Austrian Army Folding Shovel - Österreichischen Klappspaten

Österreichischen Klappspaten / Feldspaten

österr. Bundesheer K4 Brotbeutel, orig. ÖBH K4-tarn Kampftasche alt, BH

Thanks to : Marksharky from Four Bees for the Post 

Please visit also his Blog : Here 

After WW2, Austria did not fare too well during the post-war occupation.  After they were ravaged by the Russians, and occupied by the US, they finally regained their "independence" in 1955.  Austria declared their "eternal neutrality" and re-started a new army (Defence Force), the Bundesheer.  The new Austrian Army was equipped with US equipment, weapons, and uniforms, as well as their own "Germanic equivalent" to the US uniforms and equipment.  It was no surprise that Austria manufactured, and issued their own version of the US M43 folding shovel.

These Austrian folding shovels were first issued during the first couple of years of the new Bundesheer's existence. The first camo covers were manufactured using the "new camo" pattern adopted in 1957. It is my guess that this is also the first year that these shovels were issued as well. The Austrian Army used this camo from 1957 until the 1970's. All of the camo was manufactured in the 1950's and 1960's. Since my two shovels are dated 1957 and 1967, and they have their original camo covers, this makes them some of the earliest of the old, post-war, Austrian equipment. Sometime in the late 1970's, the Austrian Army abandoned the use of camouflage for uniforms and equipment and adopted standard, OD Green for all military equipment and uniforms.


These Austrian shovels appear at first to be identical to the old WW2, US M43 shovels. However, on closer inspection, there are some significant differences. The first and most obvious, is the curvature of the blade. These Austrian blades are more curved from side-to-side and front-to-back, than the flatter, US shovels.

The blade adjustment and locking arrangement is also slightly different (and improved). Between the locking nut and the blade mount, there is a flat washer with two flat lugs. These lugs fit into the various notches in the blade mount-hinge. This allows for several additional angles as opposed to the "straight, 90 degree or folded" options found on the US shovels, and makes for a very secure lock-up.


There are also a few differences between the two of my shovels. Blade curves are slightly different and the handles are different lengths, and the handle ends are shaped differently. The handle rivets and seam in the handle mount sockets are in different locations as well. I am sure this is just manufacturing variation and not different model specifications though.

 

1970s Shovel Cover 

1957-1970s Shovel Cover 

Kampfanzug M 57 (Tarnanzug) (camouflage)


Tuta Mimetica

Kampfanzug M 57 (Tarnanzug) - spotted camouflage introduced in the Austrian army in 1957 as a field uniform.
Heavy Tarnanzug in the exercises.


Austrian Army M57 Pea Dot / Leopard Camo




The standard combat uniform of the Austrian Army (Heer) has been olive green since the 1970s. Although the nation did produce its own distinctive camouflage pattern from the 1950s through the early 1970s, it has not adopted a national pattern to be universally distributed to the armed forces since. This trend is likely to continue, as a solid tan version of the standard combat uniform has been issued to Austrian personnel serving in arid environments since 2003. 

The earliest camouflage pattern developed by Austria was introduced in 1957, and is often referred to in English as the "pea pattern." Although bearing some resemblance to the Erbsenmuster pattern developed by Germany during the Second World War, the Austrian pattern is only influenced by this earlier design and not based on the original German drawings. The Austrian design consists of dark maroon, mauve, and pea green dots and blotches on a pinkish-grey field. The most interesting feature of the original (1st) pattern is a juxtaposition of inverted clusters, not readily apparent to casual observers but illustrated in detailed photographs). The pattern retained the same features, with perhaps tiny changes to some of the shapes within the cluster, until it was modified at some point between 1961 and 1966. The 2nd pattern seems to have continued in production unmodified until 1976, and contains numerous minor modifications to the existing shapes, as well as a major feature insertion, consisting of a band of shapes that actually disrupted the inversion feature. Two primary types of field uniform were produced in this pattern for the Austrian soldier, the Kampfanzug 1957 and the Kampfanzug 1959 - often referred to within the Army as K4 - as well as several styles of parka, field equipment covers, and a reversible shelter half with a "splinter" pattern printed on one side. The K4 "pea pattern" was only worn sporadically after the 1970s.