Original Design 06: DPM Windproof Smock
Posted on January 20, 2009
Filed Under Military Design, Feature: Original Design, C.P. Company, Stone Island
It’s not just the German and US military Stone Island gets its inspiration from. For the past few seasons there has been either a C.P. Company or Stone Island jacket inspired directly by the British Army Smock, Windproof, Arctic. Click below to read more.
Above: LMG gunner, RM Commandos; East Falkland, May 1982.
History of the DPM Windproof Smock
Introduced in the mid-1970s for Arctic operations, the windproof uniform consisted of a lightweight, unlined parka-type smock and over trousers, designed to be worn over quilted liners.
Above: Smock Windproof in desert camouflage.
The early smock was manufactured from Ventile, another inspiration Stone Island took from the British Forces, and featured a two-way zip with Velcro storm flap. Wrist fastenings were also of the Velcro type, and the smock featured a wired hood and four bellows pockets with large buttons, for ease of fastening whilst wearing gloves.
Left: Vertical tabbed epaulet displays rank slider. Right: Mao inner layer.
One of the most distinctive design features of the DPM Windproof is the flap on front and back of the jacket. The correct name for this is a vertical tabbed epaulet. It was placed on both the front and back, so a soldiers rank slider could be displayed on both sides.
The Windproof was designed to be just an outer shell, that when cold was worn with the Mao, or Chinese Fighting Suit quilted liner.
Above: The updated DPM Windproof Smock that included extra pocket in the rear.
The updated Windproof Smocks, included two front horizontal zippers, and extra pockets on the sides and back.
Above: The Smock, Windproof with after a few changes became the Smock SAS.
An interesting footnote in the evolution of the Smock, Windproof, was that in the mid 1970’s wire brim and vertical epaulets were removed and the jacket be came known as the Smock, SAS. Which of course was worn by all the British special forces.
Left: DPM Parka. Right: Stone Island AW’07 4G43.
In addition to the Smock Windproof, in the 70’s the British Forces also introduced a longer version which became know as the DPM Parka. The Stone Island AW’07 47154G43 was based off this version but they removed the chest pockets.
One interesting thing worth noting about the Stone Island 4G43 and 4P43 is that both are based off British military jacket designs, but the fabric is the WW2 German Marsh camouflage.
If you enjoy reading this, check out my other Original Design features:
Original Design 05: Hood, Parka M-1951
Original Design 04: Jacket, Flying Intermediate Type B-15
Original Design 03: M1951 Parka
Original Design 02: M-1943 Field Jacket
Original Design 01: M-41 Field Jacket
The N3-B Parka
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5 Responses to “Original Design 06: DPM Windproof Smock”
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Another great article Gene, I’ve always wondered whether a solid connection existed between my 4P43 and the SAS smock since seeing the later on eBay a while back, cheers for the info!
Another great find G! It’s always interesting to find out where are the roots of some of our garments.
great jacket, treated myself to a ventile one from survivalschool.co.uk which is the poodles privates and for my boy, got a great Khaki at childrensalon.co.uk, just got to sort out the wife now…
i have a wired hood sas smock in the attic from my 264 days, and a few of the chinese fighting suits :)i like the 4P43
The camouflage used for theStone Island AW’07 4G43 is not german ww2 camouflage (sumpftarn) but in fact the far more exotic BGS tarn (Bundesgrenzschutz) used by post war German special forces (GSG9 etc)