Camouflage Patterns
- Brushstroke ( used in British WW2) -Chocolate Chip ( US six colour desert pattern) - Digital Patterns (CADPAT, MARPAT etc.) -DPM British ( Disruptive Pattern Material) -Duck Hunter (US M1942 spot pattern) -Flecktarn (the German flecktarnmuster ) -Leaf (US M1948 ERDL) -Lizard (French or Portuguese pattern) -Puzzle ("jigsaw puzzle" patterns (Belgium, Yugoslavia etc.) ) -Rain (used by many Warsaw Pact Countries) -Tiger Stripe (Vietnam War era pattern) - Woodland (US M1981) -Splinter (German WW2 Wehrmacht, Bulgaria, Sweden) |
HistoryThe oldest historical reference for use of camouflage is from Julius Caesar, who painted
small scout ships green to make them less conspicuous. In the colonial Seven Years’ War, the rifle armed Rogers’ Rangers wore gray or green uniforms – probably for the same reason; to make themselves less visible to the enemy. The tradition was continued by many others, some dying their white uniforms in material such as mud, tea, coffee, or coloured links. This traditon was also used in ancient Japan. In 1902 the British standardized the use of khaki as their camouflage.Russia partially followed in 1908, the Italian army used grigio-verde (grey-green), and the Germans adopted feldgrau (field-grey) in 1910. The French established a Section de Camouflage (Camouflage Department) in 1915. |
Present Technology
Current technology can include what we commonly know today as the "camo suit", or a Ghille Suit. Militaries around the world use this kind of suit, for many different purposes. A Ghille suit is made up of a rough webbing made of durable, stainable fabric like burlap on the base. A nearly invisible material like fishing line can be used to sew each knot of net to the fabric, often with a drop of glue for more strength. Current systems began in the United States Air Force program which placed low-intensity blue lights on an aircraft as counterillumination camouflage. Since night skies are not pitch black, a completely black coloured aircraft might still be visible. By emitting a small amount of blue light into the sky, the aircraft will blend in more effectively. In military usage, active camouflage still remains at the research stage. Current research is aiming to achieve crypsis by using cameras to sense the visible background, and by controlling panels or coatings that can vary appearance. |