Hello,
i was recently in contact with a Tuvan historian who has started researching the Tuvan army (he isn't a military historian), and he was kind enough to give me the following.
The Tuvan are used the same coloured branch of service collar patches as the Red army, which for Tuva would be blue as they were a cavalry force.
In 1938-41 the Tuvans had their own rank insignia which was called "doshka" or happiness knot, a buddhist symbol which is found on top of the traditional Tuvan caps. Esssentially a ball or sphere with a tuft on top.
1938-41 insignia/ doshka for officers and nco's was of 2 kinds
1- doshka without feet and 2- doshka the foot.
I did ask for a clarification and was told -
"where leg (foot) can be called different things such as supports on which stand any thing"
It's a direct translation from Tuvan, and i still have no idea what it means.
1938-41 insignia were position ranks - separate commander, squadron leader, commander of regiment etc.
From 1940 personal military ranks introduced.
In 1941-43 Red army rank insignia replaced the doshka.
There are lots of photos of Tuvans with the doshka insignia
(on parade in greatcoats) here-
http://mil-history.livejournal.com/648063.html
A close up of doshka insignia on this link (scroll down to last photo), but when i tried it recently , the link did not come up.
http://en.tuvaonline.ru/2010/02/23/4600 ... y-ool.html
Lastly a link showing Tuvans on parade/public display (late 1941 , early 1942 ?), they are wearing the 1941 Red army insignia.Note the officer in the faded shirt and 2 nco's with triangle insignia , front of lorry.
Again this link did not work when i tried it , it was working months ago.Not sure what the problem is with these Tuvaonline links.
http://en.tuvaonline.ru/2012/06/22/tuva ... front.html
Ran.