shelter or tent, these early tarpaulins also
functioned as a poncho, thus providing
the individual soldier with a rudimentary
means of camouflaging himself while still
maintaining his mobility.
By the end of the 1930s the concept
of personal camouflage had been taken
a step further by Russian and German
engineers, who produced full uniforms
to be worn by individual soldiers. In
1938, the Soviets introduced the first
mass-produced camouflage uniform, the
makirovochnyi kamuflirovannyi kostium.
It was printed in a simple design with
large dark amoebic shapes on a khaki
background. By the end of WW2 several
other Russian designs had been fielded,
including a summer camouflage of
contrasting detailed leaf and twig shapes
with a light background, and the first of
the ‘stair step’ camouflage patterns. The
stair step pattern (known by the Russians
as solnechnye zaychiki, or sunshine rays)
remains in use with many former Soviet
nations.
By far the most prolific and influential
innovators of early camouflage design
were the German engineers of the Third
Reich. Although entering this arena
later than many competitors, German
camouflage designs of the WW2 era
would incorporate some of the most
intricate and sophisticated methods
of production to date. These patterns
were also among the most influential
on contemporary camouflage design.
A detailed history and descrption of
early German designs deserves its own
series of articles, but it is worth noting
that many contemporary camouflage
families (including rain, splinter, flecktarn
and Swiss alpenflage designs) can
trace their origins to WW2 era German
design concepts found in sumpfmuster,
splittermuster, erbsenmuster, and
leibermuster.
Although by no
means as innovative
as German designers,
British camoufleurs
can be credited with
creating another hugely
influential camouflage
design. The brushstroke
concept, developed
around 1940-41, is a
simple enough pattern,
originally produced using
large rolls of heavy khaki
cotton twill to which
were applied circular disruptive shapes in
darker green and brown dyes using large
mops or brushes – hence the name.
This design concept was later simplified
using printer-roller mass production
techniques, and would continue to be
used by some British units well into
the 1960s. Ultimately it influenced the
development of the British DPM pattern.
The brushstroke concept also gave birth
to the French tenue du leopard, or lizard
pattern, as well as the full range of ‘tiger
stripe’ patterns and a host of brushstroke
derivatives that are still used by many
armies today.
Despite their WW1 origins, American
camouflage designs are relative
latecomers on the international scene.
The earliest mass-produced American
pattern was the M1942 spot. Designed
by a civilian horticulturist it was worn
primarily by US Marines and elite units
operating in the Pacific Theater during
WW2. Incorporating green and earth
tone dapple-spots on a khaki background,
the pattern would later reach popularity
with civilian hunting enthusiasts and earn
the nickname duck hunter camouflage.
It was copied widely for both
military and civilian use from
the 1960s onward. Developed
in 1948 by army engineers,
the ERDL (Engineer Research
and Development Laboratory)
pattern – also called leaf pattern
– did not enter widespread
production for military usage
until the early part of the
Vietnam War. The design itself
was never officially adopted
for universal issue by the
CAMOUFLAGE
US Armed Force ̰)