m/36 Raincoat (Sadetakki m/36)

The woolen overcoats, such as the m/18 Overcoat and the m/22 Overcoat, functioned as raincoats for both the enlisted men as well as for the officers from early on. Woolen overcoats were however heavy and at times impractical. Thus the m/27 Raincoat was designed as part of the m/27 Uniform.

The m/36 Raincoat was a further development from the m/27 Raincoat and the experimental m/34 Overcoat. It was accepted for use in all branches of the military in 1937. While the m/27 Raincoat could be made from either wool or cotton and the m/34 Overcoat was made of cotton, the m/36 Raincoat was changed back to the heavier wool or half wool material. Reasoning for this is somewhat unclear, but the most likely reason is that wool would stay waterproof for longer without treatment than the lighter cotton and cotton mix fabrics.

The m/36 Raincoat, like the m/27 Raincoat, was a voluntary item for the Officers, NCO's and the Senior and Junior Military Officials. It was a farily popular item to own and use and shows in period photos fairly regularly. The Junior Military Officials and NCO's raincoat is slightly different from the Officer type as it lacks one extra button for the rank panel in the sleeves the Officers have.

The Raincoat was not meant to be worn and used in combat, but as a lighter raincoat over the regular uniform when needed.

• Description in the regulations
• Photographs

Description in the regulations

Colour and Material: Same grey colour as the m/36 Tunic made of full wool or half wool material.

Cut: Ample, so called "English" type, two rows of four buttons of which the top pair are left under the collar when it is turned down. All buttons can be closed or the top pair left un-buttoned, in which case the un-buttoned part has to be turned open. Clean, smooth back with a vent that can be buttoned closed.

The coat can have a liner and water-proof intermediate liner as well as a warm detacheable liner.

Collar: Low turn down collar. The under side of the collar has two buttons on the left on which a flap is attached. When the collar is turned up this flap can be attached to a button on the right side of the collar to protect the neck.

Length: Hem should be about 30 to 35 cm from the ground.

Pockets: Pockets are sewn inside the coat, vertical and slightly leaning towards the front of the coat.

Belt: A 6 cm wide belt made of the same material as the coat, led through two belt loops sewn in the side seams. Closes with a one prong buckle that is covered with leather.

Epaulettes: Soft, double folded, same material as the coat. 6 cm wide in the should seam and narrow down to a dull point in the top. The bottom is attached to a tab on the shoulder seam and the top with a button.

Sleeves: Straight sleeves. For the Officers, Military Provosts, Senior military officials and Sotilasmestaris have three buttons on the outside of the sleeve, about 8 cm from the cuff and a small tab for tightening the cuff at wrist. Non-commissioned officers and Junior military officials have only 2 buttons and the tab.

Buttons: Smooth, grey buttons. The buttons in the chest are 3 cm in diameter, others are 1½ cm in diameter

Finnish Wartime Photograph Archive photos