Most of us come across camouflage clothing, commonly known as camo, every day. Whether it is part of our work, hobbies, or simply our style and personal expression. Patterns originally created only for the needs of armed forces have gradually spread among airsoft fans, anglers, and hunters. In their own specific form, they also serve as inspiration for streetwear. But do you know how and when they were created? Let’s take a closer look at the most common camouflage patterns and the history of their origin.
“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who survive, but those who can best adapt to their surroundings.” Sir Charles Darwin
How camouflage on uniforms was created
The history of camouflage is as old as humanity itself. Even prehistoric hunters wore animal furs and attached pieces of vegetation to themselves during hunting to hide their silhouette and blend in with the surrounding terrain. These techniques were not used only for hunting, but also for better concealment from enemies or predators.
Camouflage-pattern uniforms are a relatively young concept
During the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), the French used uniforms with blue or greenish coats and white trousers with a shirt. The British preferred red coats until the end of the 19th century. This was influenced, among other things, by the way battles were fought, as combat took place at shorter distances and the enemy was usually visible. Firearms of that time were accurate only up to several dozen metres and had to be reloaded after every shot. Battles often ended in bayonet charges and sabre fights.
The French were pioneers of camouflage patterns
The turning point came at the beginning of the 20th century, when the British, during the occupation of India, gradually moved away from red and switched to a khaki shade that was better suited to the local climate and terrain. The changes that began around 1850 ended with the adoption of khaki as the official colour of the British uniform in 1902.
The first real camouflage uniforms with a more complex pattern appeared during the First World War (1914–1918). Most countries still used single-colour, highly visible uniforms. Experiments with camouflage patterns were started by France, which created a group of artists who experimented with various patterns on uniforms and rain capes. They were mainly intended for snipers and scouts and were handmade.
British uniform in khaki
The breakthrough came during the Second World War (1939–1945). Uniforms with a camouflage pattern began to be widely introduced and, most importantly, industrially produced by Nazi Germany. It was no longer handmade small-scale production or individual projects, but a concept introduced as an official standard, as we know it today.
The Germans were aware that different patterns were better suited for different terrain and seasons. Several patterns were created, such as Sumpftarn, Splintertarn and Erbsentarn (the latter is most similar to the Flecktarn currently used by the German Bundeswehr). In addition to uniforms, these patterns were also applied to heavy military equipment.
Splintertarn camouflage pattern
The Allies did not lag behind either
The United States Marine Corps fighting in the Pacific used the Frogskin pattern. It consisted of a beige base with brown, dark green, and light green medium-sized spots. The uniforms were printed and featured an interesting innovation: they were reversible. The other side was designed for drier climates and used shades of khaki, beige, and light brown.
Frogskin camouflage pattern
Great Britain introduced the Denison pattern, primarily intended for paratroopers. It consisted of larger areas of olive green, khaki, and dark brown, with elements resembling dry-brush strokes.
Denison camouflage pattern
One of the first patterns of the Soviet Union was MKK (makirovochnyi kamuflirovannyi kostium). It featured an oak leaf shape on a beige or green background.
MKK camouflage pattern
The most common camouflage patterns of today
Woodland
Our list of patterns could not begin with anything other than one of the most iconic and widespread patterns of recent decades – the classic Woodland.
The official designation of Woodland is US M81. The number 81 refers to the year of its creation, and it remains one of the most copied and most modified patterns since camouflage patterns first appeared on uniforms.
Woodland was developed from the m1948 ERDL pattern, designed during the Vietnam War (1955–1975). The pattern can loosely be described as leaf-like. It is worth mentioning that the current Czech camouflage pattern Vz.95 was also derived from ERDL. Woodland was created by enlarging ERDL by approximately 60%. It kept its colour scheme with a base of sand, olive, black, and brown. In its basic form, it was also adopted by the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic under the designation M97, before it was replaced by the current digital Vz.2007.
Woodland has a large number of derivatives. It was so widely copied that its derivatives could even be found in communist countries such as China, Cambodia, and Kazakhstan, as well as in Middle Eastern armies such as Iran and Jordan. Its basic structure became a certain standard that other patterns were based on, such as the French CCE pattern.
Digital
Digital patterns defined one of the new standards of modern camouflage. They were made possible by advances in information technology. Their structure consists of small fragments in the form of pixels, creating a more complex pattern with a better ability to disrupt the silhouette of the camouflaged object and blend into more varied environments. Many of the first patterns were created simply by pixelating traditional patterns and reducing their basic shapes.
The first modern digital pattern was CADPAT (Canadian Pattern), created in 1997. It was followed by the American MARPAT (Marine Pattern), created for the US Marine Corps (USMC). The American UCP (Universal Camouflage Pattern) was also developed from CADPAT in 2004. As its name suggests, UCP was intended at the time of its creation to serve as a universal platform for different environments.
With its grey tones, it is suitable for urban environments, winter conditions, and rocky desert terrain. Commercial copies are also known as AT-digital. The MARPAT pattern is better suited to forest environments and agricultural landscapes. MARPAT is also often commercially referred to as Digital Woodland.
Digital patterns were widely introduced by China, Serbia, and the Russian Federation. A large number of private companies have also developed their own commercial models, such as the British PenCott.
Slovakia is represented in the digital category by Vz.2007, which replaced the classic Woodland-based M97 pattern. It exists in a green forest version and a sand version intended for desert areas.
DPM
DPM (Disruptive Pattern Material) was created in Great Britain in 1960. Similar to M81 Woodland, it is one of the most widespread and most copied patterns in the world. It was designed for warmer climate zones. It consists of black, brown, and light green narrow shapes on a sand and khaki background. DPM and its derivatives were introduced not only by Great Britain, but also by Canada, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Portugal, and Oman.
The British Army is currently undergoing a transition in which DPM is being replaced by the new MTP (Multi-Terrain Pattern). MTP is an adaptation of the American Multicam pattern by the private company Crye, combining Multicam with elements of the DPM pattern.
DPM and MTP camouflage patterns
Flecktarn
It is no surprise that the German Flecktarn is also among the most common camouflage patterns. After all, Germany was present at the very beginning of the widespread introduction of camouflage patterns into military equipment.
Flecktarn was adopted by the Bundeswehr in the 1980s. It was the result of long-term research and cooperation with German and French companies. The word Flecktarn is composed of the words Fleck (spot) and Tarnung (camouflage). This perfectly describes its appearance, as it consists of dots resembling gravity-driven droplets. It is very similar to the Second World War Erbsenmuster pattern.
The German pattern is made up of 5 colours: black, reddish brown, and dark olive on an olive and yellow-green background. The desert pattern, Tropentarn/Wüstentarn, consists of reddish-brown and dark purple dots on a yellow-sand background.
Flecktarn has been widely copied and has also inspired similar patterns. Denmark introduced the spotted M84 pattern, consisting of three colours: dark purple and olive dots on a khaki background. China introduced a copy of Flecktarn for border guards and units deployed during the occupation of Tibet.
Multicam
Multicam is one of the most promising camouflage patterns of today. It is patented by the American company Crye Precision and was developed for the needs of the US Army. The main reason for its development was to reduce the number of camouflage patterns in use and achieve the greatest possible level of standardisation across a wide range of natural environments and climate zones.
In addition to being introduced in the US Army, Multicam has also achieved huge commercial success. The CamoGrom pattern by the Polish company Helikon-Tex is directly based on Multicam and was created for Polish special forces. In the Danish Army, it is replacing the spotted M48 pattern and also forms the basis for the previously mentioned British MTP pattern, which is replacing the long-used DPM pattern.
Like the other patterns mentioned, Multicam comes in several versions, such as Multicam Black, Multicam Tropic (a light green variant for tropical environments), and Multicam Alpine (a snowy white version).
It also has several imitations and unlicensed copies, mostly from Asian manufacturers.
A-TACS
A-TACS is a private commercial pattern. It was developed by the American company Digital Concealment Systems (DCS). Similar to Multicam, it is intended to be a universal platform for various environments. I have to admit that A-TACS is one of my favourite patterns, alongside Multicam and British DPM.
Its design creates a kind of minimalist digital pattern without a sharply defined shape. It gives the impression of overlapping blurred areas with smooth transitions between colours. The basic pattern is A-TACS AU (Arid Urban), which was tested by US special forces in Afghanistan and consists of shades of light brown, sand, and khaki. The FG (Forest Green) version in shades of green is intended for woodland environments. The LE (Law Enforcement) pattern is designed for urban areas and is primarily intended for police tactical units, such as S.W.A.T., in shades of grey, black, and dark blue.
A-TACS did not stop there and now also offers a new generation of camouflage patterns marked with X (Extreme). These are based on the original versions but feature a more pronounced digital imprint, a more refined colour range, and a more aggressive design. The basic designation of the given pattern remains the same, with the letter X added to the name, such as FG-X. There is also a pattern imitating tree bark, primarily intended for hunters, marked TD-X.
A-TACS is not widely adopted by any army, despite its huge potential. It is mainly used by special units and hunters, and it is also very popular among airsoft enthusiasts. The pattern is heavily copied by Asian tactical gear manufacturers, and its illegal copy is also used by the army of the Russian Federation and Chechen separatists.
Realtree
The term Realtree can be used to describe an entire family of specific patterns. It is not a military uniform, even though the camouflage capabilities of this “family” are often better than many established military patterns and would almost seem suitable for reconnaissance units or snipers. These versions are mainly created by the private sector for hunters, anglers, wildlife cameramen, and nature photographers.
The basic system consists of printing a real environment onto fabric. It imitates tree bark, leaves, pine needles, entire plants, or aquatic vegetation, with a strong focus on specific details.
The patterns are created for all types of vegetation, climate zones, and seasons. Under the name RealTree, we know original patterns from this American hunting brand, as well as models from the Chinese manufacturer Loshan, which is widely represented in Central Europe.
The wide range also includes Backlands patterns by Globaltech44 and fishing patterns called Fishoflauge.
Fishoflauge, Realtree and Backlands camouflage patterns
“Nobody likes warriors until the enemy is at the gates.” African proverb
