Military Camouflage: Discover the latest models and their features
Since ancient times, military camouflage has been used to protect and camouflage soldiers on the battlefield. And today, this concept has been perfected to offer powerful protection against the enemy. With highly specialised designs and a variety of features, discover how military camouflage can blend in perfectly with your environment or that of your armed forces.
What are the different types of military camouflage?
Armies around the world use military camouflage to hide their soldiers and equipment during operations. The different types of military camouflage include the Woodland pattern, the MARPAT uniform, the beige and black desert uniform and the grey and green French version. Woodland is a common camouflage pattern that has been used by the US Army since the 1980s. It is made up of a mix of green and brown colours that match the texture of the woodland terrain. The MARPAT uniform is a camouflage uniform specifically designed for the US Army after the 1991 Gulf War. The modified and marked pattern is designed to blend into a variety of different ground environments. The beige and black desert uniform is often used by British and American armed forces during operations deploying forces over arid terrain. Finally, the French version of green and grey camouflage has been specific to the French army since the Second World War.
How is military camouflage designed to blend into the environment using camouflage fabric?
Military camouflage is designed to blend into the environment so that it is less visible to the enemy. These uniforms are designed with patterns that have been specially adapted to the visual characteristics of natural or urban environments. For example, the Woodland model features shades of dark brown, light green and rust that blend well with a forest or rural landscape. MARPAT uniforms feature a thin coat of thin horizontal stripes, which helps to create a more complex texture rather than a homogenous colour, allowing for better concealment.
What is the main function of the military camouflage used with a camouflage tarpaulin?
The main function of military camouflage is clear: to hide soldiers, their weapons and equipment from the enemy so that they cannot spot them or know where they are or where they are going. It can also be used to hide vehicles for greater discretion. Camouflaged uniforms can also give soldiers a sense of cohesion and help promote emotions such as a sense of comradeship.
What characteristics should a good military camouflage have when combined with a camouflage sail?
Good military camouflage needs to have specific characteristics to be effective. To be as effective as possible, military camouflage must be adapted to the environment and conditions that could arise during a mission. For camouflage that is as close to reality as possible, you can opt for military camouflage netting. It must also be waterproof, breathable and able to conceal itself in varying light conditions. The materials used for military camouflage must be versatile and robust, able to withstand harsh environmental conditions such as snow, sand and rain. Finally, good camouflage should be easy to maintain and clean.
How can military camouflage clothing be adapted to a variety of environments, including the urban environment?
To adapt to different environments, it is important for armies to have a number of different designs and patterns. In addition, it is also important that armies invest in advanced technologies to design camouflage that can be customised for each situation. For example, some armies have adopted technologies such as digital printers that can apply a personalised pattern to a suit or garment. In this way, soldiers can adopt a diversified look that can be adapted to suit the circumstances
There are many ways for soldiers to disguise themselves in order to avoid an encounter with hostile forces or to gain the element of surprise over them. The least effective disguise is a false moustache. But among the most effective disguises is camouflage, the aim of which is to make soldiers and equipment less visible to the enemy.
Traditionally, camouflage is a formulation of patterns and colours designed to make soldiers and equipment less visible to the enemy. As you will understand from reading this article, modern military camouflage works just as well because it is based on long-established scientific precepts. Indeed, the science at this stage is thousands of years old, but it is really only in the last hundred years that camouflage manufacturers have gained a thorough understanding of the laws of physics and physiology that enable the remarkable range of camouflage patterns and colours now available to military forces around the world.
In a previous article, we looked at the different types of camouflage. In another article, we looked at the differences between camouflage patterns for hunting and those for military use. In this article, we will concentrate on the visual differences and the inherent properties of the patterns.
In a nutshell, camouflage is designed for a specific environment or task. We can further divide areas of effect into two sub-categories, the first being visual, the other non-visual.
Now let's look at military camouflage (or concealment, as it's better known today). This is not the camouflage you might wear in the civilian world as a hunter or as someone trying to be 'tactical'. But how is military camouflage "military"? And how ingeniously different does it have to be from civilian camouflage to be effective on today's battlefields?
Camouflage methods using visual concealment.
WHAT IS MILITARY CAMOUFLAGE?
What are the military colours?
The most common military colours are green, khaki, grey, navy blue, camouflage and black. These colours are often used in military uniforms and equipment to blend in with the background and protect against adversaries. There are also specific colours used by certain military branches, such as blue for the air force and red for military firefighting units.
What is military camouflage called?
Military camouflage is a colour pattern that allows soldiers to blend in with their surroundings, protecting them from adversaries. There are several types of camouflage, such as woodland camouflage, desert camouflage, jungle camouflage and urban camouflage. Each of these types of camouflage is designed to match a specific environment, to help soldiers camouflage effectively. There is also digital camouflage or adaptive camouflage that adapts to different environments.
What colour is the French army?
The traditional colour of the French army is horizon blue, which is used for the soldiers' uniforms. This colour was inspired by the uniform worn by French soldiers in the First World War, which was horizon blue. There are also different-coloured uniforms for specific units, such as infantry and cavalry units, which have blue uniforms, and air force personnel, who have blue-grey uniforms. There are also camouflage uniforms for specific missions.
Military personnel often use green uniforms to blend in with their natural surroundings. Green is a common colour in nature and is therefore used for camouflage in forests, jungles and wooded areas. Green camouflage is known as woodland camouflage, which is used for camouflage in forests and wooded areas. There are also other types of camouflage such as desert camouflage, which is used for camouflage in deserts and arid areas, and jungle camouflage for green and wooded environments.
What is military camouflage called?
There are several types of military camouflage, each with a specific name depending on the environment in which it is used. The most common types include :
- Woodland camouflage, used for camouflage in forests and wooded areas.
- Desert camouflage, used for camouflage in deserts and arid zones.
- Jungle camouflage, used for camouflage in green and wooded environments.
- Urban camouflage, used for camouflage in urban areas or built-up environments. There is also digital camouflage, which is used by some armies and features pixel patterns that allow it to blend into different environments.
What is the best military camouflage?
There is no absolute answer as to the "best" military camouflage, as this depends on the environment in which it is used. Each type of camouflage has been designed to camouflage effectively in a specific environment.
For wooded and green environments, woodland camouflage is considered to be one of the most effective, while for deserts and arid areas, desert camouflage is often used. In urban environments, urban camouflage is often used.
There is also adaptive camouflage, which can adapt to different environments and is used by some armed forces. It is important to note that camouflage does not guarantee total invisibility, it simply allows you to blend into the environment to reduce your visibility. The M81 woodland provides almost total concealment from a distance of 60 metres. The m81 woodland is one of the most widely used camouflages in the world, notably by the us army.
Who invented the camouflage pattern associated with military camouflage fabric?
Military camouflage was invented by artists and designers during the First World War. Artists and designers were recruited by armies to create camouflage patterns that would help soldiers to camouflage themselves effectively in their environment. Early forms of camouflage were generally based on patterns of coloured patches that mimicked the natural environment. Artists and designers have continued to develop more sophisticated camouflage patterns over the years, using techniques such as colour mixing and pattern layering to create more realistic designs. Notably the M81 woodland, which remains a benchmark in camouflage. The US Army, for example, used it extensively in its men's camouflage fabrics. In the early 80s, the US Army decided to develop camouflage models with geometric shapes in different colours. Combined with a ghillie outfit, the soldier could then easily avoid aerial reconnaissance and go completely unnoticed.
It is important to note that armies and military forces have also developed camouflage for their vehicles and equipment, and it is difficult to name a specific person or company who invented military camouflage. Rather, it is a continuous process of evolution and refinement that has been carried out by various artists, designers and military personnel.
What camouflage for hunting?
How do you paint military camouflage that can be used for hunting and how do you make effective military camouflage?
Military camouflage is any material or means that can be used by armed forces to make it more difficult or, ideally, impossible to be seen at a distance by an opposing armed force before or during a tactical operation.
Military camouflage differs from others in that the theatres and methods of detection move from the natural to the artificial, from conventional patterns to the multispectral holy grail we all dream of.
WHERE DOES CAMOUFLAGE COME FROM?
The word camouflage is of French origin (the actual word is camoufler) and the idea it conveys is that of taking something visible and making it invisible by making it look like something other than what it really is.
For example, let's say you have an armoured vehicle parked near a grove of trees. With the right camouflage, you can make the vehicle look less like a vehicle and more like part of the grove.
Oh, hang on. When you ask "Where did camouflage come from?", you don't mean etymologically. You mean industrially. Well, the kind of camouflage made to be worn by soldiers comes from textile mills and other raw material producers who make camouflage fabrics sold by the bolt to tailors like us. Camouflage patterns and colours are usually screen printed or sublimated onto the fabric before the garment is sewn.
DECEIVING THE ENEMY
Before continuing our discussion of military camouflage, we need to clarify what camouflage actually is.
Military camouflage has a code name, MILDEC (short for "military deception"), which means that it is not just a type of material or a piece of equipment, but also a strategy. In this case, the strategy we are talking about is the one used to gain advantages in a theatre of war (or in several theatres).
Basically, camouflage is any material designed to deceive the enemy's eyes and prevent them from seeing you, your equipment or your hiding place.
If you need to conceal your position, camouflage is the ideal tool for the job.
If you need to remain undetected just long enough to ambush the enemy, camouflage is the solution.
And if you need to escape the enemy without them knowing you're nearby, camouflage will help you reach the relative safety of your own lines.
Camouflage militaire - Concamo
USEFUL FOR BOTH ATTACK AND DEFENCE
In any offensive or defensive situation where you need to visually deceive the enemy in order to achieve a particular objective, camouflage is absolutely essential. Camouflage that is appropriate to the environment in which you are operating can prevent the enemy from understanding what you are doing until it is too late to counter your move.
In the past, the way troops, equipment and structures were concealed required the use of natural materials. For example, to conceal an armoured vehicle, it could be draped with tree branches. To hide yourself, you could attach blades of grass to your solid olive-coloured uniform.
This is no longer the case. Today, camouflage elements are the product of advanced technologies, painted, printed or woven.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND CAMOUFLAGE
Historical accounts of great military deceptions are legion. One of the best known is that of the Trojan horse. You'll remember it (even if it happened centuries before you were born): ancient Greece was at war with the fortified city-state of Troy. For 10 years, the Greeks laid siege to the easily defended Troy, and were stymied every time.
Tired of this situation, the Greeks finally devised a devious plan to penetrate the heavily fortified walls and overthrow the city. First step: the Greeks withdrew as if to say "we're stopping". Step two: the Greeks, who appeared to be retreating, left behind a giant wooden horse on wheels in honour of the city's heroic defenders. The Trojans applauded as the "gift" was carried into the city.
That night, once the city was asleep, the commandos opened the secret trapdoor built into the horse and slipped out, heading stealthily for the gates of Troy. Once they had reached their objective, the commandos opened the gates to allow a phalanx of Greek archers, chariots and infantrymen to storm the city and conquer it (see the literary classic Iliad and Odyssey, written around 750 BC).
Trojan horse deception is a concept discussed in The Art of War by the Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu. He enthusiastically endorsed it as a means of securing victory despite the enemy's numerical inferiority.
There are countless other examples of deception in military history. However, to come straight to the point, deception has long been recognised as an effective means of turning the tide of battle.
Among the doctrines of deception adopted by the American army and its allies are three notable precepts.
THE MAGRUDER PRINCIPLE
According to this axiom, it is generally easier to induce a target to maintain a pre-existing belief than to deceive them into changing their belief.
Magruder's principle was first used in Operation Mincemeat, a British ploy to conceal the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943.
THE JONES DILEMMA
Jones' dilemma states that deception becomes more difficult as the number of information channels available to the target increases, but also that the greater the number of channels controlled, the greater the likelihood that the deception will be believed.
This was demonstrated during operation "Bodyguard" carried out before D-Day: the Allies disseminated tons of misleading information to convince the Germans that the invasion on 6 June 1944 would not take place in Normandy, but far away on the French coast.
AVOIDING WINDFALL EFFECTS
According to the principle of avoiding windfall effects, misleading information is less likely to be believed the easier it is to obtain.
It's a bit like today's get-rich-quick schemes, they're too good to be true.
MILDECS TODAY
You may be curious to know which MILDECs are currently operational. The table below will give you a clue.
If you look closely at this table, you will notice that there are two important dimensions of deception. These are the duration of the effect (shown on the vertical axis) and the type of effort required to implement the method (shown on the horizontal axis).
The questions most relevant to our discussion are those of concealment and camouflage. Are they different from each other? If so, how?
Concealment refers to the hiding of assets (i.e. people, vehicles and equipment) using vegetation, tarpaulins and other means that prevent the detection of the distinctive shapes of those assets.
Camouflage refers to the use of different shapes, materials, colours and lighting to prevent the detection of assets as they move. In addition, camouflage is officially considered a subset of MILDEC due to its emphasis on deception.
CAMOUFLAGE AND TACTICAL CLOTHING
When it comes to tactical clothing, the colour and pattern of the camouflage selected must match the environment in which the garment will be worn. If the correct match is not achieved, performance will almost certainly be inferior.
In the worst case, the wrong colour and pattern can potentially make you more visible rather than less.
Ideally, if the colour and pattern are right for the environment, you should be able to position yourself a short distance from your target and most likely remain there, lying in wait or watching, for several days without being detected.
Unfortunately, no camouflage really ever perfectly matches the environment of your theatre of operations. The places you pass through during a mission can vary in geometry and colour composition, a little or a lot every half kilometre in some cases.
So the camouflage that was effective at the start of the mission may become less effective as you progress through the environment. Of course, the reverse could just as easily be true, with camouflage becoming more effective as you progress and accumulate kilometres.
HOW CAMOUFLAGE WORKS
The basic principles of visual camouflage are as follows:
resemblance to the environment
Disturbing colouration
Shadow elimination
Distraction
Self-decoration
Countershadow
When you take a close look at military camouflage, the first thing you're likely to notice is its pattern. Camouflage patterns are made up of assorted colours and shapes of different sizes. They are the basic elements of concealment.
Humans are hard-wired to notice these elements, whether the pattern is digital, pixelated, lizard-like, disruptive, universal or something else. The underlying principles of camouflage take advantage of this wiring to achieve effective concealment.
It is also important to note that, for humans, the range of visible light is relatively short compared to the totality of wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. For humans, visible light occupies the narrow spectral band of around 0.4 to 0.7 microns. On one side of visible light is the invisible ultraviolet band and on the other is the equally invisible infrared band (for the record, the heat produced by your body is thermal radiation and is also an invisible band, falling within the 10 micron range of the electromagnetic spectrum).
We have mentioned here the visual principles of the most common types of camouflage. A breakdown of MultiCam's digital patterns can be found in this post. We have also compared MultiCam to Scorpion W2 here.
The human visible spectrum
Above: an illustration showing the electromagnetic spectrum. Image source: wikipedia.com
THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CAMOUFLAGE
Camouflage is based on three fundamental elements: environmental mimicry, colour reproduction and the interference of eye-brain signals.
ENVIRONMENTAL MIMICRY
Let's say you're standing in front of a tree. To hide from an enemy trying to spot you, you can simply stand behind the tree. Although this prevents your enemy from detecting you, the problem is that you can no longer keep an eye on the enemy as long as you remain in this position.
Conversely, the easiest way to keep an eye on the bad guys is to keep standing in front of the tree. However, you won't be easily visible if the camouflage you're wearing consists of shapes of different sizes and shades that, from a distance, look identical to the tree's bark, branches and leaves. This is what environmental mimicry is all about: using two-dimensional geometric objects arranged in a specific pattern to mimic the three-dimensionality of the environment in which you are or will be evolving.
COLOUR REPRODUCTION
It's not enough to imitate the shapes of the environment. The camouflage must also faithfully reproduce the colours of the locality. For example, even if the shapes imitate those of a tree perfectly, it won't matter if the tree is a mixture of brown, green and black but the predominant colour of the camouflage is tan. It is therefore vital that the camouflage correctly reproduces the colours encountered in your theatre of operations.
INTERFERENCE OF EYE-BRAIN SIGNALS
When enemy eyes are looking for you, the images produced by these optical organs are transmitted to the brain where they undergo an interpretation process. Without camouflage, the enemy's brain will easily recognise your distant silhouette as that of a human and not, for example, that of a tree. Conversely, with camouflage, your body will not be easily recognised for what it is, because the brain is prevented from correctly interpreting the information transmitted by the eyes. However, the disruption to the eye-brain signal is more pronounced when environmental mimicry and colour reproduction are optimised.
Military camouflage - Science
CAMOUFLAGE METHODS
You can use camouflage to do essentially three things: disappear from view, blend in with your surroundings or pass yourself off as something you're not.
DISAPPEARANCE
There will be times when you need to hide and avoid leaving even a hint of your presence. To achieve this, you should make maximum use of concealment materials other than those you wear as part of your uniform. For example, you could dig a wide, deep hiding place and then attach a collection of grasses, leaves and twigs gathered in the immediate vicinity to the cover you make to cover it.
MIX
Well-done camouflage can give you the impression of being part of the environment, as many birds and animals do in their natural habitat. Camouflage is particularly useful when your task is to observe the enemy from a fixed position (it's much easier to blend in when you're stationary than when you're on the move).
Conclusion
Military camouflage plays a crucial role on the battlefield and its main function is clear: to hide the soldier from the enemy. As we have seen in this article, there are many different types of camouflage that can be adapted to different environments. The armed forces must therefore constantly innovate and invest in advanced technologies to be able to adapt their camouflage to each situation and guarantee optimum safety and protection for soldiers during operations.