Republic of Cuba FAR uniform

[Markgraf]

Hi Gentlemen!

A brand new unissued dress tunic for a major. Can somebody tell me the period of this piece?

And of course I would be happy for any additional information

[Riker87]

Hola Markgraf,

very interesting pictures. But I can't tell about this uniform on the basis of this two pictures. Can you upload more detailed pictures? So I can tell more.

Do you have more Cuban items?

Best regards from Germany.

[Markgraf]

Hola!

I can show more pictures but only in January, because i'm on holiday now.

Besides this tunic I can show peaked caps, and a battledress.

And maybe a "duck-hunter" jacket from Playa Girón...

[Ulsterman]

whoa! Nice- can we see all of it please?

[Markgraf]

Ulsterman: As you wish - in January

[Markgraf]

A Cuban peaked cap (I think dress version for field officer). Other items coming soon

But I can't tell about this uniform on the basis of this two pictures. Can you upload more detailed pictures? So I can tell more.

Riker:Which details needed?

[Riker87]

Very, very nice peaked cap! It could be an older model! My four caps are from the 80's and 90's. Your cap has a better quality than mine. I think yours is from the mid 70's, when this model of cap was introduced.

Is the cap band golden or green-brown?

Yes, please, show us more pictures of your great cuban items.

PS: Does anybody of you need a cuban navy uniform? Please send me a message.

[Paul R]

Its January now... Lets see more of that Major's tunic. Great find! It is the first dress uniform I have seen from this country.

[Riker87]

Its January now... Lets see more of that Major's tunic. Great find! It is the first dress uniform I have seen from this country.

Really? Didn't see you my Captain's jacket? Look here.

[Markgraf]

Paul: And the January is Cuban season

Front:

Back:

The liner:

Details:

[Paul R]

Very nice!! Can you tell the Major's career by the color of the shoulder boards, or is this something that is designated on the collar tabs? What type of collar tabs would have been worn on this jacket? Is it current issue? The shoulder boards look identical in construction to what the Soviets used.

[Markgraf]

Paul: Thanks! I've very limited knowledge about the Cuban uniforms but as far as I know the sholder board's color is general. Furthermore - as I wrote in my first post - this is an unused "virgin" piece never ever worn by anybody, and never equipped with collar tabs. You can see the tailor's chalk marks around the buttonhole on the first detail picture.

But I've the same question: What kind of collar tabs used for this uniform?

I'm sure that this piece isn't younger than 1990. I hope somebody can determine the concrete age of the tunic.

[Riker87]

Very nice!! Can you tell the Major's career by the color of the shoulder boards, or is this something that is designated on the collar tabs? What type of collar tabs would have been worn on this jacket? Is it current issue? The shoulder boards look identical in construction to what the Soviets used.

When in the mid 70's the cuban army introduced the soviet rank insignias and they introduced some soviet uniform parts like this jacket model. The corps colour (you see it on the shoulder boards) is red. So this major jacket is from the (motorised) infantry. Other soviet/cuban corps colours are:

black = tanks, artillery, technical, chemical, construction, engineering, communication troops;

light blue = airforce, air technical service, paratroops;

green = border troops,

dark blue = state security,

black shoulder boards with gold stripes = navy.

NOTE: The construction and engineering troops had red as corps colour in Cuba!

So this uniform need the following collar tabs:

@Markgraf:

"I'm sure that this piece isn't younger than 1990. I hope somebody can determine the concrete age of the tunic."

You are right. The Cubans used this uniforms and soviet shoulder boards officially until 1988. But the transit time could account 5 years, so they worn it until 1992/1993.

PS: Sorry for my bad english.

[Paul R]

Would medical fall under the Red color as well?

[Riker87]

Yes it would, but medical would fall unter other colours too, because the medical is a military career and not a own military unit like infantry etc.

[Markgraf]

Is the cap band golden or green-brown?

I'm sorry I missed this question! The cap band is gold.

[Riker87]

Hmm... That is very interesting. I never see this with a golden cap band.

Here some photo references (all post revolution):

This is one of my peaked cap, here with small FAR-badge (first type):

The left one with the second type badge:

Here with the Navy peaked cap:

And now one heat of the ministry of the interior (see the badge with MININT, the police had this type of peaked cap too: black cap band and the badge with PNR):

[Riker87]

Here are another uniforms of my collection. The man on the picture is my father. 100% Cubano.

Navy - Teniente de Navio:

Navy (field and service uniform), Teniente de Navio:

Navy (field and serviceuniform), Naval academy 2nd year:

Army (field uniform), Capitán:

Army, (field uniform), Special Forces "Black Wasps" (actually they've got green berets):

Policia Nacional Revolucionaria, Suboficial:

Then I've got another cuban items. For example a tank uniform, police cap from the 80's, police belt, and some more

[Paul R]

Awesome stuff!!! So the Lieutenant has four chevrons?

[Riker87]

Awesome stuff!!! So the Lieutenant has four chevrons?

Thanks.^^ No, it hasn't.

one arbor (horizontal) = Subteniente = Sub Lieutenant

one chevron = Teniente = Lieutenant

two chevrons = Primer teniente = First Lieutenant

three chevrons = Capitán* = Captain

* in the Navy = Teniente de Navió

Another ranks you'll finde here.

[achern]

Lovely stuff. Any chance of showing us some Cuban General ranks?

[Markgraf]

Whoa! Very rich collection!

The SF camouflage pattern is Cuban own or imported?

My humble contribution for the topic:

A peaked cap a different (I think newer) model:

A belt buckle (the textile belt is replacement, not original)

[Riker87]

Lovely stuff. Any chance of showing us some Cuban General ranks?

Sorry, but I have no general ranks. It's very, very difficult to find this general ranks in Cuba. They absolutely rare. But I try my best to get those ranks. :-)

Whoa! Very rich collection!

The SF camouflage pattern is Cuban own or imported?

My humble contribution for the topic:

A peaked cap a different (I think newer) model:

A belt buckle (the textile belt is replacement, not original)

Szervusz Markgraf!

The SF camouflage is 100% cuban made.

Your another peaked cap is very nice. I like it. The cap band is one of three pattern that I know (this one, these of my caps, and the general's cap bands).

Here one example of your peaked cap, worn by a Cuban officer:

And one example of the General's cap band, here Army General Raúl Castro:

Your belt buckle is very nice. I've got the same but complete . You will find a picture of mine in one thread here on gmic.

Edited January 14, 2013 by Riker87

[Markgraf]

After a long break:

A Cuban battledress.

Tunic:

The rank insignia (Primer Teniente) sadly the other half lost...

Ink stamp in the tunic

Trousers

[Riker87]

Markgraf, very interesting stuff! I think, this BDU must be used in the 70's.