HISTORICAL SAS SMOCK
THE WINDPROOF “SAS” SMOCK IT IS SAID THAT A SOLDIER LIVES WITH WHAT IS IN HIS OR HER PACK, FIGHTS WITH WHAT IS ON THEIR BELT AND SURVIVES WITH WHAT IS IN THEIR POCKETS, AND IF YOU ARE WEARING A BRITISH ARMY WINDPROOF SMOCK YOU HAVE PLENTY OF POCKET SPACE! AA RESIDENT KIT HISTORIAN WILL F TAKES A LOOK AT AN ENDURING GARMENT WHICH HAS ITS ROOTS FIRMLY IN WWII BUT IS STILL SUPERB TODAY!
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he garment that is often called an “SAS Smock” owes its origins to a simpler garment developed in 1942. This was printed in a distinctive colour -fast brown and green splinter camouflage and consisted of a pull over garment with draw cord at the hood and hem with two pleated pockets at the top and two patch pockets at the skirt. It was not waterproof but offered good camouflage and was a lot more practical than a battledress blouse. It was initially issued to the SAS, SOE and SBS but by 1943 had filtered down to the infantry where it was used by snipers as an alternative to the Denison Smock. A matching set of over-trousers was produced to complement the smock. Variations of the ‘Windproof’ followed in different colours; white (or at least natural cotton) for desert operations, olive green and black. The post war smocks had a full length heavy duty zipper but retained the same pocket design, and these were still 96
JULY 2022
in evidence with the SAS in the 1970s! In the late 1960s though a new design the Smock, Windproof, 1963 Pattern, was produced in the distinctive camouflage known as Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM). The DPM version had large box pleated pockets with larger than standard buttons that could be opened by gloved hands. There were draw cords at the hem waist and around the hood, though the hood was rarely used and was rolled up tightly around the back of the neck. The SAS Smock was a distinctive garment made from Gabardine a windproof quick drying material, and cut to fit more loosely, to fit over other layers of clothing and the Trooper’s belt order. Where the standard combat jackets were closed by a full-length zipper, covered by a buttoned flap, and buttoned cuffs, the windproof smock used Velcro to close the flap over the zipper and to fasten the cuffs. The smocks became particularly popular as a private purchase item in the
