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U.S. Woodland

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U.S. Woodland
Digitized swatch of the U.S. Woodland pattern
TypeMilitary camouflage pattern
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service
Used bySee Users (for other non-U.S. users)
WarsInvasion of Grenada
United States invasion of Panama
Lebanese Civil War
Somali Civil War
Colombian conflict
Yugoslav Wars
Operation Uphold Democracy
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
2006 Lebanon War
2008 Cambodian-Thai stand-off
Russo-Georgian War
Libyan civil war (2011)[1]
Syrian Civil War
Russo-Ukrainian War
Production history
Produced1981–present

The U.S. Woodland is a camouflage pattern that was used as the default camouflage pattern issued to the United States Armed Forces from 1981, with the issue of the Battle Dress Uniform, until its replacement in the mid to late 2000s.[2] It is a four color, high contrast disruptive pattern with irregular markings in green, brown, sand and black. It is also known unofficially by its colloquial moniker of "M81" after the Battle Dress Uniform it was first used on,[3] though this term was not officially used by the U.S. military.

Although completely phased out of frontline use in the U.S. Armed Forces, U.S. Woodland is still used on some limited level by some branches such as MOPP suits, equipment and vests left over while some modernized uniforms (either BDU or commercial) were worn specifically by special forces such as USMC Forces Special Operations Command and United States Navy SEALs.

Development and history

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The woodland pattern is nearly identical to the brown-dominant version of the ERDL pattern, only differing in that it is enlarged by 60 percent. The enlargement was made in order to extend the effectiveness of the camouflage pattern to as close to 350 meters as possible [4]

These changes reflected a shift in the tactical focus of the United States military from fighting an extremely close-range war such as the one in South Vietnam to a longer-range one such as on the fields of Europe.[5]

Near InfraRed compliance

Many old M81 Woodland BDUs are made with Nyco. It is not labeled as NIR compliant however testing done on the material and dyes used in the creation process found it to be effective in camouflaging under InfraRed light.[6] [7]

Coloring

The US Woodland pattern was printed slightly darker than ERDL for two key reasons. First, the chosen colors complemented the pattern sizing, creating a monotone appearance at greater distances and enhancing the effectiveness of the pattern. Second, there was a strategic consideration for large-scale production, where fabrics tend to be lighter than intended due to the production process. By starting with slightly darker colors, the eventual fading of the fabric through use, and washing would result in colors moving closer to the desired target, thereby prolonging the garment's useful life.[6]

Usage

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U.S. Army National Guardsmen on an exercise in 2000 while wearing Woodland BDUs and PASGT helmets

U.S. Army

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In the U.S. Army, the woodland-patterned Battle Dress Uniform was replaced by the digital Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) found on the Army Combat Uniform, introduced in 2004. UCP itself was replaced by the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) in 2019. The pattern is still used on MOPP suits and some older models of body armor yet to be retired, such as PASGT vests and Interceptor Body Armor.

U.S. Navy

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The U.S. Navy no longer uses the Woodland pattern. Most of the Navy has transitioned to the Navy Working Uniform, which uses digital patterns in either a woodland colorway (NWU Type III) or, for some deployed tactical units only, a desert version (Type II).

U.S. Marines

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A Marine Raider wearing a FAST Maritime combat helmet and M81 camouflage combat uniform

The Woodland Pattern BDU was phased out by the Marine Corps with the introduction of the digital MARPAT Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform in 2002, although it was reintroduced for the United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command in 2011[8] and was also worn by MARSOC forces in the War in Afghanistan.

U.S. Air Force

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The Air Force phased out the woodland pattern battle dress uniform in 2011 when they went to the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) which used a pixelated version of the tiger stripe pattern. It was in turn replaced by the Army's OCP by 2021.[9] The Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force's civilian auxiliary, also used woodland patterned BDUs until being discontinued 15 June 2021.[10]

State defense forces

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Captain Gay of the Virginia Defense Force wearing ACU pattern woodland camouflage.

Several state defense forces use the Woodland Pattern on their BDUs.[11] Members of the Virginia Defense Force wear a Woodland version of the Army Combat Uniform (ACU).[12][13]

Law enforcement

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The pattern also sees use among police departments, such as the Rhode Island State Police.[14]

Users

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Russian Internal Troops wearing LES, a Russian camouflage pattern similar to the woodland camouflage

Former users

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Gaddafi's Army". Reuters. April 27, 2011.
  2. ^ Hardyman, Christine O., ed. (1988). "Chapter 7: Support Services". Department of the Army Historical Summary FY 1981. United States Army Center of Military History.
  3. ^ "Woodland Is Back!". Soldier Systems. November 17, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-11-20.
  4. ^ Ramsley, Alvin; Bushnell, William (January 1981). DTIC ADA096884: Development of the U.S. Woodland Battle Dress Uniform (Report). Defense Technical Information Center. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  5. ^ Vasquez, Justina (August 22, 2018). "Making a 21st-century US military uniform every branch can wear". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 2018-08-22.
  6. ^ a b "M81 Woodland: From 80s to eternity?". Millennial Arms LLC. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  7. ^ "NIR Compliant Gear: The Basics". Millennial Arms LLC. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  8. ^ "MARSOC adopts woodland Crye Precision uniform". Military.com. 22 August 2011.
  9. ^ Losey, Stephen (May 14, 2018). "The long-awaited OCP uniform is on its way to the Air Force — and here's when you could get it". Air Force Times. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  10. ^ "CAP Regulation 39-1 - Civil Air Patrol Uniform Regulation" (PDF). National Headquarters Civil Air Patrol. March 5, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  11. ^ "Questions & Answers about the Tennessee State Guard". Third Regiment of the Tennessee State Guard Official Website. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  12. ^ "VDF Regulation 670-1" (PDF). Virginia Defense Force. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Ohio Military Reserve. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  14. ^ "Uniform Gallery". Rhode Island State Police. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  15. ^ Larson (2021), p. 126.
  16. ^ Larson (2021), p. 194.
  17. ^ Larson (2021), p. 203.
  18. ^ Larson (2021), p. 205.
  19. ^ "Special Anti-terrorist Unit of Republic of Srpska". Specijalne-jedinice.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2018.
  20. ^ Larson (2021), pp. 209.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g "U.S. Woodland pattern camouflage". Kamouflage.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Croatian Woodland shirt". CamoUniforms.net.
  23. ^ "Croatian Woodland Shirt 02". CamoUniforms.net.
  24. ^ Larson (2021), p. 219.
  25. ^ "Estonia". Camopedia.
  26. ^ Larson (2021), p. 477.
  27. ^ Larson (2021), p. 390.
  28. ^ "Uphold Democracy 1994: WWII weapons encountered". WWII After WWII. 9 June 2015.
  29. ^ Larson (2021), p. 255.
  30. ^ Larson (2021), p. 268.
  31. ^ "Lithuanian Woodland jacket". CamoUniforms.net.
  32. ^ "Standardized U.S.-Led Coalition Forces Uniform" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  33. ^ "Luxembourg gets its own camo pattern!". IACMC Militaria Forum. June 5, 2011.
  34. ^ Larson (2021), p. 275.
  35. ^ "Special Anti-terrorist Unit of the Republic of Montenegro". Specijalne-jedinice.com.
  36. ^ Zwirko, Colin (22 November 2018). "North Korean soldiers at Joint Security Area sporting new uniforms, photos reveal". NK News. Archived from the original on 2020-03-04.
  37. ^ Desmond, Dennis (1997). Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia: 1937-to the Present. Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0764304620.[page needed]
  38. ^ Galeotti (2015), p. 39.
  39. ^ "Camouflage Patterns of the South Korean Armed Forces". Camopedia.org. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-05-09.
  40. ^ "From Russia with Love, Syria's AK-74Ms". Bellingcat. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023.
  41. ^ a b Larson (2021), p. 458.
  42. ^ "VDF chaplains provide support at Fort Pickett chapel". Virginia National Guard.
  43. ^ "Tìm hiểu về quân phục ngụy trang của quân đội Việt Nam (phần 2)". Tin tức Việt Nam - Cập nhật tin tức trong nước hôm nay (in Vietnamese). 2018-03-04. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
  44. ^ "Afghanistan". Camopedia.org. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  45. ^ Larson (2021), p. 199.
  46. ^ a b c "Canadian Forces Woodland". Canadian Military Police Virtual Museum. Archived from the original on 2017-11-13. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
  47. ^ "Iraqi Woodland Camo". Middle East Militaria.
  48. ^ "New Iraqi Woodland Camo Uniform". Middle East Militaria.
  49. ^ "Kurdish 2 Pocket Woodland Camo Uniforms". Middle East Militaria. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  50. ^ "Kurdistan". Camopedia.org. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  51. ^ "Latvian M07 LatPat Camouflage". 29 April 2020.
  52. ^ "Latvian US M81 Woodland Camouflage". 4 May 2020.
  53. ^ "Dutch Army Adopts Netherlands Fractal Pattern Camouflage". Soldier Systems. 27 October 2014.
  54. ^ "Nigerian Armed Forces ~ M14 Arid Pattern". 29 December 2020.

Bibliography

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  • Galeotti, Mark (2015). Spetsnaz: Russia's Special Forces. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472807229.
  • Larson, Eric H. (2021). Camouflage: International Ground Force Patterns, 1946–2017. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 9781526739537.