United Kingdom
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Official Name
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(?) |
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Years Used
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1944 (?) - Late 1940s |
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Used By
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Army, SOE |
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Known Items
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Tanker Overalls, Special Forces Overalls |
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Notes
|
(?) |
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Extra Info
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None at this time |
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Official Name
|
(?) |
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Years Used
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1968 - 1968 (?) |
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Used By
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Army, Marines |
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Known Items
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Jacket, Trousers |
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Notes
|
(?) |
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Extra Info
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None at this time |
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Official Name
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DPM, Pattern 1968 |
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Years Used
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1968 - 1984 |
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Used By
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Army, Marines |
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Known Items
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Jacket, Trousers, Cap, Plastic Helmet Cover |
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Notes
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The British Pattern 1960 was the first trial of a full camouflage uniform for regular army units. It was based on the OD uniform of the same name, although it wasn't issued until about 1969. Based on feedback and economics, a new pattern was issued around 1970. This uniform, designated P68 (Pattern 68), was the first general issue camouflage uniform for British armed forces. The two earlier uniforms can be distinguished by their "washed out" look and full lining in both shirt and pants. The P68 also introduced a camo made out of soft cotton (including the bill), but apparently not in large numbers. I have also heard that they were unpopular with the troops and this is why the item was not kept in service. To the best of my knowledge, no helmet covers produced this early on.
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Extra Info
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None at this time |
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Official Name
|
(?) |
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Years Used
|
1970s (?) |
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Used By
|
Army, Marines |
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Known Items
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Shirt, Trousers, Boonie |
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Notes
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British Tropical uniforms are hard to come by. They are made of a very light cotton and are constructed quite differently than temperate uniforms. The colors appear to span a great range of colorations, probably from the factory but also certainly because of exposure to sun. I have several shirts and pants, with the pants being quite a bit darker than the shirts. Apparently the darker colors are more recent.
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Extra Info
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None at this time |
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Official Name
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DPM, Pattern 1984 |
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Years Used
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1985 - 1994 |
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Used By
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Army, Marines, Airforce |
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Known Items
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Jacket, Trousers, Helmet Cover, Fragvest |
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Notes
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The second variation of the DPM pattern came in 1985, designated P84. The material changed from tough, smooth cotton to a very soft and looser weave fabric. The colors are more dark and is the most representational example of what people think of when they think DPM. However, I have at least one example of pants where the colors are closer to the previous pattern, but oddly enough appear to have been made later on. The jacket's light duty zipper, half liner made from the same material as the exterior, single position crotch flap, and velcro cuffs easily distinguish it from the original pattern. The pants are half lined with waist adjustment tabs which use metal cinches. The buttons are much darker green plastic and have a "sharper" raised edge than those of the previous uniform. The standard uniform consists of jacket, pants, Kevlar helmet cover, and fragmentation vest cover. I am pretty sure a boonie hat was made in this pattern, but I might be thinking of the 1994 pattern. A chemical suit was also made in this pattern, which is lined with charcoal.
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Extra Info
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None at this time |
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Official Name
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DPM, Pattern 1994 / Pattern 1995 |
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Years Used
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1995 - 2000 |
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Used By
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Army, Airforce, Marines |
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Known Items
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Jacket, Trousers, Tropical Shirt, Tropical Trousers, Cap, Tropical Boonie |
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Notes
|
In 1994 the pattern and uniform construction changed once again, designated P94, then quickly altered slightly to be redesigned P95. The colors were changed slightly, with the most noticeable difference being a more golden background instead of tan/kahki. However, apparently the colors of the previous pattern were also used. I am not sure what the story is with the color variations, but I am sure it was not an accident. The main point here is that the uniform itself underwent a significant change in construction. The jacket's main differences are a heavy plastic zipper to the top of the collar, vertical zip pockets behind chest pockets, oversized pocket buttons and the removal of the lining. The pants can be easily identified by the same waist draw string found in Tropical and Desert pants. The fabric is closer to the original, being a much tighter weave than the 1985 pattern.
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Extra Info
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None at this time |
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Official Name
|
(?) |
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Years Used
|
(?) |
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Used By
|
Army, Airforce, Marines |
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Known Items
|
(?) |
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Notes
|
Description Pending
|
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Extra Info
|
None at this time |
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Official Name
|
DPM, Desert (?) |
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Years Used
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1990 (?) - Present |
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Used By
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Army, Airforce, Marines |
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Known Items
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Shirt, Trousers, Boonie, Kevlar Helmet Cover, Fragvest |
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Notes
|
Britain's desert camo is based on the temperate DPM pattern, but with only 2 colors so as to not be confused with 4 color desert DPM uniforms in use with many Middle Eastern countries (including Iraq). The material is quite light and breaths well in warm temperatures (don't assume that all warm climate uniforms do!). I have a couple of jackets, pants, chem suit, and a flak vest covers in this pattern, as well as a helmet cover. I passed up buying a boonie hat and now am kicking myself because I haven't seen them since. I haven't seen the pants generally available in quite some time although the shirts are very cheap and easy to get.
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Extra Info
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None at this time |