{{Unreferenced, date=June 2009 The 'Smock, Parachutist DPM', known simply as the Para Smock, was the replacement for the

Denison Smock The Denison smock was a coverall jacket issued to Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents, the Parachute Regiment, the Glider Pilot Regiment, Air Landing Regiments, Air Observation Post Squadrons, Commando units, and other Commonwealth ai ...

used by the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

's Parachute Regiment and parachute-trained troops. It was introduced in the mid-1970s, after the British Army's universal adoption of DPM field clothing. While the design was little different from the

Denison smock The Denison smock was a coverall jacket issued to Special Operations Executive (SOE) agents, the Parachute Regiment, the Glider Pilot Regiment, Air Landing Regiments, Air Observation Post Squadrons, Commando units, and other Commonwealth ai ...

, it was made from a lighter-weight cloth, printed in the then standard

Disruptive Pattern Material Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM) is the commonly used name of a camouflage pattern used by the British Armed Forces as well as many other armed forces worldwide, particularly in former British colonies. The main variants of DPM are a four-col ...

(DPM). The Para Smock differs from the three most recent standard patterns of combat jacket, all made from DPM, and is like its Denison predecessor in having no flap to button or velcro over the full length zipper; hip and breast pockets; hem adjustors; and a ''diaper flap'' (fastened under the crotch to stop the smock riding up while parachuting) fastened by pres-studs (snaps) (though smaller than on the Denison); and knitted wool cuffs. It is also cut more loosely than the ''Smock, combat''. It lacks the flannel lining on the inside of the collar that the Denison had, and like the standard ''Smock, combat'' has a ''first field dressing'' pouch on one sleeve (the right), and pen pockets on the other, both closed by buttoned flaps. Like the 1968 Pattern ''Smock, Combat'', it is fitted with three buttons around the outside of the collar, to which a hood can be attached. The hood is DPM, and lined in green. (One is visible in the photograph shown). The Para Smock is standard issue for the Parachute Regiment and other airborne units. With the introduction of the British Army's latest "Multi-Terrain Pattern" camouflage (MTP), the Para Smock also became available in that pattern and remains on issue with the Parachute Regiment and other airborne units. Outside of airborne units, it is highly sought after not only for its physical qualities, but also as something of a status symbol.

Images

Image:British Army DPM Para Smock.JPG, DPM Parachute Smock Image:DPM Parachute Smock.jpg, Model wearing a DPM Parachute Smock

Images

See also