US Army Considers new Camouflage for Afghanistan

[Cheditor]

Because multi cam slightly fails :/

[gazzthompson]

Originally Posted by [R-COM]Cheditor

Because multi cam slightly fails :/

how so? in what environment?

[Cheditor]

Wasn't aiming at it's usage just the fact as a camoflauge i don't know how it works, the fact it's base colour takes up most the scheme, and IMO it doesn't break up the shape enough.

[[R-CON]ReadMenace]

Camo tested in Afghanistan



An update of sorts.

-REad

[[R-DEV]Ninja2dan]

Unfortunately, I don't feel that any service is going to be able to design a pattern that truly works in "all environments". We've seen this over the past century, and it sometimes seems like they are headed backwards.

While I didn't like having 4+ different uniforms issued depending on my station, at least I knew I had a specific camouflage for the terrain. I've been issued Summer Woodland, Temperate Woodland, Summer 3-Color Desert, Nightime Desert, and even had an older pair of 6-Color Desert. Combine that with your Snow Over-Camo's and that's a lot of uniform patterns to keep track of. For a while we even had reversible Goretex that had either Woodland/Black or Day/Night Desert patterns.

While the new digital patterns are using modern technology, they need to realize that you can't simply have "one fits all" pattern. The USMC is smart enough to have issued two different types of their digital pattern, but why the Army went with just one has still confused me.


I do like the design of the ACU itself, not the pattern but the overall clothing design. I haven't worn it myself yet, but I've seen plenty of soldiers first-hand and have looked at it up close. It looks more comfortable in hot environments, but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable using it in the colder climates. But allowing newer items such as Underarmor clothing that uses new tech to retain body heat is a good move, better than the old t-shirts.


I have used Multicam as LEO. I've been able to get several agencies to adopt that pattern based on our Northwestern environments and local terrtain/foliage. It has worked well so far, and I think it's a suitable pattern for military application. Crye is a good company in my opinion.

[gazzthompson]

far left one "AOR II" , why not save time and money and trial/use MARPAT?

[Scot]

Originally Posted by gazzthompson

far left one "AOR II" , why not save time and money and trial/use MARPAT?

Whilst I agree with you, I'd assume because MARPAT has Marine logos incorporated into the design, and well it's the US Military, so money isn't really a problem

[[R-DEV]Ninja2dan]

Originally Posted by [R-CON]ReadMenace

Originally Posted by gazzthompson

far left one "AOR II" , why not save time and money and trial/use MARPAT?

From the topic, this is regarding a pattern in which they feel will be acceptable in the Afghanistan environment. The pattern on the far left appears to be oriented more towards a woodland environment, and is too "green" for the Afghan location.

The pattern on the far right appears too "blocky" and distinguishable. The shapes just don't seem to blend as well, regardless of terrain.

The ACU (2nd from left) is just too "light" to work well in some of the terrain there, and it's absolutely deadly in a darker environment such as wooded areas.

Multicam has worked very well in wooded areas, and fairly well in a desert-like environment. We have some desert-like terrain where I live and where we've trained with it as LE, but it could be slightly lighter for full-time desert terrain.

The Desert Brush appears to work the best in that terrain, but it's hard to be certain with just one reference image. The colors and pattern design appear to blend well, and is nicely balanced between dark and light shades.

The ACU-Delta doesn't look that bad, at least it's a little darker than regular ACU. But it still appears too "dark" for some desert terrain. Again, hard to tell with just one reference image here.


I'll wait to see more reference and terrain testing images before making my own decision, but hopefully the guys at PEO will make the right call.


Unfortunately, I'll be back in uniform soon. Well before any new pattern is selected, and I honestly hate those ACU's. That and the fuckin beret that I haven't "earned" yet. Oh well, it's a new Army.

[gazzthompson]

Originally Posted by [R-DEV]Ninja2dan

. The pattern on the far left appears to be oriented more towards a woodland environment, and is too "green" for the Afghan location.

whistle i agree with you, ive seen pics of british 2 rifles dying their desert jackets green as they operated in mainly green areas.

[Xbrad150X]

they need to bring back the 3 colour Deserts!