United States of America

**ACUPAT**
Official Name	ACUPAT
Years Used	2004 - Present
Used By	Army
Notes	(?)
Extra Info	None at this time

**MARPAT Urban**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	(?)
Used By	(?)
Known Items	(?)
Notes	(?)
Extra Info	None at this time

**Multicam**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	(?)
Used By	(?)
Known Items	(?)
Notes	(?)
Extra Info	None at this time

**USMC Camo**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	1942 (?) - 1960s
Used By	USMC, Army
Known Items	Shirt, Trousers, Overalls, Cap, Helmet Cover, Shelter Half, Backpack
Notes	The US Army and Marine Corps were issued fully reversible camo uniforms during the later part of WWII. The two uniforms issued to each were not the same, but I believe the camouflage patterns were. Most of the units that received this pattern served in the Pacific Theater, though there is a story about some Army troops getting shot up by friendly fire in Normandy while wearing the Army version (from a distance they would look like Waffen SS troops). After the war the pattern was used in Korea but was dropped going into the early 1960s (perhaps late 50s). Not many countries have based their uniforms on this pattern (Australia and Columbia come to mind), but it has been widely adopted as a commercial "duck hunter" camo.
Extra Info	None at this time

USMC Camo

Official Name

(?)

Years Used

1942 (?) - 1960s

Used By

USMC, Army

Known Items

Shirt, Trousers, Overalls, Cap, Helmet Cover, Shelter Half, Backpack

Notes

The US Army and Marine Corps were issued fully reversible camo uniforms during the later part of WWII. The two uniforms issued to each were not the same, but I believe the camouflage patterns were. Most of the units that received this pattern served in the Pacific Theater, though there is a story about some Army troops getting shot up by friendly fire in Normandy while wearing the Army version (from a distance they would look like Waffen SS troops).

After the war the pattern was used in Korea but was dropped going into the early 1960s (perhaps late 50s). Not many countries have based their uniforms on this pattern (Australia and Columbia come to mind), but it has been widely adopted as a commercial "duck hunter" camo.

Extra Info

None at this time

**Parachute Camo**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	1942 (?) - 1960s
Used By	Army
Known Items	Parachute
Notes	This pattern was used for parachutes sometime during WWII and long afterwards.
Extra Info	None at this time

Parachute Camo

Official Name

(?)

Years Used

1942 (?) - 1960s

Used By

Army

Known Items

Parachute

Notes

This pattern was used for parachutes sometime during WWII and long afterwards.

Extra Info

None at this time

**Mitchel Pattern (aka "Wineleaf")**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	1960s - Present
Used By	Army & (Airforce?)
Known Items	Shelter Half, Helmet Cover. Unofficial M65 Jacket, Smock, Trousers
Notes	In the early 1960s the US Army adopted its first post war camo on a limited trial basis. This rather unique reversible Wine Leaf/Clouds pattern wasn't issued for very long, but early pictures of the fighting in Vietnam show it in use here and there. The green side has distinctive "leaf" shapes while the desert side is more similar to the WWII US patterns, but with only browns for coloration. Officially only helmet covers and rain ponchos were made out of this pattern. However, many M65 style field coats were manufactured from ponchos to exact M65 specs (non reversible). They were likely made in Asia. The craftsmanship is top notch. I have one of the M65 field coats and a helmet cover in this pattern.
Extra Info	None at this time

Mitchel Pattern (aka "Wineleaf")

Official Name

(?)

Years Used

1960s - Present

Used By

Army & (Airforce?)

Known Items

Shelter Half, Helmet Cover. Unofficial M65 Jacket, Smock, Trousers

Notes

In the early 1960s the US Army adopted its first post war camo on a limited trial basis. This rather unique reversible Wine Leaf/Clouds pattern wasn't issued for very long, but early pictures of the fighting in Vietnam show it in use here and there. The green side has distinctive "leaf" shapes while the desert side is more similar to the WWII US patterns, but with only browns for coloration. Officially only helmet covers and rain ponchos were made out of this pattern. However, many M65 style field coats were manufactured from ponchos to exact M65 specs (non reversible). They were likely made in Asia. The craftsmanship is top notch. I have one of the M65 field coats and a helmet cover in this pattern.

Extra Info

None at this time

**ERDL**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	1960s - 1981 (?)
Used By	Army, Marines, Airforce
Known Items	Shirt, Trousers, Cap, Helmet Cover
Notes	During the US' involvement in Vietnam it was realized that a full camo suit was badly needed for its soldiers. Initially only "elite" forces had camo suits, starting with Duck Hunter (similar to WWII pattern) and later Tiger Stripe (based on Vietnamese pattern, derived from French Lizard). In 1965 a new pattern was developed and was identified as M65 ERDL, or "Leaf" pattern. Initially this too was only reserved for "special" units, but was gradually expanded as time went on to cloth more and more men. I have an early USMC example on ripstop cloth in Green Dominant. There is also Brown Dominant, where the overall look is more brown. Apparently there was no official differentiation between the two.
Extra Info	None at this time

ERDL

Official Name

(?)

Years Used

1960s - 1981 (?)

Used By

Army, Marines, Airforce

Known Items

Shirt, Trousers, Cap, Helmet Cover

Notes

During the US' involvement in Vietnam it was realized that a full camo suit was badly needed for its soldiers. Initially only "elite" forces had camo suits, starting with Duck Hunter (similar to WWII pattern) and later Tiger Stripe (based on Vietnamese pattern, derived from French Lizard). In 1965 a new pattern was developed and was identified as M65 ERDL, or "Leaf" pattern. Initially this too was only reserved for "special" units, but was gradually expanded as time went on to cloth more and more men. I have an early USMC example on ripstop cloth in Green Dominant. There is also Brown Dominant, where the overall look is more brown. Apparently there was no official differentiation between the two.

Extra Info

None at this time

**Transitional**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	1978 (?) - 1980 (?)
Used By	Army, Marines
Known Items	Shirt, Trousers, Cap (?), Helmet Cover
Notes	In the late 1970s the US started to experiment with a new cut of uniform utilizing a recolored M65 ERDL pattern. Like the earlier type, two colorations were made. The Brown Dominant version seems to be the major variant with Green Dominant being quite uncommon. The Brown Dominant colors would become the basis for later m/81 Woodland pattern. The principle differences in the uniforms had to do with the pockets. Unlike the slanted pockets of the Vietnam era, the Transitional had vertically aligned, bellowed pockets. The USMC issue had a black USMC stencil on the left breast pocket like the uniforms that preceded it.
Extra Info	None at this time

Transitional

Official Name

(?)

Years Used

1978 (?) - 1980 (?)

Used By

Army, Marines

Known Items

Shirt, Trousers, Cap (?), Helmet Cover

Notes

In the late 1970s the US started to experiment with a new cut of uniform utilizing a recolored M65 ERDL pattern. Like the earlier type, two colorations were made. The Brown Dominant version seems to be the major variant with Green Dominant being quite uncommon. The Brown Dominant colors would become the basis for later m/81 Woodland pattern.

The principle differences in the uniforms had to do with the pockets. Unlike the slanted pockets of the Vietnam era, the Transitional had vertically aligned, bellowed pockets. The USMC issue had a black USMC stencil on the left breast pocket like the uniforms that preceded it.

Extra Info

None at this time

**Woodland (aka "M81")**
Official Name	Camouflage Pattern M81
Years Used	1980s (?) - Present
Used By	Army, Airforce, Marines (replaced by MARPAT)
Known Items	Shirt, Trousers, Ripstop Shirt, Ripstop Trousers, M65 Jacket, Hat, Boonie Hat, Pot Helmet Cover, Kevlar Helmet Cover, Frag Vest, NBC Suit, Cold Weather Suit, Other Modern Items
Notes	One of the most pervasive, and functional, camos is the US M81, or more commonly the Woodland pattern. This was developed during the 1970s on the 1960s ERDL pattern after it became clear that every soldier should be outfitted with a complete camo suit instead of just "elite" units. The two are very similar but the M81 has larger shapes. Woodland has been in use since the late 1970s with the US and many of its allies. In particular, US style Woodland uniforms can be found all over South America and around the Pacific Rim. NATO countries, and even Switzerland, have standardized to a large degree on the four colors of brown, tan, green, and black found in this pattern. Collectors feel this is a shame because so much national identity is lost when coloring becomes generic.
Extra Info	None at this time

Woodland (aka "M81")

Official Name

Camouflage Pattern M81

Years Used

1980s (?) - Present

Used By

Army, Airforce, Marines (replaced by MARPAT)

Known Items

Shirt, Trousers, Ripstop Shirt, Ripstop Trousers, M65 Jacket, Hat, Boonie Hat, Pot Helmet Cover, Kevlar Helmet Cover, Frag Vest, NBC Suit, Cold Weather Suit, Other Modern Items

Notes

One of the most pervasive, and functional, camos is the US M81, or more commonly the Woodland pattern. This was developed during the 1970s on the 1960s ERDL pattern after it became clear that every soldier should be outfitted with a complete camo suit instead of just "elite" units. The two are very similar but the M81 has larger shapes. Woodland has been in use since the late 1970s with the US and many of its allies. In particular, US style Woodland uniforms can be found all over South America and around the Pacific Rim. NATO countries, and even Switzerland, have standardized to a large degree on the four colors of brown, tan, green, and black found in this pattern. Collectors feel this is a shame because so much national identity is lost when coloring becomes generic.

Extra Info

None at this time

**US 6 Color Desert (aka "Chocolate Chip" or "Chip")**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	1980s - 1990 (though worn after)
Used By	USMC, Army
Known Items	Shirt, Trousers, Hat, Boonie Hat, Kevlar Helmet Cover, Frag Vest
Notes	The first widely issued US Desert camo was a 6 Color Desert pattern of swaths and "chips". It earned the nickname Chocolate Chip and was issued on a very limited basis in the early 1980s. Ironically it was only issued in large numbers for the Gulf War just as it was being replaced by a newer pattern (see below). The pattern is pretty neat looking, but it is not good for open desert situations, which is where US troops are more likely to be deployed (hence move to 3 Color Desert). Plus, the two browns are almost impossible to distinguish from each other and the light green is hard to see as well. So why go through the expense of 6 color printing when only 4 colors are actually identifiable? Even though the pattern was dropped around the time of Desert Sheild/Storm it is still in production for the civilian market.
Extra Info	None at this time

US 6 Color Desert (aka "Chocolate Chip" or "Chip")

Official Name

(?)

Years Used

1980s - 1990 (though worn after)

Used By

USMC, Army

Known Items

Shirt, Trousers, Hat, Boonie Hat, Kevlar Helmet Cover, Frag Vest

Notes

The first widely issued US Desert camo was a 6 Color Desert pattern of swaths and "chips". It earned the nickname Chocolate Chip and was issued on a very limited basis in the early 1980s. Ironically it was only issued in large numbers for the Gulf War just as it was being replaced by a newer pattern (see below). The pattern is pretty neat looking, but it is not good for open desert situations, which is where US troops are more likely to be deployed (hence move to 3 Color Desert). Plus, the two browns are almost impossible to distinguish from each other and the light green is hard to see as well. So why go through the expense of 6 color printing when only 4 colors are actually identifiable? Even though the pattern was dropped around the time of Desert Sheild/Storm it is still in production for the civilian market.

Extra Info

None at this time

**US 3 Color Desert (aka "DCU")**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	1990 - Present
Used By	Army, Airforce, Marines (replaced by MARPAT)
Known Items	Shirt, Trousers, Ripstop Shirt, Ripstop Trousers, M65 Jacket, Hat, Boonie Hat, Kevlar Helmet Cover, Frag Vest, NBC Suit, Other Modern Items
Notes	The first general and widespread US desert camo entered into service right around the time of Desert Shield (1990). Commonly called 3 Color Desert it consists of broad swaths of olive green and small strips of dark brown on a sand color base. One can think of it as a dumbed down 6 color pattern. I have parka, jacket, pants, Kevlar helmet cover, and boonie in this pattern. Many other items are made in this pattern.
Extra Info	None at this time

US 3 Color Desert (aka "DCU")

Official Name

(?)

Years Used

1990 - Present

Used By

Army, Airforce, Marines (replaced by MARPAT)

Known Items

Shirt, Trousers, Ripstop Shirt, Ripstop Trousers, M65 Jacket, Hat, Boonie Hat, Kevlar Helmet Cover, Frag Vest, NBC Suit, Other Modern Items

Notes

The first general and widespread US desert camo entered into service right around the time of Desert Shield (1990). Commonly called 3 Color Desert it consists of broad swaths of olive green and small strips of dark brown on a sand color base. One can think of it as a dumbed down 6 color pattern. I have parka, jacket, pants, Kevlar helmet cover, and boonie in this pattern. Many other items are made in this pattern.

Extra Info

None at this time

**Night Desert**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	1990 (?) - mid 1990s (?)
Used By	Army
Known Items	Parka Shell, Overpants, Boonie Hat
Notes	One of the US' more interesting patterns is its night desert camo. The cross thatches and blotches supposedly break up the wearer's image when looked at through various night vision devices. CNN junkies during the Gulf War saw plenty of this stuff. The parka has a standard US detachable lining, while the pants are simply overpants with velcro enclosures. There are tie downs all over the parka, presumably to get it as tightly closed around the body as possible.
Extra Info	None at this time

Night Desert

Official Name

(?)

Years Used

1990 (?) - mid 1990s (?)

Used By

Army

Known Items

Parka Shell, Overpants, Boonie Hat

Notes

One of the US' more interesting patterns is its night desert camo. The cross thatches and blotches supposedly break up the wearer's image when looked at through various night vision devices. CNN junkies during the Gulf War saw plenty of this stuff. The parka has a standard US detachable lining, while the pants are simply overpants with velcro enclosures. There are tie downs all over the parka, presumably to get it as tightly closed around the body as possible.

Extra Info

None at this time

**TPat (aka "Marines T-Pattern" or "Marines Urban Trial")**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	(?)
Used By	Marines
Known Items	(?)
Notes	Description Pending
Extra Info	None at this time

TPat (aka "Marines T-Pattern" or "Marines Urban Trial")

Official Name

(?)

Years Used

(?)

Used By

Marines

Known Items

(?)

Notes

Description Pending

Extra Info

None at this time

**MARPAT Temperate**
Official Name	MARPAT - Temperate
Years Used	200x - Present
Used By	Marines
Known Items	Shirt, Trousers, Cap, Boonie Hat, Helmet Cover
Notes	During the late 1990s the US Marine Corps decided that it was time to move on from the M81 Woodland pattern camo. They came up with a 4 color computer generated pattern which is called MARPAT. It bears some similarity to the Canadian CADPAT pattern because the same company developed both, but is distinctly different when directly compared. Especially when one looks closely and sees small USMC symbols printed at regular intervals! There is also a desert pattern which is similar but uses desert colors and supposedly a trials pattern with an urban coloration.
Extra Info	None at this time

MARPAT Temperate

Official Name

MARPAT - Temperate

Years Used

200x - Present

Used By

Marines

Known Items

Shirt, Trousers, Cap, Boonie Hat, Helmet Cover

Notes

During the late 1990s the US Marine Corps decided that it was time to move on from the M81 Woodland pattern camo. They came up with a 4 color computer generated pattern which is called MARPAT. It bears some similarity to the Canadian CADPAT pattern because the same company developed both, but is distinctly different when directly compared. Especially when one looks closely and sees small USMC symbols printed at regular intervals! There is also a desert pattern which is similar but uses desert colors and supposedly a trials pattern with an urban coloration.

Extra Info

None at this time

**MARPAT Desert**
Official Name	MARPAT - Desert
Years Used	2002 - Present
Used By	Marines
Known Items	Shirt, Trousers, Cap, Boonie, Helmet Cover
Notes	Same history as stated above.
Extra Info	None at this time

MARPAT Desert

Official Name

MARPAT - Desert

Years Used

2002 - Present

Used By

Marines

Known Items

Shirt, Trousers, Cap, Boonie, Helmet Cover

Notes

Same history as stated above.

Extra Info

None at this time

**Commercial Tigerstripe**
Official Name
Years Used
Used By	Commercial Consumers
Known Items	Usual Military and Commercial Items
Notes	There are several commercial Tiger Stripe patterns available in the US. Although very similar to Tiger Stripe patterns used by US and South Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War, these are not "real" patterns. They are, however, really well made and nice looking uniform which I came into quite cheaply. On the left is a pattern made by made Tru-Spec and the left one is from Propper (which is a US defense contractor).
Extra Info	None at this time

Commercial Tigerstripe

Official Name

Years Used

Used By

Commercial Consumers

Known Items

Usual Military and Commercial Items

Notes

There are several commercial Tiger Stripe patterns available in the US. Although very similar to Tiger Stripe patterns used by US and South Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War, these are not "real" patterns. They are, however, really well made and nice looking uniform which I came into quite cheaply. On the left is a pattern made by made Tru-Spec and the left one is from Propper (which is a US defense contractor).

Extra Info

None at this time