Hell of a question !

[freeman034]

Hi there everyone,
You'll think that question is deeply crap and unsensed but I ask it anyway :

I could see during 2nd Iraq war that US Marines had different uniforms :
- woodland pant & vest with desert camo kevlar helmet (pic 1) ;
- desert pant & vest with desert camo kevlar helmet (pic 2).

Could anyone tell me why that woodand clothes whereas they are in the desert, and also during which occasion/event do they wear the first or the second uniform ?

Thanks !

[Navor]

The woodland suite is an NBC proof Suite which was worn over the cammies during the 2003 Invasion in the Fear of eventual gas attacks. The Reason why this suits had woodland pattern and not desert camo was a supply **** up.(Mentioned by Evan Wright in his book)
The Second Pic shows Marines in their new MARPAT Desert Uniforms which are from 2003 on there official Desert Camo (MARPAT also comes along in a Woodland Pattern)

[packetloss]

Well, they generally try and wear the desert cammo in the desert, and the woodland cammo in the woods :)

Seriously, as far as i remember, the USMC was short on desert cammo NBC stuff - And with the USMC change to the new digital print, there just wasnt enough desert pattern to go around.

[PaulClift]

Cost probably, why buy in aload of NBC suits in desert camo when you already have woodland.

[freeman034]

Cost probably, why buy in aload of NBC suits in desert camo when you already have woodland.

Sacrifying your soldiers' security for a budget restriction ? No sense ! Moreover when we're talking about the USA, which is the 1st military power in the world.

Navor, thanks for your answer which is perfectly precise.

[wotsnext]

Do the UK have NBC in desert camo ?

[Oggin]

The logic that we have in wearing DPM and desert is that Not all of afghan is desert, there would be a desert then some bushes and more desert. in the Marines we used to wear mixed pattern but now its all out war. No need for much cam as your looking for a scrap when your on patrols.

[PaulClift]

Sacrifying your soldiers' security for a budget restriction ? No sense !

When have the people in charge of budgets made any sense? Though I'd expect it more of us Brits than the USA.

[BugHunt]

Yeah spot the DPM's the Iraqis were wearing first Gulfwar, courtesy of HM government!

As Rummy would say "you go to war with whatever army you have" even if its under prepared cause the neocons are in a hurry.....

[digrar]

Moved. This is not a military news thread, so don't post it in the General section.

[Beowulf]

Sacrifying your soldiers' security for a budget restriction ? No sense ! Moreover when we're talking about the USA, which is the 1st military power in the world.

Navor, thanks for your answer which is perfectly precise.

This has come up before and it's a pet peeve of mine.

The interests of the nation come before the interests and well being of the troops, and that includes dollars and cents.

This notion is what makes the decision to become a soldier so meaningful.

[Lerch]

Do the UK have NBC in desert camo ?
Up until, I think, two years ago, the UK was still using the temperate DPM NBC kit, but they've since been replacing it with newer desert DPM NBC kit.

[California Joe]

I'm pretty sure history is chock full of instances where soldiers got the job done with less than perfect "loadouts" p-)

[Roy Batty]

I went to Afghanistan in Cadpat TW. Did'nt blend worth sh1t but it's a sexy looking loadout. ;)


http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6122/145nt8.jpg

[DnA]

Yea.. sexy sure... but I'm sure when I'm rockin out in AR CADPAT an my tan chest rig I'll get some extra LCF points haha well untill you get incountry an get pics

[California Joe]

I went to Afghanistan in Cadpat TW. Did'nt blend worth sh1t but it's a sexy looking loadout. ;)


http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6122/145nt8.jpg

Wow, I think it moved when I saw your pic. p-) Grrrrrr baby Grrrrrrrrr.

Got any old Cadpat? Hunting season is coming up you know.... ;)

[Sabre]

A lot of UK support arms went in on Telic with temperate DPM, as there was a shortage of dessie uniforms, with priority going to teeth units.

Then there's the lack of/misplacing the NBC decontamination equipment in theatre which meant that if Saddam used the WMDs we were going in there to find/neuter, then we Brits would have no means of readily decontaminating the large numbers of troops we had in theatre (beyond 'blot, bang, rub' of course).....and I haven't even mentioned CBA yet....:roll:

[PJSRAAC]

Yeah its pretty funny how everyone assumes the First World powers have unlimited funding for Military kit the sad truth is unless you are planning to take over the World most of the time your caught on the Hop, there just aren't uniforms for every condition just sitting in a warehouse somewhere.

Short readiness units, 24hrs and less just go with what ya got.

[dacanadianbomb]

What exactly led you to believe that this was "One hell of a question?"

[Royal]

Up until, I think, two years ago, the UK was still using the temperate DPM NBC kit, but they've since been replacing it with newer desert DPM NBC kit.

We've had Desert DPM NBC suits since the first Gulf War in '91.

[Niels]

We've had Desert DPM NBC suits since the first Gulf War in '91.
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4915/golfoorlog007ib2.jpg

British desert DPM NBC suits and American MCU-2/P gas masks, during the first Gulf War. Ten internet points to the person who can guess who these guys are.

[clean]

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4915/golfoorlog007ib2.jpg

British desert DPM NBC suits and American MCU-2/P gas masks, during the first Gulf War. Ten internet points to the person who can guess who these guys are.


With equipment like that, I would have to say, Republican Guard?

[Royal]

MCU-2/P gas masks, during the first Gulf War. Ten internet points to the person who can guess who these guys are.

It's not the first Gulf War, it's afterwards and they're UNSCOM.

[Niels]

It's not the first Gulf War, it's afterwards and they're UNSCOM.
Right, I forgot about that. They are indeed UNSCOM. Ten points for monsieur, and an additional five for correcting me.