Wool Cap

From RedAllianceWiki

A warm piece of headwear for use during winter and other cold times.

The standard Soviet balaclava/wool cap is a thick and very warm reddish-khaki single hole balaclava. Originally adopted into service sometime during the Great Patriotic War, it has since seen service at least far into the 90's. Unlike your run-off-the-mill balaclava, the Soviet one features a rough surface and a very soft innard. It has ear flaps on the inside and an extra layer of wool sewn onto the neck, probably for comfort when sleeping or resting your head against cold and hard surfaces. According to some sources, the cap and sweater were meant for wear under the Gorka suit. The balaclava is of the same colour and type of wool as the Sweater issued sometime during the Soviet war in Afghanistan

The Russian balaclava or cap is made from a mix of wool and, probably, acrylic. Some, but not all of these have a slit for the eyes, enabling them to be worn as a balaclava. Unlike its Soviet predecessor, the Russian one comes in a VSR-like camouflage pattern. The Russian cap and its sweater companion were probably adopted into service at the same time as the Flora-camouflage, as historical documents from the Second Chechen war are the first to show them in service.

Gallery

A Soviet woolen balaclava, note the earflaps and padded neck.

A standard Russian wool cap.

Stamps on a Russian wool cap.

A standard issue Russian "wool" cap and sweater.

In use

A Soviet soldier wearing a rolled up wool balaclava, Afghan war.	A Russian soldier, probably during the Second Chechen war, wearing a Soviet balaclava.	Naval Infantry soldiers wearing Russian wool caps, 2001, Second Chechen war.	VDV-soldiers wearing both the Russian wool caps and sweaters, 2000, Second Chechen war.
MVD soldiers showing off different ways of wearing the grand wool cap!