Čojana uniforma M-77

Cloth-made uniform Model 1977
Type	Battledress
Designation	Vojnička čojena uniforma M-77
Place of Origin	SFRY
Produced	1977-1987
Manufacturer(s)	Various
Material(s)	wool, cotton, nylon
Evolved from	Uniforma M55 Vetrovka M71
Evolved into	None
Service
Used by	Yugoslav People's Army (1977-1991) Serbian Krajina Army (1992~1995) Republika Srpska Army (1992~1995) Army of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-1993)
Wars	Yugoslav Wars

The Čojena uniforma M-77 (Cloth-made uniform Model 1977, in Serbian - officially) or rarely, Suknena odora M-77 (same meaning, in Croatian) was a battledress of Yugoslav origin, worn as a standard combat uniform of YPA (Yugoslavian People's Army). Introduced in late 1970s, (as its sole designation says) as a replacement for previous M-55 (Model 1955) uniform and was being produced exactly for ten years; from 1977 until 1987, when completely new, cotton and camouflage M-87 uniform was finally introduced for the first time in YPA (later renamed to M-89 due to few minor changes to the cut and later also M-93 due to same reason), which, however, did not get a wider spread in YPA due to soon collapse of SFRY and Yugoslavian wars of 1990s and was used only for some minor units (paratroopers, military police and etc.), but was, however, heavily used by its successors, most notably the Army of Serbia and Montenegro (VJ) as well as paramilitary armies of SVK and VRS. So, the M-77 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 Yugoslav 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.

Overview & design

The 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) and NM (Narodna Milicija - Yugoslavian Militsya/YM), which is, however, much rarer today due to the fact that was made in smaller quantities than classic SMB one. It consisted of five components - jacket/blouse (Bluza M-77) then pants (Pantalone M-75), shirt (Košulja M-77), peaked side cap (Kapa M-77), 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) and all new nylon and cotton windcoat (Vetrovka M-77) or raincoat, which replaced the classic wool coat in previous, M-55 uniform. The blouse was to be worn only in fall and winter with a shirt always worn under it. There was also a standard YPA wool pullover as additional accessory, to be worn under the shirt, if needed. The M-77 only slightly differs from previously used M55 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 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 was simply known as Vojnička čojena uniforma (Military wool uniform). The other exception being their combat 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 one great defect due to which almost no one uses for military 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. Exactly due to that problem which was finally noticed by YPA during 1970s, the all new and previously mentioned Vetrovka M-77 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), the pants still remained uncovered and half exposed (they were only half water-proteced by boots and by the windcoat). 

The blouse (Vojnička Bluza) 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 epaulettes which were buttoning with a single knob featuring a star (Communist symbol) on each, like the rest of the whole blouse. Those epaulaettes had a double role; to put one's ranks onto them as well as to put the WWII German alike 'Y' straps of their conscript's combat belt underneath (or diagonal single strap of officer's combat belt - Sam Browne style), to prevent them from falling from shoulders while moving. It 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 (Vojnička 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 conditions and high ambinet temperatures, 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. The sole difference between summer and winter uniform configuration was in wearing of the combat belt; (yellowish with 'Y' straps for conscripts or brown with a Sam Browne style/single strap, for officers), in summer it 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.

The pants (Vojničke pantalone; in Serbian, or Vojne hlače; in 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 rings altogether, intended for belt to be pulled through, whether the wider combat one or smaller one intended only for them.

The windcoat (Vetrovka/Vjetrovka, in Serbian/Croatian), as mentioned, 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 also previously stated. It was made out of cotton covered with nylon layer and thus offered excellent waterproof, so the YPA had finally solved the problem with its uniforms during heavy rainfalls 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 combat belt (for everyday wearing).

The cap (Vojnička kapa) was a classic peaked side cap, actually taken and copied from old Soviet Red Army World War II era caps which were also worn by Yugoslavian partisan guerrilla movement during the same period and the same type was also used by Germans fighting them as well as many other armies around the world. 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 Communist red star on it, with early models featuring a detachable, metallic one, while the later ones had just sewn one. 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 below) with buttoning ear flaps, most probably inspired by the German Feldmütze M43 (Field cap Model 1943), worn mostly by the Gebirgsjäger (Mountain infantry) which were often fighting Yugoslav partisans during World War II and almost the same type (only without ear flaps) is even today used by the BW (Bundeswehr - modern German Army).

A set of mountain uniform M77

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. Moreover, the M-77 was firstly continued to be unofficially used by Army of Serbia and Montenegro (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 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 switched to domestically produced copies of American BDU (Battle Dress Uniform) Woodland camouflage pattern and uniform.

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.

Components

Pantalone vojničke M-75

M75 trousers front

M75 trousers rear

Bluza vojnička M-77

Bluza vojnička planinska M-77

Vetrovka M-77

Black version.

A Vetrovka M-77

Videos

Yugoslavian Army parka Jacket Review