was firstly continued to be unofficially used by Army of Yugoslavia (VJ) as well as by paramilitary Republika Srpska Army (VRS) and Serbian Krajina Army (SVK) during early stages of Yugoslavian wars of 1990s, until enough pieces of new M87/89/93 uniforms were produced and distrubuted among ther troops. On the other side, although using much of YPA equipment, the M-77 was never used by opposing (Croatian or Bosnian) forces, exclusively due to recognition among frendly troops and they mostly switched to domestically produced copies of American BDU (Battle Dress Uniform) featuring Woodland camouflage pattern.
The M-77 uniform was being produced by many various tailor factories around the whole former SFRY, almost every single one which could sew and had adequate material (wool, nylon and cotton) and (sewing) equipment.
Cotton (service) version[]
YPA conscript (middle) and two officers (at his sides) during 1990 oath ceremony of new YPA recruits in town of Bačka Topola, then Socialist Autonomous province of Vojvodina, clearly showing differences in appearance between battledress and service version of the M-77 uniform. The conscript is wearing the standard (wool-made) battledress version paired with Titovka side cap and greenish shirt under the tunic, while the two officers are wearing the regular (cotton-made) service version featuring white shirt along with a tie under it and paired with standard Šapka (Shapka) peaked cap.
As mentioned back during introducting section, apart from the regular wool-made, battledress version, there was also a cotton-made version as the service version of the M-77 uniform, intended exclusively for parades and everyday (non-combat) use. However, the service version was for usage restricted exclusively to NCOs and officers of YPA, while the regular soldiers (conscripts or recruits as well as reservists of the TO - the Territorial defense) were allowed to use only the outdated wool-made battledress version, even for everyday use and even on parades (so, the cotton version of the M-77 featuring conscript's belt was theoretically an impossible sight).
The differences in the sole design of both versions were almost non-existing, however, there were severe differences in headwear as well as footwear and underwear. Firstly, the service version of the M-77 uniform was never paired with the usual Titovka side cap, but used the so-called Šapka (pronounced; Shapka), the classic peaked cap instead. In context of underwear, the service version was paired exclusively with a white shirt featuring a dark-green tie, while the usual wool-made battledress version had greenish shirt without any kind of tie (this practice was directly taken from German Wehrmacht, by which the YPA was severely influenced through its whole existence). Furthermore, in case of footwear, apart from standard-issue YPA double buckle genuine leather boots, the service version could feature classic shoes, mainly intended for higher ranking officers to be used on everyday basis as well as for ceremonial purposes.
Due to being a service uniform, the differences were also present in symbols and insignia worn on it. Apart from standard shoulder boards featuring rank epaulettes (which were also found on regular wool/battledress version), the service version also included distinctive square collar patches, which varied depending on branch and unit (for insistence, the armor officers wore styllized tanks on patches, the air force wore wings, the artillerymen had cannons, Navy featured anchor and so on).
Also, the cotton version of the M-77 uniform was not restricted only for Army, but was also used by the Air force (as dark blue) and even by their Navy (either white, khaki or even black version) NCOs and officers, as their everyday and parade uniform. Furthermore, it was even used by all members and personnel of Yugoslavian Militsiya (Narodna Milicija), in either bright grey (earlier) or blue (lateer) patterns. The same dark blue colored versions were actually used by both Army (as parade version for high ranking officers) as well as the Air Force, due to which it is relatively easy to confuse or mix them, especially if not paying attention to insignia (collar patches), which is the only way to differ the two.
Despite the fact that the regular (wool made) battledress version of the M-77 uniform was discontinuted from production (but not official usage) back in 1989 (in favor to then new and modern, camouflage & cotton M-87 uniform), the service version was continued to be produced not just until the very end and breakup of the country, but until the present day actually - since literally the same versions of M-77 service uniform are still being officially worn and used by all NCOs and officers of previously Yugoslavian and today Serbian Armed Forces (as part of their standard service and parade uniform). Furthermore, as of 2020, the blue M-77 service uniform (or wool-made trenchcoat from M-55 uniform, for winter) along with originally YPA Sam Browne style officer's belt are still being officially used by all NCO's and officers of Serbian Air Force.[9][10][11][12][13][14]
Components[]
Pantalone M-75 (Pants)[]
Bluza M-77 (Tunic) - earlier model[]
Bluza M-77 (Tunic) - later model[]
Vetrovka M-77 (Windcoat)[]
Gallery[]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ https://picclick.com/Yugoslavia-Jna-M77-Complete-Woolen-Uniform-Blouse-Shirt-282955099311.html
- ↑ https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A3%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B5_%D1%81%D1%80%D0%BF%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B5_%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%98%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B5
- ↑ http://www.gornjaradgona.zvvs.si/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Dokumenti-5__p51-75.pdf
- ↑ http://jnaspain.blogspot.com/2018/01/uniforme-m77-de-invierno-i.html
- ↑ https://www.mycity-military.com/Vojne-uniforme-heraldika-oznake-odlikovanja/Uniforme-JNA_54.html
- ↑ http://jna-sfrj.forumbo.net/t2420p150-planinske-jedinice-u-jna
- ↑ http://jna-sfrj.forumbo.net/t458-jna-vojnik
- ↑ https://www.ebay.com/itm/JNA-Yugoslavian-army-m77-gray-olive-field-shirt-serbia-serbian-military-/153344011124
- ↑ https://www.mycity-military.com/imgs2/45384_80366416_dan%20rvo%20pvo%2014_resize.jpg
- ↑ https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/qqtV9NVpXqnamj2o6mpur64FXO1PvQmIGBkaCEgKH4jwR6SXvvt44AQWmDyiFIyZFZLDj3xorXwDl8NVcqb096idyY94_G5NL432NzjtBnIatx2T65onxP2BvFhChAA0hmA
- ↑ https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/ssVcA6z92kSrvURaFp7zp6YKIS74-v4bXmIUmvrcHmTxKG8Xjjx8ffvMsJDZhIvn-SqBiEEK_sLOc4_gy9PZWrCJOe3uHcwBsWmiqzIhyGKaPtVGlzAiRBJep3MitbMDtlbqKVsrjC4b1AxEt7MaUwzlnA1R
- ↑ https://media.tangosix.rs/2018/12/img_7705_1545660827.jpg
- ↑ https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/9PXUPbFEJfBlojgLmGfn3xtaEgTeVaC8e_Dd4SbeRz55OgOZkH9DyEpZpDP5GmD80m0vLXB0qgT7lhWVST0PPax5lzXm9aIkKUJfKTWN7CI7WOnGYl7HLTjJtjowdK8yEeI
- ↑ https://www.novosti.rs/upload/images/2017a//12/22/Dan-RVPVO-gSLJIVIC-(5).jpg