M73 Desert Ejercito variant.

M73 Desert, AKA Lagarto.  There are 2 sub types of this pattern. A Legion, type, and an Ejercito de Tierra (army) type.   This is the Ejercito version.  It was mainly worn by COE 103 ( Canaries ) .

The 2 types have small differences.   Legion type has famous Legion insignia embroidery on epaulettes while the army version does not.  More to come ...


 

                                                                                                                               

MORE??!!! You're going to give me an aneurysm with all this amazing stuff! Absolutely splendid, and a pattern that is a particular holy grail of mine.

Hi G !

Thanks. Hope you don't acquire any maladies from my latest posts..

Been working on M73s since last year and have had some luck.

Much harder to find non Legion M73 related pieces; they were not issued in as great a quantity as M73 Legion uniforms.

Beautiful jacket, especially with insignia. What is the unit insignia?

Thanks, Thom.

The patch is for COE 103  ( Spec Ops Company 103 ). Period photos are difficult to find.

COE 103 was the only Ejercito ( Army ) unit to wear M73s.  They were stationed in the Canarias Islands.

 M73s were actually issued beginning in 1975.



                                                                                        

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                 

                                                                                                 

Great period photos and an amazing sample, with insignia and all, great find!

Thanks,

Not easy to find photos of COEs but finding COE 103 photos in particular  is challenging.

The shirt, actually a pullover, did not come with insignia or patch, but both are accurate.

Patch is not sowed on, but is correct for the COE that wore these uniforms. . According to my photographic evidence so far, shoulder patches were not worn, but rank insignia was.