Sri Lanka - Revision history

Admin1 at 22:25, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T22:25:31Z

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE */

2026-05-08T22:22:16Z

Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE

Admin1 at 22:19, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T22:19:23Z

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE */

2026-05-08T22:17:11Z

Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE */

2026-05-08T22:14:27Z

Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE

Admin1 at 22:06, 8 May 2026

2026-05-08T22:06:46Z

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE */

2026-05-08T22:04:24Z

Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE */

2026-05-08T22:00:21Z

Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE

Admin1: /* Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE */

2026-05-08T21:53:52Z

Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE

Admin1: /* Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka */

2026-05-08T21:47:47Z

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

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 [[File:ltte-brush.png|200px]]
-Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.
+* First appearing in the late 1980s, and of undetermined origins, a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern of the LTTE consists of horizontal "spiny" stripes of brown & grass green on a khaki background. Both horizontal and vertically-oriented variants have been documented, and there appears to be no rationale behind the orientation of the stripes as regards whether they are worn by a particular unit.
 [[File:srilanka10.jpg|200px]]
 * The LTTE Air Tigers pattern is seen below (left), having a powder-blue colorway but utilizing essentially the same "spiny" stripe pattern of the standard design. The pattern worn by the Sea Tigers is seen to the right, essentially the same colorway but with the addition of a darker blue stripe added to the mix.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:22, 8 May 2026
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	[[File:ltte-lizard.png\|200px]]		[[File:ltte-lizard.png\|200px]]
		+
		+	* Again, seen almost exclusively on high ranking members of the unit as well as bodyguards, a [[brushstroke]]-type camouflage pattern did see some distribution during the early to mid-1980s.
		+
		+	[[File:ltte-brush.png\|200px]]

	Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.		Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.

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 [[File:ltte-blacktigers.png|200px]]
-* Although it appears unlikely the design was issued to combat units or in any great numbers, certain officers and founders of the LTTE are known to have taken photographs while wearing a copy of French [[lizard]] or ''tenue du leopard'' - most certainly export uniforms produced in South Korea and seen in a number of Francophone countries throughout Africa.
+* Although it appears unlikely the design was issued to combat units or in any great numbers, certain officers and founders of the LTTE are known to have taken photographs while wearing a copy of French [[lizard]] or ''tenue du leopard'' - most likely the same South Korean export uniforms seen in a number of Francophone countries throughout Africa during the 1980s.
 [[File:ltte-lizard.png|200px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:17, 8 May 2026
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	[[File:ltte-blacktigers.png\|200px]]		[[File:ltte-blacktigers.png\|200px]]
		+
		+	* Although it appears unlikely the design was issued to combat units or in any great numbers, certain officers and founders of the LTTE are known to have taken photographs while wearing a copy of French [[lizard]] or ''tenue du leopard'' - most certainly export uniforms produced in South Korea and seen in a number of Francophone countries throughout Africa.
		+
		+	[[File:ltte-lizard.png\|200px]]

	Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.		Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:14, 8 May 2026
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	[[File:ltte-erdl.png\|200px]]		[[File:ltte-erdl.png\|200px]]
		+
		+	* Formed in 1987, the "Black Tigers" (கரும்புலிகள்) were specialists trained to conduct unconventional warfare, commando raids, and suicide missions. Although it is unclear when the unit was initially issued its own distinctive camouflage uniform, photographs from a raid on a government camp in 1997 show the unit wearing a unique camouflage design having many irregular shapes (including "star bursts" and "pinwheels") and incorporating as many as five colors.
		+
		+	[[File:ltte-blacktigers.png\|200px]]

	Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.		Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:06, 8 May 2026
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	[[File:ltte-seaspot.png\|200px]]		[[File:ltte-seaspot.png\|200px]]
		+
		+	* Most likely of [[India\|Indian]] origins, this green-dominant "leaf" or compressed "ERDL" variant design, was observed on some LTTE officers during the 1980s.
		+
		+	[[File:ltte-erdl.png\|200px]]

	Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.		Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:04, 8 May 2026
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	[[File:ltte-leopard.png\|200px]]		[[File:ltte-leopard.png\|200px]]
		+
		+	* An early version of the "Sea Leopards," the naval component of the LTTE, were apparently issued with a variation of the blotch or leopard pattern camouflage uniform with a blue colorway.
		+
		+	[[File:ltte-seaspot.png\|200px]]

	Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.		Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:00, 8 May 2026
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	[[File:ltte-sattar.png\|200px]]		[[File:ltte-sattar.png\|200px]]
		+
		+	* The "Leopard Brigade" was reputedly one of the most aggressive units within the LTTE, and local legend indicates members were recruited from LTTE-run orphanages, leading to its nickname as the "Baby Brigade." Photographs of this unit during the 1980s illustrate some members wearing a unique spotted or blotch pattern uniform, bearing a loose resemblance to the coat of some leopards.
		+
		+	[[File:ltte-leopard.png\|200px]]

	Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.		Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.

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 == Camouflage Patterns of the LTTE ==
-The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள) was a seperatist movement based in northern Sri Lanka that waged a long civil war against the government from 1976 to 2009, in an attempt to establish state for the Tamil people. They were militarily defeated in May of 2009 following the death of key military leaders and several essential victories by government forces, including the capture of the LTTE capital Kilinochchi. Over the course of the civil war, the LTTE had amassed considerable military resources, fielding not only ground forces, but both sea and air elements as well (known as the Sea Tigers and Air Tigers, respectively). Each branch of service wore a variation of a unique "cactus" camouflage pattern with a different colorway.
+The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள) was a seperatist movement based in northern Sri Lanka that waged a long civil war against the government from 1976 to 2009, in an attempt to establish state for the Tamil people. They were militarily defeated in May of 2009 following the death of key military leaders and several essential victories by government forces, including the capture of the LTTE capital Kilinochchi. Over the course of the civil war, the LTTE had amassed considerable military resources, fielding not only ground forces, but both sea and air elements as well (known as the Sea Tigers and Air Tigers, respectively).
 * The standard "cactus" pattern of the LTTE consists of horizontal "spiny" stripes of brown & grass green on a khaki background. Both horizontal and vertically-oriented variants have been documented.

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 The LTTE received some assistance from the government of [[India]], which provided arms, training, and materiel. In 1987, the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was deployed to the island nation ostensibly to curb LTTE aggression. In the same year, the Marxist-Leninist People’s Liberation Front launched a second uprising in the south. This resulted in another deployment of the IPKF in 1990.
 A ceasefire agreement was signed between the government and the LTTE in 2002, which maintained a subtle peace for a few years. By 2006, however, fighting had resumed; the government ultimately achieved military victory over the LTTE in May 2009, re-establishing its control over the entire country.
 == Camouflage Patterns of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces ==