The design of the raincoat tent allows you to fold and unfold it in a few minutes Dense water-resistant material helps protects you from various types of weather It can also serve as a simple blanket or bedding on a wet or dry floor, or a pillow Raincoat-tent can serve as a raincoat, canopy, tent, or even an awning, sheltering from the wind or rain. This should settle the question.- Raincoat tent is a square cloth with a hood and slotted holes for arms and hands Here's a photo version of the drawing shown above. This web gear does not appear until after the "Great Patriotic War." I found this with a google image search for the phrase "плащ палатка скатка" or "plash-palatka skatka" which means "cloak-tent roll." You won't find these images with a similar English-language search.
The tabs are apparently not found in plashi made during the "Great Patriotic War," which I surmise because the 1938 manual for them has a sketch with literally every single detail about them, with dimensions, but omits these tabs. It would seem that the tabs are meant as a way to attach the plash to post-war web gear. I'm at something of a loss as to the use of the two strap tabs (shown here in a photo from another site)Īnyone have any definitive answers (guesses do no one any good) as to the uses of these strap tabs? My first guess would be to strap it down when attached to something else then again, knowing military gear, it might have a use which defies such ordinary reasoning. Soviet kit is bomb-proof, but there's something about this item which reminds me very much that the Soviet soldier did not wear socks into battle, but "portyanki" - foot-wraps that dated back to the time of Peter the Great. I can only imagine if the Cold War had gone "hot," any Soviet soldiers who'd got their hands on captured American kit would have thought they were doing battle with guys from a science fiction novel. This was about 4 years before I enlisted, and the gear I was issued was little different from that issued to the guys who jumped into Grenada.
Mine appears to be unissued, "new-old-stock," with a date stamp of 1983. Withal, it's a clever piece of kit, and it has that retro look we all seem to be nuts over. There certainly is a learning curve with it, and no doubt about it. So today is my first chance to get a good looky-loo at this thing. Mine arrived a couple days ago however, it arrived at the office and I've been working mostly from home. I do not recommend the "single stick in the center" shelter he demonstrates, as per the manual, for such a small shelter - the plow point actually gives some room. The coverage is limited, so for a single poncho shelter, a plow point or flying diamond seems to work best - either that, or connect two of them together. They're easily as, if not more versatile (due to their strength and square shape) than a traditional 5x7 nylon poncho tarp. It's traditional and sturdy as hell, fairly light weight, and comes pretty waterproof/water resistant even without waxing (not sure what they've been treated with, but something has been impregnated). In comes the Plash Palatka! It's a 6'圆' square canvas shelter half with a hood on the corner, leather grommets, and wooden toggles for buttons. I've been slowly trying to put together a light weight traditional load out. I also really enjoy natural materials, and retro gear. The wood here is quite "spitty" and will send embers shooting quite a ways.
I've always enjoyed Military Poncho Tarps, but I've been wanting to try a canvas tarp for a while now, and I've especially been in need of a canvas ground sheet, because I'm sick of getting holes in everything near the fire. I wanted to share a new piece of kit that I discovered, which many of you likely know of already: The Russian Plash Palatka! I'm doing well here in Japan, and still Bushcrafting when I'm able to get out - or stay in. I hope you're all well prepared, safe, and enjoying social distancing.