Difference between revisions of "Rain"

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The term "rain" pattern refers to a camouflage design that incorporates a heavy percentage of vertically-aligned "straits" or "flecks" which suggest an image of falling rain. During the Second World War, the [[Germany (Third Reich)|German ''Wehrmacht'']] utilized this feature on several camouflage patterns, primarily the ''Splittermuster'' ([[splinter]]) and ''Sumpfmuster'' (marsh) designs. These patterns were later modified and reproduced by the West German [[Germany|Bundeswehr]] and Border Guards, but the "falling rain" concept also influenced camouflage design in the Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe. Interestingly, quite a number of designs fall into this category, some incoporating only the rain strait design on a solid color background, while others having the feature only as an overprint on top of a much more textured design.
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[[File:camopedia21.jpg]]
  
Some patterns in this category have earned other nicknames, including "falling rain," "tan and water" and even "rice fleck."
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== Rain Patterns ==
  
== Rain Pattern Camouflage Designs ==
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The term "rain" pattern refers to a camouflage design that incorporates a heavy percentage of vertically-aligned "straits" or "flecks" which suggest an image of falling rain. During the Second World War, the [[Germany (Third Reich)|German ''Wehrmacht'']] utilized this feature on several camouflage patterns, primarily the ''Splittermuster'' ([[splinter]]) and ''Sumpfmuster'' (marsh) designs. These patterns were later modified and reproduced by the West German [[Germany|Bundeswehr]] and Border Guards, but the "falling rain" concept - in which the rain straits themselves were isolated as the major feature on a solid color background - emerged out of the Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe. During the 1960s and 1970s when revolutionary movements were most active in Africa, some of these patterns also ended up in the hands of various insurgent organizations. The [[South Africa|South African]] government even reproduced the pattern for its special forces units, where the pattern earned the nickname "rice fleck."
  
* Some of the original [[Germany (Third Reich)| WW2 German]] camouflage patterns incoporating the "rain" feature are seen here.
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* [[Poland]] appears to have been the first Warsaw Pact nation to produce a simplified "rain pattern" design, consisting of thin brown rain straits on a field grey background. This pattern in turn later influenced the other Warsaw Pact designs.
  
[[File:Germanytr3.jpg|200px]]
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[[File:poland1.jpg|200px]]
[[File:Germanytr7.jpg|200px]]
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[[File:poland2.jpg|200px]]
[[File:Germanytr5.jpg|200px]]
 
  
* One of the earliest postwar patterns to incorporate the "rain" design emerged out of [[Czechoslovakia]]; it is based on the German ''Sumpfmuster'' design. Still later (1963) a much more simplified version was produced with very prominent rain straits over a subtle water-stain underprint, called ''oblacky.''
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* In 1963, the [[Czechoslovakia]] produced its own version of the "rain pattern" with very prominent rain straits over a subtle water-stain underprint, called ''oblacky.''
  
[[File:Czechoslovakia3.jpg|200px]]
 
 
[[File:Czechoslovakia5.jpg|200px]]
 
[[File:Czechoslovakia5.jpg|200px]]
 
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[[File:Czechoslovakia6.jpg|200px]]
* [[Poland]] was probably the first Warsaw Pact nation to produce a simplified "rain pattern" design such the Czech ''oblacky'' pattern, consisting of thin brown rain straits on a field grey background. It is this pattern that is likely to have influenced the other Warsaw Pact designs.
 
 
 
[[File:poland1.jpg|200px]]
 
[[File:poland2.jpg|200px]]
 
  
 
* [[East Germany]] introduced its own "rain pattern" camouflage, called ''Strichmuster'' (line pattern) in 1965, and continued to issue the pattern until 1990.
 
* [[East Germany]] introduced its own "rain pattern" camouflage, called ''Strichmuster'' (line pattern) in 1965, and continued to issue the pattern until 1990.
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[[File:DDR2.jpg|200px]]
 
[[File:DDR2.jpg|200px]]
  
* [[Bulgaria]] has issued several camouflage designs with the "rain" feature, including patterns based on the WW2 German ''[[Splittermuster]],'' on the original Polish "rain" design, and yet another with unique characteristics.
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* [[Bulgaria]] has issued several camouflage designs with the "rain" feature, including the early "frogskin" design and its own plain version based on the original Polish "rain" pattern. The former, although not truly a "rain" pattern because of its mottled underpattern, may still be categorized here.
  
[[File:Bulgaria_1953_splinter_pattern.jpg|200px]]
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[[File:Bulgaria__frogskin_pattern.jpg|200px]]
[[File:bulgaria1.jpg|200px]]
 
 
[[File:Bulgaria__rain_pattern.jpg|200px]]
 
[[File:Bulgaria__rain_pattern.jpg|200px]]
[[File:Bulgaria__frogskin_pattern.jpg|200px]]
 
  
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== Comparison Photos ==
  
* The photo shows the rain/needle patterns worn by (top left) [[Poland]], (top right) [[DDR|East Germany]], (bottom left) [[Bulgaria]], and (bottom right) [[Czechoslovakia]]:
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The photo shows the rain/needle patterns worn by (top left) [[Poland]], (top right) [[DDR|East Germany]], (bottom left) [[Bulgaria]], and (bottom right) [[Czechoslovakia]]:
  
 
[[File:Comp_needle_patterns.jpg|400px]]
 
[[File:Comp_needle_patterns.jpg|400px]]
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Latest revision as of 00:39, 10 March 2021

Camopedia21.jpg

Rain Patterns

The term "rain" pattern refers to a camouflage design that incorporates a heavy percentage of vertically-aligned "straits" or "flecks" which suggest an image of falling rain. During the Second World War, the German Wehrmacht utilized this feature on several camouflage patterns, primarily the Splittermuster (splinter) and Sumpfmuster (marsh) designs. These patterns were later modified and reproduced by the West German Bundeswehr and Border Guards, but the "falling rain" concept - in which the rain straits themselves were isolated as the major feature on a solid color background - emerged out of the Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe. During the 1960s and 1970s when revolutionary movements were most active in Africa, some of these patterns also ended up in the hands of various insurgent organizations. The South African government even reproduced the pattern for its special forces units, where the pattern earned the nickname "rice fleck."

  • Poland appears to have been the first Warsaw Pact nation to produce a simplified "rain pattern" design, consisting of thin brown rain straits on a field grey background. This pattern in turn later influenced the other Warsaw Pact designs.

Poland1.jpg Poland2.jpg

  • In 1963, the Czechoslovakia produced its own version of the "rain pattern" with very prominent rain straits over a subtle water-stain underprint, called oblacky.

Czechoslovakia5.jpg Czechoslovakia6.jpg

  • East Germany introduced its own "rain pattern" camouflage, called Strichmuster (line pattern) in 1965, and continued to issue the pattern until 1990.

DDR5.jpg DDR2.jpg

  • Bulgaria has issued several camouflage designs with the "rain" feature, including the early "frogskin" design and its own plain version based on the original Polish "rain" pattern. The former, although not truly a "rain" pattern because of its mottled underpattern, may still be categorized here.

Bulgaria frogskin pattern.jpg Bulgaria rain pattern.jpg

Comparison Photos

The photo shows the rain/needle patterns worn by (top left) Poland, (top right) East Germany, (bottom left) Bulgaria, and (bottom right) Czechoslovakia:

Comp needle patterns.jpg