Latvia

Republic of Latvia

Latvia was known as the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (Latvijas Padomju Sociālistiskā Republika) between 1940 and 1991. While part of the Soviet Union, the nation's Armed Forces were under the administration of the USSR. Since achieving its independence in 1991 and subsequent membership in NATO, the armed forces of Latvia have taken great measures to distinguish themselves from their Soviet predecessors. Early Latvian camouflage patterns, although influenced by those of the Soviet Union, are nevertheless distinctive enough to warrant separate categorization of their own. The nation is today known as the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Republika).

Latvian Camouflage Patterns

• The earliest Latvian camouflage patterns trace their lineage to the Soviet tricolor TTsKO or butan design, and may have been developed during the Soviet era specifically for use in the Baltic Military District. The shapes incorporated into the pattern are entirely distinctive from typical Soviet TTsKO designs. The early camouflage design shown here emerged in Autumn 1991, originally intended for the Latvian National Guard (Zemessardze). The design consists of dark and light brown shapes on a khaki or light olive green background, although several color variations have been documented.

• Another early TTsKO or butan variant pattern of approximately the same vintage - using different drawings and a lighter, almost desert, colorway - incorporates dark brown and ochre amoebic shapes on a tan background. This design was worn by the early Latvian National Guard, the Defense Forces, and Ministry of the Interior units.

• A third variation of the TTsKO (butan) design incorporated dark blue and blue grey shapes on a medium blue background, and was intended for use by Naval forces. Few examples of this pattern survived, although a full uniform is apparently on display in the Latvian War Museum in Riga.

• Utilizing identical shapes to some early TTsKO Estonian designs, the pattern seen here was apparently worn by some Latvian National Guard (Zemessardze) units in the early stages of the newly formed defence force. The pattern consists of mauve and olive green shapes on a khaki background, and may have been printed in Ukraine. Although production of this pattern ended in 1994, remaining stocks of the uniforms were still used by military reserves or as working dress until around 2002. The use of helmet covers in this pattern would continued for another ten years.

• The design seen below is of Ukrainian origins, and is believed to have been developed for Latvia (or considered for adoption) around the time of its independence from the Soviet Union. Several black and white photographs from the period confirm the general shapes of this pattern were in use by Latvia, with the earliest documented uniform having OTK stamps and a manufacturer's label dated 1991. At least two color variations have been observed, although no verification has yet emerged as to which Latvian units may have used either one.

• The design seen here was developed around 1992 and saw service with the units of the Latvian Defense Forces and Ministry of the Interior (particularly Border Guards). Nicknamed egļu (spruce), the majority of examples were locally made by Akcijas Sabiedrība, although there may also have been a commercial connection to the Finnish company Sasta (as private purchase uniforms with this label are known to exist). Although the color scheme bears a striking resemblance to the Lithuanian M05 miško pattern, the two designs are distinctive and not related as far as can be seen, although it is possible the latter was developed based on the Latvian design. It is worth noting that some uniforms appear to have the shapes oriented horizontally, while on other uniforms the orientation is vertical. Latvian sources suggest the production of this pattern ended in 1995.

• A modified variation of the egļu pattern, possibly intended for "autumn" wear, is seen here.

• Latvia had introduced the US m81 woodland pattern in 1992 for use by its special operations forces. By 1994, the entire Latvian Armed Forces discarded all previously used camouflage patterns and fully integrated a locally-produced copy of the US m81 woodland design, possibly as part of its bid to become a member of NATO. This pattern remained in service intil approximately 2012 or later.

• Circa 2004, a Latvian desert camouflage pattern was introduced. Although incorporating the same basic colorway as the US tricolor desert pattern, the drawings are unique and bear no relationship to the American design. This pattern was worn by Latvian personnel deployed to Afghanistan (ISAF), but has since been replaced by the NBS pattern.

• Introduced in 2006/7, this pixelated pattern was designed by Barracuda of Sweden. It is known simply as the NBS pattern, for Nacionālie Bruņotie Spēki, or National Armed Forces, although in common parlance it is usually referred to as LATPAT. The design incorporates large dark grey (nearly black), medium brown and khaki squares on a sandy background.

• Although in development since 2011, it was announced late in 2015 that the Latvian Armed Forces would adopt a variation of the LATPAT design utilizing and improved color palette for use in summer and on foreign deployments to warmer climates. This version of the design, based on the same drawings as standard LATPAT, incorporates light and dark grey (nearly black), medium brown, khaki and foliage green squares. Known in common parlance as Multi-LATPAT, the design will be officially introduced into the supply system in 2016, with full implementation planned by 2018. The LATPAT design will continue to be issued as a winter uniform, alongside the new uniform.

• In April 2020, the National Armed Forces announced it would be adopted a completely new camouflage design. Named "WoodLatpat," the pattern was developed by a team of five scientist/developers from the National Guard Science, Research and Innovation Implementation Center beginning in 2019, and incorporates fractal graphic technology in order to create a camouflage design highly suited to native Latvian geography. The resulting camouflage design, consisting of irregular rhombus and triangular shapes in various tones of green, brown, and khaki, is reputedly designed to defeat NIR night vision equipment as well as current optoelectronic surveillance technologies.

• Adopted in 2023 or earlier, a camouflage design for wear in snow conditions is being worn by elements of the armed forces. Designated Sniegs-1 (snow 1), the pattern incorporates both pixelated and non-pixelated printed elements on a white background and is worn over normal combat clothing.

Other Camouflage Patterns Worn by Latvia

• Leftover stocks of Soviet era Солнечные зайчики (sunshine bunnies) or "stair step" pattern camouflage uniforms, including the KLMK and the KZS, were integrated into the fledgling Latvian armed forces from 1991 onwards, finding their way to outfit units of the Zemessardzes (National Guards), the regular armed forces, and even special units of the National Police (e.g. Pretterorisma vienība "Omega") well into the 1990s and beyond. Photographs often illustrate the uniforms in use during training exercises. As these stocks were depleted, use of the pattern began to decline.

• Developed during the Soviet Union era but not officially adopted until 1991, the VSR-93 barvikha or dubok camouflage pattern of the Russian Armed Forces was also adopted in Latvia for a brief period of time. The source of the camouflage fabric remains uncertain, but was most likely simply found in old Soviet era warehouses or purchased directly from a former USSR country that was still producing the fabric. The uniforms worn by Latvian forces were locally-produced and in the case of a field jacket, possibly copied from the American M65 design. These uniforms were primarily issued to the Zemessardzes (National Guard) personnel beginning in 1994, and later by Obligatory Military Service (OMD) battalions and by some elements of the Ministry of the Interior, but would disappear from service by 1999.

• Circa 1993, the Latvian government obtained a large quantity of ex-East German strichtarn (rain) pattern camouflage uniforms, which were integrated into the supply system and appear to have found service primarily with Border Guard units of the Ministry of the Interior.

• The Latvian contingent to Bosnia (SFOR) in 1996 was clothed in surplus Swedish M90 "splinter" pattern camouflage uniforms.

• The Latvian contingent to Bosnia (SFOR) in 1998 was clothed in surplus Danish M84 pattern camouflage uniforms.

Latvian Experimental Designs

• Approximately a year before Multi-LATPAT was approved, a series of designs were proposed to the Latvian Ministry of Defense and tested for effectiveness in a series of exercises in 2013. Although neither pattern seen here was ultimately approved, it is apparent there were several contenders for the official design.

• Dating to 2015-16, this blue-dominant version of LATPAT was presumably tested for issue to the Latvian Navy but never approved.

• A test version of WoodLatPat with a different color palette is seen here, not approved and now on display at the War Museum in Riga.

Photos of Latvian Soldiers

• Latvian soldiers wearing the early pattern