Belgium

The Kingdom of Belgium

Belgian Forces fighting alongside the Allies during World War Two included two airborne units, the Belgian Independent Parachute Company, and a Belgian Special Air Service (SAS) Squadron. Both units wore British-made Denison parachutist smocks in a unique, hand-painted "brushstroke" camouflage pattern that later spawned a large branch of derivative patterns that are still used today. Following the war, the Belgians reproduced several variations of the brushstroke pattern, which continued in use primarily with Airborne and Commando units well into the 1970s. Alongside the brushstroke pattern, Belgium also introduced its own indigenous camouflage pattern, nicknamed "jigsaw" for its resemblance to multicolored pieces of a puzzle. This pattern has continued in usage with Belgiam military forces (in various incarnations) into the present era, and variations have also been produced for her former colonial possessions in Africa.

Belgian Camouflage Patterns

• The British Denison smock (2nd pattern) brushstroke camouflage was worn by members of the Belgian Independent Parachute Company and SAS Squadron during the Second World War.

• A 1950-dated Belgian manufactured version of the British Denison smock using an early copy of the brushstroke pattern is seen here. This pattern would have been in service from the very late 1940s until circa 1952 with airborne and commando units.

• Introduced in 1951 for trials was a two-color "waves" pattern of large russet brown amoebic shapes on a grey background. This camouflage was worn by some members of the Belgian Volunteer Corps ("brown berets") serving in the Korean War, and probably saw limited service with Belgian airborne units, but seems to have been quickly discontinued and completely phased out of use by 1953.

• First appearing in 1952, this variation of the original brushstroke pattern is often called "moon & balls." It can be distinguished from later Belgian derivatives by the faint brush trails of the overlapping colors and the unique "sawtooth" shape encountered infrequently within the pattern. Although worn primarily by Belgian airborne, commando and marine units well into the 1970s, the pattern was only in production from 1952 until 1956.

• Introduced in 1954 and continuing in production until circa 1975 was the more traditional Belgian brushstroke camouflage seen here. In general the pattern consists of thick dark green & russet brown brushstrokes on a khaki background, although at least two or three variations have been documented in terms of color usage (some using significantly brighter hues) printed on both a heavyweight canvas and a mediumweight cotton fabric. Also issued exclusively to Belgian airborne, commando & marine units, it is believed the design was primarily intended for use outside of Europe, particularly in Belgium's African colonies. Although production discontinued in the 1970s, existing stocks continued to be issued well into the early 1990s.

• Belgium's first truly indigenous camouflage design is the "jigsaw" pattern, seen here in its first incarnation (m/56). Introduced in 1956 and continuing in production until the 1970s, this camouflage design again was generally restricted to use by elite units of the Belgian Armed Forces. The pattern consists of rusty earth, dark green and khaki green elements amidst smaller, black & white shapes. It is believed the design was primarily intended for use in Europe, although some stocks did reach Africa and even ended up in the hands of elite units from Belgium's former colonies such as Zaire.

• A second variation of the jigsaw pattern was introduced in the mid-1970s. This version has a much "darker" overall appearance, and was again utilized strictly by elite units of the Belgian Army and Navy.

• In 1989 the Belgian Air Force introduced a camouflage pattern heavily influenced by the German Army trials of 1976. This pattern, consisting of black, rusty-orange, dark olive and olive-grey spots on a pale green background, is differentiated from the German Army flecktarn pattern in a number of ways, including the style and positioning of the spots, as well as the specific color combinations employed within the scheme. Uniforms in this pattern were primarily issued to Airbase Security Personnel, and their issue was discontinued in 2000.

• A third and final version of the Belgian jigsaw pattern first appeared in 1999. A few years earlier, the Ministry of Defence had determed that a universally recognizable Belgian camouflage pattern was desirable and introduced a single type of uniform for wear by all military personnel. Produced initially in a variety of fabric types, the version considered "third jigsaw" pattern has a slightly condensed appearance compared to earlier designs. The standard combat uniform of the Belgian Armed Forces is now produced in medium weight ripstop fabric. Belgian 3rd pattern jigsaw camouflage has also been worn by units of the Luxembourg Army serving on peacekeeping missions outside of the nation.

• Increased participation in international peacekeeping missions as well as a Belgian commitment to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, prompted the development of a distinctive desert camouflage pattern, released in 2004. Consisting of light brown and greyish-brown shapes on a sandy background, the pattern retains the distinctive Belgian "jigsaw" design in a much more appropriate color scheme for deployments to arid regions. Belgian desert camouflage has also been worn by units of the Luxembourg Army serving in Afghanistan (ISAF).