All about Camouflage & BCU (inc cartoons)

[Fuchs]

The idea of having one battle uniform that works in all operational environments is a losing proposition from the get go.

Actually, I think it's probably a very, very sensible idea as long as you have one version for hot weather and one for cold weather or can add some insulation to one standard piece.


It's in my opinion a terrible misconception (not in everyone's mind, but still too widespread) to expect camouflage patterns to camouflage men in plain sight. Camouflage works best (if not only) in combination with shadows, partial concealment and good distance.
Little to no movement, distractions/deception, poor light in general and breaking up silhouettes is of great importance, too.

In the end it's very advisable to view camo clothes only as the clothes you wear under your actual, situation-specific camo (snow coverall, foliage, ghillie to simple cloth straps) and you should only expect a good hiding effect if you conceal much of your body, don't move significantly and don't expose yourself much to light.

Grey, medium brown, olive-drab and many other really basic camouflage colours are probably satisfactory in my opinion. Camo patterns only deceive troops to think they need no additional camouflage.

As so often, my conclusions are not exactly mainstream. I can still add to this, of course:

Camouflage pattern BDUs should probably be available to non-combat troops only.

Reasoning: Combat troops should be aware of their insufficient camo and do something about it with an additional camo layer to get a much better effect than any 2D camo pattern can achieve, while support troops usually expect no combat and don't use additional camo all the time anyway.

[ganulv]

Combat troops should be aware of their insufficient camo and do something about it with an additional camo layer to get a much better effect than any 2D camo pattern can achieve, while support troops usually expect no combat and don't use additional camo all the time anyway.

If a professional soldier is under the impression that clothing alone is sufficient to ensure concealment then his professionalization has been poor indeed. Not every recruit can be turned into a Ginsu Master of invisibility, but surely any functionally literate individual able to perform the four operations can be taught that there is no such thing as a set of clothing which makes him disappear.

[Fuchs]

There's a huge difference between knowing and doing. It's a tricky psychology thing.

Sadly, there's no lack of photographic evidence for sloppy to non-existing camo on well-trained troops (and their vehicles or guns) since 1916.

Hence my idea to make it bloody obvious that camo jobs in the field are necessary.

[slapout9]

The Marines seem to know how to make camouflage uniforms. This image is from the Marine Corps Gazette website, notice how well the Marines are blinding in to the operational environment.

[carl]

Camouflage pattern BDUs should probably be available to non-combat troops only.

Reasoning: Combat troops should be aware of their insufficient camo and do something about it with an additional camo layer to get a much better effect than any 2D camo pattern can achieve, while support troops usually expect no combat and don't use additional camo all the time anyway.

That's good thinking. A very shrewed (sic) appreciation of human nature.

[slapout9]

That's good thinking. A very shrewed (sic) appreciation of human nature.

Yep, that is good thinking and part the reasoning why Army men are supposed to be Green. That was the base color and you added what you needed based on the environment. In winter up North we wore solid white. In the Desert probably some kind of a solid Tan would work.