Raincoat tent

The progenitor of cloak-tents can be considered a cloak-epanche, which have been used in the Russian army since the time of Peter I. Epanches with a collar-hood appeared in 1761 ^[3] . Raincoat tents began to be actively used as part of military equipment in the second half of the 19th century . In Russia, a waterproof cape entered the standard equipment of officers in 1894 ^[4] . In the Soviet period of Russia, the Red Army was introduced in 1936 ^[5] to supply command and ordinary personnel (soldiers) of infantry units of the Red Army , the following were included in the set of raincoat:

• The cloak-tent cloth, measuring 180 × 180 centimeters ^[1] , with accessory:
  • collapsible stand, consisting of two half-racks, rods, 65 centimeters long ^[1] ;
  • two jokes ^[1] ;
  • lacing rope ^{[1] [6]} ;

With skillful use by the military, it was a convenient object that protected the commander and soldier of the Red Army from the weather, and was also used to disguise and carry the wounded; a cloak-tent, stuffed with straw or hay, allowed to overcome water barriers. To protect them from bad weather, the military used them as cloaks. When located on the terrain from several cloths of raincoat-tents, tents were built for the personnel of half of the rifle compartment , also they used the cloth of raincoat-tents for the construction of tents, peaks, shelters of huts, open trenches , covered the entrances to dugouts and huts. In addition, the cloak-tent cloths served as bedding and blankets. In 1942, the defense industry began to produce fabric with double-sided camouflage , to improve the camouflage properties of the cloak-tent cloth ^[5] .

The raincoat tent in the USSR Armed Forces (also in the ATS countries) and Russia is a tarpaulin cloth measuring 180 × 180 centimeters, leather eyelets are sewn in at the corners, designed to stretch the raincoat on stakes or on rope stretch marks (in the forest, under the trees) . There are wooden buttons (“pegs”) on the two sides of the tarpaulin panel, and the buttoned loops on the other two. Thus, several raincoat tents can be connected into one large cloth ^[7] .

On the shoulders of the serviceman, the cloak-tent is held with the help of a tied tape , movably sewn into the upper corner. Also, a second movable braid is sewn into the upper corner of the cloak-tent, designed to form a hood and fix it around the face . So that the lower corner of the cloak-tent does not drag along the ground and does not interfere with walking, it is fastened by means of a grommet to a wooden “ peg ” located almost in the center of the cloth.

To release one hand in the cloth of the cloak-tent there is one slot fastened from the inside onto a wooden “stump”. The other hand extends between the floors of the raincoat. A cloak tent placed over your shoulders can also be zipped up.

Tourist poncho raincoats are equipped with zippers on the side cuts, for additional sealing. Some camping raincoats are equipped with pegs, extensions and other accessories for use as a tent or awning . ^[8]

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  The raincoat is put on in the form of a raincoat (cape)

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  Raincoat in the form of a tent for 1 person (Poland)

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  Camping Tent of Two Raincoat Tents (GDR)

A short cloak-cloak made of waterproof fabric was part of the uniforms of self-riders , units of the armed forces of Russia, the imperial period, approved by Alexander III, July 14, 1892 ^[9] .

The cloak-cape is sewn from rubberized fabric of a protective or black (in the Navy) color. It is a cloak with a turn - down collar , only without sleeves . On the shoulders is fixed with braid . Fastens with buttons . There are two slots for releasing the arms outside, also fastened with buttons on the inside. To make your hands comfortable, there are two braids inside that you can hold onto. The hood is fastened with buttons.

A cloak-cape is issued to officers and warrant officers ( midshipmen ) as uniform , in the absence of rain it is worn in a roll on a leather strap ( harness ) on the shoulder, or in a case. An officer cloak may be issued to foremen and non-commissioned officers on duty in the performance of their duties, depending on the type of troops (forces).

• Epancha
• Burka
• Raincoat
• Poncho
• Bivouac
• Light-walking

• Article by S. Burdin, Colonel of the Quartermaster Service, in the journal “Rear Services and Supply of the Red Army” , No. 9, September 1942 .
• Military clothing of the Russian army. - M .: Military Publishing House , 1994. - 382 p. - ISBN 5-203-01560-0 .

• Equipment soldier of the Red Army.
• Veremeev Yu. Cloak-tent // Anatomy of the army.
• Special raincoat. (inaccessible link)
• B.V. Varenyshev, Lieutenant Colonel, Service camping tent property.