US Army Desert Camo

[GSG9GIGNHKMP5]

I'm sure this has been discussed before but just wondering why did the U. S. change they're desert pattern camo in between gulf wars? (the First Gulf War pattern had the white dots) and why did they change again to the ACU? Was the 2nd version not cutting it?

[TacoDelRio]

Beats me, only thing I can add to the conversation is that 6-color desert works better in a rocky-desert environment, and 3-color works better in a sandy-desert environment. I guess more brass saw more drills being conducted in sandy-deserts. Beats me.

My $0.02

[scrybe]

I can't answer the first part, but ACU was introduced to create a single pattern that would work pretty well in all environments, instead of more than one patterns for specific environments. That's the basic reason anyway. There are a lot more theories though.

[Juusto]

All I can say is that 6-color desert was more expensive to print than 3-color.

[CONSERVATIVE53]

The 6 color desert pattern contrasted too much with the open deserts during the Gulf War. The 3 color desert pattern doesn't contrast as much and it's much harder to detect when using Night Vision equipment. I think it was like a 30% increase in difficulty to detect with Night Vision over the 6 color desert pattern.

To be honest, I despise the 3 color desert pattern. At the moment, I think CADPAT AR is the best desert pattern in use.

[tsuri]

If I remember correctly, the number of recognizeable colours on the 6 col Desert dropped to 3 from a Distance, so there was no reason to use the more expensive pattern. I think it was even initially planned to use the 3 colour pattern but the 6 col was chosen because there was no pink in it :)

[angry cow]

The reason is simple. The US Army has NEVER worn the same uniform for more than a single campaign. You can even count OIF and OEF differently since the Army has switched to ACUs mid-way through OIF and thus has a new uniform once again. The Brass is simply keeping up with tradition.

[DnA]

Um, the US wore Woodland BDUs in Panama, Haiti, Bosnia/Kosovo, etc.

Also, the US had 3 color DCUs in the Gulf War, but a very small amount.

[RGRBOX]

Just before Op Just Cause, we changed from OG107s to Woodland BDUs... There were some 3 Color BDUs in the 1st Guld War. The Army was just phasing out the stock of 6C to 3C... the same is happening with the ACU /ARPAT uniforms.. slowly phasing the woodlands out to the ACUs.. it takes time to make these changes.. and stocks of the old stuff are still around.

The really fvcked up thing was when I got to Saudi in 1990/91 we were still running around in Woodland BDUs, and every fvcking rear action azzhole was wearing 6 & 3 color deserts... just to help you understand the problem... I was in a LRS Company...

[dangerclose]

Because the chocolate chip camo worked too well. Those pebbles and rocks were so convincing.

[GSG9GIGNHKMP5]

Ok here's a follow up... why is the Iraqi National Guard using the 6 color pattern then if it's more expensive?

[haze99]

The USA fielded the 6-color (AKA Chocolate Chip) Desert BDU in the late 1970's. This pattern, was patterned after a rocky, scrub desert (Egypt/Jordan/Israeli terrain) You will see photos of US troops wearing these during the 1980's MFO duty in the Sinai. As well as Bright Star excerises!

Around the late 1980's, NATICK(?) began working on a new pattern (3-color) As the US found out, the original uniform was not suited to the sandy desert of the Arabian *****ula. Thus production kicked off with the new 3-color DCU. Which only some personnel obtained by the time of the ground war.
After the 1991 war, the US began phasing out the 6-color DCU. Although, most middle east countries began to adopt the pattern, if not actual US uniform stocks! (like Libya, Kuwait, & Saudi Arabia) All US forces to rotate through Kuwait in the 1990's would be issued the new DCU.

NOTE! During the 1990's at Ft.Irwin, Ca. (NTC) Rotational units who were tasked to be Augmentee's to the OPFOR there, also wore the old DCU's.

[RGRBOX]

thanks for the info haze99...

[unpleasant]

I think its funny that all this time would be spent on camo and when it comes time to invade, soldiers are hastily issued woodland camo nbc suits and gear during the initial iraq invasion. I really think the camo serves more as an identification of a "soldier" more than actually hiding the outline of a soldier.

[TacoDelRio]

They really fvcked up thing was when I got to Saudi in 1990/91 we were still running around in Woodland BDUs, and every fvcking rear action azzhole was wearing 6 & 3 color deserts... just to help you understand the problem... I was in a LRS Company...

Pffff! You LRSU guys don't need camo! You're too high speed! You'll just plant some greenery around a LUP in the middle of the deadpan desert! ;)

[RGRBOX]

Pffff! You LRSU guys don't need camo! You're too high speed! You'll just plant some greenery around a LUP in the middle of the deadpan desert! ;)

How did you know... I had a Lowe Alpine ruck full of compost, and grass seed... and now the secrets out... don't you respect OPSEC??? p-)

[oregongrunt]

I think its funny that all this time would be spent on camo and when it comes time to invade, soldiers are hastily issued woodland camo nbc suits and gear during the initial iraq invasion. I really think the camo serves more as an identification of a "soldier" more than actually hiding the outline of a soldier.
Yeah I thought it was strange that I wore the woodland chemical suit and the woodland Molle in 2003 there. We were walking bushes.

[KEEPER0311]

Yeah I thought it was strange that I wore the woodland chemical suit and the woodland Molle in 2003 there. We were walking bushes.
The brass were thinking that you'd stand out so much that the iraqis would think you were marjies(probally spelled wrong, but meh!)

[miguelencanarias]

Or you could have just used full Woodland gear. The Iraqis would take you for Salvadorian/Dominican soldiers and leave you alone.

[Ea$y-8]

Gulf War
http://www.rivet-jp.com/store/wear/used/military/images/usa/jkt/desert_camo_6c/02.jpg

Iraq War
http://www.rivet-jp.com/store/wear/used/military/images/usa/jkt/desert_camo_3c/05.jpg

[Death.]

Easy-8, that 6 color camo looks a little too dark, I think the 6 color stuff had brighter color shades in it, and smaller blops of color not large ones

[haze99]

As for the 1990 Operation Desert Shield bulid-up, the USA (as with NATO allies) was stocked for a Central European war with the USSR & Warsaw Pact. Therefore, the USA did not have a desert uniform war-stock available.
Hence, why some US units fought in US Woodland camo!

In the early-mid 1970's, the USA began issuing the Olive Drab CPOG, Chemical Protective Overgarment. (NBC suit) This was what most US troops wore during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Although, a number of units would go into the ground war with the BDO, Battle-Dress Overgarment. The BDO was a recent procurment at the time (1990) so there were not sufficent numbers to field. And it had only been made in US Woodland. Not 6-color Desert. (Although, this would change later-on.)

Circa, 2003 the US forces now have standard US 3-color DCU and BDO in stock and ready to issue. But, I am not sure why certain items, such has rucksacks and ITLBV had not been war-stocked, as well? I think COST, came into play here?