Republic of Vietnam - Revision history

Admin1: /* South Vietnamese Tiger Stripe Patterns */

2026-02-02T22:09:41Z

South Vietnamese Tiger Stripe Patterns

Admin1 at 01:23, 6 December 2024

2024-12-06T01:23:31Z

Admin1 at 01:18, 6 December 2024

2024-12-06T01:18:59Z

Admin1 at 01:01, 29 October 2024

2024-10-29T01:01:26Z

Admin1: /* South Vietnamese Camouflage Patterns */

2024-10-18T16:35:06Z

South Vietnamese Camouflage Patterns

Admin1: /* South Vietnamese Camouflage Patterns */

2024-10-18T16:33:07Z

South Vietnamese Camouflage Patterns

Admin1: /* Other Camouflage Patterns Worn by South Vietnam */

2024-10-18T16:16:43Z

Other Camouflage Patterns Worn by South Vietnam

Admin1: /* South Vietnamese Tiger Stripe Patterns */

2024-10-18T02:09:55Z

South Vietnamese Tiger Stripe Patterns

Admin1: /* South Vietnamese Tiger Stripe Patterns */

2024-10-18T02:05:34Z

South Vietnamese Tiger Stripe Patterns

Admin1 at 22:00, 17 October 2024

2024-10-17T22:00:50Z

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-* Another distinctive tiger pattern to emerge towards the middle of the war (circa 1968) has been named ''Advisor's Type Dense,'' (ADD) also called "Advisor's Classic," or "Purple" by collectors. This pattern saw service primarily with CIDG units, ARVN Rangers & Special Forces, and featured bold black stripes over a background comprising bold black stripes over a background comprising dark green & dull brown with dull tan trace elements. A key feature that can be found in this pattern (although also present in other tiger patterns) is the "bunny" shape, which has a vague resemblence to the silhouette of a rabbit (in black).
+* Another distinctive tiger pattern to emerge towards the middle of the war (circa 1968) has been named ''Advisor's Type Dense,'' (ADD) also called "Advisor's Classic," or "Purple" by collectors. This pattern saw service primarily with CIDG units, ARVN Rangers & Special Forces, and featured bold black stripes over a background comprising bold black stripes over dark green & dull brown with dull tan trace elements. A key feature that can be found in this pattern (although also present in other tiger patterns) is the "bunny" shape, which has a vague resemblence to the silhouette of a rabbit (in black).
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← Older revision		Revision as of 01:23, 6 December 2024
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−	We wish to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Alex Valli (Omega Militaria) for ~~his~~ generous photographic contributions to this page.	+	We wish to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Moroboshi Ataru and Mr. Alex Valli (Omega Militaria) for their generous photographic contributions to this page.

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-* The tiger pattern example seen here emerged in 1962 or possibly 1963 and continued in production until 1975. Johnson has named this ''John Wayne Sparse'' (JWS) pattern, owing to its specific use in the film ''The Green Berets'' starring John Wayne himself <ref>Richard D. Johnson: Tiger Patterns (Schiffer Military, Atglen PA, 1999) p. 112</ref>. The pattern features bold black stripes over a background comprising dark green & dull brown with tan trace elements.  This pattern and the uniforms produced with it appear to have been exclusively manufactured in Japan.
+* The tiger pattern example seen here emerged in 1962 or possibly 1963 and continued in production until 1975. Johnson has named this ''John Wayne Sparse'' (JWS) pattern, owing to its specific use in the film ''The Green Berets'' starring John Wayne himself <ref>Richard D. Johnson: Tiger Patterns (Schiffer Military, Atglen PA, 1999) p. 112</ref>. Some collectors have nicknamed this "early tiger," "classic tiger" or even "fat tiger" pattern. The pattern features bold black stripes over a background comprising dark green & dull brown with tan trace elements.  This pattern and the uniforms produced with it appear to have been exclusively manufactured in Japan.
 [[File:arvn8.jpg|200px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:01, 29 October 2024
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	<references/>		<references/>
		+
		+	We wish to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Alex Valli (Omega Militaria) for his generous photographic contributions to this page.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:35, 18 October 2024
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	* Circa 1964, a unique variation of the commercial [[duck hunter]] patterns introduced by American military advisors in 1961 began production in Japan as part of the Counter-Insurgency Support Office (CISO) program to supply US Army Special Forces and indigenous Vietnamese personnel. The Vietnamese nickname for this pattern was ''beo gam'' (leopard) as the spots in the design had some similarity to those of a leopard. Although a number of variations existed, the Vietnamese issued ''beo gam'' patterns can be differentiated from those obtained through commercial sources in the USA or elsewhere in Asia by the concentration of spots (which is denser) as well as the notable purple or mauve tones of some of the spots. The typical ''beo gam'' pattern is a multi-colored design with dark blue-green, mauve, maroon, dark pink & olive green spots on a khaki background. This was not a standard issue uniform for any ARVN units, instead being sourced primarily for wear by the Montagnard CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defense Group) units. Compared to other theater-sources uniforms such as tiger stripe camouflage, ''beo gam'' uniforms were produced in relatively small numbers.		* Circa 1964, a unique variation of the commercial [[duck hunter]] patterns introduced by American military advisors in 1961 began production in Japan as part of the Counter-Insurgency Support Office (CISO) program to supply US Army Special Forces and indigenous Vietnamese personnel. The Vietnamese nickname for this pattern was ''beo gam'' (leopard) as the spots in the design had some similarity to those of a leopard. Although a number of variations existed, the Vietnamese issued ''beo gam'' patterns can be differentiated from those obtained through commercial sources in the USA or elsewhere in Asia by the concentration of spots (which is denser) as well as the notable purple or mauve tones of some of the spots. The typical ''beo gam'' pattern is a multi-colored design with dark blue-green, mauve, maroon, dark pink & olive green spots on a khaki background. This was not a standard issue uniform for any ARVN units, instead being sourced primarily for wear by the Montagnard CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defense Group) units. Compared to other theater-sources uniforms such as tiger stripe camouflage, ''beo gam'' uniforms were produced in relatively small numbers.

		+	[[File:arvn53.jpg\|200px]]
		+	[[File:arvn54.jpg\|200px]]
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-* Locally-produced versions of the commercial [[duck hunter]] patterns introduced by American military advisors in 1961 began production circa 1964. The Vietnamese name for this pattern was beo gam (leopard) as the spots in the design had some similarity to those of the leopard. Although a number of variations existed, for the most part the Vietnamese made ''beo gam'' patterns can be differentiated from those obtained through commercial sources in the USA or elsewhere in Asia as the concentration of spots is denser. The typical ''beo gam'' pattern is a multi-colored design with dark blue-green, mauve, maroon, dark pink & olive green spots on a khaki background. This was not a standard issue uniform for any ARVN units, instead being sourced primarily for wear by the Montagnard CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defense Group) units.
+* Circa 1964, a unique variation of the commercial [[duck hunter]] patterns introduced by American military advisors in 1961 began production in Japan as part of the Counter-Insurgency Support Office (CISO) program to supply US Army Special Forces and indigenous Vietnamese personnel. The Vietnamese nickname for this pattern was ''beo gam'' (leopard) as the spots in the design had some similarity to those of a leopard. Although a number of variations existed, the Vietnamese issued ''beo gam'' patterns can be differentiated from those obtained through commercial sources in the USA or elsewhere in Asia by the concentration of spots (which is denser) as well as the notable purple or mauve tones of some of the spots. The typical ''beo gam'' pattern is a multi-colored design with dark blue-green, mauve, maroon, dark pink & olive green spots on a khaki background. This was not a standard issue uniform for any ARVN units, instead being sourced primarily for wear by the Montagnard CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defense Group) units. Compared to other theater-sources uniforms such as tiger stripe camouflage, ''beo gam'' uniforms were produced in relatively small numbers.
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 == South Vietnamese Tiger Stripe Patterns ==

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-* Early US Army Special Forces advisors deployed to Southeast Asia were outfitted rather inadequately for serving in the extremely warm and wet tropical climate there. Their search for more appropriate clothing, particularly to be used in conducting reconnaissance and ambush operations, led to the procurement of commercially-produced items, as no US military equivalent was available at the time. Based on the original US M1942 jungle spot camouflage pattern, lighter weight hunting uniforms made by American and Asian retail companies - frequently nicknamed "duck hunter" camouflage - were obtained privately by unit commanders and also supplied to indigenous units as part of the CIA-sponsored CIDG program. Commercial duck hunter spot pattern is generally a four or five-color dappled design of multi-sized brown, green & tan spots on khaki, tan, or pale green background. Between 1961 and 1966-7, significant numbers of these commercially available uniforms were worn by US military personnel. The example seen below is but one of several that were commonly employed.
+* Early US Army Special Forces advisors deployed to Southeast Asia were outfitted rather inadequately for serving in the extremely warm and wet tropical climate there. Their search for more appropriate clothing, particularly to be used in conducting reconnaissance and ambush operations, led to the procurement of commercially-produced items, as no US military equivalent was available at the time. Initially based on the original US M1942 jungle spot camouflage pattern, lighter weight hunting uniforms made by American and Asian (Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, et al) retail companies - frequently nicknamed "duck hunter" camouflage - were obtained privately by unit commanders and also supplied to indigenous units as part of the CIA-sponsored CIDG (Civilian Irregular Defense Group) program. Commercial duck hunter spot pattern is generally a four or five-color dappled design of multi-sized brown, green & tan spots on khaki, tan, or pale green background. Between 1961 and 1966-7, significant numbers of these commercially available uniforms were worn by US military personnel, some versions with far greater distribution than others.
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 == Notes ==
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 * Another distinctive tiger pattern to emerge towards the middle of the war (circa 1968) has been named ''Advisor's Type Dense,'' (ADD) also called "Advisor's Classic," or "Purple" by collectors. This pattern saw service primarily with CIDG units, ARVN Rangers & Special Forces, and featured bold black stripes over a background comprising bold black stripes over a background comprising dark green & dull brown with dull tan trace elements. A key feature that can be found in this pattern (although also present in other tiger patterns) is the "bunny" shape, which has a vague resemblence to the silhouette of a rabbit (in black).

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 * The tiger pattern illustrated below has been named ''Tadpole Sparse'' (TDS) pattern in Johnson's book, although it is often simply called "silver" by many collectors. It was introduced circa 1964 and saw production until the end of the war. The pattern features bold black (or dark blue) stripes over a background comprising dark green & brown with pea green trace elements. Evidence suggests the majority of these uniforms and the fabric itself was produced in Japan.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:00, 17 October 2024
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	* Introduced into service with some ARVN units around 1965, a variation of the US m1948 ERDL pattern seen here was exclusively printed on heavy cotton sateen fabric and probably originated in the [[USA\|United States]]. Tested by the US government in the early 1960s, the design was never adopted and surplus quantities of the fabric were later donated to the South Vietnamese government. The blend of colors, medium brown and olive green organic shapes with black "branches" on a yellowish-green base, had a tendency to blend together at a distance, lending to this pattern the collector's nickname "invisible ERDL." A majority of these uniforms were worn by the Vietnamese Rangers or ''Biệt Ðộng Quân.''		* Introduced into service with some ARVN units around 1965, a variation of the US m1948 ERDL pattern seen here was exclusively printed on heavy cotton sateen fabric and probably originated in the [[USA\|United States]]. Tested by the US government in the early 1960s, the design was never adopted and surplus quantities of the fabric were later donated to the South Vietnamese government. The blend of colors, medium brown and olive green organic shapes with black "branches" on a yellowish-green base, had a tendency to blend together at a distance, lending to this pattern the collector's nickname "invisible ERDL." A majority of these uniforms were worn by the Vietnamese Rangers or ''Biệt Ðộng Quân.''

		+	[[File:arvn49.jpg\|200px]]
	[[File:arvn17.jpg\|200px]]		[[File:arvn17.jpg\|200px]]