Australia

Australia

Although Australia did field some airborne and commando units during the Second World War, there is no evidence suggesting they were issued with any type of camouflage uniform. Whereas most Commonwealth units fighting in the European theater wore the British-made Denison smock, this was probably deemed too heavy and hot for use by units operating in the Pacific.

Australia became involved in the Vietnam War in part because of its membership in SEATO (South East Asia Treaty Organization), sending in advisors to the ARVN in 1962. By 1967, Australian forces included a detachment of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). Largely tasked with reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, the junglecraft of the Australian SAS was so highly developed that the enemy credited them with being able to appear out of nowhere, thus earning the unit the nickname Ma Rūńg (Phantoms of the Jungle). Althoguh the standard combat uniform of the Australian soldier at this time was jungle green, most SAS preferred to wear the US manufactured M1968 ERDL jungle uniform, or locally-produced tiger stripe jungle fatigues. Australia did produce a thin waterproofed camouflage smock and hat, however, which were issued to most military personnel serving in Vietnam; this can be considered the first truly Australian-designed camouflage pattern.

Olive green remained the standard uniform of the soldier for several years after the war. However, in 1982-83, the Australian MOD began testing camouflage designs suitable to the local geography with an eye towards adopting a standard issue combat uniform for the entire Australian Defence Force. The pattern approved in 1984, Australian Disruptive Pattern Camouflage, has been standard issue ever since. Several desert variations of the pattern have also been issued, as well as a unique reddish-coloration that has been reserved for Australian soldiers acting as enemy troops during military exercises. Recently a colorway for the Australian Navy was also adopted.

Australian Camouflage Patterns

• The very first camouflage design produced for the Australian Military Forces (AMF) arose during the Vietnam War. Consisting of black smudges on an olive green background, the pattern was printed on a waterproofed rain cap and thigh length smock designated the "psychological smock." Other articles of clothing may also have been issued. This was produced between 1971 and 1992, but eventually was replaced by a DCP pattern rain smock.

• First tested in 1982-83, the original colors of the Australian Disruptive Camouflage Pattern (DCP) were slightly different from those finally released in 1984. Uniforms are known officially as DPCU (Disruptive Pattern, Combat Uniform), and for this reason the term is also often applied to the pattern. Although there are some slight color differences depending on the manufacturer and the fabric, in general the pattern features orange, brown, dark olive & lime green spots on a khaki background. Several nicknames have also been applied to the pattern, including AUSCAM, "bunny cam" (as some of the shapes in the design look like rabbit caricatures), and OzCam.

• During the mid-1990s, the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) began considering the idea of issuing a desert camouflage uniform for deployments to very arid regions. The pattern initially chosen was a locally-produced copy of the US tricolor desert pattern. Although never adopted by the Regiment, the uniforms were retained for a number of years and worn by Australian OPFOR (Opposing Forces) units during wargames.

• An official replacement for the US tricolor desert pattern OPFOR uniform was issued between 1997 and 1998. Nicknamed "enemy cams" or "Red AUSCAM," the pattern is a re-coloring of the standard DCP with rust, medium brown, dark brown, light brown & deep red spots on a tan background. Striking in appearance, the pattern was discontinued.

• The SASR continued to search for a distinctive desert camouflage uniform and in 1998 they were issued a three-color variation of the standard Disruptive Pattern Camouflage. Often called Mk 1 Desert AUSCAM, the pattern featured sand & brown colored spots on a tan background. The uniform itself is officially designated Desert Pattern Disruptive Uniform (DPDU) and hence that term is also often applied to the desert camouflage pattern. The Mk 1 desert pattern was fielded by the SASR when they originally deployed to Afghanistan in 2001-2002; however, as the colors were universally disliked the pattern was not adopted.

• A second version of desert AUSCAM (Mk II) was then tested in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2003. This version featured mint green, grey, brown & light grey spots on a pinkish background, and saw service with the SASR and other Australian units deployed to that theater. Again, users were critical of the colors, so this was dropped as well.

• Beginning in 2002, then a third version of the desert AUSCAM (Mk III) was approved and issued to Australian personnel deployed to Afghanistan. Featuring pale green, brown & grey spots on a yellow-tan background, this color combination was deemed the most effective and ultimately appproved for general issue to the Australian Armed Forces. It has continued to serve in arid theaters of deployment and has remained relatively unchanged since.

• Released in 2008, an alternative colorway of the standard Disruptive Pattern Camouflage was issued for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Featuring light grey, med grey, dark grey & olive green on a very light grey background, the pattern is issued on the Disruptive Pattern Navy Uniform (DPNU).

Other Patterns worn by Australia

• Australian Special Air Service (SASR) units operating in South Vietnam wore the US M1948 ERDL camouflage pattern jungle uniforms whenever they could be obtained.

• South Vietnamese produced "tiger stripe" camouflage uniforms were also popular with the SASR during their time in Southeast Asia. As with their American and Kiwi counterparts, there was no particular pattern associated with the SASR, and they wore whatever variants could be obtained at the time.

• Commercial tiger stripe pattern camouflage has been worn by some Australians serving in OPFOR roles, circa 2008.

• Members of the Australian SAS operating in Afghanistan (ISAF) have been documented as wearing the commercially available Multicam pattern made in the USA under license by Crye Precision.