Original Item. Only One Available. When the CPV first crossed the Yalu they wore quilted and padded winter uniforms.  These were worn until the first spring then were discarded.  During the second winter they wore only padded uniforms. As a result of having been worn only one winter and very few padded quilted uniforms having been brought home from the first Korean War Winter, these uniforms are very scarce.

This is a fantastic & incredibly scarce example of a Chinese-manufactured padded jacket & trousers worn by Chinese Officers during the Korean War. The coat has red piping along the collar, and five brass-covered buttons with two smaller buttons on the collar. The interior along the edge has clear Chinese markings, with a large box containing serial number information, manufacture date, etc. Due to the material, we were not able to get any clear translations, making for a good research project. The lining of the coat is stamped 0033.

The trousers are in great condition with the same red piping along the inseam. The buttons are all retained, and this is definitely a matching set which has been together since the war.

This is a really scarce uniform set, one of the scarcest Korean War sets we have offered. ChiCom items from this period are always scarce, and this is the first set we’ve seen with piping, so don’t miss out. Comes ready for further research and display.

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9.5"
Shoulder to sleeve: 21”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16"
Chest width: 18”
Waist: 20.5"
Front length: 27"

Pants:-
Waist: 15"
Inseam: 25"

The KPA was established in February 1948, being raised from Korean communist guerrillas who had previously served with the Chinese People's Liberation Army, but 'advised' by Soviet personnel. By mid-1950 the KPA was composed of ten infantry divisions plus other units totaling some 223,000 men. Despite the early successes that followed their invasion of South Korea beginning in June 1950, and the capture of Seoul, the KPA was eventually stopped on the Pusan Perimeter, their offensive capability spent.

US counter-offensives in the south and their seaborne landings in the west at Inchon successfully drove the KPA back and trapped considerable numbers in the south between two striking pincers. By the end of September, the KPA's ability to fight was virtually over. UN forces went on the offensive to invade North Korea, supported by South Korean RoK troops in the east, who drove the KPA up to the Chinese border in October.

Just as winter broke China intervened and Chinese forces in massive numbers swept down forcing MacArthur's troops to go on the defensive, halting in mid-December on the 38th Parallel, whilst communist forces re-organized. With China intervening, it gave the communist forces some breathing space, but following two further phases of the conflict that brought about a period of attrition, followed by lessened local and counter attacks, and the war came to a close as an armistice was signed on July 27th, 1953.