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In the
1946-56 period, the French army introduced a bewildering array of uniforms designed for Airborne troops and designated "Tenue de Saut" (Jump-Suit). In practice they were worn by many different troops and mixed and matched for pattern and colors. The table below details major changes through the various models. |
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This is France's first airborne uniform developed for use in Indochina. This set had many unusual features. Jacket had double shoulders and bellows chest pockets with zippered pockets behind. Internal lower pockets with diagonal zips. Pants had a total of 9 pockets including 3 small ones on front, and zippered left slash pocket. All external pockets had small drain grommets on the bottom. Mle E-O was made only in Khaki. |
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On Mle 47, the Jacket lost the shoulder reinforcements and the right zip pocket on the chest. It gained small, slanted external lower pockets, slanted pockets on lower rear hips, button tabs on hips, and a snap up crotch flap for airborne operations. The Pants lost the 3 small front pockets, the knee reinforcements, and the button through fly. The cargo pockets gained a center pleat, and the button tabs at the cuffs were replaced with drawstrings. Mle 47 was made in both Khaki and Camouflage versions. |
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On Mle 47/51, the upper Jacket pockets were enlarged and given a triple snap closure. The button tabs on the hips were reversed, and it gained vertical zip ventilation slits on the middle of the back. The Pants gained the 3 small front pockets back and also added a zipper to the right side slash pocket. Mle 51 was made in both Khaki and Camouflage versions. |
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On Mle
47/52, the Jacket lost all of the back pockets. The button tabs on the cuffs were replaced with buckle take-up tabs. The Pants gained 2 external buttons on the upper fly and buckle take-up tabs at waist. They lost the zipper to the right side slash pocket and the cuffs were elasticized. Mle 52 was made only in Camouflage. |
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On Mle 47/53, the Jacket buckle cuff tabs were replaced with button tabs and the button waist tabs were replaced with buckle take-up tabs. (They switched places from their location on M-52) The Pants lost the 2 external buttons on the upper fly and the 3 small front pockets. The waist take-up tabs were reversed.
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On Mle
47/54, the Jacket lost the crotch flap feature. In all other ways, it remained identical to the Mle 53.
The Pants gained 1 external button on Mle 54 was made in both Khaki |
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In 1956, the definitive airborne uniform was introduce that would be issued for many years. The Jacket lower pockets were enlarged and The pants gained triple snap
"letterbox" Mle 56 was made in both Khaki |
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TO BE CONTINUED... |
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French 52/53 TAP pattern uniforms HERE.
