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Years Used

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Known Items

Shelter/Poncho

Notes

An impressive camo item consisting of a light green base with orange, darker green, and redbrown blotches on top. The construction is very good and is not reversible (the backside is sorta orange brown). Nothing else was made in this pattern and apparently it was not made in large numbers. However, it appears to have influenced the latter Border Guard Splotch pattern.

Extra Info

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Years Used

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Known Items

One Piece Scout/Sniper Oversuit

Notes

During the 1950s and 1960s the Hungarian Army issued this unique pattern jumpsuit to snipers, scouts, and perhaps other specialists needing concealment. The official designation is M1951 pattern and 1950s vintage pieces are still in very limited use today. The hood has a built in face veil and mesh circles for the ears. There are three versions of this suit:

1. Pale green base with lighter color shapes for open terrain
2. Gray base and darker shapes for all other terrain
3. Solid white for use in snow conditions

Extra Info

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Years Used

Used By

Known Items

Two Piece Oversuit, One Piece Scout/Sniper Oversuit, Plastic Wrap for NBC Suit, NBC Suit

Notes

This is a Splotch type camo that is rightly dubbed Fried Egg pattern. In Hungary it is called the Leaf pattern and was used for Border Guards and the Worker's Militia. It comes in two varieties, Leaf I and Leaf II (left and right above). It appears to be the same pattern but with slightly different colors. I have the hooded jacket and pants oversuit in Leaf I and a scout/sniper oversuit in Leaf II. Apparently only the one piece oversuits were made in Leaf II. Oddly enough, the two piece uniform is made out of a very soft and delicate cotton weave which probably did not last long after use in the field.

Extra Info

Official Name

Years Used

Used By

Known Items

Various Shirts and Trousers, 1 Piece Sniper/Scout Oversuit, Shelter/Poncho, Winter Parka, Hat (fake fold), Hat (real fold), Helmet Cover, Assault Harness, Infantry Backpack, Para Backpack

Notes

This is a revamped version of the M49, which was in turn based on the M38 pattern issued during WWII as shelter quarters. The common Hungarian military designation for the pattern is "Háromszínnyomású terepszín", but the common collector term is M87.

A point of confusion about designations comes from the Hungarian practice of generally introducing new camo patterns in the form of new uniforms. This usually allows collectors to associate the "M" number both with the uniform as well as the pattern. But with this pattern there is a catch.

The first items using the pattern appeared as early as 1982, and therefore designated M82. However, the first uniform using it only came about in 1987, and was obviously designated M87. Since new patterns are generally associated with new uniform designs, and anything is better than writing out "Háromszínnyomású terepszín" <g>, collectors seem to gravitate towards using M87 to represent this pattern. Just know if someone calls it M82 they are talking about the same pattern.

Eventually several uniforms and pieces of equipment used this pattern. By early 2000s it was largely out of use, officially as well as unofficially. Only a few para units still maintain this uniform in active service until they trade it in for M90 pattern. Apparently it is no longer in service with Border Guards or Airforce ground units.

Extra Info

Official Name

Years Used

Used By

Known Items

Short Sleeved Shirt, 2 Pocket Shirt, Trousers, Hat

Notes

A short lived variation of the M87 camo was made for tropical areas. The colors are more subdued and the material very light. Apparently it was not well liked by troops and was quickly dropped.

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Official Name

Years Used

Used By

Known Items

2 Pocket Shirt, Trousers, Tanker Jacket, Hat

Notes

In 1992, or perhaps earlier, a desert trial pattern was developed in the off chance that Hungarian troops were needed for service in arid areas. The semiofficial name for this pattern is Pakistani. Not surprisingly the name appeared because the cloth was printed in Pakistan.

The uniform apparently saw some use with Hungarian Peace Keepers. For whatever reason they weren't very happy with it so it was never adopted as an official uniform. It was shelved around 1995 and was officially declared obsolete in 1999.

Standard Army shoulder boards were used to denote rank, but a uique "Hungary" tape was sewn over the left breast. The limited production of the latter badges (two styles) makes its current collector value about equal to the shirt itself!

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Years Used

Used By

Known Items

Shirt, Trousers, Hat, Helmet Cover, Assault Vest, Canteen Cover, Rain Jacket, Rain Trousers

Notes

The current temerpate camouflage of the Hungarian Army is the M90 pattern. Like M87 there is some confusion about the common name because some items, like the Assault Vest, were introduced later and therefore have later "M" numbers (M93 in the case of the vest). Again, it makes sense for collectors to simply identify the camouflage pattern with the first issued uniforms.

The pattern itself bears some resemblance to the M87 and earlier "Swirl" type Hungarian patterns, but is distinctly different when looked at closely. Note especially the more ragged edges of the shapes compared to the earlier patterns' smooth sides. A recent uniform in Ripstop fabric is in limited use.

Extra Info

Official Name

Years Used

Used By

Known Items

Shirt, Trousers

Notes

I don't know much about this pattern other than it was quite commonly used for various private security personnel. The pattern is quite pleasing to the eye and is more effective than many of the official issue uniforms of the former Warsaw Pact.

Extra Info

Official Name

Years Used

Used By

Known Items

Jacket, Trousers, Hat

Notes

I usually don't collect commercial camo stuff, but I did purchase trousers made by the Hungarian Fenox company. For now I've simply called the pattern Fenox since it needs to be called something. It is unclear if anything else is made in this material other than the trousers. The cloth is very lightweight, rough cotton that would not last long in the field.

Extra Info