Camouflage is a method of cryptic or concealing coloration that allows an otherwise visible organism or object to remain indiscernible from the surrounding environment through deception. Nineteenth century armies tended to use bright colors and bold, impressive designs. These were intended to daunt the enemy, attract recruits, foster unit cohesion, or allow easier identification of units in the fog of war.

It wasn’t until the 18th century that the intent of camouflage started to disrupt an
outline by merging it with the surroundings, making a harder target to spot or hit.
Different countries have undergone different evolutionary stages towards the
development of military camouflage.

Here is an assortment of camouflage from around the world, chosen for their unusual patterns or colors.

Fleck pattern used by the Belgian Army

DPM pattern used by the Bulgarian troops deployed to SFOR (Bosnia) and KFOR (Kosovo)

CSSR Leibermuster pattern used by Czechoslovakian airborne troops and special forces during the 1960’s

Denmark T78 pattern introduced in Denmark in 1978 for tests.

Lizard pattern used by troops of the Northern Alliance who fought the Taliban regime in Afghanistan

Lizard pattern from Namibia

S. Korean Military Academy pattern worn during Military Training classes in South Korean high schools during the 1970’s and 80’s

Coverall pattern used by the Hungarian army and Border Guards (Ministry of Interior)

Czech desert pattern

Ocean Camo pattern used by the Chinese Marines and Navy

Airborne pattern used by the airborne troops of Benin

Indonesian ampg pattern used by members of the youth wing of the Golkar Party

Malaysian kn pattern used by conscripts serving in the National Service (Khidmat Negara)

Libyan Africa Corps pattern possibly use by the “Africa Corps” of Colonel Qaddafi of Libya

Jordan digital customs pattern used by the Jordanian Royal Navy service

Indonesian kopassus pattern, often called “blood vine”

Philippine psg pattern used by the Presidential Security Group

Tigerstripe pattern used by the Taiwanese Marine Corps

U.S. Desert Night Camouflage pattern, developed to be hard to see in older generation night vision devices (hence the mesh pattern that would interfere with the square dots used by night vision devices)

Red Desert pattern used by Omani Armed Forces

Hungarian jacket pattern used by the Hungarian Workers Militia (part of the Communist Party).

Elm Leaf pattern used by Cuban forces - for example during their involvement in Africa

U.S. Navy digital experimental pattern. A number of camouflage patterns etc. were tested by the US Navy.

Source: Wikipedia

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